RACHEL BAY JONES Life Keeps GETTING BETTER

The award-winning co-star of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage shares her journey

- Katie Bruno

Rachel Bay Jones admits that it's great fun to play Audrey, Mandy's domineering mother on Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.

“She can be very sharp and cuts off people,” says Rachel of the character she introduced on Young Sheldon. “She says the things I would never say. It's really fun for me to try to understand what would make somebody behave that way.”

The child of two Shakespearean actors, Rachel made her Broadway debut in 1989 in a revival of Meet Me in St. Louis. Over the next 20 years, she remained a working actor but not yet a star. That changed with the role of Heidi in Dear Evan Hansen, which won her Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards. “I didn’t really hit in any kind of way until my 40s,” Rachel notes. “I’m 55 now and it’s been a beautiful ride.”

How did you get started in show business?

My parents were actors. They met at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. One day, my mother had a play sitting out on the counter that she was auditioning for. I looked and saw that there was a role for someone my age. I said, “I can play that part.” She got very excited and got me ready for the audition. My Nana sewed me an outfit. It was really cute.

So your family was very supportive.

They were very enthusiastic and always have been. To this day, they are still so excited about my career. And it’s funny because my daughter is 21 years old and recently decided to be an actor herself. She knew that I did not want that for her.

It’s a hard business.

Rachel plays Audrey on Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. It airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and streams on Paramount+.