Let’s raise a glass or three and take a hit of Molly.
MOLLY SHANNON: It was kind of osmosis.
I’m a big Taylor Swift fan, and my daughter’s a big Taylor Swift fan.
Credit: Jeff Minton for EW
We went to her concert, and we got to go backstage and we met her mother.
I had also met Mandy Teefey, who’s Selena Gomez’s mother.
I grew up loving Brooke Shields, and I was fascinated with Teri Shields.
Jeff Minton for EW
I was like, “I wish I had a momager!”
I was always fascinated with those savvy mother managers.
I feel like I’ve had enough experience meeting some of these people atSNL.
Jeff Minton for EW
For all of her meetings.
Yes, she has big meetings!
Oh, you better watch out!
This is no joke.
What was the wardrobe or hairstyle choice that galvanized the character for you?
Well, the hair is perfect.
We wanted kind of a Kate Gosselin, “Ohio comes to New York City” cut….
I really love wearing wigs and I really like changing myself a lot, so the hair hooks me.
And then I would say that little jacket that she bought at the candy store.
A black leather jacket with studs.
And platform shoes for the summertime.
In one episode, your character takes Molly at a party.
How would you prepare viewers for Molly on Molly?
It’s easier to play drunk.
Being on Molly is a very different kind of thing.
It’s almost like being in awe with very small things, like nuts, so that was challenging.
What influences do you draw from?
My dad was my biggest fan.
He was really into showbiz.
My dad was like Pat [fromThe Other Two].
I got TALENT!'"
So he was really like my Mama Rose.
A lot of the characters are me.
So excited about life!"
Sally O’Malley is me imitating my dad too, but just as a woman.
What’s the quintessential Lorne anecdote that sums up his essence?
I just knew him as a very deep thinker and genuine, intelligent.
This is not right!"
Don’t let it throw you."
I mean, it’s like the greatest old showbiz story.
He gave me such peace, and it was so loving and wonderful.
There’s no one like him.
He’s the greatest.
There was a big reunion atSNL40a couple of years ago.
What story did you take away from that event that embodied the spirit of that night?
Oh my god, that was amazing.
I can’t even it was just the greatest.
But then it was pressure, too, to perform.
So it’s not like you were practicing it all weekend and writing it.
He was just in the corner by himself at the Plaza Hotel.
Did you approach him?
I did, I did!
I was so scared.
after he did a song!"
But that was a cool moment.
And meeting Taylor Swift at that party was amazing.
Do you have one of the Mary Katherine Gallagher outfits?
I assume one of them is in a museum….
I think it’s at the Smithsonian, which is crazy.
So he asked me to do Mary Katherine.
I was like, “I don’t ever do Mary Katherine.”
But I did it for them.
So I’m like, “I’ve got to peddle this around town!”
ROUND TWO:Peroni
You now move freely between comedic and dramatic projects.
Did your roles inYear of the DogandEnlightenedchange the game?
So that was really the turning point, let’s be honest.
He believed in me.
He really had to back me up and go, “Nope, I only want Molly.”
How important was it to you to be able to have that diversity of projects?
I’ve always thought of myself as a dramatic actress; it’s just people didn’t know that!
It’s almost like they only knew me from comedy because that’s how I broke in.
But I was a dramatic actress at NYU, doing plays and Shakespeare.
I’m like a regular serious actress!
No, there wasn’t anybody that I really model myself after….
But they were too cerebral about it.
It was too labored.
It’s like, “No, the whole thing is to let go and be more organic!
Don’t be so technical about your comedy.”
It’s the opposite of that where you’re letting yourself benotso controlled.
Do you remember the first laugh you ever got?
And they were like, [imitates roaring laughter].
The whole family laughed, and I was like, “Heh, heh, heh.”
I acted really innocent and it got a big laugh.
And what are your thoughts on chicken cacciatore now?
I mean, I would definitely have the cacciatore.
I mean, s.Other People.
I can’t believe I got that part.
Isn’t that a part that is supposed to go to someone very serious and dramatic?
I poured my heart into that…
Performing in that exceeded my expectations.
How do you see her faring in the job?
I can see her doing well, save for the occasional meltdown.
I don’t know.
She doesn’t have much patience.
It will be fun to see her with customers.
Yeah, that’s crazy what happened.
She lost all her money.
They lost all their dough.
I love reading all that stuff about Ruth Madoff in real life.
I can’t get enough ofreading about Mrs. Cosby.
What fascinates me is them still hanging on for so long.
I play his boss at the workplace.
So it was a really unique experience.
This is wild!"
I think we work in a similar fashion.
He’ll just go for it.
He does wild stuff and it was very simpatico.
I love the Wayans brothers.
I worked with Keenen.
They didn’t know me then but I used to get hired doing bit parts on that.
Isn’t that weird?
I was studying sketch shows, like “Oh, how does this work?”
But the Wayans are great.
They write great parts for women.
They love when women are funny.
Their mom is really funny in real life, so they like girls to shine and score.
Sally O’Malley proudly declared that she was 50.
How would you characterize that your 50s so far?
I really like my 50s.
More than my 20s and 30s.
Dating and all that kind of stuff, you might struggle over or worry about.
I feel like I know myself better.
I did that with [2018 Netflix comedy-drama]Private Life, actually.
She was like, “It’s about a couple going through in vitro fertility.”
And she was like, “You are???”
And I was like, “I absolutely am going to be in this movie.”
I was like, “She’s so smart and funny, and this is 100 percent yes!”
And I hadn’t read the script.
But I just knew it.
What’s the funniest word to say?
Such a littlerrrrascal!…
It sounds like is that an onomatopoeia, where the word sounds like what it is?
I love that kind of thing.Crrrrackling!
What’s the biggest misconception about Molly Shannon?
I don’t like if people think I’m goofy.
That’s me."
And I don’t feel zany.
When I read that, I think, “Zany?
I don’t relate to that.”
So what words would you use to describe yourself?
I ask a lot of questions.
I’m kind of serious!
I mean, not so serious, but you know what I mean.
I’m very serious about love and romance…. [Laughs] This suddenly took a very serious turn!
What was the most serious act of love you’ve ever committed?
When I was first with my husband [artist Fritz Chesnut], I was very nervous.
I was kind of nerdy.
I was like the character inYear of the Dog.
I put on music and I looked at the note cards before and then
That’s amazing.
It was a presentation.
That’s so dorky.
That’s pretty serious, right?
Note cards are very serious.
There’s nothingzanyabout it.
