She plays a computer specialist and sometime-action hero on one of the most successful television shows of all time. She occasionally acts in off-beat films like Punch Drunk Love and Little Miss Sunshine and in indie movies like Gregg Araki's Mysterious Skin, a 2004 film so dark it barely graced theater marquees before heading to DVD and quasi-cult status. She counts stand-up comedy among her creative outlets. And Mary Lynn Rajskub, a.k.a Chloe on FOX's 24, says she is equally at home in any and all of those seemingly incompatible worlds.
On the Phenomenon of 24:
Men's Vogue: Was there a moment during the last few years when you realized that 24 is not just a TV show, but instead is a sort of political juggernaut that's bringing different elements of America together?
Mary Lynn Rajskub: What's happening? Is it causing fights between people?
Men's Vogue: Kiefer has said that he heard that Donald Rumsfeld was watching it, that Michael Chertoff was watching. At the same time, it's a favorite of Hollywood and liberals.
MLR: Yeah, it's exciting. I think that [the producers] just thought it was just an interesting idea when it started out. They didn't plan for it to have that type of effect. It's a really unique experience to have all different types of people telling you that they love the show. We have all kinds of visitors on the set. I personally went to Washington to speak on a panel about terrorism. You never know what's going to happen to you as an actor. You get to participate in all sorts of unlikely things.
On Rumors of a Romantic Relation with Rush Limbaugh:
Men's Vogue: Can I ask you about the Heritage Foundation-sponsored event last July where the infamous Rush Limbaugh kiss took place?
MLR: Some people call it infamous ? Well, I actually just did a comedy show based on a retelling of [the incident]. I take off in a fantastical way on what would actually happen if I did date Rush Limbaugh.
I use that photo in the show and I talk about being on a television show and being asked to go to Washington and then asking [the conference organizers] if they know that I'm not really a computer expert. Not being a particularly political person at all, I pretty much have my head in the clouds most of the time. When that picture was taken it wasn't really a big deal, but it looked like a big deal. So in the show, I have my ex-fiancé calling me, sobbing about how this is the worst day in his life, with me going out with Rush Limbaugh, before I can get a word in edgewise. And I take off from there on what would happen if Rush and I were a Hollywood power couple. But to see the picture and see the reaction is pretty interesting— to see what one image can set off in peoples' minds.
On Chloe's Adventures:
Men's Vogue: Another thing that Chloe is famous for--online, at least--is the scene in which you get your first kill on the show. Is that how you would like her to be remembered? Or is there a more intimate, nuanced scene that you identify with the character?
MLR: That was a really fun, cool scene to do. I think that it had such an effect because of what the character had been up until that point. I don't think that it would have had such an impact if people had not seen and heard what Chloe had done before. It was unexpected and odd and abnormal, and that's why I think it was so enjoyable.
Men's Vogue: Is it possible that the audience can expect more such action from Chloe in the future?
MLR: After that, in season 5, early on, I did end up shooting someone else. I was also out of the office with the TASER gun, in a bar zapping a drunk guy who came up to me. It's difficult to get me out of the CTU but they did a pretty good job of it in season 5. So far in season 6, I haven't stepped out of the CTU, but we can still hope for it.
On Choosing Her Roles:
Men's Vogue: Your character in Mysterious Skin, an unstable paranormal enthusiast, was nothing at all like Chloe. You seem to be just as comfortable in that sort of very dark role as you are on a blockbuster television series. Is that [creative balance] something that you seek out?
MLR: Up until now, I've gone where things have taken me. So really, I've been more comfortable doing the smaller, darker, weirder sort of things. Mysterious Skin I'm really proud of because I think it's such a great story and so well done. It's just not the kind of subject matter that you want to watch everyday. It's not a mainstream story. But that's what surprises me about 24--how the fans are so into being stressed out and kept on the edge of their seats. I definitely like doing both larger scale and smaller scale things.
If anything, I've gotten a little bit spoiled being on 24. It's a blessing to be able to go to work and to know what my part is, to know where I'm driving, to know everybody there. I've gotten comfortable there. In terms of an actor's life, you're usually panicked all of the time. I like to do live stuff and keep going on auditions to make sure that I don't get too used to being on 24 because I could be killed at any minute--as we know. You gotta be careful.
