Geraldine Viswanathan is currently in promo mode for her latest film, You’re Cordially Invited, which she co-stars in with Hollywood superstars, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon.
And if that wasn’t big enough, in just a few months the Australian-born, LA-based actress will feature in the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, Thunderbolts, alongside the likes of Florence Pugh and David Harbour, and comedy legend, Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Viswanathan made the move from Newcastle to Sydney less than 10 years ago where she was studying and performing stand-up comedy at Camperdown’s Hermann’s Bar. She found a happy place. As well as joining the Freudian Nip sketch group with Vic Zerbst and Jenna Owen, Viswanathan trained to be a triple j host after being scouted by management after her Raw Comedy heat win.
“I think I was really just, like, throwing shit at the wall, seeing what sticks,” she recalls.
But then the phone call came to tell her that she had won a part in 2018 comedy, Blockers, where she would play the daughter of WWE superstar John Cena, a film that also starred Hollywood comedy regulars Ike Barinholtz and Leslie Mann.
“I started to train up [at triple j] and then I had to be like, ‘I think I have to go do this John Cena movie.’”
The pivot was fast and it was sharp. Following the success of Blockers, Viswanathan scored a number of big roles, including in HBO’s Bad Teacher alongside fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman, TBS comedy series, Miracle Workers, with Daniel Radcliffe and Golden Globe Award-winning legend Steve Buscemi, and the Ethan Coen-directed Drive-Away Dolls with Margaret Qualley and Matt Damon. And now, she can add You’re Cordially Invited to her growing (and impressive) resumé.
Jim (Will Ferrell) and Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) in YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED. Photo Credit: Prime Video
The calibre of those names are not lost on Viswanathan.
“The more time I’ve had [in LA], the more I look back and I go, ‘Wow, yeah, that was really intense and a big adjustment,’” she reflects.
“But nothing really beats the nervousness of doing stand up at Hermann’s Bar. I think that did really train me well in being able to handle pressure and thriving under pressure a little bit.
“And then I’ve just been lucky with all these greats that I’ve gotten to work with that they’re all just really good stand up people. I haven’t had that ‘don’t meet your heroes’ moment yet.
“So it’s just been really inspiring to just be like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s just good people doing great work and what they love to do.’”
In the new film, Ferrell plays Jim, the father of Viswanathan’s character, Jenni, who goes head to head with Witherspoon’s Margot after two weddings are accidentally booked on the same day.
Arguably the best scene of the new comedy comes when Jim and Jenni deliver a father-daughter choreographed performance of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ “Islands in the Stream” to the very confused attendees of the wedding.
Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) in YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Prime Video
Whether it’s in Anchorman, Step Brothers, or even the iconic “More Cowbell” Saturday Night Live sketch, Ferrell fans know that when the comedic mastermind sings and/or dances, you’re going to laugh. Viswanathan was no exception.
“You know, it’s actually really annoying because I don’t feel like I necessarily learned any tricks from working with Will Ferrell because just everything that he says and does is funny,” she says.
“He just can’t help himself. I really wanted to like know the secret sauce, but he’s just a fucking talent and a comedic genius and you can’t really learn that so, just watching him do his thing was just a treat.
“That scene we did a lot of times, we did a lot of dance rehearsals. I was very nervous to jump on his back, because I was like, ‘I’m not a small girl, Will.’ And he was like,’Get up there, girl.’ He was like, ‘Don’t be scared.’ But I would hate to be the camel to break Will Ferrell’s back, if you will.”
Not only was Viswanathan desperately fighting back laughter, but during that particular day on set, she was also fighting back the need to throw up due to food poisoning.
“I’ve never had food poisoning before and of course, naturally I got it on my biggest day on set and was truly throwing up in between takes,” she says.
“[Ferrell] was just like, ‘Look, I have kids. Kids have thrown up on me before, wouldn’t be the first time. Let it rip, sweetie.’
“He’s just the absolute best.”
Margot (Reese Witherspoon) and Jim (Will Ferrell) in YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Prime Video
Prior to making the move to LA, Viswanathan was convinced that the local industry wasn’t interested in her work and she was not getting the break in Australia she was seeking. But now with some major credits under her belt, she says she would love to contribute to the thriving local scene.
“I’m so open to working in Australia. I would love to work in Australia. My family’s there, there’s so many great creatives that I know there and I feel excited about the future of Australian film and TV.
“I want to be a part of things that get made there on a producer level as well and a writing level. That’s sort of what I’m working on.”
Looking ahead, as well as the highly-anticipated Thunderbolts, Viswanathan is also potentially attached to a new Tina Fey project. But don’t expect any more details on either just yet.
“Is that all I can say?” she ponders out loud with a smile.
“Yeah. That’s it. I think that’s it. It’s cooking, but nothing is announced, which is so annoying, ‘cause I’m like, ‘I want to plug!’ I’m excited for this year.
See you in the MCU, Geraldine.
You’re Cordially Invited is out now on Prime Video
