Jessica Williams On Working With Damon Wayans Jr.: “He Has That…Special Magic”
Jessica Williams, known for her role as Gaby in the hit show Shrinking, is thrilled to see her costar Damon Wayans Jr. gaining attention for his latest achievements. The 35-year-old Emmy-nominated actress recently shared her excitement with PEOPLE, confessing that she texted Damon after he and his New Girl castmates reunited for a special feature in PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive issue.
“Dude, this is f–ing awesome!” Jessica remembers texting Damon, her enthusiasm clear. Reflecting on Damon and his former New Girl co-stars, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, and Lamorne Morris, she adds, “I love all those dudes. I think they’re all hysterical.”
Since working alongside Damon on Shrinking, Jessica says she’s come to admire his unique comedic style, describing it as both “silly” and incredibly quick. According to her, he’s got a wit as fast as a Ferrari.
“You’re just like, ‘Holy s—, you’re fast,'” she said.
According to Jessica, Damon’s chemistry with the Shrinking cast was instant. “He just works with everybody,” she reveals, adding, “He has that Je ne sais quoi, a special magic. He’s really special.”
Damon joined Shrinking in the second season as Derrick #2, a friend to characters Derek (played by Ted McGinley) and Liz (Christa Miller). His role also introduces a potential new love interest for Gaby after her casual relationship with Jimmy (Jason Segel) cools down.
Jessica explains how finding the right actor to play off Gaby’s character was crucial. “Part of the show is the chemistry that we all have with each other, no matter how you mix and match,” she shared.
Working on Shrinking has given the cast, including Jessica, a deeper understanding of the show’s unique tone and the characters’ interactions. Reflecting on her scenes with Jason, Jessica says he creates an atmosphere of ease and freedom on set.
“Acting with him is like permission for me to be, like, free … He’s just always game and ready to meet me wherever I’m at and vice versa. There’s something really nice about having someone that just has your back no matter what,” she shared.
