Eden Sher
Looking for the perfect gift for the holiday season for a person who you might not know how to express what you feel? Looking for a word that expresses how you feel toward that person, but can't seem to figure out what to say? Well, look no further- there is a perfect gift out there that kills both birds with one stone. "Emotionary: The Dictionary For Words That Don't Exist For Feelings That Do," is the hilariously perfect go-to index for all the catchy new lingo to define a combination of thoughts and feelings, written by the multi-talented star of The Middle; Eden Sher!
On The Middle, Sher has stolen the hearts of audiences with her larger than life personality and her dynamic presence, bursting on to the screen in every scene she's in like a stick of dynamite as she steals them. She is self-admittedly "high energy," but the words barely do the gifted performer justice as she is more like defibrillators that are reviving her fans back to life. She is more than a breath of fresh air- she is like walking, talking oxygen- and it's good to know that audiences will be seeing her much more soon in the highly anticipated fun film Step-Sisters.
But, the extremely talented actress has more to offer than just her electric on-screen presence. So fiery, Sher can even set the screen ablaze without even being seen at all- and that's precisely why she's becoming such a prominent star in the tight knit voiceover community on Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil. On the cartoon, the skilled star repeatedly shows time and time again that even just her voice can attract attention- as can her writing. With "Emotionary" already being a top rated book on Amazon, Sher has shown that she is really unstoppable at anything she does. And considering that the bubbly beauty also sings, dances, and writes screenplays, unstoppable is truly the best word!
With her book being one of the hottest items on the market this holiday season, a big movie on the way, and her ABC sitcom being one of the funniest shows on the air, Sher took some time to sit down and answer some questions about all her big projects, what she would like to do in the future, who she would love to work with, and more. Read below to see her answers!
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So, you're already in season eight now on "The Middle" and you've really grown up on this show. Talk about what that process has been like?
It's really surreal when put like that! I look back and think to myself that I really was such a baby when I started out! I can't believe we are in the eighth season! It doesn't even feel like we have been doing this for so long, and then if I look at the first season it's shocking! But, I love the show so much and I've learned so much- I've had incredible teachers here, and I love my cast with all my heart.
You must be very close with your cast at this point. You even did a cameo in the film Charlie McDermott directed, "Imagigary," and I'm sure it was great to have Patricia Heaton to learn from on set. It's been a good working relationship, right?
This has been incredible. Charlie is one of my best friends. I have two brothers who I love very dearly, and I still think of Charlie as the brother I never had. He's the best. And Pattie, also. We have this crazy bond- it's almost like the equivalent of the bond you get when you're in college together with a group of people. These are the only people that can understand the feeling of spending sixteen hours within close quarters with one another. And Neil is wonderful. I miss him so much during hiatuses, and make him meet up for these "Tuesdays With Morrie" sessions during our breaks. [Chuckles]
You also are known for doing voice work on "Star Vs. The Forces of Evil." Doing voice work is supposedly the best job in the world. Is that true?
[Laughs] Doing voice work is the best job in the whole world- period. The end! All of the standard responses that you hear about getting to go to work in your pajamas and how comfortable it is- that's all true, but there's so much more to it. It's this great environment with no pressure where you get to really play around. You get to be absolutely loony. And these are cartoons- so, it's better to be big- which is so fun. And you don't have a whole crew there, so if you mess up you can just take it again and not have to worry about costing anyone else any time. And you get to record an entire episode in an hour and a half. It also really helps you understand words and how they can be contextualized by the way you say them. For example; if you say a word that might not be considered a "happy" word, but you say it with huge joy? It becomes a totally different kind of word. You can take a sentence and just go ballistic. It's a wonderful outlet, and it's still a great challenge. It really helps you discover things as an actor, and it's fun being over-the-top.
Speaking of words that might not be easy to define, you recently penned a book; "Emotionary: The Dictionary For Words That Don't Exist For Feelings That Do." This is your first venture as an author. Talk about that process.
Oh, it was scary! [Laughs] I sort of go into things very blindly, so when I started this I was never going into it with the idea like; "I'm gonna write a book! Now let me sit down and do some research on making a book!" No. Not at all. It was more like; "I have feelings. I'm scared of being bored. I want to be productive. Let's just do this." So, it never started as any intention to write a book. I just love words and hate words and wanted to take that love-hate relationship to the page. So, I really didn't start out with the initial plans to make a book- I just started writing with the initial plans of needing to get it out there because I thought; "OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THIS!" [Cracks up] And, so, then it became really clear that this was something that I would want to read in book format. Upon deciding that, it was very similar to animation where it opened up a door to a different world for me. I've been acting for so long, I'm used to that world- I know that whole system. I got it. But, going into the publishing world was very new. Between getting a lit agent, going through a book proposal- it's really a whole process. And this is a long process that took many, many months. It forces you to think about everything- the marketing scheme, the competition, everything. When it took me a month for the book to get picked up I was so nervous and my friend laughed at me and said; "A month? That's great! That's nothing!" [Laughs] I was very unaware of how this world worked and how long things took. So, after about nine months I got a meeting with a publisher and they sort of guided me through the process. And the illustrator really was wonderful- my fairy Godmother. She explained to me so much. But, it's really so exciting and I'm so proud I did it.
You actually got your start singing in school plays before you went directly into acting. Is singing something you will pursue down the line, maybe in a professional sense? Would you ever want to do a musical?
Oh my God, I would love to do a musical! If anyone out there is reading? Hook it up! It's my dream to do a revival of Thoroughly Modern Millie! Let's do it! Let's get it done! Recently, I was in a play that my boyfriend wrote and that won tons of fun- hopefully that can happen again, and there was this musical performance and it was a blast. It works a different muscle, but it's great to explore those strengths. And, I love my job, I love The Middle, I love TV to the point that if I just did television for the rest of my life I'd be very happy. And I would love to do more film. But, doing the same thing for eight years is a long time. It's fun, but you grow excited to stretch other muscles. So, I would really love to do more live performances and more musical work. But, acting in general is exhausting- especially if you are a high energy person- and this might come as a shock to you, but I am that. [Cracks up] So, I'd even love to write more and have my work performed by others. But, yes, I would absolutely love to do a musical and explore that.
And who would you love to work with?
I would love to work with Baz Luhrmann and Ryan Murphy! They are pie in the sky dreams! They are very musical! And, I mean, Lin Manuel-Miranda would be another dream. He's brilliant. If there's a role in anything he does- somewhere, anywhere, even in the background- even as a featured extra! Just hit me up! [Giggles] I just love him. And, I would love to work with Pete Holmes. He's a great comedian. He's so funny.
You also have the film "Step-sisters" in the works. What can you tell fans about that one?
I'm so excited for it! I sort of describe it as like Drumline meets Bring It On. It's called Step-Sisters because it's about stepping- as in step squads. And that was a world that I wasn't as familiar with before filming, and that is because it's almost exclusively part of the black Greek culture in college life traditions. It's an amazing form of dance, but still a very segregated activity. So, it's about these two sororities, the lead stepper from one sorority is trying to get into law school, so she comes into my character's sorority- which is a "white sorority," and helps us compete in a step competition. The movie deals with racial tensions and cultural appropriation, and it's really interesting. And it's also a dance movie- so it will have great dance sequences, and awesome beats. You know what to expect. At the end there is a huge number that blows everyone away. And it's just a funny movie, as well as empowering. The issues are relevant and important, and the movie is deep while still being lighthearted and fun. Megalyn Echikunwoke plays the lead and she's just amazing. She's going to be a huge star. She's so talented, beautiful, kind, incredible- I love her.
And what can fans expect this season going forward on "The Middle," particularly from Sue?
Everything matters this season for Sue! Everyone's relationships are growing heavily. Everything is really coming together as the adults are all becoming who we are all coming to be!
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Everything is really coming together as she comes into adulthood? With a leading role on a hit show, another leading role in a big movie, and a hilarious book, it sounds like Sher and her on-screen persona from The Middle have something in common. Here's a word we all know for that experience; Twinning!
The Middle is on Tuesday nights at 8/7c on ABC.
To buy Sher's top-rated book, head over to Amazon at; https://www.amazon.com/Emotionary-Dictionary-Words-Exist-Feelings/dp/1595148388/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480898468&sr=8-1&keywords=eden+sher