Tracey Ullman on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’: Susie Essman Says Comedian’s Cameo Was a Highlight
Susie Essman said Tracey Ullman makes four guest-starring appearances on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and discussed her commitment to the character.
Essman, who plays the crass but hilarious Susie Greene on Curb described what fans can expect on season 11 and dished on her character’s fashion choices.
Tracey Ullman on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ was a favorite for Susie Essman
Essman said Curb has several guest stars but Ullman was her favorite. “We have amazing guest stars, one of my favorite who has an arc, she’s in four episodes is Tracey Ullman,” Essman said on the Melissa Rivers’ Group Text Podcast.
“And working with her was …,” she continued. “She is so committed to her character with no vanity whatsoever. And funny, funny and just she just becomes this character. I mean, I loved working [with her]. And we have some funny stuff together, really funny stuff together.”
Recent guest stars this season included Woody Harrelson, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Kaley Cuoco, Julie Bowen, Albert Brooks, and Jon Hamm. But upcoming guests, including Ullman, are Bill Hader and Richard Lewis returns for an episode.
Susie Essman teases what’s to come on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Essman also teased that her character’s relationship with Larry David deepens to the point where they are almost “in cahoots” together.
“You know, there is a lot of stuff going on between Larry and I this season where we’re kind of in cahoots with each other, which is not usual,” Essman dished. “Same side, of course, but you know, I still get to tell him to get the f*** out of my house and yell and scream. But so that was kind of fun to explore. That was a little bit different.”
“It’s a very complex season,” she added. “One thing that’s happened over the years is the outlines have gotten more and more dense. And the storylines have gotten more and more complex. So this is a very complex season. In episode one, a lot of storylines are laid out that by episode 10, come full circle in a completely unexpected way.”
Susie Greene’s ‘Curb’ style explained
Essman also mused about her character’s sense of style, revealing that she is the driving force behind Susie Greene’s outfits.
“You know, it’s interesting this new season of Curb, my outfits are better than ever,” she said. “I created that look. Yeah, I mean, I wanted to wear what I would never wear. I don’t want to dress like myself. It’s what people don’t understand is it’s like the character. Like, I don’t want to be myself. I don’t want to put on my own jeans and a cashmere sweater. No. So I created that look.”
“And when I first created it, I guess it was season two that I came up with it,” she added. “And our wardrobe designer at the time was from the Midwest. She said, where am I going to find these kinds of clothes? And I said, go to the backroom of Loehmann’s. She had never heard of Loehmann’s and she didn’t know what the hell it was, you know? So we went on a field trip and she was like, Oh my God, look at this. And we kind of patched it together.”
“But over the years, it’s gotten better and better,” Essman added. “Leslie Schilling, who’s been the wardrobe designer for the past three years, she outdid herself this season. She knows how it works as she buys the stuff. And then we do fittings, and I say, This is fantastic. I don’t like this. This looks … whatever. It’s collaborative. And you know, a lot of times with Susie Greene, one piece will be fine. You know, it’s the combo.”
