Meg Stalter on Oh Mary, Advice for Bowen Yang and Emmys Carpet Looks

Meg Stalter is never not in character.

Following the roast, Variety caught up with Stalter to talk her newfound love for cooking, “Oh, Mary” and what we can expect from her Emmys red carpet look:

What advice did the previous Marys, like Maya Rudolph or Cole Escola, give you?

May and I were just talking about how it’s a lot of lines — that before you even go into rehearsal, memorizing as much as possible is really helpful. Which is really practical, but really important. It helped me a lot to memorize it before I got to New York.

I’m shocked that you even had to audition. What was the audition experience like?

When you first saw ‘Oh, Mary!’, did you immediately know it was something you wanted to do?

I saw Jinkx do it, and I love Cole, and I’ve always wanted to see Cole do it. When I was in New York, I finally got to see Jinkx, and I just have never felt more seen in a character. Which is so funny, because I’m not the president’s wife and an alcoholic, but the way that she loves to perform. I just fell in love with it.

I asked my team if I could audition, and they talked to them about it. So I really, really wanted to audition and do the play after “Hacks.” I feel so lucky to get to do it.

How would you describe the most unique aspect that you brought to the character?

I definitely feel like my Mary is very childish. I know she’s childish in general, but there’s a lot of sticking my tongue out and being really…I feel very young when I’m playing Mary. Of course, everyone plays her as bratty because she just is bratty. But I think I’m doing a lot of tongue choreography.

Are they recording it or anything? I’m so sad that I’m not going to be able to see it.

I think you’ll have to imagine me. Unless you can get ahold of some sort of theater tape.

Have you given Bowen any advice yet?

Is there anyone you want to see next in the role?

I want to see Cole do it again. And I’d also like to see just a regular person off the street do it. It should literally be someone who’s not acting at all. Just some random person who works at a company, like at an office, and then they’re chosen out of the office. They have to do it within two weeks.

Heckling has become more common in Broadway audiences, especially when people come for a specific performer What has your experience been with Broadway audience behavior?

But we’re lucky that we don’t get too much. It’s not heckling like, “I hate this.” It’s more like they’re laughing because they know it.

Broadway is such a crazy schedule. How has that affected your eating schedule and home cooking?

I was actually talking to people in the cast about this. I feel like when you’re doing a show every night, you have to find food that tastes good but also gives you energy and isn’t going to make you feel sick. Chicken is actually one of the foods that all of us have said doesn’t make us feel sick and gives you energy.

I definitely have to think through the times when I’m eating more than if I were just at home. You want to eat a good meal before the show, but you don’t want to eat too much because then you’ll feel so low-energy.

Have you always enjoyed cooking?

I actually feel like I’ve learned how to cook in the last two years, and I love cooking so much. I used to not really cook, but now I cook a lot. I just think it’s really relaxing and really fun, and also a way to show someone that you love them back when you get to cook for them.

At the Knorr Chicken Roast, I did get stocked up on the Knorr Chicken Bouillon so I have a lot of it. But it’s going fast because I use it so much. It does help make cooking easier because I’m not an expert chef, but I am getting good, and I do know how to do it now, which is really fun. I’m always looking for ways to make it easier and get flavor fast.

Have you cooked the cast your Knorr-seasoned chicken?

I haven’t cooked for the cast yet, but I need to. I really do.

You’ll have to host them for your last show. Have them over and do another chicken roast, I guess.

Yeah, definitely going to do that. I’m definitely going to have the cast over, and everyone should bring a side dish. Should I make the chicken?

Lastly, congratulations on your Emmy nomination. Do you have your red carpet look planned out?

Well, it’s in the works. It’s in the works…

Is it coordinated with Paul [Downs]?

I don’t know. [Laughs]