From co-writer/director/producer Ben Falcone, the comedy Life of the Party follows Deanna (co-writer/producer star Melissa McCarthy), a newly single mother who, upon having her life turned upside down, decides to re-enroll in college and finally earn her degree. Having dropped out to raise her daughter (Molly Gordon), she now finds herself fully immersed in the college experience alongside her, and while mother and daughter get to know each other on a whole new level, Deanna also goes on her own adventure, making new friends and just having some fun.
During this 1-on-1 phone interview with Collider, actress Gillian Jacobs talked about what drew her to the role of Helen, a college student who was in a coma for eight years and who’s now trying to make up for lost time, having the freedom to improvise, why this was one of the happiest work experiences she’s ever had, the vibe that Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone create on set, and how she ended up kidnapping Ben’s puppets. She also talked about why being a part of the TV series Love has meant so much to her, along with the fondest memories she has of her time on Community.
Collider: It’s always good to talk to you! I very much enjoyed this movie and loved how quirky and odd and fun your character is in this.
GILLIAN JACOBS: Good, I’m glad!
What was it about this character that made you want to play her? Did you know that you’d get to play somebody who’s just a little bit odd?
JACOBS: I don’t think I knew the full extent of it until really we started shooting. Primarily, it was the idea of getting to work with Melissa [McCarthy] and Ben [Falcone] that was so appealing. And then, once we got down there, they really give you a lot of freedom, as an actor, to create a character, so I got to be odd.
Getting the freedom to play doesn’t necessarily mean you get to create a character that’s as quirky as this one ultimately is.
JACOBS: I haven’t actually seen the movie, so I don’t know what of my performance made it in there. I don’t know exactly how odd I am, but probably pretty odd. I have a unique imagination
Her backstory is definitely an interesting one, for sure.
JACOBS: Well, that was not my doing. That was totally in the script, so that was Ben and Melissa. You can just get inspired by watching a performer like Melissa, and all the other girls in the movie were so great, too. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Were there any specific challenges with doing this role?
JACOBS: No, this was one of the easiest, happiest work experiences that I’ve had. I just feel like they assembled such a nice, talented group of people who genuinely got along. We just basically went to work and had fun every day.
Things are a bit awkward at first, when this mother shows up and wants to keep hanging out with her daughter. Her daughter’s friends seem to like having her around more than her own daughter does, at least at first. Why do you think your character, in particular, is so drawn to having this mother hanging around?
JACOBS: Well, her mom isn’t around, and when it’s not your mom, you’re always more down to hang. As my mother is lurking in the room over from me, I have to be very careful what I say about mothers and wanting them to hang out with your friends. Mom, can you hear me? She’s not listening. She’s not eavesdropping, so we’re safe. I just want to be cool on my own.
One of the things I loved about this is that the film is about a group of women who are friends, who support each other and who are loyal to each other, and there isn’t any jealousy or competition among them. Was that something that was important to you?
JACOBS: Absolutely! I’m lucky because I’ve had two movies very much like that, coming out in the same month. The movie Ibiza that I’m in has a dynamic that, again, is a celebration of female friendship. I’m really lucky that I have two of them, right now. In the grand scheme of things, that feels very rare. That’s what made us all so excited to work on this move and to feel so excited to go to work every day. You felt like you were getting to do something that you don’t often do. You don’t often get to work with a majority female cast, especially when you’re not competing over a love interest, or something like that.
Did you guys get to hang out together, at all, as a group, either beforehand or during the shoot?
JACOBS: Absolutely! Not really beforehand. The only person I met beforehand was Jessie Ennis because she was on Love, as well. We had only shot like one episode together, when we were cast in this movie, so I knew her enough to know that I liked her, but I didn’t know her much better than that. But, we all hung out a lot. We were all in Atlanta. When you’re all shooting somewhere that none of you live, people tend to hang out more. A bunch of us were staying in the same apartment complex, so we all would hang out there and go out to dinner together. We went to the drive-in movie theater, which I don’t think I’d ever done before. Melissa and Ben are also such great hosts, and they would have people over and do group events and really make sure it felt like this familial atmosphere.
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone seem like the loveliest, most fun people. How does that translate to a working environment on set?
JACOBS: I’m telling you, it was such fun set. It barely felt like work. A lot of the crew are people that they’ve worked with on other films, and the producers and writers would have all their friends on set. Melissa and Ben met at The Groundlings, so a lot of the people in their lives, they’ve known since then, and that really tells you a lot about people. They’ve had these long-term friendships and working relationships, and people want to keep working with them and just hang out. You can’t ask for much more.
I read a story that Ben Falcone brought puppets to set, and that you would take them and leave ransom notes for them. How did that happen?
JACOBS: It started with one puppet, and then there were suddenly more and more puppets. I barely remember this, but I guess I started kidnapping the puppets. Maybe I was inspired by them because I don’t feel like I’m normally that fun. It’s so funny because normally, when you do an interview for a movie like this, people are like, “What pranks did people pull on set?,” and you’re like, “None, we went to work!” But, I guess I was the George Clooney of this film.
I loved the work you did on Love. What did you most enjoy about getting to be a part of that show, telling that story and playing that character? What are the fondest memories of that, for you?
JACOBS: I have two categories with that. I have the shooting fondest memories, which is just getting to play a role that I feel like is still pretty unique for women on television. She was a flawed, three-dimensional person, who was trying and failing and making mistakes, but was also very vulnerable. I felt very lucky to get to play a part like that. And then, the other half of it was just the experience of what the show and Mickey, in particular, as a character, has meant to people, and getting to hear from people that it made them look at their own lives. People have told me that it got them either to go back to a 12-step program or to go for a first time, or that it helped them recognize that they were having issues in their own life. She was able to be a character that people could relate to. They didn’t feel judged by her, but maybe felt more accepting of themselves because of her. That to me has been very meaningful, unexpected and profound.
People also really loved Community. When you think back to the time you spent on that show, what are some of the fondest memories of that experience, for you?
JACOBS: Oh, my gosh, there are too many to name! Just the fact that I wound up a part of this incredible cast, getting to do amazing writing. It could have been just another sitcom. I didn’t know, when I got the job, how amazing it would be. So, just the friendship and the unique experience of feeling so proud of something that you’re a part of. Just feeling like, wow, I lucked into something really great.
Life of the Party is out in theaters on May 11th.
