Jane Lynch has kept us laughing with her understated sense of humor in such cinematic hits as Best in Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Role Models. With the Fox series Glee, Lynch became a household name creating the persona of Sue Sylvester, the coach of a cheerleading squad who has some of the best one-liners on TV.
She just released a new memoir, Happy Accidents, which chronicles her early life as a lesbian, alcoholic and actress. She spoke with Windy City Times right before her book signings in her hometown this past weekend.
Also please see Jane Lynch at Women & Children First, www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php
Windy City Times: Hi, Jane. I just finished reading your book and enjoyed it. Did it take a long time to write?
Jane Lynch: We wrote the book in three months. We were given four months but dithered away a month. My wife actually wrote it with me. She's responsible for it being readable. [ Both laugh. ] We did it together. It was very fast and furious. We flew through three years and it was pretty joyful.
WCT: Was it hard to reveal some of the things in the book? It seems very personal.
JL: I found power in kind of blowing your own cover. It didn't feel so exposed so I wasn't afraid of it.
WCT: How was your family after reading the book?
JL: Good, really good! My mother read it for the second time and she said [ mimics voice ] , "I like the way I came off."
WCT: She sounds like a character.
JL: Yes, she is. She's a doll.
WCT: I recommend actors in the Chicago area to read the book. Is your advice to not turn things down?
JL: Not so much that. I think the most important thing is for people to use their judgment. I did say yes to a lot of things and that worked for me. I amassed a ton of really great musical experience. There are lines to not cross; you don't do things that are dangerous or against your safety and comfort.
I found I was game for almost anything and that had to do with I just loved doing it. I wanted to be part of the game and be invited to the party. I didn't want the parade to pass me by. I want to say that if I could go back, this is the point of the book really, I would tell myself to not suffer it so much. Don't worry so much and be easy on yourself. A lot of things took cares of themselves. I was exactly where I needed to be. I need to have faith in that.
WCT: You seem very grateful in the book for your success.
JL: Oh, absolutely, yes.
WCT: Do you still get star-struck?
JL: Sure. It is so funny I just hosted the Emmys and I wasn't star-struck by anyone because I was so by blinded the job I had to do! Every once in a while I look around and go, "This is amazing." Sitting in the front row with Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert just right behind him. It was really cool to see people I was in cohorts with from Chicago. Jill and Faith Soloway were my writers so they were backstage with me the whole time. It was a real Chicago feeling. Andy Richter did a little of the pre-tape. It was great to get our Chicago people together again.
WCT: I saw the Glee tour and you were in the video montage. Did you want to go on tour with them?
JL: Not necessarily. I was happier to be on the satellite. I didn't want to be touring around to do a little sketch. That wouldn't be fun. If they had me singing and dancing that would be another thing…
WCT: Are you singing on this season of Glee?
JL: I don't know yet. So far in episode six I have not.
WCT: Are the fans just everywhere you go?
JL: It is pretty phenomenal, especially with kids. They just love it. It is all about inclusion and finding your place in the world. These Glee kids have found a place where they can be themselves and supported by other people. They found their people. I think that is what we are doing in life, looking for our people and the place where we belong. I think that speaks so strongly to kids. There is nothing more powerful than being part of a group and making a beautiful sound.
WCT: Do people think you are like your character Sue Sylvester?
JL: No, they don't, not at all. Sue is so extreme. She's not dangerous. She's just laughable. It's not like I am Hannibal Lecter and people are scared to death of me walking down the street!
WCT: The part is well-written and you get to show that human side of her. That is when it's magic.
JL: You first get to see that when they showed my sister and showed me being very sweet with her. Ryan said to me, "You just bought yourself seven more episodes of heinous behavior."
WCT: I am such a fan of Carol Burnett, who played your mother on the show.
JL: I know; me too. She wrote the foreword.
WCT: Your fans really get to know you better by reading this book.
JL: Absolutely.
WCT: Is your daughter Haden a Glee watcher?
JL: Yes, she is. She comes to the set. She knows that she has got it special. It is also kind of old hat to her, too. It's funny how kids adapt.
WCT: If same-sex marriage is legalized in Illinois, would you want to do another ceremony there?
JL: I think we are ceremonied out. We will get married in California—that's for sure as soon as it's legal.
WCT: You have some future projects coming out that we should mention. Is The Three Stooges a movie adaptation from the old television series?
JL: Yes, it's from the Farrelly brothers. It is hilarious. I play Mother Superior. I cannot wait to see this movie. I don't have a huge part in it but Larry David plays our head nun, Mary-Mengele. He's hilarious. The three guys playing the stooges are outrageously good; [ they're played ] by Will Sasso, Sean Hayes and Chris Diamantopoulos. You are going to be so impressed. They were just amazing.
WCT: I just saw Sean Hayes at the Erasure concert recently. You also have a cartoon called Wreck-It Ralph, where you play Sergeant Calhoun.
JL: Yes; in fact, I just did a session today. It is a Disney animated film and I did some voice work today. I have had like four or five sessions. It is coming out in November of 2012. There are some great people in it.
WCT: Good to see that you can do other projects when not filming Glee. Will you get to do anything fun while you are in town?
JL: I am appearing at Barnes & Noble in Old Orchard Shopping Mall, Women & Children First, a couple of TV things, then I fly back. I wish I had more time to hang out. I will be signing books and talking to the folks, which will be great. I can't wait.
Happy Accidents can be purchased wherever books are sold.
