Gretchen Wieners

Gretchen Wieners was born on July 17, 1987. While little is known about her early life, it is known she grew up very rich as her father invented toaster strudel, and that she grew up Jewish.[2]

Gretchen befriended Regina George during High School, and along with Karen Smith, officially created "The Plastics", a clique of rich, popular girls. She dates a guy named Jason, who seems to take pleasure in making her jealous.

Gretchen is sweet, but she is a gossip and a follower as she stays loyal to Regina no matter what. Gretchen knows everything about everyone, and usually spills people's secrets, intentionally or not. A running gag in the film is Gretchen continuously trying to make a slang term, fetch, happen, even though everyone around her is annoyed by it. She has also shown to be really nice in certain situations, such as the moment she met Cady and admired her bracelet. However Gretchen is plagued with insecurities and often compares herself to other girls at North Shore.

When Janis Ian, Damian Leigh and Cady Heron skip class, Damien and Janis warn Cady about Gretchen, as she knows a lot of secrets and is a compulsive gossip. Later at lunch, Gretchen's boyfriend Jason harasses Cady before being chastised by Regina George. Immediately after, Regina invites Cady to sit with the plastics. Gretchen compliments Cady's bracelet, calling it "Fetch", which she claims to be English slang, only to be ridiculed for the word by Regina. The following Wednesday, Gretchen informs Cady of the rules which the plastics must abide by, such as not being able to wear a tank top two days in a row, and only wearing a ponytail once a week. When Regina steps away Cady tells Gretchen she has a crush on Aaron Samuels, but Gretchen says she isn't allowed to as he is Regina's ex-boyfriend, but she promises to keep Cady's secret, which she doesn't as she tells Regina later that day. At the Halloween party, Gretchen dresses as a cat and searches for Jason the entire time. After Regina kisses Aaron in front of Cady, Gretchen attempts to cover for Regina by explaining to Cady that Aaron wanted Regina back, which wasn't true, and delivers a hug to Cady apparently on behalf of Regina.

When Janis and Cady's plot to take down Regina is set into motion, they trick Gretchen into thinking Regina is mad at her by not sending her a candy cane at Christmas, but sending them to Cady and Karen; While pondering why Regina didn't send her a candy cane, Gretchen accidentally reveals that Regina's parents don't sleep together, that Regina didn't like Cady, and that Regina had had a nosejob. During and after their talent show performance, Regina is consistently rude to Gretchen, which causes Gretchen to crack, reveal multiple incidents of Regina being a bad friend, and that Regina cheats on Aaron Samuels with Shane Oman, which Cady uses in her revenge plot. On a phone call, Gretchen and Karen hear Regina talking badly about them, so Regina is kicked out of the plastics after wearing sweatpants on a Monday, a breach of the plastics' rules.

With Cady now being the queen bee, Karen and Gretchen begin following her around and help her organize a house party, where Gretchen embarrasses herself in front of Jason. When The Burn Book is leaked, Gretchen is accused of writing it and attends the apology workshop with the other girls, where she does not apologize for her badmouthing. Cady steps forward as the real writer of the Burn Book, allowing Gretchen to be off the hook. At the Spring Fling dance, Gretchen is nominated for Spring Fling Queen alongside Cady, Janis and Regina. She loses the crown to Cady, but is given a piece of it from Cady during Cady's speech. The movie ends with Gretchen having moved on to a new clique: "The cool Asians."

The character was revived for the broadway counterpart of the film, now being played by Ashley Park.[3]

• In 2019 Courtney Chipolone portrayed the character in Ariana Grande's music video for Thank U, Next.[4]