1 00:00:02,470 --> 00:00:05,639 * 2 00:00:05,739 --> 00:00:07,408 Oh, hello there. 3 00:00:07,508 --> 00:00:09,877 Welcome to "Off Script with the Hollywood Reporter." 4 00:00:09,977 --> 00:00:12,713 I'm your host, Yvonne Orji, and we are here 5 00:00:12,813 --> 00:00:17,351 at the gorgeous Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, California. 6 00:00:17,451 --> 00:00:19,019 As an actress and comedian, 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,922 I am especially looking forward to today's amazing panel 8 00:00:22,022 --> 00:00:25,693 of six versatile and talented comedic actresses, 9 00:00:25,793 --> 00:00:28,829 some of whom I'm fortunate enough to call friends. 10 00:00:28,929 --> 00:00:30,731 That's right, guys. 11 00:00:30,831 --> 00:00:32,866 They have and are continuing to pave the way 12 00:00:32,966 --> 00:00:34,335 for women in comedy. 13 00:00:34,435 --> 00:00:36,704 You're about to hear from the amazing, 14 00:00:36,804 --> 00:00:40,441 the illustrious Quinta Brunson of "Abbott Elementary," 15 00:00:40,541 --> 00:00:43,411 Michelle Buteau of "Survival of the Thickest," 16 00:00:43,511 --> 00:00:47,115 Renee Elise Goldsberry of "Girls5eva," 17 00:00:47,215 --> 00:00:50,184 Ego Nwodim of "Saturday Night Live," 18 00:00:50,284 --> 00:00:52,286 Maya Rudolph of "Loot," 19 00:00:52,386 --> 00:00:55,723 and Kristen Wiig of "Palm Royale." 20 00:00:55,823 --> 00:00:57,758 * 21 00:00:57,858 --> 00:01:00,128 They are, as always, on the record, 22 00:01:00,228 --> 00:01:04,932 but just a little "Off Script with the Hollywood Reporter." 23 00:01:05,032 --> 00:01:07,268 Hey, Lacey, they're all yours. 24 00:01:07,368 --> 00:01:08,869 Thanks, Yvonne. 25 00:01:08,969 --> 00:01:10,971 Welcome to the comedy actress round table. 26 00:01:11,071 --> 00:01:12,706 Let's get started. 27 00:01:12,806 --> 00:01:14,708 We're going to start with a question for everybody. 28 00:01:14,808 --> 00:01:17,578 What is the most transformative role, sketch, 29 00:01:17,678 --> 00:01:19,947 moment of your careers? 30 00:01:20,047 --> 00:01:21,749 And how did it change the way 31 00:01:21,849 --> 00:01:23,684 you were perceived going forward? 32 00:01:24,685 --> 00:01:26,654 Oh, my God! 33 00:01:26,754 --> 00:01:29,056 Starting off real light. We're starting off real light. 34 00:01:29,157 --> 00:01:30,258 Whoo! 35 00:01:31,759 --> 00:01:32,993 I think I'll go for the martini. 36 00:01:33,093 --> 00:01:34,628 Okay [Indistinct] 37 00:01:34,728 --> 00:01:36,896 Transforming? Wait, seriously? 38 00:01:36,997 --> 00:01:39,767 I actually did think of it because I just cheered with Ego 39 00:01:39,866 --> 00:01:42,235 when I got to do that sketch with you 40 00:01:42,336 --> 00:01:44,271 because I felt like it was a moment 41 00:01:44,372 --> 00:01:47,508 where people who maybe didn't know me before "Abbott," 42 00:01:47,608 --> 00:01:51,945 they, like, realized that I could do comedy. 43 00:01:52,045 --> 00:01:53,681 You know, you guys know comedy's a spectrum. 44 00:01:53,781 --> 00:01:55,416 Yes. But beyond Janine 45 00:01:55,515 --> 00:01:57,251 and beyond what I'd done before getting to do that sketch 46 00:01:57,351 --> 00:01:59,953 with you in the car -- The traffic. Oh, my goodness. 47 00:02:00,053 --> 00:02:01,855 We were just talking about that at work. Yeah! 48 00:02:01,955 --> 00:02:05,426 How, like, amazing it was to see you come up with 49 00:02:05,526 --> 00:02:06,960 your own gestures for that. 50 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:08,027 They didn't give you much direction for that. 51 00:02:08,127 --> 00:02:09,863 And that was so fun. 52 00:02:09,963 --> 00:02:11,165 I got to pop in and do truly one thing in that sketch, 53 00:02:11,265 --> 00:02:12,600 but it was so fun. 54 00:02:12,700 --> 00:02:14,435 It was so fun. Yeah. It was so incredible. 55 00:02:14,535 --> 00:02:16,136 And that felt transformative, 56 00:02:16,237 --> 00:02:18,272 even just sitting in the car and talking with you -- 57 00:02:18,372 --> 00:02:19,673 Mm-hmm. ...was really fun. 58 00:02:19,773 --> 00:02:22,876 So, I would say that one for me. Yeah. 59 00:02:22,976 --> 00:02:25,846 I feel like I would guess it was maybe "Hamilton." 60 00:02:25,946 --> 00:02:27,948 [Laughter] 61 00:02:28,048 --> 00:02:29,283 Thank you for saying it 62 00:02:29,383 --> 00:02:30,684 so I didn't have to say it myself. 63 00:02:30,784 --> 00:02:32,953 [Laughter] 64 00:02:33,053 --> 00:02:35,489 Honestly, every time I get a job, 65 00:02:35,589 --> 00:02:37,958 whatever job it is, it's always like 66 00:02:38,058 --> 00:02:40,027 [Gasps, sighs] Mm-hmm. 67 00:02:40,127 --> 00:02:42,129 And the funny thing is whatever you do, 68 00:02:42,230 --> 00:02:43,464 people are like, 69 00:02:43,564 --> 00:02:44,732 I can't believe you could do that. 70 00:02:44,832 --> 00:02:46,400 Yes. Mm-hmm. That's true. 71 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:47,801 Elise: They'd be like, "I didn't know you could rap." 72 00:02:47,901 --> 00:02:49,036 -Yes! -You see what I'm saying? 73 00:02:49,136 --> 00:02:51,204 Or "I didn't know you were funny." 74 00:02:51,305 --> 00:02:53,541 And now, it's like, "Is she a serious actor because --" 75 00:02:53,641 --> 00:02:55,509 Yeah. "...I just think she's funny." 76 00:02:55,609 --> 00:02:58,879 It just whatever you do is what you do in people's minds. So true. 77 00:02:58,978 --> 00:03:01,749 It always feels transformative to get to do anything. 78 00:03:01,849 --> 00:03:05,353 So, when it works, it feels transformative. Mm-hmm. 79 00:03:05,453 --> 00:03:08,522 I think for me, it's probably booking my first series regular 80 00:03:08,622 --> 00:03:11,925 on "First Wives Club" on BET+. 81 00:03:12,025 --> 00:03:13,527 Now, Netflix, I know. 82 00:03:13,627 --> 00:03:15,596 [Laughter] 83 00:03:15,696 --> 00:03:17,398 You know, I knew I could do the funny, 84 00:03:17,498 --> 00:03:20,100 but what was really fun and important for me 85 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,069 is that I had sex scenes. Quinta: Mm-hmm. 86 00:03:22,169 --> 00:03:25,706 And as a size 18, 20, we don't get to be sexy. 87 00:03:25,806 --> 00:03:28,442 We get to be lucky that someone finds us attractive. 88 00:03:28,542 --> 00:03:29,843 Mm-hmm. 89 00:03:29,943 --> 00:03:31,612 I own my sexuality, and I'm like, 90 00:03:31,712 --> 00:03:34,348 "This is important, and we can make it funny, 91 00:03:34,448 --> 00:03:36,784 but it's mainly important, so let's go and get it." 92 00:03:36,884 --> 00:03:38,686 And so it was so amazing, 93 00:03:38,786 --> 00:03:41,522 working with intimacy coordinators and directors 94 00:03:41,622 --> 00:03:46,694 who understood how I would be my most comfortable 95 00:03:46,793 --> 00:03:48,362 and then sexy. 96 00:03:48,462 --> 00:03:52,266 And that really kind of changed how people cast me 97 00:03:52,366 --> 00:03:54,402 and how I saw myself, quite frankly, 98 00:03:54,502 --> 00:03:56,470 and I'm like, "Let's go." 99 00:03:56,570 --> 00:04:00,374 Big bitches are beautiful and worthy of love. 100 00:04:00,474 --> 00:04:01,975 * Let's get dicked down 101 00:04:02,075 --> 00:04:04,111 That's really great -- [Laughter] 102 00:04:04,211 --> 00:04:06,547 ...to have intimacy coordinators on that. 103 00:04:06,647 --> 00:04:08,549 I felt like that was before the huge push for them, 104 00:04:08,649 --> 00:04:10,083 so that's really nice to hear. 105 00:04:10,183 --> 00:04:12,119 Oh, it's my turn. [Laughter] 106 00:04:12,219 --> 00:04:14,322 I mean, I think this will count. 107 00:04:14,422 --> 00:04:17,725 It was transformative in a personal way for me. 108 00:04:17,825 --> 00:04:22,763 I did dance for Sia during the Grammys years ago. 109 00:04:22,863 --> 00:04:24,832 Oh, I saw that! That was wonderful! 110 00:04:24,932 --> 00:04:26,800 Kristen: That was... 111 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,737 I was releasing a relationship. 112 00:04:29,837 --> 00:04:33,841 That was sort of, like, sort of the subtext that I had. 113 00:04:33,941 --> 00:04:35,609 And I didn't think I could do it. 114 00:04:35,709 --> 00:04:36,977 I was terrified to do it, 115 00:04:37,077 --> 00:04:38,846 and I wasn't wearing a lot of clothes. 116 00:04:38,946 --> 00:04:40,681 And I felt super vulnerable. 117 00:04:40,781 --> 00:04:41,982 And then after it was over, 118 00:04:42,082 --> 00:04:44,818 I just, like, I released this thing. 119 00:04:44,918 --> 00:04:46,954 And it was very transformative. 120 00:04:47,054 --> 00:04:49,122 Something shifted after that. In yourself, 121 00:04:49,222 --> 00:04:51,191 which I think is even cooler than for everybody else. 122 00:04:51,291 --> 00:04:52,926 Yeah. 123 00:04:53,026 --> 00:04:54,595 And we all know, like, being afraid to do something, 124 00:04:54,695 --> 00:04:55,829 you have that moment before 125 00:04:55,929 --> 00:04:57,030 of like, "Why am I doing this? 126 00:04:57,130 --> 00:04:58,532 Why am I just not home?" 127 00:04:58,632 --> 00:05:00,267 And then you do it, and then you're like, 128 00:05:00,368 --> 00:05:03,203 "Oh, that's why we keep coming back a little bit." 129 00:05:03,303 --> 00:05:05,539 Yeah. Yeah. I did it. I did it. 130 00:05:05,639 --> 00:05:07,675 I just have to keep walking. Yep. 131 00:05:07,775 --> 00:05:09,443 Maya: Like, transformation is different. 132 00:05:09,543 --> 00:05:13,113 Like, for me, coming back to "Saturday Night Live" 133 00:05:13,213 --> 00:05:15,549 after I had my daughter was transformative 134 00:05:15,649 --> 00:05:20,220 because I didn't -- I gave no more fucks. 135 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,223 That was different for me because I cared so much. 136 00:05:23,323 --> 00:05:27,194 And I was putting so many things in front of me 137 00:05:27,294 --> 00:05:29,697 that were not serving me. 138 00:05:29,797 --> 00:05:32,065 And so I was wasting a lot of time 139 00:05:32,165 --> 00:05:33,967 worrying about what other people thought 140 00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:36,136 and doing the right thing and being a good girl 141 00:05:36,236 --> 00:05:38,472 and being a good student and being a good daughter 142 00:05:38,572 --> 00:05:43,210 and working hard at "SNL" and writing my sketches. 143 00:05:43,310 --> 00:05:45,679 And then I was like, "Oh." Right. 144 00:05:45,779 --> 00:05:49,216 "This is all fluffy, light, nice things." 145 00:05:49,316 --> 00:05:51,585 Yeah. And it took that for me. 146 00:05:51,685 --> 00:05:53,987 That's not, like, the road for everybody, 147 00:05:54,087 --> 00:05:56,990 but that's what got me there, you know? 148 00:05:57,090 --> 00:06:02,830 And I had to be shaken out of the grip I had on... 149 00:06:02,930 --> 00:06:05,365 You think the shaking was the fact that you were -- 150 00:06:05,466 --> 00:06:07,067 another person was -- I had to stop being selfish. 151 00:06:07,167 --> 00:06:09,036 Yeah. I need to have a baby. 152 00:06:09,136 --> 00:06:11,171 [Laughter] 153 00:06:14,207 --> 00:06:16,410 Can I change my answer? I need to get pregnant. 154 00:06:16,510 --> 00:06:18,846 I will get you pregnant. Get me pregnant, please. 155 00:06:18,946 --> 00:06:20,614 What about me? Maya: That's what I was saying! 156 00:06:20,714 --> 00:06:22,416 Oh, honey. I'll get you pregnant. Just stand next to me. 157 00:06:22,516 --> 00:06:24,217 But that's what I was saying, like, 158 00:06:24,317 --> 00:06:26,186 that's not what I mean for everyone 159 00:06:26,286 --> 00:06:30,558 because we all know that the road to motherhood 160 00:06:30,658 --> 00:06:32,593 is not for every woman. 161 00:06:32,693 --> 00:06:35,128 And it's also not easy for every woman 162 00:06:35,228 --> 00:06:36,697 and sometimes not possible for every woman 163 00:06:36,797 --> 00:06:38,599 or not destiny. 164 00:06:38,699 --> 00:06:42,803 So, it's not to say, like, the universal, like, get kids. 165 00:06:42,903 --> 00:06:44,572 Like, it's not like... 166 00:06:44,672 --> 00:06:46,106 That's how you say it, right? 167 00:06:46,206 --> 00:06:47,808 [Laughter] 168 00:06:47,908 --> 00:06:49,577 Woman: I'm gonna get a kid. 169 00:06:49,677 --> 00:06:51,311 That's what shook it out of me. 170 00:06:51,411 --> 00:06:53,447 But "Bridesmaids" was also transformative, 171 00:06:53,547 --> 00:06:57,050 not just because people saw it and received it well. 172 00:06:57,150 --> 00:06:59,286 It was transformative because it was the first time 173 00:06:59,386 --> 00:07:03,090 I got to enjoy making a movie that was funny 174 00:07:03,190 --> 00:07:05,158 and have fun with people that I thought were funny. 175 00:07:05,258 --> 00:07:08,962 I felt like that was the first time we got to do that. 176 00:07:09,062 --> 00:07:11,231 I didn't have experiences like that before. 177 00:07:11,331 --> 00:07:12,900 We would have fun and play at "SNL," 178 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,904 but it's rare to get to work and look at each other 179 00:07:17,004 --> 00:07:18,972 and say, "This is really funny," 180 00:07:19,072 --> 00:07:21,274 or, "I'm having fun," or laugh with each other. 181 00:07:21,374 --> 00:07:22,743 That was transformative, too. 182 00:07:22,843 --> 00:07:25,979 Yeah. It was the Brooklyn Bowl. 183 00:07:26,079 --> 00:07:27,515 I saw your group. 184 00:07:27,615 --> 00:07:29,016 Oh, Princess! 185 00:07:29,116 --> 00:07:30,518 Michelle: That was transformative for me 186 00:07:30,618 --> 00:07:32,152 'cause I'm like, 187 00:07:32,252 --> 00:07:34,087 "You don't have to do straight up stand up. 188 00:07:34,187 --> 00:07:36,990 You could do whatever you want and live your truth on stage." 189 00:07:37,090 --> 00:07:40,794 And so, you love what you do so much that it affected me, 190 00:07:40,894 --> 00:07:42,496 and I was like [Gasps] 191 00:07:42,596 --> 00:07:44,331 Yeah, like, I can think outside the box. 192 00:07:44,431 --> 00:07:46,466 I had such a similar experience 193 00:07:46,567 --> 00:07:48,869 watching Amy and Tina's show in Vegas 194 00:07:48,969 --> 00:07:50,771 because they were just up there fucking around. 195 00:07:50,871 --> 00:07:51,939 -Yeah. -Yeah. 196 00:07:52,039 --> 00:07:53,340 And I loved every minute of it, 197 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:54,675 and they brought out Rachel Dratch. 198 00:07:54,775 --> 00:07:56,944 It was my Super Bowl. [Laughter] 199 00:07:57,044 --> 00:07:58,612 It was my Super Bowl. 200 00:07:58,712 --> 00:08:00,681 You know, I'm with a bunch of other comedy girl nerds. 201 00:08:00,781 --> 00:08:03,316 I'm drunk. I'm like, "Let's go, Rachel!" 202 00:08:03,416 --> 00:08:05,385 It was so crazy, but it was so inspiring then. 203 00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:07,054 You know, okay. 204 00:08:07,154 --> 00:08:09,823 You don't have to be in the trenches forever. 205 00:08:09,923 --> 00:08:12,125 Like, they just represented a sort of freedom to me 206 00:08:12,225 --> 00:08:14,361 that I hope to obtain someday, 207 00:08:14,461 --> 00:08:17,397 'cause right now I'm in the shackles of the -- 208 00:08:17,497 --> 00:08:19,533 [Laughter] 209 00:08:20,467 --> 00:08:21,902 You went straight to shackles. 210 00:08:22,002 --> 00:08:24,071 But you're talking about being deep in it, 211 00:08:24,171 --> 00:08:26,039 and I think that that was one of the things 212 00:08:26,139 --> 00:08:28,876 that I was thinking about in terms of transformative 213 00:08:28,976 --> 00:08:34,682 is that experience, time, appreciation of what you do, 214 00:08:34,782 --> 00:08:36,082 which is what life gives you 215 00:08:36,183 --> 00:08:37,717 when you do something for a long time 216 00:08:37,818 --> 00:08:39,152 will give you that. 217 00:08:39,251 --> 00:08:43,390 So, that is coming 'cause you are working. 218 00:08:43,490 --> 00:08:44,825 -Yes. -Yeah. 219 00:08:44,925 --> 00:08:46,660 Hard. Ego: What beautiful answers. 220 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,328 I'm like, I have -- I know. 221 00:08:48,428 --> 00:08:49,663 So much of what you said -- 222 00:08:49,763 --> 00:08:50,931 and we kind of had a conversation, 223 00:08:51,031 --> 00:08:53,165 the three of us -- I remember. 224 00:08:53,266 --> 00:08:55,102 ...had a conversation in December. 225 00:08:55,202 --> 00:08:58,672 I mean, your voice has been in my head for weeks now. 226 00:08:58,772 --> 00:09:00,440 Because I've been just thinking about you going, 227 00:09:00,540 --> 00:09:02,009 "When I stopped giving a fuck, 228 00:09:02,109 --> 00:09:05,746 it's like, when it started to feel great 229 00:09:05,846 --> 00:09:07,915 and truly just felt like play." 230 00:09:08,015 --> 00:09:10,550 "SNL," the schedule is so intense. Grind. 231 00:09:10,651 --> 00:09:12,552 And we are in such a grind 232 00:09:12,653 --> 00:09:14,922 that when we have weeks off, such as this one, 233 00:09:15,022 --> 00:09:18,525 I like, pop out, and I'm like, "What did I just do?" 234 00:09:18,626 --> 00:09:19,927 It's another world. 235 00:09:20,027 --> 00:09:21,428 -Yeah. -It is. 236 00:09:21,528 --> 00:09:23,063 I truly is another world, and I'm like, 237 00:09:23,163 --> 00:09:24,765 "What just happened to me? 238 00:09:24,865 --> 00:09:26,767 And how do I regain my personhood?" 239 00:09:26,867 --> 00:09:29,903 And so, everything you've said was so meaningful to me then. 240 00:09:30,003 --> 00:09:31,404 It's meaningful to me now. 241 00:09:31,504 --> 00:09:34,207 The thing that felt so transformative for me 242 00:09:34,307 --> 00:09:37,210 is an "SNL" sketch, ironically. 243 00:09:37,310 --> 00:09:40,247 Getting to do Lisa from Temecula the first time -- Yes! 244 00:09:40,347 --> 00:09:44,384 ...was so fucking fun. 245 00:09:44,484 --> 00:09:46,153 It was so much fun, 246 00:09:46,253 --> 00:09:48,455 and people who know me in my personal life 247 00:09:48,555 --> 00:09:50,223 or people who have listened to me 248 00:09:50,323 --> 00:09:52,159 be insane on podcasts are like, 249 00:09:52,259 --> 00:09:55,562 "That's the most 'her' thing I've seen her do on the show." 250 00:09:55,663 --> 00:09:57,164 And I go, five years. 251 00:09:57,264 --> 00:09:58,498 [Laughter] 252 00:09:58,598 --> 00:10:00,000 And, you know, some people go, 253 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:01,735 "You should write more things like that." 254 00:10:01,835 --> 00:10:02,970 I go, "Baby, if you knew how the process works..." 255 00:10:03,070 --> 00:10:05,072 -Yes! -It don't work that way. 256 00:10:05,172 --> 00:10:06,506 And then the night of, 257 00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:07,908 we didn't think the sketch was going to go 258 00:10:08,008 --> 00:10:09,843 'cause it was bumpy at rehearsal. 259 00:10:09,943 --> 00:10:13,146 And when Tom Broecker, who's our wardrobe guy at "SNL" 260 00:10:13,246 --> 00:10:15,115 came by and was, like, announcing in the hallway, 261 00:10:15,215 --> 00:10:16,784 like, "We're doing 'Lisa.' Get dressed for 'Lisa.'" 262 00:10:16,884 --> 00:10:19,119 And I kind of was like, "Really? Okay. 263 00:10:19,219 --> 00:10:21,188 It's the last sketch of the night, whatever." 264 00:10:21,288 --> 00:10:22,589 And I was getting to improvise 265 00:10:22,690 --> 00:10:24,024 'cause the chair wasn't supposed to fall. 266 00:10:24,124 --> 00:10:26,193 And I was like, "I'm getting to be -- 267 00:10:26,293 --> 00:10:27,828 I'm getting to do the thing that I do." 268 00:10:27,928 --> 00:10:30,363 Yeah. I'm so passionate about improv. 269 00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:32,465 So, I was like, "This was so fun and liberating." 270 00:10:32,565 --> 00:10:34,634 And I could not have planned for it. 271 00:10:34,735 --> 00:10:36,269 I could not have worked for it. 272 00:10:36,369 --> 00:10:37,504 I just had to play. Yeah. 273 00:10:37,604 --> 00:10:39,106 So, that felt very good to me. 274 00:10:39,206 --> 00:10:40,808 Yeah. Maya: Sometimes we -- "Sometimes." 275 00:10:40,908 --> 00:10:43,343 I get in my way all the time. 276 00:10:43,443 --> 00:10:44,845 So it's... 277 00:10:44,945 --> 00:10:47,681 In your case, it sounds like, you know, 278 00:10:47,781 --> 00:10:49,649 forcing yourself out of those patterns 279 00:10:49,750 --> 00:10:52,052 is obviously what was transformative. 280 00:10:52,152 --> 00:10:54,955 And sometimes the most transformative periods 281 00:10:55,055 --> 00:10:56,857 are the most painful or, you know, 282 00:10:56,957 --> 00:10:58,191 coming out of the hardest thing. 283 00:10:58,290 --> 00:11:00,460 So, I get that. Yeah. 284 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:02,529 My transformative moment was also 285 00:11:02,629 --> 00:11:04,865 when I booked my first big show -- 286 00:11:04,965 --> 00:11:06,633 "Hamilton." 287 00:11:06,734 --> 00:11:08,468 I mean, it was far, like, far off Broadway. 288 00:11:08,568 --> 00:11:10,370 I mean, it was so far, I had to take the A train 289 00:11:10,470 --> 00:11:13,140 to the D train to Uber to the G train. 290 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:14,875 Guys, enough about me. 291 00:11:14,975 --> 00:11:17,210 More with our comedy panel when we come back. 292 00:11:17,310 --> 00:11:24,317 * 293 00:11:25,085 --> 00:11:31,091 * 294 00:11:31,191 --> 00:11:33,894 Welcome back to "Off Script with the Hollywood Reporter." 295 00:11:33,994 --> 00:11:37,164 Let's pick things back up with our comedy actress round table. 296 00:11:37,264 --> 00:11:40,200 Renee, I've heard you tell a story 297 00:11:40,300 --> 00:11:42,870 where you go home, you go to church -- 298 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:46,439 Yes, I have. ...and there is a reverend 299 00:11:46,539 --> 00:11:49,042 who lists off all of your credentials 300 00:11:49,142 --> 00:11:50,577 and then introduces you. 301 00:11:50,677 --> 00:11:52,245 Yes. And you are flabbergasted. 302 00:11:52,345 --> 00:11:53,413 Yes. Wow. 303 00:11:53,513 --> 00:11:55,548 So, it's 2005. 304 00:11:55,648 --> 00:11:57,350 I was starring in a soap opera, 305 00:11:57,450 --> 00:12:02,689 and I was in a Broadway show, "The Color Purple." 306 00:12:02,790 --> 00:12:03,891 Heard of it. I've heard of it. 307 00:12:03,991 --> 00:12:05,592 Renee: The first one. 308 00:12:05,692 --> 00:12:07,761 So, I went home to visit my dad, and we were at church, 309 00:12:07,861 --> 00:12:10,230 and then the reverend started saying, 310 00:12:10,330 --> 00:12:13,366 "We have a guest in the house!" [Laughter] 311 00:12:13,466 --> 00:12:16,469 "Oh, saints! Today..." 312 00:12:16,569 --> 00:12:18,205 And then he started, you know, 313 00:12:18,305 --> 00:12:21,108 going on this list of these great, wonderful... 314 00:12:21,208 --> 00:12:23,210 "And she did this, and she did that." 315 00:12:23,310 --> 00:12:24,912 And I'm looking around like, 316 00:12:25,012 --> 00:12:27,080 "Who is in the house when I'm here?" 317 00:12:27,180 --> 00:12:28,916 Like, I'm so excited. 318 00:12:29,016 --> 00:12:30,984 And at the very end, he says, 319 00:12:31,084 --> 00:12:33,720 "Ron Goldsberry's daughter, Renee Goldsberry!" 320 00:12:33,821 --> 00:12:35,755 And I'm shocked. 321 00:12:35,856 --> 00:12:37,958 Because, I mean, he literally said everything I was doing, 322 00:12:38,058 --> 00:12:40,727 but I didn't recognize myself. Whoa. 323 00:12:40,828 --> 00:12:42,562 Because the year I had, 324 00:12:42,662 --> 00:12:45,765 I had had two very painful miscarriages. 325 00:12:45,866 --> 00:12:47,600 One was in the second trimester. 326 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:50,437 It was terribly emotionally painful. 327 00:12:50,537 --> 00:12:52,439 I mean, like, it was just so much 328 00:12:52,539 --> 00:12:54,274 that had gone on in that year. 329 00:12:54,374 --> 00:12:55,943 And so, I stood up, and I was like, 330 00:12:56,043 --> 00:12:57,577 "Thank you," you know, and I sat down. 331 00:12:57,677 --> 00:12:59,980 But what I realized is that 332 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:04,284 people don't do anyone a service in this world 333 00:13:04,384 --> 00:13:06,286 by reading these bios 334 00:13:06,386 --> 00:13:07,921 that are not representative of who we are. 335 00:13:08,021 --> 00:13:10,123 To tell, you know, "Renee Elise Goldsberry, 336 00:13:10,223 --> 00:13:11,992 she's a Tony winner and a..." 337 00:13:12,092 --> 00:13:14,794 Like, this is how they say these things to introduce you. 338 00:13:14,895 --> 00:13:16,096 But it really isn't who you are. 339 00:13:16,196 --> 00:13:17,831 And, quite honestly, 340 00:13:17,931 --> 00:13:19,933 it's not the most valuable part of who you are. 341 00:13:20,033 --> 00:13:22,836 That's what they want you to be. What's most valuable about me 342 00:13:22,936 --> 00:13:25,605 are the things that I survived. 343 00:13:25,705 --> 00:13:27,540 Like, I'm super excited to hear, 344 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:28,942 "Oh, you guys might want to have k--" 345 00:13:29,042 --> 00:13:30,844 I got stories. She's got stories. 346 00:13:30,944 --> 00:13:33,546 I'm pretty sure you can figure out how to win a Tony. Yeah. 347 00:13:33,646 --> 00:13:37,951 But what you might not know is how you keep going -- Yeah. 348 00:13:38,051 --> 00:13:41,521 ...when you are trying to do two things at the same time. 349 00:13:41,621 --> 00:13:42,655 You have this many years, you think, 350 00:13:42,755 --> 00:13:44,191 to make it in your career, 351 00:13:44,290 --> 00:13:46,493 and you have this many minutes to have a baby. 352 00:13:46,593 --> 00:13:47,895 How am I going to do this? 353 00:13:47,995 --> 00:13:49,696 We got answers. Yeah. 354 00:13:49,796 --> 00:13:52,465 I mean, maybe not answers, but we've got experience. 355 00:13:52,565 --> 00:13:56,136 All: Yeah. Renee: And so I just felt so strongly, 356 00:13:56,236 --> 00:14:00,840 we have to do a better job of telling the world who we are. 357 00:14:00,941 --> 00:14:03,076 I'm so grateful for opportunities like that 358 00:14:03,176 --> 00:14:04,744 because I sit down at a table like this, 359 00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:07,014 and I'm looking I'm like, "Oh, my God! 360 00:14:07,114 --> 00:14:08,748 My publicists are killing it!" 361 00:14:08,848 --> 00:14:10,483 [Laughter] 362 00:14:10,583 --> 00:14:12,886 "I finally get to sit with these powerful women 363 00:14:12,986 --> 00:14:15,822 that are like -- they're like my heroes, right? 364 00:14:15,923 --> 00:14:17,590 And why am I here?" 365 00:14:17,690 --> 00:14:19,159 Like, no one wants to hear about the impostor syndrome, 366 00:14:19,259 --> 00:14:21,728 but I tell myself when I walk out here, 367 00:14:21,828 --> 00:14:24,998 "Can I please find something to say 368 00:14:25,098 --> 00:14:28,001 that really is representative of what matters?" 369 00:14:28,101 --> 00:14:29,669 -Yeah. -You know what I mean? 370 00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:31,871 Like, nothing else matters but finding ways 371 00:14:31,972 --> 00:14:33,773 to connect to each other 372 00:14:33,873 --> 00:14:36,109 that, like, just help us along the journey. 373 00:14:36,209 --> 00:14:38,578 I hear myself saying back to my kids sometimes, 374 00:14:38,678 --> 00:14:42,182 "You have to tell people who you are." 375 00:14:42,282 --> 00:14:44,384 You mentioned it earlier in terms of work 376 00:14:44,484 --> 00:14:46,053 about whether, you know, 377 00:14:46,153 --> 00:14:48,188 sometimes you're showing your dramatic side, 378 00:14:48,288 --> 00:14:50,190 and people think, "Oh, that's who you are now?" 379 00:14:50,290 --> 00:14:51,624 Or, "We didn't know you could do that." 380 00:14:51,724 --> 00:14:53,893 You didn't know I could be a human being 381 00:14:53,994 --> 00:14:55,963 that had more than one feeling? 382 00:14:56,063 --> 00:14:59,199 Because people want you to be who they want you to be 383 00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:01,368 How they know you. Exactly. 384 00:15:01,468 --> 00:15:05,939 They introduce you with is kind of the first thing you did. 385 00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:08,141 -Yes. -Yeah. 386 00:15:08,241 --> 00:15:13,046 And I know in my experience of being an other forever, 387 00:15:13,146 --> 00:15:14,714 from the beginning, 388 00:15:14,814 --> 00:15:16,950 I had to tell people who I was. 389 00:15:17,050 --> 00:15:18,618 I had to figure out who I was. Yes. 390 00:15:18,718 --> 00:15:20,053 I got to keep figuring it out. 391 00:15:20,153 --> 00:15:21,154 And I was just going to say that. 392 00:15:21,254 --> 00:15:23,056 And I still figure it out. 393 00:15:23,156 --> 00:15:27,827 But for right now, for today, I have to let people know, 394 00:15:27,927 --> 00:15:30,297 because people love to make assumptions. 395 00:15:30,397 --> 00:15:32,799 You know, and we want to preserve our humanity. 396 00:15:32,899 --> 00:15:34,234 And when people make those assumptions, 397 00:15:34,334 --> 00:15:36,736 it strips your humanity from you, 398 00:15:36,836 --> 00:15:39,239 which also takes away your ability to be an artist, 399 00:15:39,339 --> 00:15:42,342 which is ultimately why I think all of us are here. 400 00:15:42,442 --> 00:15:45,578 This is an art form, a craft, something that we wake up, 401 00:15:45,678 --> 00:15:49,682 and, you know, you just do, and you can't not do it. 402 00:15:49,782 --> 00:15:51,918 I've known who I am for a very long time. 403 00:15:52,019 --> 00:15:53,920 So, it got interesting to be thrust into a spotlight 404 00:15:54,021 --> 00:15:55,655 and then people telling me who I am. 405 00:15:55,755 --> 00:15:58,858 And I'm like, you actually don't know. 406 00:15:58,958 --> 00:16:00,693 And thank you for supporting me. 407 00:16:00,793 --> 00:16:02,429 Thank you for your love, 408 00:16:02,529 --> 00:16:03,997 but, like, I might do some different shit tomorrow. 409 00:16:04,097 --> 00:16:05,532 -Right. -Yeah. 410 00:16:05,632 --> 00:16:08,435 And you might not like it, and that's okay, too. 411 00:16:08,535 --> 00:16:10,470 But I do need you to show up and watch "Abbott Elementary." 412 00:16:10,570 --> 00:16:12,505 [Laughter] 413 00:16:13,540 --> 00:16:15,042 It's high school to people, and it's like, 414 00:16:15,142 --> 00:16:17,610 you're the this girl, you're the that girl, 415 00:16:17,710 --> 00:16:19,146 you're the that girl. 416 00:16:19,246 --> 00:16:21,114 And that's how they see you in their heads. 417 00:16:21,214 --> 00:16:22,482 If you get outside of that box, 418 00:16:22,582 --> 00:16:23,850 they almost get violent towards you. 419 00:16:23,950 --> 00:16:27,020 "What are you doing? What are you doing?" 420 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,988 This is part of who I am. Right. 421 00:16:29,089 --> 00:16:30,557 It can be so frustrating. 422 00:16:30,657 --> 00:16:32,625 You feel so fortunate to be able to do what you do 423 00:16:32,725 --> 00:16:35,795 and to be on TV and perform what you're passionate about. 424 00:16:35,895 --> 00:16:38,898 But I'm like, I want you to know my humanity, too. 425 00:16:38,998 --> 00:16:41,734 I am but a human walking on this planet. 426 00:16:41,834 --> 00:16:44,071 Yeah, man. Just trying to do this kooky thing. 427 00:16:44,171 --> 00:16:46,306 Just... 428 00:16:46,406 --> 00:16:48,007 And that, what you people have done, is insanity. 429 00:16:48,108 --> 00:16:49,842 Like, when I was little, I wanted to be on "SNL," 430 00:16:49,942 --> 00:16:51,511 and then I hosted "SNL." 431 00:16:51,611 --> 00:16:54,214 I was like, "I am so saved." 432 00:16:54,314 --> 00:16:58,017 But "SNL" is you know, a similar, you know, whatever. 433 00:16:58,118 --> 00:17:00,920 Like, Abbott is a...whatever. Pace. 434 00:17:01,020 --> 00:17:02,655 So, I get parts of it. 435 00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:05,023 But, man, you guys have to show up... Be immersed. 436 00:17:05,125 --> 00:17:07,327 You have to show up every week on Saturday. 437 00:17:07,426 --> 00:17:09,028 Doesn't matter if you're having a bad day. 438 00:17:09,128 --> 00:17:11,064 It doesn't matter if -- you know what I mean? 439 00:17:11,164 --> 00:17:13,031 It doesn't matter if you had a miscarriage. 440 00:17:13,133 --> 00:17:14,733 Guess what? No one cares. 441 00:17:14,834 --> 00:17:16,935 You better get on that sketch and say the damn words. 442 00:17:17,036 --> 00:17:18,605 Get that "on" laugh. 443 00:17:18,704 --> 00:17:21,241 But to your point, I got to do a college show, 444 00:17:21,340 --> 00:17:22,275 and my favorite part at the end, 445 00:17:22,375 --> 00:17:23,910 I got to ask the students, 446 00:17:24,010 --> 00:17:25,612 I'm like, "Anyone have any questions for me?" 447 00:17:25,712 --> 00:17:27,247 And one girl put her hand up and was like, 448 00:17:27,347 --> 00:17:28,548 How do you get over a break-up?" 449 00:17:28,648 --> 00:17:30,183 Aww! 450 00:17:30,283 --> 00:17:31,618 I am so deep-- Yes! 451 00:17:31,718 --> 00:17:33,120 This is going to stick with me forever. 452 00:17:33,220 --> 00:17:35,555 I got to do my he-he-ha-has, which I love. 453 00:17:35,655 --> 00:17:37,690 And I was like, "Ah! A human moment." 454 00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:39,426 A human moment. "I want to hug you." 455 00:17:39,526 --> 00:17:40,560 And I did -- I asked for permission. 456 00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:42,229 I hugged her, and I told her, 457 00:17:42,329 --> 00:17:43,630 I was like, "I now know. 458 00:17:43,730 --> 00:17:45,265 I can give you my advice." 459 00:17:45,365 --> 00:17:48,701 Yeah. "So, my hell, I can help you." 460 00:17:48,801 --> 00:17:49,936 -Yeah. -Yes. 461 00:17:50,036 --> 00:17:51,638 I'm like, "I can help." 462 00:17:51,738 --> 00:17:53,373 And that was so meaningful to me, and I'm like, 463 00:17:53,473 --> 00:17:56,109 I want to be able to connect with people in that way. 464 00:17:56,209 --> 00:17:57,777 And I love making people laugh, 465 00:17:57,877 --> 00:17:59,279 but I love the conversations we've had. 466 00:17:59,379 --> 00:18:01,581 I love the conversation. You know? 467 00:18:01,681 --> 00:18:03,883 That's what makes me feel most alive. 468 00:18:03,983 --> 00:18:05,452 Now I don't know about you, 469 00:18:05,552 --> 00:18:07,120 but I felt like passing that offering bucket, 470 00:18:07,220 --> 00:18:09,389 'cause Renee took us to church when she said, 471 00:18:09,489 --> 00:18:11,924 "Our worth is not our work." 472 00:18:12,024 --> 00:18:13,360 Hello. 473 00:18:13,526 --> 00:18:20,032 * 474 00:18:20,833 --> 00:18:27,640 * 475 00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:30,009 Kristen and Maya, you have both been in the position 476 00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:31,911 that Ego is in right now. 477 00:18:32,011 --> 00:18:34,113 I'm curious sort of what the advice you would give 478 00:18:34,214 --> 00:18:37,450 about A, how to navigate a place like "Saturday Night Live," 479 00:18:37,550 --> 00:18:41,521 but also how to navigate what comes after "SNL" 480 00:18:41,621 --> 00:18:44,757 and knowing when it is time to move on 481 00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:46,793 from a place like that. 482 00:18:46,893 --> 00:18:49,929 That's a good question. I don't think you can navigate it. 483 00:18:50,029 --> 00:18:51,531 That's how you navigate it. 484 00:18:51,631 --> 00:18:52,665 Like, I don't -- Maya: Everybody's different. 485 00:18:52,765 --> 00:18:54,834 It's not a place -- 486 00:18:54,934 --> 00:18:59,372 Like, I got the sense of the place when I got there, 487 00:18:59,472 --> 00:19:01,140 and I felt uncomfortable. 488 00:19:01,241 --> 00:19:03,443 And I was like, "Oh, that's the show?" 489 00:19:03,543 --> 00:19:05,945 And I was like, "Oh, the moment I feel like I belong here 490 00:19:06,045 --> 00:19:07,614 is when I got to go." 491 00:19:07,714 --> 00:19:11,484 There's a sense of, like, you have to just embrace 492 00:19:11,584 --> 00:19:14,954 that, like, you're not going to figure it out. 493 00:19:15,054 --> 00:19:16,323 And I don't know if that's helpful. 494 00:19:16,423 --> 00:19:18,391 It's so personalized. 495 00:19:18,491 --> 00:19:21,394 Everyone there has a completely different experience. 496 00:19:21,494 --> 00:19:23,496 Because you also have such an expectation. 497 00:19:23,596 --> 00:19:25,131 It's something that's a part of your life 498 00:19:25,232 --> 00:19:27,234 that you've been watching, and then you get there, 499 00:19:27,334 --> 00:19:29,068 and you think it's going to be something. 500 00:19:29,168 --> 00:19:32,572 And expectation usually leads to discipline. 501 00:19:32,672 --> 00:19:34,674 So, there's that. 502 00:19:34,774 --> 00:19:36,643 But then I remember hearing you say that, 503 00:19:36,743 --> 00:19:40,380 that you knew when it was time to go when you were comfortable. 504 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,215 I didn't know. 505 00:19:42,315 --> 00:19:43,550 I think I thought, "Oh, this is going to be the end for me. 506 00:19:43,650 --> 00:19:45,218 I'm going to be there forever," 507 00:19:45,318 --> 00:19:47,920 and then I didn't know how to navigate getting out. 508 00:19:48,020 --> 00:19:51,391 But at the same time, what it's given me -- 509 00:19:51,491 --> 00:19:54,327 I mean, I'm happy to talk about "SNL," 510 00:19:54,427 --> 00:19:56,563 and I don't work there anymore, 511 00:19:56,663 --> 00:20:01,568 but it's given me a foundation that has been transformative. 512 00:20:01,668 --> 00:20:03,670 [Indistinct chatter] 513 00:20:08,475 --> 00:20:12,912 But it has given me skills that I use all the time. Yeah. 514 00:20:13,012 --> 00:20:15,382 I problem-solve in a different way. 515 00:20:15,482 --> 00:20:17,183 I... I mean, collaboration. 516 00:20:17,284 --> 00:20:19,452 Collaboration. You learn how to work with people. 517 00:20:19,552 --> 00:20:21,087 And also, like, when people say, 518 00:20:21,187 --> 00:20:22,789 "We can't do that." I know we can. 519 00:20:22,889 --> 00:20:24,524 Quinta: Yeah, yeah. 520 00:20:24,624 --> 00:20:26,359 And when they say we only have this amount of time. 521 00:20:26,459 --> 00:20:29,962 You're like, I can go from this costume to that in 45 seconds. 522 00:20:30,062 --> 00:20:32,632 You're telling me we have three minutes? That's a long time. 523 00:20:32,732 --> 00:20:34,133 [Laughter] 524 00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:35,568 It's a skill set. 525 00:20:35,668 --> 00:20:38,237 You are learning comedy combat. Yeah. 526 00:20:38,338 --> 00:20:41,808 And you have a skill set now that you cannot teach. 527 00:20:41,908 --> 00:20:43,310 It has to be learned. 528 00:20:43,410 --> 00:20:45,945 And you can take it with you anywhere. 529 00:20:46,045 --> 00:20:47,880 Quinta: It is unreal. It's unreal. I feel it. 530 00:20:47,980 --> 00:20:50,917 I live for the grind and the discomfort of it all. 531 00:20:51,017 --> 00:20:52,919 But then, of course, you want to be pissed about it sometimes, 532 00:20:53,019 --> 00:20:54,454 like, it's uncomfortable. Yeah. 533 00:20:54,554 --> 00:20:57,256 But when you speak about expectations going in, 534 00:20:57,357 --> 00:20:59,992 going in as the seventh Black woman on the cast, 535 00:21:00,092 --> 00:21:02,061 it was this whole -- 536 00:21:02,161 --> 00:21:03,330 what's that experience going to be like? 537 00:21:03,430 --> 00:21:05,164 And I was like, I have 538 00:21:05,264 --> 00:21:07,767 relatively low expectations for what it's going to be. 539 00:21:07,867 --> 00:21:10,470 I was just like, "I don't know that it's going to be great." 540 00:21:10,570 --> 00:21:12,305 And then moments where it feels so sweet, 541 00:21:12,405 --> 00:21:13,906 the highs feel so high. 542 00:21:14,006 --> 00:21:15,274 -Mm-hmm. -Mm-hmm. 543 00:21:15,375 --> 00:21:16,943 And then I'm like, "Well, I want -- 544 00:21:17,043 --> 00:21:19,812 I want that drug. I want more of that drug." 545 00:21:19,912 --> 00:21:22,248 And that's the thing I've been talking to myself about. 546 00:21:22,349 --> 00:21:25,518 There is such peace in the surrender to the process, 547 00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:28,087 surrender to the fact that it is a puzzle 548 00:21:28,187 --> 00:21:29,356 you're not really going to solve. 549 00:21:29,456 --> 00:21:31,424 It's not really a math equation, 550 00:21:31,524 --> 00:21:35,628 and that pressure and discomfort you feel is the thing. 551 00:21:35,728 --> 00:21:37,464 Lacey: Michelle, I've heard you say 552 00:21:37,564 --> 00:21:39,332 that you're grateful to Netflix for -- 553 00:21:39,432 --> 00:21:40,933 and I'm going to quote you here because it's too fun. 554 00:21:41,033 --> 00:21:42,969 Uh-oh. No, no, no. 555 00:21:43,069 --> 00:21:44,837 "Believing in a bitch, 556 00:21:44,937 --> 00:21:47,540 because I've been tap-dancing for multiple networks 557 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,842 for a good while, and my knees are tired." 558 00:21:49,942 --> 00:21:50,977 [Laughter] 559 00:21:51,077 --> 00:21:52,679 Accurate. 560 00:21:52,779 --> 00:21:55,047 I didn't know you could tap dance. 561 00:21:55,147 --> 00:21:56,983 [Laughter] 562 00:21:57,083 --> 00:21:59,386 I have been tap-dancing for the patriarchy for a good while. 563 00:21:59,486 --> 00:22:01,554 And my knees are tired, but fish oil helps. 564 00:22:01,654 --> 00:22:03,322 [Laughter] 565 00:22:03,423 --> 00:22:05,157 Noted. 566 00:22:05,257 --> 00:22:06,526 What do you think the sort of pivot was about? 567 00:22:06,626 --> 00:22:09,028 Where all of a sudden, it was, "Yes, 568 00:22:09,128 --> 00:22:13,299 we accept you and your ideas and this vision"? 569 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,002 Auditioning for multiple networks 570 00:22:16,102 --> 00:22:18,871 that have different types of comedy. 571 00:22:18,971 --> 00:22:20,640 Chasing that for a good decade 572 00:22:20,740 --> 00:22:23,876 felt like I was also chasing the wrong person to be with 573 00:22:23,976 --> 00:22:28,047 and I was constantly trying to be whatever they needed. 574 00:22:28,147 --> 00:22:31,984 I was always the bridesmaid, LOL, for so long. 575 00:22:32,084 --> 00:22:33,920 And I couldn't understand why 576 00:22:34,020 --> 00:22:35,555 'cause I was doing everything I was supposed to do. 577 00:22:35,655 --> 00:22:36,889 I did everything. 578 00:22:36,989 --> 00:22:38,891 You know, I practiced, 579 00:22:38,991 --> 00:22:41,894 and, you know, I'm a fun person on set. 580 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:43,930 You know, I like food trucks. 581 00:22:44,030 --> 00:22:46,132 [Laughter] 582 00:22:47,634 --> 00:22:48,901 I'm dynamic. I'm charming. 583 00:22:49,001 --> 00:22:51,103 I want to know your inner child. 584 00:22:51,203 --> 00:22:53,840 And something really shifted 585 00:22:53,940 --> 00:22:58,377 when I realized I wanted to have kids and how hard that was. 586 00:22:58,478 --> 00:22:59,879 And I started doing IVF, 587 00:22:59,979 --> 00:23:01,848 and then I was traveling myself 588 00:23:01,948 --> 00:23:04,116 in a middle seat for a chemistry test, 589 00:23:04,216 --> 00:23:05,685 and then I have to get a note from the doctors 590 00:23:05,785 --> 00:23:07,286 to bring these needles for the IVF, 591 00:23:07,386 --> 00:23:09,021 to put them through security. 592 00:23:09,121 --> 00:23:11,524 Then I have to go put progesterones suppositories 593 00:23:11,624 --> 00:23:13,726 up my coochie, wash my hands, 594 00:23:13,826 --> 00:23:15,595 go shake the casting director's hand. 595 00:23:15,695 --> 00:23:17,930 'Cause it's in, hope it's not coming out my pants. 596 00:23:18,030 --> 00:23:20,533 How's everyone doing? Oh, this is great. 597 00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:22,735 Do one for you. Did it. Started crying at the end. 598 00:23:22,835 --> 00:23:24,203 It doesn't say you're supposed to cry. 599 00:23:24,303 --> 00:23:25,638 I know. It's a choice. 600 00:23:25,738 --> 00:23:27,574 [Laughter] 601 00:23:27,674 --> 00:23:29,542 Because I was so outside of my body, 602 00:23:29,642 --> 00:23:31,544 trying to really make something else work in my life 603 00:23:31,644 --> 00:23:33,412 that was so hard, and I was going through so much, 604 00:23:33,513 --> 00:23:35,582 and I wasn't allowed to say anything. 605 00:23:35,682 --> 00:23:37,750 'Cause I was still supposed to be happy clown. 606 00:23:37,850 --> 00:23:40,453 That's kind of when I started booking, 607 00:23:40,553 --> 00:23:42,822 when I stopped really giving a fuck 608 00:23:42,922 --> 00:23:45,091 because I didn't have the bandwidth to. 609 00:23:45,191 --> 00:23:46,893 Because she was a mess. 610 00:23:46,993 --> 00:23:49,295 She was a mess. 611 00:23:49,395 --> 00:23:51,498 But the great thing, working with Netflix 612 00:23:51,598 --> 00:23:53,399 is that there's so many different divisions, 613 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:55,301 and I love to host, you know, I used to -- 614 00:23:55,401 --> 00:23:58,004 Mm-hmm. I have a news background. 615 00:23:58,104 --> 00:23:59,906 You know, I love acting, and I love stand-up. 616 00:24:00,006 --> 00:24:03,109 And so I just have a license to do me. 617 00:24:03,209 --> 00:24:04,977 But I really didn't even understand 618 00:24:05,077 --> 00:24:06,145 that I had license to me. 619 00:24:06,245 --> 00:24:07,647 I thought I was doing me. 620 00:24:07,747 --> 00:24:09,482 But my body and the universe was like, 621 00:24:09,582 --> 00:24:11,918 "No, bitch, have several seats." 622 00:24:12,018 --> 00:24:15,755 And so, you know, after you know, five years of IVF 623 00:24:15,855 --> 00:24:17,189 and some losses, you know, 624 00:24:17,289 --> 00:24:19,091 we welcomed twins via surrogacy. 625 00:24:19,191 --> 00:24:20,927 Yay! Yeah. 626 00:24:21,027 --> 00:24:23,029 And that made me just so, like, 627 00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:24,797 when I say thankful, 628 00:24:24,897 --> 00:24:27,600 I mean, like, I am thankful to be in traffic -- 629 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:29,536 Mm-hmm. ...with these kids. 630 00:24:29,636 --> 00:24:32,271 I am thankful, like, for every single moment. 631 00:24:32,371 --> 00:24:36,776 Like, it feels like nobody can yuck my yum. 632 00:24:36,876 --> 00:24:38,310 You know what I mean? 633 00:24:38,410 --> 00:24:39,679 And when people are going through some shit, 634 00:24:39,779 --> 00:24:41,380 especially, like, on set, I'm like, 635 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:42,982 "Please go take 10 minutes. 636 00:24:43,082 --> 00:24:44,483 Take 20 minutes. 637 00:24:44,584 --> 00:24:46,653 Gather yourself. I understand. 638 00:24:46,753 --> 00:24:48,555 You want to drink? I got some chilled rosé." 639 00:24:48,655 --> 00:24:51,023 [Laughter] 640 00:24:51,123 --> 00:24:53,560 Coming back with our comedy actress round table, 641 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:54,927 right after this. 642 00:24:55,094 --> 00:25:01,100 * 643 00:25:02,468 --> 00:25:09,141 * 644 00:25:09,241 --> 00:25:11,510 Lacey: Quinta, I feel like you had recently talked about 645 00:25:11,611 --> 00:25:13,179 wanting to adapt "The Guest," 646 00:25:13,279 --> 00:25:15,815 and you wondered whether that was something 647 00:25:15,915 --> 00:25:18,918 you would be able -- that you would be trusted with. Mm-hmm. 648 00:25:19,018 --> 00:25:20,419 And you said because you're a Black woman, 649 00:25:20,519 --> 00:25:22,722 this is not a Black story. 650 00:25:22,822 --> 00:25:24,356 Is that from personal experience, 651 00:25:24,456 --> 00:25:26,058 or is that based on the experiences 652 00:25:26,158 --> 00:25:27,660 of those that came before you, 653 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,429 and thus, it was an assumption? 654 00:25:30,529 --> 00:25:32,098 It was an assumption 655 00:25:32,198 --> 00:25:33,900 because similar to the boxes we were talking about, 656 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,903 what you start out with or what people know you for -- 657 00:25:37,003 --> 00:25:39,438 'cause, you know, "Abbott" is not what I started out with. 658 00:25:39,538 --> 00:25:41,774 It is what people know me for, which I'm grateful. 659 00:25:41,874 --> 00:25:43,509 "The Guest" was a book I read, 660 00:25:43,610 --> 00:25:46,078 and I felt like, "I see the vision. I can adapt this." 661 00:25:46,178 --> 00:25:48,247 I really don't feel that way with books. 662 00:25:48,347 --> 00:25:50,282 I read a lot of books, and I love them. 663 00:25:50,382 --> 00:25:53,853 But that was one where I said, "Oh, man, I have the bug." 664 00:25:53,953 --> 00:25:58,691 I have the bug to adapt. I have the bug to, like, direct. 665 00:25:58,791 --> 00:26:00,793 I don't really have that bug. 666 00:26:00,893 --> 00:26:04,697 And I think it's so far from who I am as a person 667 00:26:04,797 --> 00:26:07,466 that I do wonder if it'll become a struggle 668 00:26:07,566 --> 00:26:10,269 to try to make things that aren't about me. 669 00:26:10,369 --> 00:26:12,772 Another thing that was interesting with making "Abbott" 670 00:26:12,872 --> 00:26:15,407 is it is inspired by my mom's story. 671 00:26:15,507 --> 00:26:17,644 But I don't believe that's what makes it good. 672 00:26:17,744 --> 00:26:19,311 I study comedy. I do this. 673 00:26:19,411 --> 00:26:22,048 It's a good comedy because I like comedy. 674 00:26:22,148 --> 00:26:24,250 I hope that I don't have to get caught in the trap 675 00:26:24,350 --> 00:26:27,119 of being the source material 676 00:26:27,219 --> 00:26:29,622 because I don't want to be the source material forever. 677 00:26:29,722 --> 00:26:31,290 I don't think there's freedom in that. 678 00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:33,559 Like, if I'm supposed to keep making shows or movies 679 00:26:33,660 --> 00:26:36,262 about myself, that is so limiting, 680 00:26:36,362 --> 00:26:37,964 and it goes into what we're talking about. 681 00:26:38,064 --> 00:26:41,500 I don't want to keep excavating my soul to make things. 682 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,335 And I think it has become an expectation 683 00:26:43,435 --> 00:26:45,137 for people of color. 684 00:26:45,237 --> 00:26:49,909 And it's not an expectation for white people, white men. 685 00:26:50,009 --> 00:26:52,244 But I think for a lot of Black women, they're like, 686 00:26:52,344 --> 00:26:54,080 "Give us your insides." 687 00:26:54,180 --> 00:26:55,514 And I don't want to do that anymore. 688 00:26:55,614 --> 00:26:57,149 If I want to make a show about a dinosaur, 689 00:26:57,249 --> 00:26:58,617 I want to be able to make a show about a dinosaur. 690 00:26:58,718 --> 00:27:00,419 And not a black dinosaur. 691 00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:03,489 Just like a green dinosaur, just a regular dinosaur. 692 00:27:03,589 --> 00:27:06,258 That dinosaur could be blue. It could be blue. 693 00:27:06,358 --> 00:27:09,996 But that's a thing that maybe isn't that relatable, 694 00:27:10,096 --> 00:27:11,630 but I feel hyper-specific 695 00:27:11,731 --> 00:27:14,533 is, like, something that I feel I experience 696 00:27:14,633 --> 00:27:17,636 and many other creators of color. 697 00:27:17,737 --> 00:27:20,039 Why do I got to bring my trauma with my mom -- 698 00:27:20,139 --> 00:27:23,642 I had manager say, "Oh, your mom's story is so incredible. 699 00:27:23,743 --> 00:27:25,444 Like, we're going to make a TV show of that." 700 00:27:25,544 --> 00:27:27,847 and I was like, "That's a drama I don't want to do." 701 00:27:27,947 --> 00:27:29,448 I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that drama. 702 00:27:29,548 --> 00:27:31,050 Lacey: "I lived it." 703 00:27:31,150 --> 00:27:33,219 I wouldn't even want to do that to my mother. 704 00:27:33,319 --> 00:27:34,687 Right. 705 00:27:34,787 --> 00:27:36,555 I don't think she wants her story -- 706 00:27:36,655 --> 00:27:39,191 You know, I was like, "That's such a fascinating instinct 707 00:27:39,291 --> 00:27:40,727 once you've heard a bit about me." 708 00:27:40,827 --> 00:27:42,528 Like, "We're going to make that a show." 709 00:27:42,628 --> 00:27:45,064 And I'm like, "It's not for consumption." Exactly. 710 00:27:45,164 --> 00:27:47,499 For me, it's such an honor and a privilege 711 00:27:47,599 --> 00:27:50,136 to be a plus-sized woman writing stories 712 00:27:50,236 --> 00:27:52,371 about my New York -- Mm-hmm. 713 00:27:52,471 --> 00:27:54,841 ...with non binary people and trans people. 714 00:27:54,941 --> 00:27:59,511 But I shouldn't have to have a meeting about code switching. 715 00:27:59,611 --> 00:28:01,914 Yeah. And explain to you why 716 00:28:02,014 --> 00:28:06,753 this black woman who is 53 is a millionaire and a boss. 717 00:28:06,853 --> 00:28:08,755 But she also says the N-word. 718 00:28:08,855 --> 00:28:10,689 She's also bisexual. 719 00:28:10,790 --> 00:28:12,825 She's a lot of other things that you probably can't understand. 720 00:28:12,925 --> 00:28:15,094 But don't worry about it. Those people do exist. 721 00:28:15,194 --> 00:28:17,329 Woman: Mm-hmm. 722 00:28:17,429 --> 00:28:20,833 And so, like just explaining that to people is so crazy. 723 00:28:20,933 --> 00:28:22,568 I know this sounds crazy, 724 00:28:22,668 --> 00:28:24,670 but, like, I'll sit there and watch "Dune," 725 00:28:24,771 --> 00:28:26,873 and I'm like, "Yeah, I want to..." 726 00:28:26,973 --> 00:28:29,608 What is the "Dune" of Maya Rudolph's dreams? 727 00:28:29,708 --> 00:28:31,343 What is the... 728 00:28:31,443 --> 00:28:34,246 Like, do I have to be so closely associated with my... 729 00:28:34,346 --> 00:28:36,916 Does my personal story need to be so associated 730 00:28:37,016 --> 00:28:38,617 with my work all the time? Yeah. 731 00:28:38,717 --> 00:28:40,352 Like, I really hope not 732 00:28:40,452 --> 00:28:43,422 because I think that is limiting for the creative space. 733 00:28:43,522 --> 00:28:46,692 I think we're missing out on a lot of fun sci-fi stuff 734 00:28:46,793 --> 00:28:49,561 because if I walk in, they're like, 735 00:28:49,661 --> 00:28:53,532 "Tell us about being a Black woman in the industry." 736 00:28:53,632 --> 00:28:56,102 I'm trying to make the next "Willy Wonka." Leave me alone. 737 00:28:56,202 --> 00:28:57,569 Yep. Do you get what I'm saying? 738 00:28:57,669 --> 00:28:59,305 Yes. Yes, absolutely. 739 00:28:59,405 --> 00:29:02,074 And I also think that what's frustrating about it 740 00:29:02,174 --> 00:29:04,543 is that you are thinking those things 741 00:29:04,643 --> 00:29:08,247 and you may create something. 742 00:29:08,347 --> 00:29:09,548 And let's say it doesn't happen. 743 00:29:09,648 --> 00:29:11,083 We don't know what that project is, 744 00:29:11,183 --> 00:29:12,985 but I do think by doing that, 745 00:29:13,085 --> 00:29:15,154 it is going to find its way somewhere. 746 00:29:15,254 --> 00:29:17,890 We just may not reap the benefits. Yes. 747 00:29:17,990 --> 00:29:19,325 But somebody is feeling that shift 748 00:29:19,425 --> 00:29:21,060 because there are so many times 749 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,562 where I've seen something done and think, 750 00:29:23,662 --> 00:29:26,632 "Oh. Why didn't I think of it that way?" 751 00:29:26,732 --> 00:29:29,001 Yeah, I didn't have to make it autobiographical. 752 00:29:29,101 --> 00:29:31,570 But you're absolutely right. 753 00:29:31,670 --> 00:29:35,641 That inherent expectation is usually there. Yeah. 754 00:29:35,741 --> 00:29:37,944 And I think it's just a matter of how you deal with it. 755 00:29:38,044 --> 00:29:39,411 Do you ignore it? Yeah. 756 00:29:39,511 --> 00:29:41,313 Do you bypass it? Yeah. 757 00:29:41,413 --> 00:29:44,917 Do you delve into it? One for them, one for me? 758 00:29:45,017 --> 00:29:47,453 Any of it. And it's all correct. 759 00:29:47,553 --> 00:29:49,288 None of it's incorrect. Yeah. 760 00:29:49,388 --> 00:29:51,323 But everybody's correct is different. 761 00:29:51,423 --> 00:29:53,159 Yep. 762 00:29:53,259 --> 00:29:56,128 Quinta would love to keep her personal trauma personal, 763 00:29:56,228 --> 00:29:58,931 versus creating five seasons to relive it forever. 764 00:29:59,031 --> 00:30:00,432 Her one request? 765 00:30:00,532 --> 00:30:01,968 Can people of color just create content 766 00:30:02,068 --> 00:30:04,036 that has nothing to do with their mama? 767 00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:07,206 I mean...a novel thought. 768 00:30:07,306 --> 00:30:15,247 * 769 00:30:16,215 --> 00:30:22,855 * 770 00:30:22,955 --> 00:30:24,290 Lacey: So, what's everyone's "Willy Wonka" 771 00:30:24,390 --> 00:30:25,724 or everyone's "Dune"? 772 00:30:25,824 --> 00:30:27,626 What's the thing that you would love to do 773 00:30:27,726 --> 00:30:29,561 that no one's yet asked you to do? 774 00:30:29,661 --> 00:30:31,297 I want to be in a heist movie. 775 00:30:31,397 --> 00:30:32,899 -[Gasps] -Oh! 776 00:30:32,999 --> 00:30:35,667 Oh, I could see it. 777 00:30:35,767 --> 00:30:37,403 You want to see me robbing a bank? Yeah. 778 00:30:37,503 --> 00:30:39,405 Absolutely. 779 00:30:39,505 --> 00:30:41,173 Okay, this is gonna sound dumb. 780 00:30:41,273 --> 00:30:42,474 But "Bluey," I know about 781 00:30:42,574 --> 00:30:44,210 because of my nieces and nephews. 782 00:30:44,310 --> 00:30:46,712 Kristen: I love "Bluey." I love "Bluey"! 783 00:30:46,812 --> 00:30:49,248 It's so nice to put on before you go to bed. 784 00:30:49,348 --> 00:30:50,649 It's so lovely! 785 00:30:50,749 --> 00:30:52,818 My dream is to make, like, a "Bluey." 786 00:30:52,919 --> 00:30:55,487 For me, there are some things that I've been working on 787 00:30:55,587 --> 00:30:58,090 for the last five or six years 788 00:30:58,190 --> 00:31:00,192 that I kind of want to do 789 00:31:00,292 --> 00:31:03,095 before I do all the other stuff I want to do, 790 00:31:03,195 --> 00:31:06,498 which is, um, yeah, I'd like to do -- I've been in Marvel. 791 00:31:06,598 --> 00:31:09,735 I'd like to circle back and have a superpower this time. 792 00:31:09,835 --> 00:31:11,938 Do you know what's your superpower going to be? 793 00:31:12,038 --> 00:31:16,608 I really just want to have the gift of prioritization. 794 00:31:16,708 --> 00:31:18,911 -Oh. -Oh, sure. 795 00:31:19,011 --> 00:31:21,380 That is such an adult superpower. 796 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,682 The kids were like, "This is the lamest person we've ever had." 797 00:31:23,782 --> 00:31:25,517 Really, I just want to know, 798 00:31:25,617 --> 00:31:27,453 'cause you know how much time we spend stressed out 799 00:31:27,553 --> 00:31:30,422 and worried about things that don't matter? 800 00:31:30,522 --> 00:31:31,890 Yep. 801 00:31:31,991 --> 00:31:34,626 I just want to have the... 802 00:31:34,726 --> 00:31:36,528 Go to bed. 803 00:31:36,628 --> 00:31:38,230 Which is why they're not calling. 804 00:31:38,330 --> 00:31:40,132 I have biopics that I'm working on 805 00:31:40,232 --> 00:31:43,735 about women who the world needs to remember and know. 806 00:31:43,835 --> 00:31:46,538 I feel like it's a beautiful thing 807 00:31:46,638 --> 00:31:51,110 to be in a place where you're like, "I did this thing. 808 00:31:51,210 --> 00:31:56,482 I have created this show that is speaking to my tribe." 809 00:31:56,582 --> 00:31:58,117 And you have to get there 810 00:31:58,217 --> 00:31:59,785 to say the really genius thing you just said, 811 00:31:59,885 --> 00:32:02,054 which is, "And now I want to do something else." 812 00:32:02,154 --> 00:32:03,555 -Yeah. -Yeah. 813 00:32:03,655 --> 00:32:05,424 So where I'm at is, I want to get there. 814 00:32:05,524 --> 00:32:06,925 -Mm. -Yeah. 815 00:32:07,026 --> 00:32:08,594 What I do love about this business 816 00:32:08,694 --> 00:32:10,729 is probably what people hate about it, 817 00:32:10,829 --> 00:32:12,264 is that it's unpredictable. 818 00:32:12,364 --> 00:32:14,066 And so, I never know what's going to happen, 819 00:32:14,166 --> 00:32:15,601 and I love that for me. 820 00:32:15,701 --> 00:32:17,269 That keeps me interested. 821 00:32:17,369 --> 00:32:19,571 I feel like every day should be a surprise -- 822 00:32:19,671 --> 00:32:21,140 in a good way. Yep. 823 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,309 In a productive way, however that means. 824 00:32:23,409 --> 00:32:25,811 And honestly, I feel like I'm doing it 825 00:32:25,911 --> 00:32:27,613 and I just want to do more of it. 826 00:32:27,713 --> 00:32:32,985 You know, fat, Black, brown, queer content 827 00:32:33,085 --> 00:32:35,454 because now that I have these children, 828 00:32:35,554 --> 00:32:38,624 I just want to make sure that it happens with the arts, you know, 829 00:32:38,724 --> 00:32:43,996 that I'm putting in all the allyship and comedyship 830 00:32:44,096 --> 00:32:46,665 and femaleship into what I do. 831 00:32:46,765 --> 00:32:48,600 Because this is how I express myself. 832 00:32:48,700 --> 00:32:52,204 This is my legacy for these littles. 833 00:32:52,304 --> 00:32:54,940 Lacey: What about you, Kristen? Um... 834 00:32:55,041 --> 00:32:57,809 I am so grateful to be here listening to you guys today. 835 00:32:57,909 --> 00:32:59,545 I can't even tell you. 836 00:32:59,645 --> 00:33:02,514 Like, everything you guys are talking about is really, 837 00:33:02,614 --> 00:33:06,318 like, hitting different points of my heart right now. 838 00:33:06,418 --> 00:33:10,289 And what you said about going out of that sort of comfort zone 839 00:33:10,389 --> 00:33:11,957 or, like, the zone, 840 00:33:12,058 --> 00:33:13,625 I really needed to hear that 841 00:33:13,725 --> 00:33:16,328 because I've been trying to write something for a while, 842 00:33:16,428 --> 00:33:18,064 and I kind of put it away. 843 00:33:18,164 --> 00:33:19,831 It's not really a comedy. 844 00:33:19,931 --> 00:33:25,471 And I think I've been practicing how I talk to people 845 00:33:25,571 --> 00:33:27,506 about it in a defensive way. 846 00:33:27,606 --> 00:33:29,741 Saying, "It's not a comedy, but just listen. 847 00:33:29,841 --> 00:33:32,478 It might be cool." Yeah. 848 00:33:32,578 --> 00:33:35,881 I think because I'm writing it sort of on my own, 849 00:33:35,981 --> 00:33:37,849 and all of the stuff I've written 850 00:33:37,949 --> 00:33:41,553 has been a comedy, and people expect that from me, 851 00:33:41,653 --> 00:33:43,855 I'm already putting that thing in front of me of, like, 852 00:33:43,955 --> 00:33:45,424 "Are you sure you want to do this? 853 00:33:45,524 --> 00:33:47,659 Like, you don't really know how to do this." 854 00:33:47,759 --> 00:33:50,229 And I've been stuck with it for months and months. 855 00:33:50,329 --> 00:33:52,264 And it's been kind of driving me crazy. 856 00:33:52,364 --> 00:33:54,766 And like, I believe in these little moments in the universe 857 00:33:54,866 --> 00:33:56,835 where people connect with you. 858 00:33:56,935 --> 00:33:58,737 And I'm like, I don't know. 859 00:33:58,837 --> 00:34:02,674 It just feels very, like, I have to figure out what my voice is 860 00:34:02,774 --> 00:34:06,845 and just put it out there and not worry about that stuff. 861 00:34:06,945 --> 00:34:08,679 Because the categorizing, I think, 862 00:34:08,780 --> 00:34:10,949 of things that we've all done, 863 00:34:11,049 --> 00:34:14,886 I didn't quite realize was such a blanket. 864 00:34:14,985 --> 00:34:16,222 Yeah. 865 00:34:16,322 --> 00:34:18,790 And, you know, yeah. Can I just say, 866 00:34:18,889 --> 00:34:23,228 I think it's so funny because people sometimes are like, 867 00:34:23,329 --> 00:34:25,431 you know, "You can't do this." 868 00:34:25,531 --> 00:34:27,466 Even if they don't say it out loud, it's, like, assumed. 869 00:34:27,565 --> 00:34:29,135 Sometimes I feel like if you haven't done drama, 870 00:34:29,235 --> 00:34:31,536 they make it seem like comedy is harder. 871 00:34:31,637 --> 00:34:34,106 And if you haven't done comedy, they make it seem like -- 872 00:34:34,206 --> 00:34:35,474 I mean, if you have done comedy, 873 00:34:35,574 --> 00:34:36,875 they make it seem like drama is harder. 874 00:34:36,975 --> 00:34:37,909 Whatever it is -- Yeah, yeah, yeah. 875 00:34:38,009 --> 00:34:39,110 ...they constantly do that. 876 00:34:39,210 --> 00:34:41,612 And I just think it's bullshit. 877 00:34:41,713 --> 00:34:42,880 -It is. -Yeah. 878 00:34:42,981 --> 00:34:44,250 It's totally bullshit, 879 00:34:44,350 --> 00:34:46,284 and it is so exciting 880 00:34:46,385 --> 00:34:49,920 for me to hear you say at this table 881 00:34:50,021 --> 00:34:51,322 that you are about to write something. 882 00:34:51,422 --> 00:34:52,924 Well, it's scary. 883 00:34:53,024 --> 00:34:54,626 And when even you said "Dune," I was like, 884 00:34:54,726 --> 00:34:57,229 that's literally visually, sort of -- Yeah. 885 00:34:57,329 --> 00:35:00,232 ...this thing in my head, and it might be a little comedic, 886 00:35:00,332 --> 00:35:03,135 but the self-talk around it 887 00:35:03,235 --> 00:35:05,937 of, like, how do I explain to people? 888 00:35:06,037 --> 00:35:07,639 Are they even going to say yes? 889 00:35:07,739 --> 00:35:10,842 'Cause I've done things that are dramatic on the page 890 00:35:10,942 --> 00:35:12,578 that I thought were going to be dramatic. 891 00:35:12,678 --> 00:35:13,845 And then you get there, and they're like, 892 00:35:13,945 --> 00:35:15,314 "You can improvise." 893 00:35:15,414 --> 00:35:17,516 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 894 00:35:17,616 --> 00:35:19,651 And I've done dramatic scenes, and I've been in a screening 895 00:35:19,751 --> 00:35:21,653 where I do something, and then people laugh. 896 00:35:21,753 --> 00:35:24,022 And they're like, "Oh, no, it wasn't..." 897 00:35:24,122 --> 00:35:25,691 You know what I mean? 898 00:35:25,791 --> 00:35:28,694 Ego: Watching you do Aunt Linda at Table, okay, 899 00:35:28,794 --> 00:35:31,697 we've tons and tons and tons of hosted "SNL." 900 00:35:31,797 --> 00:35:33,999 Everyone's wonderful. Everybody's incredible. 901 00:35:34,099 --> 00:35:36,968 I was like, "This is an artiste." 902 00:35:37,068 --> 00:35:38,437 But I just remember that performance. 903 00:35:38,537 --> 00:35:40,306 I'm like, "You can do anything." 904 00:35:40,406 --> 00:35:44,009 Getting back to the tomorrow is not promised, 905 00:35:44,109 --> 00:35:46,445 and, you know, the fact that we get to do this, 906 00:35:46,545 --> 00:35:48,547 and I love that every day feels different. 907 00:35:48,647 --> 00:35:51,016 Like, but this is what I'm talking about. 908 00:35:51,116 --> 00:35:54,686 It's so amazing to be in this career 909 00:35:54,786 --> 00:35:56,655 and still feel crazy and nervous 910 00:35:56,755 --> 00:35:58,290 and anxious about something. 911 00:35:58,390 --> 00:35:59,958 Quinta: You feel alive. 912 00:36:00,058 --> 00:36:01,460 That's like the part -- 913 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:03,329 [Indistinct chatter] 914 00:36:03,429 --> 00:36:05,564 Yes! You don't wish it on yourself. 915 00:36:05,664 --> 00:36:07,733 But that's always a great motivation. 916 00:36:07,833 --> 00:36:09,368 Quinta: Yeah. 917 00:36:10,502 --> 00:36:14,005 No, I'm excited to see what everyone at this table 918 00:36:14,105 --> 00:36:16,908 is going to not be afraid to do. 919 00:36:17,008 --> 00:36:20,178 All five of these people are going to be in your movies 920 00:36:20,279 --> 00:36:21,880 is what they're going to do. 921 00:36:21,980 --> 00:36:23,315 [Laughter] 922 00:36:23,415 --> 00:36:24,583 * 923 00:36:24,683 --> 00:36:27,753 Hello, Hollywood. It's Yvonne. 924 00:36:27,853 --> 00:36:29,355 I just want to let you know, 925 00:36:29,455 --> 00:36:32,758 women can be both hysterical and dramatic. 926 00:36:32,858 --> 00:36:34,593 Just thought you should know. 927 00:36:34,693 --> 00:36:35,994 Nice chat. 928 00:36:36,094 --> 00:36:41,066 * 929 00:36:41,166 --> 00:36:46,305 * 930 00:36:47,439 --> 00:36:53,512 * 931 00:36:53,612 --> 00:36:56,248 Welcome back to "Off Script with the Hollywood Reporter." 932 00:36:56,348 --> 00:36:59,585 Let's pick things back up with our comedy actress round table. 933 00:36:59,685 --> 00:37:02,187 Lacey: We're going to end on a more of a lightning round. 934 00:37:02,288 --> 00:37:03,789 You've had a long day of work. 935 00:37:03,889 --> 00:37:05,357 What do you turn on your TV? 936 00:37:06,525 --> 00:37:08,093 Bravo. I'm not ashamed. 937 00:37:08,193 --> 00:37:09,961 You're a "Real Housewives" girl, right? Yeah. 938 00:37:10,061 --> 00:37:11,597 "Bob's Burgers." 939 00:37:11,697 --> 00:37:12,931 "Only Murders in the Building." 940 00:37:13,031 --> 00:37:14,466 Yeah. 941 00:37:14,566 --> 00:37:17,102 "Queer Eye." I watch that with my girls. 942 00:37:17,202 --> 00:37:18,437 You know what, honestly, it's something 943 00:37:18,537 --> 00:37:19,638 I've never done in my entire life, 944 00:37:19,738 --> 00:37:21,273 I'm doing now. 945 00:37:21,373 --> 00:37:22,808 It's just so pathetic that I'm saying this. 946 00:37:22,908 --> 00:37:26,211 But I turn on "Girls5eva." Lacey: You do? 947 00:37:26,312 --> 00:37:28,113 I do not watch myself. 948 00:37:28,213 --> 00:37:30,949 I do not watch, but I literally turn it on -- 949 00:37:31,049 --> 00:37:32,751 That was a good old binge for me. 950 00:37:32,851 --> 00:37:34,786 because it makes me -- 951 00:37:34,886 --> 00:37:36,888 because I didn't realize until season three 952 00:37:36,988 --> 00:37:39,491 that it exists for me. Yeah. 953 00:37:39,591 --> 00:37:42,127 Only because I have been sitting there 954 00:37:42,227 --> 00:37:43,895 doing that show all this time, 955 00:37:43,995 --> 00:37:47,766 and still I come home and I question my ability 956 00:37:47,866 --> 00:37:50,336 to dream this ambitiously at my age. 957 00:37:50,436 --> 00:37:52,003 Mm. 958 00:37:52,103 --> 00:37:55,507 I mean, I'm doing this show about these women 959 00:37:55,607 --> 00:37:57,643 who are absurdly dreaming 960 00:37:57,743 --> 00:38:00,111 about getting back into being pop music stars. 961 00:38:00,211 --> 00:38:01,813 You can be 50 and dream. 962 00:38:01,913 --> 00:38:04,149 Don't let the world tell you that it is absurd 963 00:38:04,249 --> 00:38:06,818 to do something new. 964 00:38:06,918 --> 00:38:09,020 -Whatever. Who cares? -Yes. 965 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:11,823 What is the funniest or strangest feedback 966 00:38:11,923 --> 00:38:14,460 you've heard or read about yourself? 967 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:16,628 [Laughter] 968 00:38:16,728 --> 00:38:18,430 Wow. Michelle: Wow. 969 00:38:18,530 --> 00:38:22,033 I think people just very surprised that they laughed. 970 00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:23,535 Yeah. 971 00:38:23,635 --> 00:38:26,271 "Surprisingly funny. Surprisingly witty." 972 00:38:26,372 --> 00:38:27,973 Surprise. Surprise. 973 00:38:28,073 --> 00:38:29,508 Isn't that a delight? 974 00:38:29,608 --> 00:38:30,876 -Yeah. -Yeah. 975 00:38:30,976 --> 00:38:33,545 I'm surprised you're surprised. 976 00:38:33,645 --> 00:38:35,146 [Laughter] 977 00:38:35,246 --> 00:38:37,315 I think mine is too short for comfort. 978 00:38:37,416 --> 00:38:40,452 I think that's really funny, so it sticks out. 979 00:38:40,552 --> 00:38:42,621 It was someone saying that they did enjoy my work. 980 00:38:42,721 --> 00:38:44,490 But part of what made them enjoy it 981 00:38:44,590 --> 00:38:46,157 was that I was too short for comfort. 982 00:38:46,257 --> 00:38:48,394 And I thought that was funny. 983 00:38:48,494 --> 00:38:49,795 [Laughter] 984 00:38:49,895 --> 00:38:51,363 Yeah. 985 00:38:51,463 --> 00:38:54,332 I started doing podcasts before I was on "SNL." 986 00:38:54,433 --> 00:38:56,402 Like, comedy podcasts. 987 00:38:56,502 --> 00:38:59,070 And so people would come and find me on Instagram. 988 00:38:59,170 --> 00:39:01,139 And I remember one comment being like, 989 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:03,141 "I'm pissed off you look like this." 990 00:39:03,241 --> 00:39:05,744 And I'm like, okay. What did they want you to look like? 991 00:39:05,844 --> 00:39:08,079 I didn't follow up. You never follow up. 992 00:39:08,179 --> 00:39:10,148 [Laughter] 993 00:39:10,248 --> 00:39:12,718 I think the first time I ever, when I started "SNL" 994 00:39:12,818 --> 00:39:15,020 and learned my lesson, I do not read. 995 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:17,322 I don't look. I don't. 996 00:39:17,423 --> 00:39:19,057 But when I first got on the show, 997 00:39:19,157 --> 00:39:20,826 you have that moment where you're like, 998 00:39:20,926 --> 00:39:22,728 "Hmm. I wonder what people are saying." 999 00:39:22,828 --> 00:39:24,496 And it was like, comment, comment, comment. 1000 00:39:24,596 --> 00:39:27,165 One of them just said, "She's ugly." No! 1001 00:39:27,265 --> 00:39:30,368 I was like... I mean, it's okay. 1002 00:39:30,469 --> 00:39:32,838 Mine said chipmunk cheeks. 1003 00:39:32,938 --> 00:39:34,673 -Oh. -Oh. 1004 00:39:34,773 --> 00:39:36,107 Yeah. Alright. 1005 00:39:36,207 --> 00:39:38,444 What's the most-used emoji on your phone? 1006 00:39:38,544 --> 00:39:39,611 This one. Oh, no. 1007 00:39:39,711 --> 00:39:41,246 Oh, yes, with the half face! 1008 00:39:41,346 --> 00:39:43,214 I do... This one. 1009 00:39:43,314 --> 00:39:46,585 Yeah. Mine's laughing so hard I'm crying. 1010 00:39:46,685 --> 00:39:48,787 so it's like sideways. Yeah. 1011 00:39:48,887 --> 00:39:51,022 Mine is the melting smiley face. 1012 00:39:51,122 --> 00:39:52,691 Yeah. Because that is me. 1013 00:39:52,791 --> 00:39:55,694 This is so... This is. 1014 00:39:55,794 --> 00:39:57,596 Mine's the yellow heart or the "eugh." 1015 00:39:57,696 --> 00:39:59,698 [Laughter] 1016 00:40:01,366 --> 00:40:03,234 That was created based off of you 1017 00:40:03,334 --> 00:40:05,771 doing [Indistinct] [Laughter] 1018 00:40:05,871 --> 00:40:07,973 When my dad first started texting, 1019 00:40:08,073 --> 00:40:10,542 he didn't know -- he thought that was a smile. 1020 00:40:10,642 --> 00:40:13,278 So, he would text me be like, "Hi, I love you. 'Eugh.'" 1021 00:40:13,378 --> 00:40:14,880 [Laughter] 1022 00:40:14,980 --> 00:40:16,882 I was like, "Are you..." 1023 00:40:18,083 --> 00:40:20,118 My aunt used to write "LOL" 1024 00:40:20,218 --> 00:40:21,987 'cause she thought it meant lots lots of love. 1025 00:40:22,087 --> 00:40:23,254 [Laughter] 1026 00:40:23,354 --> 00:40:25,491 So did I! Quinta: Maybe it does. 1027 00:40:25,591 --> 00:40:28,126 Why did you -- Do you have the same uncle? 1028 00:40:28,226 --> 00:40:29,427 I thought it was lots of love. 1029 00:40:29,528 --> 00:40:31,930 Oh, my goodness. 1030 00:40:32,030 --> 00:40:34,833 It's not?! 1031 00:40:34,933 --> 00:40:37,936 Mine is upside-down to my face or the...okay. 1032 00:40:38,036 --> 00:40:40,271 Upside-down. Upside-down. 1033 00:40:40,371 --> 00:40:41,640 And the praying hands is up there somewhere. 1034 00:40:41,740 --> 00:40:43,441 -Yeah. -Yeah. 1035 00:40:43,542 --> 00:40:45,176 In honor of "Girls5eva," 1036 00:40:45,276 --> 00:40:46,778 what would you each name your girl group? 1037 00:40:46,878 --> 00:40:49,515 Oh. Maybe Trans4mation. 1038 00:40:49,615 --> 00:40:51,717 [Cheering] 1039 00:40:53,018 --> 00:40:56,522 Cheers! That was genius! 1040 00:40:56,622 --> 00:40:58,857 I can't do better than that! 1041 00:40:58,957 --> 00:41:01,059 [Laughter] 1042 00:41:02,393 --> 00:41:03,529 With that, thank you all for doing this. 1043 00:41:03,629 --> 00:41:05,263 Should we do one last cheers? 1044 00:41:05,363 --> 00:41:06,665 -Yes! -Thank you. 1045 00:41:06,765 --> 00:41:09,601 All: Trans4mation. 1046 00:41:11,102 --> 00:41:13,104 [Indistinct chatter] 1047 00:41:15,406 --> 00:41:17,809 You should be a writer. Oh, I'll try. 1048 00:41:17,909 --> 00:41:19,945 [Laughter] 1049 00:41:20,879 --> 00:41:23,615 I got to say, as an actress and stand-up comic, 1050 00:41:23,715 --> 00:41:26,952 I felt right at home with these insightful, funny, 1051 00:41:27,052 --> 00:41:30,221 supportive, and even, dare I say, dramatic women. 1052 00:41:30,321 --> 00:41:32,658 You know what we call that in Hollywood? 1053 00:41:32,758 --> 00:41:34,192 Range. 1054 00:41:34,292 --> 00:41:36,461 Well, until the next time. I'm Yvonne Orji. 1055 00:41:36,562 --> 00:41:39,931 And this is "Off Script with the Hollywood Reporter." 1056 00:41:40,098 --> 00:41:50,141 *