- Title: FILM-SARAH SILVERMAN The comedienne gets serious in new role
- Date: 21st October 2015
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 19, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, SARAH SILVERMAN, SAYING: "I can't speak for all comedians but I do think we share the same bones - comedy and drama - it's not a new conceit that there's a fine line between them and I think comedians in general tend to come from a dark place. The reason that most comedians become funny is that survival skill, to be able to survive childhood, to be able to get through difficult times."
- Embargoed: 5th November 2015 12:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA31BZUJXA4Y2RF65JJ6HL1HILH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Within minutes of 'I Smile Back' starting, it becomes apparent that Sarah Silverman, for once, isn't joking around.
Instead the comedienne plays a frustrated housewife with a history of mental illness trying to make herself happier with drugs, alcohol and illicit sex.
Silverman has already been highly praised for her performance in the film, which came quite naturally, according to the comedienne-turned-actress.
"I can't speak for all comedians but I do think we share the same bones - comedy and drama - it's not a new conceit that there's a fine line between them and I think comedians in general tend to come from a dark place. The reason that most comedians become funny is that survival skill, to be able to survive childhood, to be able to get through difficult times," she said.
Although she knew it was going to be a tough job, Silverman believed she was going to have fun on the set. However, the reality was very different.
"I wasn't my best self all the time because I had all these emotions just kind of here," she said holding out her arms like she was carrying logs. "I felt like a toddler that didn't know what to do with their feelings sometimes but it was really exhilarating and it's something I'm so glad I didn't know it wouldn't be fun because I definitely would have tried to weasel out of it and I'm so glad I did it. It was an amazing experience for me."
'I Smile Back' has received mixed reviews from critics since it was first shown back in Sundance in January. Silverman admits that the film is not going to be to everyone's taste considering its bleak subject matter.
"Definitely whatever you think of it, it's a conversation," she explained. "You walk out of there talking to your friends about mental illness, about depression, about what deserves empathy, what deserves sympathy. You might walk away just having nothing but disdain for this woman. People have harder childhoods than she had and persevere with them with aplomb but it's not a competition. But this woman, life is hard for her."
After the shoot, life was hard for Silverman too. "I can't believe I'm saying this because I used to roll my eyes when actors would say it but it stayed with me, it stayed with me like a low grade flu for a few weeks and then I was better," she said.
'I Smile Back' is released in the US on October 23. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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