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Its an infectious spirit, one that Kimmel himself cant help but comment on.
Getty Images/Everett Collection
Shannon blushes and thanks him before turning the focus around, congratulating his recent duties asOscar host.
You make it look so easy, she tells Kimmel.
The same can be said of Shannon herself.
FromSNLtoI Love That for YoutoCord & Tish, Shannon is the undisputed superstar of everything she does.
FromSNLtoI Love That for YoutoCord & Tish, Shannon is the undisputed superstar of everything she does.
(Shannon, who was four at the time, survived along with her dad and older sister.)
(She has a son and a daughter with husband Fritz Chesnut.)
Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
I know what its like to not have any money and be bouncing checks.
Shannon still cant believe shes in this much demand.
Thats a very big compliment.
From leeft: Florence Pugh as Allison and Molly Shannon as Diane inA Good Person
It makes me blush.
This season ofVanderpump Rulesis riveting, she says.
Divorce, cheating, custody.
From left: Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Andy Cohen, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Cheri Oteri, and Kristen Wiig in anSNLskit in 2010 spoofingThe Real Housewives
But who is the real Molly Shannon when the cameras are off and shes at home watching reality TV?
Glamour: Tell me how you ended up playingFlorence Pughs mom inA Good Person.
Molly Shannon:Zach Braff just called me.
Molly Shannon with kids Nolan and Stella Chesnut in 2007
I had worked with him 20 years ago onScrubs,when he directed the episode I was on.
He was just such a wonderful guy.
He said, Molly, do you want to play Florence Pughs mom in my movie?
Molly Shannon The White Lotus
I was like, Yes.
It was really that simple.
I read the script and loved it.
Also, finding out Morgan Freeman is in it was a no-brainer.
And Florence is just such a doll.
We had such a good time.
Its a beautiful film, but also really heavy.
What resonated with you about the script?
She has to deal with the aftermath, the grief, the blaming herself.
She doesnt really want to live.
My character sometimes tries tough love, because shes trying to get her off pills.
Sometimes Im an enabler.
you’ve got the option to really understand the mothers struggle.
The whole thing was so layered and beautiful.
Well, right now shes really intoReal Housewives of Miami,so we talked about that right away.
She doesnt watchVanderpump Rules, though.
I was like, You have to watch.
Knowing how much you love yourHousewives, would you ever go on the show if they asked you?
I mean, maybe.
Jamie Lee Curtis did.
She was inReal Housewives of Beverly Hills.
She did an episode where she talked about a foundation she was working with.
She was so great.
She came to Kyles house.
Then she just won an Oscar.
So I can mix those worlds.
I think there are some celebrities whose publicists tell them not to take pictures with reality stars.
I dont follow that rule at all.
I get so excited.
You sometimes feel more excited to see them than big movie stars.
I bumped into Shannon Beador fromReal Housewives of Orange County.
I was so excited.
Thats actually a really good idea.
Ooh, I really like that.
I am an unapologetic fan for life.
But Ill tell Will.
Whats your process before you commit?
Its really all about my children, my family, because I love being a mother.
Show business is very, very secondary to them for me.
I have to make money, of course, and work and take care of my family and everything.
But its really all about the kids and my family.
And then, do I like the project?
Does it seem fun or not fun?
If it doesnt seem fun or if the people dont seem great, I dont do it.
Id rather be with my kids.
I dont want that.
But also, I know some people dont have a choice and dont have that freedom to not work.
I feel very fortunate.
I know exactly what you mean.
Its almost like I feel like thats not enough of an excuse.
Its my own guilt on myself.
I actually just got asked to do something this summer, and I dont want to do it.
My son is a senior, and its his last year at home.
This is my time with him.
Were going to go on family vacation.
To me, familys everything.
You will never regret that time.
You could only get that advice from a woman.
I was getting advice from somebody her age, so it was really good advice.
I lost my mom when I was four, so I really treasure the time.
I feel like you might never take that for granted.
I have a very different mindset.
I really feel the urgency of life and time and your loved ones.
Thats my number one.
I just forge ahead and tell my truth.
Im like, If you dont like it, thats the truth.
I want to be with my family.
Its interesting when youre a celebrity.
A lot of people ask favors, like, Can you do this?
Can you host this?
So I feel fortunate that I got to work with them.
I just feel like you have to be good at understanding that no is a complete sentence.
Sometimes you dont have to give any reason at all.
Sadly, Im unable to do it.
Thank you for asking.
Good luck with your thing.
I used to do all these things for other people.
Ill do that video.
Ill do that favor.
Ill host that event.
But you just have to know your own limits and what makes you happy.
I know I dont like to work that much.
Ill work a little, but I really like downtime.
People who want to work themselves to the bone, knock yourselves out.
I know it wouldnt make me happy.
I have a great story about that.
Years ago when I was onSaturday Night Live, I went through a breakup.
I was really down in the dumps and heartbroken.
Hes a friend for years.
But I was like, Ugh.
I just am not in the mood to be on.
But I felt guilty.
My therapist said, Well, why dont you just say no?
I was like, I know, but I should do it.
Again, this is nothing.
Ive done his show for years and loved it.
It was just the time of my life where I was burned out and having a hard time.
I said, Id rather just take a walk or something.
She was like, Thats okay.
Just say no, then.
Just go for a walk instead.
I built from there.
Sometimes I think you’re free to compare and despair.
Its important to not compare to those people or people who just want power.
This town can make you feel like youre not measuring up.
There can be a lot of fear.
But you have to be like, Its okay.
Working more is not going to make me feel better.
I just think its not the solution if youre feeling less-than.
You brought up an interesting point, which is feeling like you have to be on all the time.
I venture to be really nice.
I worry about that.
I never want to leave someone hanging or be too quick with someone.
That would make me feel bad if it was a fan and didnt have enough time.
I would feel guilty.
So that can be a little overwhelming.
Im more of a one-on-one person.
Talking like this is more my thing.
Im trying to get better.
Its okay to calm down.
You dont have to be everything for everyone.
Youve been called a national treasure.
Here, youre part of ourIcons Only feature.
How does that make you feel when you hear that?
Oh, my God.
No, I cant believe that.
I still have dreams where Im driving around looking at Help Wanted signs.
Or I have a dream that I have a secret job waiting tables.
So I dont feel that way at all.
I still think, Oh, I should apply to that restaurant as a hostess.
I struggled so hard to get here, so I really appreciate the opportunities that Ive been given.
I know what its like to not have any money and be bouncing checks.
Thats a very big compliment.
It makes me blush.
Is there a role or project you have yet to do that you would like to work on?
Thats the last thing on my mind.
Im more thinking about my kids, I guess, because my mom died when I was little.
Thats all Im thinking about.
I cant believe my sons going to go to college.
My daughters in college.
Thats really at the forefront of everything.
When theyre more settled in school or whatever, then maybe Ill start thinking about that.
But thats not on my mind at right now.
Its like how you feel about your family.
Thats everything to me.
I am proud of myself that Ive managed to have kids and a family and also maintain my career.
Its really hard balancing everything, so I feel really proud that I did that.
Molly Shannon with kids Nolan and Stella Chesnut in 2007
As you should.
You brought up your mom.
Well, I feel like if youre going to write a memoir, people need to share stories.
You might as well go deep.
Otherwise, whats the point?
It was interesting because somebody on my team had said, The press tour is going to be exhausting.
Youre going to be talking about this emotional stuff.
Youre going to get so tired.
I never felt tired.
I feel like its much harder to have to go and be on and tell little comedy anecdotes.
This was more me.
I felt that the conversations were almost like group therapy.
It was really cathartic.
I will say, my one regret was years ago when I got nominated for an Emmy Award.
I took my husband, who was my boyfriend then, instead of my dad.
He was like my mom, a gypsy rose.
He really was so involved in my career.
There was no stone unturned.
Does that make sense?
The doctors were concerned about long-term brain damage, and she had to relearn so many basics.
Even though she recovered, it fundamentally changed me.
Its why I value my time with my parents as much as I do.
Ive seen very quickly how fast that can go away.
Oh, my God.
See, isnt that interesting?
Its actually very similar to my story.
Kids at the time were like, I just want to party, I want to go out.
I had no interest in any of that.
I just wanted to be with my parents.
You feel like youre in a different world compared with everyone else because youve been through something so life-changing.
To me, family is always number one.
You would never have to explain that to me.
Put it that way.
It is what I was saying beforetheres healthy guilt and toxic guilt.
You played Jake Lacys mom, Kitty, in season one.
Would you come back and revisit her in another season?
I feel like shes the punch in that visits all the White Lotus resorts.
Yes, I would absolutely revisit.
Mike White is so talented.
Mike and I are very, very close.
So yes, we talk about that.
Mike can do whatever he wants, but just understand, I trust Mike.
If he feels the need to bring me back, he will do that.
Hes my good friend.
He knows what he needs to do as he writes these episodes.
I think he could bring anyone back whenever he wants to.
But yes, I would love to go back.
Id be very curious whats happened to Rachel.
Did she settle into that life?
And Kitty is so self-centered.
She just sees her own world.
Shes like, Why would you want to do that?
Why would you want to work?
She was such a fun character to play.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
