Why Janicza Bravo Wants to Be Her ‘Too Much’ Character When She Grows Up

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Janicza Bravo and Lena Dunham became friends following their collaboration on the HBO series “Camping,” with Dunham serving as creator and Bravo being part of the cast. However, it wasn’t until two years after the show’s cancellation due to the pandemic that their friendship truly blossomed. As Bravo humorously puts it, they shared a similar perspective, which made her even more reluctant to socialize. With both of them preferring solitude, they began spending time together. During this period, Dunham was in the early stages of her relationship with Luis Felber and proposed the idea for a show inspired (in a loose sense) by their romance to Bravo. Impressed, Bravo agreed to be part of the project without hesitation, as she would say yes to anything Dunham suggested.

The concept eventually morphed into “Too Much,” the Netflix romantic comedy featuring Meg Stalter and Will Sharpe that has resonated (positively!) with Dunham’s predominantly millennial fan base. Bravo portrays Kim, Stalter’s colleague, fellow American, and at times, sister in (love-struck) arms; she also directed the episode titled “One Wedding and a Scoundrel.” Below, she discusses with The Hollywood Reporter why she was eager to join the show and her thoughts on the series’ primary separation.

Did Lena write the character of Kim knowing that it would be you playing her?

Lena and I had been fantasizing about collaborating on a project. We’re currently working on it and are in the process of writing something together. The idea for Too Much was given to me, with the suggestion that you take on Kim. My response was positive. You see, when I’m directing, I rarely get the opportunity to observe others in the director’s role. I didn’t attend film school, so one of the aspects I appreciate about acting is learning from directors I admire and respect. However, I also shared with her that I need to direct an episode as well. I was eager to direct within her universe.

What about the character of Kim is unique to you as an actor?

Initially, I felt they just wanted me to embody the character of Janicza in this production. Lena, I believe, would concur that casting often seeks a particular likeness or an extension of what you already do. There’s quite a bit of similarity between me and Kim. Kim is a woman who fled home to embark on a new life, which resonated with my own journey from New York to LA to rewrite my own destiny.

Kim is grappling with the aftermath of an unfulfilling relationship, and her quest for self-discovery mirrors my own exploration of sexuality. I had been married and was in my 40s when the world seemed to suggest that I no longer held any allure – but I felt more attractive, intriguing, and proud of my body and mind than ever before.

In essence, Kim is the woman I aspired to become as I grew older.

Did you consult on any of her wardrobe?

Arielle Cooper-Lethem, the costume designer, is incredibly talented. She created the costumes for my production, “The Listeners,” and I had complete faith in her abilities. Given my passion for fashion, I wanted to showcase designers whom I admire and support, while also promoting lesser-known talents. Additionally, it was important for me to step out of my comfort zone with some daring choices. Although there were pieces that seemed a bit outlandish, remember, it wasn’t me wearing them; it was Kim.

Could you share your thoughts about the character Zev? What was your response when you learned about his romantic decisions in the script?

In our discussion with Emily Ratajkowski, she seems to embody the stereotype often portrayed in films as ‘the woman left for by the man.’ Similarly, character Zev appears to be a typical troublemaker. However, I believe the narrative of both characters is less about their personalities and more about how they navigate through life and the people they choose to surround themselves with. Perhaps this perspective is influenced by my age, as I might view things differently in my twenties. At that time, I wasn’t always skilled at picking the right companions. The series seems equally about love as it is about Meg and Will’s relationships with individuals who have their backs. When considering Zev, he may come across as a jerk, but ultimately, he simply isn’t someone who should be in her life to support her. This becomes very clear to me.

As a gamer navigating through my professional journey, directing episode eight was undeniably a pivotal moment. Looking back, the opportunity to direct Zola took my career to new heights – but at the time, did it feel like a monumental shift? Let me share my perspective on that.

Since my debut with the movie “Lemon” in 2017, I’ve moved on to the premiere episode of “Atlanta”, and ever since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to choose my projects carefully. I’m quite picky, and I struggle when I’m not passionate about a job. It doesn’t work out well for me financially, but it’s essential that I’m invested in the project. Both of these experiences served as proof of concept, demonstrating my capabilities as a director. However, it was the film “Zola” that truly transformed my career and gave me the freedom to reject more opportunities.

Did you know that it would be life-changing while you were making it?

Last year at the end of 2019, I was quite confident that 2020 would be a big breakthrough for me. My movie, Zola, was set to premiere at Sundance and hit theaters around Independence Day, marking my big indie debut. However, none of that came to pass. Instead, I had to wait for over a year to release the film, which happened during a time when most theaters are operating at half capacity. This isn’t the ideal situation I wanted for my movie’s release. It’s natural to wonder if things had gone differently, would it have made a bigger impact? Yet, I find myself questioning what ‘more’ even means in this context.

How did you decide on which episode of Too Much would be best for you to direct?

Lena chose an episode for me to work on since I’m the one responsible for overseeing departures, whether they be holidays or funerals. I’ve turned down numerous excellent TV projects because I didn’t believe I could add anything meaningful to them. Since my partner is English, I’ve attended a few English weddings and that served as my initial inspiration for the world we were creating. The goal was to place Jess in an environment that feels strange and unwelcoming, and I think we achieved that. It was an excellent location to film at, as Pippa Middleton got married there and many British shows have filmed there too. I believe ‘The Crown’ and there was a scene from ‘Spencer’ shot there. Before living in England for work, my perception of the country was shaped by my teenage Anglophile years, where I consumed Merchant Ivory and ‘Remains of the Day’. However, when I moved there, I realized it was more like ‘Bridget Jones’. Meg, as Jess, represents modernity colliding with a more traditional, stiff, conformist society.

Apart from directing, what was the most delicious meal you got to enjoy while working on The Bear this season?

The show is incredibly impressive, perfectly balancing its elements in a way that needs no further praise from me. Trying the Hamburger Helper for the first time was an extraordinary experience. Even though it was a fancier version, I believe it would have been equally enjoyable at any level. In our household, growing up as a first-generation American with Panamanian parents, Hamburger Helper didn’t quite fit our cultural preferences. I recall my mother often feeling that certain foods were not part of our heritage.

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2025-07-16 03:55