Photos Martin Rusch | Words Tamara Rappa

Story + Rain sat down with comedy's It-Girl to hear all about one in several prominent projects that make this year a big one for Ayden Mayeri. The Bay Area native kept us captivated in Vanessa Bayer's hilarious home shopping spoof for Showtime, I Love That For You and continues to corral funny-cool characters into an impressive body of work that's building at what seems like break-neck speed. Always memorable, catch her comedic artistry and Ayden acting her ass off in The After Party opposite Tiffany Haddish, and in films Confess, Fletch opposite Jon Hamm. and in Somebody That I Used To Know and Spin Me Round with pal and Story + Rain cover star, Alison Brie. Then there are her recent roles in Cora Bora opposite Meg Stalter, in Paul Feig's action-comedy Jackpot, and, last but not least, in Happy Endings' David Caspe and actor Adam Pally's Mr. Throwback, the mockmentary comedy series for Peacock that's major, starring one Steph Curry as himself. Ayden talks collab'ing to couple with Adam, how she creates such distinctive comedic characters, yearning to be in touch with her younger self, the thrill of thrifting, and more.

You've played a number of characters that are distinctly humorous. What is your process like for being funny, yet creating characters who are distinctive? When I approach a character, really try to find something in myself that I can make part of them. I feel like with most people I play, especially villains, underneath it all is typically insecurity, and it's usually something relatable to me. That's often my way in. Then, at the end of the day, I think, how can I have fun doing this? If I'm having fun, ideally, it will come across. And those are usually the parts I end up booking. The ones I don't love and truly have fun with, don't go my way. Sam weirdly feels the closest to me of any character I've played, even though she does some insane things that I wouldn't do in my real life. She's such a full person. Usually the wife is someone who's scolding the husband, or she's the more responsible one. Although Sam is that, she cares about her daughter, she wants to be responsible, but she's still herself. Most of my friends who are parents are still themselves. They're still funny or sarcastic or messy or have dreams. I just love that that I could just bring that version of a mom and wife---someone I recognize---to her.

What was it specifically that appealed to you about Sam? Sam has a lot of chutzpah. She talks back and she has an opinion and she loves to have fun. She's always trying her best, even when she's flustered, tripping and saying the wrong thing. I'm rooting for her. She has a funny sense of humor that I don't often see in characters who are moms or wives on TV.

Adam Pally plays your husband, Danny Grossman, and many scenes across the series paint the picture of their love story.  How did Adam help you step into Sam? Oh my God. [Laughs]. From the second I met Adam, I was like, I love him. He---and us as a couple---felt familiar to me. We fell into this familiar banter where he was being a ridiculous person. I both went there with him, and then was trying to resist going there with him---because he can be so wild. I think that's why Sam loves him so much. Danny brings out such a fun, playful, mischievous side of her. But, especially since they got together when they were so young, it led to some dangerous, toxic dynamics, which at the end of the day she felt to be ultimately unhealthy. He's not getting his shit together, but they do have fun together. Adam truly is the most fun person to do a scene with. He is pure fun and always made me feel like he had my back, no matter what. If we were going off the rails with improv or getting really emotional, he's so present. Our relationship naturally evolved, between being present with one another and also playing with each other. This was the first time I'd met him, yet we have so many mutual friends.

In such a caper comedy with far-flung themes, how did you keep Sam relatable?  It's tricky, because you want go bonkers and lean into how funny it all is. If [the audience] doesn't believe what we're doing or cares about us emotionally, it won't resonate.. Coming from comedy and improv...you always want to say the funniest thing possible. If you're doing a sketch, you want to say it as funny as you can. With acting and with something like this, you have to say, okay, the goal is not just to be as funny as possible...this has to feel as real as possible as well. I made sure I meant what I said; felt like I understood why I would do a thing or say a thing...not just just say the craziest thing I could think of. It's about being present with each person and really responding to what was happening in that moment, aside from the words.

Where do we find Sam in terms of her relationship with Danny at the beginning, and then at the end of season one?  When we meet Sam and Danny they are relatively recently divorced, consciously uncoupled, but they've figured out a rhythm and how to make it work respectfully. But there's tension there and resentment, and some longing for it working or being different. As much as it's officially over, it still feels sad. They haven't completely moved on with their lives. During the arc of the series, they reengage, and they start to remember why they loved each other and also why they love being around one another. They're a kind of Bonnie and Clyde. Then it starts to feel scary because it brings up all the reasons why they shouldn't be together. Together, they make bad decisions. Sam gets clarity; she can't do this again because she gets wrapped up in his world, it feels a bit like a sinking ship, and then she's losing herself. She has to make the right decision, the healthy decision, which is to be with someone like Dr. Josh. [Laughs]. Dr Josh makes me laugh so much. Dr. Josh is her trying to prioritize making a healthier decision this time.  Simultaneously, we see Danny actually take accountability for things and make better decisions in his life, putting his family first. It's the first time she's ever seen him do that. Though she's trying to draw this hard line in the sand, there's suddenly the question that maybe he could change, maybe it could be different. By the end, she's more confused now than ever.

How did you find the Steph Curry-reality aspect to be, during filming? That's a good question because it did affect things. I'm from the Bay Area, so Steph Curry is our boy. He is a real figure who's made an impact on me in life. The series is a mockumentary meant to feel like we're shooting a documentary. It helped ground us in this reality where we're talking about a real person we all know and can reference, and the rest of the world can, too. It made the show feel more real. If you're watching a sitcom or a TV show, there might be a made-up famous basketball player, but in this case, we really mean it when we say we're in the 'Stephaverse'. We literally are.

If you could create the ultimate role to play, who would that be? At this point in your career what does your heart desire? I've been creating a lot lately, which has been very cool and inspiring. I'm directing a documentary and just produced a short film, kind of as a proof of concept for a future feature. I'm also writing another feature with a partner. It's been really fulfilling. When you're younger, you think, 'I have great ideas.' Then you get older and you're like, 'Wait, maybe I don't know what I'm doing.' I feel like I've gotten back in touch with my younger self, the part of me that believes that I have good ideas, and it's time to try.