Kat Dennings Reflects on Her First Major Film Role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin: A Journey of New Experiences
Credit:
Universal Pictures; Monica Schipper/Getty
Kat Dennings Reflects on Her Role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Kat Dennings recently shared her memories of filming the iconic 2005 comedy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, in an interview for the Co-Star Photo Album series. The actress, now 39, remarked on how she could hardly believe the film premiered "a thousand years ago — actually, 20 years ago."
Directed by Judd Apatow, the film stars Steve Carell as Andy Stitzer, a 40-year-old man who struggles with romantic relationships. With the support of his friends, portrayed by Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Romany Malco, he embarks on a journey to finally lose his virginity. The cast also includes notable performances from Catherine Keener, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Mann, and Nancy Carell.
Reflecting on her experience, Dennings praised her co-star, Keener, calling her "so beautiful and also funny and also wonderful." She recalled her initial nerves about joining the project, expressing gratitude for the supportive atmosphere on set, which ultimately contributed to the film’s success. “It was my first big, like, studio movie," she explained, "and I felt very nervous but everyone was so lovely."
Dennings also spoke fondly of Carell, stating, “Everybody knows that Steve is like one of the nicest people in the world. He is the best.” She described the improvisational style that Apatow encouraged as new and challenging, admitting, “I would sit in there like, ‘Oh my god, those aren’t the lines.’”
Steve Carell with Kat Dennings in The 40 Year Old Virgin.
Universal Pictures
"And sometimes, Judd would yell a new line at you right before you shot, like, ‘Kat, say this instead…Alright, action!’" Dennings added, highlighting the spontaneity that marked the production.
In May 2025, several cast members reunited to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary during a special screening in Los Angeles. Rogen, reflecting on his role, remarked, “It was the first movie that I was a part of that I really had a creative voice in, and a lot of the R-rated humor and tone came from me really advocating for that. It was really rewarding when it came out and people really responded to both the heart and the filthiness of it.”
