You already know Judy Greer, Hollywood’s most prolific—and unforgettable—character actor. Have you heard what she’s up to next?

By Richard Pérez-Feria / Photography by Aaron Jay Young

I’ve never been one to be impressed by blending in or doing just enough to get by. Even my favorite foods bite back—tastebuds on high alert. This way of thinking, when I apply it to Hollywood, also comes in play. So, when it comes to America’s busiest character actor, the unstoppable and obscenely talented Judy Greer, one thing we all can agree on is that she leaves a mark. Boy, does she ever.

Greer first made a lasting impression on me in her outsized supporting role in the massive Jennifer Lopez-led hit, The Wedding Planner, co-starring Matthew McConaughey. Though on screen for less than 12 minutes, Greer’s character (Lopez’s assistant, Penny) dominates every scene she’s in, including one where she takes over coordinating a wedding so Lopez’s character can attend her own wedding. Greer was funny—so damn funny—and smart and memorable. As the truism goes, there aren’t any small parts in Hollywood, only small actors. Greer announced her presence in the most delightful and unforgettable way. And she hasn’t paused for a moment ever since.

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Shoes by Stuart Weitzman

The Detroit native has co-starred in so many significant films and powerhouse television series that to name them all would be an exercise in futility. I mean…What Women Want, Adaptation, The Descendants, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Jurassic World, Ant-Man, Guardians Of The Galaxy, 27 Dresses, 13 Going On 30, Elizabethtown, Love & Other Drugs are but some of the movies she’s slayed in. On television, too, Greer is indefatigable with roles in the likes of Archer, The Big Bang Theory, Arrested Development, Two And A Half Men, Married, Reboot, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and so many more. ‘How?’ is the first question I have in mind to ask her. How is she involved with so many prestige, high-octane projects? How does she keep consistently one-upping herself with every performance and every role? How indeed.

Here's the thing: As ridiculously impressive the number of roles Greer has done over the past quarter-century is—is there an actor on the planet who dares to compare CVs?—her most recent work may just be her very best.

Two years ago, Greer joined the cast of HBO’s White House Plumbers which chronicles the Watergate break-in and scandal, as Fran Liddy, wife of the unhinged G. Gordon Liddy (Justin Theroux). Earlier this year, I again discovered Greer in the acclaimed Apple TV+ series Stick as Amber-Linn, Owen Wilson’s supportive ex-wife, in the golf show that takes its cues from the amazing Ted Lasso. Sports with a heart of gold, yet it’s Greer’s character who leaves an emotional impression on my soul. Again.

Greer, who married Dean E. Johnsen, an executive producer of Real Time With Bill Maher in 2011, is gearing up for her latest role in the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Long Walk. Directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games), the movie is a dystopian thriller set in the US in the near future ruled by a totalitarian regime, where a group of 100 young men enter an annual walking contest in which they must maintain a speed of at least three miles per hour or risk immediate execution. The contest ends when only one walker remains alive. Fun! Greer describes The Long Walk—which was written in 1979 under Stephen King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman—as both a “really dark story” and “beautiful and dark” and, if history is prologue, this may be the role that finally—finally!—gives Greer the critical flowers she’s so long deserved. It’s time, friends, to witness a princess become a queen. Judy Greer. Remember that name. She’s about to leave a mark on your heart. Again.

As I mentioned earlier, how, exactly, do you do so much, so well? I mean, have you slept in a decade?
I am trying to sleep more, but I've never been a great sleeper, so I might as well work! When I read the list above, it does seem like I haven't had time to do anything else but work, but I promise I have :) I'm a lot better at prioritizing my real life these days.

Do you think your role as Jennifer Lopez’s assistant in such a massive hit The Wedding Planner became impacted your career? What do you remember about that experience?
Of course it had a huge impact! It came out at the same time as "What Women Want" starring Mel Gibson, and I think the success of those two movies and the fact that the roles were so different really helped people see me as more than one kind of character, a lucky coincidence a lot of actors don't always get early in their career.

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One always hears that comedy is harder to pull off than the most intense drama. I’m curious to hear where you land in the comedy v drama debate?
I don't know.....I think what makes something easy or hard are the circumstances in which one is filming. The script, the people, the vibe on set....those can really impact whether something comes easily for me.

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What’s your routine as you inhabit so many characters in such a finite time space? Do you ask your husband to read lines with you? Do you go into a cone of silence for ten months? We need to know. [Laughs]
Hahaha....every job is different. If I'm on location it's a little easier to stay in the headspace of a character, sometimes it feels like I'm cheating, but I do get so homesick. I use my Voice Memos app for running lines with myself and I almost always make playlists for my characters. Music is the fastest way for me to move in and out of my work. I have even made playlists for the drive home if I am shooting something really intense. Beyonce's Renaissance came out when I was shooting "Eric Larue" a film where I play the mother of a school shooter and I listened to it every day driving home from work. Thank God for Beyonce!

Black Faux Leather Coat by Vassia Kostara
Shoes by Stuart Weitzman

Here’s a fun one: Is it possible that after appearing in a million movies and television shows, it’s your voice role as Cheryl Tunt in the animated series Archer that most people who see you in, say, an airport mention to you? If I saw you, it’d definitely be all about the rom-coms (Wedding Planner, 27 Dresses, 13 Going On 30, What Women Want).
Oh, Archer is HUGE. People love it so much and I'd say Archer and 13 Going on 30 are my airport greatest hits for sure.

What’s been your most challenging and your most rewarding acting experiences you’ve had thus far?
Ok, not a copout, but they are all rewarding! Really, they are. I get something out of every job I have. I learn from all of them. Challenging.....that's usually the physical stuff. I have a movie coming out, "The Dead of Winter" and it was a very physically demanding movie, deep snow, running, fighting and it turns out rifles are heavy!

Any roles you didn’t get that you still think about the what-ifs?
Ah, I try not to do that. There's nothing that plagues me, no 'one that got away'......yet.......

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I’m low-key obsessed about your next project, the dystopian The Long Walk based on a Stephen King novel, directed by The Hunger Games’ masterful Francis Lawrence. And you get to play with Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. Tell. Me. Everything. [Laughs]
We were on set together, but didn't have dialogue together :( but I'll take it! It was really fun to see how in awe we all were of him. And of course got enormous street cred with my husband!!

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Judy Greer
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Aaron Jay Young
Interview by Richard Pérez-Feria
Fashion Stylist: Toye Adedipe
Hair + Makeup: Cooper HB
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine

Judy! Judy! Judy!