Tracey Ullman: The Simpsons, Character Acting & Comedy

Tracey Ullman, the undisputed queen of character acting, joined Dini Petty for a candid look behind the prosthetic masks of her most iconic sketches. In this rare archive, Ullman peels back the layers of her creative process, from the physical discomfort of full-face transformations to the accidental birth of a global phenomenon.

A highlight of the conversation is the definitive origin of The Simpsons. Ullman famously remarks, “I breastfed The Simpsons,” referring to how the animated family began as short interstitial sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show. She discusses the surreal experience of watching those small animations evolve into a cultural juggernaut that reshaped television history.

The interview also dives into the unglamorous—and often grueling—reality of character acting. Ullman describes the nightmare of wearing a claustrophobic full-face mask for characters like Mrs. Noh Nang Ning and the intricate details involved in creating Chick, the male cab driver. She admits a preference for playing “ugly” or flawed people, arguing that real human comedy found in the mundane is far more interesting than traditional Hollywood glamour.

Ullman’s methods for capturing the human condition are as eccentric as her characters. She confesses to secretly recording strangers in public to steal their accents and speech patterns, a technique that fueled her repertoire of global personalities. From her early days at the Royal Court Theater to her brief stint as a pop star, Ullman explains why she feels most comfortable when she is completely unrecognizable.

Beyond the laughter, Tracey Ullman addresses the evolution of comedy, including a controversial character she eventually retired and the female comedians who paved her way, such as Gilda Radner and Lily Tomlin. Throughout the discussion, Ullman remains a fierce advocate for production control, overseeing the writing and distribution of her work to ensure her singular vision remains intact.