Luke Kirby discusses season three of 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' Lenny Bruce's death and the possibility of a romance with Midge. They have their little, they have their little thing and then he blows back into whatever reality hes in. Were you aware that when Bruce died he was dating a comedian named Marlene Weinstock? My father has not gotten this much attention since he died, she says. And that's the best part about it.". Soon after, he portrayed Morgan in the Factory Theatre's production of Geometry in Venice in Toronto, a performance that brought him a Best Actor nomination at the Dora Mavor Moore Awards. There is the facsimile aspect of doing something thats already been done and kind of wanting toit was a fun exercise to get to adhere to all of the choreography that was there. Brosnahan: I know this wasnt planned. How [his role has] moved from season to season has always been a surprise for me. [9] In 2009 he appeared opposite Lindsay Lohan in Labor Pains. The season four finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel finally gave viewers what they've been waiting for: Miriam "Midge" Maisel ( Rachel Brosnahan) and Lenny Bruce ( Luke Kirby) took their. I want her to have the greatest adventure she can have as she tries to find her way home. Kirby's ability to recreate Bruce's legendary rambling stand-up bits makes for a compelling argument, but really it's Kirby's knack for delightfully baiting-and-switching, whether on screen or real life, that has cinched his success. LK: It was treated as a one-off when I auditioned for the pilot. However, the titular character wont be the only one thrown for a loop when the sitcom returns. But then it was great to get invited back for whatever peculiar reason. Im excited to think that because of Amazons Marvelous Mrs. Maisel show a whole generation is getting a chance to hear about my father and hear his comedy, more than 50 years after his death! Theyve been so generous with including me in dinners and the odd awards show. Anything else you hope comes out of his character's arc? Ive gotten some good time with everyone. Its bound to bring a different quality. LK: Rachel [Brosnahan] will sometimes say, Do you know what they're saying? And I go like, What? Some, some comedians have come forward, espousing the virtues of it. But because Kirby is playing the real-life comic Lenny Bruce, who died in 1966 at age 40 of an overdose, its impossible to imagine this union ending happily. MC: Do you think Lenny loves Miriam or do you think it's all show business to him? It feels like a nightmare. I think there are some really special little reveals in Bruces own book; I think hes telling us more about himself than we really know, so my biggest talisman are his words. I think that actually, in a way, really helps enrich the story and make it have even more meaningful than just an argument or a moment between two colleagues/new-ish lovers. Do you think that plays into how the relationship feels for the audience or is being constructed by the writers? After four seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) and Lenny (Luke Kirby) havent spent much time together on-screen. Luke Kirby: [Lenny] has a mythic presence in spite of whatever I do, so hes treated with care inside the show. I hope we do it justice. It's the smallest moment. Luke Kirby as Lenny Bruce in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," and the real comedian in the 1950s (inset). By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Kirby: Its so neat to get to live in that world; its a cool experience. But because of my admiration and history with Lenny Bruce, I wanted it to be of value and respectful. You can feel the looseness of his performance. Are you Team Get-Back-Together-With-Joel? Thats just great . I loved to go up there as a kid and look around at the junk. MC: Do you typically listen to the records of Lennys performances and try to mimic it exactly or were you doing your own take on his stand up? By Emma Dibdin December 12, 2019 9:15am Amazon Studios The. Did it feel as momentous to you, playing Lenny, as it was for fans? He performed a final show on June 26, 1966, at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco and was found dead a month later on August 3rd. You make your decision to lead that lonelier life, and you have to be strong enough to endure it. She is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism. See Which Stars Have Gotten Engaged in 2023, Taylor Swift Sings About 'Falling Back in Love' on New Duet After Split, Meghan King Wears 'Fk You' Sweatshirt to Kids School, Jim Edmonds Reacts, Tits Up! I think hes smarter than that, but I do think that his words are true, Luke told HollywoodLife. It wasnt like we were playing a biopic. That was another thing we wanted to show. Maisel] with the airplane glue bit, so I had a reference for it, says Kirby, alluding to archival footage of Bruces appearance with Steve Allen. He's a busy guy. While Kirby noted that its not up to him if Lenny and Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) will get together, he did confess that he hopes the show will deal with the ramifications of his characters eventual death. Rachel Brosnahan As Midge Maisel: See Photos Of Her Filming Season 5, Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter, Rachel Brosnahans Husband: Get To Know Her Maisel Co-Star Jason Ralph, 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' Season 5: New Cast Members & More You Need To Know, Paige Anne: 5 Things To Know About The 16-Year-Old Idol Contestant Who Returned To The Show, All the Very Best Photos From Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation, What Is the STAR Interview Method? In reading the pilot, it felt likeMiriam meets this guy who she has a great admiration for, who has a glow of revery to him, and then he would just disappear. But as Beyer would soon realize, Finchs past wasnt what she claimedand Beyers own difficult history was up for the taking. I think the best thing to do is get out of the way and let him do the talking.. As played by Luke Kirby, he's become something of a mentor to Midge ( Rachel Brosnahan ). Is it a funny thing for you? Maisel', 'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' resort for sale for first time since 1869 opening, They made me a joke: Maisel musical muse claps back at shows portrayal, The Almost Unpublished Lenny Bruce: From the Private Collection of Kitty Bruce. I was able to access that [bit] on YouTube and spent 48 hours just trying to absorb somethingbut it wasn't presented as a role that would come back. We shot it in the middle of the summerHe clearly was so enamored with the venue, which I was, too. "When [creator] Amy Sherman-Palladino told me, I had a moment of like, 'No, no, what?' Luke Kirby and Rachel Brosnahan in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Occasionally well hear from people who were around or, you know, definitely from fans of Lenny Bruce. To prepare for it, Kirby flipped the video of the performance so that he could mirror Bruces precise choreography. It is news to me. If we do this, if we take our clothes off and we do some very blue things, in this very blue room, Midge tells Lenny, I need you to look me in the eye first and promise that you will never, ever forget that I am very,very funny., Lenny agrees to her demand. Did that feel like you kind of had to work your way up to that? In television, one of Kirby's favourite roles was in the TMN/Showcase mini-series Slings and Arrows, featuring Canadian actors and directed by his friend Peter Wellington. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Marie Claire: Lenny and Midge finally got together! Well, this is going to make for an awkward segue, but Bruces story ends in tragedy. My name became public 25 years ago this week. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). Ive watched them sit there for 12 hours straight smoking these wretched herbal cigarettes and you know, drinking this kind of crummy, syrupy water in the guise of Scotch or whatever. Youre kind of able to play a little fast and loose with the history. Will art imitate life? Trying to find every way, every little tick and hmm and uh. [I can] get all in there and really try to replicate what he's doing because I don't have a visual most of the time, except for when I did the all alone bit on The Steve Allen Showbut trying to imagine what his body would've been doing. She played Broadway and Carnegie Hall, and when the Fox network launched, she became the first woman to host her own late-night talk show.. Luke Kirby plays comedian Lenny Bruce on the Amazon comedy "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." He won an Emmy last year for his performance in Season 2. But then, you know, to kind of take it a little bit further, you know, with where is Lenny at? LK: Somewhere inside of this season Amy pulled me aside and said, This is where we're going. It sort of always felt like my response would've been Yeah. Because we're just tracking the truth of a relationship. But you know, I dont know when youve met Tony Shalhoub, like youre not in the same room together. Dan Palladino: If you do a movie about his life, inevitably, the last 45 minutes are about his falling apart. And it makes it easier in the moments where you are going for laughter. Luke revealed what he thinks will come from Lennys strong words to Midge. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. LK: I've told everyone, I'm Team Benjamin. (Laughs) She needs a doctor. "It felt so rare to have a friendship between two people who were, not at all equals in a lot of ways, but who were intellectual equals, and who admired each other and who were both ambitious and fing unapologetic about it. Were sort of bringing Lenny Bruce a little bit down to Earth this season and kind of exploring that a little bit.. What was that like to do? It felt really rare to see a friendship like that between a man and a woman that didn't veer into something romantic," she explains. Especially Lenny Bruce. We wanted the audience to know the power of Lenny Bruce; he was very important. Brosnahan: I couldnt speak on behalf of the writers. South Korea's answer to 'Bachelor in Paradise' has finally returned. Did Kirby actually ask Maisel production to cover his dressing room windows with aluminum foil like Bruce once did? [Lenny and Midge] live in a bubble. You can hear the full interview on Little Gold Men later this week, but in the meantime, read the interview with Kirby below. The 'Single's Inferno' Season 2 Cast: Your Guide, 'Love Is Blind' Contestant Andrew Used Eye Drops During an Emotional Scene, And Fans Are Convinced He Was Faking Tears, 'Succession' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far, 'Euphoria' Season 3: Everything We Know So Far, The 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 2 Finale, Explained, Vecna, the Stranger Things' Season 4 Villain, Explained. She was sort of like the godmother to all the comics, and they all sort of took care of her in Los Angeles. So when the show is in production, there will be a cast dinner and even if you arent all on set at the same time, theres some unity there. It feels like we executed it in a way that deepened their humanity and their relationship. Theyre so on top of their work that its almost not something they planned. What research went into this season, specifically with leading up to Lenny Bruces tragic story? You cant really lean into it like its actual stand-up. There have been biopics and documentaries and biographies dedicated to Lenny Bruce, the groundbreaking, eternally-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-law comedian who died too young in 1966, but inspired generations of comedians who came after him. From the moment that Miriam "Midge" Maisel ( Rachel Brosnahan) meets the smooth, suave, but troubled legendary comic Lenny Bruce (Luke Kirby) he becomes a major supporter who fills her with . The question now is, how will it play out when the show comes to a close next season? But after filming a love scene between them last season, she's changed her mind. But I do think it adds an urgency and curiosity for the audience. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series 2017- ) Luke Kirby as Lenny Bruce. And then the bubble of the character you builtthe mentor personapops. Hes a real person inside of a fiction. We get to hang and experiment. We all know how it plays out. Because it was sort of his biggest triumph. I auditioned [for Mrs. Sometimes, TV would threaten to ban him. You two had known each other on the show for a couple of years before the sex scene. Even on a Zoom call from Savannahwhere the 43-year-old actor is on production ("The azaleas are in bloom! 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Portrayed by Luke Kirby, the Lenny Bruce of this show tends to pop up once or twice a season to bail Midge out of jail or give her some much-needed advice about the stand-up comedy. What does change their relationship is their argument at Carnegie Hall, the elephant in the room when they cross paths at the airport (a scene which they shot at the former TWA terminal at JFK airport in what is now the TWA Hotel). Did that feel like kind of the most work youd had to do to embody him at that point? MC: Have you ever or since getting cast as Lenny tried to do standup, just to put yourself in his shoes? Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis always had this tension. In the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 5 premiere, while taking Alfie (Gideon Glick) to the airport for his first ever out-of-town gig, Midge Maisel (. Read more from THRs chat with the Palladinos and an interview with Brosnahan here. The glow of shame. Did you have a sense maybe going into it or when the show came out that this might be a more visible season for you? You get caught up in the feeling. Kirby: I like balled better. Within the show it feels like one of the places where Midge grows the most are the scenes with Lenny. For almost four complete seasons, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel teased its fans with the dynamite chemistry between its lead Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) and fellow comedian Lenny Bruce (Luke Kirby . Midge is the one to bring it up, promising to Lenny that she isn't going to blow it, which he says he will hold her to. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first, In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. Yeah. Lenny and Midge will cross paths again in the fifth and final season, which premieres on April 15. Visit our corporate site. They've got this thing and how long can that last?my feeling has always just been: How will you know if you don't try?. She'll live half her life on the roadshe can do whatever she wants out thereand then she can go back to security. Its the police raid. America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. But he certainly felt it was weightier than many other scenes they'd shared. Yeah, I kind of tried to ignore it as best as I could when there was sort of grumbles or whispers around it. She's worked in media for more than 10 years and her bylines about pop culture, film & tv, and fashion have appeared on Glamour, Vanity Fair, GQ, Allure, Teen Vogue, Brides, and Architectural Digest. But we also wanted to see that this business can eat you alive. He had a lot of successful years, and the years that were depicting him, he was really, really at the top. Want to get a head start on your Oscar predictions? . Something about that red hall gave me an instinct that this was a little different from our prior encounters.". Thats wonderful., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, We found last-minute tickets to see Costner, Pascal, Cranston, Shalhoub, 'King of filth' John Waters joins cast of 'Mrs. Hes just a man as opposed to a prophet. I just sort of went with it. It sparks an appetite for them to venture out into something. Sherman-Palladino:I imagine she wont be very happy about it. I wanted it to have some kind of essence. It was a color called Dufy Blue.. (Everett Collection/Prime Video) From the start, fans have wondered if The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will address Lenny Bruce's death, which happened in 1966.. That happens. It is a weird thing, but you know, its the journey. Happy twelfth wedding anniversary to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Because there's always this concern: What if they get together and it's a disaster? But, no. Im always a sucker for people going for it, the Take This Waltz star said. Yes, because it was so specific. I tried to do a side by side, but Kirby takes his time, unlike Bruce who is faster. Then, a little later on I saw the movie Lenny with Dustin Hoffman and was so taken with the beauty of the film. You get to the end of this season and its not just that in this final episode youre performing this real appearance that you can look up on YouTube, him doing the actual All Alone song. The loneliness and travel, it's a treacherous business to be in and it can do terrible things, even to the strongest and the most gifted. And they just like take after take, sit there with their eyes on you and listen and laugh at this material and its really a marvel to kind of behold the work theyre doing. Thats moving, oh no thatyou know. Heres How It Can Help You Nab Your Next Job. A woman with the same initials as Miriam Midge Weissman? Rachel Brosnahan as Midge Maisel and Luke Kirby as Lenny Bruce. I just may blush a little.". There was talk that it would be canceled. He has worked very hard to capture Lenny Bruce in nuance and comedic timing. "He got busy. Shes the one person I would hate to upset.. And he instead shows up in a more of a fable, like way, almost like an energy or a, you know, I think of it as like a fairy godmother. He continues to recur as the comedian and Midge's friend. Benjamin, for Midge, was a regression. MC: The Carnegie Hall scene in the finale is such a momentous part of Lennys career. My impression of Lenny in terms of how I interpreted him is that he was a real lover, that love was important, that affection for humanity was really important, a person who was able to embrace dynamism and encourage human growth. Maybe I will now. LK: There probably was a feeling of, Here we go. Movies. Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2. No, its just by chance. As the season went on, he kind of came down to earth a little bit more and Im happy for that, but I never felt burdened with responsibility. So I knew that and I knew [the 1974 Bruce biopic] Lenny. And when I was 16 I saw a Nat Hentoff interview on the CBC that [Bruce] did near the end [of his life] and I thought, Maybe I could play Lenny Bruce. Time went on and it never happened, then when you least expect it . That year, Kirby received a second Gemini nomination for his guest-star role in the dramatic series The Eleventh Hour. AsMarie Claires Entertainment Director, Neha oversees and executes strategy for all editorial talent bookings and culture coverage across the brand's print and digital entities, including covers, celebrity profiles and features, social takeovers, and video franchises as well as handles talent relations for MC's flagship summit, Power Trip.