|
RadioFree.com: Since the last time we spoke for your film Celeste and Jesse Forever, I listened to your narration for the audiobook version of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and so I felt like we went on an adventure together...
ARI: Oh my God! We did!
...One in which you did all the work.
That's right. Yeah, that could be said of a lot of the movies I've been in. But that's so funny that you listened to that...Man, I did that so many years ago, it's hard to recall any specific feeling about it, except to say your voice is really tired at the end of the day. [laughs]
In what way does doing a project like that--which is effectively a one-person radio show since you're doing all the voices, female and male, high-pitched and low-pitched--help you in preparation for embodying other characters in live action?
I mean, I don't know which comes first--it's sort of like a chicken or the egg thing. In the course of my acting life--which started at 7 in community theatre outside of Boston, and then in a more real way, and professional theatre, freshman year of high school, and then film and TV starting when I was 17--I've played a lot of different characters. So I think in some ways, doing a book on tape like that, you're tapped into some of that. And I also think it's probably helpful for the stuff that you do after because it makes you have to articulate things.
To what extent are you guys beholden to the Bad Teacher movie starring Cameron Diaz in terms of plot and characters?
Not at all. It shares a title, but the TV show is very much its own thing from the movie. And Hilary Winston, who is our showrunner and our creator, is an incredibly smart, funny woman with a very unique voice, and she was very clear about wanting it to be very different. And I have a different character name and history and whole story than Cameron's character. And so I think that also made it easier for me to come into this, because who wants to be compared to Cameron Diaz? You know, she's gorgeous and hilarious and the best. So for me, at least, in my mind, it was like, "Oh, this is a totally different thing that just happens to have the same name."
 
How would you characterize Meredith's personality, and how does she get along with her students? Does she see the kids as little animals?
You know, she doesn't talk down to them. What's funny is that she just sort of automatically treats kids like her equals, in some ways. She has no filter in life anywhere, and she's not particularly self-aware or worried about how her actions or words affect other people. So she just kind of says it as it is. And what's funny about that is that sometimes, that ends up having her put kids in their place, and sometimes it ends up with her becoming really close friends with the girls. Like her young schoolmate friends become some of the closest people in her life--you know, the 11-year-old girls that are asking for advice, and that she hangs out with. And that's among my favorite parts of the show, too, because I think that dynamic with her and the kids is so fun, because she's essentially a kid herself.
As the lead, you have the opportunity to interact with so many different actors in so many different situations. What type of comedic situations, aside from the aforementioned teacher/student dynamic, have you enjoyed the most?
I have to say, for me, the kind of comedy that I respond to is just always something that comes down to character--like a really clear situation with a strong point of view that I can play around in, rather than just kind of quick, back-and-forth witticisms. But that can happen with anyone on the show. Like I've had some moments with the kids that have been unbelievable highlights. Every single one of our series regulars...I mean, this is an unbelievable cast of true actors. David Alan Grier, Kristin, Sara, Ryan, Caitlin Kimball...Like, every single one, there's been some scene in an episode where I felt like, "This is it! This is what's exciting about acting!"
I've enjoyed seeing the camaraderie amongst all your castmates this evening. There have been a lot of hugs going on...
Oh yeah, we're really, really into each other. [laughs]
Well, best of luck with the series, and thanks for your time!
Thank you!
|
