Anybody who’s accustomed to seeing Julianne Nicholson in melancholy roles like Ivy Weston from August: Osage County or Lori Ross from Mare of Easttown had been little question shocked — albeit delightfully — to see her chopping the rug as a unusual influencer this season on Hacks.
Affectionately named Dance Mother, Nicholson’s character is recruited by Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) to carry out on Deborah’s (Jean Good) fledging late-night present. The hope is that her large presence on social media — the place Dance Mother posts bubbly movies of herself performing wacky, old-school choreography — might assist juice scores.
“I’m extra than simply heartbreak,” Nicholson jokes about transitioning from heavy, dramatic roles just like the one she at present performs on Hulu’s Paradise to the slapstick of Hacks. “That’s been probably the most enjoyable issues about it, simply flipping the script in that means when persons are anticipating a sure factor and you’ll nonetheless shock them. Like, what a present.”
The Hacks creators wished Nicholson for an earlier season however she couldn’t work out the timing. Luckily, for the U.Okay.-based Nicholson — who’s a self-described “big fan” of the Max present — the crew reached out once more and pitched this “chunkier” arc that may very well be filmed in a single week in Los Angeles.
Earlier than manufacturing started, nevertheless, Nicholson studied with London-based choreographer Corey Baker to choose up some mad abilities for her breakout efficiency.
“You possibly can go onto the web to the TikTok, the Instagram, and there are folks on the market who’re dedicated to those dances,” explains Nicholson. “Dance Mother has a really unfastened historical past with dance, but it surely’s extra about making a TikTok dance for a middle-aged lady. It’s type of like bringing old skool dance class into the second.”
“I like dancing, however I don’t fancy myself dancer, to be clear,” continues Nicholson. “Corey is the goofiest, silliest man, so it felt so easy. We all the time laughed. On one of many quick little TikTok bursts, I put my thumb up and nod. That was one other one that basically cracked us up each time.”
Hacks has already been picked up for a fifth season, but it surely appears unlikely that Dance Mother will return — no less than to Nicholson. “I don’t know. I ponder if Dance Mother shouldn’t simply dwell the place she lives now in our reminiscences and our imaginations.”
Within the meantime, Nicholson is midway via manufacturing on the second season of Paradise, through which she performs a mastermind named Sinatra who’s behind the mysterious underground metropolis that noticed its president [James Marsden] assassinated within the first episode. By the tip of the primary season, Sinatra is shot by Jane [Nicole Brydon Bloom] however survives to dwell one other day to doubtlessly torment Xavier [Sterling K. Brown].
“Let’s simply say extra might be revealed, a few of which I don’t even know but,” teases Nicholson of the upcoming season. “I haven’t learn the final episode of this season, however I’m not prepared. I’m not able to log out on Sinatra as a baddie simply but. I imply, she makes some despicable selections, however I really feel, in my coronary heart of hearts, I really feel like she’s taking part in an extended sport.”
What’s been eye-opening for Nicholson is the response to her function as Sinatra, particularly in comparison with what folks say after seeing her on Hacks.
“I get lots of people smiling at me and telling me they hate me,” she says of Sinatra, whereas “I’ve folks calling me Dance Mother as I’m strolling down the road, so it brings me numerous pleasure.”
And spoiler alert! Dance Mother really has a reputation. It’s Mary Alice, which Jimmy exclaims when he tries to get up Nicholson’s character from an alcohol-induced stupor. (Yup, there’s extra to Dance Mother than meets the attention). However for the remainder of her quick however memorable time on the Max comedy, Nicholson was solely recognized by one identify.
“As I learn my strains, it stated, dance mother, dance mother, dance mother. On my trailer door, it stated Dance Mother,” recollects Nicholson. “On the decision sheet, it stated Dance Mother. If it was time for me to come back to set, they had been like, ‘prepared for Dance Mother.’”