Charlyne Yi Issue #39

Funnier than you

By Kathleen Keish
Published: March 1st, 2009 | 10:02am

Comedian and actress Charlyne Yi’s fate was revealed to her through a sign — literally. Before becoming a performer and actress in films and television shows such as Knocked Up and Miss Guided, Yi had comedic aspirations. But it wasn’t until seeing a sign outside a comedy club that read, “You can do comedy, too!” that she decided to pursue them.

Though not a household name just yet, Yi made her starring debut this year in the feature film Paper Heart, a half-documentary, half-narrative film starring herself and real-life love interest Michael Cera. The film premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.

Venus Zine talked to Yi about her new film, her real age, and why women are definitely funny.

VZ: You were chosen to be in our “25 Under 25” issue, but your MySpace page says you are 32. Care to clear up that misconception?
CY: I don’t know how it started. I think someone after a show asked me how old I was as a joke, ‘cause they were like, ‘you’re so cute” or something, and they go, “How old are you?” I don’t know how old they said I was, like 18, and I was like, ‘No, I’m 32.’ It was just kind of like a joke at first … somehow it spread around. I think my agent said that she saw on IMDB that I was 32, and I thought that was really funny so I changed it on my MySpace.

VZ: Around two years ago, Christopher Hitchens wrote an essay for Vanity Fair entitled, “Why Women Aren’t Funny.” Why do you think they are?
CY: I think that there [are] so many men out there doing comedy … there [are] so few women that the ratio of funny women is very slim compared to the men. I think women are funny and guys are funny, too, and I don’t think either of them is better than the other.

VZ: What can you tell us about Paper Heart? You and Michael Cera are both well-known for your comedic styles — will this film follow suit?
CY: It’s about the meaning of love and I interview all sorts of people like bikers and an Elvis impersonator and a couple that’s been together for over 50 years. I think the purpose, to me, was that everyone is searching for love and hopefully people can connect with us. I don’t think we’re ever searching for laughs. I think if it is funny, it’s not like we’re making fun of the people we’re interviewing, it’s not like Borat or anything … if the laugh comes, it comes genuinely.

VZ: You are pretty well-known for your brief role in Knocked Up. Katherine Heigl came out and said that [the film] was sexist. What is your perspective on this comment as one of the film’s female cast members?
CY: I definitely thought [Katherine Heigl and Leslie Mann] were funny in it, I’ll tell you that. I was like, ‘Wow, Katherine Heigl is so good, I’m so glad she’s playing this part.’ And same thing with Leslie Mann, I thought [she] was extremely funny. But as far as it being sexist? I don’t know, I’m not sure. I definitely think they were the naggy [characters] in the movie, that’s true, but I don’t know if that qualifies as being sexist or not.

------

*This is part of Venus Zine Spring 2009 issue's "25 Under 25" series. For more awesome young women, check out the rest of the list:

Evan Rachel Wood, Alia Shawkat, Zoe Kravitz, Lady Sovereign, Rye Rye, Ida Maria, Gabriella Cilmi, Adele, Alessi Laurent-Marke, Vivian Girls, Crystal Castles, Samantha Crain, Abby Elliott, Charlyne Yi, Alithia Spuri-Zampetti, Ria Thomas, Helen Oyeyemi, Samantha Larson, and more!