Pop-Culturalist.com

JoAnna Garcia Swisher is a multifaceted talent who is best known for bringing layered characters to life in projects including Reba, Privileged, Fist Fight, and Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, and the co-founder of The Happy Place. This winter, she stars opposite Brittany Snow, Justin Long, and Alex Moffat in Christmas with the Campbells.

Christmas with the Campbells is directed by Clare Niederpruem and co-written by Barbara Kymlicka, Vince Vaughn, and Dan Lagana. When Jesse (Snow) gets dumped right before the holidays by her boyfriend Shawn (Moffat), his parents convince her to still spend Christmas with them, and Shawn’s handsome cousin, while Shawn is away. JoAnna shines as Becky, a career-driven entrepreneur who knows exactly what she wants.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with JoAnna about Christmas with the Campbells, reuniting with Clare and Vince, and how she honors her parents and grandmother during the holidays.

PC: This is a holiday film unlike any that’s out there. What was your initial reaction when you read the script for Christmas with the Campbells?
JoAnna: I was thrilled. They asked me to be a part of the movie and then sent me the script. I was tickled. I giggled my way through it and got on a plane, and we started filming.

PC: You’ve done it all throughout your career. What was it about playing Becky that attracted you to this project?
JoAnna: It was fun. I loved Becky. I loved that she was not afraid to go after what she wanted. I respected the fact that she was an entrepreneur and a strong woman. Obviously, she’s sexually advanced. [laughs] Someone asked me today, they’re like, “Do you bake as well as Becky?” I was like, “I bake, but I don’t know all of the stimulating flavors that Becky plays around with.” I loved it. I thought she was such a fun character. It’s always fun to be able to play someone that’s outside of yourself but also in a way that makes you blush.

PC: You’ve played so many strong female characters throughout your career. Who were the women in your life that shaped the artist and storyteller that you are today?
JoAnna: That’s such a good question. It definitely starts with my mom. She was a force. She was so special, creative, and intuitive. She was so multifaceted and interesting.

I learned so much (and still do) from Reba McEntire and her unbelievable professionalism. Her talent stands alone and speaks for itself. But she also has this willingness to try. Reba is this country music superstar that I idolized and worshiped. I sang every song of hers growing up. She had just come off this hugely successful run on Broadway with Annie Get Your Gun and had been in all these movies. She stepped into a traditional multi-camera sitcom with no ego. She was willing to learn and experience it. I was super humbled by that because I was very young when I started that show, but also I had never done a comedy like that before. There is an art and rhythm to it, especially in a multi-camera show. I was learning as I went along as well.

But I’ve also worked with so many incredible women, and I still am. I’m surrounded by really strong women that have amazed me in a million different ways throughout every part of my life as I’ve gone from a young teenage actor to a twenty-something actress to a new mom and wife as I cultivate different facets of my career and explore different things. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by them.

PC: You’ve worked with Clare and Vince in the past. How did that trust and comfortability allow you to take agency over your character and give you the freedom to improvise and go off script?
JoAnna: It’s their trust in me. Vince is a force. Clare is so clear about what she wants and clear about her vision. She’s relentless. She doesn’t sit down. Then you have someone like Vince. It’s almost like there’s a comedy computer in his brain. You see it computing beats and knowing what works and leaning into that.

The first time that I worked with Vince, I was terrified walking onto the set because I was such a huge fan of his. He’s also a really big guy. [laughs] I played his girlfriend, and we had this gnarly breakup scene where I was like, “I’ve had it. I’m done.” Literally, for the first thirty minutes, I’m screaming at the top of my lungs telling Vince Vaughn to eff off. We formed this incredible partnership. That’s the magic of comedy. It’s why when good comedy works, it works. But also why it feels so good when it works when you’re in it. He just gets it.

It was really their trust. There were so many times when he could see I was so in my head. He’d be like, “Jojo, stop thinking. Stop thinking about it.” I would be like, “Okay. Okay. You’re right.” I don’t have to mash it up in my head so much. I need to have fun with it. Inevitably, when I do, it works.

PC: Throughout your career, you’ve had such a nice balance between drama and comedy. For you as an actress, is one more challenging than the other?
JoAnna: They’re so different. But I like the puzzle of comedy so much. It’s so fun to do it again. My husband was like, “Why don’t you do this more?” I was like, “Well, I’ve been in Serenity for Sweet Magnolias for the past few years and really in this romantic space of life and drawn to that kind of storytelling.” But then I realized more importantly what I love to do is to be a part of things that people enjoy and that are enjoyable for people. It’s not so heartwrenching to watch. It’s more like, “Sit down, kick your feet up. You can relate to this.” Even though Becky might not be super relatable to every woman out there, I relate to Becky on some level. I admire her in some ways.

PC: It’s been a little while since you’ve done a full-on comedy. You’re such a scene stealer in this. Is there a particular scene that you’re really excited for your fans to see?
JoAnna: That’s such a nice question to ask. I’m so brutal with myself. I’m like, “Oh, God.” I would tell you sixteen scenes that everybody else did. But myself? I don’t know. I enjoyed the Monopoly scene. That was really fun to watch and film. We had a lot of fun. Becky pops up with this crazy stuff. There’s a scene between Alex Moffat and my character. It really goes there. I like that one the most.

PC: Food is such a big part in so many different families’ traditions as well as the characters in this film. You recently shared on The Happy Place a recipe that has been passed down to you. What are some of the ways in which you and your family celebrate during this time of year? What do you hope to pass down to your girls?
JoAnna: Well, my mom and dad passed away very recently as well as my grandmother. We’ve experienced a lot of loss. The holidays have felt different for me navigating that. I have young children. My hope is that they know my parents. We have a Poppy and Gigi gift. They were Poppy and Gigi, so Poppy and Gigi give them a present every year. It’s usually the best one because they’ve got to be legends. They’re going to know them for the great presents that they got during Christmas from them and will keep their memory alive. That’s why traditions are so important, especially while navigating life without the people you love.

To keep up with JoAnna, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Christmas with the Campbells is in theaters now and streaming on AMC+.

Photo Credit: Sara Magnolia

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About Mariko
Mariko is an avid consumer of all things pop culture and celebrity gossip.  In her free time, she loves watching Netflix and YouTube.  Her favorite shows currently in rotation are Seinfeld, Severance, Bling Empire, and Kung Fu.