Lionsgate
People are also really excited about the “Simple Favor” sequel. Obviously, you can’t say much about the movie, but what was it like going back to work with that team? Did you feel any pressure for the sequel to succeed or be good? There are a lot of sequels that are notoriously not great.
I haven’t seen it yet, but based on what we were filming, Paul has really managed to make something that is more insane and twisty than the first one, which is quite a feat.
And I was very, very grateful that the first thing that I was acting in after directing was with a team that I had worked with before, because I was nervous that the next film that I acted in, people might think that I suddenly was really nosy and opinionated because, oh, she directed one movie and she thinks she knows everything now.
But because I’d already worked with Paul, the director, and John Schwartzman, the DP, they already knew I was nosy and opinionated. They just attributed it to my flawed personality rather than some new development. So I already knew that they were willing to put up with me.
In your book “Scrappy Little Nobody,” you detail the effort that you put in to go to auditions when you were younger and trying to make it as an actor. Are there any roles that people would be surprised to learn that you auditioned for?
Oh God. I don’t know. I hear stories like that, and if anything, I’m always like, there were so many years where I couldn’t even get a callback for “American Pie 7” or whatever that I wish I had some really sexy story about some huge blockbuster that I was this close to.
But no, mostly it’s just a graveyard of embarrassing auditions for embarrassing gigs.
On the ‘Bridgerton’ star that she has a ‘talent crush’ on
Liam Daniel/Netflix
You previously said that women are the most generous scene partners. Who are some female actors that you’re itching to work with next?
Oh God, this is always so embarrassing.
I think that you should manifest it.
I am slightly obsessed with Claudia Jessie from “Bridgerton.” She’s such a scene-stealer, and yeah, I think I’ve just got a real talent crush. That was the first person who came to mind.
Are you a “Bridgerton” fan?
It’s one of those shows that I’ll put on and continually be like, “Should I go to the next episode? Where is this going to go? I feel like this is going to lead somewhere heartbreaking.”
But yeah, that Shondaland, they’re really excellent at keeping you absolutely hooked in because even if something terrible happens, it’s like, I can’t look away.
Where does your “Lip Sync Battle” with John Krasinski rank in terms of career highlights? There was also a J.Lo cameo in there. I feel like I needed to mention this important part of your career.
It’s so funny. John directed me in a movie years and years ago, so he asked me to do his episode of “Lip Sync Battle.” It’s one of those things that just seems so silly and fun. It was the first season, so nobody knew what the show was yet. So he asked me to do it, and it just seemed like such a silly, fun, easy ask.
And then the more that it became like, “Oh, do you want pyrotechnics? Do you want to pop out of the floor?” I was like, “Wait, sorry, what is this, a legit stage performance?”
So I started to be like, “Goddammit Krasinski, what have you roped me into?” And then when they were like, “Hey, for that J.Lo song, I think we could get J.Lo to come.” I was like, “Well, then I take it all back. I’m a big fan of you asking me to do this.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
“Woman of the Hour” is now streaming on Netflix.