International celeb - Mindy Kaling
One could say that MINDY KALING, 39, has quite a juggling act with new motherhood, and numerous television and film projects. But she is not complaining at all.
Mindy cares deeply about her new daughter, her television and film work, best-selling books, and helping to promote diversity in Hollywood. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, she says she’s appreciative of all of these opportunities. Currently, the 39-yearold powerhouse, who is charming, funny and down-to-earth, is the cocreator, writer and producer on a new American television comedy, Champions.
While juggling this new show, and mothering her adorable three-monthold daughter, Katherine, she is thrilled to talk about her latest movie, A Wrinkle in Time, co-starring new pals Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine.
She is known for her work in the US sitcom, The Office. In addition to directing, producing and portraying celebrity-obsessed Kelly Kapoor, Mindy wrote 18 episodes of the series, including an Emmy-nominated episode. She was the first woman of colour nominated for an Emmy in writing. The writer-cum-actress also created, wrote and produced her show, The Mindy Project. Her film credits include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, No Strings Attached, The Five-Year Engagement, This Is the End, and The Night Before. Mindy has additionally lent her voice to the blockbuster animated comedies Despicable Me and Wreck-It Ralph, as well as the Oscar-winning Pixar film Inside Out. Currently, she is starring in Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, alongside Oprah and Reese, and will also be a part of the star-studded cast for Ocean’s Eight, alongside Helena Bonham Carter, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Rihanna. Ocean’s Eight is a heist comedy, which is an all-female version of Ocean’s Eleven. Criminal mastermind Debbie Ocean and seven
other female thieves try to pull off the heist of the century at New York’s annual Met Gala.
In addition to her work on film and television, Mindy has written two New York Times best-selling memoirs, titled Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? (And Other Concerns) and Why Not Me?
Clearly, the 39-year-old has her plate full, but her fans are not complaining. We catch up with the TV star to find out how she does it all. You have been extremely busy. Now, first of all, how is new motherhood? Wonderful. Fun. Happy. Delicious. It couldn’t be better. Do you have an obsession involved with her? Taking photos to capture every moment and every gesture! Mindy, how are you feeling right now, being one of the actors in A Wrinkle in Time? It’s absolutely incredible. I can’t believe that I was selected to do this. It’s such an honour to act with all these incredible actors. You are no slouch when it comes to acting. Thank you, but I’m a sitcom actress and Ava (DuVernay, the director) saw something in me and we actually met at a party. It was a party for Malala ( Yousafzai). And Ava, Malala and I were the only three women of colour at this big party. Wow. So, what happened? Well, after I finished talking to Malala, who was seated to my left, I was like, “I really want to talk to Ava.” And after I finished talking to her, we had a great conversation and I thought, “You know what, our genres are so different, we’ll never cross paths.” And then this happened. So, I feel so blessed to be part of it. I heard that you, Reese and Oprah had a great time. Oh, yes. And to wake up every morning and spend four hours in the makeup trailer with Oprah and Reese was great. Reese was our disc jockey, playing music for us, while Oprah, we later learned, prefers her time in the make-up trailer to be quiet and serene. But, somehow, we worked it all out. Did Reese, who is a mother of three, give you any parenting advice? Yes, as a matter of fact she told me how to take my daughter’s car seat on an airplane – that was helpful. What was a childhood fantasy that you acted out as an adult? Well, I loved science fiction and fantasy growing up, but it was a genre that largely did not love me back. I never saw any representation of a darkskinned Indian woman, Indian girl, anybody, in anything that I saw. And it’s a really peculiar thing when you grow up loving something that shows you no love back. It’s such a pure love, because you’re not getting anything from it. So, this must feel like a victory for you, like breaking down a barrier? Yes! I broke out in TV, which is so welcoming to me, and comedy, which is so welcoming as well. To be part of this movie and to be on a green screen stage in harnesses because you’re doing a science fiction fantasy movie... so much fun because I finally feel welcomed with open arms to something that has ignored me completely. How does it feel looking back? It is so profound and I think if that can be something that the miniature version of me could watch and be excited by, I think that’s such a huge thing, and so very exciting. It still continues to excite me. Tell us about your new sitcom, Champions. The show is about something you don’t see on TV very often – a young gay teen coming out, and it feels like it is new. And does it feel like it’s breaking down more barriers? Sure, I agree with that. Why did you want to tell this story? I love writing characters who are completely comfortable in their own skin and are defiant, and that they also love New York City. What else? What was also really appealing to me was to write a young, male gay character and have his being gay not be something that was part of his narrative on the show. I wanted to help push that forward with showing him being out and loud and proud, particularly because he’s Indian. He’s someone to root for and someone we haven’t seen on TV yet. Do you feel there are similarities with The Mindy Project? Yes, if you enjoyed The Mindy Project. I would say that Champions has some of the same tone with a new group of wonderful, funny actors.