In the latest season of Shrinking, Christa Miller delivered some of her most layered work yet as her character, Liz, grapples with her husband Derek’s (Ted McGinley) health struggles, revealing a vulnerability audiences haven’t often seen from the fan-favorite character.
Miller sat down with Gold Derby to discuss how the storyline helped her rediscover her dramatic roots, as well as her collaboration with husband and series creator Bill Lawrence. “We have this great partnership,” she says. She also shares memorable moments with Harrison Ford and Michael J. Fox, and explains how music, motherhood, and her newfound freedom are shaping both her life and her future career ambitions.
Gold Derby: Liz is known for her sharp comedic edge, but this past season required a much deeper level of vulnerability. How did you prepare for those scenes?
Christa Miller: I studied acting in New York, and I really thought I was going to be this very dramatic actor, crying all the time and doing all of that. And then I got into comedy and loved it. I was encouraged to pursue that. For me, having the opportunity for them to write to Liz, and to lean into that, brought back my passion and all the things I studied and all the different things I wanted to try acting-wise. It made all of that come back. This show, both professionally and personally, has been a blessing.
What is it like working with your husband and the series’ showrunner Bill Lawrence?
We definitely are each other’s cheerleaders and root for each other. Luckily, he thinks I’m talented and I think he’s talented. Working on a Bill Lawrence project in terms of crew, other actors, the whole thing is you’re in a magical place. You see all the actors that come back that he wants to come back on all his shows because they’re lovely and they’re talented and they know the material and are professional.
How are you similar or different from Liz?
The most similar thing I have with Liz is that we both have tiny tattoos and we both tumble rocks and carve rocks and do all the rock things. The major difference is that I wasn’t a helicopter parent. I probably was stricter than Liz. I wanted my kids to be independent and have chores and learn life skills. I was very strict about manners. I wanted them to be prepared for the world and be independent.
What types of roles would you like to do next?
My youngest child has gone to college, so I feel like I’m a free bird. I think Liz is now learning to open up and engage with the world more and trust that she’s got friends and trust these relationships more. And I feel like I’ve been more engaged and making new friends and doing more fun things. My daughter (musician Charlotte Lawrence) was just on tour opening up for Sombr in Europe. I was a groupie. I was in London and Ireland and we went out and had crazy dinners and stayed out late and just had fun. I’m out in the world way more. When the kids were younger, Bill was working a lot, and so I couldn’t go do that independent film in South Carolina. Now I also have a place in New York, so I’m telling my agents anything in New York? Anything. I’ll go anywhere.
This past season saw a lot of amazing guest stars such as Candice Bergen and Michael J. Fox. What’s it like having them on set?
We have so many great guest stars. With Candice, she stepped on and all the writers were laughing because she brought it. It was so funny. And also Mike Fox — I had wrapped for the day and then he was starting and I’ve known Mike for a long time. Bill and I met when he was running Spin City. I watched his first scene with Harrison and everyone was crying. We love Mike and he’s going to be back season four! He’s so funny, aside from all the great things he’s done in his life to help get a cure for Parkinson’s.He’s the funniest person. Working with him is a lesson in comedy. This year we have a couple, cross your fingers, cool guest stars coming, too.
As the show’s music supervisor, what are you listening to right now?
I’m amassing a playlist for Season 4 of Shrinking, but I can’t really tell you what’s on it because that would spill the beans. When I want to get into character as Liz, I listen to a lot of ’80s music—Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, and General Public. The wardrobe also really puts you in a certain state of mind. Liz is always in long sleeves and always comfortable, and I have a really nice collaboration with our costume designer, Allyson Fanger. She brings it to life.
Thinking back to the very beginning, what do you remember most about when the Shrinking cast got together for the first time?
The first time we all were together was at the table read. I don’t think Harrison had ever done one. He’s never done television. It was packed. You can imagine Harrison Ford’s there. So it’s like everyone’s there. We read, and the first two episodes killed. I’ve never done a table read like this in my life. It killed. I was walking out, the Warner Brothers executives were walking out with me, and I said, do you have notes? They said, “No notes.”
What would you like to see happen to Liz in Season 4?
I would love Liz to know that her value isn’t only about being a mom. I know she’s looking for things to do and I think it’s great. I think your world should get bigger as you get older, and you should find all these passions. But I think as Liz, trusting these relationships in these friendships and relationships is enough.
What has being part of this show taught you about yourself?
It’s taught me a lot about being vulnerable and how that’s OK and that things are messy and that’s OK. Harrison’s character is based on my actual shrink Phil Stutz. Harrison’s character does sometimes use tools that my shrink has taught me in scenes that I’m not in, and so when I watch the show, Harrison will be talking about a tool and I’ll be like, “Oh, that tool should probably come back into my life.”
What was your psychiatrist’s reaction when you told him Harrison Ford would be playing him in the series?
He told me he was going to retire. Why wouldn’t you retire? Harrison Ford is going to play you. You’re done.
