lake Bell on her role in the film, that’s all about achieving one’s dreams
How fascinating is to play a real characterIJ
She is still figuring herself out. And I think this is the first time in my life that I’ve ever played a real person, who exists, who has their own life. I haven’t met her. But I think for everybody in this experience, playing people who are real and who have gone through these emotions and this experience, we want to pay homage in a respectful way. So my character is definitely an integral part of JB’s coming-of-age, his sort of mid-life story, and his spiritual path, in figuring out what the right thing to do is. But also just becoming a better person in a very simple way. Brenda is a toughie. But honestly, for a character like JB that Jon’s playing, you need to have someone who can lay down the law, because anybody less than that is just going to get steamrolled. So I think that is imperative for Brenda. She’s smart, she has her own opinion about things, she also has a great compassion for the human spirit and she is a caretaker of people, she's a doctor.
This is a movie dominated with men. Would you comment on thisIJ
I have a lot of brothers. I’ve got my older brother luke, I’ve got my two step brothers who I feel that they trained me very well and I also have younger sisters, not to leave them out of it but the point is, I think being in this camaraderie of men is something I feel comfortable with. I think that you need to have a lady to tie things down a little bit, to keep things grounded perhaps. I feel on the set sometimes, that can be my role.
Your relationship with JB obviously is very important to the success of the story. What was it like working with Jon HammIJ
Jon and I have known each other for many years. He is a great guy. It’s fun to have someone on the set who enjoys doing bits and you know not taking things too seriously. In-between takes and in-between work. The second the cameras are rolling he delivers and is masterful at stillness and playing through that stillness of raw emotions. I always enjoy watching him. Obviously everyone loves him on Mad Men. It’s obvious for a reason because he is incredible. But it’s nice to see him playing a character that finds warmth and finds light at the end. And I think actors like to be challenged and I think that you know certainly because his Don Draper is a very different beast then his JB.
Talk about Alan Arkin.
From the read-through onwards, to just standing next to or hanging out with Alan Arkin is a good day in my book. He is someone who likes to share stories. I am first up to be like, ‘Everybody shut up, Alan has a story!’ So that’s been definitely fun for me. I am a huge fan from a far and now up close.
What message does the film leave for the audienceIJ
The movie is about dreams. I think it’s a coming of age story of these young Indian boys as well as JB in mid-life, sexy 40s whatever he is. I think, yeah it’s about finding what your dream is and then cultivating the path towards that, then fiercely going after it. And every part of every chapter of this journey for them is totally unwritten and never been written before so there is no frame of reference. So I think it’s uncharted territory. That’s a place to start when thinking about this movie.