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You were performing inMean Girlsright up until Broadway shut down in March 2020.
I think you should start auditioning for TV and film.
When you were auditioning, did you imagine you would eventually go back toMean Girls?
It wasnt announced that the musical wouldnt returnuntil this January.I had no idea.
I was an emotional wreck.
I didnt realize the emotional gravity it had on me.
It really shaped me.
That was helpful because I am still technically college-age and, I guess, still in college.
A lot of these things were talking about onCollege GirlsIm experiencing in real time.
A big part of Leightons arc is her figuring out her sexuality.
It was like vomiting out my deepest, darkest fears about my own internalized homophobia.
It made for some very emotional days.
So a lot of those Leighton lines with her saying things like I just want to be me.
How would you prefer to identify your sexuality?I usually just use the termqueer.
And then Ill come back and be like, No, Im this.
Its a queer, evolving story.
But I feel very able to openly explore that part of myself in the conduit of a comedy series.
I can still laugh about my trauma.
Like, that sucks, but its funny in the way we deliver it!
You said you were technically in college.
Are you in a program?Im not.
Ive never been one to thrive in structural education controls.
I decided college was not the best fit for me when I was 18.
That does make me envy the college experience.
I want to, like, rage!
And I never did that because I started working atMean Girlsand the pandemic hit and now were here.
So Im ready to rage if anybody wants to.
A lot of the show depends on you and your co-stars having a realistic roommate dynamic.
When did you all meet?We met over Zoom in October 2020.
We finally got together in person that December.
We were in masks, six feet apart, in this hotel in Burbank where we were staying.
It was really jarring!
The only time we spent together was on set.
It was very special.
I knew then that these people were good friends.
Youve obviously sung a lot professionally.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
