Andrew Rannells' Career
Andrew Rannells has come a long way since his early days as a young actor in New York City. Born and raised in the Midwest, Rannells began his career in the theater, performing in various productions before landing his breakout role as Elder Price in the original Broadway production of The Book of Mormon. The show, which premiered in 2011, was a huge success and earned Rannells a Tony nomination for his performance.
Rannells' success on Broadway led to roles on television, including a recurring part on the HBO series Girls, created by Lena Dunham. He played the character of Elijah, a former boyfriend of Dunham's character, Hannah, and became known for his witty one-liners and charismatic stage presence. Fans of the show still quote his iconic line, 'Your dad is gay!' which has become a catchphrase of sorts for the actor.
Miss You, Love You
Rannells' latest role is in the comedy-drama Miss You, Love You, in which he plays a personal assistant named Jamie. The film follows Jamie as he helps a recently widowed woman, played by Allison Janney, navigate the challenges of grief and loneliness. Rannells has said that he was drawn to the role because of the opportunity to work with Janney, whom he had previously worked with on the film Another Simple Favor.
In the film, Jamie struggles to keep up with Janney's character, Diane, who is known for her sharp wit and sarcasm. Rannells has said that he was intimidated by Janney's energy and intensity on set, but enjoyed the challenge of playing a more subdued character. 'It was fun to be on the other side of it and to feel what it's like to get pushed around and bullied,' he said in an interview.
Personal Life
Rannells has been open about his personal life, including his relationship with actor Tuc Watkins. The two met on the Broadway revival of The Boys in the Band in 2018 and began dating a year later. Rannells has said that he was drawn to Watkins because of his sense of humor and kind heart, and the two have been together ever since. They share a home in Los Angeles with Watkins' twin teenage children, and Rannells has said that he is enjoying the experience of being a part of a family.
Rannells has also spoken about the importance of asking for help and being vulnerable. In the film Miss You, Love You, his character Jamie learns to open up and ask for support from those around him, and Rannells has said that this is something that he has had to learn in his own life. 'You are raised in the Midwest to take care of your own problems: don't make waves, fix it, move on,' he said. 'Sometimes I do myself a disservice by not asking for what I need. I'm getting better at it, but it's still a work in progress.',
As for his decision not to hire a personal assistant, Rannells has said that it is because he values his independence and enjoys doing things for himself. 'Maybe it comes from years of working in theatre,' he said. 'I got in the habit of doing things for myself. To relinquish that control now would be, I think, hard for me.' This approach to life is reflective of Rannells' down-to-earth personality and his commitment to staying grounded in the face of success.