For once, we see their unconventional parent-child dynamic from the other side.
The episode works in those kinds of contrasts, and Imrie plays them beautifully.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:I loved the episode.CELIA IMRIE:I havent seen it.
Credit: Ali Goldstein/FX
Am I any good?
[Laughs] You had to say that, David, thats not fair.
Its wonderful, isnt it?
I mean, what clever writing.
I just am so lucky to be in it, David.
What was your reaction to the Phil script when you got it?I love the contrasts.
I love playing this character so much, and as you say, the contrast is so huge actually.
Its what every actress yearns for.
Im talking about Pamelas writing: Shes very unsentimental, which I think is so clever.
She would go mad if she heard me praising her this much.
But I cant help it.
I thought,Oh, lord, you know.
But on the other hand: Pamela only has to ask me.
I will do anything she asks me.
I think the character is so rich that you cant be prissy about it.
When I read it, in my heart, I went, Oh, dear.
[Adlon] doesnt shirk the reality.
Im not saying it did happen with her mother, by the way.
Must make that clear.
But I did slightly have to hold my breath and jump in with that.
Have you met Pamelas mother?Oh, yes.
Theres nothing quite like her.
I think thats a fair thing to say.
But this season we made rather good friends and we used to go out to dinner together.
I think shes a hoot.
There is great love between them, dont you think?
That absolutely comes through.Good, good.
How have you approached playing her?
And that is quite a sort of rare occurrence.
We immediately could understand each other about what that means, which was great.
Im not caricaturing her mother and Im not doing an impersonation of her mother, because were very different.
That was my thought many years ago.
This, to me, its so rich, this show.
Pamelas very funny quite poignant, though, and its everything all in a half an hour.
I think its quite magical what shes managed to pull together.
You cant say its like anything else, can you, really?
But with this show, it quite takes your breath away sometimes.
Ive only got praise for her.
But again, shed be so furious if she heard me praising her.
She doesnt like it very much.
Secretly, I think she does, but she doesnt take it very well.
This episode really focuses on aging and its impact on this kind of close mother-daughter relationship.
How did you approach that delicate material?Thats what I love about Pamela: She doesnt shirk it.
Because Im afraid to say that its going to happen to us all.
There is no easy way there really isnt.
And I love that shes tackling it head-on.
Theres no magic solution, either.
It is a thing and it has to be thought about.
And there she goes there she does it.
Shes trying to make me 99, by the way.
She keeps upping my age!
Im like, Hold on a minute, yo.
