Nora Dunn – Over the Moon

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

A) I just finished a series “Three Moons Over Milford” that is going to air on ABC Family on August 6th. I just shot that up in Vancouver. I also have a movie coming out that was at Cannes Film Festival calledSouthland Tales. It was directed by Richard Kelly who was the writer and director of the film Donnie Darko. I am also continuing to work on the show “Entourage.”

Q) Please tell us about your character Michelle on the show “Three Moons Over Milford.”

A) The plot of the story is that the moon was shattered into three pieces by a comet and one of those could fall down to Earth at any time. It kind of narrows the world down to a small town in Vermont. The characters are all dealing with this in their own way. My character is a very opportunistic real estate agent who is buying up property, making money and capitalizing on getting houses for cheaper.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?

A) Mostly it was the script. The script is very well written. I feel we pulled it off. I watched the pilot last week. It’s hard to pull something like this off because it’s based on reality but it is a little off center. It’s an ensemble cast and everybody has to be on the same page. I could tell the writing that was there was very good writing. It was funny, dramatic and tender. I really loved my character. She’s really fun to play, the sort of vapid woman. Then, there are moments that show her actually having feelings and a soul. It’s kind of serialized, every week you found out a little bit more about the characters.

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming?

A) I think it would be working with a boa constrictor. I don’t really like snakes too much. My character has a pet boa constrictor, so I had to go along with it. Although I didn’t cuddle the snake, I did pet the snake. I didn’t get to know him. I love animals, but I don’t think you can know a snake. He had to be in my bed. The crew loved it because they liked the fact that I would scream bloody murder and run off the set every seven minutes. I got through it, a minor accomplishment.

Q) If a comet were to come, what are the things you would like to do before it arrives?

A) They asked us what we would do if we knew it was going to be the end of the world and I said I’d probably over eat. I pretty much live my life one day at a time. As an actress, you can never look that far ahead because you feel like every time you finish a job you are looking into the abyss, sort of. For me, when I can grab some time, the thing I like to do the most is work in my garden and plant something. I might, actually, fly to Spain or something.

Q) Why should viewers take the time to tune in to “Three Moons Over Milford?”

A) I think our cast is one of the best casts on television. Everyone does such great acting and there is such good chemistry with the cast. It’s a quirky dramatic comedy and I find that very refreshing because television is loaded up with mean spirited reality shows. I really didn’t want to land on one of those kind of shows. I feel very grateful to have landed on this one, something that I would watch. I love to see characters interacting and I like serialized shows. We don’t know if it’s going ot find an audience, but I hope so. there are lots of different ages on the show, it doesn’t zero on any one age group. I think that viewers will be surprised.

Q) You recently starred in the film Southland Tales. What was it like working with director Richard Kelly?

A) He’s a very creative director who has a very specific vision, he knows exactly what he wants. That’s great because I only got the script four days before shooting and I had a complicated character with a complicated script. He basically just told me what to do and I did it. It has a very eclectic cast and it’s a futuristic thriller satire.

Q) You worked on “Saturday Night Live” for a number of years. Do you still tune in to watch?

A) I haven’t watched the show. I watched the show throughout the years with Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, Will Ferrell, that group. They were very very enjoyable and fun! I lost touch with it. I’d love to get back in touch with it again. It’s that kind of show where I sometimes find myself tuning into it. It’s not always for reasons that I am deliberately not watching the show. I just haven’t been watching it.

Q) You’ve guest starred on numerous programs. What show would you most like to make an appearance on?

A) Actually, I am very happy that I am going back to “Entourage.” I think it’s a hilarious show. I am working with Jeremy Piven, whom I adore. I don’t think I could do better than that right now.

Q) You’ve worked in front of the camera and behind the camera doing voice work. Which do you prefer and why?

A) There is nothing like working in front of the camera. I really like it. Because film work is all about the camera, it’s about tables and lights and there is no stage or back stage. You really have to kind of fight to keep crew members from trampling the little spot where you have to perform. There is nothing like finding your mark, getting in front of the camera, having the light come on you and being able to act very directly and intimately. I really like theater, as well. It’s a whole different scenario. I like acting in front of the camera because it takes a certain amount of focus that I have sort of developed through my years of waitressing, having to focus in a real chaotic type of experience. I guess it’s kind of my favorite thing. Cartoons I have done and I think they are a lot of fun, but I eventually miss my body as a part of what I am doing.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I work on my house. I like kind of designing and continuing to work in my garden. I like to hang out with my dogs. I am a very, hopelessly, middle-class person.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you! I am lucky that I was in a situation on “Saturday Night Live” where you could develop a very specific fan base. I think it took me a couple years after being off the show to appreciate that. For the rest of my life, I am always going to run in to someone at the airport who comes up and mentions a specific sketch. One day I fell down in Vancouver [the day before my birthday] and I felt really bad. I tripped downtown, I landed hard and I felt really bad. I went into a coffee shop and decided to get myself some coffee and a really nice little cake. While I was sitting there, feeling sorry for myself, a young woman came up to me and said, “You’re the funniest woman in the world!” It just healed my wounds. I don’t think I am the funniest woman in the world, but the fact that she said that turned a really bad day into a good one. It’s nice to know that somewhere along the line I have made people laugh and I find that really great.