“I Can’t Stomach It”: Maya Rudolph Says She Has A “Hard Time” Doing “Mean” Comedy
In an interview gracing the cover of Town & Country’s May issue, Maya Rudolph delved into the depths of her craft and reflected on her journey through the realms of laughter, shedding light on her comedic strengths and vulnerabilities.
Known for her iconic performances on Saturday Night Live and memorable roles in hits like Bridesmaids and Big Mouth, Maya unveiled a side rarely seen by her fans. With refreshing vulnerability, she confessed her struggle with what she termed “mean comedy,” expressing discomfort with humor aimed at mocking others.
“I have a really hard time with mean comedy. Those things that are like, ‘Oh, I’m being funny, but I’m making fun of you?’ I can’t watch it. I can’t stomach it. And it doesn’t feel good coming out of me,” she said.
During her illustrious tenure on SNL, Maya ventured into the realm of “mean comedy” but quickly found it to be a road less traveled. Despite attempting to craft characters inspired by individuals she found grating, she ultimately abandoned the endeavor, realizing she couldn’t bear to give voice to such personas.
However, Maya’s comedic journey took a delightful turn with her impressions of luminaries like Beyoncé, Oprah, and Whitney Houston. Revealing her affinity for these larger-than-life figures, she confessed, “I wanted to be, like, this fabulous woman.”
She likened her impressions to childhood play, where dressing up as princesses felt akin to stepping into the shoes of her idols.
“So when I started getting to play Beyoncé, I felt like, I know how to do this. Because it’s the same thing I did when I was little. You’re dressing up like a princess. You put on the leotard and some weird scarf, and you’re like, ‘This is my beautiful ball gown,’” she shared.
In a heartwarming revelation, Maya shared how her stint on SNL not only allowed her to embody these fabulous women but also led her to her soulmate, director Paul Thomas Anderson. Recounting their serendipitous encounter at an SNL afterparty, she disclosed Paul’s bold declaration of love at first sight.
“He said he saw me in a sketch and said, ‘That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’ But I don’t know. I wasn’t there. Maybe he just told me that to be sweet,” she said of their love story that has spanned over two decades.
Together, Maya and Paul have built a beautiful life, raising four children 10-year-old Minnie, 12-year-old Jack, 14-year-old Lucille, and 18-year-old Pearl.
