Heather Graham interview
Heather Graham says people are more down-to-earth in the UK.
What drew you to this project?
The main thing that appealed to me was David Cross. I'm a huge fan. I loved him in Arrested Development. He's such a smart, interesting comedian, and I couldn't wait to work with him.
Were you immediately won over by the idea of Bliss?
To be honest, I wasn't. When I first heard the premise, I thought it might be gross and be about this guy boasting about getting all the girls. But then I read it, and I instantly loved it. I loved the perspective of the show and the way David makes fun of Andrew rather than saying he's cool. David is actually laughing at men. The women in Bliss are very sympathetic. You feel more for them than you do for Andrew.
How would you characterise Kim?
On the surface, she is proper and conservative. But underneath that, she has a fear of interacting with people and going after her dreams. But as her daughter grows up and she becomes frustrated with Andrew, she decides to pursue her dreams.
How does Andrew react to that?
Not well! His constant fear is being discovered. He tries to keep her off social media and make sure she doesn't have a lot of friends. The less she is out there, the less chance there is of him being found out. He tries to persuade her not to chase her dream.
What you think impels Andrew to lead this double life?
He is driven by a fear of disappointing people. He's a real people pleaser. He doesn't want to hurt anyone or to cop to his mistakes and reveal himself as a liar. But now he's gone too far. He's trying to be a good dad, but he's not doing a great job. Andrew is clearly not a cool guy. His decisions have turned him into a basket case on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
How have you found working with Stephen Mangan?
It's been great. He's such fun to be around. He finds humour in everything. In every scene, he is looking for comedy. If you're an American, he has that classic British charm. He knows how to say the wittiest things. We were in a house the other day which was full of cat memorabilia, and Stephen kept tweeting funny pictures of cats. He's hilarious.
Have you got to know Jo Hartley during the making of Bliss?
Yes. At first, David didn't want me and Jo to meet. He said, "I don't want you guys to become friends." But he softened, and we soon became friends. Jo is great company.
Have you noticed many differences between filming in the UK and the US?
People are more down-to-earth in the UK. You show up on set in Britain and people say, "You're an actor - who cares?" I like the fact that everyone on the crew is making an equal contribution. There is less glorification of actors than in America. British people also have a great sense of humour.
Would you like to make more series of Bliss?
Absolutely. David is talking about making three series, and I really hope he does. That would be great. David is really cool and everyone is so fun on the show.
So where should Kim go next?
I hope she keeps pursuing her dream. I also hope Andrew gets discovered. He deserves his comeuppance. He is not having a great time because he's always so anxious, but I hope he does suffer! I also want Kim to fall in love with someone else and divorce Andrew.
What do you hope audiences will take away from watching Bliss?
I hope people find it really funny. It's also an interesting psychological study of someone leading a double life. I can relate to being a people pleaser. It can make you crazy, and yet you keep convincing yourself that it's a good thing. Andrew has good intentions, but they only make things much worse. Whatever happens, I would love to do more episodes of Bliss. I've loved doing this. It's so original. I can't think of another show like it.