Jane Lynch Shares Why She’s Feeling Blissful

What’s your favorite memory from making Best in Show, and are you still in touch with any of your costars? 

When we see each other, it’s always great. Eugene [Levy] was on Only Murders in the Building, so that was a really good week. We had a day on set together, and that was fun. I loved working with Jennifer Coolidge in Best in Show. Jennifer and I did a lot of walking through Stanley Park in Vancouver [Canada], and we got to know each other very well, and it really served our relationship in the movie. We were both first-time Christopher Guest improvisers — that was our first movie with him —so we kind of shared the same amount of anxiety and fear and bumped each other up. And we did a lot of laughing. I really cherish the time I spent with her.

Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self?

I think I would tell myself, “Look, the stress you’re feeling, the anxiety and all of that stuff is absolutely appropriate to where you are right now.” There’s power in knowing that’s just how you’re supposed to be. Because I think the hardest thing is thinking, I shouldn’t be in this space. I should be somewhere else. I should be more confident. I would tell myself, “You’re absolutely where you’re supposed to be,” and sometimes that can free you and open you up and let the anxiety fall away.

What’s your attitude on aging?

It’s really just another number. Since the pandemic, I don’t look at the numbers as much — it’s more about how I feel. I accept the fact that I’m looking older, and sometimes I don’t like it and I’ll rush to get some Botox or a little filler, but I’m not fighting it. I look more and more like my mother, which is an interesting thing. Even if you love your mother, nobody wants to look like their mother. I guess because it says you’re old. But I not only accept that, I kind of embrace it.

What are you doing to keep fit?

I’m probably more physically active than I’ve ever been in my life. I do a lot of gardening and walk a lot. I’m also more social than I’ve ever been. I go out to dinner with people. I live in a small town [Montecito, California] with a lot of really great people who are my age and older, so it’s kind of nice. I just want to stay as healthy as I can for as long as I can. I’m eating better than ever, and my blood work is the best.

What changes have you made as you’ve gotten older?

I don’t eat processed foods, and I don’t eat sugar, and it was very easy to do that. It kind of just all fell away. And when I got sober, I didn’t have any struggle, losing the alcohol. I know that’s not true for everybody, and I know it’s been a blessing. I feel the same way about food — the need to eat the bad stuff just fell away. And I can feel the difference. The only thing I wish I was better at is sleeping. I wake up a lot. I get up way too early, and I’m way too tired. I really wish I could sleep through the night, so I’m investigating ways to do that.

You’ve spoken publicly about your sobriety journey. What advice would you give to others who might be struggling?

Go to AA [Alcoholics Anonymous]. I don’t care if you’re still drinking — go to AA. Just listen. You don’t even have to start working with someone right away. Just show up. Go to meetings. It’s really helpful. The thing about AA is that it’s the original program. There’s something about that original spark of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s absolutely spirit charged.

What do you enjoy doing with your wife, Jennifer Cheyne, when you’re not working?

We’re very independent, but we love our home, so we come together in the morning and at night. She’s off doing horsey things all day. She’s a horse person. And I’m kind of a sit around and garden person, and I like to walk about three blocks to the main drag of our town. When I walk down there, you’d think I was the damn mayor. I’m saying hello to everybody and am more social than I’ve ever been.

You turn 65 next year. Do you have any big plans for your birthday?

No. And I didn’t have any big plans for this birthday either. I just turned 64, but I had a great day. I usually don’t plan anything, but I said it was my birthday on social media, so when I was walking down the street in my hometown, word got out that it was my birthday. People were coming out of shops saying “happy birthday.” Someone bought my breakfast. It was a lovely day.

You’ve done both comedic and dramatic roles. Is there anything that you haven’t done that you’d like to do?

No, as you get older, the road narrows, and I don’t necessarily have as many dreams about expanding or stretching or challenging. It’s more about just showing up and being with fun people. And you know, I’m at a point now where I have some faith and trust in my own abilities. Life’s not very stressful. It’s pretty blissful.