The American actress and star of Glee, 32, discusses how she stays motivated and her nerdy friends with Lisa Merrick-Lawless.
You play teacher Emma Pillsbury in Glee. Are you anything like her?
Emma famously suffers from OCD and I suppose I do have a bit of that. The other day, I noticed I’d arranged my spices in alphabetical order when I was on the phone, without even realising, and when I was a kid I was constantly cleaning and organising things – my toys, my sister’s cosmetics [laughs].
Was your high school experience anything like Glee?
There were cliques, for sure, but I was somehow friends with different groups. At times, I felt like I didn’t fit in but I guess that’s how it is when you’re trying to figure out who you are. In terms of a glee club, there wasn’t enough money for a theatre programme at my high school, but we did have something called ‘Forensics’, where you could compete against other schools doing acting.
Was that when you decided you wanted to be a performer?
My teacher always said I should continue to act in college, and I didn’t at first, but she carried on persuading me until I did! She had such faith in me and she remains that teacher who made such a difference. She’s probably my biggest fan besides my parents.
It took you two or three years to land your first TV job on Joey in 2004. Did you ever think about quitting?
No, once I’d made the decision [to be an actress], I felt pretty resolved. A lot of people have a five-year plan but I don’t know if I necessarily had a number on it. When I started getting theatre roles, that gave me a little confidence and assurance. Moving to LA [from Virginia] was the hardest bit because all my family live there and I was scared. You think, ‘Am I going to be starving for the next 20 years? Should I stick to maths and science?’
Were maths and science passions for you then?
I loved them – at school they called me a “Math-lete” – and they seemed safe.
What’s the most challenging thing about acting?
I think the hardest thing is the time between jobs when you don’t feel like you’re growing. It’s almost like a mental challenge to keep yourself motivated and stop things from getting stagnant.
How do you stay motivated?
My husband Adam [Campbell, a British actor] and I watch so many movies and documentaries and even though it sounds silly, it’s kind of like studying for me. Auditions also keep me ‘warm’, and I give myself other stuff to do – if I have a week off, I try to arrange lunches with people or have a party. I try to make life the focus, rather than work. Who are your friends? I hang out with more nerdier people than non-nerdy [laughs]. I have a great fun group of friends from all walks of life – we laugh a lot and I think that’s really important.
You play a mum-to-be in The Smurfs. Did it make you think about starting your own family?
Wearing a fake bump was definitely strange, and even stranger when Adam came to visit the set. We’d just stare at it while other people said things like, “You’ll be so cute when you’re pregnant.” It takes you on a mental trip, and it did make me think about motherhood, but we’re not there yet.
What would you tell your 21-year-old self?
I was so focused at 21, maybe to my own detriment because I didn’t allow myself to have fun. I was constantly looking for the next audition and working to pay the bills. I would tell myself to relax a little more and have fun. I feel really content in my 30s actually – I don’t feel like the wisest person in the world but I definitely don’t worry or stress like I used to.
The Smurfs is out nationwide on 10 August
Picture credits: Rex Features, TM & copyright 20th Century Fox.
