From Audrey Griswold To Sundance 2025: Where Is The Daughter From National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Now?

Few Christmas movies have achieved the iconic, chaotic status of 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The film, a staple of the holiday season, introduced the world to the Griswold family's disastrous quest for the perfect Christmas. While Clark Griswold's (Chevy Chase) lighting display and Cousin Eddie's (Randy Quaid) RV antics steal the show, the film's two "daughters"—Audrey Griswold and Ruby Sue—have since carved out fascinating, and very different, careers in Hollywood and beyond. As of late 2025, one of these former child stars is headlining major independent films, while the other has embraced a quiet life away from the spotlight, proving that a stint in the Griswold house can lead anywhere.

The role of the Griswold children, Audrey and Rusty, was famously recast for every installment of the four main Vacation films, making the Christmas Vacation iteration particularly memorable. The daughter, Audrey Griswold, was played by a young actress who would go on to become one of the most respected and unconventional stars of her generation: Juliette Lewis. Her journey from the cramped, twin-bed-sharing teen to an Oscar-nominated actress and rock musician is a story of a true Hollywood chameleon.

Juliette Lewis (Audrey Griswold): Biography and Current Projects

Juliette Lewis, born Juliette Lake Lewis, is the actress who portrayed the long-suffering teenage daughter, Audrey Griswold, in the 1989 holiday classic. Her performance captured the angst of a suburban teen forced to endure her parents' holiday madness, famously complaining about her cramped sleeping quarters with her brother, Rusty.

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• Full Name: Juliette Lake Lewis
• Date of Birth: June 21, 1973
• Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Parents: Geoffrey Lewis (actor) and Glenis Batley (graphic designer)
• Occupation: Actress, Singer, Musician
• Notable Early Career: Started acting at age 12; first major role was in the TV series I Married Dora.
• Breakthrough Role: Danielle Bowden in Cape Fear (1991), which earned her an Academy Award nomination.
• Music Career: Frontwoman for the rock band Juliette and the Licks (2003–2009); later pursued a solo career.
• Current Status (Late 2025): Highly active in both film and television, with a string of acclaimed independent and major studio projects.

The Shocking Career Trajectory from Teen Angst to Oscar Nominee

Juliette Lewis's time as Audrey Griswold was a brief, but pivotal, stop on a career path that quickly veered toward the dark and unconventional. After starring alongside Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, Lewis shed her wholesome image to take on roles that defined the early 1990s counterculture cinema.

Her Oscar-nominated turn as Danielle Bowden in Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear (1991) solidified her as a major dramatic talent. She then became synonymous with the "wild child" persona through her work in films like Husbands and Wives (1992) and, most famously, as the psychopathic killer Mallory Knox in Oliver Stone's controversial Natural Born Killers (1994).

The topical authority Lewis holds extends far beyond the comedy genre. She has collaborated with legendary directors and co-starred with Hollywood heavyweights in films such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), and the critically acclaimed drama August: Osage County (2013).

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In the mid-2000s, Lewis took a significant detour, dedicating herself to her passion for music as the frontwoman of her rock band, Juliette and the Licks. This period showcased her raw, energetic stage presence, further cementing her reputation as an artist unafraid to defy expectations.

Juliette Lewis's Latest Projects: Sundance 2025 and Beyond

Far from being a forgotten child star, Juliette Lewis is currently enjoying a career renaissance, particularly in television and independent film. Her recent work demonstrates a commitment to complex, often dark, and deeply engaging characters.

Most notably, Lewis is a key figure in the acclaimed Showtime series Yellowjackets, playing the adult version of the troubled Natalie Scatorccio. The show, which blends survival horror, psychological drama, and mystery, has been a massive hit and has introduced Lewis to a new generation of fans. Her performance in the ensemble cast has been widely praised for its intensity and emotional depth.

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The most current, late-2025 information reveals Lewis's continued dedication to challenging roles on the big screen. She was a major presence at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, premiering two new feature films:

• By Design (2025): This drama film, written and directed by Amanda Kramer, stars Lewis in a highly unconventional role. The film garnered significant buzz at the festival, with some reviews highlighting its unique, surreal premise.
• Rabbit Trap (2025): Another 2025 Sundance premiere, this film further showcases Lewis's penchant for off-beat and independent projects, co-starring with Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich.

These 2025 projects confirm that the actress who once played the grumpy Audrey Griswold remains one of Hollywood's most versatile and active performers, consistently choosing roles that push boundaries and challenge audiences.

The Other Daughter: Where is Ruby Sue (Ellen Latzen) Now?

While Audrey Griswold is the Griswold family's daughter, no discussion of the film's children is complete without Cousin Eddie's daughter, Ruby Sue, played by Ellen Latzen. Ruby Sue is the sweet, slightly unkempt child who famously confesses to Clark that she hasn't had a real Christmas in years because her dog, Snots, keeps eating the lights.

Unlike Juliette Lewis, Ellen Latzen chose a path away from the Hollywood spotlight. After her roles in Christmas Vacation and a few other key films like Fatal Attraction (1987), Latzen retired from acting as a child.

Today, Latzen lives a relatively private life in Metro Detroit. Her career pivot is a classic example of a child star choosing normalcy over fame. She has, however, recently re-engaged with the film's legacy, occasionally giving interviews and joining podcasts to reflect on her time as Ruby Sue. A recent appearance on a WMMR podcast on December 12, 2025, shows she is still happy to reflect on her iconic role, even while remaining outside the entertainment industry.

Latzen's story provides a fascinating contrast to Lewis's, highlighting the vastly different outcomes for the young talent featured in the holiday classic. One embraced the chaos of Hollywood; the other embraced the quiet of a life outside of it.

The Griswold Children Recasting Phenomenon

A key piece of trivia that adds to the topical authority of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the constant recasting of the Griswold children, Audrey and Rusty. Juliette Lewis was the second actress to play Audrey, taking over from Dana Barron in the original Vacation (1983).

The role of Audrey Griswold has been played by a total of four actresses across the film series, including Marisol Nichols in Vegas Vacation (1997) and Leslie Mann in the 2015 reboot Vacation. This revolving door of actors—including Johnny Galecki, who played Rusty Griswold in Christmas Vacation—has become a running joke and a unique feature of the franchise. Both Lewis and Galecki, however, went on to have the most successful careers of any of the Griswold children from the original run, with Galecki starring in the long-running sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

The fact that Juliette Lewis’s turn as Audrey Griswold is so memorable, despite the role being recast, speaks volumes about her screen presence even at a young age. Her performance captured the essence of the character, making her version the most referenced and beloved Audrey of the entire series.

The Legacy of Audrey Griswold

The character of Audrey Griswold serves as a perfect anchor for the audience in the world of Christmas Vacation. She is the voice of reason, the teenager who is too cool for her parents' embarrassing antics and too old for the forced family fun. Her complaints—"I'm freezing my baguettes off!"—are iconic lines that capture the universal experience of enduring a family Christmas that goes completely off the rails.

Juliette Lewis's portrayal of Audrey laid the groundwork for the rest of her career: a fearless, outspoken, and deeply authentic performer who is never afraid to be a little bit weird. From her early work as Audrey to her Oscar-nominated roles and her latest 2025 Sundance Film Festival premieres, Lewis has proven that the "daughter in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" was just the beginning of one of Hollywood's most compelling and enduring careers.