Hi Tawny, thank you so much for taking the time to do the virtual shoot. What a magical moment of snow flurries in the desert! I’d love to start by asking, what did you want to be when you were little?

When I was little, I wanted to be a vet. I grew up on a small ranch in Northern California, in the Bay Area, and I loved when the vet came by. They were always so kind with the animals and seemed to really love what they did. I wanted to do that until I got to middle school and realized that vets are doctors and doctors mean being good at science and good at science means you might as well be doing math, which I was trash at. At which point, I quickly joined drama club.

How would you describe the road to where you are now?

The road to where I am now has been a steady, gradual, climb and sometimes slog towards doing bigger and better work. It’s been fairly even. I see things in the distance I want to be doing and I know I’ll get there, because I’ve gotten to all the previous things I’d aimed for. Nothing has been quick or easy, but nothing worth doing is.

Has there been a moment on your journey that was a game changer, if so, how did it shift things for you?

The only game changer for me was how I chose to approach auditions. I used to really contort myself. Trying to be exactly what I thought these producers and casting people might want. I’m a good chameleon, so I’m sure occasionally it kind of worked. But that’s led to me playing a lot of roles that don’t feel very “me.” I’m happy to try on different characters as an actor, but as a comedy person, I realized how important it was that I get my unique voice out there and find roles that bring that out more. It also just made auditioning so much easier, and more joyful, once I said fuck it, I’m doing me. If they don’t want that, it wasn’t going to be a good fit anyway.

You are a woman of many talents, in addition to acting, you also are a comedian, musician, and podcaster. How do you balance all of your passions and when do you feel most in the flow?

Well, the good news is that none of the stuff I do makes great space for any of the other things. When I’m working on a tv show, it’s pretty all encompassing. I can carve out time once a week to do my podcast, but music tends to take a backseat during those periods. I’m trying to be better about it. I usually bring an instrument or two if I’m filming on location for a long time, just so I can put down little demos and song scraps as ideas strike. I have a handful now I’m planning to put into a new solo record, maybe it’ll be done this year. My last record, Material Flats, I co-wrote with my friend and longtime collaborator Bethany Thomas, and it was a massive DIY endeavor. This time, the best way to balance everything might be enlisting a bit more help.

Now to talk about Space Force, congratulations on a second season, which has been two years in the making, the show is so hilarious. Take me back to when you initially read the script for your role as Captain Angela Ali, what was your reaction?

I read the first few scripts at a big table read with the whole cast, producers, and writers. It was thrilling, but I was stressed because there had been a timing miscommunication from production, so everyone was racing to get there. I was in the Beverly Center buying a jacket when the AD called me like “Hi, are you coming to the table read?” I absolutely panicked. I thought I messed up and had it in my calendar wrong. I was sweaty from a spin class; my hair was not done. I raced directly to the read a whole mess, and when I got there, it was just me, Greg and Steve, and a handful of writers. I immediately realized, oh, it’s everyone. The whole cast is late. Damn I could’ve gone home and changed. Anyway, I barely remember the read itself, I just remember wishing I was wearing real pants.

In season two we find you character fresh from her return from the moon. What can viewers expect from storyline in the new season?

We can expect to find Angela, back from the moon, and dealing with the trauma of what went down up there. We see her managing her relationship with Chan, and a blossoming friendship with F. Tony as he helps her navigate the sudden media spotlight. Plus, battle bots!

You play the drums in the new season and I’m fascinated you taught yourself during quarantine. Was it a happy accident that your role also involved that or was it worked into the script?

So, I’ve been playing sort of seriously for the last couple years, but I’ve been a bad drummer for almost a decade. My husband has been drumming since childhood and gave me one lesson back in 2013. During the quarantine, we moved out to the middle of nowhere, and I was able to practice as much and as loud as I wanted, so I just got to spend more time on it. When I met with the writers for season 2, Norm Hiscock mentioned wanting some sort of outlet for Angela, originally, I think the idea was she would get a motorcycle. I told them I didn’t know how to ride but was happy to fake it, and they asked what I could do, so that we could have the satisfaction of seeing me actually doing it, rather than cutting away to a stunt person. I mentioned that I’d been drumming a lot lately and everybody kind of lit up. Next thing I know, there’s a huge kit on one of the stages when I got to Vancouver for me to practice on when I wasn’t filming.

You star opposite Steve Carrell, John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, and others. Do you have any funny behind the scenes moments or memories where it was hard not to laugh?

Steve Carrell trying to pick up a chunk of tofu in episode three. It’s not behind the scenes, it very much is in the scene, but we were all absolutely losing it. I’m glad the camera wasn’t on me.

I read you love traveling and being outdoors. Are there any places on your bucket list you are wanting to check off now that the world is opening up a bit more?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Canary Islands. I have a passive interest in learning to surf (I’ve had two lessons, I’m terrible but I love the ocean), and I’m an avid hiker. I think someplace like Fuerteventura would be a dream spot to sit for a few weeks and do a lot of both.

What is next for you?

I have a few projects I’m working on that I’d love to see made—features I’ve written, an animated show. All things that come from my strange little blend of life experiences. This that speak to my work as a musician, and comedy person, and things that touch on what it’s like to be a Black traveler and outdoorsperson. I basically just want to tell the funny, fringy stories about people like me who do too much.

In Conversation With ‘Space Force’s’ Tawny Newsome