The beloved My Girl star is trading the silver screen for the stage, and she's making it clear: don't expect her to revisit Vada Sultenfuss anytime soon.
Anna Chlumsky, the 44-year-old actress who captured hearts as a child star in the 1991 classic My Girl, is currently starring in the off-Broadway production Queens at New York City Center, a role she's been performing since October 14, 2025. The production marks another chapter in what has become an increasingly robust theater career for the former Emmy-nominated television star.
From Child Star to Emmy Powerhouse
Chlumsky's journey from playing the precocious Vada Sultenfuss alongside Dan Aykroyd and Macaulay Culkin to becoming a household name took a significant turn when she landed the role of
Amy Brookheimer on HBO's political satire series
Veep. Her performance earned her six Emmy nominations and established her as a serious dramatic actress capable of delivering both comedy and pathos. The show, which concluded its run more than five years ago, remains remarkably relevant in today's political climate.
A New Chapter on Stage
These days, Chlumsky is channeling her talents into theater work, appearing in productions both on and off Broadway. Her recent stage credits include roles in
You Can't Take It With You and
Living on Love on Broadway, as well as off-Broadway productions like
Cardinal,
3C, and
Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Her current role as Agata in
Queens represents her continued commitment to live performance, where she's clearly finding fulfillment.
The Definitive No to Sequels
When asked about the possibility of a third
My Girl film, Chlumsky was unequivocal in her response.
"I will never, ever do one. I will never be involved in that," she told Forbes, leaving no room for speculation. Her reasoning is straightforward: she played that character at age ten, and revisiting it as an adult holds no appeal for her. "Life's too short," she explained, adding that she simply doesn't want to do it.
Even her co-star on the Apple TV+ series
Smoke, John Leguizamo, was taken aback by her certainty. "Oh, wow," he laughed. "That's so definitive. You never say never in this business. I love that she takes a stand."
Balancing Television and Theater
While Chlumsky continues her stage work, she's also maintaining a presence on screen. She currently appears in
Smoke on Apple TV+, where she plays a character who joins the investigation midway through the season alongside Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, who portray an arson investigator and detective working to stop serial arsonists in the Pacific Northwest.
The actress's recent red carpet appearance at the press meet and greet for
Queens at the Manhattan Theatre Club Rehearsal Studios showed her looking radiant and energized—a far cry from the melancholic Vada of decades past. Wearing a cream-colored asymmetrical dress and sporting a chic shaggy brown haircut with bangs, Chlumsky appeared genuinely happy in her current professional pursuits.
What's Next
As Chlumsky continues to build her legacy beyond her iconic childhood roles, it's clear she's found her stride in theater and selective television work. Her firm stance against revisiting
My Girl suggests she's focused on moving forward rather than backward, choosing projects that challenge and excite her as an adult performer. With
Queens running through November 30, 2025, audiences have the opportunity to see her bring depth and nuance to new characters on the stage.
For longtime fans hoping for a nostalgic reunion with Vada Sultenfuss, the message is crystal clear: that chapter is closed, and Chlumsky is perfectly content with that decision.
1.
Anna Chlumsky On Stage - New York Theatre Guide2.
My Girl Child Star Anna Chlumsky Stuns in Rare Appearance - Parade3.
Anna Chlumsky Shares How Veep Changed Her Political Perspective - IMDb
Sources
1. Anna Chlumsky On Stage | New York Theatre Guide
2. 'My Girl' Child Star Anna Chlumsky Stuns in Rare Appearance
3. Anna Chlumsky Shares How 'Veep' Changed Her Political Perspective
