Over the years, you have likely seen Arden Myrin in some of your favourite sitcoms. She had a guest spot on Friends as Brenda, Monica and Chandler’s housekeeper that gets accused of stealing. In Shameless, she played deadbeat Frank Gallagher’s unhoused girlfriend, Dollface Dolores. Most recently, she had a recurring role on The Righteous Gemstones as the calculating Corey Milsap’s wife, Jana.
But now, for the first time ever, she has stepped into centre stage as the leading lady in Netflix’s newest comedy, Free Bert. This six-episode romp follows the misadventures of stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer (playing himself) as he tries to fit into the crowd at his daughters’ elite Beverly Hills private school. Myrin stars as Kreischer’s supportive wife, LeeAnn, who also leads her own attempts to assimilate. It was released on Jan. 22 worldwide and quickly climbed into Netflix’s Top 10 TV shows in countries like the United States, Canada and Australia.
When I caught up with Myrin, she just returned from the premiere and had yet to know how much streaming success the show would find. To her, landing this role was already a big deal. Myrin said she went through seven rounds of auditions and was ultimately hand-picked by Kreischer’s wife. From that point onwards, she said she treated filming like her Olympics, memorizing the entire script before she even got on set.
As you read through our conversation, this level of dedication will come as no surprise. Myrin’s ambition and work ethic shines through in her every endeavour, from her Bachelors-themed podcast, Will You Accept This Rose? to her memoir, Little Miss Little Compton. And now she’s taking on a whole new beast: writing a rock musical. Entitled Space Cowgirl, it’s an astronaut love triangle that will be running off-Broadway next fall. And what’s after that? For Myrin, the sky seems to be the limit.
In conversation with 1883 Magazine, Arden Myrin discusses being a leading lady for the first time in Free Bert, the 10-year anniversary of her podcast and her upcoming off-Broadway musical.
Congratulations on your first role as a leading lady in Free Bert. Was this a big bucket list moment for you?
Look, I’m thankful I’ve been able to be the funny, weird neighbor for many years. I’m thankful I’ve been able to do this for a living. I grew up in a tiny farm town in Rhode Island, I’m a New England girl. I’ve loved my career so far. But you start to wonder if you’re ever going to really get to show everything that you can do.
I’ve always felt like I could be a leading lady. I didn’t know, ‘Oh, is my voice too high? Am I too this or too that?’ and I’m just really thrilled that it’s now. I’m glad that it’s this. It’s a full bucket list [moment]. I’ve never been on a billboard [until now] and I went last night to Times Square with my brother and my nephew [to see it]. I’m proud of the show, I’m proud of what I did in it. I’m really excited and I want more. I’m ready for more.
How did you feel when you got the call that you booked this role?
Oh my god. I mean, I had to go through seven rounds of auditions to get it. And so in my bones, I felt like I was maybe going to get it, but you never know. Growing up, we didn’t have cable so I would watch a lot of old movies. I wanted to be like Myrna Loy in The Thin Man or even a young Goldie Hawn or a Madeline Kahn. All these complicated, funny, interesting women. And you just sort of wonder if you’re ever gonna get to do that. I just felt very grateful. I think having done this for so long, I was aware, this is it.
We shot it in Atlanta. We cross-boarded, so we did all six [episodes] in four and a half weeks, with children and lightning delays, on location. Knowing that this was it, I’m like, ‘Okay, this is my Olympics.’ I hired my friend, who’s a stand-up and he’s a stay at home dad. He and I took ten days, I was off book before I went. I made sure I knew it frontwards and backwards. I just thought, ‘I’m going to shoot my shot. I’m going to go for it, and I will have done everything I could and then it’s out of my hands.’
At its core, Free Bert is a story about the tension between wanting to fit in and feeling the need to change who you are. Does this message resonate with you?
I mean, yeah. I definitely felt different growing up. In general, we all know our secret quirks, we all know our flaws, we all know where our junk drawer is in our house. With social media, we see such a polished version of everyone’s lives. I feel like all the stuff that I felt the most ashamed about myself is actually what is probably the most relatable. Everybody has it too. It’s okay if you’re not fully cooked yet. You’re still allowed to go live a life and be lovable and take a swing. It’s okay to maybe not fit in with the polished rich put-together [people].
It reminds me a little bit of that movie, Caddyshack, that’s infiltrating snotty society. But I’d rather hang out with a not-perfect crowd. Nobody really wants to hang out with a perfect person. I feel like Bert says stuff that maybe we would all want to say but would never say and it’s panic-inducing.
And I love [his] relationship [with his wife]. When I auditioned, they let us improvise a little bit and they said that I always took Bert’s side. It reminded me [of] my parents [who] married on a dare. They weren’t dating, they stayed married for 50 years. My dad was also kind of a rascal, my mom was like Mary Poppins. I felt like if you love Bert Kreischer, you love the rascal. You’re not trying to reign in the rascal. It’s your rascal. It reminded me a little bit of I Love Lucy, like Lucy and Ricky, where they’re always a team. LeeAnn presents as the more put-together one but she’s actually the one that goes and messes it up when they go to divide and conquer. But they’re always united and I think it’s a loving, fun family I think anybody can relate to.
Given that this is a comedy created by and starring Bert Kreischer, the world’s premiere party boy comedian, I can imagine it was a pretty fun set to work on. What was that atmosphere like?
It was like summer camp because we were all in the same hotel. Bert is like P.T. Barnum. I’ve never met somebody better at being famous. He’s so huge and his shirt is always off, and it’s summer so he’s extra hot so his shirt’s extra off. We would go for walks on the [Atlanta] Beltline for dinner and stuff like that. And because of his podcasts, [Bertcast and Something’s Burning], and his stand-up, people would see this belly and this giant. Everyone loves Bert. He’s so gregarious and everyone wanted to say hi. He stopped and he took a picture with every single person. People would run and bring him White Claws and beers. It’s like being with shirtless Santa.
Does he really live up to his public persona and the way he’s portrayed in the show?
Yes. And I will say he’s so gentle. He loves his wife. I’m playing his real life wife, LeeAnn, who picked me, which is such an honor. They’re such a cute couple. He is the machine. He does like to party, but he would be up every moment. I would get up and work out because I’m a night owl, but I would see him every morning in the gym and he’s got his big sweatshirt on. He’s built like a linebacker up top and then he has these little tiny hips. I saw LeeAnn folding his laundry, and there were these little tiny floral shorty shorts. I was like, ‘Oh, LeeAnn, your shorts are so cute. Where did you get them?’ She’s like, ‘These are Bert’s.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ He has these tiny little hips, little tushy and he wears these little shorty shorts with this huge sweatshirt.
He’s such a good number one on the call sheet. Everybody loved him. He had no ego. I found him to be such an affecting actor, I feel like he wears his heart on his sleeve. My nephew came to the set, and he’d never been to a set before. [Him and my brother] flew down to see me from New York, and Bert ordered 400 cheeseburgers from McDonald’s. My nephew ate four of them. My brother, who’s been a vegetarian for 20 years, ate one. Bert would have his assistant go buy every egg bite at every Starbucks in the greater Atlanta area. I think these businesses thought a bit was being done. They would show up to pick up the order and they would see McDonald’s was shut down. Like, no, it’s closed because you ordered 400 cheeseburgers and we can’t make anything else. We have to just stop for a second to fulfill your 400 cheeseburgers.
He brought all of us to wrestling. We went to WWE, we got to go down on the floor and meet Cody Rhodes. If you met [Bert], he would get you a ticket. He’s so generous and he’s very inclusive in a way that’s really fun. He’s such a joy, he’s a doll.
There’s a lot of crazy hijinks that occur throughout Free Bert. What was the most fun scene to shoot?
Oh that’s a good question. I actually really liked the [scene in episode 3] in the closet with my enemy, Chanel Vanderthal. I liked when I went on my mission to deliver the cookies and go through her drawers. It felt very true to me. You’re with somebody who’s beautiful and rich and you know they don’t like you but they have a smile so it’s confusing. No matter what you say, they’re twisting it. You’re like ‘No you’re putting words in my mouth. I’m just trying to connect with you and everything I’m saying you’re trying to make like I’m insulting you but I’m just trying to connect.’ We’ve all been there and that felt very satisfying to film. Like ‘Oh no, we’re not crazy when somebody’s doing that. They know what they’re doing. They’re doing that on purpose.’ It felt the most panic-inducing but also kind of cathartic for me.
Also the scene in the car with Bert [at the beginning of episode 5]. I won’t give too much away, but [in that scene] we’re piecing together that I just got played by an eighth grader, who was so good. Can we talk about how scary [Sophia Reid-Gantzert was]? That scene of the two of us realizing that I got outmatched by this child was very fun to film because in real life I could get played by a savvy 13 year-old kid, for sure.
It was so hot because we filmed in the Atlanta summer, so I remember Bert would have to sit with a blow dryer because it was such a fast shoot. They would have four shirts [ready]. We were in a closed car in the Atlanta summer heat, so he would just be dripping. We’d have to stop and have four blow dryers to blow dry Bert. His feet would be on ice. So aside from the heat, that was a fun one to film too.
In Free Bert, you are acting alongside many young actors. What was it like to have them as your primary scene partners?
A lot of the girls are not professional actors. One of them, [Lilou Lang], grew up on a farm. It was her first audition. The little girl didn’t even know there were going to be cameras. We rehearsed for a couple days and she was like, ‘Did you know they were going to film this? I thought this was just fun. I thought this was already just so cool.’
I loved it, because I also felt very protective of them. Again, I grew up in this farm town. [Lilou] lives on a farm, she’s homeschooled and she doesn’t live in L.A. These are special kids and I just really wanted them to have a good time and to preserve what’s unique about them. I wanted them to feel like I’m their friend, they’re my friend. I [became] friends with their moms just to make everybody was comfortable and cool.
You had a strong passion for acting at a young age, too. Did working with these young actors bring up any memories for you?
I didn’t grow up doing this, I lucked out. One of my very first jobs, I booked a sitcom. I didn’t understand continuity, I didn’t know how to hit a mark. It’s different than doing school plays in your gym. On set, I’m holding my glasses and I have to hold them in my right hand every time so they can edit the scene.
[Lilou was] 10. So I would try to make it like a game for her, because I also realized we didn’t have the time for people to be really explaining, aside from just being natural on camera, how do you actually film a show? So I tried to be like, ‘Okay, we’re going to do one thing a day. Today you’re going to learn that if you pick a hand, that’s going to be [your hand in the show].’ You want them to be able to play and not worry about stuff. It was fun to be with somebody so present, in the moment and playful. They’re such magical kids and it was a real pleasure to befriend them. I hope I get to work with them again.
It seems like everyone on set got so close. Was it hard to wrap on the last day?
We didn’t know what our last shot was. It was me and Bert and the girls walking, eating ice cream. Oh my god, I have chills. It was really late at night and he promised us he was going to tell us when it was the last shot. And then he didn’t. When he told us, the three girls and I just burst into tears. Little Lilou was just sobbing.
It’s a very special experience and we all hoped to get to do more. I think all of us had almost an end of camp [feeling]. Or if you did plays growing up, when the play is over, there’s a little bit of mourning. I love doing this for a living and my favorite part is the actual making of the sausage. This part is fun, and it’s exciting when everybody gets to see it, but I like going and playing with people. You just don’t know if you’re going to be in that environment again with those people, so it was hard.
Let’s pivot now and talk about another career milestone you’re hitting in 2026: the 10 year anniversary of your podcast, Will You Accept This Rose.
Oh my god, thank you. Will You Accept This Rose is on iHeart [Radio]. We’re not cynical, we do really hope that people [on the Bachelor] look for love. But we do draft picks where we try, based on people’s bios, to guess who’s going to be drunk on the first night, who’s going to be the next lead, who the top three are going to be.
We’re going to add The Traitors in this year as well, because I just like to talk to my funny friends. It’s like playing a game, like fantasy football. Who’s going to win? Who’s the villain? We’re a little late in the game with The Traitors, but like who’s the secret nightmare, who’s going to get caught, who’s the top three. Because Gabby [Windey] was such a star last year.
Are you able to tease any special guests or episodes we can look forward to?
We always have Lance Bass, Lauren Lapkus, Jim Jefferies. Jerry Trainor from iCarly does it. I bet we’ll go do a live show at The Bell House in New York to do a 10th anniversary show, which is always fun. Every year I like to add in some new people. Maybe we’ll have Wells [Adams] who was on last year’s Traitors come play with us.
Speaking of pop culture, what was your favourite reality TV moment last year?
Oh, that’s a really good question. Okay, what did I watch? I watched Love is Blind, I watched Love Island, I watched Love is Blind Minneapolis, [which] was disappointing. I love Paige DeSorbo on Summer House, I’m obsessed with Giggly Squad. I watched Southern Charm. When I shot Righteous Gemstones in Charleston, I went and saw Miss Pat’s house from afar. I saw Craig at Sewing Down South doing a meet and greet with guests.
It’s not a funny moment, but I felt the most compelling and real [moment] was watching in real time when Craig wasn’t happy enough for Paige when she was about to go on tour for Giggly Squad, because I can relate. I felt it was watching this woman choose herself. Watching this woman go, ‘I’m not going to dim my light. I’m not going to make myself smaller. I’ve worked my whole life for this. I want it.’ I’m a real Paige DeSorbo fan and to me, watching it felt very real. She didn’t want to have bees, she didn’t want to live in Charleston, she didn’t want to be a beekeeper, he wasn’t excited enough for her when they went to the Australian Outback kangaroo restaurant.
Also Lindsay Hubbard having her baby. Also I’m gonna say Ciara standing up to West. Also Jesse Solomon with Lexi. I was Team Lexi, he was inappropriate. Even though she didn’t make it through the house and you don’t cross Ciara, no rain shall fall on Ciara. I felt like that was a very compelling season of Summer House.
And I will say the moment in Southern Charm when Shep was dating [Sienna Evans], Miss Bahamas, who wouldn’t come meet his friends. That was also incredibly compelling, when he dragged everybody back to the Bahamas, she’s not showing up. Shep, who’s really been pretty terrible to many women, I felt like to see him get his comeuppance by this woman that would not come meet him was astounding. I also always loved Madison. Miss Pat being protective of Madison, and then the cane moment with JT giving Miss Pat the cane. You do not give a woman over 40 a freaking cane.
You have successfully pitched pilots and written a memoir. Now you’re writing a musical. How did that come about?
I am a big believer in protecting your magic, so I didn’t tell anyone I was writing a musical for two years because it’s so easy to poke holes in it. It’s not a practical thing to do. It’s like my house. I couldn’t afford a contractor, I was the contractor. I designed my whole house and I asked for like 14 lights in my living room. They were like, ‘you’re crazy’ and then when it was done, all the guys asked for photos of it.
I feel like anything that’s really meant a lot to me, that I didn’t know how to do, I figured out as I went. I sold a book, Little Miss Little Compton. I’d never written a book. I wrote it all by myself. I didn’t just sit down and write it in a straight line. I figured it out.
So I’d written this movie and I’d hired my friend, Avery Pearson, to write a song for it. He was like, ‘Well, if you ever want to, this would be a really great musical.’ And then when the [SAG-AFTRA] strikes happened, he was like, ‘Seriously, you should think about writing this as a musical.’ I was like, ‘Let’s just try to write one or two songs.’ And then very quickly, I was like, ‘Oh, I like this.’ I asked my friend, who I wrote the movie with, is it okay and he was like, ‘Yes, you can do that.’
So we wrote 32 songs. We threw out 10, we’re down to 22. His parents have a house in a retirement community out in Palm Desert. So we would sleep till noon, drive a golf cart around in a senior center, write from 4 p.m. till four in the morning. And what’s fun about a musical is all the scenes that you would have are like, can you tell it in a song? What feeling do you want? You want some that are the funny songs, some are the feeling songs. I watched a master class on Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lyricist. You need your ‘I want’ song at the top of the second act. You have your big company number. You’re resetting the environment. I’m basically reading how-to-write-a-musical books.
What is your musical about?
It’s called Space Cowgirl. We’re going to do it off-Broadway next fall. It’s about an astronaut love triangle. It’s sort of like I, Tonya meets Hedwig [and the Angry Inch] meets Book of Mormon. It’s 90 minutes in and out. It’s a rock musical, but with comedy and heart. You’ll feel things. I love musicals, but it’s not like a presentation. We want it to be the coolest off-Broadway, the coolest night out. Even if you don’t want to like musicals, even if you’re a straight dude and you’re getting dragged, I want you to be like, that was actually really cool. The band will be on stage. Everybody’s playing numerous parts and I’m so proud of it, I’m so excited and I’m going to be the lead.
I’m deep in vocal lessons and I haven’t sung since college. Look, I’m not Patti LuPone, but I have heart. I’m gonna do my best. And it’s like, why not? I just feel like the world is so nuts. Why not try for all of us? Don’t tell people, hide. But eventually, once it’s time, don’t overprotect it. Set yourself a deadline and then risk it. Look, the worst thing is somebody can criticize you. Maybe they hate it. Maybe they’re just jealous that they didn’t do their thing.
But if, in theory, we have one life to live, why not throw the spaghetti at the wall? Some stuff’s better than others. Some things I’ve done have been better than others. But I don’t want to not try. I’ve done too many things that I put in a drawer after showing one person. I’m sick of not showing my junk drawer to people; the not perfect side. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Do your best. Give it a go. Throw your hat in the ring. I’d rather try and at least know that I tried.
Free Bert is out now on Netflix.
Interview Haley Sengsavanh
Photography Stephanie Nelson
HMUA Caitlin Krenz
Clothing:
Red outfit by the Frankie Shop, necklace by Rachel Katz, shoes by Larouude
