Cristin Milioti, the 39-year-old actor and singer, has recently come to a realization about her career trajectory. Sitting on a park bench in Brooklyn, she reflects on her tendency to gravitate towards characters grappling with trauma or existential crises.
From her roles in "Palm Springs" and "Black Mirror" to "Made for Love" and "The Resort," Milioti has consistently portrayed women entrenched in cycles of absurdist misery or facing significant life challenges. Even her characters in "How I Met Your Mother" and "Fargo" met tragic ends.
"I like things that are funny and strange and sad and happy and as much of the experience of being alive as you can get shoved into one show."
Milioti's upcoming role in "The Penguin," premiering September 19, 2024, on Max, marks a departure from her previous work. In this follow-up to Matt Reeves's 2022 film "The Batman," she plays Sofia Falcone, a convicted serial killer known as "The Hangman." This character allows Milioti to showcase a more sinister side, breaking away from her typical charming or heroic roles.
Lauren LeFranc, creator of "The Penguin," saw untapped potential in Milioti. "I felt like she could do more than what a lot of people were giving her," LeFranc explains. "I do hope this kind of breaks her free as a performer more, to show all the different sides of her talent."
Milioti's warm personality contrasts sharply with some of her on-screen characters. Colleagues like Ray Romano and Andy Samberg praise her genuine nature and grounded presence. This authenticity has been a constant throughout her career, from her early days in theater to her breakthrough roles on Broadway and television.
Despite her success in quirky rom-com roles, Milioti found herself longing for more complex characters. Her subsequent projects, including "Fargo," "Black Mirror," and "Palm Springs," allowed her to explore a wider range of emotions and themes.
Andy Samberg notes, "She chooses projects that are cool and interesting and she very rarely has chosen anything that was not challenging for her."
In "The Penguin," Milioti's character Sofia Falcone is inspired by Rosemary Kennedy and explores themes of family dysfunction and mental health. This role allows Milioti to delve into the complexities of a character shaped by trauma and societal pressures.
Reflecting on her career, Milioti acknowledges her attraction to roles that navigate life's extremes. "Maybe I'm drawn to those extremes," she muses, embracing the ongoing process of self-discovery in her artistic journey.
As Milioti continues to surprise herself and audiences with her versatile performances, she remains open to new challenges and unexpected revelations about her craft.