How to Be a Scene-Stealing Character Actor with Jackie Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building)

How do you become a successful character actor? Emmy-nominated actor Jackie Hoffman joins How We Role to talk exactly that. Alongside host and actor Robert Peterpaul, Jackie reveals how to build a lasting career by trusting your instincts, protecting your comic timing, and showing up with the kind of energy people want on set and in the room. You've seen Jackie everywhere, from Broadway to Feud: Betty and Joan to Only Murders in the Building, and she brings the same sharp honesty to this conversation that she brings to her performances.

This episode for actors covers:

• From Only Murders in the Building alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez to Feud with Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, she shares what it's like to work in top tier ensembles.
• What it really means to be a character actor and how to find the fun in the process.
• Her best advice for nailing auditions, landing jokes and trusting your instincts as an actor.
• Why she calls herself a "gut actor" + much more.

JACKIE HOFFMAN is best known for her Emmy-nominated role as Mamacita in FX’s Feud: Betty and Joan. She has appeared in acclaimed series including Only Murders in the Building (Actor Award Nomination) and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and in films such as Glass Onion, Birdman, and Kissing Jessica Stein. A Broadway favorite and Theatre World Award winner for Hairspray, Jackie is also an award-winning solo performer and a veteran of Chicago’s Second City. With a career spanning television, film, theater, and voice work, she’s celebrated for her unforgettable characters, razor-sharp wit, and larger-than-life stage presence.

This is - How We Role. Discover fresh casting calls at castingnetworks.com.

Follow Host, Actor and Producer Robert Peterpaul (Amazon's Sitting in Bars with Cake, The Art of Kindness podcast) on Instagram @robpeterpaul and learn more at robertpeterpaul.com.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Becky Hoffman, 5'1.5, New York. Old. You're listening to How We Roll.

First Paid Gig And Showing Up

SPEAKER_01 0:41

That was really hard not to laugh, but that was great. One take wonder. You nailed it. When it comes to working in entertainment, there's a lot of hows, and they all boil down to how we navigate this wild industry. While how we follow our dreams is uncertain, how we roll along the way is in our hands. Welcome to How We Roll, a podcast for actors by casting networks. Hello, actors. It's your host with The Hows, Robert Peter Paul here to answer a question I often ask myself. How can I be a successful character actor? Although today's acclaimed guest pokes fun at her success, she's certainly carved out quite the career path, creating indelible characters across stage and screen. Today's guest is the one and only, Jackie Hoffman. Jackie Hoffman is perhaps best known for two things. Well, besides her sharp wit. One, her Emmy-nominated role in FX's Feud Betty and Joan. And two, I don't know, a little show you might have heard of called Only Murders in the Building, for which she received an Actor Award nomination. She's also made her mark in television shows like The Marvelous Miss Mazel and in films such as Glass Onion and Birdman. Of course, her roots are in the Theatre, a Broadway favorite and theater world award winner for hairspray. Jackie is also an award-winning solo performer and a veteran of Chicago's Second City. You can catch Jackie currently starring in the recurring cabaret review Finding Dorothy Parker at the Lori Beachman Theater in New York City. With a career-spanning television, film, theater, and voiceover work, she's celebrated for her unforgettable characters and larger-than-life presence, which she certainly brought to today's conversation. So much so that I could not stop laughing. Now, in the post-edit, I'm pretty good about taking out any unwanted ambient noise. So if you hear any silences, it's me laughing. It's just been filtered out. It didn't make the cut. LOL. This one happened rather quickly, so we did not have time to get questions from you, our lovely listeners, and how we roll community, but never fear how we rollers. Is that a thing, how we rollers? We do want your hows, so please submit them on social media at casting networks, or you can find me at Rob Peterpol. As always, thank you for being here. Now here's how we roll with character acting, starring Jackie Hoffman. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_00 3:57

Thank you, Robert. Ready to roll.

SPEAKER_01 3:59

Oh, let's roll. You know, we're gonna spell roll R-O-L-E because it could be misinterpreted. Oh, we appreciate that. Well, I think you're so clever. And to start, we always like asking folks, what was your very first paid gig in the entertainment industry?

SPEAKER_00 4:17

I was playing Jane Wayne, The Terror of the Plains, and shootout at the Trailblazer Saloon at Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, six shows a day.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

I heard that. And I think it's kind of fitting because it must have been full circle then when you booked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

SPEAKER_00 4:32

It unfortunately appealed to children. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Yes. Well, do you feel like early on that gave you sort of a a good work ethic? I mean, six shows a day, that's wild. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

It was wild. I don't I don't think I missed one. Um yeah, it it it it instilled like you better show up, you better not disappoint the people you're working with or for.

Gut Acting And Trusting Directors

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Yeah. Well, you know, I think it's probably interesting because between that and then I know you trained at Second City and being a part of like a company and an ensemble certainly is a through line that I've noticed throughout your career. I mean, you're always a part of these really gorgeous, wonderful ensembles. And before we get into that, you know, I just think you really define character actor. And in regards to that process, I've heard you describe yourself as a gut actor. Can you just elaborate on what that means for listeners, sort of in regards to the process of it all?

SPEAKER_00 5:29

Can I elaborate on the fact that I say things without thinking and then have no recollection of what I said or why I said it?

SPEAKER_01 5:37

Um Well, it was on the backstage podcast on June. No, I'm just- I don't know the date, but it was great.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

A gut actor. Yeah, I think uh I'm too lazy to do a lot of research and a lot of work, so I just go by instinct. That's probably what that meant. Like what I feel in my gut is the character, and what I feel in my gut the script needs, and how I feel in my gut not to get fired.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

Yeah. Have you always worked that way? Because I feel like as actors, you get a lot of advice and there can be pressure to try things to sort of feel fancier in a certain club. Have you sort of gone through the roller coaster figuring out what works for you, or you just kind of always have been that way?

SPEAKER_00 6:20

Um, I usually well, I I I rely on a good director, which is everything. And I hope that they can reach in and withdraw stuff from me. And I, you know, as as rebellious and independent as I am sometimes, I'd also like to be told. And sometimes I get too dependent. Sometimes, what do you think? Should I do it this way? You know, and sometimes the director's like, just do whatever, you know, because they get so aggravated with me being needy and asking. So I, out of insecurity, I I that'll happen. But then, you know, once I trust my instincts, my gut, then um, then I'm ready to go.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

Yeah, that could be kind of hard early on, right? I mean, you have such a razor-sharp wit, and I wonder if that's even something. I mean, I'm sure it's innate to you, but that at first going into auditions, did you feel comfortable enough sort of like leading with that and making strong choices?

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Yeah, I always I always felt like, especially with a script, like one of the few areas that I'm confident in my life, and there aren't many, like I feel like I can make the script as funny as it could possibly be, like whatever the sides are. I'm like, okay, I can find I will suck every joke out of this thing. You know, unfortunately, it often doesn't get me hired, which is very frustrating, because I was like, who was funny, Aaron? That's why I think creatives, you know, cre creatives love me. Like the writers are always like, You were so funny, and you know, they love what I do with their stuff. And then it it's normally, you know, the network or the suits don't see the magic.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

Yeah, I understand that. It's interesting you said you're not confident in many things, but one thing I think you're probably confident in is wearing these glasses that have become iconic. You have this like iconic look with the glasses. I'm tempted to wear my glasses today, but then I'll get a headache with the headphones and the glasses, too much information. How does it feel to just have sort of a iconic look? I don't even know where that question came from, but I'm curious.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

Well, how does it feel to have amblyopia, myopia, astigmatism, and 90 eye infections? That's really it's not like it's a clever choice. I used to wear the contact lenses. I'd prefer if I could once in a while switch to the contact lenses, but my eye just inject PO no. I'm too old and dried up, and you know, my eyes like, I'm not having this.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

Well, I know that's tough this time of year, too, with the allergies. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

When at whatever gig we're like, she's gotta wear glasses. Can she wear glasses? And and luckily most of them, you know, when we get into historic periods, that's a problem.

What Character Actor Really Means

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Well, I just think it's cool because like a poster for one of these solo shows you write could even just be the glasses on a black background or a color and people would know it was you, which is very signature. I think that's awesome. Right. Maybe, yeah, if there was little stars in there and they were shimmering a little too brightly. Again, I mentioned at the top here, and and I know you jokingly maybe don't say the word success a lot, but you are such a great example of a successful character actor. And just to start, this is a bigger question, but I wonder what do you think a character actor even means? Because we kind of throw that around a lot, and it's like, well, we're all acting as characters.

SPEAKER_00 9:40

Right. You know, I used to way back have like a bit like, you know, that it's Hollywood for ugly. Like that's that's the excuse. Well, it's a cat's not leading, it's a character act. And uh you know, the the categories can be very, you know, messed up and and and prejudiced in that way. I I I love that it's the more fun, you know, if I'm not the woman that the lead that falls in love and I'm the best friend and I'm the what I f I find it a lot more interesting and rewarding to do that kind of work. Not that I've ever done the other kind.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

Well, I mean, you kind of did both on Only Murders, which we'll get into eventually, but you fell in love with the best friend in a way, Bunny. And I you guys have such beautiful scene work together. I mean, I was re-watching the opening of I don't remember what season, but episode seven of whatever season where we learn you're a klepto. And you have such heart too, when you let that shine. I think that is is just what makes you stand out as such a stellar performer. And is that something you think about first? Because I'm curious when I think of a Jackie Hoffman performance, what's kind of the thing that lets you click into a character? Is it different every time? Is it like that heart? Is it a a costume, a wig? You know, what do you find the most compelling?

SPEAKER_00 11:04

Yeah, externals help a lot. And and it's it's it's it's all on the script, it's all in the words, I think. And there's a reason now at this point in my life, it's like there's a reason why they picked me. So there's what what about me, you know, and with Uma, you know, it's it's Uma's not too far off from me. You know, they see the darkness and the and the negativity and the bleakness and the hopelessness and the sharp sense of humor and the hostility, you know. There's there's things that that I qualities that I have that I can bring to it.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

We're talking about Uma Thurman, because you are going to be in the upcoming Kill Bill movie. Right. Kill Bill Seven. Are they doing another kill? I don't I don't even know. No idea. But you do you do make such speaking of killing, you kill every scene, you make such bold choices without making a caricature, which I really appreciate. Do you know how you do that? Like how do you ride that line?

SPEAKER_00 12:04

Um that's a tough one. Again, I depend on a good director. Um there was, you know, when we were shooting Feud, I did something like sometimes part of my process is that like I do this in life. I'm my brain goes, what's the stupidest, most wrong, inappropriate choice you could make? And then I'll do that. And um, you know, I did that once when we were shooting, well, probably more than once, when we were shooting feud, and I I did this kind of like, you know, uh vocal thing to to Jessica Lang and I m me Miss Jones or something like that. And she said, Who are you, Alfred Hitchcock? So I would say, okay, I got the mess message received, you know, and she was absolutely right. So sometimes I need to be toned down.

SPEAKER_01 12:54

We mentioned feuds, so just going down that side street for a second, you were Emmy nominated for your performance as Mama C to So Good. Did did that change things for you, having the sort of like Emmy title come into your career?

SPEAKER_00 13:07

Well, it's not like the phone rang off the walls, but you know, it's it it's a great prestigious thing and an honor, and and you know, if I die tomorrow, which is entirely possible, you know, I'll I'll uh Yeah. I'll have surprise we got here. Um, I'll always have that that feather in my cap.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

Well, you've already mentioned the writers a lot, and I love that you give writers so much credit, and you're obviously a writer yourself. You put together your own solo shows and you produce a lot of things in the in the theater world. Do you find it easier when you're working on a material that you've written yourself? Like how do you think your understanding of putting a show together informs your breaking down a scene as an actor?

SPEAKER_00 13:55

These are too smart, these questions.

SPEAKER_01 13:57

Um I'm a Muppet. I'm just whipping them out.

SPEAKER_00 14:00

Yeah, I mean my my director Michael Shiray, who helps me with my one person shows, is instrumental in that. We we get together and we break stuff down and we try to find themes and we group things together and we make sense out of the mess and we make uh really funny, I'm proud to say, funny, cool art out of it. Um and it I think it informs, and you're saying how does it inform what I do when I'm with uh when I'm doing a character that I don't write the script for? Yeah. Um I think it it it it helps establish like more of me as a person. It it it it should it it's very uh which I learned in Second City too, it's very, you know, like the rhythm of something, the timing of something, how a scene is flowing, when it should stop, uh peaks and valleys and um you know, the whole shape of things.

SPEAKER_01 15:02

The hills are alive with the shape of things. I feel like although now I'm seeing what is it, a giant like frog lizard in my head. Sorry, that movie. I loved that movie, the shape of the shape of water.

SPEAKER_00 15:11

Yeah, interestingly, you're the first man who I I I heard likes it. Usually women love it and men can't stand it because their egos are like, Really? Why is she having sex with a reptilian fish? You know, and the women are like, it's so beautiful and sexy.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

I'm just a sucker for anything with like a wink of magic, and I think the score is so beautiful on that, you know what I mean? As it is on Only Murders, which again, we're gonna dive into the music.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

It's it's so cool. The theme is so freaking cool.

Auditions And Being Pleasant You

SPEAKER_01 15:39

Yeah. I listen to it on walks sometimes in the city. Like I'll I'll put it on, pretend I'm revealed as the murderer or being chased. I don't know. Maybe that's a weird thing, but I do enjoy it. Something I feel like I could never wrap my head around being in the audition circuit now. And of course, you were in that, and now you're the Jackie Hoffman. Do you know, or is it weird to hear that I've seen Jackie Hoffman type on casting notices? Is that sort of wild?

SPEAKER_00 16:08

Well, considering that they never call me, that's wild.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

They probably should, but you're you're probably booked and and blessed.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

This is actually a thing that you've seen uh d a Jackie Hoffman type.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Yes. Yeah. Is that crazy? Because I know you've also been open about saying you sort of had your own inner struggle with auditions in the beginning. You mentioned that you would kind of walk into the room and it was something you had to learn. You gave great advice about it in one interview that's escaping my brain. But what do you think it was that allowed you to then go in and sort of just like be yourself eventually? Which now apparently other people want to be to book the job. I I don't know. But they should just be themselves too, just saying.

SPEAKER_00 16:49

Yeah. Um be yourself, but more of a pleasant version. Like I would used to walk in and, you know, how are you, Jackie? I just had a hit a car and it's 500 and I just scraped the paint, you know. So there's I think I I think there's a lot of, you know, I'm he uh like be yourself to a point, I think.

unknown 17:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

Kiss assiness and politeness still counts for a lot. And um until you have like the money and the star power to be an asshole, don't be an asshole.

SPEAKER_01 18:08

Yeah. Just be kind. I mean, uh, do you find too at your level I I think it's true overall. Nobody wants to work with an asshole. I mean, even if you're at the very, very sort of quote unquote top, you might just start ripping through production teams then because it no matter who you are, I don't think anybody wants to work with somebody that's slowing it down with their ego or whatever it is.

SPEAKER_00 18:29

Although if they their box office, you know, it it it it's gonna be.

Broadway Fame And Stage Vs Screen

SPEAKER_01 18:35

Yeah. Which I think it's a weird time, right? Because Broadway is sort of in I almost said infested, which is not true. Infused with more celebrity sort of names than ever to sort of get a Broadway with the same. Okay, okay. Let's let's go with that. Riddled. Riddled, riddle me this. And you're such a Broadway vet. I'm helping out at with a young performing arts program right now on Xana Doo from that to Charlie and the chocolate fat and the kids just worship you. I mean, it's is that cool to hear that I think Adam's Family is the number one most produced show in high schools. What do you think? I know you joke about kids, but what do you think about that? Like the like people looking up to you and getting their start in the arts, looking at your performances.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

It's in wonderful and incredibly ironic.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:25

It's ironic that I, you know, I have this whole hating kids thing as part of my repertoire. But I mean, it I love, you know, the theater kids, you know, I would be I'm honored if a theater kid would look up to me. And I I met, I was at a convention yesterday, or this was actually two days ago in this sweet musical theater kid. It was like my favorite show was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I'm gonna c go to college and study the arts. And you don't, you know, it it it it as much as I can choke and get mired in my own bitterness and disgust and hopelessness, you know, you hear something like that and it's it's everything.

SPEAKER_01 20:03

Yeah. That no, that's really cool. I mean, that's I think that's part of what life's about, not to get too deep here, but you have such a breadth of Broadway credits. You know, you're also involved in recurring shows like Finding Dorothy Parker, which is how I sort of had your name floated to me, and then of course, countless on-screen projects. I'm curious about the transition between acting on stage and screen, because we hear be smaller, be bigger. Like, what does that mean to you?

SPEAKER_00 20:29

Well, with me, it's always be smaller.

unknown 20:32

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

I I'm like a theater animal at heart, and sometimes I tend to take that on camera, which you which is not always advisable. In my old age, I gotta say, I'm settling down and getting used to it. But it's um it's a strange, you know, uh like one time Ryan Murphy, like Jackie, we see you looking at your mark. I'm like, oh God, how you know it's time for a cocktail. You know, it's like, oh my God. You know, it's it's you don't you don't want to think about where am I standing, where you know, these technical, logisticky things that you have to think about. Some a lot of people are great at it. My I don't know how they do it. They just Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:20

Well, it's weird too because it's almost being not fewed, but fused now in a way, because a lot of Broadway shows are being filmed live with projections, and so it's kind of a weird time for mediums overall. Yes. I feel yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:35

Yeah, that's God. I I you know, if I if my face were shot that tight and projected over theater, I'd never recover from that. I mean, like Sarah Snooks, who did that, you know, you like inside the pores, you're like, Yeah.

Booking Only Murders And Ensemble Life

SPEAKER_01 21:51

Oh yeah. Sunset Boulevard. I mean, it's such a thing now, but I love seeing you on the screen in Only Murders, and I do have to pick your brain about it for a little bit here because we just gotta walk toward the Arconia, which I do walk by the real building sometimes. Congratulations on five seasons. I think it's actually gonna be five years this August, which is such a rarity in this climate. And I'm sure you feel so many things, you know. Your scenes as Uma, they're always a treat, as I kind of already mentioned here. I couldn't really find anything on how you booked this show. Was it a was this a direct offer for you?

SPEAKER_00 22:24

It was not. I actually auditioned for an another role uh played by uh a very powerful actress named Vanessa, the gut milk. She's Oh, right. Yeah. And I have an actual file cabinet in my home, and I stood, uh I stood by, had my husband shoot me because it was a self-tape, and he shot me by the file cabinet, and I didn't get it, and I like I didn't get it, I stood by a real file cabinet.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

And then Well, that's yeah, that's a great choice.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

Yeah, thank you. And remarkably enough, then they they offered me UMA. I didn't read for Uma. They offered me Uma after I just fit the other role and didn't get it.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

Aaron Ross Powell Well, could you have imagined five seasons later how much Uma would sort of grow and be knit into the fabric of the show? I mean, you're a little cartoon, you're in every season. It's crazy. It's so amazing.

SPEAKER_00 23:16

Aaron Powell Could you imagine after five seasons that the Dialogue for five seasons would be a total of 15 minutes.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Well, that's even more credit to you then for feeling like it's a lot more. Yeah, I would say so. You mentioned your husband, who I know is a in in the jazz world and such a successful musician. Is he a built-in reader? Is it does he like reading self-tapes with you?

SPEAKER_00 23:41

Is that how you're poor bastard, yeah. It's like he doesn't do enough around this place. Now he has to be reader, lighting person, editor. It's just crazy what people's mates have been thrown into. Uh uh apparently there must be some contagious plague because no one's gotten back into the casting office. It's very strange.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

I know. And it's such a frenzy, too. Whenever it comes in, it's sort of like they have their own work, but you're like, we gotta do this now. You know, it it's such a wild thing to have to do at home. And I'm I'm so glad. I mean, I think the file cabinet probably was part of the reason why Uma came your way. And uh, now that you're on this show, I wonder how is it collaborating with this massive acclaimed ensemble, you know, from Steve to Marty to Selena Gomez?

SPEAKER_00 24:29

Yeah, it's it's it's a blessing. It's a trip. I mean, they're it's they're exactly how Steve and Marty are exactly how you'd think they'd be. Um, Steve is cerebral and really cool, and Marty's just all over the place like a toddler. And Selena, who I thought would be like a snot and mean for some reason, she's like really sweet and very cool. So, you know, I I like at one point when we were backstage of listen to me, backstage, off camera. And we were about, you know, yeah, we're about to shoot like Marty's wedding to Merrill Streep, and I'm sitting there with Michael Cyril Crate and Tetris Pitt, I call him. Everybody freaking loves him. And and I'm sitting, we're sitting there backstage with with Martin Short and Merrill Street, and we're just there it's like this. And I said to him, Mike, uh they're all here. I'm sitting with them. I'm sitting with them. He's like, you're doing fine. It's gonna be okay. You're doing fine.

SPEAKER_01 25:36

I mean, I I don't know. I do feel this is an acting podcast. I would be remiss if I didn't ask if you had a Merrill Streep story. I mean, now that you've conjured her name, because she's sort of nothing to do with me. Because she's become such a big part of the show.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

Yeah, the encounters we've had. I mean, they they won't put me on screen with her, but the encounters we've had, she's been very, very, very cool. Very cool.

SPEAKER_01 26:02

Yeah. Well, let's manifest some on-screen time for y'all this this coming season. I think it must be so cool as a native New Yorker to be on this show, which is kind of a love letter to New York.

SPEAKER_00 26:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

How does that feel?

SPEAKER_00 26:17

It's you know, I'm uh I I take pride and I think that Um's the most New York of all the characters in the show.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Yeah, she slid right into that diner booth so easily, I feel.

SPEAKER_00 26:28

Yeah, and the attitude and the foul mouth and the darkness, and you know, she she's a real New Yorker.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

Well, the guest star circuit is also so crazy on this show. Is there a particular guest star? We mentioned Meryl, but is there a particular one that's come in and sort of really inspired you or someone you were a huge fan of that?

SPEAKER_00 26:48

Oh, Shirley McClain. Yeah. In season two, I thought.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

How was that?

SPEAKER_00 26:54

That was like insane. She she was so just as brilliant and nutty as you'd think she'd be. She was like so intense. And you know, why don't why doesn't she tell me that? Why is he saying that? Why would I do that? Look at me, look at me. I mean, she was like really intense.

unknown 27:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:18

Is it the kind I mean it seems like, and I've heard it's such a lovely set. Is it the kind of set where everyone is sort of like asking questions? I know you improvise a little bit here and there. I mean, that's intense. It doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_00 27:29

It is, you know, people people pretty much stick to the script on, you know, except for me. You know, everybody makes everybody laugh. I mean, the recently I there were like a couple of days where it was Nathan Lane and Rich Kind and Marty, you know, I'm like, I can't it just it doesn't get any funnier anywhere ever.

SPEAKER_01 27:53

That's amazing. There's so much serotonin. I think it's good for your health, too, to be there. Like e everybody should get a dose of that.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

As I mentioned, you well, you kind of mentioned without a lot of dialogue, sometimes you can just convey so much. And you strike me as someone who's not, you know, you just mentioned the vibe with all them, maybe a breaker on set or a giggler. But does that at this point does that happen a lot? Like, do you guys break a lot with with hysterical laughter? Because that feels like the biggest sort of like money waster on a set sometimes. It's like we're all just giggling and we can't stop.

SPEAKER_00 28:27

Right. Um my giggle moments have been brief. And sometimes it's six in the morning, so I can barely breathe, really. I'm just trying to trying to stay awake.

Set Energy Sleep And Comedy Buttons

SPEAKER_01 28:40

Trying to stay awake is a good memoir title or a good solo show title. Honestly, I'm trying to stay awake. That reminded me of a story you told about slapping Dave on Glass Onion, because you said you you flew there, and you've told this story a bit, but you flew there, you were dead tired. What is that like for you? I feel like sleep deprivation is something in this industry that we all don't really talk about enough, but it's like you're getting to live your dream, you gotta show up, but then literally you're just too excited to sleep. I mean, there's so many things.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

Yeah. Um it depends how good the gig is. Like the like, you know, the adrenaline is our friend. And um, it's my anticipation before things that's the torture. And that's one of the reasons, you know, the anxiety. And like, you know, I had this conversation with with Marty actually. He's like, he said he gets so nervous about having to get up at 5 30 and then he'll look at the clock. You know, is it funny because it'll be like 1.30 discussing what do you take? Do you cut it in half, you know? Um but yeah, yeah, and when it's something like here you are on a set in in the former Yugoslavia and you're on a set with Dave Batista, I mean, you stay awake. You know, I've been very fortunate. Nothing's like so boring that it puts me to sleep. I just don't want to have like medication residuals, so I I'm on set weeping, like I did one time in CBS this morning. I think that was the show.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_00 30:08

Yeah. It was it was like a we're showcasing on the town on Broadway, and everybody's New York, New York, and I'm standing there going, was rough.

SPEAKER_01 30:20

It happens sometimes because we are tired, and that's why the podcast is sponsored by Unisom, you know, cut it in half, take it whole, however you want. You also, I think, are someone who's so great at these buttons. And in a show like Only Murders, they're the buttons of the scenes are so integral. Yeah. What kind of discussions do you have about that? Are they sometimes like, Jackie, we're gonna push in on you at as the final beat, you know, react.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

They don't tell me. Um Okay. But yeah, like the like the you've gotta be or to me say fuck on this show.

SPEAKER_01 30:52

You said it, whatever you want to say.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

Yeah, the you've gotta be fucking kidding me was one of my favorites. I think when beautiful Paul Rudd fell f from the ceiling of an elevator.

SPEAKER_01 31:58

Yeah, that was so good.

SPEAKER_00 31:59

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:00

I mean That was so good.

SPEAKER_00 32:02

Yeah. Yeah, they don't they they they they trust me. They know that I could take button responsibility. And a lot of times Uma is and I'm proud to say a lot, and my manager always points this out. They always you to use you to promote the show. Like when there's a like a trailer, Uma, like for what little I have to do in the show, Uma will always find her way into that trailer.

Favorite Projects Props And What’s Next

SPEAKER_01 32:25

Yes, I love that. It's like the button factory over there. Well, okay, I actually reached out to one of your Only Murders friends for a little question for you. Okay, so I'm gonna I'm gonna read this question and then maybe let's see if you could guess who said it or not. Well, there I have no friends, so Well, actually, you'll see in a second. You'll see in a second. Okay. Jackie, I know complaining is your thing, but can you tell us three projects you've had the best time on and why? One theater, one TV, and one film. Am I answering this now? Do you want to guess who asked you that first? And then you can answer this.

SPEAKER_00 33:03

Oh, they asked me.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

Oh. Yeah, this was the question from one of your Oh, I thought they were gonna Okay.

SPEAKER_00 33:09

Um, wow. Michael Cyril Creighton? Yes. Yeah. Ding ding ding. He's the only one who'll talk about me. It's not too difficult.

SPEAKER_01 33:19

So he's so sweet. No, he's so sweet. Yes, he is.

SPEAKER_00 33:22

We have Teacher's Pet.

SPEAKER_01 33:24

Teacher's Pet. We all love him. I mean he's sort of asking for the best theater, the best TV, and the best film projects you've been on. Um From a fun standpoint, I think.

SPEAKER_00 33:33

Yeah, I always for best theater, I think of the revival of On the Town from like 2014.

SPEAKER_01 33:41

Um When you weren't crying.

SPEAKER_00 33:44

Yes, when I wasn't crying. When I was on stage in the nighttime, which is a normal time to be awake. I had a big role. It was a beautiful show. I loved it. I mean, I've been very lucky. I loved Hairspray, I loved Xanadu. I mean, those were a lot of fun. And TV, well, I'd have to say only murders or feud, certainly. And what was the other one?

SPEAKER_01 34:12

Film. If there's also a film.

SPEAKER_00 34:14

Oh, have I done enough films that I can even answer this question?

SPEAKER_01 34:17

I think so. You can also I mean, you've also done a lot of voiceover, too.

SPEAKER_00 34:21

Kissing Jessica Stein, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 34:23

Oh, okay. That was a great answer. Thank you, Michael. Thank you, Mike. And well, oh, you and Michael had a great little podcast interview for Only Murders. Your character, it was revealed, Uma, is a klepto. And in that spirit, while we're talking about all your other projects too, are you someone who takes a prop or something from a set after you leave a project? Is that your bag? Oh in in your bag?

SPEAKER_00 34:47

I don't have pickle diner coasters in my cabinet.

unknown 34:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 34:53

Is this the cabinet? The self-taped cabinet?

SPEAKER_00 34:57

No, that's paper. Okay, if I knew about it.

SPEAKER_01 35:00

If you're filming, yeah. Oh. Wait. Oh, that's a good is that a metal filing cabinet?

SPEAKER_00 35:06

Yes. From a vintage place.

SPEAKER_01 35:09

Yes. Oh, that's so good. That looks so good. I appreciate the the little pan to that. Well, as we kind of wrap up Only Murders, is there anything you you're really excited for Umma to do next season you can share, or is there something you're hoping for her character?

SPEAKER_00 35:26

Well, I'm hoping she works. I'm hoping she's in the season. Um and maybe maybe pursuing her romance with Vince Fish.

SPEAKER_01 35:41

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:42

To give her another color. But I would also love her to um to be more active in solving the murders.

SPEAKER_01 35:50

Hmm. When I was researching questions for you today, there's Reddit threads and people who thought I think you were the murderer, maybe I guess it was season one or one of the seasons, because they were like, Jackie Hoffman on Sturdy Rock was an arsonist, and so this is a callback to that. Like, did you know people get that intense about it? No, I had no idea.

SPEAKER_00 36:12

That's really wow.

Rapid-Fire Actor Advice And Closing

SPEAKER_01 36:15

Yeah. Do some Googling. It's interesting. I mean, it's cool. It's cool. People are that excited. Yeah, it is it's a scary place, but also exciting. And what I hope you also find exciting and not scary is a surprise game. It's usually called casting keywords, but we're gonna call it only actors in the building. And basically, if you're down, Jackie, I'm gonna start a phrase and then I would just love for you to finish it with sort of the best piece of advice for your fellow actors, if that sounds okay.

SPEAKER_00 36:44

What can I do? I'm here. You're a nice person, I'll cooperate.

SPEAKER_01 36:50

Oh, Jackie, I appreciate that. This is the first one.

SPEAKER_00 36:54

My favorite way to quickly memorize lines is sitting in a piece of furniture that I'll call the chair of memorization.

SPEAKER_01 37:05

Oh. I love that. Well, speaking of sitting, I like to spend my downtime in my trailer by peeing, playing with the phone, running over my one line. Beautiful. Hopefully all while peeing. To get in the zone before performing, I shallow breathe.

SPEAKER_00 37:31

Repeat my one line to myself incessantly.

SPEAKER_01 37:41

My biggest advice for nailing a joke is fast, funny, loud. That's great. I'm gonna write that down. If I have to prep for a more emotional scene, I usually get centered.

SPEAKER_00 38:03

Think of think of those I love that I've lost.

SPEAKER_01 38:10

Yeah, you I mean I mentioned this, but the you and Bunny stuff, I I just feel like that was so so beautiful. And yeah, okay, I won't go down that rabbit hole.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

But yeah, Jane Hootie show, that's a character actor.

SPEAKER_01 38:22

Yes. Well, all of you. I mean, this show is filled with them.

SPEAKER_00 38:25

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_01 38:26

It's like only character actors in the building, I feel. Okay, the best self-tape tip I have is get a husband. That's good. But what about making choices in these self-tapes? Because I feel like you're great at making such big choices. Do you just not overthink it? Like it how do you attack that?

SPEAKER_00 38:46

I I'm really lazy. I'm not like, let's do it again, let's do it again, unless there's a really obvious glitch. It's it's again the gut actor thing. It's like this is what I think it should be. And, you know, 98% of the time it doesn't get me hired. Um So the 50,000 other people of all ethnicities, I don't know what they're doing to get to book it. But um it just just I have a pretty clear, this is how it should be. Like there's never uh there's never a question of maybe it should be this.

SPEAKER_01 39:23

That's nice. That's nice not to overthink it. Do you feel like it's a long game thing too, though, because you these casting directors keep calling you in and they just remember you and it was a good tape? And obviously, you know, people know you, but have you noticed that? Like sort of playing the long game versus the long game.

SPEAKER_00 39:41

I I don't think that people keep calling me in ever. But you know, um a long game is like a it's good to hear because the long game is, you know, keeps you from the more suicidal thoughts because like actors are like, it's another day and I'm not working. You know, um, so long game is a healthier way to think of it and it's a good survival technique.

SPEAKER_01 40:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:05

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 40:06

Well, the last one I have here is for folks looking to build a voiceover character, I would say be a celebrity first, because that's where the whole business went. Hmm. That's tough. You are so great about sort of I mean, I said this with just your facial expressions too. This is all so silly because it's just acting. But like with just your voice being able to sort of tell a story, do you approach that the same way you would approach any acting project?

SPEAKER_00 40:34

Um when I do a voiceover thing or an Yeah. Yeah. I mean, an animated character is still a character.

SPEAKER_01 40:42

True.

SPEAKER_00 40:43

And they they're pretty specific. They're like, they're either, you know, not too cartoony, make this a natural, you know, make the space witch from planet globutron a natural person.

SPEAKER_01 40:56

You know, you went in for that too? Yeah. I didn't get that. The glob. I wasn't globby enough. That's that's great advice. Okay, I'll I'll throw in one more.

SPEAKER_00 41:05

I get most inspired by other other great actors that I work with, other actors. I get to work with the funniest people in the world at Second City and on Broadway and on Only Murders.

SPEAKER_01 41:17

Yeah. Is there one acting role model you've always had that you then got the chance to work with?

SPEAKER_00 41:22

Um I think Nathan would be up there. Nathan Lane.

SPEAKER_01 41:27

Yeah. Ah, so good.

SPEAKER_00 41:29

Yeah.

unknown 41:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:30

I sat next to him at a show recently. I didn't really know it was him until I got up to go to the bathroom and he was like, ah. And then during the show, he was kind of coughing, and you could just tell it was him within the cough because his voice is so iconic that I was like, Timone? Yeah. So he seems like a a good, a good role model to have. What show was it?

SPEAKER_00 41:48

Are you allowed to say?

SPEAKER_01 41:49

Oedipus.

SPEAKER_00 41:50

Oh. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:51

Oedipus. Did you see Oedipus?

SPEAKER_00 41:53

No, but I heard you can't unsee it.

SPEAKER_01 41:55

You can't. You really can't. It was, I still see it. It was so good. It was one of those ones we were talking about before where there's a camera and you're on screens for part of it. It was very film. Leslie Manville, though. So good. It was so good.

SPEAKER_00 42:08

I just saw Death of a Salesman with with Nathan. Oh. Wow. How was that? Pretty damn good. I had never yeah, I'm ashamed to say I I missed Philip Seymour Hoffman in the role. Um, and I'd never really see uh seen a production of it until now. And it was it was really powerful.

SPEAKER_01 42:29

Yeah. Well, I think you're powerful, and I'm so grateful that we could have this time together today. And we usually sort of wrap up by sharing a gotten and or a given. So the best piece of advice you've either gotten or have to give in this business for people maybe just starting out. I know these questions are so actory, but there's not really another way to phrase it.

SPEAKER_00 42:53

Um I think gotten is when you go into a room, make them believe that you're a person they want to be around and work with.

SPEAKER_01 43:05

That's a good one. And do you think that's just by leading with the most positive version of yourself, like you said before?

SPEAKER_00 43:13

Yeah, I should try that one day.

SPEAKER_01 43:16

You know what, Jackie? You're you're great exactly the way you are.

SPEAKER_00 43:19

Aw, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

What about that you have to give? Would it be the same if you're looking at these these kiddos, maybe the ones that are listening to you and trying to mimic your voice and Xana do right now?

SPEAKER_00 43:33

God, why anybody would want to do that? Um Yeah, my advice is fast, funny, loud.

SPEAKER_01 43:43

I love that. I love that. Well, I think this has been maybe not so fast, but it's certainly been funny, and I hope it's not too loud on everybody's ears. Thank you, Jackie. I just feel so grateful to be able to look up to you and watch your performances and now to have gone to talk with you. And I really appreciate your time.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

Thank you. You're a nice young man. Oh, Jackie.