Interview: Miriam Shor Talks New Season of TV Land's YOUNGER, HEDWIG & More!

Star of stage and television Miriam Shor stars as powerful publishing executive Diana Trout in TV Land's YOUNGER, a new comedy which follows Liza (Sutton Foster), a 40-year-old woman who lies about her age in order to reinvent her life and re-live her 20's.

With the Season 2 premiere just around the corner, Shor speaks exclusively with BWW and shares what's ahead on the hit series.

What attracted you to this project initially?

First of all, Darren Starr, because I had worked with him on 'GCB' and I loved, loved, loved working with him. Also, the chance to work with Sutton, who was already attached to it. We have known each other for a really long time but we never had the opportunity to work together, And then I read the script and the character was pretty awesome. And also, it was filming in New York City, which was all I ever wanted to do. You know I've done a lot of shows at this point and they all filmed in L.A., so I just love working here, it was like a dream come true. So all of those things together just made it the perfect, perfect show.

Your character Diana is so evil the majority of the time, but every once in a while we see a glimpse of kindness.

Yes, you see a little chink in her armor, and I really appreciate the writing of the role because, while it's always super fun to play the villain, they make her a well-rounded three dimensional character and they give her an inner life so it just makes it that much more satisfying and rewarding to play that character. And you know in those moments of kindness, the audience is able to connect to her more and almost root for her, which is a nice surprise for them too.

Not to imply that you are at all a mean person, but can you relate to Diana in any way?

[laughing] You know it's interesting, I am very different from her. I do work really hard to be nice to people, well actually I think it doesn't take much effort to be nice to people so why shouldn't we all be nice to each other? But I do appreciate very much a woman who is in a position of power who is unapologetic about her position and her belief in her own abilities. I think that as women, we're often asked to apologize for our own power, or we're asked to undercut ourselves and it's deemed unattractive to have faith in our abilities. So I'm really kind of in awe of that, I wish I had more of Diana in me because I tend to apologize all the time. So that is a really fun thing to kind of tap into in myself as well. Of course Diana obviously takes that to an extreme degree, but the level of confidence in herself and unabashed and unapologetic ambition I do find admirable. On the other hand, that security in herself is where she runs into a bit of trouble sometimes and of course she exhibits behavior that you would not want to emulate on any level.

Diana and Liza have such an interesting relationship. Can you share how that will evolve in the upcoming season?

Well, there are many surprises this season which I unfortunately cannot share now, but yes, there is a bond that the two of them share, a very odd friendship has developed between them and for both of them, a grudging respect and affection that they end up having for each other. And I really enjoy that because both of them are unpredictable, Liza for reasons that the audience is let in on, but Diana for her own secret reasons. So I think their relationship is really interesting and I like when the writers write to that interesting bond. And it will develop in this season, which is really great. Not to say Diana turns into a sweetheart - she remains true to herself, but the bond does deepen and I like that they allow for that. It speaks to how much the writers value friendship and to how much the show is about friendship, friendship between women in particular.

If time travel were possible, would you have any desire to return to your 20's?

No I don't, I do not want to go back to my 20's! I was just saying to someone that I feel like my true adult life didn't really begin until I was 27, which is late, I recognize. But for some reason, looking back at my 20's, which I do often because of this show, I feel like there was so much more growing up I had to do. I mean at any age you are growing up at some level, but as far as maturing and growing up, a lot of that happens in your 20's, a lot of mistakes still to make and insecurities. But at around 27 I started to come into my own as a real adult. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time in my 20's, I was doing HEDWIG in my late 20's and that was a really good time, but I much prefer how I feel about myself now. That said, you have to go through all of that to get to where you are, so I wouldn't wish to erase any of that.

With all the musical talent in the cast, yourself, Sutton and Hilary [Duff], is there any chance the writers will be able to sneak a musical number into the show?

[laughing] You know, I can't make any guarantees because never say never my friend, but I think we're trying to keep away from that for now. But I can see why you would want that.

Yeah, I was thinking maybe a dream sequence or something.

Well, I remember Sutton said one day, "No, no, my character's tone deaf!" which cracked me up.

You of course originated the role of Yitzhak in the off-Broadway run of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. Did you have a chance to see the recent Broadway revival?

I did, I saw it many times. I saw Neil [Patrick Harris] of course but then I also saw Andrew Rannells and I saw Michael C. Hall and of course I saw John [Cameron Mitchell] do it again, I mean I couldn't stay away from that, and it was so great to revisit that. It was such a nostalgic emotional thing to know you had a part in the creation of this and to see how it's moved on to this other moment and you're so proud of it. And there was this strange combination of bittersweet nostalgia and so many other emotions. I really think it's just a story that will resonate forever and ever, I don't see it ever stopping. And just to see a whole different audience who came to see it, which is exactly what you want.

Yes, there was such a wide age range of people who came to the show and enjoyed it.

Yes, amazing! And that really speaks to the difference between now and when we first did HEDWIG, which is also exciting to see. And it's just so great to hear that music again. It's just something I am unabashedly proud of and just don't mind going off about how much I love it.

So you can be like Diana on that one!

Yeah, exactly there you go, finally acting like Diana on that!

Any plans to return to Broadway in the near future?

Well fingers crossed I'm going to keep doing YOUNGER for a long time and then, you know take it as it comes. I have two little ones at home and I feel like I want to be around for them for a while. But of course I love the stage and I don't want to be away from it forever, it's an interesting balancing act.

Well I am so excited for the new season of YOUNGER to begin in January.

Yes, I really hope you like it. We've been having a lot of fun and are giving it our all. This season will go even a little further which is fun. And I'm excited that so many people seem to be so excited about it. I just feel really lucky.

Season 2 of YOUNGER premieres Wednesday, January 13 at 10pm. Get a first look below:

About Miriam Shor: Shor began her career with several acclaimed Off-Broadway productions, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell. She reprised her role of Yitzhak in the critically-lauded 2001 film adaptation. Miriam has appeared on television in "The West Wing," "Damages," "Mildred Pierce," and "The Good Wife." She can currently be seen as Diana Trout on TV Land's "Younger" (created by Darren Star) and she'll next appear in the film Puerto Ricans in Parisopposite Luiz Guzman when it makes its world premiere at the LA Film Festival.

About YOUNGER: 40-year-old Liza (Sutton Foster) passes herself off as 26 to land a job. Now she has to make sure no one discovers her secret.

Photos courtesy of TV Land