Molly Gordon would like to take a nap.
Gordon codirected the film with Nick Lieberman and cowrote it alongside Lieberman,Ben Platt, and Noah Galvin.
(Platt and Galvin, who are engaged, also star alongside Gordon in the movie.)
Photo: Elias Tahan; Top by: Redone; Jeans by: Levis; Earrings by: Anne Sisteron
Everyone broke themselves to make this movie.
Its not every day that youre a force behind two of the buzziest projects of the summer simultaneously.
So yeah, a nap for about a year sounds about right.
Molly Gordon and Ben Platt inTheater Camp, out now.
Theater Campbegan as a short film that Gordon created with Platt, Galvin, and Lieberman back in 2017.
The film follows Gordons Rebecca-Diane and Platts Amos, beloved counselors at the deliciously cringy AdirondACTS theater camp.
Everyone said no again and again and again.
Photo: Elias Tahan; Top by: Redone; Jeans by: Levis; Earrings by: Anne Sisteron
I remember eating edamame, and my hands were shaking, she says.
Then it was go time.
I was the only woman in the house with three men, but I was able to shower first.
Molly Gordon with Jeremy Allen White in season two ofThe Bear.
Im very thankful for that.
Once shooting wrapped and the editing process began, Gordon started watchingThe Bear.
I hadnt seen something so original, authentic, and unfussy.
I was so inspired by it, and it became my favorite show.
I have to audition for everything else, and I dont get anything, she says with a laugh.
This was a very beautiful thing.
Acting in the series alongside herTheater CampcostarAyo Edebiriwas just the icing on the cake.
Im an actress, she says of taking the reins on future projects.
I can just pretend Im not scared.
Glamour: Did you always want to write and direct, in addition to acting?
Molly Gordon:I had a little too much energy as a child.
I had a dress-up box and was always making up stories.
I just didnt know exactly what I wanted to do within it.
What was it like to writeTheater Campwith three other people?
We wrote the movie during COVID, mostly on Zoom.
I think at one point it was 300 pages of crazy stories about our theater experience.
And then over a six-month period, we crafted the story together.
Were not going to do that.
And it would push me to be better.
How did you most relate to Rebecca-Diane?
I think Rebecca needs to be on medication, like,tomorrow.
There was no vanity.
I had to be very honest and free in this character.
What was the biggest challenge of theTheater Campexperience?
The biggest challenge of the movie was the editing process.
So that was a really quick turnaround.
We were like monks getting this done.
It was so hard, but I also loved that part.
I loved being monofocused in that way, but I would not recommend editing on that timeline.
If youre trying to get into Sundance, I would suggest shooting your movie in the spring.
Did you always plan to play Rebecca-Diane?
Youd think that an actress directing herself would feature tons of vain closeups on her face.
Whats your favorite snack on set?
Hands down, peanut M&Ms.
I feel like theyre healthy because theres protein, but theyre not.
What was your favorite costume fromTheater Camp?
I wanted a Hasidic-fairy vibe, and she really nailed that.
I love a clog.
You filmedTheater Campwith Ayo Edibiri, who would go on to become your costar in season two ofThe Bear.
At the time, did you know that you would be working together again afterTheater Campwrapped?
Ayos first day onTheater Campwas the day thatThe Bear[season one] came out.
What do you think peoples reactions will be?
Its crazy to think she didnt know how much of a success it would be.
But no, I had no idea.
Im a really lucky person that I got to be on that show and work with Ayo again.
How did your role onThe Bearcome about?
Im so proud of you.
I would die to be a part of it.
Id even play the role of the napkin.
I actually forgot that when we were filmingRamy, hed said to me, Were going to collaborate again.
Chris and I knew that we had a really beautiful working dynamic.
If it hadnt been with him, I would have projectile vomited immediately.
What did you know about the character youd be playing?
I didnt know anything about the role when I signed on.
But I trusted that Chris knew we would have a nice flow.
How was working with Jeremy Allen White?
Our first day of shooting together was the refrigerator scene.
He was like, Im in this with you.
I immediately felt like there was something really good there, and I felt safe in that dynamic.
I guess Chris knew.
In what ways do you admire Claire?
For some reason, that feels like such a radical thing.
Im not always goodwe cant be good all the time.
I also love that shes like, Whyd you give me the wrong number?
Then you gave me a fake number?
Are you fucking serious, you loser?
I struggle with that.
Claire is an ER doctor and wants to have a relationship too.
I think I connect sometimes to Carmy in that its really hard to have both.
Do you think theres a future for Claire and Carmy?
If there was a superlative for you on set, what would it be?
Most likely to fall.
What was your favorite scene to film inThe Bear?
It was such a pinch-me moment, where I was like, Im on my favorite show!
I had to remember to act because I was like, Theres Ayo.
This is so cool.
Is there an actor youve always wanted to meet?
Oh, I really want to meet Barbra Streisand, and I would say, I love you.
But also, I dont know.
Sometimes I dont want to meet my heroes because I have no cool as a human.
What did you buy with your first big paycheck?
It was $200, and it felt crazy that I was able to buy that for myself.
I think I lost it within about 24 hours and was able to retrieve it at a Juice Press.
What will you buy to celebrateTheater Camp?
A lot of eye cream because my eye bags are through the roof.
When I first watched a teeny bit ofThe Bear, I was like, That is a tired woman.
Thank God Im playing a doctor.
This interview was conducted prior to the strike.
