Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with United States of Al’s Farrah Mackenzie

Throughout her career, Farrah Mackenzie has shown off the vast range of her talent. She’s quickly made a name for herself with the dynamic and emotionally complex characters she’s brought to life in film and television.

This April, she puts her comedic chops on display, starring opposite Adhir Kalyan, Parker Young, and Dean Norris in Chuck Lorre’s United States of Al.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with this rising talent about United States of Al and how she got started in the biz.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Farrah: My whole family is in the business: my grandparents met on Broadway, my grandpa was a director, and my parents are both actors, so I grew up in the environment. I always loved putting on shows and little performances with my friends and cousins. I decided I wanted to do it. Here we are. I’m having such a great time.

PC: With your family all in the industry, did they share any words of wisdom as you embarked on this journey?
Farrah: My dad is the one who helped me get to where I am. He gives me lots of notes and very helpful advice like, “Have fun with it. Be natural. Play the character how you think the character is. Do it to the best of your ability.”

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Farrah: I have to say my first audition and the first time I booked a role—that was a big moment for me. It wasn’t necessarily a big role, but I was really excited that I got it! It was for a movie called Lawless Range. I was really excited because it was the first movie that I auditioned for and booked. It started my career and has led me to where I am now.

United States of Al

PC: Tell us about United States of Al and your character in the series.
Farrah: United States of Al is about the friendship between my character’s dad, Riley [Parker Young], who’s a US Marine, and Al [Adhir Kalyan], his Afghan interpreter. Riley helps Al on his way to the US, inviting him into our family in hopes of giving him a better life. Al is finding out new things about the American culture, while our family is finding new things out about the Afghan culture.

My character is Hazel. She’s really excited to have her uncle Al in her home and in her family. She’s really sarcastic and speaks her mind. She has a really nice relationship with everyone in her family.

PC: What was it about this project/role that drew you in?
Farrah: I’ve never done a sitcom before. They’re so interesting and new to me. I was like, “Why don’t I give that a try? I can audition for it and change things up a bit.” Previously, the projects that I’d done were dramas and series, like Utopia, but this one was a sitcom, and I thought that was really neat. I thought that I might give it a try, because I love making people laugh. I love laughing. I thought it was a really good opportunity.

PC: Did anything surprise you about the experience with this being your first sitcom?
Farrah: It surprised me that it was almost like doing a play. I’ve done musicals in the past. We rehearse for a while and then we do run-throughs. Finally, on the big day, we do it. Every week, we rehearse for a few days and then film. That was really interesting to me, because I never learned about that side of filming and that side of the industry.

PC: If you had to describe the first season in a hashtag, what would it be?
Farrah: #StrongFamilyUnit.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Favorite TV show?
Farrah: Stranger Things.

PC: Favorite movie?
Farrah: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

PC: Favorite book?
Farrah: Wonder.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Farrah: Matilda.

PC: Dream role?
Farrah: I want to star in a horror movie—fighting off the evil and having lots of fun with scary stuff.

To keep up with Farrah, follow her on Instagram. Watch United States of Al every Thursday at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.

Photo Credit: JSquared Photography