Amy Sedaris just might be the funniest person I’ve ever met. Amy and her brother, writer David Sedaris, first entered my consciousness in the 90s when they put on a series of ludicrously hilarious plays off off-Broadway, written by David and starring Amy with them billed as The Talent Family. The plays had names like One Woman Shoe, Incident at Cobblers Knob and The Little Frieda Mysteries. Both siblings are brilliant and somehow brought out the absolute best in each other, a fact that is still absolutely true to this day.
Amy went on to mainstream stardom playing characters that ranged from mildly nutty to full-blown lunatics in shows and films like Sex and the City, In and Out, The Mandalorian, BoJack Horseman, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Broad City, Difficult People and the legendary Strangers with Candy. In Strangers, Sedaris played Jeri Blank, self-described as “a user, a boozer and a loser” who gets out of prison after a life of prostitution and drugs and goes back to finish high school at age 46.
She’s also the queen of crafting and entertaining. She’s an amazing cook and baker and had a show, At Home with Amy Sedaris. She always puts a smile on our faces and we wish she was our best friend. Who better to launch Playgirl’s series of “Extraordinary Women?”
Amy Sedaris • Photo © Danielle St. Laurent.
I think of you as a fashion person. What do you think about fashion?
I like fashion, as long as it makes me feel like who I am. I like to feel comfortable. When I go to events, I always dress myself out of my closet, because I know that’s what I would really wear. I love Comme des Garçons and Kapital, so I kind of dress like those guys that sell Christmas trees sometimes. Do you know what I mean? It’s distressed clothing. It’s actually really beautiful and nice. I’m going to Tokyo this week, and I’ll go to every Kapital in Tokyo.
I’ve seen you in a lot of Molly Goddard.
Love her. I love the petticoats and the ruffles. I just can’t get enough of that. I like costumes a lot. I like uniforms.
I love it. You very often play fun, sweet characters, but I remember once you telling me when you were doing some show with Paul Rudnick and you kept saying to him, “Can I have a crying baby off-stage?” or “Can she have been raped last week?” Do you hate playing nice, normal, cute people?
It’s fun to play mean people. It’s a lot of fun. I am just usually driven by the character. I like character-driven things. My favorite is when you can improvise. If you’re in an environment where it’s open and other people are improvising, that’s where I feel the most free. I wish I had more jobs like that, like the Louis CK, Horace and Pete, that was one of my favorite projects, because Louis was like, “Just do whatever you want.” It was so freeing and so much fun.
Now, on Strangers with Candy, was there much ad-libbing?
There was a little bit, but Paul and Stephen, I consider them more like people who chop wood as far as the structure goes. I was more of a decorator, even though our minds wrote the show, but there was a little bit of improv, but not too much. We were pretty picky and we didn’t really have the time to do it. Same with At Home with Amy Sedaris.
When people wanted to come on, or improvise, or play around, it was like, “We got 10 hours to do this.” With lower budget stuff, you just don’t have that time.
Tell me about the character you used to do all the time, that sort of the pig lady with the nose taped up.
I’ve been doing that since I was… Everybody put Scotch tape on their nose, but David [Sedaris, her brother] and I would put her in all our plays and change her name. She’s just a foul mouth, but she could be a sweetheart too. That’s a fun character. David writes really well for her, where every word would be a cuss word, like, “I don’t give a furry fuck who the fuck you fuck.” There’s a rhythm to her that’s always nice, and everyone can relate to her.
I remember and I wrote down “Incident in Cobbler’s Knob,” and I don’t know if that was from this show, I think it was that character who came on stage at one point and said like, “You fucked my ass and then fucked my pussy. It costs money to clean that shit out,” or something to that effect.
Yeah, “He fucked me in the ass, turned and got shit in my pussy. Shit don’t come up for free, motherfucker. I got deals.” That’s another one. I played a dirty… What was it? Carl the donkey, in that. That’s another one of my favorite moments that I’ve ever done.
Amy Sedaris • Photo © Danielle St. Laurent.
Did you and David always get along? Did you always play together in that way as you do now?
Yeah, we always got along and we still play together. Nothing can tear us apart.
What was your childhood like, if you don’t mind me asking? Were you a happy, fun kid?
I got along with the stoners, and I got along with the preppy people. I got along with pretty much everybody in school, and we had such a tight-knit family, so I always had them. Even though we had friends, we always had the family to get back to, so we didn’t allow a lot of outsiders in our house, you know what I mean?
Yeah, yeah.
I liked growing up in North Carolina, I like southern hospitality, neighborly things, and I still apply all that stuff to where I am now in New York City, sense of community and fellowshipping. I like those vibes, and I always like to go back and visit. Yeah, there were tough times, yeah, but I never felt like I was wanting anything.
We’re doing this series for Playgirl about extraordinary women. Women who we think are amazing and who we admire. Did you, when you were a kid, have women who were role models for you?
I was obsessed with Barbra Streisand because she was so theatrical. She was so watchable, and her inner voice was amazing. You could just, it’s almost like her acting, she didn’t need the other person in the scene. She was her own person. That was my major obsession.
Then I got into Tammy Faye Baker when I would watch her cooking segments on PTL, and I was like, “Whoa, what’s this?” Characters, seeing women that were characters and really true to themselves, and I’m still drawn to those kinds of performers.
Yeah. How do you feel about how Barbra has changed over the years? I love early Barbra. What’s Up Doc is I think one of the best movies ever in history, and I think…
Same here.
She got very serious later, but I kind of miss the self-deprecating, kind of wacky Barbra.
I know, me too. Did you listen to the audio of her autobiography?
I was on a road trip and listened to a lot of it, but it was the kind of thing that after seven hours, we’d only gotten through three meals and one year. It was like, there’s a lot. Did you listen to the whole thing, or…
Every single word of it. I never saw, “Papa, can you hear me?” That movie, I never-
Yentl
Yentl. I never saw Yentl so the Yentl chapters were a little slow for me, and then I stopped buying her records after Superman. That’s when it kind of got a little strange. Then I was like, “Oh” and I moved on. I think Fleetwood Mac was the first non-Barbra Streisand album outside the Chipmunks that I ever bought.
If you could give your childhood self any advice today, what would say? What do you wish you knew then that you know now?
You just got to just do whatever you want to do, be the real you. You know what I mean? Don’t hold back. Just don’t hold back. As far as relationships go, I look back at that and like, “What was I, a loser? What was I thinking, dating that guy?” You just don’t need it, man. You just don’t need dysfunctional, bad guys. Just stay away from them. Focus on yourself.
Do you consider yourself a funny person? I think you’re hilarious, but do you think of yourself as a funny person?
I think of myself as funny, especially when I’m around David. We’re each other’s best audience. He’ll challenge it, and I’ll try to be funny or say something funny when I’m with my friends, but I don’t think of myself as a funny… I can be really serious when I’m hanging out with friends. I’m kind of both, but I like to laugh and I like to make other people laugh.
That’s my go-to. Sometimes I think I can make myself laugh and be like, “Oh, that was really, actually, that was pretty funny.” I’m usually funny by mistake. You know what I mean? Like I said something that’s hilarious. Oh, I didn’t even know what I was saying.
Are there people that really make you laugh, or what kind of thing makes you laugh that other people do or say?
Well, David really makes me laugh really hard. When America’s Funniest Videos were on TV, nothing was funnier than that. Come on. You know what I mean? I laugh at whatever. I watched Cable Guy again the other day, and Jim Carey really made me laugh in that. He really, he gave it 110%.
Amy Sedaris • Photo © Danielle St. Laurent.
Do you ever feel like any situations cannot be made into something funny?
It’s like when all those lies came out about them saying they’re eating the kittens, and the dogs, and the cats, I’m like, “Wait a minute. There’s no meat on kittens.”
If you think about it, because people are always saying, “Do you eat rabbit? You cook rabbit?” I’m like, “There’s no meat on rabbit,” any more than there is on kittens, but the idea of people eating kittens is funny to me.
When did you get into baking? Are you still baking? Do you bake for business or pleasure?
Yes. I cook and bake for myself pretty much every night. My mom was a big cook, and I learned about it in Girl Scouts, and everyone in my family cooks for themselves. I love grocery shopping. I love the list. I go grocery shopping every day. I like everything about it.
What grocery store do you love most, and what makes a good grocery store?
I go to different grocery stores for different things. Some of the times, it’s about a destination. If I’m like, “All right, I’ll walk to Eataly and back,” or I’ll walk to… What’s that place on the Lower East Side, the spicy, Essex Market, or I’ll go to Lifethyme Market on Sixth Avenue a lot. I’ll go to Citarella. I don’t like to go to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, because I don’t like the people that I see there.
The customers or the workers?
I just don’t like the vibes. The customers. I feel like they’ve triggered us. Everyone’s in a box, and they know exactly what to put out for what kind of person. Then I feel like I’m a type when I go to those stores. Who gives a fuck about dried apricots? People are like, “Trader Joe’s has the best.” I’ve never heard anyone follow up with any other thing they get there, besides dried apricots. I don’t get it.
Did you ever work at a supermarket yourself?
Yes, I loved it. Winn-Dixie was my first job. I always had the longest lines, because I’d give out the extra coupons, and you could buy a fat daddy or something, and I would get in and make fake announcements on the microphone, and they took it away from me.
Do you think this is the best time of your life, or when would you say it was the best time of your life?
I’d say when we were doing Strangers with Candy, I was very aware. We were all very aware that this was going to be a good time in our lives. When we were out in the woods, we didn’t know anybody was watching the show. We had all the freedom in the world, working with your friends, making each other laugh. We thought, “Wow, will we ever get this again?” That was a good time. Also, doing the plays with David, I’d say was creatively one of my favorite times.
I think just because I’m older now, you know when older women say, “When you turn 60, you feel wiser,” or, “You don’t care what other people think?” I was always like, “Well, I don’t care what other people think anyway,” but now that I’m 63, I’m starting to get what they mean. There is an empowerment, and I’m kind of really enjoying it.
Might you and David ever do plays again or try to, especially after the wild success of your friend Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary?
I don’t know if we’ll ever do a play again. I would like to think that we would, and if we do, I’d like to do it in London. I’ve always wanted to work in London, and David lives there, and it would just be a different audience for us.
Well, I would fly there to see it. Now, how do you want to be remembered, if at all? By friends, or by the public, or both.
I want to be remembered as a person who didn’t have a good answer to that question.
Are there any career-related things that you still haven’t achieved that you’d like to do?
Well, I want to do a TV show based on that character, Angie, the pictures you’re running. I got really excited. That just came out of a playful photo shoot. I went on Etsy and I ordered it all, I put in cold shoulder, and those dresses, different dresses came up with the open shoulder.
I just was like, “Let’s just do this.” I’ll do that sometimes, do a random photo shoot for fun. Then I was like, “Oh, who’s this lady?” I just am keeping notes about her, and I’d like to go back and do a show about her. That’s a goal. We’ll see.
I would watch it.
I don’t know what it’s going to be like, TV shows now. I don’t know what to expect.
Then finally, this is for Playgirl. What or who do you think is sexy? What do you find sexy?
Oh, well, I think rabbits are pretty sexy. I miss my rabbit so bad, but I’ve had three fucking sexy bunnies. That’s probably not the answer you’re looking for.
That’s okay.
What do I find sexy? People who feel sexy, you know what I mean? I’d like to watch people who really think they’re sexy and put it out there, or people who aren’t even trying to be sexy, but you’re just like, “You have no idea, because you have no idea how good looking you are or how sexy you are.” I guess now, being single for so long, I’d say I find rabbits sexy.
Do you plan to get another rabbit, or is there a mourning period where you feel like you can’t get another?
I usually wait a year before, but I really am liking my freedom right now. I think I need it. I feel like I can travel now. Most animals do hold you hostage. I do miss having something hopping around my apartment, and they’re just the perfect pet for me because you communicate with them on such a different level, I really, really like. Wah.
When you were young, was there anyone you had a crush on, like a celebrity or someone you had posters of in your room?
Bobby Sherman was my first. I was obsessed with Bobby Sherman. At one point, I was obsessed with James Caan. Then when I got to work with him on Elf, I was like, “I cannot believe I’m working with James Caan.”
Amy Sedaris • Photo © Danielle St. Laurent.
We also had a chance to catch up via email with Angie! She’s a gal on the go and we just can’t get enough of her. Although it seems like the Caps Lock button on her laptop is jammed.
Where does Angie come from?
DELAWARE
What are Angie’s biggest turn-ons? Biggest turn-offs?
TURN ONS: SAND, SEASHELLS, SUNSHINE, SALTWATER
TURN OFFS: THE BEACH
At what age did you realize you were devastatingly gorgeous?
THANK YOU, I’M FLATTERED. 9
Who were your fashion and beauty role models as a child?
RAQUEL WELCH, ANGIE DICKISON, JESSICA RABBIT, LONI ANDERSON.
Preferred lipstick shade? Fragrance?
CHERRIES IN THE SNOW, MUSK OIL.
Describe your dream man.
SALT AND PEPPER HAIR, FUNNY, LIKES TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, IS NICE TO ANIMALS, NO KIDS, LOVES TRAVELING AND A JOB.
You have a rendezvous with your dream man, what do you wear to greet him at the boudoir door?
JUST PANTYHOSE
Which music do you put on that sets the romantic mood?
GEORGE MICHAEL
What’s your sexiest feature?
MY UPPER BACK
4 words that best describe you.
TIGER, FOX, COTTON CANDY, SEASHELLS
Are you named after legendary sex pot Angie Dickinson?
NO, AFTER HER FATHER ANGELO. I MADE IT MORE GIRLY.
Is your favorite tv program the late 70s sitcom Angie starring Donna Pescow?
NO.
