Introducing Charly Clive, the rising star of HBO's Rooster, who has a passion for vintage shopping.

      English actress and comedian Charly Clive nearly stepped away from acting when she received the opportunity of a lifetime: a lead role alongside her comedy idol Steve Carell in the upcoming HBO series Rooster. "It was good timing," she chuckles. That's quite an understatement. Rooster quickly became HBO's most-watched comedy series premiere in over a decade within just a few days of streaming. Created by Bill Lawrence (of Ted Lasso and Shrinking fame) and Matt Tarses, Rooster follows the complex dynamics between a bestselling novelist and his art history professor daughter. When Greg Russo (Carell) visits his daughter Katie (Clive) at Ludlow College, he discovers her life has been turned upside down after her husband, Archie (Phil Dunster), leaves her for a younger woman. As Greg navigates his own marital issues, the two find a chance to support one another and regain their stability. This endearing Sunday evening comedy is packed with humor, heart, and remarkable performances, particularly from the emerging talent of Clive.

      Clive, who was raised in the UK before moving to New York City to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, faced a life-changing challenge when diagnosed with a brain tumor at 23. Together with her comedy writing partner Ellen Robertson, she transformed that experience into a successful stage show called Britney. Now, Rooster represents Clive's most significant U.S. screen endeavor to date. With Carell's endorsement, she surpassed several actresses to secure the sought-after role of Katie, arriving at just the right moment.

      We chatted with Clive, a self-professed vintage lover, about meeting her acting icons, collaborating closely with Carell, and her choice to exclusively wear secondhand outfits during her promotional tour.

      Can you share how you landed this role? It seems like quite a wild story. I hadn't worked for a couple of years, experiencing a bit of a dry spell, especially with the pandemic and the industry's slow recovery after. I told my agent in January 2024, "Acting is my passion, but I am also a writer and a comedian. I have other pursuits. I’m not sure how many more rejections I can handle. I might need a break from auditions." She replied, "Let's give it a year." By December 2024, I landed Rooster. It was perfect timing.

      I received a request for a tape for what was then referred to as the "Untitled Steve Carell Project." I thought, since Steve is my hero, I want to be a part of anything he does. I didn’t expect anyone to watch my tape but decided to give it a shot. A month later, I got a call from Bill Lawrence, asking if I would be willing to do a Zoom meeting with Steve. I said yes, and he replied, "Awesome, can you be ready in a couple of hours?" After that, we had about four more Zooms culminating in a final chemistry read during a friend's rehearsal dinner. I was supposed to give a speech but had to apologize, saying, “I have an important job interview.” My friend then instructed everyone to speak softly so there wouldn't be interruptions during my call.

      How do you even prepare for a call with Steve Carell on such short notice? My first instinct was, "I need to tidy up my room for the Zoom background." I wasn’t prepared for the idea of meeting Steve Carell. When someone offers you such an opportunity (even before the role is confirmed), you say yes before they finish. I figured if there’s any chance he could change his mind, I didn’t want to give him a reason to do so. About five minutes before the Zoom, my heart began racing, wondering what it would be like. After it concluded, I closed my laptop, took a deep breath, and thought, "If nothing else, I've just acted alongside Steve Carell," which felt like a big accomplishment. The process continued, and finally, a few months later, I received the call about joining the show, which felt like the best news of my life.

      Where were you when you got that call? I was at a Vampire Weekend concert in London. When my phone rang and I noticed it was a California number, I dashed outside to take it. It was Matt Tarses, and he said, “Hey, Charly, I just want to apologize.” I burst into tears, thinking I hadn’t gotten the job. Then he added, “I’m sorry for the long wait, but we’d love to have you on the show if you're interested.” I responded, "Matt, you’re terrible at this." It felt like I was on a reality show trying to capture a good TV moment while being at a Vampire Weekend concert. I returned inside, and my friends were eagerly asking for the thumbs up or down; I gave them a thumbs up, and we had a