We Speak Actors
Gigi Burgdorf on ‘Preschool’, Working with Josh Duhamel, and Finding Comedy in Competitive Parenting
Actress Gigi Burgdorf continues to build momentum across television and film, with credits including HBO’s ‘The Rehearsal’ and Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Couple’. Now she appears in the upcoming comedy ‘Preschool’, directed by and starring Josh Duhamel, which was just released. Filmed in London, ‘Preschool’ centers on the absurd rivalry between two fathers competing for the final spot at an elite preschool. Burgdorf plays Roze, the nanny working for one of the families caught in the escalating battle. In this interview, Burgdorf speaks about working alongside Josh Duhamel and an ensemble cast including Charity Wakefield, James Cosmo, Michael Socha, and Antonia Thomas, filming inside a historic London manor house, and the projects that have shaped her career so far.
Your new comedy film ‘Preschool’, directed by and starring Josh Duhamel, is set to be released digitally on 17 March. Can you tell us about the story and what initially attracted you to the project?
The film is about two dads fighting over the last place in an elite preschool, and their behaviour gets increasingly absurd as their competition escalates.
“The comedy is silly and ridiculous, which is always a joy to play, and I love that at its heart the film is about the importance of having fun and not taking everything too seriously.”
In the film you play Roze, the nanny for a wealthy family caught in the middle of a rivalry between two fathers competing for a place at a prestigious preschool. What was it like stepping into this character and working alongside Josh Duhamel and the rest of the cast, including Charity Wakefield, James Cosmo, Michael Socha, and Antonia Thomas?
The lead cast all have a ton of really stellar credits under their belts, so it could have been daunting, especially playing a character who is somewhat subservient at the start and is trying her best to stay hidden. Plus Josh and I were the only two Americans in the cast, surrounded by Brits. But everyone was so friendly and welcoming that I quickly felt like part of the gang. The first scene I shot was with Josh, James, and Michael — three legends — and not only were they total pros on camera, but it was such fun to talk to them during breaks because they all had really good stories to share. And I loved the women on this cast too. The onscreen dynamic of the women staying calm and keeping things moving amidst the men’s antics occasionally carried over behind the scenes as well — that calm, maternal feeling is great on a film set. When we were shooting, Josh had a really nice way of trusting the cast and leaving room for improvisation, so the scenes always felt alive and playful, which really helps when you’re filming a comedy.
‘Preschool’ blends comedy with social commentary about class, parenting, and competition. What was the atmosphere like on set, and are there any memorable moments from filming in London that stood out to you?
It was a really fun set to work on. Josh set a collaborative and mischievous tone for the shoot, and we laughed every single day. A lot of my scenes were filmed in an old manor house, and like most very old houses it sometimes felt a bit creepy, especially late at night — with all the old furniture and antique dolls, and even a secret compartment used for hiding priests during Elizabethan times. One very late night between shots, Josh was leading a few of us on a tour around some rooms we hadn’t seen, and he disappeared ahead of us, only to jump out and scare us as we rounded a corner. Our shrieks of surprise were followed by a lot of laughter. I loved that even with the pressures of directing and starring in the film, he was like a kid just having fun.
Looking at your career so far, which projects would you say have been the most defining or rewarding for you as an actress to date, and why?
HBO’s ‘The Rehearsal’ marked a turning point in my career, as it was probably the first role a lot of people saw me play. I’d been auditioning and acting in small roles for about 20 years at that point, but that show is full of mysteries and unanswered questions, so a lot of people wanted to talk to me about it. And I loved being on the set of ‘The Perfect Couple’ (Netflix) with an absolutely stellar ensemble led by Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber, plus lavish costumes, a lush environment, and a great crew. It’s always fun to be part of something that big and colourful.
With ‘Preschool’ about to be released and other exciting projects on the horizon, what’s next for you? Are there particular roles, genres, or collaborations you’re especially excited to explore going forward?
I’m excited for the release of ‘One Second After’, a post-apocalyptic action thriller that we filmed last year. It was my first time filming big action scenes and it was a real challenge.
“I tend to gravitate towards comedy a lot of the time, so it was great to have a go at a really gritty drama.”
I’d love to do period drama at some point. Next week I’m making a short comedy that has nods to the Georgian and Victorian eras. I’m directing and acting in it, so I’m trying to channel Josh’s ability to balance those two roles while keeping things light and fun on set.
Featured photo credit: Nicholas Dawkes Photography
New Zealand-born actress, writer and producer Amber Lily Butterworth, who was raised in Switzerland from the age of two, is steadily building a multifaceted career across film, both in front of and behind the camera. She stars as Kaiah Shaffer in the upcoming horror-thriller ‘It Goes on All Fours’, following previous screen work including ‘Sparrow’s Call’ and ‘I Could Kill’, as well as acting in the feature ‘Moss & Freud’. As her career continues to develop, Butterworth is also expanding her creative work into producing and directing, driven by a long-standing fascination with every aspect of filmmaking. Here, she reflects on discovering acting as a child, the projects that have shaped her career so far, and why storytelling remains at the heart of everything she does.
Amber Lily, can you tell us how your acting journey began and what inspired you to pursue a career as an actress?
My acting journey started very young. At the age of four, I developed a stutter, and my mum had the brilliant idea of sending me to acting classes. Little did she know that she was essentially setting the course for the rest of my life. From then on, acting was always something I instinctively knew I was going to pursue. I also grew up watching films with my dad that I was definitely far too young to be watching, and I completely fell in love with cinema. I loved how a film could make you feel understood in your emotions. Films have always made me feel less alone in mine, and that’s really all I’ve ever wanted to do as an actress: make an audience feel seen, understood or simply a little less alone.
Which projects have been the most significant in your career to date, and why?
I’ve been incredibly lucky with the projects I’ve worked on so early in my career. ‘Moss & Freud’ was a big stepping stone because I got to experience the inner workings of a much larger production and work alongside some brilliant actors, including one of my best friends, Ellie Bamber. Watching someone you know so well completely transform into a character is quite surreal and incredibly inspiring. But starring in ‘It Goes on All Fours’ has definitely been the most significant experience so far.
“Carrying such a substantial role in a film and really living with a character is a beast of an opportunity, in the best possible way.”
You spend months getting to know this imaginary person inside out, and then suddenly filming ends and you’re expected to just… move on with your life. No one really prepares you for the strange sense of grief that comes with leaving a character behind.
Is there one particular film or role that you feel marked an important turning point in your career as an actress?
Definitely ‘It Goes on All Fours’. It challenged me enormously, both as an actress and as a person. Going that deeply into a character inevitably brings up parts of yourself too. There was imposter syndrome, a few ego deaths, plenty of questioning myself and all the glamorous parts of being an actress! But somewhere within that process, I learnt an enormous amount about who I am, not only as an actress, but as a person and as a woman. I think the best characters leave you slightly different from how they found you, and this one certainly did.
Alongside acting, you also work as a producer. Can you tell us a little about your work behind the camera and what drew you to producing?
I am a complete film nerd, so fully immersing myself in every part of filmmaking was probably inevitable. If there’s an aspect of cinema I can get my hands on, I’m going to want to try it. Last year, I had the opportunity to executive produce ‘Borghese’. It had an incredible cast and crew, and I was initially drawn to its visual world, particularly the fashion and costume design we had access to. It was such a wonderful introduction to producing because it made me appreciate just how many moving parts have to come together to make a film. I loved being involved in shaping the bigger picture from the outside in. In return, I feel as though the experience has also benefited my performance and professionalism as an actress. Understanding what is happening behind the camera gives you a much broader appreciation of everyone’s role in bringing a project to life.
What can you tell us about your upcoming projects, and what should audiences look out for next?
I’m incredibly excited for ‘It Goes on All Fours’ to be released and for people to see what we created.
“There’s something slightly terrifying, but also very exciting, about finally handing something you’ve lived with for so long over to an audience.”
I’m also developing a documentary about the America’s Cup, which is especially personal because the story forms part of my family history. I’ll be directing and producing it, and we’re working with North Sails as a sponsor, which has been an amazing vote of confidence in the project. For me, acting, producing and directing all come back to the same thing: I’m obsessed with storytelling. Whether I’m in front of the camera or behind it, I just want to make things that make an audience as excited to watch them as I am to make them.
Featured photo credit: Rankin
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