MAMACITA KNOWS BEST
Jackie Hoffman keeps Joan Crawford in line on ‘Feud’
OF all the monumental performances in FX’s new series “Feud: Bette and Joan,” none marries desperation with exasperation quite like Jackie Hoffman’s Mamacita, Joan Crawford’s (Jessica Lange) stoic Teutonic housekeeper and babysitter. Serving her mistress’ every whim with the occasional roll of the eyes and shrug of the shoulders, the unsmiling Mamacita serves as the show’s unlikely moral compass and unexpected bigpicture thinker. It’s a plum role for the 56-year-old Hoffman, a veteran New York comedienne, stage, television and film actress who first rose to prominence as the zany sidekick to Jennifer Westfeldt in the iconic 2001 comedy “Kissing Jessica Stein.” Back in Gotham after “Feud’s” LA shoot, Hoffman talked to The Post about her newfound notoriety, working with Oscar winner Jessica Lange and why “Feud” is proudly a feminist statement.
This is such a great role for you. How did you get the part?
I’d worked with Ryan Murphy previously on [the 2012 NBC series] “The New Normal” and he called me in to read. It was all very secretive; I didn’t even know the character’s name — just that she was a “generic German maid,” nothing unusual. But [I] ended up [being cast] as Mamacita. And that’s when my head exploded.
How familiar were you with the history of Joan and Bette’s relationship before shooting?
Well, I’m deep in gay circles, so I was pretty familiar with all things Bette and Joan. There wasn’t much out there about Mamacita herself; but I dug deep and researched and found out she had nine kids — and her last name was Hoffman, spelled the Jewish way — just like mine!
One of Mamacita’s best moments occurs in Episode 3 when she tells a despondent Crawford: “Women outlive men, children leave, get used to it.” Was that part of the script, or did you make it up?
It’s a great line and was part of the script — it was even one of my audition lines. I don’t have children and got married [to Steven Smyth] at age 47, so it hasn’t exactly been my personal experience. But I mostly agree with her — Mamacita always speaks the truth. So now that you’re a TV star, are you getting stopped more often at Starbucks?Starb FolksFol are definitely coming out of the woodwork,woo although, sadly, Spielberg hasn’tha called yet.
SoS what can you tell us about JessicaJe Lange? Give us the dirt.
I can tell you she’s this very cool, naturena kind of chick who loves animalsani and the outdoors. But she also was part of Warhol’s Factory, lived with BBaryshnikov and studied mime in Paris. She’s had one of these lives that you barely scratch the surface of — she was intimidating but incredibly cool.
The “Feud” shoot lasted for five months out in LA. Did you dig it out there?
Well, I love the climate but I don’t drive so Uber was my life-saver. I did enjoy it there and even had moments where I could have seen myself living in LA, but ultimately I am too quake-nervous; and leaving NYC would probably send my mother to her grave.
“Feud” spills the beans, you might say, on the rampant sexism of Hollywood’s golden age. Have things changed much since then?
Davis and Crawford were notable in that they said “F-you” to the studio system; they strived for power any way they could. So sure things have changed — but there is still a long way to go.
“Feud” is a certifiable hit, but do you think Donald Trump is tuning in?
Probably not. That p--- y is too old for the president.