by Gill Pringle
Hilarious, outgoing and always up for a party, New Yorker Brittany, 27, is everybody’s best friend – except maybe her own.
Inspired by a true story, Brittany Runs a Marathon stars Jillian Bell as a woman forced to reexamine her life after a visit to the doctor to score some Adderall, and which results in an unwelcome prescription for good health.
Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo, Bell echoed the eponymous heroine’s journey in everything but running a marathon – although she doesn’t rule it out.
We caught up with the actress best known for her roles in comedies 22 Jump Street, Rough Night and Office Christmas Party
What spoke to you about Brittany Runs a Marathon?
When this script came my way, it was different from a lot of things I’d been offered before. Most of the things that I’ve been lucky enough to get to do are broad comedic characters and usually I play a lot of weird women and I love that. But this character just felt very real and very layered and I’d never read anything like this before. It felt very real to my own life and I related. I was actually quite nervous about doing this because it was outside of my comfort zone and it meant that I had to be very vulnerable on the set. But after meeting [writer/director] Paul [Downs Colaizzo], I got really protective of the script and just really wanted to play her. I feel very lucky.
And you lost an epic 40lbs in the process even though it wasn’t required of you?
It really helped me connect to the character more and I understood where she was coming from. There were certain scenes which I instantly connected to and then other scenes where I didn’t understand why it was so difficult for her – until I had done it myself.
How did you actually lose the weight?
I did it in a very untraditional way. I ate healthy food and I exercised. Nowadays, people want to try fads and diets and instead I just ate very clean/a lot of proteins and veg and I worked out a lot and went on a lot of runs. I had the script for seven months before we began shooting so I wanted to do some of the physical journey on my own so I could see what mistakes I made and see if they were similar to Brittany‘s – and a lot of them were similar. And then I met up with a trainer two months before where I learned I had been wearing the wrong running shoes all along. I learned posture and breathing techniques which all helped me connect to Brittany’s journey.
Are you still running?
Well, I finally got a treadmill because running in the heat of summer in LA was too much. I would say that I really enjoy doing it although I don’t do it as much as when I was prepping for the film. But going for a run always makes me feel better – every time.
What other changes did the weight loss bring about?
I’d seen so many other movies about transformation, and I was one of those people who didn’t want to feel that change. But I also had that tiny bit at the back of my brain that said: What will that feel like? Would I feel great? But it actually came with a lot of different baggage. I got way more in my head and was constantly comparing myself to other people and where did I fall now? Was I as slim as that woman or was I bigger? I didn’t know where I was and, for me, it made me focus on a place that didn’t seem quite as healthy.
That’s surprising?
I know, but I think we should talk about it because for lot of people going through that, they experience a lot of different things other than what they might imagine they would. I loved this story because I felt like it really explored the fact that sometimes when you do something for yourself and there’s a physical transformation – that doesn’t mean that life is perfect. And I think a lot of films tell us that it is. This was the first script that I read that talked about something different and discussed weight in a different way than I’d ever seen before. It’s really not a movie about weight but we dive into certain aspects of that and how we can become obsessed with a number and attaining a certain number and how unhealthy that can be and how it should be about feeling good in your own skin, whether you don’t lose a pound or you gain weight or lose weight. Whatever it is – just naturally feeling really good with who you are.
Did you ever consider running a 5k or even a marathon for real?
I would like to now. I think even a 5k would be a huge achievement. I’ve never been to any of the races besides getting to witness some of the marathons – but I’ve never been a part of any of them so it would be really cool. I would love to do that.
What was it like growing up in Las Vegas which is such a party city for anyone who doesn’t actually live there? Do you go back home much?
I probably go back there a few times a year and stay with my good friend and her three boys. I guess it is a strange city to grow up in – you just take it for granted that there’s slot machines in your local grocery store and at the airport. We lived next door to circus performers. But that’s just part of Vegas life.
What has been your own biggest sense of achievement?
There’s been many things that made me feel I was on the right track and how lucky I am to be able to do what I do. 22 Jump Street was a big moment because my dad and I went to the movies every Sunday of his life so getting to take my family to the premiere of that was a big moment. And I had a really cool part in that film playing the villain. My parents have sat through a lot of my performances where I use all the curse words and all the gags, so this was a great one to take them to.
And biggest disappointment?
I was a writer at SNL for a year and was hoping to possibly be a performer – but if I had stayed longer I would have missed really big moments in my life. Not just career things but, for example, my father passed away during that time and I would have been gone for that had I got the performing job. I wouldn’t have been able to spend as much time with him as I did near the end of his life. Also – my German Shepherd mix, Valejo, is the love of my life – and I wouldn’t have gotten him if I hadn’t have done the film The Master. We shot in Valejo, California, so when we got back, I decided to adopt a dog and named him after the city. So, yes, disappointments are really hard in the moment, but I try and remember that good things sometimes come out of disappointments.
You and Channing Tatum have remained friends since 22 Jump Street – now you’re doing a remake of Splash together – only with Channing as the “merman”?
Yes. Someone is writing that script right now. It’s in good hands and I’m really excited to read it. I’m so excited to do something with Channing again. He’s such a normal down-to-earth guy – in an incredible movie star’s body. He’s such a sweet guy. I just want to keep on working with people who are really good human beings – like Channing.
Brittany Runs a Marathon is in cinemas October 31, 2019
