Julia Louis-Dreyfus Says She’s Looking for a ‘Challenge’ & Tuesday Proves She’s in a New Acting Era

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has never been easily defined but her latest foray into drama in Tuesday is proof that one can reinvent themselves at any stage of their career. When she talked to SheKnows, alongside director Daina Oniunas-Pusić and co-star Lola Petticrew, the star made it clear that there is one non-negotiable when it comes to choosing her roles now.

“I’m always looking to be challenged, and this was a challenge, but a happy one,” Louis-Dreyfus says. The talented actress, producer and podcast host is best known for her many contributions to the comedy genre but in Tuesday, she leaves laughs behind and tugs at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever watched a love one’s health deteriorate.

In the drama, Louis-Dreyfus plays a single mother struggling to come to terms with her daughter’s terminal illness. When her daughter, Tuesday (Petticrew), is visited by death, who takes the form of a massive talking macaw summoned to end her life, Louis-Dreyfus’ character does everything in her power to buy her daughter some time.

“I was really drawn to the material because it’s so outside the norm of what I had done up to date,” Louis-Dreyfus tells us. “The movie itself deals with themes that are particularly interesting to me, universal themes of grief and loss and and denial. Of course, the bond between parent and child is one that I like exploring as a mother myself.”

The movie has been hailed as Louis-Dreyfus’ first departure from comedy and her press run has dredged up plenty of conversation about how she might view comedy now but, while Louis-Dreyfus seems to be looking for the next challenge at all times, she has no interest in ruling out the genre in which she made her name.

“I love comedy and I love drama, as long as they’re both good, as long as it’s good comedy, good drama, I’m in.”

Tuesday is Oniunas-Pusić’s incredible directorial debut so landing on a household name like Louis-Dreyfus is no small feat.

“I worked on the script for quite a while. I worked on it really tirelessly and talked about it anyone who would listen and probably a lot of people who wouldn’t,” the Croatian writer-director tells us. “I was very lucky to get the script to be something that would appeal to somebody like Julia and Lola.”

For Petticrew, an actor from the north of Ireland, working with Louis-Dreyfus was also a dream come true. “I mean, what a pinching moment, right?” they tell us before gushing to Louis-Dreyfus.

“I don’t know if I’ve told you this but when I was in drama school me and my friend used to sit all the time and watch old SNL videos of you,” they reveal to a flattered Louis-Dreyfus. Petticrew is radiant in Tuesday and beautifully delivers some occasional comic relief in what is otherwise a deeply emotional movie. Thus, it is no surprise that they learned from the best even before working with the Veep star.

“She’s just the ultimate professional,” Petticrew adds. “So funny, so tender, so giving and open. And I was just able to take so much from that. I mean, I think, honestly, like the central performance is that mother and daughter relationship, so I’m just really grateful you.”

Tuesday is in theaters now.

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