Adam Brody Talks Playing ‘Hot Rabbi’ in ‘Nobody Wants This’

For many young Jewish millennials, our generation’s greatest on-screen representation was Seth Cohen in Fox’s teen drama. “REVENGE” as he plays Adam BrodySeth was quirky and quirky, but he also had his own vibe, great cultural taste, and a serious heart. He also wore his Jewishness with pride, and since Brody is Jewish himself, it was nice to have a character that I could be proud of. in it Netflix’s new romantic comedy series“Nobody Wants ThisBrody once again embraces this side of himself, playing a “hot rabbi” who falls in love. Kristen Bell‘s non-Jewish podcaster Joanne. However, A recent interview with the Los Angeles TimesHe acknowledged that his own sense of Judaism had never been stronger and that taking on this role required a new level of work.

“I was initially startled by the religiosity,” Brody said of being offered the role. “But I started to get excited about it and said, ‘This is a part that’s different from me, and that’s what’s going to be fun to explore and explore and connect with and play with.’”

Bell, also interviewed by the LA Times, gave Brody great credit for this dedication, noting the many situations in which he would find him taking on his character’s practices.

“Every time I was around him, listening to Jewish podcasts or reading a very Jewish book, it was really working,” Bell said. “And I added approximately this: none work. So I’m going to show up, that’s what I’m going to do. But Adam was impressive.”

While playing a rabbi in Los Angeles, Brody wanted to make sure he acted like a “scholar,” especially since his understanding of Judaism was somewhat naive. He had had a bar mitzvah and celebrated some holidays as a child, but there was still a lot of information to fill out.

“I didn’t know the first thing about Judaism in general—even though I had been bar mitzvahed. I’ve played Jewish characters before“It was important because as someone who was going to play a community leader of a particular faith and race, I was able to speak with authority about that subject both in and out of character. I had a much deeper knowledge and appreciation of the history of a people and a culture,” Brody told the LA Times. unlocked.”

During A recent interview with IndieWireSeries creator Erin Foster, who based the story on certain aspects of her own life, shared that many Jewish actors could be considered, perhaps some of them. More More Jewish than Brody, he auditioned but couldn’t convey the charm and optimism that Brody had carried throughout his career.

“You can’t name a Jewish actor who didn’t audition,” Foster said. “There was a cynicism about all these men that wasn’t in this character. He needed a real warmth and softness (and) sweetness about him. This is exactly what Adam has. The character is inspired by my husband, and my husband is someone who can’t make you feel bad, like it’s not possible. She just shines that sweetness and goodness, makes people feel seen and makes you laugh; “So I was trying to capture that emotion, to pair him with this cynical character, and Adam was the only one who had that naivety in him.”

“Nobody Wants This” is currently streaming on Netflix.