"Will & Grace," from 1998 to 2006, found Kismet with its colorful quartet of characters. It was also the breakout role for actress Megan Mullally, who played the saucy, sassy Karen Walker. She has continued to mine that nutty side of her comedic style ever since.
In the film "G.B.F," debuting January 17 at the Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon Ave. in Midtown, Mullally plays the sympathetic mom of a gay high school student, who is outed by his friend. The role is minor, but she gets plenty of mileage out of it.
This was my excuse to talk to her for 10 minutes earlier this week:
Q: How did you get involved with this film?
Mullally: I thought it was a nice script. I thought the part was funny. I only worked for two, maybe three days. It was fun. I improvised a lot of the dialogue. I was watching the film 'Brokeback Mountain' with my son. I've seen the movie before. So I just pretended I was watching it and just went with it.
Q: I loved your funky haircut on the Golden Globes. What made you decide to go there?
Mullally: I just think after you turn 50, you can do whatever you want. I spent a lot of time as an actress worrying that if I dyed my hair purple, I'd never get a part or if I wear this kind of clothes, people would think a certain way. People know me now. Slap a wig on me if they don't like it! I just feel like I've gotten back into what I really like, the way I really like to dress. I'm back into vintage clothes. It's one of the perks of getting older.
Q: Isn't it amazing how big the audiences were for "Will & Grace" compared to what shows are getting now like "Parks & Rec"? [Her husband Nick Offerman stars in that show, which is why she was at the Globes.]
Mullally: Forget it ! Our numbers are like the Super Bowl now. It's funny that the morning after a show aired, [director] Jim Burrows would say, 'We only got 16 million last night!' It was like the end of the world. We're getting cancelled! Didn't the "Sound of Music" get 18, 19 million? That was huge!
Q: You seem like you'd be perfect live. [like the "Sound of Music" she just referenced.]
Mullally: We did a couple of live 'Will & Grace' episodes. And I've done a lot of theater and Broadway musicals. I have a band. I've got a couple of bands. I'm on my way to the airport to Florida to do a concert.
Q: Were you always a theater nerd?
Mullally: I grew up in Oklahoma City. None of the other children were like me. When I went to college at Northwestern, I had to drop out of the theater program. I was so freaked out and intimidated and overwhelmed by the theater kids. They had spent summers in theater camp during high school. I had none of that. I had been in ballet. That was not comedy.
Q: So how did the comedic side of you come out?
Mullally: Absolutely by accident. I sang and danced. I got trapped in the leads of musicals, which often meant at least a few lines that were supposed to be funny. I just stumbled into it. Later, I did some television comedy. I knew I could be funny but I didn't know it was a particularly strong suit of mine until I was on 'Will and Grace.' I was actually more than adequate at it.
Q: Are we going to see you in a regular role on TV any time soon?
Mullally: I've done some guest roles. I'll be on the season finale of 'Parks & Rec.' [She plays the ex-wife of her Ron Swanson and has been on the show before.] But I haven't been in the mood to do a series for awhile. I am kind of getting there now. I have one show that's going out right now and has been written. I have a comedy in development.
UPDATE 1/29/14: She also told me she had plans to join Sean Hayes, her former 'Will & Grace" bud, on his NBC show "Sean Saves the World." But NBC shut down production due to low ratings. before she had the chance. Details here.
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