Molly Shannon: Finally a Superstar

INTERVIEW

The SNL star talks about her first kiss, her nerdy past and working with Jim Carrey.

A cross between Crazy Eddy and the Micro Machine Man, Molly Shannon ("Saturday Night Live" and Superstar comedian) possesses the spontaneous energy considered charmingly refreshing among celebrities, yet perhaps more typical of the mentally deranged. Loud, hyper and spastic, I initially attributed her behavior to a hearty intake of speed prior to our phone interview. But after listening to her answer question after question, I became increasingly impressed by her sincerity and her down-to-earth goofiness.

The Harvard Crimson: So Molly, what are you wearing?

Molly Shannon: I'm wearing black Prada pants. They're so nice! I got them from the designer since I've been doing all these talk shows this week, and I wore them to work today 'cause I wanna show off. I'm a whore for free clothes.

THC: The movie Superstar has to do with your first kiss? Do you remember your own first kiss?

MS: Yes, I kissed this boy, Tom Sullivan. He was just really nice. We used to go into the bushes and kiss. It was just a nice little relationship--very sweet. I could sort of boss him around, so I was like the leader. We were just really good friends and we liked to kiss.

THC: Do you consider Mary Katherine Gallagher a good role model for young girls?

MS: Ummm, a good role model...well, yeah I do actually, because I think that she is at least true to herself, she's determined. I think that's a good role model--better than some piss-chick on MTV you know. Yeah, I'd rather see her than some little girl who's like 15 with, you know, fake tits. Come on! The emphasis on beauty and weight and all that! I hope she's a good role model, at least she's real. I think real is good.

THC: Where were you when this character first came to you?

MS: I was actually at NYU drama school, and I was doing a show called The Follies, a fun comedy show. I had never even done comedy before and Adam Sandler was in the show because he went to NYU with me, and when we were rehearsing we did this improv exercise called "through the door." You walk through this door and you make up a character, and I just went, "Hi, my name is Mary Katherine Gallagher." I just kept shaking everyone's hand and that's how it all started.

THC: Was physical comedy ever big for you? Or did you develop that as you developed the character?

MS: Well, I was not that into the falling and stuff. That just sort of came with the sketch. I don't like the physical stuff, 'cause it gets scary, hard, and you do get bruised. But, I really was sort of a clumsy person myself. I ate a lot of Captain Crunch and drank a lot of Coke so I was always a very spastic kid. I was always knocking things over in my own house and banging my head. Captain Crunch is the best. It makes me too shaky because it's so sugary - Captain Crunch with berries... mmm, and with peanut butter...oh no, it's just so delicious!

THC: Do you have plans to focus now more on making movies rather than on being on television, since you've had your first big movie come out?

MS: No, I really like television. I like both TV and movies. It doesn't make any difference as long as you have a good project.

THC: How do you feel about working with Jim Carrey and Ron Howard in How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

It's amazing. It's like an A movie. Jim Carrey is so nice. When he hosted the show I was a little shy, definitely startstruck - he's so talented. And Ron Howard is the nicest guy - he is truly a great director and just a pro. Jim approaches comedy very seriously, but he's really cool, down to earth, and I have so much respect for him. So I feel a little intimidated - I guess like I'm not worthy.

THC: Now that you've done so many movies, what would you say is one of the most embarrassing moments that you ever had during them?

MS: Oh! When I was doing Mary Katherine Gallagher, I was really tired and I would have my uniform on all day and we would be working like 16 hours a day. One night I was really tired (and you have a guy that drives you from your set to your hotel). I forgot to take my costume off and I just hopped into the car and said, "Can we stop at Starbucks?" He didn't notice I had my full uniform on, and I went to get a coffee and there's a giant line and people are looking at me. They recognized me from SNL, but here I have my outfit on, so I thought - oh no, do they think I'm like wearing it out now - that's so corny.

THC: If you had to describe yourself in terms of the characters that you've played on SNL, would you say you're more like Mary Catherine Gallagher, Circe Nightshade, or Monica Lewinsky?

MS: Probably closer to Mary Catherine, because I guess I get fiesty and I have intense energy and I'm determined myself in my own life. So no dark side to you, then? Oh, yes I have a dark side too - yes, a very dark side.

THC: How stoked were you and the rest of the SNL cast when Monica Leuwinsky agreed to come on the show?

MS: I was really excited. It was unbelievable. I was sort of scared to meet her, 'cause I was like "oh, I hope I didn't hurt her feelings or anything," but it she was very sweet. It was pretty incredible; she was really nice.

THC: What did you do before SNL?

MS: Before SNL I did extra work on soap operas. I'd be in the restaurant scene in the back, eating and trying to stick my face on the screen. I did commercials for Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice, did lots of cereal commercials, Denny's Breakfast Buffet commercials, and I worked in restaurants while I was doing commercials - all over LA as a waitress and a hostess - and just hustle. I really wanted to act but I wasn't making my full living acting, so I worked in restaurants for years before I got SNL.

THC: Who did you idolize when you were growing up?

MS: My dad was really into Judy Garland when I was growing up, so I got into her because he was very into her. I used to love old Judy Garland movies - I like the singer/ actress type of people. I love Courtney Love right now - those women that do it all, those triple threats.

THC: Do you have any personal plans? Getting married...

MS: I really would like to do that. I was really into my career, so I didn't want men to get in my way or anything - I was really just very determined. But I mean, you get to the point where you want to have both, a boyfriend and a career. But I was so driven - I had so much work to do that when I was 26, 27, 28 - I just wasn't into it. And I just turned 35, so now I'm like, shoot - I've gotta figure that out too. I don't just want to be a lonely actress. So yeah, that's important to me. Someday I'd like to get married if that works out right.

THC: What were you like in high school? How would you describe yourself?

MS: Well, I went to this really competitive school academically. It was sort of a prep school and the kids all knew one another. It was sort of tough and I didn't really fit in that much and I used to obsess about guys who were unavailable. I was sort of depressed. It's gotten much better since after high school. I just worked my ass off. I was a perfectionist, overachiever and it was a hard, dark time for me. I didn't like it. I think the people that peek there sometimes plateau, and the ones that struggle during that time tend to have a better experience afterwards.