Pop-Culturalist.com

Ayden Mayeri is a versatile storyteller celebrated for her exceptional comedic timing and her ability to bring depth and vulnerability to both characters and narratives. Her impressive body of work includes standout roles in acclaimed projects such as I Love That for You, The Afterparty, Veep, Big Mouth, and more.

Currently, Ayden Mayeri is scoring big with her role in the new series Mr. Throwback, where she takes center court in this hilarious dramedy. The show follows Danny, a down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer seeking redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA great Stephen Curry. Ayden shines as Samantha, Danny’s ex-wife, who will do anything to provide her daughter with a better life—even if it means bending the truth.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ayden about Mr. Throwback, finding the heart in the show’s comedy, and more!

PC: I feel like as an actor, there are so many boxes that are checked when a project like Mr. Throwback comes across your desk. What was it about this script and character that initially caught your eye and made you want to be a part of it?
Ayden: It’s one of the funniest scripts that I’ve ever read. I usually find it hard to laugh out loud when reading a script because I’m just trying to picture it. With this one, I was sitting there laughing a lot. My husband was like, “What are you reading?” So I started reading the scenes out loud to him. I said, “You have to hear this.” That was a good sign.

Then, when they told me about the character, I thought, “Okay, I’m his ex-wife. Am I going to be scolding him a lot like typical TV wives?” But when I read it, I saw that she’s wild and hilarious. She gets in on the rascal behavior, which was very exciting.

PC: What this series does so brilliantly is that while it is a comedy, it’s so grounded in reality. These characters and their motivations are heightened, but also so relatable. How did you find your way into this character?
Ayden: That’s exactly what I’ve been saying! It’s pretty grounded and feels like a documentary. What’s really cool is that it’s not about cramming in as many jokes as possible but about making the situation feel real, even though it’s insane. It was about finding a way to relate to and understand this person. I found Sam pretty easy to grasp.

She cares deeply about her family and wants to provide her daughter with a better life. She feels like she’s failed in that regard. There’s a part of me that resonates with that, so it wasn’t a huge stretch for me to connect mentally.

PC: Against her better judgment, Sam finds herself caught up in the lie. It’s very much a comedy of errors that makes this show so hilarious to watch. Can you talk a bit about Sam’s dynamic with her ex-husband, Danny, and how they try to balance each other out? What was it like collaborating with Adam [Pally] to bring that dynamic to life?
Ayden: Adam’s so much fun. From the very moment we did our chemistry read, it just felt right. We started playing around and had the best time. He felt very familiar to me, like I had met him before, even though I hadn’t. Sometimes with roles, you want them so badly that you try to force it, but this just clicked. We both knew it was the right show to be a part of.

He’s a maniac. [laughs] He’s wild and a great improviser, but also incredibly sensitive and present. He really listens and clicks in, so we can go into wild places with improv and then come back and be there emotionally with each other. It’s rare to find someone who can do all that. He’s a special, special person.

PC: That’s the perfect segue to this next question. It was really important to the creative team that you all had the room and runway to improvise what felt most natural to you and your characters. How did that environment push you creatively? Is there a scene that was improvised that you’re really excited for audiences to see?
Ayden: Oh my gosh, that’s such a great question. First, the writing is so good that we didn’t need to add jokes. Usually, you improvise to add more jokes, but this script didn’t need that. Most of our improvisation was about making the situations and relationships feel as real as possible. We were just messing around and having fun. The creators gave us the space to explore and have fun together, which is why it all feels so lived-in and present.

The whole process felt very natural because it was shot in a less formal way, almost like a documentary. It wasn’t blocked or lit in the usual way. So often, I’d think, “Did you guys shoot that? Is there a camera somewhere?” It all felt very genuine and spontaneous.

PC: I also love the friendship that’s formed between your character and Kimberly and how they hold space for one another. Who have been the women in your own life who have held space for you in a similar way? What was it like collaborating with Ego [Nwodim]?
Ayden: It was so fun working with Ego. She’s incredibly funny and a fantastic actress. The cast is full of amazing talent, like Tien Tran and Blair Beeken, who are brilliant comedians and great actors. Whenever we were in scenes together, it was just magical.

I’ve experienced a lot of that supportive camaraderie with the women I’ve worked with. We’ve become friends right away, and I’ve always had a big group of girlfriends. That’s really important to me because it’s one of the things I value the most. I have a group of hometown friends I grew up with—twelve of us who are still best friends. My friend Nellie is actually here with me right now as we’re writing a feature film together. We’ve known each other since we were nine or ten. It’s important to me, and it felt the same way on set. Everyone was very welcoming.

To keep up with Ayden, follow her on Instagram. Stream Mr. Throwback on Peacock today.

Photo Credit: Sela Shiloni