The following interview for Backstage’s on-camera series The Slate was compiled in part by Backstage readers just like you! Follow us on Twitter (@Backstage) and Instagram (@backstagecast) to stay in the loop on upcoming interviews and to submit your questions.
Actor and comedian Michelle Buteau is back, and she is (more than) ready. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, Buteau is once again on the New York standup comedy scene, and is promoting her Critics Choice Award–winning standup special, “Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia.” As part of Backstage’s “The Slate” Instagram series, managing editor Benjamin Lindsay spoke with Buteau about her return to the standup circuit, raising twins in the middle of a pandemic, her latest acting and hosting gigs (including “The First Wives Club” and “The Circle”), and where her career is going next.
Over the last year, Buteau has had to juggle raising twins and writing comedy at the same time.
“If you want something done, give it to a busy person. Now these littles are in my life and I have to do the diapers and the manners and the curly hair—two heads of curly hair, in this weather, in this economy? I’ve been doing comedy since 2001, for however old Taylor Swift is, so it’s nice I can compartmentalize creativity.”
Performing comedy has given Buteau more confidence in herself.
“Comedy has helped me as a Black woman speak up for myself and not apologize right after, whether it’s more money or more ketchup at a diner. It helped me stand in my truth and my power. I didn’t even realize how therapeutic comedy is for me until the pandemic, I just missed hearing people laugh. Feeling that laughter on your face is delicious. It’s also helped me become a better person and learn to listen more.”
How To Get Cast on ‘The Circle’ Buteau didn’t originally start out in front of the camera or on the stage.
“I started out going to college for TV production. I had a professor tell me I was too fat to be on camera and I believed him because I was 18 and didn’t know better, so I veered into TV production because I always loved being creative that way and I didn’t want every day to feel the same. As I was producing basic talent, I was like, ‘Why am I telling them how to have a personality?’ Everyone kept telling me I should go into standup, and I was like, ‘They look broke and sad, I’m not sad and I like money!’ I started standup and did it the way I wanted it to look. I did my thing and realized it made me happy and I could make money.”
Buteau’s best advice for young actors is to keep working and just get something done.
“It seems really overwhelming and I know what that’s like because when I was at my heaviest I wanted to lose weight and didn’t know where to start. My friend said, ‘Just go walk,’ and I was like, ‘Right!’ If you just don’t want to sell the pilot, just write five sentences. Show your work to people. Look at all these basic mofos just selling stuff, they don’t even think of anything creative! It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be done.”
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