Hannah Pilkes on Her Big Break in ‘Leanne’—and the Hilarious Advice Kristen Johnston Gave Her (EXCLUSIVE)
The actress plays Leanne Morgan’s daughter in the new Netflix comedy
Tennessee-born Leanne Morgan has been building her fan base for decades, and now, with an all-new Netflix sitcom, Leanne, hitting the streamer on July 31, fans can hardly wait to see the story unfold about a woman whose husband of over thirty years leaves her for someone younger. By her side throughout this ordeal is her sister, expertly portrayed by Kristen Johnston, her son and light of her life, played by Graham Rogers, and her spunky, work-in-progress daughter, brought to life by funny lady Hannah Pilkes. The actress and comedian moved to LA at just 18 in pursuit of her big screen dreams, and landing a spot on Leanne was something she called a “movie magic moment.” Here, Hannah Pilkes talks to Woman’s World about landing the gig of a lifetime, working alongside Leanne Morgan and Kristen Johnston, and all she’s learned along the way.
Hannah Pilkes dishes on Josie
While Graham Rogers plays the picture-perfect son within their family unit, Josie serves as his foil, moving to the beat of her own drum, never one to turn down the chance to party and ultimately living life on her own terms—no matter how messy that life might look. The way Pilkes sees it, Josie is what she referred to as an “ellipsis of a human.”
“She is super opinionated. She can be crass. She can be cheeky. She’s definitely the mischievous one of all of them, but you see that in all the other characters—there’s a lot of overlap,” the actress and comedian explained. While Josie might live life a little closer to the edge than Hannah, having moved out to LA at 18 to chase after her dream career, there are aspects of her character that she relates to.
“I’m always in pursuit or seeking out some sort of adventure,” shared Pilkes. “I love to travel. I’ve always been super independent. I came out to LA when I was 18. I grew up in New York and Philadelphia, and I just kind of knew I wanted to do comedy right at the jump. So, I relate to someone who’s fiercely independent and kind of wants to charge their own path.” She continued, “I’ve gotten a little older now, so I’m more responsible, but I relate to that kind of reckless abandon.”
Pilkes talks learning from the greats
Though Pilkes has been in the industry for years, working and learning alongside the likes of Leanne Morgan and Kristen Johnston was invaluable—and in addition to helpful advice she acquired along the way, the young comedian also took home a few memorable moments. Pilkes recalled a memory right before the chemistry read when Leanne turned to Kristen and Chuck Lorre with a hilarious, “That was me in the 80s, y’all.”
As for the words of wisdom she received, Hannah remembers a piece of advice given to her by Kristen Johnston. “‘Just be along for the ride and you’re gonna learn as you go,’” she recalls the 3rd Rock From the Sun actress telling her. “But she was like, ‘You’re a dazzler. No matter what. Remember you dazzle.’ So, I think that really helped me to hold on to the fact that this is a learning experience, and it is an embracing process, and it’s so rewarding to get to that live taping and to see it all come together. But, I think nerves are okay, and embracing the nerves and embracing the journey, that was really, really wonderful wisdom.”
Hannah Pilkes on the power of ‘Leanne’
While the show depicts the messier sides of life, it also feels something like a warm hug. “Leanne’s story is such an amazing one in that there’s no linear path to success, to embodiment, to confidence,” shares Hannah. “She’s living her best life. She’s lived many lifetimes now as a mother, as a performer, as a writer, as a creator, so I hope people watch and feel inspired and feel invigorated and hopefully cuddle up next to their families in a time when I think we all need the comfort.”
Tune in to Leanne on Netflix, premiering on July 31.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
