‘If Anybody Knows About Christmas Stress, I’m Overqualified!’ Beverly D’Angelo, 73, on Life as Ellen Griswold—and Why She Still Loves the Chaos (EXCLUSIVE)
Plus, 'The National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' actress reveals the real-life inspiration behind her character
On the big screen, Beverly D’Angelo works hard as Ellen Griswold to ensure Christmas goes as smoothly as possible and off-screen, the actress is hoping that they actually do. The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation actress has teamed up with Wyndham Rewards to give everyone a chaos-free holiday this season.
Woman’s World sat down with Beverly D’Angelo to discuss her partnership with Wyndham Rewards, where she found inspiration for her beloved role in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and what the success of the film means to her.
“I’m working with Wyndham Rewards this year. And you know why?” D’Angelo asked. “Because if anybody knows about Christmas stress, I’m overqualified—on-screen and off.”
If you’re traveling home for Christmas or you have family coming to stay with you, Wyndham is here to give everyone a little more breathing room with their one-level membership bump, providing better perks until December 31. See D’Angelo’s Christmassy promo below that will have you feeling nostalgic.
Beverly D’Angelo’s real-life inspiration for Ellen
We’ve all felt like Ellen Griswold at one point or another, trying to hold everything together, especially during the holiday season. Granted, the Griswold family Christmas had a few more mishaps than the average celebration, but still, she kept it together. The character was very relatable for her incredible patience and supportive nature, but Ellen’s personality wasn’t entirely a work of fiction.
D’Angelo shared that she found someone in her real life who the character could mirror, providing inspiration for the iconic role and allowing her to bring Ellen Griswold to life.
“The way I found Ellen was by looking at my mother,” D’Angelo explained.“That was very much my mother. [Her] motto was, ‘It doesn’t matter how much you give as long as it adds up to 100,’ so I had in my mind Ellen’s never going to leave him [Chevy Chase’s Clark]. Make it all work. And it kind of evolved into something that I think people identify with.”
D’Angelo also shared that despite the chaos and craziness the Griswold family endured throughout the film, it all comes back to love.
“Everybody’s got a Clark in them,” she said. “Really, it’s a love story. He’s motivated by the love he has for his family, and there’s so much of that heart in it. I can’t explain it any other way.”
The success of ‘Christmas Vacation’ was a surprise
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation was released in 1989, following National Lampoon’s Vacation in 1983 and National Lampoon’s European Vacation in 1985. The holiday version was a box office success when it was released but its popularity has only grown over time. Thirty-six years after its release, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is one of the most popular holiday movies ever, but the success was a surprise to D’Angelo.
“I had no idea that the Griswold family was going to be one everybody identifies with,” D’Angelo said. “Either Ellen or Cousin Eddie or the kids… it’s become generational.”
D’Angelo also went on to explain what the love the film’s received has meant to her and why it’s important to keep the magic alive, year after year.
“You start to see the phenomena arise, and then you go, ‘Is it really happening?’…” she said of Christmas Vacation’s success. “For me, It’s a matter of really wanting to see and hear the people that I know have seen and heard these characters, and I want to give that back… It’s been like a little reciprocal love fest, to tell you the truth.”
The actress occasionally attends conventions for the film where she sees her former co-stars and is able to meet fans of Christmas Vacation.
“I was just with Chevy [Chase] and Juliette Lewis and Randy [Quaid] from Christmas Vacation in Rhode Island,” D’Angelo explained. “We were all at a convention not even 24 hours ago. And we have our own kind of crazy family. I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to meet fans. I never imagined it. Nothing is more thrilling than hearing a fan say that they love those movies.”
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