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Shanghai Calling’s Eliza Coupe Discusses Life After CalArts

Along with fellow CalArts’ School of Theater alumnae Alison Brie (“Community”) and Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”), Eliza Coupe is making a splash in the world of comedy. She stars in the recently released romantic comedy, “Shanghai Calling,” and can also be seen on the ABC ensemble sitcom “Happy Endings.”


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During a recent phone interview, we talked to Coupe (Theater BFA 06) about her work on Shanghai Calling, her acting career and advice for the graduating class of actors who are heading east for the New York Showcase on Monday.

“I think it’s hilarious, but when I got the call about this film, I was actually coming back from a French lesson,” she said. “I thought learning a language is like learning a language…no it’s not. Learning Chinese was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’m not a mathematical person, and Mandarin is incredibly mathematical.”

Coupe said the learning was an important part of the process. “As an actor, it was important to me to actually act and not just mimic, so I needed to know what [my character] was saying.” The hard work paid off, with the film and Coupe getting good notices from Variety and the Los Angeles Times, among others.

She also credits CalArts—especially School of Theater Dean Travis Preston’s Studio Class and “Mary Lou Rosato in general”—for preparing her for the actor’s world. She still remembers her favorite production Twelfth Night as “one of the most wonderful experiences at CalArts.

“Doing more dramatic and avant-garde theater definitely deepened my understanding of comedy,” she said. “Comedy can only be good if it’s rooted in drama.”

For the actors heading to New York, she says not to get too discouraged if they don’t get contacted after showcase. Coupe remembered that she didn’t get one call. “You keep having showcases every single year in your career. It’s just not necessarily with a school. You’re just doing it every audition.”

She also advises actors to not be afraid to take risks and test themselves: “You’ll eventually find what you’re good at and refine those skills. Eventually taking that risk is going to pay off big time.”

“Happy Endings” returns to ABC on March 29 at 8 p.m. with back-to-back episodes. “Shanghai Calling” is now playing on demand and on digital download.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Shanghai Calling’s Eliza Coupe Discusses Life After CalArts

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