Mary Lynn Rajskub Lets the “Sunshine” In

The "24" star on crummy jobs and a "Sunshine" trilogy with Alan Arkin.

When you were working on “Mr. Show,” did you feel in the moment that you were on a program that pushed the comic envelope?

“Mr. Show” was the greatest. I had just moved to L.A. and suddenly I’m in this group of people, we’re doing live shows, and I was at some of those first shows where there’s industry in the crowd. People for HBO were scouting it. I got to see that whole process. I didn’t even know what people were talking about: “What do you mean, industry is in the crowd? What’s a manager? What’s an agent?” It was so exciting. I knew it was groundbreaking, just because [David Cross and Bob Odenkirk] are so talented, unique, smart and prolific.

Who else today is breaking ground?

My baby is breaking a lot of ground. That guy is all over the place. Everything he does is brand new. My baby is the most groundbreaking artist and person I’ve ever witnessed. [laughs] That’s the best answer.

How smooth was the transition from comedic to dramatic roles? Was this a natural career progression for you?

When I do comedy, I’m in a state, and that’s where the funniness comes from, so that’s already a form of acting. I don’t really have that kind of mind where I’m like, “Here’s what I’m thinking about!” I’m not that verbal or witty to have a lot of clever, wordy jokes. That’s not where I’m coming from, so I’m kind of in a state. When I started out, that state was uncomfortable. One of my very first auditions was the part of a nervous secretary. Although I had done acting in high school, I really was that nervous. They’re like, “Wow, you’re amazing as the nervous secretary!” I went to the network with it, but then I was even more nervous, so I couldn’t get my lines out. That wasn’t the answer to your question at all.

As far as getting “24,” I had already established myself comedically, so when I got “24,” I was like, “Oh god, I’m so fired.” You know, I’ll get hired for four shows, six shows. It was a total surprise that my character lasted. I knew I stuck out and I was quirky, and there was a point when I started [in a husky whisper] talking like this. Joel Surnow, the creator, saw me in “Punch-Drunk Love” and just liked the performance, then said, “I’ll write a part for you.” I didn’t think he would, but he did. When I got on “24,” an executive at Fox was like, “Yeah, we didn’t know you could do drama.” She was letting me in on the secret that that does happen — if you’re thought of as a certain way, it is unusual [to be cast against type].

“Punch-Drunk Love” is my favorite Mary Lynn Rajskub movie, hands down.

Really? Well, you’re a special guy. I like hearing that because I remember when we were making that movie, I was watching Adam Sandler’s performance and thought, “This is so amazing. He’s going to blow people’s minds.” But it turned out, the general public at least, they don’t want to see that. They’re like, “We just want you to do the same thing that you do.” It’s too uncomfortable, it’s too much. [laughs]

I saw an episode of “Gilmore Girls” where you played the guitar. How often do you break out the axe?

You’re really watching it all! I don’t really play the guitar. I know about three chords, and I used to have a band with my friend [Karen Kilgariff] called the Girls Guitar Club. She was the only person I ever played guitar and sung with onstage, and “Gilmore Girls” was a special moment where I did that. The creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, had seen us doing the guitar act live and asked if I wanted to do something on that show. It was terrifying, but really fun.

Because of “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Sunshine Cleaning,” I’d like to believe that you and Alan Arkin will eventually complete what will be known as the “Sunshine Trilogy.” What will the third film be?

What first came to my mind was an outer space adventure where the sunshine is us, maybe in space or on another planet, looking at a different sun. I’m the scrappy mechanic of the spaceship, and he’s the captain who’s past his prime and falling apart. We become unlikely friends. I want to be the Starbuck character from “Battlestar Galactica.” And the nervous secretary will be played by Kristen Schaal.

“Sunshine Cleaning” opens in limited release on March 13th.

[Additional photos: "Sunshine Cleaning," Overture Films, 2009; Mary Lynn Rajskub in "Gilmore Girls," Warner Bros., 2006]

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