Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Actress / Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In her three-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Julia Louis-Dreyfus discusses her early work in comedy as a member of the Second City Improv group in Chicago, and explains how the experience helped her career. She talks about getting cast as a regular on Saturday Night Live, and speaks of working with Larry David. She recounts her role on NBC's Day by Day and working with Gary David Goldberg. She details her role as "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld, describes working with the cast, and comments on the cultural phenomenon that the show became. She discusses starring in and producing the show Watching Ellie, and guest-starring on Arrested Development. Dreyfus then talks about starring in The New Adventures of Old Christine, and shares how she felt when the show was cancelled. She describes her current show Veep, outlining how it was pitched and how working for HBO differs from working for network television. She speaks of researching D.C politics to develop her character "Selina Meyer," and talks of winning an Emmy for the role. Amy Harrington conducted the interview in two parts on May 16 and June 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA.

"Veep was unlike anything I'd ever done before from a creative point of view. The script is never locked, ever. Sometimes you would start shooting and you wouldn't know where the story would end. It is a multi-layered organic [process] that is always moving. It has a grittiness and a rawness that is captured. As an actor, it is just very satisfying to play."

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Highlights
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her dancing on Seinfeld and how it came about
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the Seinfeld finale
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on reuniting with the entire cast of Seinfeld  on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on developing her character "Selina Meyer" on Veep; on speaking with actual Vice-Presidents and the research that went into creating the character
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on advice to aspiring actors
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on wanting to become an actress; on attending Northwestern University and the shows she performed in during college; on joining Second City
On getting cast on Saturday Night Live; on meeting her future husband Brad Hall at Saturday Night Live; on being on live television for the first time; on the legacy of Saturday Night Live
On moving to Los Angeles; on appearing on Family Ties and The Art of Being Nick  (a pilot spin-off from Family Ties); on getting cast on the NBC show Day by Day
On being cast on Seinfeld in 1990 as "Elaine Benes"; on the tone of the show and shooting her first four episodes

Chapter 2
On her character "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld; on coming up with the phrase "Get OUT!"; on her character's strengths and weaknesses; on making Seinfeld's unlikable characters likable
On "Elaine Benes'" sense of style and hairstyle; on how the show dealt with her real-life pregnancy
On finally discovering how popular Seinfeld had become; on the lack of censorship on the show
On "Elaine's" relationships with "Jerry", "George" and "Kramer" on Seinfeld; on being the only woman in the ensemble cast
On her Seinfeld co-stars Patrick Warburton and John O'Hurley; on "Elaine's" dance skills
On winning an Emmy; on the Seinfeld series finale and her favorite moments from the series; on the legacy of Seinfeld
On playing herself on Curb Your Enthusiasm and reuniting with Seinfeld creator Larry David; on reuniting with the entire cast of Seinfeld on Curb Your Enthusiasm
On Watching Ellie - a labor of love show she worked on with her husband Brad Hall; on joining the cast of Arrested Development for several episodes in 2004

Chapter 3
On The New Adventures of Old Christine; on the show's premise
On the character "Christine Campbell" on The New Adventures of Old Christine; on the atmosphere on set and her favorite moments from the show; on The New Adventures of Old Christine  being cancelled by CBS
On how she came to guest star on Lisa Kudrow's show Web Therapy as her sister "Shevaun Haig" and working in improv again
On the premiere of Veep in 2012; on the creative freedom she experienced at HBO; on production on the show
On her character "Selina Meyer" and how she researched the Vice Presidency for the role

Chapter 4
On "Selina Meyer's" strengths and weaknesses on Veep; on making the character relatable; on whether her Veep character is "real"
On  her castmates on Veep: Anna Chlumsky as "Amy Brookheimer", Tony Hale as "Gary Walsh", Reid Scott as "Dan Egan", Matt Walsh as "Mike McLintock", Timothy Simons as "Jonah Ryan", and Sufe Bradshaw as "Sue Wilson"
On her duties as a producer on Veep; on how headlines play a role in the plot; on "Selina Meyer's" style on Veep
On her favorite improv moments on the show; on winning an Emmy for her role on Veep; on advice to aspiring actors
Shows

Arrested Development

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on joining the cast of Arrested Development for several episodes in 2004

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on playing herself on Curb Your Enthusiasm  and reuniting with Seinfeld  creator Larry David
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on reuniting with the entire cast of Seinfeld  on Curb Your Enthusiasm

Day by Day

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on getting cast as "Eileen Swift" on NBC's Day by Day  in 1988

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on winning an Emmy for her Seinfeld character "Elaine Benes"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on winning an Emmy for her role as "Selina Meyer" on Veep

Family Ties

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on meeting Gary David Goldberg and guest-starring on Family Ties

New Adventures of Old Christine, The

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the creation and premise of The New Adventures of Old Christine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her castmates on The New Adventures of Old Christine;  on bringing in comedian Wanda Sykes to play her best friend
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Christine Campbell" on The New Adventures of Old Christine;  on the character's personality traits, strengths and weaknesses, and how she "devolved"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Christine Campbell's" relationship with her brother on The New Adventures of Old Christine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the atmosphere on the set of The New Adventures of Old Christine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her favorite moments and episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on The New Adventures of Old Christine being cancelled by CBS

Saturday Night Live

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on getting cast on Saturday Night Live after a play performance
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the state of Saturday Night Live when she joined the cast and what she learned from the show
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on not quite finding her groove on Saturday Night Live
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her first time doing live television on Saturday Night Live
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her favorite memories from Saturday Night Live - meeting guest hosts
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on why she left Saturday Night Live
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on hosting Saturday Night Live in 2006 and 2007

Seinfeld

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being cast on Seinfeld as "Elaine Benes"; on almost not being able to get out of her contract with Warner Bros. for the part
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on shooting her first four episodes of Seinfeld; on the tone of the show
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the tone of Seinfeld and clicking with the cast
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes'" phrase "GET OUT!" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her Seinfeld character "Elaine Benes'" strengths and weaknesses; on making Seinfeld's unlikable characters likable
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine Benes'" sense of style on Seinfeld; on hiding her real-life pregnancy on the show
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on how iconic Seinfeld became and when she first realized how big an audience the show had amassed
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on there not being censorship issues in "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on why Larry David was a great showrunner on Seinfeld; on his dedication to the show
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine" and "Jerry's" relationship on Seinfeld and the Seinfeld episode "The Deal" when "Elaine" and "Jerry" sleep together again; on how Larry David helped craft the episode
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine" and "George's" relationship on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine" and "Kramer's" relationship on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being the only woman on the set of Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "David Puddy," one of "Elaine's" boyfriends on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her Seinfeld co-star John O'Hurley who played her boss "J. Peterman" and who went on to buy the J. Peterman Company in real life
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her dancing on Seinfeld and how it came about
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on winning an Emmy for her Seinfeld character "Elaine Benes"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld coming to an end
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the Seinfeld finale
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her favorite moments from Seinfeld 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on where her Seinfeld character "Elaine Benes" would be today
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld's legacy
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the secrecy around shooting the finale of Seinfeld

Seinfeld: "The Contest"

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on there not being censorship issues in "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld

Seinfeld: "The Finale"

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the Seinfeld  finale
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the secrecy around shooting the finale of Seinfeld

Veep

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the premiere of Veep  in 2012; on how the subject matter was a "goldmine for comedy" 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Veep's creator Armando Iannucci and the creative freedom she found working at HBO on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Veep's rehearsal process and production
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the Veep plotline about her character's pregnancy and how director Chris Morris creatively dealt with it
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on developing her character "Selina Meyer" on Veep; on speaking with actual Vice-Presidents and the research that went into creating the character
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on how she developed certain gestures for her role as "Selina Meyer" on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on not modeling "Selina Meyer" on Veep after a real person
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her castmates on Veep: Anna Chlumsky as "Amy Brookheimer", Tony Hale as "Gary Walsh", Reid Scott as "Dan Egan", Matt Walsh as "Mike McLintock", Timothy Simons as "Jonah Ryan", and Sufe Bradshaw as "Sue Wilson"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her role as a Producer on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Selina Meyer's" strengths and weaknesses on Veep; on making the character relatable
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on how headline news plays a role in the Veep storylines
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Selina Meyer's" style on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on one of her favorite improv moments on Veep from Season 2 Episode 9; on the chair swivel
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on winning an Emmy for her role as "Selina Meyer" on Veep 

Watching Ellie

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Watching Ellie - a labor of love show she worked on with her husband Brad Hall

Web Therapy

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on appearing on Web Therapy as Lisa Kudrow's sister; on working in improv again
Topics

Advice

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on advice to aspiring actors

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on there not being censorship issues in "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld

Characters & Catchphrases

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes'" phrase "GET OUT!" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on developing her character "Selina Meyer" on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Selina Meyer's" strengths and weaknesses on Veep; on making the character relatable

Diversity in Television

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being the only woman on the set of Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the atmosphere on the largely female set of The New Adventures of Old Christine

Emmy Awards

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on winning an Emmy for her Seinfeld character "Elaine Benes" 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on winning an Emmy for her role as "Selina Meyer" on Veep  

Fame and Celebrity

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on how iconic Seinfeld  became and when she first realized how big an audience the show had amassed

Historic Events and Social Change

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being the only woman on the set of Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the atmosphere on the largely female set of The New Adventures of Old Christine

Overcoming Adversity

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Gary David Goldberg helping her with a contract dispute with Warner Bros. and the valuable lesson she learned from him

Pivotal Career Moments

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Gary David Goldberg helping her with a contract dispute with Warner Bros. and the valuable lesson she learned from him

Pop Culture

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on how iconic Seinfeld  became and when she first realized how big an audience the show had amassed
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes'" phrase "GET OUT!" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her character "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on developing her character "Selina Meyer" on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Selina Meyer's" strengths and weaknesses on Veep; on making the character relatable

Television Industry

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on there not being censorship issues in "The Contest" episode of Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on advice to aspiring actors

Television and the Presidency

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on what she learned about the Vice-Presidency through her work on Veep; on how her view of politics has changed 

Women

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being the only woman on the set of Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the atmosphere on the largely female set of The New Adventures of Old Christine
Professions

Actress

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her early interest in acting
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the challenge of portraying a version of herself on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on developing her character "Selina Meyer" on Veep; on speaking with actual Vice-Presidents and the research that went into creating the character
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on developing her character "Selina Meyer" on Veep; on speaking with actual Vice-Presidents and the research that went into creating the character
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on one of her favorite improv moments on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on advice to aspiring actors

Performers

View Profession
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her early interest in acting
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the challenge of portraying a version of herself on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on one of her favorite improv moments on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on advice to aspiring actors

Producers

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her role as a Producer on Veep
Genres

Comedy Series

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being cast on Seinfeld as "Elaine Benes"; on almost not being able to get out of her contract with Warner Bros. for the part
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on shooting her first four episodes of Seinfeld; on the tone of the show and clicking with the cast
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on playing "Selina Meyer" on Veep
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on starring in The New Adventures of Old Christine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on playing "Selina Meyer" on Veep
People

Jason Alexander

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Jason Alexander's character "George Costanza" on Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine" and "George's" relationship on Seinfeld

Drew Barrymore

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Drew Barrymore guest-hosting on Saturday Night Live

Dan Bucatinksy

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on appearing on Web Therapy as Lisa Kudrow's sister

Anna Chlumsky

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her castmates on Veep - on actress Anna Chlumsky as "Amy Brookheimer"

Gary David Goldberg

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on meeting Gary David Goldberg, guest-starring on Family Ties, and getting hired on Day by Day
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Gary David Goldberg helping her with a contract dispute with Warner Bros. and the valuable lesson she learned from him

Tony Hale

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on joining the cast of Arrested Development for several episodes in 2004
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her castmates on Veep - Tony Hale as "Gary Walsh" (the Vice President's bag-man)

Brad Hall

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Watching Ellie - a labor of love show she worked on with her husband Brad Hall

Mitchell Hurwitz

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on joining the cast of Arrested Development for several episodes in 2004

Armando Iannucci

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Veep's creator Armando Iannucci and how much she enjoys Veep

Lisa Kudrow

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on appearing on Web Therapy as Lisa Kudrow's sister; on working in improv again

Kari Lizer

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the atmosphere on the largely female set of The New Adventures of Old Christine

John O'Hurley

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her Seinfeld co-star John O'Hurley who played her boss "J. Peterman" and who went on to buy the J. Peterman Company in real life

Michael Richards

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine" and "Kramer's" relationship on Seinfeld

Reid Scott

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Reid Scott as "Dan Egan" on Veep

Jerry Seinfeld

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on being approached by Larry David to star in Seinfeld as "Elaine Benes" and meeting Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the tone of Seinfeld and clicking with the cast
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Elaine" and "Jerry's" relationship on Seinfeld and the Seinfeld episode "The Deal" when "Elaine" and "Jerry" sleep together again; on how Larry David helped craft the episode
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the last group hug before shooting the Seinfeld  finale

Wanda Sykes

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on bringing in comedian Wanda Sykes to play her best friend The New Adventures of Old Christine

Stevie Wonder

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her favorite memories from Saturday Night Live - meeting Stevie Wonder

All Interviews

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