Heather Burns has become synonymous with the date April 25, thanks to her most memorable line in the Sandra Bullock-starring comedyMiss Congeniality.“I’m very grateful for the day, because it gives me a chance to connect with fans of the film and old friends. I love having been a part of something that has been meaningful for so long to so many people,” Burns tells PEOPLE.The actress, 46, also spoke about how shedoesn’t mind the extra attentionshe gets on that day, which has become a beloved meme. “I love it. It seems to each year get a little bigger even,” she toldE! News.“And it’s such a nice day for me because people come out of the woodwork sending me memes and things,” added Burns, who is also known for her role inYou’ve Got Mail. “And I go around town… people give me free coffee and, you know, it’s just everyone’s kind of happy to see me on that day.“Burns played the wholesome, and delightfully naive, Cheryl Frasier, a.k.a. Miss Rhode Island, in the 2000 comedy about an FBI agent (Bullock) who goes undercover in the Miss United States pageant.Warner Bros.Fans ofMiss Congenialityhave created an unofficial holiday around the interview scene, during which William Shatner’s character Stan Fields asks Cheryl to describe her perfect date. “That’s a tough one,” she responds. “I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.“As for how she marks the day, Burns also tells PEOPLE, “I usually spend April 25th walking around New York City, in a light jacket, enjoying the perfect weather.“On Sunday, Shatner also commemorated the day. “Happy #PerfectDateDay!” the actor tweeted along with the beloved meme.Though Burns said her character “just kind of came out of me naturally,” she also credited her mother for inspiring her. “At the time, I was so happy playing her,” she said.Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.Everett Collection"Just being in her skin made me a happier person in general, but especially during that time,” Burns added. “I mean, I have such fond memories of both of those films, just a joy to work on. The effect that just the sweetness of the film in general has had on a generation of fans is also really, really lovely for me to experience, and I’m glad that the film had an effect in that way.“Burns also raved about working with Bullock, with whom she’d later appear inTwo Weeks Notice(2002) andMiss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous(2005). “She was incredibly warm,” Burns said. “She always is. She’s just exactly how you would imagine her to be.”
Heather Burns has become synonymous with the date April 25, thanks to her most memorable line in the Sandra Bullock-starring comedyMiss Congeniality.
“I’m very grateful for the day, because it gives me a chance to connect with fans of the film and old friends. I love having been a part of something that has been meaningful for so long to so many people,” Burns tells PEOPLE.
The actress, 46, also spoke about how shedoesn’t mind the extra attentionshe gets on that day, which has become a beloved meme. “I love it. It seems to each year get a little bigger even,” she toldE! News.
“And it’s such a nice day for me because people come out of the woodwork sending me memes and things,” added Burns, who is also known for her role inYou’ve Got Mail. “And I go around town… people give me free coffee and, you know, it’s just everyone’s kind of happy to see me on that day.”
Burns played the wholesome, and delightfully naive, Cheryl Frasier, a.k.a. Miss Rhode Island, in the 2000 comedy about an FBI agent (Bullock) who goes undercover in the Miss United States pageant.
Warner Bros.
Fans ofMiss Congenialityhave created an unofficial holiday around the interview scene, during which William Shatner’s character Stan Fields asks Cheryl to describe her perfect date. “That’s a tough one,” she responds. “I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”
As for how she marks the day, Burns also tells PEOPLE, “I usually spend April 25th walking around New York City, in a light jacket, enjoying the perfect weather.”
On Sunday, Shatner also commemorated the day. “Happy #PerfectDateDay!” the actor tweeted along with the beloved meme.
Though Burns said her character “just kind of came out of me naturally,” she also credited her mother for inspiring her. “At the time, I was so happy playing her,” she said.
Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast,PEOPLE Every Day,to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.
Everett Collection
“Just being in her skin made me a happier person in general, but especially during that time,” Burns added. “I mean, I have such fond memories of both of those films, just a joy to work on. The effect that just the sweetness of the film in general has had on a generation of fans is also really, really lovely for me to experience, and I’m glad that the film had an effect in that way.”
Burns also raved about working with Bullock, with whom she’d later appear inTwo Weeks Notice(2002) andMiss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous(2005). “She was incredibly warm,” Burns said. “She always is. She’s just exactly how you would imagine her to be.”
source: people.com
