Bianca Kajlich – Undateable

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Of course, “Undateable” is airing right now on Thursday nights on NBC. Then, I did a movie that is in post production with Kevin Durand and Lukas Haas called Dark Was the Night, which is a thriller/horror movie that hopefully will be coming out soon.

Q) How was your character Leslie on “Undateable” first described to you?

A) First, she was just described as a divorced single mom and, of course, Danny’s older sister. That’s kind of all I was given to go by. Then, as the show evolved, we realized that Leslie spends an inordinate amount of time at the bar drinking. I think there was a scene where I chug a glass of wine and then say, “I have to go relieve the babysitter.” We decided that probably wasn’t going to play too well anymore. So, then Leslie became a divorced woman in her thirties and no longer a single mom. I know a lot of people who have their “Starter Wife” with their first marriage and it doesn’t go so well. Then, you are back out trying to figure out how to snag a man as quickly as possible because your biological clock is ticking. I’m sure that will make feminists everywhere turn green in the face, but the fact of the matter is a lot of us want to have a family. Kids are an important thing. I know for me it was a little jarring to suddenly back out on the scene. Nobody texted before when I dated. After an eight year relationship, I was back out trying to play the game and I realized nobody would call anymore. They just would text each other. So, those are certainly some of the challenges that Leslie is dealing with.

Q) In your opinion, what makes someone undateable?

A) Honestly, the thing that makes someone the most undateable to me is either lack of confidence or over confident without substance. They talk the talk, but they can’t walk the walk.

Q) What is it like working with producer and showrunner Bill Lawrence?

A) This is actually the second time he was my boss. I did a pilot with him and Justin Theroux like ten years ago. I remembered when I met with him for “Undateable” why I liked working for him so much the first time around. He just gets it. He is an actor’s producer and showrunner. He knows what he has to do to get the best out of his actors. I think part of the reason why is because he approaches us as human beings. In Hollywood, there are so many rooms that you go into for auditioning for things and read for things where people just don’t even speak to you. As an actor, to go in and really throw yourself out there and really go in there naked and see the vulnerability and all those things that you have to reveal, it’s really hard to do that in a very cold room. Bill is like an old friend. You come in, he chats you up for a while, you do your scene and you leave. It’s like a satisfying sexual experience.

Q) There is great chemistry on screen between you and costar Chris D’Elia. Was it instant or did you take some time to bond?

A) It was funny because I didn’t remember that we actually knew each other from over a decade ago. Chris reminded me, but I did not recall that story. Then, he told me that I had shorter hair and I was chubbier. When I was driving home, I suddenly remembered from the depths of my warped mind that I had actual photographs of us somewhere hanging out. So, I spent an entire Friday night digging through old boxes and found these photos. And it is amazing! The fashion that we are wearing is so awful that it is like finding a bad 80’s photo. So, we had mutual friends and we hung out a few times. Bill swears we hooked up and are just too scared to tell anybody about it. That was not the case, which is good for us because it would probably be a lot more difficult for us to play brother and sister if we had.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming?

A) There have been so many. The overall vibe on set is these comics who are constantly trying to one-up each other. So, I learned pretty quickly to just sit back and enjoy the show. I’m someone who likes to jump right in and be in the midst of things, but I just cannot keep up with these guys. They are so funny and so quick. Honestly, every day on set – I’ve never been so eager to show up to work. I knew it was just silly that we were getting paid to do this and laugh at each other. Mostly, my fondest memories are tape night when we can’t do a scene because we are laughing so hard. I think in almost every episode of “Undateable” there is a scene where I have my head down and my hair covering my face because I don’t want people to see that I am laughing so hard I’m crying.

Q) The show is filmed in front of a live audience. Do you prefer that over straight filming with laughs filled in later?

A) I prefer to do it in front of a live studio audience because, to me, it’s like putting on a play every week. We do everything complete from start to finish and it’s all kind of captured in one take. We get to do a couple takes where we get to play around and stuff. When we have filmed things without the audience, it loses a certain energy. The audience really builds us up and gives us the energy to really go for it. You know right away when something isn’t working. I know that some people get irritated by the laugh-track, but I think it is a staple of old Americana television. Since the beginning of the sitcom, there has been a laugh-track. I think in the best shows though it’s a real life audience that is actually laughing at the things that you are watching.

Q) What do you think it is about “Undateable” that has made it a fast fan favorite show?

A) I think the cast chemistry helps a lot. The fact that the majority of us knew each other before makes it that these are real friendships that you are watching. I also think the boys make it with their comic timing and their ability to be so quick on the draw. And it doesn’t try so hard. I don’t think it tries to have huge, outlandish scenarios that the characters get into where it’s like, “Oh, let’s see what happens next!” It’s more like the sitcom favorites like “Cheers” and “Mad About You,” where you genuinely care about the characters and want to watch what they do on a daily basis.

Q) You have such great style! What are some quick fashion tips you can share with fans?

A) I always feel that people look and feel their sexiest when they are in something they really feel comfortable in. I think even a wife beater with a great fitting pair of jeans and heels can look even sexier than the tiniest little black dress if the woman feels comfy in it. I think more importantly than the clothes is the way you feel and the way you carry yourself.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I would like to say thank you so much for supporting me over the years. We love “Undateable” and it seems that so many people love it, too. Keep telling your friends about it so we get to stay on the air for another seven or eight years!