While actress Ari Graynor has not found it difficult to find work, she admits that the roles that she had been playing for years were lacking in depth. The characters were broad and general, lacking depth. She began to wonder if producers and casting directors would ever take her seriously enough to cast her in a role that demanding more depth. Graynor, 34, says that she has been literally aching for a role that demanded greater depth and substance.
The funny thing is that in 2015 she was literally about to leave Los Angeles and head to New York until she was offered an opportunity to audition for the role in I’m Dying Up Here. Here are five things that you didn’t know about Ari Graynor that will give you better insight into who she is.
1. She Actually Performed at Live Open Mic Nights to Prepare for the Role
Actors and actresses will go to some great lengths to prepare for certain roles to ensure that the character that they are playing comes across as authentic as possible. In order to prepare for the role of being a stand-up comedian, Ari Literally performed before a live audience. She signed up under her character’s name and performed her entire routine before the audience. She admits standing up there before an audience can be scarier that being behind a camera.
2. Working With Real Live Comedians Keeps Her on Edge
Ari admits that working on the set with real comedians keeps her on her toes. When you are in a room full of people who don’t know anything about comedy, you may be able to use your fallback charms to carry you in tough moments, but when there are people who literally do what you are portraying for a living, they will let you know when you are off base, and they don’t always do it in a soft and easy way. They are comedians.
3. Executive Producer, Jim Carrey is an Influence
How would you like to be an actress who is playing a role as a stand-up comic in a television series that is being executive produced by Jim Carrey? As you can imagine, that can produce a great deal of pressure to perform; however, Ari says that Jim has been nothing short of amazing in making sure that she fits right in. He has even sat in and help the crew reconfigure some of the jokes and deliveries.
4. She Doesn’t Know Any Jokes
Despite playing a stand-up comic, Ari says that she has never been an on the spot laugh generator. She literally gets the jitters when anyone asks her to tell a joke. You would think that being that uptight about telling a joke would make taking this type of role extremely odd, but somehow when she gets behind the camera and gets into character, she is able to just roll with it.
5. This Role Has Given the Star a New Voice
Ari Graynor has developed a reputation as a scene stealer, which is a tribute to her talent and appeal; however, it is easy to get pigeon-holed as that person that supports the lead actor. Many actors who have been classified as scene stealers never get leading roles, but this new role in I’m Dying Up Here has given Ari a new voice that has a great deal of promise.
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