Becoming Jane Awesome

Some comic actors are known for their physical comedy, their funny voices, or their exaggerated facial expressions. The hilarious Jane Lynch, paradoxically, is recognizable for her seriousness. It's the utter conviction she brings to ludicrous scenes - whether aggressively flirting with Steve Carell in The 40 Year Old Virgin, intensely discussing a magazine for lesbian dog owners in Best in Show, or blithely recalling her porn past in A Mighty Wind - that has lifted Lynch from the ranks of "Hey! It's whatserface!" walk-on roles to brand-name status. Although she's been a working actress since graduating from Cornell University with an MFA in acting, Lynch is enjoying the new level of recognition she's achieved since the turn of the century, snagging enough plum guest spots on shows like The L Word to make her the hardest working actress around. Lynch will be in Provincetown next weekend to accept The Faith Hubley Memorial Award at the 10th Annual Provincetown Film Festival. Lynch spoke with Bay Windows by phone about being out in Hollywood, making out with Cybill Shephherd, and making it as an actress.

Q: We have an acquaintance in common: Faith Soloway, who you worked with on The Real Live Brady Bunch.
A: No kidding. My friend Kate Flannery and I just did a song of hers for an entertainment show. So I've been talking to her this week. And I see her from time to time. She came out here a few months ago.

Q: Speaking of Faiths, congratulations on receiving the Faith Hubley Memorial Award.
A: Thank you. I feel so blessed. It's a real honor.

Q: I understand you just did an animated feature with Emily Hubley.
A: Yes, it's called Toe Tactic and it will be playing at the Festival. It's half animated and half live action. I'm the live action. It was really cool. It's a very interesting movie, really deep and funny. It's an experience to watch it. It gets into your subconscious.

Q: I'm fascinated that your character is named Honey Strumpet.
A: Isn't that cute? You have to see the movie, but I'm an extension of a dog playing a card game.

Q: That sounds fascinating but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
A: And when you watch it, you'll have a hard time figuring it out. It's really deep, very right brain. It was really fun to make.

Q: And you're also in Tru Loved, which I'm looking forward to.
A: I was there for one day. I have a very small part but I was very happy to be a part of it. It's about a girl who comes from a family of two moms. They move to a conservative town and through the power of her charm and character she brings people around to seeing that it's just another kind of family.

Q: This is kind of your thing, these memorable character parts.
A: It's all been a great gift. I couldn't have planned it any better. I get to do a lot of things and a lot of great roles. I feel really blessed.

Q: And of course the Festival is showing Best in Show, which was kind of a breakout role for you.
A: Yeah, that was probably the one that got me to a different level. It was a joy to do and it's a film that really holds up. I think it's one of the funniest comedies, if I can say so without sounding like I'm bragging, I think it's one of the best comedies ever made. If I can go that far.

Q: Why not? You should toot your own horn.
A: Exactly! But it's not my horn so much, it's Christopher Guest. He really knows how to put a movie together. He knows how to edit, he knows how to do funny and touching.

Q: I think that's why you can watch his movies again and again, because they're not just glib and frenetic.
A: Because we're not mocking anyone. We're just getting to the vulnerable parts of these people who really want to succeed and be someone. It's done with a pretty open heart. We're not looking down on these people, and they're played by actors who really know how to embrace that and bring it forward.

Q: I would love to hear about the process of making these movies. I know you basically work from an outline.
A: Right. It looks like a script but there's no dialogue. So we know what has to happen in the scene. We prepare ahead of time in terms of what our character looks like, what we're going to sound like. Then we show up and improvise. There's no rehearsal. He shoots everything. So you go in there armed with a really strong character. In order to improvise you really have to do your work with your character. That's the challenge and the joy of it.

Q: How quickly does a scene come together? How many takes would you typically do?
A: We do a master, then he'll move the camera and do 3 or 4 more times. So we're done pretty quickly.

Q: So you all have to be really strong right out of the gate.
A: Well what he does is shoot reams and reams of film. He can edit four or five different movies out of the footage and go any way he wants. I heard he edited four different versions of Guffman, including one without his character Corky. Because he got so sick of watching himself. I'm so glad Corky stayed in! So the editing is really where the art of it comes in. He turns our performances into gold. He has a really unique talent.

Q: I wish he would edit you into Guffman.
A: Me too! I would love it. When I saw that movie I was like, Oh my god, this is what I want to do with my life!

Q: But you had already been in Second city at that point, right?
A: I toured with Second City, so I was doing sketch. And I love doing sketch, but I never improvised for them.

Q: Wait, so the Christopher Guest movies were your first big improv experience?
A: Yes. And this improv is quite different form Second City improv. Second City is the fast, funny stuff. At its best it's about really well grounded characters, but it's about getting to the joke. And Chris has a very feminine way of working. We meander, we go all over the place, and sometimes you think there's nothing here he can use. I felt that doing Best in Show, that I wasn't giving him anything he could use.

Q: I'm surprised to hear you say that, because you work in Best in Show is so sharp and strong.
A: That was probably my fear!

Q: Then did you enjoy the later movies more?
A: Well, in a different way. There's something about the excitement of the first time that you can't duplicate. But I was a little more comfortable on Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration, because I knew that if I didn't come up with anything good, he would make it look like I did. That's a lot of pressure off, and you can do your best stuff when you let that pressure go.

Q: So how much of the character background comes from the outline and how much is you? Your character in A Mighty Wind, for instance, has this really twisted and complex backstory.
A: He gave me the porn background. He said you're an ex porn star and you worship color now. So that's all we had to go on. And Michael [John Michael Higgins, who played Lynch's husband in the film] and I didn't even talk. We ended up having pretty ridiculous ideas. The first time we shot me telling the story of how I met him, he hadn't heard any of it. He's really listening. It's fun to watch him because he's one of the best reactors in the world.

Q: Yes! When you start talking about WINC he listens so intently, like he's trying to convince himself he believes it.
A: Yes, exactly. Michael McKean said to me, it's so fun to watch his spine slowly collapse in that scene. And when he was talking about the musical abuse, that was the first time I heard about that. When Jennifer Coolidge and I worked together, we kind of compared notes. But Michael and I were so busy rehearsing the music that we never talked about it. It was so fun to discover as it was rolling.

Q: Do people ever crack up on the set?
A: No, that never happens. It's too important. If you crack up you ruin someone's moment.

Q: Is it ever hard to keep a straight face?
A: Not really. Not in these movies. We're so grounded in our characters, and our character would never laugh. I've never heard of anyone breaking on one of Chris's sets.

Q: You approach this work in a very disciplined way. Do you agree with the old saying that dying is easy but comedy is hard?
A: I think acting is acting. Some people can't do comedy, but if you look at the best dramatic actors that we have, like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro -

Q: Meryl Streep!
A: -Meryl Streep! They can also do comedy. Meryl Streep is hilarious. And she's deep and real and always does something completely unique. Yet she's really funny too. I think in order to be a really good dramatic actor you have to have a sense of humor.

Q: I read an interview where you said Meryl Streep is your idol. And now you're playing her sister in Julie and Julia.
A: It was a dream come true. It was a master class in watching somebody stay in the moment. Every take is spontaneous. Everybody she's with, she lifts them up. I was afraid I'd be intimidated, but I was able to surrender to it and be lifted by it. And Stanly Tucci too, he's so solid and grounded and in the moment.

Q: You've worked with so many amazing actors. Who stands out in your memory?
A: Steve Carell. I love when people can really be in the moment and create something right there. Steve is fantastic at that. I love working with John Michael Higgins. He is freakishly talented and smart. He's a freaking genius. He knows a lot about everything and he's a great teacher too. Meryl Streep goes without saying. And I loved working with Ted Danson. He is really sweet and has such a sense of fun. I love it when people enjoy themselves. Julie Louis-Dreyfuss is like that. She's all about the joy.

Q: What would your co-stars say about you?
A: Oh! That I was very nice. See, I don't stick around long enough to get into any drama. I come in for one day and they don't get to see my dark side. When I did Lovespring International on Lifetime, that was the first time in a long time that I was a regular on a series. We all went through our light moments and our dark moments together.

Q: And what's it like working on The L Word?
A: Well, it's one of these ones where I fly in to Vancouver for 24 hours. So I really only work with Cybill Shepherd and I feel like we have our own show. Then I watch the episodes and say, when did all this other stuff happen?

Q: You've always been out without every making a big deal about it. Did The L Word raise your gay profile?
A: No, I don't think so. I don't lead with my orientation, but if you ask me, yes I'm gay, I'm right handed, and I have blue eyes. I don't look to be discriminated against or treated specially because I'm gay.

Q: So many entertainers are not up front about their sexuality. Did you consider staying in the closet?
A: No. I don't think about it one way or another. It's a waste of energy. Just be who you are. And if being who you are is all about being gay then you need some therapy. I'm an actor. I like everything about human nature.

Q: And what's next?
A: I'm doing a pilot and I certainly wouldn't mind if it gets picked up and I could hang my hat for a while. But I don't really have goals. I've done pretty well by surrendering to the moment. I mean I'd like to expand. I'd like to do bigger roles and make more money, but basically I stay in the moment and see what I can get out of that moment And I'm very happy.

Q: Who's a better kisser, Cybill Shepherd or Jennifer Coolidge?
A: They both have the softest lips. I like them both.

Jane Lynch accepts The Faith Hubley Memorial Award at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at the Provincetown International Film Festival. For details and the complete Festival schedule visit www.ptownfilmfest.org.