Staying Fit
Amy Sedaris, 62, is known for her quirky style of comedy. She played the zany and unstable Mimi Kanasis in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a 46-year-old high school freshman in Strangers With Candy and voiced an ambitious pink Persian cat in BoJack Horseman. In her latest project, the off-kilter film Theater Camp, she plays a beloved camp director who unexpectedly falls into a coma, causing her motley crew of underlings to take over. As expected, hilarity ensues.
Did you go to theater camp as a kid?
I didn’t go to theater camp, but I did get into theater when I was young. My first role was playing the rooster in Charlotte’s Web. I remember the acting teacher saying that I was really good at making faces. That stuck with me because all my muscles are in my face. I’m a mugger!
What would be your dream role in a play?
It was always [Jessie Cates in] ’night Mother. I don’t have the acting chops, but I put it on one night here in New York City. I made spaghetti and meatballs for the audience because I wanted everyone to be a little distracted so they wouldn’t know how bad my acting is. The only thing I changed was that I added a second gunshot at the end. I knew [playwright] Marsha Norman wouldn’t give me the OK to do it, but I figured I could do it for one night. I’m drawn to drama.
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You’ve worked with so many big names, including Nicole Kidman and Dolly Parton. Who else would you love to work with?
I’ve always thought of John Malkovich. Again, I don’t have the acting chops — he is someone who would terrify me, but I would love to watch him work. Regina King is another one. When I saw her in How Stella Got Her Groove Back I was like, Who is that? I love her.
You play space mechanic Peli Motto in The Mandalorian. Were you a Star Wars fan?
I wasn’t. I mean, I saw the movies in the ’70s like everybody else. I never got that into [it], but I absolutely love being in that world. I love the sets, the costumes. I like that it takes [artistry] from the editors to set design to makeup and hair. Then [I get to] stand there and say these crazy lines. And I love a job that requires a uniform. I’ve always had jobs that involve uniforms like Winn-Dixie and Girl Scouts — I have a lot of my uniforms in storage. Any job that gives me a uniform I’m like, yeah, this is perfect for me.
