Tried and Tru

Jane Lynch gets best in show at this year's fest.

by Natalie Hope McDonald

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Jane Lynch's résumé reads like a who's-who of Hollywood. The actor, writer and comedian has hundreds of TV and film credits to her name, including roles in The 40 Year Old Virgin, The L Word and Christopher Guest's improvisational mock-docs Best in Show and A Mighty Wind (where she did all her own singing and guitar-playing as a porn star-turned-folkie). Most recently, she plays the girlfriend of a closeted teacher in Tru Loved, Stewart Wade's film tackling gay family life, which will be shown at Philly's International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (see Drew Lazor's review). She'll be in town this weekend to receive the fest's Artistic Achievement Award for Acting and cut a rug at Sisters nightclub's after-party, aptly titled See Jane Dance.

City Paper: What can we expect from your new film?

Jane Lynch: Tru Loved tells the age-old story of the outsider trying to fit in, and through her own genuine charm and open heart, she transforms a reluctant tidbit of society into understanding that love is love. The twist here is that Tru, our heroine, has two moms and two dads. She is taken from her safe San Francisco environment where this sort of family is just one of many, to a conservative small town where they've never seen her likes.

CP: How does the film handle the depiction of gay families?

JL: Like any other family. The parents love their children and want the best for them. Tru's moms are fiercely protective of her, but understand that her journey is her own, just like all moms and dads.

CP: Your credits include a long list of TV shows in the last few years. What's been your favorite role to date?

JL: Two and a Half Men. I play Charlie's therapist. You wonder why he keeps coming to me.

CP: Have any of the characters you've played reflected your own life?

JL: All of them. It's all in me. I live all of it. Varying degrees, of course.

CP: What is your favorite LGBTQ film?

JL: Desert Hearts. Saw it about 1,450 times the summer of '85. I can quote it.

CP: Since you'll be in Philadelphia for this year's events, are you planning to make any fun pit stops?

JL: I wanna see the Liberty Bell. I hear it's cracked.

CP: What's something most people probably don't know about Jane Lynch?

JL: I get weekly pedicures.

(n_mcdonald@citypaper.net)

Jane Lynch receives the Artistic Achievement Award for Acting at the Sat., July 12, screening of Tru Loved, 7 p.m., $10, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., followed by an after-party at Sisters Nightclub, 1320 Chancellor St., 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m., $6 (free with film ticket stub), 267-765-9700, ext. 4, phillyfests.com.