KITCHEN CONFIDANTES
TIFFANY HADDISH, MELISSA MCCARTHY AND ELISABETH MOSS REVEAL HOW THEIR NEW FILM LAUNCHED A FRIENDSHIP
In their new movie The Kitchen (out now), Tiffany Haddish, 39, Melissa McCarthy, 49, and Elisabeth Moss, 37, play tough-talking Mob wives who gain control of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood in the 1970s after their husbands are sent to prison. Despite the cast’s comedic calibre, the gritty drama is a far cry from McCarthy’s and Haddish’s previous laugh-out-loud films, such as Girls Trip and Bridesmaids – though it’s less of a departure for Moss, known for acclaimed TV series The Handmaid’s Tale and Mad Men.
The women’s characters, Ruby, Kathy and Claire, often go to unthinkable lengths to stay alive (both killing their enemies and gruesomely disposing of their bodies), and the film tackles tough topics such as sexism, racism
and spousal abuse. But as with their previous projects, at the heart of the film is a message about female friendship.
“It’s a story of three women from different lives who live in the same neighbourhood with the same problem and come together to survive,” says Moss. Off screen, the stars formed an equally strong connection. “Working on a film is like summer camp,” says McCarthy. “It’s what I love most about making movies. There’s probably no other place where this congregation of people would happen. You get to really know them, and it becomes so personal so fast. I will always feel close to them.” Talking to WHO, the trio shared plenty of laughs as they discussed texting, drinking and bonding. “They are my best friends,” says Haddish. “We are sisters.” None of you had ever worked together. What were your first impressions of each other? McCARTHY Tiffany and I met for dinner in New York, and she ordered a drink and then next to the drink [she’d ordered] a big tumbler filled with every fruit available at the bar, like cherries and all the citruses. I was like, “How is that all going to go together?” And she just looked at me and said, “It makes it healthy.” Immediately I was like, “OK, we are going to be fine.” HADDISH I’m telling you, you just got to get your antioxidants in, that’s all.
MOSS I met them both on set for the first time. It was a very whirlwind experience for me. All of a sudden I’m not only meeting them, but I’m acting with them and doing a [New York] accent while in costume. It was a little bit frightening.
It took half a day for me to relax and feel comfortable and just sort of recognise that we’re all just weirdos. There’s no judgement, and everyone can just be their super weird selves.
This is definitely a departure from the comedies Melissa and Tiffany have done in the past. Is it challenging to switch genres and do such a serious and dark film? MOSS I’ll answer that one. Just kidding! McCARTHY There’s no difference for me. It’s the same prep, it’s the same thinking of, “Do I buy this story? Do I like this story?” You will get to walk in somebody else’s shoes. Will you be better for it at the end? It’s not like, “For comedies I do this, and for dramas I do that.” I think they both always, hopefully, overlap. If you find yourself somewhere in the messy middle, that’s the best.
When things got heavy or gruesome in the script, how did you guys lighten the mood off-camera?
MOSS We all got along so well. Everything was so comfortable. We had some great conversations. And we did some online shopping together.
HADDISH I got them all Groupon key chain Breathalysers, hello!
MOSS They are very handy.
McCARTHY Safety first!
You play 1970s Mob wives. Did you grow up watching Mafia movies?
MOSS I am a huge Sopranos fan. Edie Falco, I think is honestly God’s gift to acting. I was very inspired by her performance at a young age. McCARTHY I really do love Mafia movies. I love that chosen family and that kind of unreasonable loyalty. There’s big stakes because money gets involved and things get messy.
What was your favourite project of each other’s? Before this one, of course. HADDISH I’m a Handmaid’s Tale fan myself, and a Mad Men fan. By the way, Melissa, you know what I meant to tell you? I read an article about how you got watches for everyone on your crew for Mike & Molly.
McCARTHY I don’t think it was watches. HADDISH Was it bikes?
McCARTHY [Joking] I bought everyone homes. HADDISH Well, whatever it was, I read you gave something really awesome to the crew, and I thought, “Wow, that’s the type of person I want to work with.”
McCARTHY I’m going to get you a watch. What does this film say about the importance of female friendships?
MOSS It shows how strong women are when they band together and support each other. How much easier it is. And how much more powerful you can be when you don’t turn against each other.
HADDISH I just loved how the characters came together and worked for the same thing.
You formed a solid friendship on set. What’s the dynamic like, and have you stayed in touch since?
HADDISH I would describe it as fun and fantastic. We send text messages to each other. Well, I send a lot of messages. I was counting them the other day, and I was like, “I need to leave them alone.”
After such a fun time making the film, are you excited or nervous for audiences to see it? McCARTHY You work on these things so hard, and then you’re finally putting it out there. I mean, this is a little like the first day of school. You’re sending your kid out to be liked. You’re like, “Please like her.”
HADDISH We’ve created something together. It’s like we all made a baby.
McCARTHY That’s the headline: “They made a baby!”