Caitlin McGee Is The Actress From Your Fave Shows That You’d Totally Wanna Be BFFs With IRL
Caitlin McGee is about to shatter all your starlet stereotypes. The Boston-born actress’ face may be familiar to you if you’ve been doing some binge-watching lately, as she’s appeared on Modern Love, You’re The Worst, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. But, contrary to the over-the-top role she plays in Apple TV’s latest comedy, Mythic Quest, Caitlin is actually pretty damn down to earth IRL (I mean, she is a Capricorn, after all).
We talked to the actress all about her favorite LA consignment shops, what having a stylist is really like, and her latest role in Mythic Quest. Plus, she told us an adorable story about how she and her boyfriend met six years ago and randomly reconnected, just in time to give us all hope for Valentine’s Day.
Can you tell us how you got into acting?
My Dad was a musical theater actor and my mom was a modern dancer, so creativity was always a huge part of our household. I was always an anxious kid, couldn’t focus or sit still in class, so performing let me escape all that and become someone else. It allowed me to channel all that nervous energy into something fun and imaginative. However, it wasn’t until I was in high school that I knew I wanted to do it as a career. I did a production of Brighton Beach Memoirs and something just clicked.
What’s your least favorite stereotype about actors/actresses and why?
That we’re all self absorbed jerks. My favorite part about being an actor is that I get to explore empathy and understanding other people on a deeper level, so it’s a bummer that we get labeled as narcissistic! We do a job that demands attention, I get that, but the actors I admire most manage to stay out of the way and focus on the work.
What can we expect to see from your latest role in Mythic Quest?
Sue, [my character in Mythic Quest] is an acquired taste… one that her coworkers don’t really care for, honestly. She’s exceedingly earnest and sickeningly sweet, but there are some demons behind those tightly wound blonde curls. If she were a dessert she’d be a Hostess snowball. Looks delicious, but eat too many and you’ll barf bright pink.
Do you play any video games?
I wasn’t allowed to play video games as a kid; my mom thought they were too violent. However I was obsessed with this game called Backyard Soccer on my Dad’s work PC. Not even sure it’s still around, but in 1998 that game was fire. And now I’m addicted to Overcooked on my boyfriend’s playstation, it’s deeply satisfying.
Have you ever dated anyone who plays video games (and more importantly, would you ever?)
Of course! I’ve dated a lot of people who play video games. My boyfriend plays Overwatch with his friends and brothers so a few times a week our home becomes a full on war zone. Honestly, it’s great. He gets to do that while I watch reality tv, win win.
We saw it was your birthday in January! Are you the type of person that likes to make a big deal out of your birthday?
It depends. Some years I just want to stuff my face with Greek food with a few close friends, and other years (like this one) I want to dress up like a disco ball and dance the night away. Most importantly, I want to be with the people I love and thank them for another year of being in my life.
You’re a Capricorn, right? Do you identify with your sign?
I don’t know much about astrology, but I’m always told I’m “such a Capricorn!” Unsure how I should take that? But I assume it’s kind of like Harry Potter houses. I always say that knowing what house you’re in isn’t defined by your strengths, but by your flaws. So in being a Capricorn, I identify with the positives, like being strong-willed and down to earth, but even more so with the weaknesses like being stubborn and unforgiving. And for the record, I’m a proud Hufflepuff.
We keep seeing pics of you slaying the red carpet on your Instagram. How do you choose what to wear? Do you have a stylist/what’s the process like?
My stylist is Natalie Hoselton and she’s a monster talent. The process is essentially me getting naked in my dining room and trying on a bunch of clothes she brought while my dog barks at her as she tries to put shoes on me. But truly, she has incredible taste and we work so well together. I tell her what I like and don’t like (mostly can I eat and still breath and will my mother approve) and we land on a look and discuss with my hair and makeup people. It’s a true team effort. I love getting glammed up, but I’d be in soft pants 24-7 if it was socially acceptable.
What’s your favorite place to shop for more everyday fashion?
About 90% of my closet is Everlane t-shirts and & Other Stories. I try to make ethical/sustainable choices as much as possible, so I also love shopping consignment, especially small businesses on the east side of LA like The Left Bank or Gift of Garb.
What’s your favorite fun fact about law that you learned on set of Bluff City Law?
The best thing about being on BCL was learning about the case law that correlated to the cases we addressed on the show. Almost all of the episodes had cases that were based on true stories. One of my favorites was an episode about a high school athlete being forced to cut his dreadlocks to compete. That actually happened to a kid in New Jersey, and I’m sure he’s not the only one. Confronting discrimination in its current shapes is a great aim for a law show, and it’s super gratifying to learn about the real stories behind the ones we tell on the show. Also, I’m pretty sure I can legally practice law now, which is cool too.
In Modern Love, you played “the one that got away.” Do you feel like you’ve had a “one that got away?” Can you tell us about them?
Honestly? I’m dating my one that got away right now. We met six years ago doing a play and became super close pals. I always had heart flutter-y feelings for him, but he was in a serious relationship so we kept our distance. Circumstance eventually drove us apart. So, after not speaking for years, he called me up when he was single again, [we] caught up over a (few) bourbons, and we’ve been together ever since. He’s a good one, I love him a whole lot.
What can we find you doing when you’re not acting or preparing for a role?
I’ve been too busy so my newer instagram followers probably don’t know this, but I am obsessed with DIY! I just like working with my hands. [I] got super into woodworking a few years back (made our dining room table), reupholstered some chairs off Craigslist, and rewired sconces for our bedroom. Besides that, my favorite part of my day is taking my dog Gertie to the park and watching her sprint around like a maniac.
What kind of role do you have your sights set on next?
As long as I like the character and it’s a three dimensional woman, I’m down for anything. A thriller would be awesome, something suspenseful with strong character focus to sink my teeth into. I’m a little late to the game, but I binged both seasons of Happy Valley in about a day, it’s one of my favorite things I’ve seen this year—something like that would be incredible.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Hudson Taylor
HAIR: Carly Walters
MAKEUP: Kindra Mann
STYLING: Natalie Hoselton
