Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Guest House’s Aimee Teegarden

Aimee Teegarden has brought dynamic characters to life in dramas that include Friday Night Lights, Aim High, Star-Crossed, and Notorious. But this September, she’s showing off another side to her artistry in the laugh-out-loud comedy Guest House.

The film follows Aimee’s character, Sarah, and her fiancé, Blake, who find the house of their dreams—or so they think. When they discover a drug-using squatter living in their guest house, a full-on turf war breaks out.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Aimee to chat about Guest House, putting her improv skills to the test, and working alongside comedic greats.

PC: Tell us about Guest House and your character in the film.
Aimee: Guest House is about a couple who thinks they are getting the deal of a lifetime on this gorgeous house, but there’s a catch! When they buy the house, there is a renter in the back guest house who says he’s going to leave, but he doesn’t. It turns into an all-out turf war, and it’s an insane, crazy movie. It’s a big break from the reality we are all in right now. I can guarantee that. [laughs] I play Sarah and Mike Castle plays my fiancé, Blake.

PC: You’ve done it all in your career. What was it about this particular project and script that stood out to you?
Aimee: For me, it was such a departure from a lot of the things that I’ve done. I love comedy. I love making people laugh and working with some really great, amazing actors. Billy Zane plays my father. I got to do some great scenes with Chris Kattan. Erik Griffin was wonderful. Lou Ferrigno, the Hulk, was amazing and awesome. It’s all in a day’s work. Getting to play with some of those actors is such a fun, fun moment.

PC: The film is based on writer-director Sam Macaroni’s horrifying house-hunting experience. If you were in a similar situation as Sam and your character, what would you have done?
Aimee: [laughs] I actually don’t know. I grew up in LA and renters have some rights here. Before you ever sign any paperwork, you got to figure that out. [laughs]

PC: With this being a comedy, did you have the freedom to improv? Is there a scene that wasn’t in the initial script that made the final cut that you’re excited for fans to see?
Aimee: There was improv-ing throughout the whole thing. We had a lot of great improvisers, like my husband in the film, Mike Castle. He’s a big improviser. It was so much fun to work and play off of one of the more grounded characters. It was hard sometimes to keep a straight face. Then you have all of these people around you just having a go at it.

I had so much fun with Chris Kattan in the scene where he’s delivering something. It was written out as Sarah attacks him and he was like, “Whatever you want to do, just have at it. I’m here to support you. If you want to throw me against a wall or the floor or the bed or whatever, I can take it.” He was such a wonderful, giving actor. I had so much fun in that scene, playing it out and throwing things. It was a fun, crazy scene to do.

PC: Your character has a lot of great dynamics and relationships within the film. Which was your favorite to explore and why?
Aimee: Oh, gosh. Most of the scenes that I had are with Mike Castle and building that relationship and digging up those moments. Those threads that everybody has in their relationships as they continue to grow as people, individually, but also within the relationship and the things that we’ve sometimes given up in a relationship and haven’t realized until push comes to shove and they all come out. It was fun trying to figure that out as an actor and as a character of where they stand in their relationship.

PC: Speaking of that particular relationship, Sarah and Blake have a really interesting journey throughout the film. Many people in Sarah’s life are against this relationship happening. How did you approach that dynamic and their journey in the film?
Aimee: Yeah! A lot of people are not into Blake. He’s a good guy, right? She sees this amazing man who’s been supportive of her and makes her life that much better. She sees what everybody else can’t, especially the dynamic between her and her father. He wants the best for his daughter, and nobody’s going to ever measure up. There’s a great scene at the wedding where she’s like, “Daddy.” Her husband and her dad turn and it’s hilarious. That was improvised on the day.

PC: What do you hope audiences takeaway?
Aimee: I hope audiences take away the opportunity to laugh. If they can laugh at least once during the film, I feel like I’ve done my job.

To keep up with Aimee, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Guest House is now available on digital and On Demand.

Photo Credit: Lionsgate