Sarah Wright Talks Walk of Shame, Parks and Rec, and Hiding Pregnancy at Work

If you recognize Sarah Wright, it’s probably because you own a television. She’s guest-starred on Mixology, Happy Endings, and Hello Ladies—and she plays Jerry’s daughter, Millicent Gergich, on Parks and Rec. In Walk of Shame, she’s Denise, Elizabeth Banks’ sexy-flaky best friend—think a grown-up version of Amanda Seyfried in Mean Girls. I caught up with Wright about making the film and fun with the Parks and Rec cast.

MA: Your Walk of Shame character is kind of a ditz. How did you have fun with that without making her look stupid?

SW: I think the trick is in being completely unaware. Denise doesn’t ever really know what’s going on, but she pretends like she does. You don’t want to come across dumb—I had to walk that line.

MA: Without spoiling too much—your character does have this really clever thing, the “douche meter.” She barrages James Marsden’s character with questions designed to suss out if he’s a good guy.

SW: James and I had such fun with that. Steve Brill, the director, was totally into going off-page, so we came up with a lot of different questions before we actually shot it.

MA: Do you have a “douche meter” in real life?

SW: I don’t have a meter, but it’s like: that guy who drives too muscly of a car, who wears sleeveless tees, and is always at the gym. I always tell my husband [NCIS: Los Angeles‘s Eric Christian Olsen] that I want him to have a little pouch on his belly—don’t try too hard.

MA: The yellow dress Elizabeth’s character wears in this movie is basically a character of its own—it goes through so much. But it’s actually your dress—at the beginning of the movie, you’re wearing it, and then she borrows it. What’s the story behind that number?

SW: It was two different dresses—I’m taller than Elizabeth, so hers would have been up to my butt. And I was three months pregnant when we were fitted for it…

MA: Oh, and of course it’s the tightest dress ever.

SW: Yes. And I was one of those people that was immediately showing. If you notice in the movie, I’m covering my stomach with my purse.

MA: So no one knew?

SW: No one knew. On the last day of shooting, I was 15 weeks pregnant. I told them then. My son is eight months old now—he’s awesome. He’s huge! He’s looked like a one-year-old for a while.

MA: Since we’re on the topic of family, let’s talk about your TV family—the Gergiches on Parks and Rec. You play Jerry’s daughter, Millicent, who also dated Chris.

SW: When I started, I was working with Rob Lowe—who’s the nicest guy on the planet, by the way. So sweet and charming and excited about life. And then, to be Jerry’s daughter? It’s the best. Christie Brinkley, who plays my mom—she’s just a burst of light.

MA: Jerry’s family made him even more endearing. Sometimes my heart hurts watching everyone tease him.

SW: I know, he’s so lovable. Jim O’Heir is the nicest guy and on set, you’ll hear everyone being like, “Oh, no, we have to be mean to him again today!” I felt very lucky to be a part of it. Amy Poehler is one of my idols.

MA: Just like Parks and Rec, Walk of Shame is a female-led production. How does that change the experience of making comedy?

SW: Usually, men are the driving forces in scenes, and you chip in lines here and there, you know what I mean? It’s so great to riff with a bunch of girls and get to take charge—not just chime in with the guys.

Walk of Shame opens today. ICYMI, here’s my interview with Wright’s costar Gillian Jacobs.