Interview with Actress: Mamie Gummer

By: Aug. 27, 2015
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Education dramaturg Ted Sod speaks to Mamie Gummer about her role as Jess in Ugly Lies the Bone.

Ted Sod: Tell us about yourself: Where were you born and educated? When and why did you decide to be an actress?

Mamie Gummer: I was born in Manhattan-but I was raised two hours north in a town whose population could probably squeeze itself into one square city block. I went to prep school up there and played sports because I was required to-and performed in school plays once a year-which was as much as was allowed. But even on the sports field I was more of an actress...Always played the goalie-the net my own small stage; more drama, less running. Upon graduating I went on to study theatre at Northwestern-and got myself an agent out of the senior showcase here in NY in '05. My first job in the theatre was here at the Roundabout (Mr. Marmalade) -in this very building-and with that I was off and running.


TS: Why did you choose to do Ugly Lies the Bone and the role of Jess? Does the role have personal resonance for you? If so, how?

MG:I read this play hungrily-as I'd been really very much on the lookout for something to "sink my teeth into"-as the old everyone-says-it saying goes. And I devoured it in one sitting. I really responded to how raw, sharp, and deftly funny it was. It was clearly a story aching to be told-and urgently. I loved how grounded the characters and sense of place were-but was also excited about how the use of virtual reality could be employed theatrically.

Mamie Gummer during a virtual reality demonstration." height="400" src="http://blog.roundabouttheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Ugly-Lies-the-Bone-VR-Demo-011-1024x683.jpg" width="600" />

Mamie Gummer during a virtual reality demonstration.


TS: What is your process as an actor? What is the first thing you do? How do you research a role like Jess? Is research necessary? How do you make a role like this your own?

MG: Well, at present, I'm just starting to gather up material and as much information as possible before we start rehearsing in a few weeks. Been reading Redeployment by Phil Klay and a book called Ashley's War by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. I'll also try to memorize as much of the dialogue before that process starts and get a feel for how the injuries she's sustained affect her physically...that way, hopefully, I'll be able to forget about myself (and herself) and focus on the other people in the story. Generally humans don't THINK much about what they are going to say (in the way that I am here answering these questions), they just say it; nor do they THINK about how much pain they are in-they just keep moving in spite of it. So-that's the goal.

Mamie Gummer (Jess) and Chris Stack (Stevie) in rehearsal." height="398" src="http://blog.roundabouttheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/LR_DSC_6293-1024x680.jpg" width="600" />

Mamie Gummer (Jess) and Chris Stack (Stevie) in rehearsal.


TS: Can you share some of your preliminary thoughts about Jess with us?

MG: I think she's a really brave woman. Brave to volunteer and risk her life to defend this country, but also brave in calling forth and demanding the truth from those around her back at home. She reckons with everything-everyone-with a straight, steady, and commanding gaze...which makes the moments when she does falter, when you're not sure she can really hold on-feel really terrifying. We need women like Jess-her truth, her strength, her hope to endure. (There's a song called "Girl in the War" by Josh Ritter that speaks to this point beautifully.)


TS: What do you look for in a director?

MG: Someone who can level with me. A person whom I can trust enough to shut me up and lead me out of my own way...That's when great things tend to happen-thrilling things.


TS: How do you keep yourself inspired as an artist?

MG: I try to see as much as I can-to stay curious, porous, absorbent. Which is the wonderful thing about living in New York City-one just needs keep their eyes and hearts open. God, what an earnest answer!


Ugly Lies the Bone begins previews September 10 at our Black Box Theatre. All tickets to Roundabout Underground are general admission for only $25. For more information and tickets, please visit our website.



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