Answers with Julie Lake

Answer 1

Your OITNB character Angie Rice was subtly introduced at the end of season 1 but becomes better known throughout season 2 as your role expands. What can we look forward to from season 3 Angie?

More of me! More trouble, more crazy antics, more depth of character. It was a fun season for me.

Answer 2

Did you add anything to your character Angie that wasn't originally written into the OITNB script? How free were you to improvise while on set?

Yes, I improvise a fair amount on set. I learned that from Taryn Manning, who is the queen of being free and powerful and owning it and improvising super hilarious lines. She encouraged me to improv a bit too, and at first I was like, "Yeah, you can do that because you are TARYN MANNING. If I do it, they are going to be like, this girl does not know her lines, can somebody get her out of here?" I still honestly do not know if it is ok or not, but I have not gotten fired yet, so that is good. I do worry that maybe some of the writers do not like it. It is a tricky line to walk. I will usually improv a bit at the end of scenes or in parts where I can just kind of feel that it will not disrupt the scene in any way.

Answer 3

Why did you decide to make the switch from theater to acting in Hollywood? Was this a challenging switch to make?

It was not a well-planned decision. I went through a very tough time and wanted to escape, which is partially how I ended up in LA. Ultimately, it served me because I came through on the other side and am doing great now. But LA did not give a shit that I was a theater actress, and I could not get an agent or manager to save my life, and I spent most of my time working as a secretary in the tallest building downtown. I do love Los Angeles though. It is my favorite city in the world and I met my fiancé there. But professionally, NYC is the only city where I have consistently worked as an actor. Booking work in LA is a crap shoot. It is a town where your looks and your number of Twitter followers matter just as much if not more than the quality of your acting.

Answer 4

You started acting on the stage and studied theater at Yale University. How did your studies prepare you for where you are today?

I do not think my "studies" necessarily prepared me for where I am today. It is really the people I met at Yale who got me here. I did so many plays with so many talented people at Yale, and when I graduated, I came to NYC and kept doing so many plays with the same talented people. And I just kept riding that wave. People do not realize how much of having a successful acting career is about who you know. I think professional actors do not like to talk about this because it makes them feel like their success is somehow less valid. But of all my friends who are super successful, pretty much all of them got their first jobs partially through a connection. It also obviously takes a lot of talent, a shitload of work, and luck. But working with great people for free and for fun for a long time will often lead to working with those same great people for money down the road. And for me, those people were my friends from college and the talented people I met through them.

Answer 5

So I've got to ask, do you have more orange or black in your wardrobe?

Black. Most of my wardrobe is black. I hate Orange. I do not have a single orange item. Other than the orange socks I got as swag from production.

Answer 6

"Orange Is the New Black" has already been renewed for a season 4. Is there anything you hope that the OITNB writers include for Angie in season 4? Will we ever find out more about her back-story?

I hope that Angie gets a love interest this year. Maybe an adorable new CO or Laura Prepon. Ohh and a makeover!!! I want to see Angie get some confidence from a cool haircut and some foundation and eyeliner. Oh and a new set of teeth. Imagine if Angie was suddenly the new hot piece of ass in the prison! That would be great.

Answer 7

OITNB is based on Piper Kerman's memoir "Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison". Did you read Piper's book before filming "Orange Is the New Black"? What kind of research did you have to do before you felt prepared to take on your role as Angie?

Yes, I read the book, and I watched a ton of Lock Up and Intervention. A couple years before my audition, I saw a documentary called "High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell." There was a person in that documentary named Brenda who stuck with me. She was goofy, hilarious, and lovable, but she was also an HIV positive prostitute who was hopelessly addicted to crack. She died not long after the documentary was made. There is a lot of her in Angie.

Answer 8

Have you watched seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix or is it too weird seeing yourself on television?

I have watched seasons 1 & 2, and it was really weird watching. But I loved watching every scene that I was not in. I wish I could let go of my ego and enjoy it more, it is just hard. I think everybody can probably relate to seeing a picture of yourself or hearing your voice recorded and being like, "eeeew that's me? I sound like that? I look like that?" And that is what it is like for me except that I am also judging my acting. I hope one day I will get over that.

Answer 9

Angie and Leanne are like the dynamic duo -- they're so funny together. Are you as close with Emma Myles (who plays Leanne) in real life as you appear to be on the show?

Yes, I love Emma and feel really grateful to her for helping me to meet people and make friends on set. I am super shy and she is super outgoing, and shy people need outgoing people to get them out their dressing rooms and into other people's dressing rooms where other people are hanging out and talking. And then the outgoing person has to be like, "Hey, Other People, meet my weird friend who does not talk. Yes, she is physically able to speak, she just needs a minute to warm up. I promise she is not creepy." Emma did that for me, and I love her for it. She is really taken care of me and looked out for me. We also have great chemistry on set and are always coming up with hilarious bits together for the show. Emma is a super grounded, loving, loyal, smart, talented person. I love you, Emma! Marry me!

Answer 10

What's the most difficult part about portraying a meth head? How do you approach getting into Angie's character?

I think because I was introduced so slowly into the show and did not have many lines at first, sometimes it was difficult to reconcile who I thought Angie was in my mind with some of the new scenes I was getting. It took time to feel completely confident of who Angie was. I get into character by putting on my uniform, getting in makeup, and then walking around my dressing room with Angie's goofy, sloppy gait. Then I will usually run my lines and improvise my character thoughts out loud - basically just voice Angie's opinions on what the other characters are saying. Then I will run lines with the other actors and feel pretty much good to go!