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Who did I lose things to?
It was pretty substantially different than this one, but the core of my character was the same.
Aya Cash: My offer came through two auditions [laughs].
I got the script and went in, and then went in again.
I had met Tommy years ago and we have a good friend in common.
I knew he was fun and that that would be a good experience.
:I think exactly ten years.
I initially felt that experience was so meaningful to me that I almost didnt want to do another play.
I was afraid that I wouldnt be able to do a play anymore.
That I lost that skill.
A.C.: The answer is yes, it’s possible for you to.
:You forget the pain after its over.
A.C.:The reason I got into acting wasnt film and TV.
I think at the heart of it, I will always be a theater girl.
Some nights are great and some nights youre like, Wow, I should give this up.
This is not for me.
I have never given birth, but I hear its like that: You only remember the good.
Thats what keeps you going back.
The best part about being on film and TV is they pick the best take.
:The converse is that you do have more authorship over your performance when youre onstage.
What if I get out there and it feels like theres nothing?
It is scary in that way, too.
A.C.: Its why theater requires technique in a way that film and television doesnt.
Because when you are empty, what do you do?
Youre playing these lobbyists who are total villains, I think, in the popular imagination.
How do you find a way in?A.C.
:I think in the intelligence of these characters is one thing to connect to.
I think sometimes its more fun to be the bad guy.
I am a very porous person.
Its really nice to play someone who thinks theyre right and knows that even if I disagree with them.
:I know were the villains.
Selfishly, as an actor, its fun to play.
Do you see a similarity between D.C. and Hollywood in that way?G.J.
I think thats what our characters are doing.
A.C.:Theres the Hollywood thing of, Whos the most important person of the room?
and having a conversation with someone while theyre always looking around to see if theres anyone better.
Do you feel further from that in New York?A.C.
:Its why I live in New York.
I think you could live in LA.
Its not the primary business.
:I loved that about when I lived here.
I found that in L.A., too, but it takes more effort.
Both of you are in L.A. dramedies ending after their next season.A.C.
:I tried to start a fake fight withLove,just to get publicity for us.
We shoot in the same diners, and I was like, Yo, youre in our diner.
I havent had a bad experience in a while.
A.C.:For me, its abject terror.
We still have to shoot the last season.
A.C.:Im still in mourning.
This was my first real longtime gig, so I actually dont know what it looks like after this.
Am I going to be going in 14 auditions to play naggy sitcom wife?
Ive been really wanting to take a longer clown class so I might be able to.
Why the clown class?A.C.
:Im not good at it.
I tried UCB, too.
I had a great time being bad at that.
:When you come from a theater background and study theater in college, we are not taught improv.
Were taught respect for the script.
You have to be word-perfect, and anything less than that, youre not doing your job.
Having to learn as you go on set has been a journey for me.
A.C.:I doEasyon Netflix, which is completely improv but theres no pressure to be funny.
Its non-comedy improv, which Im also fine with.
Its the idea of being idea that suddenly Im like … in a kumquat.
See, that was my bad improv.
Why would there be a kumquat?
You talked about being in L.A., and the fear of conforming to what people want you to be.
How do you get away from that?G.J.
:When I first graduated from college, I was convinced that every job would be my last.
I felt this compulsion to take every job offered me for a long time.
Im trying to get to a place where Im only doing things that Im genuinely excited about.
That can be a scary thing, when youre like, What do I actually like?
Whens the last time I actually thought aboutthat?
I think doing this play was, in part, me answering that question.
This business tells you constantly that if you take a second, somebody else is right there behind you.
Aya, you talked about wanting to direct, and Gillian, youve directed a short.
A.C.:At a certain point, being an actor is still a passive business.
You have to wait for someone to say, I pick you.
A.C.:I cast Gillian in lots of things when they kept me in the waiting room.
All the other girls would go, Oh, shed be great.
Shes really, really good.
A.C.:I dont want to pretend that there is no jealousy or competition.
Its just how you handle that.
It can point you in the right direction.
Do you have a way to remind yourself youre on solid ground when that jealousy pops up?A.C.
:I walk by where I used to waitress.
Theres a stupid … Oh god.
I cant believe Im saying this.
A stupid Instagram post
G.J.
:I was going to bring that up.
The one you found.
A.C.:[Pulls out her phone, starts searching.]
A.C.:[Holds up her phone, quoting]: Remember when you wanted what you currently have.
:None of us are guaranteed that we would have ever booked a single solitary job.
Now, we work.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
