For four seasons, Martha Kelly played nerdy Costco insurance adjuster Martha Brooks on FX’s Emmy-winning comedy Baskets, but on Tuesday she snagged an Emmy nomination in the Guest Actress category for playing a very different character.
In Euphoria, the stand-up comedian and actress with a famously droll delivery was cast against type as Laurie, a ruthless drug dealer. She tells ABC Audio that ironically, considering the accolade, she needed some convincing from the series’ creator that she could nail the part.
“I think Sam Levinson just wrote a really scary character who’s like a mild-mannered sociopath,” she deadpans. “In real life, I think those people are rare, but they can do a lot of damage, you know? Because people don’t think they’re actually scary.”
The second season of the show has Zendaya‘s drug-addicted Rue in a very dangerous debt to Laurie, and Laurie’s threats to her — no matter how disturbing — are made more so because they sound like they’re coming from a soft-spoken soccer mom.
A day after the nomination, Kelly says she still in shock.
“It still doesn’t seem real, and that’s probably good,” she admits with a laugh. “I mean…I think it would be weird to be like, ‘Oh, yeah, cool. I deserve it.’ Like, that would be a weird response.”
She adds, “It just seems unreal…It’s like Euphoria and all the regular cast are so talented and the crew is so talented and they got all these nominations. And I feel like it’s a party bus that I’m like holding on to the back bumper, riding a skateboard behind.”
Kelly says, “It’s so fun. I feel really lucky.” Â
Incidentally, Kelly can also be seen on another nominated HBO show, the comedy Hacks.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Music notes: Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga and more
March 28, 2024
Mariah Carey is continuing to celebrate her 55th birthday — or anniversary, as she says. She posted…
Maroon 5 approves of Mick Jagger’s dance to their hit song
March 28, 2024
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for A&M/OctoneOn March 27, Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger posted a…
Keanu Reeves, Fisher Stevens prepping documentary on MMA legend Benny Urquidez
March 28, 2024
RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesKeanu Reeves knows his way around a martial arts mat, what with his…
In “Hell Together,” David Archuleta expresses his “joy” at leaving his religion — with his family
March 28, 2024
Irvin RiveraDavid Archuleta, who came out as queer in 2021, announced in 2023 that he was leaving…
Noah Kahan reflects on “surreal” first show of North American We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour
March 28, 2024
John Medina/Getty ImagesThe North American leg of Noah Kahan's We'll All Be Here Forever Tour…
‘Twilight’ vet Kristen Stewart says she would have broken up with Edward “immediately”
March 28, 2024
Dominique Charriau/WireImageKristen Stewart obviously still has some feelings for her Twilight…
Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson feature on Beyoncé’s new album ‘Cowboy Carter’
March 28, 2024
Parkwood/ColumbiaBeyoncé's new album, Cowboy Carter, is already out in some parts of the world, so…
Tom Holland’s Romeo gets his Juliet for West End theater production
March 28, 2024
Good Morning AmericaOn Thursday, The Jamie Lloyd Company announced the full cast for Tom Holland's…