Jay Pharoah Talks Lola Versus and SNLBy Wilson Morales
June 7, 2012
Coming out on June 8 is new quirky comedy called ‘Lola Versus,’ which stars Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman, Zoe Lister-Jones, Hamish Linklater, Bill Pullman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jay Pharaoh, and Debra Winger.
Greta Gerwig plays Lola, a 29-year-old woman dumped by her longtime boyfriend Luke (Kinnaman) just three weeks before their wedding. With the help of her close friends Henry (Linklater) and Alice (Lister-Jones), Lola embarks on a series of desperate encounters in an attempt to find her place in the world as a single woman approaching 30.
For Pharoah, who’s known for the numerous celebrity impersonations he does as a member of NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live,’ the role gives him to opportunity to display another side of his acting skills, but on the big screen.
Blackfilm.com caught up with the Virginia native as he spoke about his role in the film and his first year on SNL.
What role do you play in ‘Lola Versus?’
Jay Pharoah: I play Lola’s friend Randy. I’m a bartender and I’m the only guy in the film who doesn’t have an encounter with her. That’s fine. Usually. It would be the other way around. In ‘Lola Versus 2,’ I’ll be up in that.
What was the attraction to doing the film?
JP: I just auditioned for it. It was a cool script and I got the part. At first, it was for another part in the film, but they went ahead with another actor. Darryl Wein, the director, really liked me so he looked out.
How was working with Greta?
JP: She’s great and fantastic. She has a way of making you feel sorry for her on camera and showing true emotion. I hope I can work with her again in the future.
How much of yourself did you add to the role?
JP: Nothing. When you see me on screen, it’s different. I’m not popping out impressions and stuff like that. I was cool and played it straight, but funny. Hopefully, that transits to the audience.
Do you have other projects lined up?
JP: I just did another film, ‘Get a Job’ and that’s coming out in 2013. I have a pretty significant part in that. The information is up on IMDB. Dylan Kidd directed it and I play a character named Skeezy D.
Any chance you will appear in ‘Scary Movie 5?’
JP: I was asked to do it, but we’ll just have to see. I don’t know what the future holds. I’m trying to do it all.
How was your time on SNL this year? Do you feel you had a lot to do?
JP: My thing is really coming. My thing was to integrate myself into the cast and getting stuff out, but I had some hits this year. From what I’ve been hinted, I’ll be ready to break out next season.
