She’s been a familiar face in living rooms since she broke out as Kate on the hit 90s sitcom The Drew Carey Show, followed by her role as the jaded Jordan Sullivan in Scrubs. More recently she was part of the Cougar Town trio with Courtney Cox and Busy Phillips. And if you’ve been watching Seinfeld reruns, you might just come across her as Paula from Elaine’s art class, who went on a date with George Costanza and drew a caricature of him.
Miller’s latest role is something of a departure. If you haven’t caught Shrinking, the show from the Ted Lasso team of Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, it’s one of the most binge-worthy series on Apple TV+ right now. It stars Harrison Ford as a gruff elder statesman shrink named Paul. He’s a by-the-book mentor to Jason Segel’s Jimmy, who has taken a turn towards “radical candor” with his own patients since the death of his wife.
Miller plays Jimmy’s quick-witted, caring, and often blunt neighbor Liz, who has become a surrogate mother figure to his teenage daughter, Alice. Liz’s antics and unconventional advice create problems, but she’s also a saving grace in Jimmy’s life…and to the show.
By the end of the first season, Liz also had a budding friendship with Jimmy’s fellow therapist, Gaby (Jessica Williams), which is one of the show’s most engaging dynamics. I sat down with Miller to discuss what Shrinking‘s Season 2 has in store for Liz and her relationships, and what advice she might offer if she were a therapist herself.
Felipe: What do you love most about Liz and her husband Derek’s (Ted McGinley) dynamic?
Christa: I think they have a great, sexy relationship, and they definitely give each other a hard time. But with season two, there’s going to be a shift.
Felipe: Can we expect any significant changes in their relationship this season?
Christa: There are some big changes coming. They’ve been in the status quo of marriage and raising kids, but now that they’re home together, they have to really confront that dynamic.
Felipe: Gaby (Jessica Williams) is struggling with her physical relationship with Jimmy. As Liz, you’re trying to give her advice. What advice would you give a friend under the same circumstances?
Christa: I’d say something similar to what Liz would say, though maybe not as bluntly. I think you’re the in-between person. It’s not that it’ll never happen, but it’s better to be friends for now. Maybe in three years, things could blossom, but he’s not ready yet. He has to go through his phase of being ready, and I know he’s not there right now.
Felipe: Your character Liz’s son has a crush on Jimmy’s daughter, whom she is helping take care of. If you were in that situation in real life—looking after your neighbor’s daughter and your son had a crush on her—what advice would you give him about asking her out?
Christa: My son and I were having a talk, and he said, “Mom, you’re so not like me.” I told him I’d try to play it cool in certain situations, and he said, “No, you should just be out there with your feelings.” I replied, “I don’t know; maybe it’s better to play it a little cool sometimes.”
I always tell my friends, if you meet someone you like, get busy. Make plans, be unavailable, and if they’re really interested, they’ll ask you out again. If they don’t, they’re probably not that into you.
Felipe: What are some of your favorite recent movies, and what films would you recommend people stream between episodes of Shrinking?
Christa: We recently went to the theater to see the Deadpool and Wolverine movie, and it was the most fun! I was laughing so hard throughout the whole thing. There are also a lot of upcoming movies I’m excited about, like Beetlejuice.
As for family favorites, over the last few years, we’ve been trying to educate our kids by showing them movies we love and think they should see. We recently watched Shawshank Redemption with them, which we adore. I’m also revisiting classics like The Godfather, and I just finished rewatching The Sopranos, which was such a blast.
Season 2 of Shrinking arrives on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, October 16th.
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