Rachel Bay Jones admits that it’s great fun to play Audrey, Mandy’s domineering mother on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
“She can be very sharp and cuts off people,” says Rachel of the character she introduced on Young Sheldon. “She says the things I would never say. It’s really fun for me to try to understand what would make somebody behave that way.”
The child of two Shakespearean actors, Rachel made her Broadway debut in 1989 in a revival of Meet Me in St. Louis. Over the next 20 years, she remained a working actor but not yet a star. That changed with the role of Heidi in Dear Evan Hansen, which won her Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards.
“I didn’t really hit in any kind of way until my 40s,” Rachel notes. “I’m 55 now and it’s been a beautiful ride.”
How did you get started in show business?
My parents were actors. They met at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. One day, my mother had a play sitting out on the counter that she was auditioning for. I looked and saw that there was a role for someone my age. I said, “I can play that part.” She got very excited and got me ready for the audition. My Nana sewed me an outfit. It was really cute.
So your family was very supportive.
They were very enthusiastic and always have been. To this day, they are still so excited about my career. And it’s funny because my daughter is 21 years old and recently decided to be an actor herself. She knew that I did not want that for her. It’s a hard business. She came to me crying saying, “Mom, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Can I please be an actor? I want to be an actor.” But she’s good, thank goodness.
What kind of advice did you offer her?
That the industry and acting are two totally different things. About the industry, [I told her to] stay true to who you want to be as an artist, and as an actor, be honest.
What do you consider your big break?
I think the big one for me was Pippin on Broadway. The show was very well received and got a lot of attention, so that was a thrill. It was the most fun I had doing anything on stage and I made lifelong best friends. Charlotte d’Amboise, Terrence Mann and Annie Potts are three of my best friends. They all came from that production.
You’re currently on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Do you prefer theater to television?
I love it all. There’s something electric about having a live audience with you. It’s really beautiful to have that shared experience with so many people. It’s sort of all coming full circle with Georgie & Mandy because we have a live audience with the television show. It’s the first time I’ve done that and it’s been really fun.
Your character, Mandy’s mother Audrey, was a recurring character on Young Sheldon first.
Audrey was very upset at the time of Young Sheldon about her daughter’s relationship with Georgie. She was just so sour and mean, but it was really fun to enter into that whole world. And what a wonderful surprise that they wanted to spin off this family!
How did you react to the spinoff?
It was a one-two punch. I was in a car on my way to the theater and I got a phone call from [show producers] Chuck Lorre, Steve Holland and Steve Molaro, which is a highly unusual thing. They broke the bad news to me that Young Sheldon was going to end after season seven. Then Chuck asked if I would be interested in participating in the spin-off they were doing with Georgie and Mandy moving in with Audrey and Jim. I remember screaming in the car. The driver got very concerned.
Have you figured out what makes Audrey tick yet?
I think Audrey really wants to help. She believes that she’s right and if people would only listen to her, things would go so much more smoothly for everyone. She has no filter. She says what she believes to be the truth without regard to hurting anyone’s feelings because how could anyone’s feelings be hurt? She’s just saying what’s true.
Georgie & Mandy is already picked up for a second season.
Were you surprised it was an immediate hit? I don’t want to be like, “I wasn’t surprised at all.” It sounds cocky. But this incredible team, which did such a great job with Young Sheldon, had great ideas. And right away the entire cast clicked. I felt that if this is not a hit, I don’t know how to make a hit because this has all of the right components.
Do you feel like there are better roles these days for middle-aged women?
It’s interesting. My perspective on that is a little bit different because I didn’t have success in my youth. There’ve been more opportunities as I’ve aged rather than fewer. I’m not foolish enough to believe that this upward ascent will continue despite my age, because I do know that typically it hasn’t worked out that way in this industry. But I’m really hoping it’s moving the trend in a different direction.