Warning: This post contains spoilers for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Beloved novelist Judy Blume was able to cameo in the film adaptation of her book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, the adaptation follows 11-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) as she comes of age and explores her relationship with religion and her changing body after moving from New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey.
It’s taken Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret 53 years to finally make it to the big screen. Now that it’s finally here, Blume has a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it appearance in the film, one that came about because she and Craig were on the same page regarding the author’s cameo. Blume really wanted to have one in the film, and Craig had also discussed her being involved somehow onscreen. The end result worked without Blume’s scene distracting from the film, blending perfectly with it instead. The author’s scene likely delighted audience members who recognized the author, and it was a good way to incorporate Blume since the film itself wouldn’t exist without her work.
Judy Blume Cameos As One Of Margaret’s Neighbors In New Jersey
Judy Blume’s cameo is a subtle one. In Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, the author plays one of Margaret’s neighbors in New Jersey, an unnamed woman who lives in the area but doesn’t interact directly with Margaret’s family. She is seen walking a dog down the street with real-life husband George Cooper in one of the movie’s establishing shots of the neighborhood, though it’s a scene that doesn’t include Fortson’s Margaret. Speaking with Town & Country, Blume recalls being excited about having a cameo in the film, working with the trainer for the dog she walks, and having fun getting into costume.
Judy Blume’s Margaret Cameo Establishes A Fun Book Adaptation Tradition
Judy Blume’s cameo in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret isn’t her first. The author also had a cameo role in the 2012 adaptation of her novel Tiger Eyes. In the film, Blume played a guest at the Christmas party. Considering that Blume is now more open to her work being adapted, after many years of refusing offers from people who weren’t passionate about the material, it’s possible she will appear in future adaptations of her novels. Similar to her brief cameos in It’s Me, Margaret and Tiger Eyes, Blume could continue a book adaptation tradition by continuing to appear in all future films about her work.
An author making a cameo in a film or television adaptation of their work isn’t new — Leigh Bardugo had a brief appearance in Shadow and Bone season 1 and Stephenie Meyer had a cameo in both the first Twilight film and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. And while it’s not unheard of for an author to make a cameo when their book gets adapted, Blume makes her appearance in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret all her own. She’s only in the film for the smallest of moments, but her cameo is a wink to those who grew up with her work or new readers who are only just discovering it.
