Interview with Veep's Timothy Simons

Shirleena: So, Jonah is very much of a colorful character, I have to say. Now ...

Timothy Simons: That's a very kind way of describing him.

Shirleena: Yeah, I guess I could say it was a kind way of describing him. Now, it must be really fun to play his character. What was your favorite episode?

Timothy Simons: From this past season, or in general?

Shirleena: Well I guess you could say both. This past season, season five, what was your favorite episode?

Timothy Simons: Okay. I would say ... I think my favorite episode from season five was ... I think I loved doing episode where Jonah actually wins. Because I think that involved the scenes where I shoot myself in the foot, and the actual victory speech where he basically just airs old grievances. Those two scenes I really loved, and anything involving the congressional campaign, was really fun just because in previous seasons, I've never had to ... Jonah's never had a public face. He's only ever been behind the scenes. He's never been face to face with voters. He's never had to ask somebody to vote for him. He's only ever had this private, sort of shitty face.

Shirleena: Yeah.

Timothy Simons: And I like that we got to play with sort of how he presents himself to the public. That was a really fun part of those episodes last year. I think historically, one of my favorite episodes to film was the scene in season one, where I go to a metal show with Dan, and Dan dates Jonah. I just thought that was ... that was just always one of my favorite ones.

Shirleena: Yeah, that was awesome. Now, what can we expect from your character in season six... because right now, he's faking that he has cancer. That's pretty much a really shady thing to do. I mean even for him.

Timothy Simons: Yeah. It's sort of a new low, even for him. I think I'll clarify that. He actually did have cancer.

Shirleena: Yeah, he did have cancer, but he's still ...

Timothy Simons: He's faking his continuing treatments. He's faking his continuing treatment, but he actually did have cancer, which I think does humanize him a little bit. Or, at least it's pretty funny that like ... That he's one of the only people that you can't really feel a lot of sympathy for, even when he gets cancer, he finds a way to fuck that up. But you can expect more douchy behavior like that, especially as he continues in congress. You can expect more douchy behavior as he continues to get, or to attempt to get more power in congress.

Shirleena: Yeah. Now, you work with a lot of great, funny actors, who is your favorite scene partner that you have the most fun with?

Timothy Simons: Let's see, I've always loved doing scenes with Sam. Sam and I ... I really love working with Sam, because he's so effortlessly funny. And also because his sort of buoyant, Richard ... the character Richard's buoyant positivity I think is a really strong comedic anecdote to Jonah's sort of righteous indignation, and sort of poisonous negativity. I feel like they're a good frick and frack.
I've always loved doing scenes with Reed, just because I've always loved their rivalry. I feel like they're two sides of the exact same coin. Jonah's sees himself as a Dan, like they kind of have the same M.O. They want more power, they want to get laid, and it's just a binge. They go about it in somewhat the same ways, it's just that Dan has much more success, and I love that they've always been adversaries. So I love doing scenes with Reed as well.

Shirleena: Now, what is the best advice that a mentor has ever given you throughout your career to succeed in the past?

Timothy Simons: I would say like let's see ... The things ... Like I've gotten good advice on ... good acting advice from other, from my first teachers, and from other actors. Some of it philosophical, some of it technical, but I find some of the most important stuff that people have ever told me is just how to survive the day-to-day of being an actor. When you have a job like this, when you actually get work ... like that's your vacation. That's when you get to just relax and have fun. It's all the days your not working, where all the actual work comes in.

Little things, like somebody told me once that, "You just can't ever base your own success on a timeline of other people's successes." That was really important for me, because this was my first big job, and I didn't get it. So, I was ... I think I was 32 at the time, so I had been at it trying to get jobs for 12 years when this one came up. I think it's stuff like that, just how to handle the day-to-day of being an actor. How to live in Los Angeles without going crazy. How do not ... How to deal with feelings of disillusionment, or envy all that kind of stuff. That's been the most helpful.

Shirleena: Stay grounded, and that's ... Stay focused you mean?

Timothy Simons: Yeah, staying focused, and not letting things that won't help affect you. Like being envious of somebody's else's job isn't going to help you get a job, you know?

Shirleena: Yeah.

Timothy Simons: It's only going to distract, so things like that, yeah.

Shirleena: Yeah. I totally understand. All right, well great. I'm going to let you get back to your children.

Timothy Simons: Oh killer, thank you.

Shirleena: Thank you so much.

Timothy Simons: No problem, have a great Saturday.

Shirleena: You too

• Buy your own copy of Season 5 on Amazon.com. 
• Winner of Three Emmy Awards: Including Best Comedy Series 
• Bonus Features: Deleted Scenes + Audio Commentaries  

https://www.amazon.com/Veep-Complete-Season-Digital-Blu-ray


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About the Author - Shirleena Cunningham

I've been with SpoilerTV since 2013. I have writen reviews for Law and Order SVU, HBO GIRLS, Chicago P.D, Bones, and How I Met Your Mother, I currently review Better Call Saul. I also have done an interview with Producer, Stewart Lyons for his show Better Call Saul ( Premiere Season) I attended the 2016 and 2017 Paleyfest as well as other Paley Center events throughtout the year. I've also covered some of the 68th and 69th annual Emmy events, and the 2nd annual Carney Awards. Which honors Best Achievement in Character Acting.

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