It’s not everyday that you get to relive your high school years, but that’s exactly what Ava Deluca-Verley, star of the upcoming NBC comedy Growing Up Fisher, is getting to do. In fact, the chance to play a teenager (she’s actually 24) is what attracted her to the show in the first place. “She’s the 16 year old that I always wanted to be,” she tells us. “It’s really interesting and fun to go back and play in an environment.”
Based on the life of show creator DJ Nash, the Fishers are not your typical TV family. Coping with recently divorced parents (played by Jenna Elfman and J.K. Simmons) and the struggles of growing up—not to mention a blind father—is not exactly a recipe for laughter. “This is a retelling of his life. I think [we tend] to believe that life lessons need to be learned with pain and suffering, but what is so great about my character, Katie, [and the show] is the wit and humor that she brings to all the outrageous moments.”
The all-star cast is rounded out by executive producers Jason Bateman and David Schwimmer, who directed the pilot. Deluca-Verley knows she got lucky. “I’m still shocked and going through all of the motions,” she says. The Carnegie Mellon graduate was based on the East Coast until the pilot started filming. She’s now living in Los Angeles, but once the season wraps, she’s contemplating possibility of hitting the stage in New York City—although she won’t divulge any secrets just yet. In the meantime, we asked Deluca-Verley to answer our DuJour questionnaire.
If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes whose would it be?
I think Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama. Probably Michelle Obama. I want to see what it’s like to be the first lady. That would be insane.
What’s your favorite hour of the day?
Tea time! 3 p.m.
Did you break a sweat today?
I went for a walk to get my key, does that count?
What’s the best conversation you’ve had this week?
It was with my mom’s identical twin. She’s my godmother, and she’s been visiting. We had a wonderful conversation of just memories of our family and talking about love and relationships. It’s always great to have your elders open up to you about their wisdom.
If you wore a uniform everyday, what would it be?
Probably jeans and a T-shirt and boots of some kind.
Today, I didn’t want to but I had to…
Go to the dentist!
Growing Up Fischer premieres on February 23 on NBC.
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