ACTRESS AND ‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ STAR
ON WHY SHE WAS SO MADE UP TO BE THE LEADING LADY OF ‘PALM ROYALE’
Her fans have come to know her through her madcap comedy, but in new TV drama Palm Royale, Kristen Wiig changes genre completely to play a glamorous high-society woman in 1960s America.
The 50-year-old actress and comedienne, who first found fame on the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL), fully immersed herself in her character and totally relished transforming her look into that of the icy blonde Palm Beach country club social climber Maxine Simmons.
HAIR-RAISING ROLE
“I loved it,” she says. “I think we all loved it. We had such an amazing hair and make-up team and wardrobe people. Every day was an adventure in being transformed and then to see everyone else step out in whatever look they had for that day.
“I can’t take credit for the blonde hair – that was a really fabulous wig. I loved that wig! But the whole look with the hair, wardrobe and everything else took a couple of hours each day, which is pretty good. The only part I struggled with was the spray tan. Six and a half months of spray tans was pretty tough going.”
Kristen also got to work with one of her own comedy heroes: Carol Burnett, who plays Norma Dellacorte, a relative of Maxine.
“She was always making us laugh. She can sleep and still be funny. Carol Burnett is someone I have admired my whole life, so to work with her on this was just a dream come true.
“It’s always kind of nerve-racking when you work with or even meet your heroes, but Carol lived up to expectations and more. She’s so lovely, so much fun and so incredibly talented. I think we just got very, very lucky and she’s just incredible in the show.”
LEADING LADY
In Palm Royale, former beauty pageant queen Maxine tries to befriend the high-society women at an exclusive beach club, but does not receive a warm welcome.
“It’s full of comedy, mystery, 1960s glamour and it’s wonderful to look at. It’s a really fun ride,” Kristen says.
Playing Maxine was “so much fun”, she adds. “She’s a character that I think you instantly fall in love with. I did and I really think the audience will. You want her to succeed. She’s positive, she’s determined, she’s sweet and you really do root for her in this environment.”
While California-based Kristen, who has fouryear-old twins with h
