Award-winning theater actress Meagen Fay never saw the role of a “Supernatural” Wood Nymph in her future, until the opportunity came along to be part of one of the final episodes of the show’s 15-year run. People will recognize her from “Agent Carter,” “Grace and Frankie,” “La La Land,” and especially as Bernadette Rostenkowski’s mother in “The Big Bang Theory.”
A former member of Chicago Second City, this Joliet, IL born actress started off in classical theater and even studied in Dublin, Ireland. Two years ago she directed a play called KUNSTLER about the activist lawyer, William Kunstler who was an important part of the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s.
Read all about the hilarious experience on the set of tonight’s ‘Last Holiday.’
Colleen Bement: Let’s dive in with your guest role in tonight’s highly anticipated “Supernatural” episode. What are you allowed to share about your experience on the set, and, did you ever think you would play a Wood Nymph in your career?
Meagen Fay: I can’t talk about what happens in the episode but I can say that I have rarely had as much
fun on a set as did on “Supernatural.” Jared and Jensen are hilarious. Alexander too. The entire production company is hilarious: The writers, the director, the grips, the camera crew, makeup and hair, wardrobe department, stuntmen, special effects, craft service … everybody -hilarious! They’ve all been working together for so long that the constant, joking, banter between them (some of which cannot be repeated in polite company) is infectious. At first, I wondered how anything would ever get shot if we’re all just falling around laughing every five minutes. But it does get shot and very efficiently. So as silly as they all are – and they are all exuberantly silly – they are very talented professionals and I truly enjoyed working with every single one of them.
“Wood Nymph” as my character description was a first for me … but as the saying goes, “When in Rome…” Or in this case, “When in Lebanon, Kansas…” It was a really fun character with a lot of levels so I had a great time — and I can finally check “Wood Nymph” off my “todo” list.
CB: Have you had the chance to watch “Supernatural?”
MF: I don’t think I was ever the target audience for “Supernatural” but I was certainly aware of the
show. My nieces and nephews are big fans – as well as many of my friends for whom it seems
to have become their go-to escape. But I do watch it now! Not that the show needs my review
at this point but – it’s really good! It’s very complex and engaging – and I find myself getting
terribly concerned for Sam and Dean … I mean, it just never stops for them!
CB: Your filmography is rather jaw-dropping with so many roles on TV and film. I see that you started off on the stage earning multiple awards. Do you miss the stage? Do you get the chance to perform in the theater often?
MF: Yes, I did I start out in theater. I studied classical theater abroad and served my apprenticeship in Ireland before coming back to the States. I really never considered going into Film or TV. It just sort of happened. I came to The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles with the New York production of Joe Orton’s LOOT. There were only 5 of us in the cast and we all thought it would just be a nice break from New York and we’d go back home after the run. But I got a series and woke up a few years later and thought – “Gosh, I seem to live in LA now.”
I’ve only been able to do a few plays since … at The Primary Stages in NYC, and here in LA at
The Geffen, The Old Globe, The Pasadena Playhouse. But it’s proven pretty difficult to schedule. I was a member of The Second City Resident Company in Chicago and there are a group of us Improvisors from that discipline here in LA – so we get together and do shows every couple of months – A.) To keep from getting rusty – and B.) Just to amuse ourselves.
We’re doing them online these days – which has been an interesting exercise. Film, TV, and live theater have been hard hit by COVID – as has the world. As our world recovers, I look forward to being able to share laughter and emotional connection with audiences again soon.
CB: “Grace and Frankie” happens to be one of my favorite shows on right now. What was that experience like filming those episodes?
MF: “Grace and Frankie” was a joy to work on. The writing is exceptional and to find myself sitting on set and just chit-chatting with Martin and Sam and Lily and Jane? I mean, come on! They’re all my heroes! And they are, in person, each of them, everything you would ever want a hero to be.
CB: With COVID taking over 2020 our lives seem so upside down. What have you done to stay sane through all this?
MF: I am happy to report that even though COVID has knocked the world sideways my husband and I are still married. After 27 years of marriage – and now months and months … and months …. of being quarantined together – It could have all gone terribly wrong. But here we still are happily palling around together – and thank goodness – healthy.
I wish I could report that I have learned several languages, or gotten a PhD, or something impressive during quarantine. I have painted several rooms in our house. I like painting and freshening things up. I always have. My husband says he thinks our rooms are getting incrementally smaller with all the painting I’ve been doing. But it keeps me busy.
I’ve done a lot of gardening as well – which is new for me as well as for the plants. And things are actually still alive! I’ve done some writing. And I walk.
We live in the Hollywood Hills so we’re all out walking the hills these days – a lot. Our little canyon is suddenly as crowded as the streets of Calcutta – and the neighborhood dogs are all very, very trim.
CB: Would you happen to have any projects in the works that you’re allowed to share with your fans?
MF: As I said LA TV and Film production pretty much shut down in mid-March. It’s just starting
the slow grind back to life now. 2 years ago I directed a play I’m very proud of called KUNSTLER. The play is about the activist lawyer, William Kunstler, who worked with the ACLU to defend Freedom Riders, consulted with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement in the 50’s and 60’s, and went on to defend the Chicago Seven, the Catonsville Nine, Attica, as well as the Central Park Five – to name a few of his more well known cases. Kunstler was a fascinating figure whose life story and legal perspective on human rights speaks eloquently and directly to what is happening in our country right now. The play sold out in New York and then again at The Barrington Stages in Massachusetts. Since COVID hit we haven’t been able to move it forward on stage – but we were invited to record it for NPR to air before the election in November.
Written by Colleen Bement
