In Hulu’s ‘Dollface,’ ECU alumna Beth Grant channels her inner cat lady

Published Nov 18, 2019 by

Erin Ward

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Actress Beth Grant has enjoyed impressive longevity in her Hollywood career, with appearances in more than 100 movies and TV shows.

You’ll know her as nurse Beverly in “The Mindy Project,” Gracie Leigh in “Jericho,” the uppity pageant official in “Little Miss Sunshine” and—this writer’s favorite—Dwight’s date/babysitter in the dinner party episode of “The Office.” She also appeared in three Oscar-winning movies: “Rain Man,” “No Country for Old Men” and “The Artist.”

Beth Grant ’72 calls Greenville her “second hometown.” (Contributed photo)

In the following interview, Grant talks life as a cat, her ECU experiences and work on movies with fellow ECU alumna Sandra Bullock.

Playing a cat lady

I was so excited when I got the script for “Dollface.” Once I heard Kat Dennings was in it, I was in. Don’t you just love her? She’s so down to earth and a joy to work with. My only question was, “Do I have to do prosthetics?” But I didn’t. The cat face is computer generated. I did have to run around set with dots all over my face and my hair slicked back. I just looked like a nut! Every week, I’m a different character. I’m still a cat spirit guide but I take on different personas every week. One week I’m a bus driver; another week I’m a game show host.

I’m a proud cat lady. I had five cats when my daughter was growing up. I had a cat at ECU named Fifth. Now we just have a little dog that we say is half-cat.

Female friendships

Funnily enough, just yesterday I talked to one of my former ECU roommates. She was a music major. We lost touch and reconnected through Facebook a few years ago.

One of my best friends in the world is Suzanne Jenkins, who is (former ECU chancellor) Dr. Leo Jenkins’ daughter. Suzanne and I try to see each other as often as possible. Dr. Jenkins and his wife Lilian were like parents to me. I was one of the regulars at their house on Fifth Street. I really do consider them family.

Working with Sandra Bullock

Working with Sandra Bullock is one of the highlights of my career. I’ve been fortunate enough to do four movies with her. The first time I met her I was so jealous of her. I was doing “Speed” and we didn’t know who the lead actress was going to be at first. At the table read, Sandy walked in and we knew she was the lead. I thought, “Oh, it’s the girl from East Carolina!” She recognized me and we started chatting. It was fantastic. In five seconds, I was in love.

Beth Grant ’72 plays a cat lady in Hulu’s “Dollface.” (Contributed photo)

We shot the movie on a live freeway, which I wasn’t expecting. I thought it would be filmed with a green screen. It was a hard six weeks because I’d just had a baby. We had long days on set and I’d get sad and start missing my baby. But Sandy made all the difference. She was there for me every day. I don’t know how I’d have done it without her.

ECU experiences

CU has been a vortex for me in my life. It was a heavenly five years – I was on the five-year plan. The drama department was so excellent. It was very supportive of students. I never got cast in anything, except my last year I got one lead. But if I had to pick one thing I learned it would be how to find your passion. Whatever you do in life, you have to love what you do.

All the tools I learned at ECU are still with me. I had a couple auditions this week and did all my regular preparation. I say a little prayer before every audition where I ask to be of service to everyone in the project. I ask that even if I show them what they don’t want, it’s OK.

With that attitude, I’m able to leave my ego at the door and see if I have anything to offer them.
I also must give a shout out to my brother Bubba Grant, who is the biggest Pirate fan in the history of the world. He lives in Cary and is the one who keeps me engaged with ECU.

Up next

I have two movies coming out next year, one shot in Wilmington! The first is “Words On Bathroom Walls” starring Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, Walton Goggins and Molly Parker. The second is “Wander Darkly” starring Sienna Miller and Diego Luna.