Debi Mazar on "Entourage" movie, new TV series "Younger"
If her life took another path, Debi Mazar may have been a makeup artist with her own successful line of cosmetics. Maybe even one who could afford her own private island, too, like makeup millionaire Francois Nars, of NARS cosmetics, she says.
"I would be kicking back and not caring about doing my hair and makeup and running to auditions all the time," Mazar said.
Instead, Mazar is a successful working actress, who appeared in the films "Goodfellas" and "Batman Forever" and graced the small screen in HBO's "Entourage." And since 2011, she's co-hosted the Cooking Channel's "Extra Virgin" series with her husband, Gabriele Corcos.
She'll soon be seen in the upcoming TV Land series "Younger" from "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star. The show follows 40-year-old Liza (Sutton Foster), a suddenly single mother who tries to get back into the working world, only to find out it's nearly impossible to start at the bottom at her age. Mazar plays Liza's good friend, Maggie.
"I get to play a lesbian, which is really nice. It's a nice change for me," she said. "Darren likes me sexy, so I'm not going for a complete butch look, which I kind of wanted quite frankly."
"It's shot in New York, and I moved back to New York and I got the series when I arrived. And I was like, 'Yes, thank you God!" she continued.
"Younger," which premieres Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, also stars Hilary Duff, Miriam Shor and Nico Tortorella.
Mazar based the Maggie character on a late "Cuban lesbian friend" who was a "sharp dresser." She had "street smarts" and would give you the "shirt off her back." Mazar said knew how "to be a great friend and give great advice."
The 50-year-old actress is also hitting theaters this spring in the movie version of "Entourage." She's due to revive Shauna Roberts, the show's no-nonsense Hollywood publicist. Vince, Drama, Eric, Turtle and Ari are all back for more...well, drama. And Shauna will be there to help put out all those press fires that pop up in Hollywood.
"It's shot beautifully," Mazar said about "Entourage," adding, "L.A. looks great...It's Hollywood. It's the guys. They're growing up and they're getting into other things."
The series, which ran from 2004-2011, always featured a lot of fun celebrity pop-ups, and the movie will take that up a notch. Mark Wahlberg, Bob Saget, Tom Brady, Pharrell Williams, Liam Neeson and Andrew Dice Clay are among the stars set to appear in the film premiering on June 5.
Mazar says the movie feels "bigger" than the series -- with its "full-on production." Still, when she was shooting scenes with just the guys, it felt very much like the show.
When she's not working in film or TV, Mazar has been busy writing a memoir. It's a slow process, she says, but she's eager to get it out to the public.
"In life -- it's full of surprises and it's never what you expect it to be. I'm very blessed," Mazar said. "I have a very happy life. I created a cooking show with my husband out of a blog....And I have great kids."
Mazar, who actually started out in the '80s as a makeup artist, says she's grateful for her current career.
So what about starting that makeup line?
"There's so much makeup in the world, I don't know if we need more. But never say never," she said.
