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Come on over and well show you, Gravitt says with a laugh.
Sean Zanni/WireImage via Getty Images; Apple TV+
Some kids might have balked at the idea, but Gravitt says she thrived.
I was obsessed with memorizing lines and doing monologues and the drama of it all.
I ended up falling in love with it.
But it wasnt stardom right away (it never is).
Its taken a bit to get here, which has just made me even more grateful, she says.
I was around 14 when I got my first recurring guest-star appearance, which was so exciting.
In fact, the addictive nine-episode seriespremieres on April 11has already been renewed for a second season.
I was such a shy child and just ended up falling in love with acting, Gravitt says.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If its meant for you, its meant for you, she says.
Glamour: Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet play your parents inYour Friends & Neighbors.
How familiar were you with their work, and what did your parents say about this casting?
Isabel Gravitt:I was very familiar with Amanda Peet.
I had first seen her in this 90s film calledShes the One,directed by Ed Burns.
That was my first introduction to herl she played Jennifer Anistons spunky sister.
I thought she was unbelievable in that.
Of course, Ive been watchingMad Mentoo.
So just a dream.
My parents were like, Jon Hamm?
Did you tell Jon that you first saw him inGilmore Girls?
Because Alexis Bledel was inMad Men, and so there was that connection there.
So yeah, I got to bring it up to him, which was hilarious.
And what did he say?
He was a little surprised.
I love that show.
Did your parents get to meet Jon and Amanda?
My mom met Jon.
We were between setups.
I was like, Do you want to go say hi to him?
My mom was like, No, no, I couldnt.
And Im like, Okay, its fine.
My mom’s like, No.
And hes like, Lets go.
So he took us over to say hi, and Jon was so nice.
My mom was like, Oh my God.
Afterwards, she couldnt believe that we made her do that.
That is so cute.
But I mean, shes got to meet him!
Hes your onscreen dad now, so come on.
So tell me, what was your audition like for the show?
But then I got a callback, and I absolutely tanked my callback.
I was like, Okay, well, not getting this one; onto the next.
And they called and offered me the job.
I got so insanely lucky.
Why did you think you tanked your callback?
I forgot my line mid-scene because I was so nervous.
I was shaking with fear because Zoom callbacks are not for the weak, for me anyway.
It really adds just a layer of nerves for me.
I was just really feeling the pressure, because I really wanted this.
I kind of blanked, and they were very generous about it.
They said, Okay, lets just go again.
I was absolutely mortified, of course, but they were so kind about it.
It doesnt matter if you misalign or say something stupid.
It doesnt really matter.
If its meant for you, its meant for you.
So that kind of gave me peace of mind.
Youre not thinking, Oh, its fine.
Youre like,Crap!
I closed my laptop and was like, Im never working again.
But thats never the case.
It always feels that way.
What was your first scene on your first day of work?
My first day was all of my scenes in episode one.
We just kind of hit the ground running.
Im glad that I was thrown into it, because there was no time to be nervous.
I was just kind of immediately in it.
Did you sleep the night before?
No, I never do.
I always have first-day nerves.
But it was a great first day.
And what about your tennis skills?
Did you learn to play tennis for this?
In my audition, I was like, Im Isabel Gravitt, and Im a beginner.
I can do beginner tennis stuff.
But thats not the truth.
I think I hit a ball once and thought, You know what?
Ill be able to do it.
But they put me in lessons.
They took me to the John McEnroe Academy, which was absolutely ridiculous.
I was like, What am I doing here?
I had amazing coaches.
I was super lucky.
But the way that it translated on screen, Im very proud of it.
I can sleep now.
How did you celebrate when you found out you got the role?
So when I answered the call, my manager said, Say hello to So-and-so, So-and-so, So-and-so.
And I was like, Oh my God, is this it?
And hes like, How would you feel about playing Jon Hamms daughter?
We all just started jumping up and down.
It was a big celebration.
And then I got to call all of my friends and be like, Im moving to New York.
Its so crushing when you dont get a role you want.
I had braces and acne, and I was so awkward.
I was like, I dont belong on the screen right now.
I shouldnt be up there.
I was doing this health academy at my school, and I was focused on speech therapy.
So if I werent an actor, I think I would be working toward being a speech therapist.
I was looking atyour Instagram, and youre a natural blonde.
Did you have to dye your hair for this role?
It was already dark.
I actually feel at home with brown hair.
Blonde kind of freaks me out now.
Have you heard that?
Growing up, the one person that I got most consistently was a young Dakota Fanning.
Ive never heard that before in my life and now its coming up.
So its an honor you say that.
When youre not working, what is your favorite way to spend an off day?
Then getting dinner, chilling, taking a bath.
Thats a super dream day.
Whats your favorite book that you just read?
Im currently readingJust Kidsby Patti Smith.
Im in New York, so I feel like that was just the book to read.
But my favorite book isA Spy in the House of Loveby Anais Nin.
How did you most relate to Tori?
I drew from a lot of my own teenage experiences of feeling misunderstood.
What was your favorite part of Toris look?
Did you like her style, or was it very different from yours?
Its pretty different, which was really fun to play with.
I loved how they did my hair and makeup.
Is there a hair and makeup trick that you learned from set and now incorporate into your own life?
Burts Bees chapstick as blushin the shade Zinnia.
The makeup artist would go ham, pun intended, with this Burts Bees chapstick on my face.
It just creates this nice glow, and its so natural and matches your lips.
So I feel like it all kind of ties a look together.
What was your choice of snack or beverage on set?
Ooh, peanut butter and jelly was the go-to because its so easy and super quick to eat.
And an iced coffee or a black coffee.
If there was a superlative for you on set, what would it be?
Maybe most likely to disassociate, or most likely to be listening to music.
But probably most likely to have earphones in, be listening to music.
Whats the greatest lesson you learned on set?
I think maybe to take chances and to be present.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I think time moves so fast.
Its easy to take things for granted.
So really taking it all in and just being curious and asking questions.
The fight that I have with Jon as my dad was really nerve-racking.
It was kind of my first back-and-forth scene with him.
It was my audition scene, so there was a lot of pressure there.
Take a deep breath, and its going to be fine.
Look at me and everything will fall into place.
That advice carried me through the rest of the show.
It was really important advice for me to hear.
Is there a scene you were most excited to do?
Or when Im throwing up in the college dorm.
We had so many women on set that day for comfort.
That scene was a lot of fun.
Lastly,Your Friends & Neighborshas already been picked up for season two.
When do you start filming, and do you have any plans before then?
We start very soonits like right around the corner.
Your Friends & Neighborsairs new episodes weekly on Apple TV+.
