Magazine March 24, 2017 5:00 AM ByWalter Scott Parade More by Walter

Togetherness and The Good Wife actress Amanda Peet, 45, is back with a new TV comedy. In Brockmire, which premieres April 5 on IFC, Peet plays Jules, the hard-drinking, strong-willed owner of a minor league baseball team, the Morristown Frackers, who hires a disgraced major league announcer, Jim Brockmire (Hank Azaria), to call the plays.

How would you describe your character, Jules?

For an alcoholic, shes got her s together.

Was the appeal of Brockmire its craziness?

Definitely. I like things that are a little bit off. And Im a huge fan of Hank.

Did you and Hank know each other or did you have to build your chemistry?

We knew each other a little bit. I dont know if chemistry is something you build or if its something that just kind of happens or doesnt happen.

Does Hank make you laugh so hard that you break up during filming?

There were a few times where I was really scared that I was going to ruin a take because I was laughing so hard, so the answer is yes, he really makes me laugh.

Its funny, but is it also a kind of love story?

Its a love story, for sure. One of the reasons Jim and Jules connect is they both love baseball so much and they both love drinking. I think theyre really attracted to each other.

Are you comfortable with the shows nudity?

Sure. If the writing is good, then I figure out a way to get comfortable. I am definitely never really excited to take my clothes off these days, but if the writing is good enough, Im game.

What do you mean when you say these days?

The truth is I wasnt that comfortable in my 20s either, but things have gone downhill, literally.

Jules is really passionate about bringing her team back to glory. Is there something in your life that you feel that way about, that youre a cheerleader for?

Sure, but maybe not in the same way. There are plenty of things I wish I could fight for. Im definitely not as scrappy as she is.

So these things that you want to fight for, are they political issues or things for your kids?

Im probably a little bit more like a psycho lioness when it comes to my kids.

What kind of sports spectator are you?

My dad was a big football player in college, and my sister was sort of a tomboy, and they watch football religiously. When they come to my house, theres football on all the time. I never got the sports bug, so it was a verysteep learning curve coming onto Brockmire. When I watch a baseball game, I dont understand whats interesting about it. Nobody ever makes it to first base. I mean, for, like, long periods of time, no ones making it to first base.

How much do you actually know about baseball?

Nothing. I watched Ken Burns documentary, I read some and I looked at the documentary about the Portland Mavericks, who were a minor league team. I feel like I didnt retain that much. I still had to ask Hank, Am I supposed to be happy when he runs to first base, or sad?

Have you ever lobbied your husband, writer-producer David Benioff, for a role on Game of Thrones?

I try really hard, especially when Ive had a few drinks. Ill put on my English accent, such as it is, in front of [creators] Dan [Weiss] and David. They just act really embarrassed for me.

Can you talk about what Togetherness meant to you and how hard it was when HBO canceled it?

I just never felt that way before. It was really the right chemistry between me and the show creators. I felt like they really wanted to pass me the ball. I felt really trusted by them and I really trusted them too. I havent felt that way in a really long time, and I think because Im a middle-aged woman trying to make it in Hollywood, it was like I won the lottery.

Do you find that the roles are better on TV now for women of a certain age than in movies?

I think that in order to get a movie green-lit, you have to have a certain amount of star wattage and I dont have it, so Im not getting roles that are interesting. Most of the roles I read for, for a 45-year-old woman, theyre pretty boring and flat. TV has juicier parts.

Along the those lines, after doing 2012, you said it made you realize you dont want to play the lovely mom anymore? Why is that?

Theres nothing to bite into. Its really fun being in a movie thats a Friday night skicker, where theres going to be a big premiere and theyre going to fly you to Tokyo. It all feels really exciting. But the truth is thats not going to get you anywhere.

Youll be fine. The movies fine. It will be serviceable, and like I said, you could be lovely. But lovely is not a playable action. The thing that Sarah Paulson and I always ask each other is, When the alarm goes off at 4:45 in the morning, what are you going to feel? We didnt used to ask each other that question. Its a very important question.

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Amanda Peet on Baseball, Brockmire, Nudity and Chemistry With Co-Stars - Parade