Actress Siobhan Murphy Epitomizes Holiday Spirit in Merry Happy Whatever
Canadian actress Siobhan Murphy is all about spreading the holiday spirit, hence why she took on the role of Patsy in Merry Happy Whatever, a new, dark comedy series on Netflix starring Dennis Quaid and Ashley Tisdale. Murphy, who plays Quaid’s oldest daughter on the show, is no stranger to the small screen: she is a regular character on Canada’s most-watched drama Murdoch Mysteries and has appeared in Schitt’s Creek, The Bold Type, Max Payne, and more TV and film projects. Below, she takes readers behind-the-scenes of her upcoming holiday hit, premiering on November 28th.
What was the audition process like for Merry Happy Whatever?
I hesitate to tell you how the audition process went down because in all my years working in this industry, it was a true anomaly. Normally, for a co-starring role as large as Patsy, you prepare to do a thousand callbacks and chemistry tests that go on and on. We’re playing a family of four, so I assumed there would be a very involved, long audition process. I’ve never been so happy to have been so wrong! I’d only been living in Los Angeles for a little over a year when my manager called to set up a pre-read with casting for Merry Happy Whatever, which is pretty standard. A lot of times, casting wants to meet you and make sure you know what you’re doing before putting you in front of producers. I read for the casting director, Jeff Greenberg, and thought it went relatively well. But you never know. I mean, as long as I get through it, make someone laugh, and not throw up on anyone, I feel pretty pleased with myself. I got called in a week later to read for our showrunner, Tucker Crawley, and producer, Wendi Trilling. Looking around the room at all the girls I recognized and respected from other shows, I just shrugged and thought, “Naw, they’ll give it to someone else,” which weirdly relaxed me and allowed me to actually have fun in the audition. Sometimes, underestimating yourself actually works in your favor! I found out a week later that I was picked! I don’t know how it was such a simple process, but I know it was unusual, and I’m so glad but also totally spoiled for anything that comes next. Truly, it’s never that straightforward, so don’t think that’s a normal auditioning process! Most of my actor friends who hear about it are instantly incredulous and I don’t blame them. Very annoying on my part.
Where were you and how did you react when you found out you were cast?
In a true L.A. cliche, I was walking home from a pilates class along Sunset Boulevard, and my manager called. It had been about a week or so since my producer session, so I wasn’t even thinking I’d hear anything. My manager said, “Well, you’re the choice. You’re the girl,” and I burst into a very hysterical, ugly cry in the middle of the sidewalk for a good ten minutes while he walked me through the next few steps. I feel like a girl in yoga gear sobbing on the sidewalk is a pretty standard L.A. landmark, though, so no one really noticed.
What was your favorite part about being on set?
Working on a multi-cam sitcom is unlike other styles of television--there’s such a fun rhythm you get into with your cast. It’s very similar to rehearsing for a play, always keeping the energy alive between dialogue and finding funny side moments. My favorite part was all the downtime in between working when all nine of us would be sitting around our fake living room and making each other laugh, showing each other dumb videos, or even making dumb videos ourselves! By the second or third week, it really felt like we had become a dysfunctional family. We genuinely wanted to hang out with one another, even when work was done. I’ve never had a cast that I’ve laughed so much and so easily with. They were all my favorite part of being on set.
How are you and your character similar? How are you different?
Jeff and Tucker cast each of us so perfectly in our roles. We’re all so similar to our characters in so many ways--it made feeling like a real family effortless. I love playing Patsy; she’s very similar to me if I was turned up to 10 at all times, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and never cursed! She’s a perfectionist to a fault and is the kind of lady who has a panicked meltdown if the breakfast sandwiches don’t come out perfectly. But it’s all coming from this place of wanting everyone around her to be happy and feel loved. I’m an only child, but in my friend group, I'm constantly worried someone needs something or feels less than perfect. It’s a bit of maternal energy, I guess, but I saw myself in so much of that part of Patsy. The peacekeeper, even when it’s at the expense of her own sanity! As for differences, I don’t have siblings, so finding that dynamic was really lovely for me as both as the character and as an actress. I certainly didn’t relate to Patsy’s aesthetic, but I now know I can pull off any holiday sweater and matching earrings you throw my way. And as much as I loved depicting her over-the-top emotional fragility, I think I’m pretty good at keeping myself level-headed with most of the people in my life. Although, in her defense, who hasn’t lost their mind at something completely innocuous because...family, right?
What was it like working with Dennis Quaid, Ashley Tisdale and the rest of the cast?
I know this sounds cliche, and lots of ensembles say this about their time together, but I really mean it when I say we felt like a family. It was a big cast, by most standards, but I loved that because it meant there was always someone to sit around and tell jokes with. We spent a lot of time going out for dinner or drinks when we wrapped. We just all genuinely loved being together. I felt was so lucky, because I know that doesn’t happen every day. Working with Dennis was amazing! He’s incredible, just the most charming, kind man you could ever play opposite. And then you remember he’s a bonafide movie star, he smiles at you, and it’s like, “Woah, right! You’re Dennis Quaid.” He’s such a delight, truly. The same goes for Ashley! We had so much fun playing sisters. Her character is constantly antagonizing mine, and I’ve never had a better time being treated like an annoying pest by another actress. Ashely was the casts’ social director, so she was the one who always had a fun plan for us to have a game night or go for dinner together. We all circled around her energy, and she made us a lot closer. When you have a cast that big, the fear can be that you just come and go to work, but I found the opposite to be true. We were all constantly in each other’s dressing rooms, sitting around and talking about life, or making fun of one another. It felt like summer camp and a family reunion all at once.
Any memorable behind-the-scenes moments you can share?
On one of our shoot days, we had a fire alarm go off because there was a ton of smoke in the studio. We all had to hustle outside until we were cleared to keep filming. Shooting a Christmas show that takes place in Philly in the middle of the summer in Los Angeles is no joke! Wool sweaters, heavy jeans, and blazing 100-degree sunshine in a studio parking lot made for a lot of gross jokes with each other The fire was a false alarm, but if you watch an episode and think to yourself, “Wow, they all look red and damp,” that’s why!
What do you hope will be the main takeaway from the series?
I think people are going to really love Merry Happy Whatever and the Quinn family. Of course, there’s the Christmas-y theme of the series, which is so comforting and relatable to all of us who have to suffer through a holiday with extended family. But I hope everyone sees themselves in one or more of the characters--that’s the best part of the show. It’s incredibly relatable, and each character is going through something that’s quite serious and real. I’m so proud of the show’s messages of patience, empathy, and the bravery to change, even when it’s scary. I think that in times when conversations and connections can be so divisive and political, it’s nice to remember that even if we don’t all share the same way of living our lives, it doesn’t mean we can’t try and understand one another, and in those moments, maybe even change our points of view a little. I also hope everyone laughs at our ridiculous antics and smiles and is grateful that our family isn’t their family and they’ve got it pretty good!
Follow Siobhan on Social Media:
Instagram: @siobhangmurphy
Twitter: @siobhangmurphy