"She's the original influencer. There would be no Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton if Angelyne hadn't done the brick-and-mortar version that captured an entire city's attention"
Ever since a series of mysterious billboards featuring the blonde bombshell appeared in 1984, Angelyne's been an L.A. icon.
"She's the original influencer," says Emmy Rossum, who portrays her in the Peacock original series Angelyne (May 19). "There would be no Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton if Angelyne hadn't done the brick-and-mortar version that captured an entire city's attention."
Rossum's fascination with Angelyne started when she was 13.
"I asked people, 'Who is this woman on all the billboards?' Everyone would tell me a completely different story. That's what I thought was so incredibly fascinating."
One of the things the series does so well is show how Angelyne is self-made.
"Her fierce commitment to the hyper curation of her image in a way that feels incredibly authentic to her is admirable and inspiring."
But the mystery behind the singer, actress and model is part of what keeps people endlessly intrigued by her.
"Who else is able to zip around in this pink Corvette, spark joy and have people make wishes when they see you? She is like Tinkerbell. She really is L.A.'s unicorn."
Listen to H. Alan Scott's full conversation with Emmy Rossum on Newsweek's Parting Shot. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Twitter: @HAlanScott
What was it like meeting Angelyne for the first time?
I had the opportunity to meet her after loving her for years and years and years. We met at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and I was an hour early, a little over prepared. I had already bought her meditation tapes on eBay because she doesn't sell them on her website anymore. I had taken many bubble baths memorizing and listening to her tapes and watching everything she'd ever done and looking at her fine art and listening to her music and films.
She arrived on time, but then ended up an hour late because she was selling merch out of the trunk of her car in the parking lot of the Roosevelt. So I was thrilled. Then she sat down and said, "So why do you have such a hard-on to play me?"
And that's exactly why because she's a complete rebel. She's totally authentic. I basically just melted and told her how incredible I think she is. She's a trailblazer. She's like the original influencer. Her fierce commitment to the positive and hyper curation of her image in a way that feels incredibly authentic to her is admirable and inspiring.
We bonded over Eckhart Tolle and Alan Watts, and wow, so many different things. I gave her pink cookies, she gave me a crystal for good luck. I think we ordered everything on the menu. And then we went to the trunk of her car and I bought lots of stuff, of course, because I had to commemorate the experience.
Then she met with our producer and showrunner Allison Miller, and our director, Lucy Tcherniak. She agreed to grant us her life rights and the ability to rerecord all of her original songs, recreate her iconic billboard images and poses, just so many things about her.
And for me, for whom pay equity has been such a huge part of my journey and story, it was incredibly important to me that Angelyne be compensated for her participation in the production and also her contribution to pop culture for the last however many decades. So it was very meaningful to me that that happened.
I have to admit I was so surprised when I heard you were playing Angelyne. I totally see it, but never expected it. Were you nervous about portraying her?
Well, let me take a step back because I fell in love with her when I was 13. The first time I was in L.A. I saw her billboard. I asked people, "Who is this woman on all the billboards?" They would say, "Well, that's Angelyne." And I would say, "But who is she?", and everyone would tell me a completely different story.
That's what I thought was so incredibly fascinating. She sparks immediate joy and yet there are so many different stories and narratives about her out there. So, I was actually the one that raised my hand and said, "I'd like to make a show about this, I think this could be really special."
And it's kind of every actor's wildest dream come true. To get to have people say yes, and then to have the blessing of the person you're playing. So of course, there were moments that were scary, because to play someone that is so different than yourself, who looks so different than yourself, and is so different than anything I've ever played before, is challenging.
But I had a lot of help. I had a wonderful, wonderful team of incredible artists working on me. I worked with a movement coach and vocal coaches for years leading up to this. So this is a really, really long time coming and a dream of mine since I was 13. I was absolutely thrilled and scared.
What struck me about Angelyne is that she's actually such a feminist without getting the credit for it, largely because of the way she looks. Did this stand out to you?
I think the idea of a feminist having to look or present a certain way is a little bit antiquated and kind of missing the point. I think ownership of your own body and womanhood, in whatever way feels authentic to you, is a big part of feminism. And I think paving the way for other women that came after her is what she did.
She's the original influencer. There would be no Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton if Angelyne hadn't done the brick and mortar version that captured an entire city's attention based on this hyper curated image that serves to inspire people.
And I think she knows that she has brilliant business savvy. And I think that she knows that people underestimate her based on how she looks in any room she walks into and uses that to her advantage.
I think it was the first episode where she says something like, "I'm a piece of artwork, and I'm fully realized." It was such a powerful line. It's this total sense of self and confidence. Some people could see it as delusion, but it really is this radical sense of self, don't you think?
I think what's so interesting about her is that she really is like a mirror. Whatever we are needing to see says something about us. I think to have the bravery to make your outside reflect how you feel inside, I think is something that should really inspire all of us.
Angelyne kept a lot of her past secret. How much of what we do know about her past, and her keeping it a secret, influence your performance?
Well, only Angelyne can know why she really became Angelyne, but I think we offer a lot of possibilities. Was it a commitment to beauty and art? Was it escapist fantasy? To escape the pain or sorrow? Was it weaponization of her own sexuality to protest the patriarchy? Was it a desire to get the love of the world through fame, which is the ultimate American way of getting love? We literally see it in social media with double taps, right?
And I think what's so interesting about her is there is no one story. Only Angelyne can know and that's her story to tell. I think I was most fascinated by the combination of conflicting narratives that exist about an icon, some of which tell a very grounded poignant story of triumph over sorrow, and others which is so escapist fantasy for a sense of levity and inspiration to an entire city.
I think whatever narrative you like probably says more about you. I prefer to think she's a feminist badass.
I feel like when people find out you like or even know of Angelyne, it's almost a mark of your character. Like it tells people that you're cool, you get it, don't you think?
Totally. I mean, who else is able to zip around in this pink Corvette, spark joy and have people make wishes when they see you. She is like Tinkerbell, she really is L.A.'s unicorn. And I think that there's magic and power in that.
The other aspect of this role is that it requires you to sing, which, considering your musical background, is very exciting. Were you nervous about the music, considering it's so different from what you've done in the past?
Very, very nervous. I love her singing and all of her super high tones were something that even for me, a classically trained singer, took a lot of work to achieve. In New York, I'd walk the aisles of the grocery store at night like trying out different tones hoping people didn't hear me as I bought frozen fruits and vegetables in bizarre makeup that I would wear to empower myself to juggle the character. That was before I had any real hair and makeup artists that were helping me with the real transformation.
On the transformation, you had to do so much with makeup. Was that difficult?
Sure, but I think I used all of that. Obviously aging in both directions, playing much younger than myself and also aging in the opposite direction—although I won't go into how much because Angelyne does not believe in time, and I fully support time as a construct.
The first time they did the transformation, I think it took nine hours. We got it down to three and then seven on some days. But they spun me around and I didn't recognize myself at all. All of the chirping that I had done in the grocery aisle and all of the different modalities that I had practiced, suddenly I felt so free to do them unencumbered and to be able to channel that kind of power in your body, which is probably only an ounce of what she has. It's really cool.
I have to admit, I was so surprised by how just adding bangs to your face made you look so different. Bangs are the old school prosthetic.
I don't know if you saw the funny meme about Zooey Deschanel. She said that nobody recognizes her ever if she doesn't have bangs. You look at a picture of her and you're like, "That's Emily Blunt." It's really fascinating. Yes, I love bangs.
Beyond acting, you've also directed and produced. Do you have plans to direct more?
You know, I don't know about directing. I really have loved it when I've done it, but I'm really enjoying producing and finding stories that can impact on a greater level. I just recently became a mom, I have an almost-1-year-old. Directing is completely all encompassing, so it would have to be something that I really, really responded to and loved. Directing is so personal like acting and I really believe that in order for something to be great, it has to be very personal and visceral. So I'll wait for something to come along that inspires in that way.
Listen to H. Alan Scott's full conversation with Emmy Rossum on Newsweek's Parting Shot. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Twitter: @HAlanScott
