We all know Natasha Rothwell from her scene-stealing role as Kelly in Issa Rae’s captivating HBO dramedy Insecure.
The beloved character stood ten toes behind her friends no matter what, and was always available to be the life of the party with the help of her sharp-witted and bold personality. But beneath her larger-than-life exterior lay a complex character with rare but deep moments of vulnerability.
Though two very different shows, Kelly and Natasha’s character Melissa in How To Die Alone share many similarities. Melissa is like Kelly but layered with more emotional complexity. Both use humor to cope but their journeys vary in the sense that Melissa’s journey includes grappling with loneliness, self-discovery, and insecurities in a more introspective way. Nevertheless, Rothwell manages to bring her comedic flare to both roles, showcasing her range in balancing comedy and vulnerability.
And who better to help her turn those painful lessons into entertainment than Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and now co-showrunner, Vera Santamaria?
Known for her exceptional work on critically acclaimed shows like Ms. Marvel, BoJack Horseman, PEN15, and Orange Is The New Black, Santamaria is used to crafting relatable characters and exploring darker, more emotional themes through a comedic lens.
We had the chance to sit down for an exciting interview with Rothwell and Santamaria to discuss their highly anticipated new Hulu comedy series How To Die Alone, which premiered on September 13th. Rothwell plays the leading role on and off screen as the star, executive producer, and writer of the series.
“This is a love letter to the unhealed version of myself and it’s an opportunity to explore some things that I’ve worked out in therapy for the last 20 years. That is surrounding issues with worthiness, being alone, your chosen family, growing together, growing apart, taking big swings…” said Rothwell.
Melissa (Rothwell) is a 30-something living a mundane life in NYC where works at John F. Kennedy Airport despite never having been on a plane before. She works alongside her best friend Rory (Conrad Ricamora) and her ex Alex (Jocko Sims) who she hasn’t quite disconnected from, yet. Mel is flawed and self-deprecating and, like many, uses humor as a defense mechanism against her deeper issues. Her reality hits hard when she is hospitalized after an accident that leaves her dead for approximately three minutes. It is in that hospital bed that she realizes she has no emergency contact. She calls Rory but he’s unavailable.
Mel’s near-death experience helps her recognize that she may have been missing out on life’s greatest joys due to fear. Fear of not measuring up, fear of love, fear of being happy, and fear of what lies ahead for her. Unlike typical protagonists, Mel is unapologetically imperfect but dying brings her a new outlook. She’s finally ready to embark on the journey to self-acceptance. Not without a few curveballs, though.
The show also stars KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Bashir Salahuddin (Top Gun: Maverick, South Side), Jaylee Hamidi (Supernatural), Melissa DuPrey, and Chris Powell (Love Life, Run The World).
Our conversation with Rothwell and Santamaria provided a deep insight into the creative process behind the show, the exploration of themes around being a woman of color, the importance of community, self-worth, and the role that comedy can play in all these things.
Santamaria, who helped shape the voice of the series, echoed Rothwell’s sentiments. “The thing that I bring to a show is that I go deep. I ask hard questions. I peek in the corners that you probably wanna hide but I think that’s something very real and vulnerable. When I saw that [Rothwell] was unafraid of my prying eyes and the work I thought we needed to do, it was a go. I felt like it was gonna be this creative marriage that produces something special and I think I turned out to be right.”
In the end, Natasha Rothwell and Vera Santamaria’s vision for How To Die Alone is a comedy that invites viewers to laugh, cry, reflect, and most importantly, embrace life’s messiness with open arms.
