When you see 22 Jump Street, you will likely have a lot of favorite moments. But the film's most compelling bits come in the form of Jillian Bell, who plays a snarky college student named Mercedes (to reveal more would spoil the plot). Anyone who tunes in to Workaholics is familiar with Bell's deadpan humor as office employee Jillian Belk. But for those who are just learning that she should be your favorite up-and-coming comedian, the most important thing to know is that Bell and writing partner Charlotte Newhouse got their hilarious web series, Idiotsitter, picked up by Comedy Central last week. And soon Bell will be everywhere: The duo recently sold a film script to MGM and Bell just finished shooting Goosebumps with Jack Black for release next year. We called Bell the day after the 22 Jump Street premiere to discuss how she got here and where she'll go next (hint: it involves getting Paul Thomas Anderson his coffee).

ESQUIRE.COM: I feel like I should start this interview by congratulating you on your web series being picked up by Comedy Central.

JILLIAN BELL: Thank you! My writing partner and I are so excited. We keep saying to each other, "Oh my gosh, this is happening. I can't believe it."

ESQ: Where did the concept for Idiotsitter come from?

JB: We keep trying to remember how it actually happened. We were trying to think of characters we'd love to play. I love playing idiots. I love very weird, confused women. The idea was "How could there be a situation where Charlotte could be taking care of me?" and then we came up with the idea of her being a babysitter and maybe I could be under house arrest. And it all sort of came together.

ESQ: How will the web series translate to an actual show?

JB: We'll start over. We're going to do an extended version of our first episode of the web series. And then just get into it. By the second episode we'll be in it. We'll see a little of that backstory, which will be similar, and then we'll go forward from there.

ESQ: What's the difference between appearing in someone else's project and something you conceived and wrote?

JB: When we did the web series it was the first time I'd ever shot anything I wrote with my writing partner. We had the best time ever. Every decision comes down to us. We were so happy because we have a vision for everything. We've very detail-oriented. It's exciting to do something you're writing. And it's also a lot easier to memorize because you wrote it.

ESQ: What was the first thing you ever appeared in onscreen?

JB: There was this show called Worst Week and I played a veterinarian's assistant. I walked in on a naked man who was waiting for his wife and I screamed and I ran out. That was my first thing. What's crazy is the second thing I did ever was guest star on Curb Your Enthusiasm. It was a big leap. That was the craziest thing that's probably ever happened to me.

ESQ: Were you at all scared to go into a room with Larry David?

JB: Well, here's the thing: I went to that audition and there were a bunch of girls and everybody was very nervous in the waiting room. I didn't know why. It was just another audition. And then right before I went in I heard Larry David's voice and I realized everyone was nervous because he was in the room. I had this brief moment where I thought "I can either be very, very nervous and mess up this opportunity, or I can pretend to be as confident as possible just calling Larry David by his first name." I decided to go that route and it actually worked.

ESQ: I'm picturing you saying "Larry" twice in every sentence.

JB: Every sentence was literally like "Larry, what are you talking about, Larry?" I just said it too much. I don't know how they didn't catch on that I was faking self-confidence.

ESQ: Have you always known that comedy was your thing?

JB: I always knew I wanted to do comedy. I like making people laugh. I started out young just making my family laugh and trying to make kids laugh in school and getting into plays. I think it's the only thing I know how to do so hopefully it works out. Hopefully I don't get fired from everything and have to get a job doing retail again because I was pretty terrible at it.

ESQ: How did you end up on Workaholics?

I always want to play a weird girl.

JB: I'd known those boys for a few years before Workaholics started. I met them auditioning for a sketch group we were all part of for National Lampoon. They were hired as a group and I was hired as an individual performer and I got to know them. They're the best guys. When they got the opportunity to do a pilot for Comedy Central, they asked me if I wanted to play a weird girl. And I basically said, "Always. I always want to play a weird girl."

ESQ: So the role of Jillian was written for you?

JB: Yes, it was. I'm very lucky. And it's my same name! I guess when people play characters on other shows they get a lot of people shouting out the character's name, but when people say "Jillian" I'm not sure if I actually know them or if they know me from Workaholics. I've gone to hug a few people before and they're like "Oh, you don't know me."

ESQ: What's your favorite scene you've done on Workaholics?

JB: The whole episode where I took over the office. Where Alice quit and then came back at the end. I think that's the most fun I ever had doing an episode. I got to be in a onesie the whole episode. And I actually got to keep the onesie! So life is good. I'm just walking around in a onesie constantly in my house.

ESQ: I love it any time Jillian screams at someone.

JB: It comes out once in a while. If ever the boys are in trouble, if anyone's putting them down, she comes to the rescue, which is what I love about that character. I like that she's sort of meek and quiet and weird and socially awkward, and then when it comes to defending her friends she is a total nutjob. That's how it should be.

Jillian Bell in 22 Jump Street.

ESQ: Has the show taught you anything you've taken to other jobs?

JB: I've been very lucky to work with people I think are funny and who are really awesome human beings. Going from that to 22 Jump Street was a very similar transition. It was an easy transition. Channing and Jonah and everyone were so welcoming and they loved any weird thing that would come out of anybody's mouth.

ESQ: Was much of 22 Jump Street improvised?

JB: The script was already wonderful. At the table reading we were cracking up. We ended up improvising a ton and they kept a lot of it. In the fight scene Jonah and I have we improvised a lot of stuff that made it in.

ESQ: Let's talk about that fight scene.

JB: It was a blast! I had never done any sort of fight scene before. The stuntwoman I had taught me how to throw a punch and take a punch. I'm clearly the woman who's never been in a fistfight before so this is the only way I will ever experience that. And it was with Jonah Hill.

ESQ: That's a pretty good claim to fame.

JB: That's a pretty good first fight for me!

ESQ: We obviously can't give too much away but what drew you to this character in 22 Jump Street?

JB: I've just never played a mean girl. When I got to audition for it, I was like, "This would be so different from everything I play and so much fun." Also, when 21 Jump Street came out, I saw it twice in the theaters. I loved it so much. So getting to audition for anything was exciting for me, but then getting to audition for the part I eventually got, I feel very lucky. It's a fun part for a woman to get to play.

ESQ: What was your favorite scene to shoot on that one?

JB: The fight scene was pretty amazing to do. But we also had a scene in the movie that didn't make it. It was the first thing I ever shot where I was supposed to tell them to be quiet in the library — they actually used it in some of the trailers. We ended up improvising for 30 to 45 minutes, coming up with a million different ways to insult each other with me and Jonah and Channing. It was the first time I realized that [the directors] were going to let us do whatever we wanted and it was going to be a really fun experience.

ESQ: Are Channing and Jonah actually good friends?

JB: Yeah! They are and you can tell when you watch the movie. Their chemistry is just incredible. There's also so much heart in this movie and it really comes across because you can tell they are friends in real life. They do care about each other.

ESQ: I kind of can't believe how funny Channing is.

JB: Oh my gosh. He's so funny in this movie. I was laughing so hard. He should do comedy all the time.

ESQ: Maybe there's a role on Idiotsitter for him?

JB: I actually really want him on Idiotsitter. That's something I asked him about last night [at the premiere]. So we'll see...

ESQ: How would you describe your overall comedic sensibility?

JB: Whatever works I go with. I'll read a role and say, "What's funny about this character?" But I think it's the possibility of doing more improv in roles, which is huge right now. A lot of people are making that a priority when they hire actors these days, that they know how to improvise on set. These actors like Danny McBride and Jonah Hill are so good at improvising, and when they do it, it's this fun moment for the audience. It makes them feel like they're watching something fresh and new. People are looking for that now. They want that in more movies and TV shows, and that's something I love to do. I really learned how to improvise at the Groundlings. It's something I've always loved to do. For some reason it feels more honest at times.

ESQ: Would you ever translate those skills to dramatic roles?

JB: For right now I'm going to do a lot of comedy, which is great because I love it. But I would eventually like to do something dramatic. I had a very small part on The Master with Paul Thomas Anderson and just getting to watch Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix do what they do is amazing. That is something I would eventually love to do, yeah.

ESQ: What's it like working with Paul Thomas Anderson?

JB: He's a genius. It's interesting to me that he likes comedians. I mean, he married a comedian, Maya Rudolph, so I guess it shouldn't surprise me. But the way he works — I've never worked with anyone who's like him. He's so confident but cool. It's incredible to watch him.

ESQ: And you'll be in his next movie, Inherent Vice, right?

JB: I have a very small part. Paul was like, "Hey, can you do me a favor and be in this?" I was like, "Are you kidding? I'll literally get coffee for you. How do you take your coffee?"

ESQ: Now that we've summed up your entire career, is there anything you want to add?

JB: I feel like people will run out and watch 22 Jump Street because it's so much fun, but when Idiotsitter comes out, please watch it. We're so excited to be doing it. That sounds like a very sad, desperate quote.

ESQ: I mean, you said "please."

JB: Put in there that I was very nice. I was very polite.

Emily Zemler Emily Zemler is a freelance writer based in London.

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