©Dennis Leech Photography
Tye Edwards plays MJ in It’s You, Not Me
Cliché: Tell us about your character in a couple sentences.
Tye Edwards: MJ is an enthusiastic chap who happens to tip the bottle a bit. This time MJ didn’t wait for the date, but obviously has been pre-partying.
Have you ever played this role in your own personal dating life?
No. However, I’ve been on the other side on a blind date. Scary!
What do you like/dislike about your character?
I loved playing MJ because he is a gregarious guy with faults and he is quite unaware. Playing someone who is unaware and brash is quite fun.
Tell us your most memorable experience while shooting this series.
The whole experience working with friends, and having the support of the entire cast and crew was an amazing feeling. I felt like I had a safety net all around me with the freedom to really explore the space as an actor. Lauren Patrice Nadler was fantastic.
How did you come to be a part of this project?
I was approached by Renee Kay and Lauren to do the role. I was currently in Lauren’s Scene Study class and had been in class with Renee previously.
What was it like working with your long time teacher wearing the director hat?
It was fantastic working with Lauren in this capacity. I already had a comfort level there, so having her on set was amazing. She brought the best out in me. That’s what you want in a director and a teacher for that matter.
How collaborative or how much freedom did you have to “play” or improvise on set?
I had a lot of room to bring character to life. The words were on the page, but I was allowed to make it my own. That’s special.
What was the funnest part of shooting this episode?
Definitely getting to work with all my colleagues and friends, and getting to play a happy drunk. It was a lot of fun.
How has your character grown or evolved from the previous episode, if they did?
He probably didn’t grow at all. I imagine MJ is still dealing with the same underlying issues, but I believe he’s just as fun.
