Popped spoke with Jessalyn Gilsig, who plays Holly in Big Shot, about Season 2, working with John Stamos, the similarities between herself and Holly, her love of WandaVision and what she hoped a third season could explore.
JMJ: I just wanted to start off, and congratulate you on a wonderful second season. The first thing I wanted to ask you is, What is your favourite thing about the show and playing Holly?
JG: Well, I love sports, and when you say that, I guess the first thing I think of is basketball and the second thing I think of is my wardrobe, because anytime I’m just wearing a tracksuit I’m so comfortable. Sometimes my work clothes are more comfortable than the clothes I wear to work. I’ve worn every tracksuit there is, and I feel very lucky. So, I just love the idea of celebrating sports and athleticism, and just just all the positive things that can come from it, none of which have to be. That You have to be good at sports or the best, at sports but rather participation.
JMJ: Obviously, you work alongside John Stamos. What was it like working with him?
JG: It’s amazing. It’s kind of exactly what you hope it is. You know, he’s very passionate about the show, deeply committed. He works incredibly hard. He’s just one of those actors who is so happy to be at work, which is such a wonderful quality to have and you’d be surprised how many actors aren’t that way and it’s so unfortunate because we’re so incredibly lucky to do what we do. What a ridiculous job! You know. We just walk around in other people’s clothes, pretending. So he’s just delightful, and he’s been really, I think, a lot of the reason, he and Yvette Nicole Brown I have to say, that the sort of the positivity and the support that they bring to the set, and the support that they show the girls who, for many of whom it was really their first job. I think hopefully I feel like that’s what’s translating, is people are feeling that love, that is really genuine that we get to experience every day
JMJ: Is there anything from your personal life that you have injected into your performance as Holly?
JG: You know, it’s such an interesting question because I actually think this character is the closest thing I’ve ever played to myself. I find her very relatable, especially the way she deals with John. I think that’s kind of how John and I operate a little bit off set, too, is sort of like a kind of banter and a kind of dance, that they have.I guess in a lot of ways she’s aspirational to me in the sense of how patient she is with the girls, how devoted she is to education and and school, that’s her world and that’s her place of meaning. I personally really like the detail that she doesn’t have children and that she’s this really incredibly well-rounded, enthusiastic, curious woman who isn’t defined by motherhood. I’ve never really gotten to play a person like that, so I don’t know. She’s better than I am, but she has some of my qualities.
JMJ: Now I couldn’t speak to you and not mention that I used to be, like the biggest Glee fan in the world. Both yourself and John were on the show, if the possibility ever came to be, would you say Yes or No to a musical Big Shot episode?
JG: Yeah, that’s a good idea. I mean, John has the chops. I don’t have the chops, but I can fake iT. Yeah, why not?
JMJ: I’m sure they could do some. Some tricks.
JG: Yeah, there’s Auto-Tune, right.
JMJ: What was it like working on set? Did you ever get to play basketball yourself in between takes?
JG: Well, if you saw the final scene, I did get to take a free throw. But yet, to be honest, when people play basketball between takes, it’s really annoying because we’re in this big gym all together and the bouncing of the balls is like everyone saying, like, okay, now let’s put the balls away. We cannot handle it. But yeah, I mean, like I said, once I’m in that tracksuit, I’m pretty much doing my lunges. You know, it’s a very light, fun, positive environment to be in to be a part of that show. Yeah.
JMJ: Big Shot is obviously a Disney+ original. Are there any other Disney plus originals you like watching? Perhaps one that you’d like to join the cast of?
JG: Oh, yes. I’d like to be a part of anything Marvel related. I have to admit, I’m trying to think of the name of the one where it’s the sitcom And they go through the different eras?
JMJ: Oh, WandaVision!.
JG: WandaVision! Yes, I got really into that. I really enjoyed that. I thought it was really imaginative and clever. I liked that a lot. But Disney is doing amazing things, and what’s so beautiful is how people are responding. You know, there’s a lot of positivity in Disney content and a lot of hope, and I’m sort of proud to be a part of something like that in this current climate.
JMJ: What was your favorite scene or episode to shoot this season?
JG: Oh, that’s a great question. You know, there’s a scene that John and I do when we’ve kissed and then, (oh, sorry, spoiler alert!). Then, the next morning we see each other and we’re very awkward and we sort of miss each other and kind of devolve into an argument. Twas a really fun scene to do. It was just really playful. It kind of felt like theater and I felt really lucky that day. I remember thinking, Gosh, I’ve got a great job, I’m one of the unique people who actually really likes shooting basketball as well. I think it’s really fun. There’s not a lot of acting involved because you just have to react to what you’re seeing. The girls do the harder part of that because they have to keep running up and down the court. But I just keep yelling, encouraging things, and I think it’s a really fun day.
JMJ: How fun is it getting to work with the girls? What’s it like on set between yourself and them?
JG: It’s wonderful. A lot of them, this was their first job and so we’ve watched them evolve and get more confident and more comfortable with the work over time. That’s been really rewarding. We went through COVID together and I think whoever you were with during COVID, you really have a bond and so we’re very tight as a cast. Then this year, we got the boys and that’s been really special, they’ve all come in with such a great attitude. You know, they always say, in my world, the fish stinks from the head. So like, if your number one isn’t happy, nobody’s happy. But if you’re number one is happy, everybody’s happy. John [Stamos] just sets that tone and everybody rises to it. So it’s been a very positive experience and the girls have been really, really wonderful. We’re so lucky to have them.
JMJ: Now I know nothing’s been said, but should you get a third season… Is there anything you want to see explored? Perhaps new environments, new people?
JG: Oh, gosh, yeah. We almost had a retired basketball player come on this year, and I thought that would have been really fun to bring on some actual athletes. I’d like to keep exploring this sort of inequity between the focus on men’s and women’s sports. I think that could benefit from more exploration, more investigation. I think the presence of the boys actually made it easier to explore because it brought in that degree of conflict and so I think there’s a lot more to do there, and I’d love to keep coaching the boys and see where that goes but obviously these decisions aren’t mine. So I’ll just do what they tell me.
Watch The Full Interview
Big Shot Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+
