Host Nikki Boyer sits down with Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass, who bring depth and humanity to the male characters in FX's 'Dying for Sex.' Delaney opens up about playing the enigmatic 'neighbor guy,' finding vulnerability in comedy, and creating chemistry with Michelle Williams. Then, Duplass discusses embodying Steve, Molly's well-intentioned but overbearing husband, and shares behind-the-scenes insights about filming some of the show's most vulnerable moments. Together, they explore how this story about death ultimately teaches us how to live more fully.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapter 1: Who are Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass in 'Dying for Sex'?
The guys on this show are weird and kind and vulnerable. And I got to talk to two of the incredible actors who made these guys real. First up, Rob Delaney. He plays Neighbor Guy. He's a comedian, actor, and best-selling author known for co-creating and starring in the critically acclaimed British sitcom, Catastrophe. You might also know him from Deadpool versus Wolverine or Bad Monkey.
Or maybe you know him from his online presence where he mixes offbeat, truly hilarious jokes with deep disarming reflections on embracing life through heartbreak and healing. We talked about balancing funny and sad, finding incredible chemistry on set, and the allure of the male form.
We're not in the ancient Greek phase where a naked man's body was like a thing of magnificence. For whatever reason, naked men's bodies are funny now. And so it's easier to make people laugh if you're naked and doing something silly.
After that, I chat with actor Jay Duplass. He plays Molly's husband Steve on the show. And from the moment that I met Jay, I just knew. Like I had this feeling. He has this energy. He's like the guy at the party who actually wants to hear about your weird dream. Yeah, that's him. We talked about all of it. Getting super vulnerable on set.
Someone was asking me the other day, like, how naked are you in this? And I'm like, very naked. And they were like, yay. And I was like, not my best work.
Finding peace in the chaos of filming and what the story can teach us about death.
Was shepherding Molly's death something that made you more scared of dying or less scared of dying?
And, well, I cry like four times. That's a good one. Mm-hmm.
It's a funny conversation.
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Chapter 2: How did Rob Delaney get involved with 'Dying for Sex' and what is his role?
So you get the script and you're reading through it and you see your role is just neighbor guy. Yeah.
Yeah.
When's the last time you played a role that was just neighbor guy or just guy at bar or...
One of the first things I ever did, the Upright Citizens Brigade, you know, the comedy group, did an improvised movie like 15 years ago, or probably more. And my title in that was Whipped Cream Ass Man. But usually my characters have names. And for those of us listening who aren't screenwriters and don't spend time reading scripts and stuff, frequently...
a character might be introduced, and in their first line of dialogue, it would be under the heading of Neighbor Guy. And then Neighbor Guy would be like, my name's Matt. Right. And then subsequently, he'd be called Matt, you know? But then not in this, just eight episodes deep. What's this guy's name? Ah, who knows?
I actually loved that part of this because just so you know, when Molly and I would discuss her lovers, we gave them names like, you know, Sock on Wiener Guy or Neighbor Guy.
What I like about it, though, is that he very much does begin as Neighbor Guy. And while within the show, he certainly blossoms into a character who, you know... would have a name that Molly would know. Right.
But I like that he doesn't because then he's just sort of this like concept, which is he starts as an annoying neighbor guy and then turns into something more wonderful just because Molly gives him attention. You know what I mean? He turns into a real boy.
I think it's worth mentioning that like your character doesn't technically exist in the podcast. I think you're kind of a combo of like six or seven different men that she had things going on with. So you're like the combo platter. You're like the buffet. Yeah.
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Chapter 3: What challenges did Rob Delaney face portraying Neighbor Guy, including vulnerability and nudity?
I mean, the chemistry that you have, just by looking at each other across the elevator, across a bedroom, a hospital bed, wherever you guys are. What goes into that of creating chemistry with essentially someone that was a stranger not too long ago?
I'm really grateful Michelle and I hit it off. You know, we hadn't met before this. And so we got together and talked about the story and talked about ways to express it. And so we had a really good rapport. And a slice of the pizza... of her incredible talent is the generosity and the openness and the desire for you to do well too.
I mean, I'll say we've both dealt with real life stuff that is pretty heavy duty. and we were both able to be very sensitive to each other about that. So I guess we kind of maybe developed a color palette together that we're, you know, like if she would mix a blue, I'd be like, oh, I know that color. And if I mixed a red, she'd be like, whew, haven't seen that in a while.
Are you getting anything out of it?
Yeah. The way you look at me when I give you exactly what you want. You look at me like you want me so much.
Can I just say that your eyes are mesmerizing? And I know that sucks to say out loud. I'm sorry, but they are.
I do feel very grateful that Michelle and I were kind of able to hit the ground running. And then, you know, she has the career that she does and the reputation that she does because she does have an oceanic talent. And so I just try to be as emotionally naked and present as possible. Oh.
Like, I want to work with very, very good actors because it makes it easier for me to just listen, to just truly be there. So Michelle Williams makes that very, very easy.
Well, and I have to say, yes, I mean, she's just magic. And I have to say, I feel the same way about you. You are the safest, funniest place to land when an actress is doing something like that. How do you do that?
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Chapter 4: How did Rob Delaney create on-screen chemistry with Michelle Williams?
Really?
If I've been afraid of something, I've spoken up about it. And, you know, usually a guy will be like, oh my God, me too, you know? Or like, really? Because I know a thing we could do to help with that, you know? So value your friendships and your relationship.
Obviously, you know, if you have a partner that has primacy and you give that attention and the love that it needs, but also just friends, you know what I mean? Because like the relationship between television Molly and Nikki is so beautiful. Yeah. And offers so much and I think could be a really wonderful template. You know what I mean?
That type of relationship is probably more in reach to people than they might realize if they're willing to be truly vulnerable. So yeah, vulnerability is a gift that you give people that you love. Be careful with it. Can't give it to everybody. You know what I mean? But if you know somebody who you think can handle it, then they can handle it and give them that gift and it will bear fruit.
Oh my gosh, I love that. I love that through this story about death, it's really teaching you how to live life and things to focus on about life. And that's what I hope people take away from this. I have to tell you, there are so many scenes that you have with Michelle that give me something that maybe I didn't get from... Molly's story, like resolve in certain spots of her life.
Like there's a scene where you see her for the first time outside. I haven't seen you in daylight. Right. And then she falls and you call 911. And in the midst of that conversation, she says, I love you to you.
Oh, my God.
And I was there on set that day. And I just remember sobbing and sobbing. And I couldn't figure out, Rob, why I was so emotional. And I think because she didn't get that moment in her life. I mean, she got a lot of love and a lot of people loved her. But that person that said, like, I'm here. And I love you.
I think that's why I feel oddly connected to you because you helped like a little bit of closure for myself of going, see, like it happened in a weird way.
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Chapter 5: What was the emotional impact of filming Molly's death scenes for Rob Delaney?
It's not yours to... He's my doctor.
Okay, I think we're still reeling from stage four of it all. Stop it.
Stop it. It's my life. It's my death. It's mine.
Okay. So I was like just fully grounded in this like, I think very naive, but very believing place that like, I know how to keep this woman alive better than anybody here. And me, Jay Duplass, actually thinks he's right. He's right about this one little fact is that if everybody just did what Steve said...
Including Nikki, including Molly, including, you know, nurses who, you know, we all have had those experience where you have a nurse and you're just like, I'm sorry, but this nurse will not do.
This is so interesting. It's what makes Steve's character likable because it's based in love. And I love that you said that, like that's his love language.
Yeah, there's a ton of scenarios where we just hate Steve's guts the whole time. And I wanted everybody to hate Steve's guts and be crying for him at the same time because they understand that he so desperately is trying to keep his wife alive.
And I think you nailed that.
Thank you.
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