'Million Dollar Arm' Star Lake Bell on Kissing On-Camera

I'm here with Lake Bell. So great to have you here. You're one of my favorite actresses.

Oh my god. We're starting strong. We're starting strong.

No, I'm such a huge fan. I've seen a lot of your movies like 20 or 30 times.

Thank you. Wow. Yeah.

So I spend a lot of time with you. Watching movies. Um, but it's great to have you here in person. Um, so I saw Million Dollar Arm last night. Phenomenal movie.

I'm so glad you liked it.

It's so phenomenal. It's one of those movies that I I feel like and we get to see a lot of movies as interviewers. And a lot of you don't say it. You just don't say it if it's not phenomenal, but it really is one of those movies. Do you did you kind of know, did you kind of sense? Obviously John Hamm the people involved.

People involved were awesome, and I think that you know, this is the kind of movie too where I feel that any of my family members can see it. I'm not worried about, you know, but that young cousin so and so or oh, you know, dad might be upset with the boob, you know, there's no ness, you know, because I think I saw so you talked about that before about your dad. There's certain things that you just

Well, it's natural, right? I mean, you don't want your dad to see certain things.

like So so I think this movie is great for me and my family, so that we can we can all go together and I can be proud.

Yeah. So you know John from before. You've known him for a long time.

I've known him for many years, yeah.

So then having to kiss somebody on camera that you know is it weird?

Of course, it's always weird. I think I think any sort of intimacy on camera is sort of odd.

Oh, you do? Um, yeah, just because it's it's I would think maybe you get used to it. It gets.

You you definitely get used to it because it becomes so kind of whatever. I mean, people are like, ooh, is that sexy? I'm like, no, it's like literally a day at work. Um and I mean, like here we are just having an interview. I mean, we're we're again, there's a lot of people in the room looking at us right now, you know. So it's not just like

It's so funny that you say that because I get comments on YouTube sometimes on videos cuz People think that it was just me and the person and they're like, what happened after? It's like, there are so many people around. There's a lot of people staring at us right now. They're watching us. They're all looking at us right now from different sides and I'm acknowledging them in the room right now. Here you are.

And they're and they're like not even laughing because they can't laugh. They can't laugh. So they're doing mime laughing, which is you know, you have to be quiet. So anyway, the point is is is the same with the smooching scenes and stuff. You're just like, you know, there's a lot of people in there and they're all kind of just Everyone's doing their job. Like the hair and makeup people are like, does my hair look good in the smooching scene? Does my makeup look good in the smooching scene? The wardrobe people are like, oh god, her necklace moved a little bit. Now I've got to move that in the next you know, so it's all very technical.

But is it um being that it's somebody you know, would you rather it be a total stranger that you have to kiss or somebody you already sort of are friends with cuz I would feel more uncomfortable about a friend cuz I don't necessarily want to know my want my friends to know how I kiss.

Well, but but you're not that's not really how you kiss, right? So it's you don't really actually kiss.

But it's different then your personal.

It's totally different. Yeah, yeah.

So do you have to sort of explain like how I how you kiss like your like your honey is totally different than how you would kiss for work. You know what I mean? Um, have you had because this this is obviously a true story about these boys that have their moment and because it's a true story, everybody knows. They did make it into the major league. Yeah. Did you have a moment as an actress, like an acting equivalent where you said, I've made it into the major league?

I feel like I am the queen of slow burn. I'm like, I love slow burn. So I I'm not I didn't feel like you know, I love my job and I love that the sort of steps and I'm respectful of the steps that I've taken. So but, you know, I definitely there are moments where there have been like, wow, that was a big that was a bigger step up.

Well, there are also those scenes where they're really put on the spot and everybody's watching. Do you have an audition moment like that where you feel like, God,

I feel like every audition is like that.

Really? Even now?

Um, I think uh, yeah, auditions suck. I mean, I think we all know. I mean, that's it's a weird.

Can you break that down for the audience too, since we broke down what interviews are really like.

Yeah. It's horrible. I mean, auditions are they never get easier. And by the way, the most ex people who are super fancy still audition. Like, you know, there I think there you think that you get to a certain point, you never have to audition again. And I'm sure there are some people who don't, you know. But there's a it's a handful.

So in the film, Jon's character brings you the mini Taj. Yeah. So little mini Taj Mahal. And it's kind of I think for him in that moment, it was a big step. Even though it wasn't obviously an expensive gift. Has anybody ever brought you like a really corny gift? Or have you given anybody a really corny gift in your life?

Um, look. That's not fair. I feel like I try to give good gifts, but I like I like his gesture of giving a mini Taj Mahal. Um,

Well, cuz you were Skyping.

Yes, but the point is, I didn't get invited to India on this movie. I think that's the big problem I'm having right now in general with this film. Is that they all like everybody got to go to India except me. And, you know, that's hard because that is on my list of to-do's. Is it on your list?

Yes. Most extraordinary place in the world. But I heard it was like 120 degrees. Everybody was sweating. That's the st you know, a lot of Indian food that might not sit so well.

That's all true, but that is a part of living.

Eating fresh, staying in shape just cuz you have such an amazing body. You're so stunning. Um, tips for young Hollywooders.

I'm like, look who I'm talking to. I'm a skinny fat person.

Oh, are you? So you do work out?

I I don't work out. Okay, I I'm not I think I'm just naturally thin, but trust me, I'm not in great shape. You're skinny fat. Okay. Yeah, I'm not a great work outer either, but I do eat very healthy.

You do?

Yeah. Like I don't mess around. You know, I mean,

Quality control. That's what I'm talking about. Quality, not quantity. Or quantity over quality?

Uh, I'm no, quality. You just you can't eat crap. Like it's kind of obvious. Actually. I don't drink.

I'm the same way. I'm not really a big drinker. So what's fun for you? Like, what's a fun night? Like, fun night out?

Fun night out? I'm a movie. I love movies. So I go to I like movies a lot. Karaoke also.

You do?

I roll a private karaoke room.

What's the go-to song?

I mean, I've got a list on my iPhone of like, just so that I don't forget.

If you're randomly there, you just pull out the

Yeah, pull out the

Okay, so what's the top three?

Uh, you know, Pat Benatar. I like a Pat Benatar moment. Um, I in I like to rap a bit.

Did you want to freestyle for us?

Um, I mean, I don't I get paid really like high high bucks for that. So I can't can't do that. Right. So sorry. Um.

Can we do we have money for me?

It's a lot. It's billion dollars.

Oh, jeez. Billion dollar, billion dollar rapper.

Um, Justin Timberlake. Um that is what I want. No, but, you know, so that's that's, you know, that's why in a world there is the karaoke scene cuz like that is my dream day.

Well, it's great to see you. Thank you for coming in.

Thanks for having me on the show.

Come back. Come back.