TV

Lea DeLaria talks “Orange is the New Black,” screwdrivers and Laura Prepon

Lea DeLaria has been slaying audiences from the stage for over 25 years, whether performing stand-up in a comedy club, acting in a Broadway musical, or transporting jazz fans as a vocalist. The triple-threat who launched her career by billing herself “That Fucking Dyke,” is now reaching her biggest, youngest audience yet as Carrie “Big Boo” Black in the show we’re all obsessed with, Orange Is the New Black. I had a list of questions that covered all the above, but we ended up talking about screwdrivers, butches, and Big Boo’s hypothetical Season 2 love interest. We also wrote a storyline for that elusive chicken. And yes, I asked her about Laura Prepon.

AfterEllen: You originally auditioned for the role of the mean prison guard, but they recognized your awesomeness and cast you as the cuddlier Big Boo instead. Do you think people see butch women as either hard and mean, or soft and cuddly?

Lea DeLaria: We’re all of the above. All butches are cream-filled. And don’t get me in trouble! Because some lesbian, somewhere, is going to freak out that I said that. But the reality is, we’re all a little cream-filled. We have a very tough exterior but inside, we’re all teddy bears.

AE: Why is that?

LD: Well, because we’re women. And that’s going to get me in trouble, too. But you know, we’re not transmen, we’re not men. We are butches. It’s a completely different gender, a completely different way of being. We’re taught by our uncles — and by that, I mean our dyke uncles — to be tough, to be able to do things, and get it done. And, we’re supposed to be loving and gentle with our friends and our lovers.

AE: Ironically, it’s the complete opposite with femmes. The ones I know are soft and girly on the outside, but tough and bossy on the inside.

LD: You bet. But they only show their soft side to their butch. You know?

AE: Or, they get even worse because they’re topping from the bottom.

LD: [laughs] Yup!

AE: Did you expect Orange to become as big a hit as it is?

LD: Who expects that? No! First of all, this is the direction that television is heading: the internet. [It’s] never been done before, and we certainly hoped it would be well received, but who expected that? Within 24 hours of the show airing, I could not walk down the street. It’s crazy. It’s amazing. AE: The only other place you can get that kind of immediate reaction is live theater, which you’ve also done.

LD: With live theater, people get you walking out the door because they’ve just seen it. I’ve been a success in live theater, and had my picture taken, and my autographed asked for. But certainly not on this level, and not like this. I’m running into people who’ve seen Orange Is the New Black five times. Five times! And it hasn’t even been on the air for two months yet.

If I stand still for five minutes, somebody recognizes me and then it’s like sharks. All of a sudden, I’m on the corner and 20 people are asking for pictures and autographs.

AE: It’s a feeding frenzy. You’re like chum.

LD: It’s amazing! And they’re all young, straight girls. How happy am I? How happy am I?

AE: Pretty happy! Why are young, straight girls responding to you and the show this way?

LD: It’s surreptitiously feminist, you know what I mean? We have a lot of women on our show of every shape and size and age. I think it’s something that young women can relate to. You don’t see that that much on television.

AE: There are many behind-the-scenes pictures of the Orange cast. Everyone looks like they’re having a blast. Can you talk about the camaraderie on the set?

LD: We are having a blast! Everyone says it seems like it’s fun. It’s so much fun and it’s translating onto the screen. AE: Have you ever worked with so many women at one time?

LD: It’s not just women. There are lots of lesbians, as well. It’s interesting, especially in television, to have that much estrogen.

AE: Are all your cycles synced up?

LD: I believe we all synced up this last month.

AE: Very good.

LD: I was talking to [Natasha Lyonne] about that. I had gotten my period. And I had terrible cramps. I was complaining about it, which is what I do these days because I’m too old to get a period. It’s infuriating. I’m a 55-year-old butch dyke! Who needs a period less than me? So, I was on this tirade — really funny stuff, I had everyone laughing — and Tasha says, “You know Lea, our periods are all sunk up now.” Hilarious.

AE: We need to talk about Big Boo’s screwdriver scene. Have you ever done a scene like that before?

LD: I’ve never masturbated on camera, no. This was my first time. When I was told that was what I was going to do, (before I even read the episode,) I jumped up and down like a little girl. I was that excited. Because I knew it was going to be something that people will remember. And indeed, it is.

AE: Was it mortifying to do it in front of the whole crew?

LD: The first take, I started laughing because I made the mistake of thinking about what I was doing. That’s a huge mistake when acting — you shouldn’t think about it. So, the first take was one of the first shots on our gag reel. It was me, starting to masturbate, and howling with laughter. It’s just like, “What am I doing? I’m getting paid to do this.” I can’t tell you how many people have asked me to autograph their screwdrivers.

AE: Perfect. LD: A woman who works at the hardware store around the corner from my house told me she was watching and waiting for me to walk by, so she could run out with a screwdriver, so I could sign it. It had an orange handle, which I thought was a nice touch.

What’s weird to me is that so many others come up to me on the street with a screwdriver and a Sharpie, and ask me to sign the handle. And I’m like, “Do you always carry around a screwdriver with you? Were you hoping you’d run into me?” You know, my comic mind goes right into action.

AE: I think if it’s lesbians, the answer is “yes.” They do just walk around screwdrivers. Who knows?

LD: It’s crazy, isn’t it? On the subway, in the San Francisco airport… I should be a spokesman for Craftsman tools or Black & Decker.

AE: I think if someone pulls a screwdriver on you in the subway, that’s not a good thing.

LD: Yes, screwdriver in the subway is generally a bad thing. But if they just want me to autograph it, I guess it’s okay.

AE: As long as they have a Sharpie, too. Can you tell me if they catch the chicken in Season 2? I need to know these things.

LD: Yeah, this is what I can tell you about Season 2: I am in it. That’s about all I can tell you.

AE: Okay, fine. Hypothetically, if they were to catch the chicken, would Big Boo be more likely to eat it, or train it to be an emotional support chicken?

LD: You know what? I think Big Boo is going to go with food every time, over emotional support. She’s already got Little Boo, so she’s got that thing all squared away. Plus, she’s got her little girl gang. Big Boo is a big member of the white gang in there, and she’s got dykes around her who are supportive. And Big Boo likes chicken. A lot. Besides, I don’t think Red is going to give her any. Red’s going to eat that whole chicken. AE: But I wanted the chicken to wear a little vest that says, “Please don’t eat me, I’m working.”

LD: [laughs] That would be funny.

AE: Are we going to see any of Big Boo’s backstory next season?

LD: The only thing I can say about Season 2 is that I’m in it. And it comes out in 2014. That is the best I can do. I’m really sorry. As much as I want to tell everybody everything, I want to keep my job. I will say this about Season 2: It’s really good.

AE: Can you say if your character will be more prominent?

LD: All I can say is that I’m in it. And I’m great. I’m in it, and I am fucking great in this role.

AE: Fine. Hypothetically, who should Big Boo swirl with in 2014?

LD: Well, what am I, stupid? Piper. What am I, a fucking idiot? Piper! I want Big Boo’s love interest to be Piper. One, she’s the star of the show. Two, Taylor Schilling is smoking hot. I could do love scenes with her without even blinking.

AE: Which other prisoners would be good together?

LD: Let me see. Well, Little Boo and the chicken.

AE: Oh my God, yes! You should be writing the show.

LD: That would be a star-crossed endeavor.

AE: An inter-species romance.

LD: I think that would be great.

AE: I love this so much.

LD: Little Boo and the chicken, walking around together… walking around the track… eating corn…

AE: [laughs] Yes! Eating corn!

LD: [laughs] Hilarious.

AE: Jodie Foster directed the episode, “Lesbian Request Denied.” Did you learn anything about acting from her?

LD: It was not a big episode for me, but I actually learned quite a bit from her. She told me I was really funny, which made me very happy. She also told me that I was moving too much on camera, which was good to hear. Big Boo is on medication, so she’s a little jumpy. But Jodie was like, “It’s too much. It’s too much.”

That’s a constant battle with me because I’m a standup comic and a stage actor. But you have to be much smaller for the camera. And I think because Jodie Foster was there, I was kind of “big” because I was excited. It was so cool to meet her. She has to be the smartest person in any room.

AE: I know. It’s almost annoying.

LD: I find that incredibly attractive, so there you go. She was smart, she was fun loving, she like to laugh. I’m hoping we get her back. I don’t know if we are.

AE: Have you become friends with anyone from the cast?

LD: Definitely Tasha [Lyonne] is someone I hang out with. Samira Wiley [who plays Poussey Washington] and I are really good friends. You’ll see pictures of us hanging out. She’s my boy. And Taryn Manning, [Pennsatucky]. I absolutely love to play with her, go out to brunch with her, and hang out with her a lot. She’s cool people. And Kate Mulgrew. Kate is a gift the show has given me. I had no idea how much I would like Kate and how much we would become friends. We have a very similar outlook on life.

AE: You, Natasha and Kate are all lesbian icons. Natasha did If These Walls Could Talk 2 and But I’m a Cheerleader. And Kate is Captain Fucking Janeway, for cripes sake. LD: I don’t think Kate is aware how much lesbians love her. I had a conversation with her once or twice about it. And she was like, “Really?” And I’m like, “Kate! You are so loved by lesbians!” [laughs] Isn’t that funny? She wasn’t really aware of it.

Natasha is aware. [She’s] hyperaware of everything. She’s the most aware human being I’ve ever met in my life. I mean, do you know how many lesbians she’s played? I mean, millions. She’s lesbian-for-hire. And she couldn’t be straighter.

AE: That’s okay. We claimed her.

LD: Tasha loves us. She loves to tease me backstage. And I always tell her that I want to bang her.

AE: Do you think Taylor Schilling and Laura Prepon are prepared to wear the lesbian icon mantle? Do they understand what it means?

LD: Everybody on the show is so excited about what’s happening for the show. It’s not like anybody is walking around going, “I hate lesbians.” It’s the opposite. Everyone is really thrilled to be a part of this thing. [And] they wouldn’t last long on the set if they did! All of this is the genius of [show creator,] Jenji Kohan. That’s where it all comes from. Jenji is smart, and funny, and gets it. Everything she touches turns to gold.

AE: You guys are definitely going to win an Emmy. What are you going to wear?

LD: I hope that somebody fantastic dresses me. I’m a big Hugo Boss fan but the problem for me is that their stuff is for a taller, thinner build. But we’ll go somewhere fun. Probably Armani, I’m thinking. Armani in a tux.

AE: You know who else likes Armani? Jodie Foster. No matter what, you’ll be fine. I’ve seen your red carpet photos. Your style is sharp.

LD: It’s all about the French cuffs and bowties. That’s my thing. AE: Do you like a pocket square?

LD: Love a pocket square. Big fan of the pocket square.

AE: You don’t physically fit into the typical Hollywood actress mold. Is it easier for a butch woman to be cast on Broadway, as opposed to Hollywood?

LD: I think it’s much more difficult in Hollywood because they tend to put you in a box for film and television casting. For years, I played nothing but PE teachers and police lieutenants. And the lesbian who inappropriately hits on straight women at every function. Boy, that was my niche. I did that a lot.

In New York — not that it’s easy to get on Broadway — there’s a lot of theater. There’s Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-off-Broadway, Off-off-off-Broadway. They tend to put you less in that box. They want to see you act, they want to see you sing, they want to see what you do. In New York, I’ve played straight girls, I’ve played lesbians, I played men. The only thing I haven’t done yet is play a gay man. I’m looking forward to the time I get cast as a gay man.

AE: What is your dream Broadway role?

LD: J. Edgar Hoover. [laughs]

AE: [laughs] You would kill.

LD: My dream Broadway role is what almost any other actor in my position would say: I’m waiting for that part that will be written for me. I’m waiting for someone to go, “I just wrote this part [for you.]” Meanwhile, I just played Vera Charles in Mame, against Andrea McArdle’s Mame, and I had the time of my life. And she was magnificent.

AE: Bring it to LA! I need to see that.

LD: Hey, I was saying to Andrea we should take it somewhere. It’s brilliant. We stopped the show with “Bosom Buddies” every time we did it.

AE: Do you have time to do any stand-up these days?

LD: I’m doing a show called “The Last Butch Standing.” I’ve been doing it for a year and a half, and now it’s ready to be filmed. Were trying to figure out how to make that happen.

AE: A comedy special for HBO or Comedy Central?

LD: Something like that. I’m not at liberty to talk about it. Sorry.

AE: We’ve reached the part of the interview where I ask about the Laura Prepon rumors. Is she in Season 2?

LD: I’m sorry. Who’s Laura Prepon? [laughs] AE: [laughs] Come on, Lea!

LD: Yeah, that’s my response to that.

AE: I know, okay. I had to try.

LD: Of course you did. And I have to do what I have to do. Don’t worry about it. I thought that was a pretty good answer though. I’m over here still laughing about it. Laughing at my own jokes.

AE: I think the brilliant part of this interview is that we’ve paired up the chicken and Little Boo. We should give the chicken a name.

LD: Let’s give the chicken a name.

AE: Okay, what’s its name?

LD: Mini Boo. We’ll have Little Boo and Mini Boo.

AE: Done.

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