Charlyne Yi Uncrumples “Paper Heart”

The bespectacled comedienne on love, mall jobs and NOT dating Michael Cera.

While you were interviewing your documentary subjects, who did you identify with most, or at least share a common worldview about love?

I really enjoyed the kids. [laughs] Maybe my mind is like a child’s. I loved how innocent they were — they didn’t seem like they’d ever been hurt. Some of the people I have in there, you can see they’ve [got] a history. They’ve gone through pain, and maybe they’ve found the person now, but they’ve been through a lot. With children, they seem so fresh and innocent, and I enjoyed how they have a certain perspective on love.

Generationally, you’re somewhere between the children and the middle-aged subjects. At 23, do you feel more like a grown-up or a mature kid?

That’s really funny. I’m worried that I never grew up because I still like playing board games. I don’t like hanging out at bars. Or, it’s so much I never grew up because my mom was always telling me I’m like an old soul. I remember in fourth grade, I would listen to swing music and knit. Maybe I’m an old lady trapped in a younger person’s body because I don’t like doing cool, hip stuff like going to parties. I like going on hikes, exploring the mountains and taking naps. [laughs] Although I still enjoy cartoons.

You’re like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

Maybe. Probably. I think you’re right.

Have any of your post-screening discussions with journalists and other filmgoers made you re-evaluate your feelings of the heart?

When I really did interview people and hear their stories, it was so inspirational. Every time we went from one interview to another, we were like, “Wow, that’s an amazing story.” By talking to people, and going on a journey, I realized everything is uncertain — your job, your relationship with your friends. You might think you’re going to be friends forever, but you may not. Or if you’re in a romantic relationship for five years, you may think, “This is it.” It may be it, or it may not be.

Accepting that everything’s uncertain made me realize I shouldn’t worry so much. Love will find me if I want it, and I won’t have to go to hunting for it, necessarily. [laughs] I just need to calm down, live in the moment, and see where it goes, rather than worrying so much.

If you don’t want to discuss this, we can move on, but I read this past week that you and Michael Cera broke up. The timing is perhaps awkward while you promote “Paper Heart,” but is there also something cathartic in that your film is about how confusing and different love can be for everyone?

What’s weird is that we never dated. [laughs] I read an article yesterday that said “Charlyne’s so sad about the breakup, especially because they’re touring together,” but we’re not touring together — Michael’s actually in Toronto right now, working on “Scott Pilgrim.” We were friends before and throughout the film, and we’re friends now. So the only thing that’s weird is people’s investment in a relationship that [doesn't] regard them, is irrelevant to the film and to their lives. Tabloids are, I don’t know… bad. It’s also weird how people ask about it. If it really did happen, if we really did break up, I think it’s rude that people would ask about that.

Your comic persona often deals with awkwardness and neurosis. In real life, what makes you feel nervous?

Being in a mall. [laughs] I used to work at a mall, and I get so much anxiety from working at malls. My boss would always ask me to do that high-pitched thing: “Hiiiii! How are you doing? Can I help you?” I just want to be me — can I ask them how they’re doing with my voice? And I hate job interviews. If someone asks you how responsible you are, I want to be honest and be like: “I’m pretty responsible, but sometimes I mess up!” It took me a while to realize you have to lie to get jobs. In situations you can’t be yourself, where you have to put up a front, that’s when I feel most awkward.

“Paper Heart” opens in limited release on August 7th.

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