Lebowski, Bunny (The Big Lebowski). A licentious trophy wife played by the actress Tara Reid in the Coen Brothers comedic crime movie The Big Lebowski (1998). Not only is this Tara Reid’s first appearance in a Coen Brothers film, but it is her breakout film role as well. The movie’s plot is based upon getting the kidnapped Bunny Lebowski back from a group of Nihilists.

Previously known as Bunny Lajoya’, Bunny Lebowski was a prior pornography star in such movies as Logjammin’ before she married the wealthy Jeffrey Lebowski. Bunny’s character is the archetypal trophy wife and gold-digger. She spends Jeffrey Lebowski’s money to such an excess that she creates large debts that cannot be paid. This gets ‘The Dude’ in a lot of trouble because of the similarities of the name of Bunny’s husband and himself. In addition, Bunny’s character is flighty, sexualized, immature, and artificial. When Bunny meets ‘The Dude’ for the first time, she insinuates that she would engage in oral sex with him for money. In many ways, Tara Reid’s character symbolizes Malibu; one of the settings in the movie The Big Lebowski (1998).

One element previously mentioned is Bunny’s flightiness. Mrs. Lebowski is very self-involved. She comes and goes as she pleases without telling anyone, including her husband. Even though it had been assumed that she was kidnapped, she was actually out visiting friends. The Nihilists knew this and tried to capitalize on her absence. Without the minor role of Bunny in The Big Lebowski (1998), the movie would have lost some of its comedic effect; the film would have just been about bowling.—Cecilia Dockins