BY DEBRA RICH GETTLEMAN
Be honest. If you were tasked with writing a story about a 22-year-old rising Hollywood star with perfect teeth and a crown of magnificent crimson curls, who comes from a nice Jewish home with a functional observant family she adores, and is currently starring in a successful television show opposite Jason Segal and Harrison Ford, wouldnât you be sort of hoping not to like her? Enter Rachel Stubington and all your contrived negativity instantly vanishes.Â
This down-to-earth beauty is charming, open, and funny as hell. You simply canât help relating to a young woman who went to Hess Kramer Jewish overnight camp, participates in her congregationâs Cantorial training program, and cannot wait to sing at her younger brotherâs upcoming Bar Mitzvah. She notes that her brother will keep her in check on his special day. âIâm pretty sure heâll limit me to Lâdor Vâdor,â she smiles.
When I ask Rachel what started it all? She laughs, âI think as a kid, I just really wanted attention.â From singing at High Holidays to school talent shows, camp skits, and a theatre degree from UCLA, Rachel knew from a young age that she loved comedy. She credits her comedy focus to the Jewish summer camp experience. âYouâre at camp, and there are skits, and talent showsâŠitâs the place where I realized you can be funny and get attention.â
Asked about her burgeoning success, she says she doesnât see herself as an overnight sensation. âIâve been auditioning for 10 or 11 years,â she comments. And being in the spotlight doesnât keep her from feeling star-struck when she steps on a film set or appears at a movie premier. âYou try to play it cool,â she notes. âBut youâre standing next to Harrison Ford!â
Her comic influencers include Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling. In fact, sheâs sure she didnât get into Dartmouth because when asked at her interview why she wanted to attend, she said, âBecause Mindy Kaling went here.â It was the truth. But, looking back, she thinks that may not have been the best answer.
Her current show on Apple TV is called Shrinking, and she plays Summer, a fun-loving best friend to the main characterâs daughter, played by Lukita Maxwell. The show follows Jason Laird, played by Jason Segel, a grieving therapist who tells his patients exactly what he thinks. His brutal honesty, however, has a turbulent effect on both his clients and him.
Rachel canât say enough good things about everyone on who works on the show. âThe crew and cast are some of my favorite people,â She tells me, âI have so much respect and love for everyone. And I think everyone is so talented. She adds, âMy favorite thing about Shrinking, aside from it being so funny, is that it brings a lot of light to something that people are really ashamed to talk about, which is mental health.â
âMy mom watches every episode,â Rachel beams, âTwice!â With good reviews and a strong buzz, she expects the show to be picked up for a second season. âItâs an incredibly topical show these days.â
I ask her if sheâs ever been in therapy herself, and she openly shares âSure, I used to see a shrink.â She wants to help shatter the stigma around mental health and isnât shy about sharing her own struggles, âHumor comes from insecurity,â she explains, âEspecially in this business. Youâre constantly fighting to prove to other people that your worth their time. You know, youâre on a tv show and the pressure is like âWhatâs next?â And that doesnât end. You need to keep working to keep proving your worth it.âÂ
And what about her personal life? Sheâs in a great relationship with a guy she went to Jewish High School with. âWe all came home because of the pandemic and a bunch of kids my age ended up dating people from High School.â Itâs not surprising that Rachel is currently partnered with a Jewish man whose father happens to be a Rabbi. âJudaism has always been a big part of my life,â she asserts âMy nan is really big on doing all of the Jewish holidays at her house. And my mom was adamant that we go to Hebrew School.
While Rachel loves comedy, her recently released Lifetime movie, A Rose for her Grave, where she stars opposite Chrishell Stause and Colin Egglesfield is not exactly a laugh riot. âItâs actually very serious,â she says, âItâs based on a true story where this man named Randy Roth would marry women and then kill them. Itâs totally true and no one caught on to him for the longest time. Itâs a very cool story. This man preys on insecure women. And at the end of the film, itâs these women that are the ones to put him in jail.â
How does Rachel feel about being in the public eye. âIâm suddenly that person who can really make a statement and itâll ripple through the world. Thatâs weird to think about.â She goes on to confess,â I get kind of nervous at these interviews because I worry that Iâm going to say something I shouldnât. Like I used to always tell people that my favorite movie is The Muppet Movie and that Iâve seen it at least 300 times. My publicist suggested I not mention that in every interview.âÂ
I must admit, I feel kind of bad putting it in here given the above statement. But itâs just so cute that I canât leave it out. Because Rachel Stubington has the energy and joy of all your favorite Muppets combined. Sheâs charming and glamorous (think Miss Piggy), funny and warm (like Elmo), she has a heart of gold and, like Fozzie Bear, will stop at nothing to get a laugh, and most importantly, sheâs comfortable in her own skin, which reminds me a lot of Kermyâs signature âItâs not easy being greenâ song.
Keep your eye on Rachel Stubington, sheâs something to see.
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