PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: "Nurse Jackie" and The Illusion Star Merritt Wever | Playbill

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News PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: "Nurse Jackie" and The Illusion Star Merritt Wever Stage and screen actress Merritt Wever, currently appearing in Tony Kushner's The Illusion at the Signature Theatre Company, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.

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Merritt Wever

Wever has appeared Off-Broadway in Brooke Berman's Smashing and Kate Moira Ryan's Cavedweller.

Screen work includes "Signs," "The Wire," "Michael Clayton," "Law & Order," "Into the Wild," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "The Messenger." She currently co-stars as student nurse Zoey Barkow on the hit Showtime series "Nurse Jackie."

Wever will next be seen in Bess Wohl’s Touch(ed) at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, playing August 3-14.



Full given name: Merritt Carmen Wever
Where you were born/where you were raised: Born and raised in Manhattan
Zodiac Sign: Leo
What your parents did/do for a living: My mom worked for the city as a caseworker/civil service manager. A single mother by choice.
Current audition song/monologue: I am without. I tend to just go in and wow writers with my improvisational improvements on their insignificant "words."
Special skills: Shame
Mulling it over
Amateur Slavic folk dance
Something you're REALLY bad at: Choosing favorites


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First Broadway show you ever saw: I'm Not Rappaport
If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be? Something with Geraldine Page
Recent show you have been recommending to friends: Tony Kushner's Intelligent Homosexual's Guide...
The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: Specifically, Cherry Jones' entrance as an old woman at the top of Pride's Crossing
Music that makes you cry, any genre: Much of Bob Dylan and Nina Simone. Much of music in general.
MAC or PC? MAC
Most played song on your iPod: I looked and it's a song I've never even heard. So now I know that someone is sneaking into my room at night and listening to Animal Collective while watching me sleep. That's so f***ed up.
Most-visited websites: Gmail
Last book you read: "Collected Lyrics of Edna St. Vincent Millay"
Must-see TV shows: "Parks and Recreation"
A film you consider a classic: "A Woman Under The Influence"
Performer you would drop everything to go see: A friend
Pop culture guilty pleasure: I'd like to fit texting into this category.
Three favorite cities: Prague, NYC, and hopefully somewhere I haven't been yet
First CD/Tape/LP you owned: Raffi, probably. But I think the answer you're really looking for is Paula Abdul's "Forever Your Girl."
Your personal acting idols or role models: I'm wary of having idols or role models. But Gena Rowlands in the John Cassavetes films was a big discovery.
First stage kiss: Lucas Papaelias in Brooke Berman's Smashing
Favorite or most memorable onstage role as a child/teenager: Being a member of the children's chorus at The Metropolitan Opera
How you got your Equity card: Cavedweller by Kate Moira Ryan at New York Theatre Workshop
Favorite liquid refreshments: Water, caffeine, beer
Worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap: I was supposed to stab someone but forgot to bring on the knife. I think I just looked at my partner apologetically, balled up my fist and grinded it into his abdomen while growling "Erggggg, I'm stabbing you!"
Who would play you in the movie? Fetch me a lass who looks like Sam Kinison and feels like Woody Allen.
Something about you that surprises people: Contrary to my conduct, I was not emotionally abused as a child.
Something you're incredibly proud of: Paying my rent as a working actor
Something you're embarrassed to admit: I'm a 3-to-5 trick pony.
Career you would want if not a performer: Something in the non-profit realm
Three things you can't live without: No more specificity for you! "Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread but give us roses."
"I'll never understand why..." ... I willingly participate in a job that often feels like being in the stocks.
Words of wisdom for aspiring performers? Oh honeys, my deepest condolences.

 
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