Magnifique Mazar  : Entretien avec Debi Mazar

Younger

is a fresh take on reinvention, ageism, friendship and self-acceptance. Darren Star's writing is so smart, and the casting is fantastic. Manhattan and Brooklyn play a big role in the texture of the piece.

What brings actors to most roles is the need to be employed. I was especially excited to read for the role, because it was Darren Star, and I've always been a big fan. He writes so wonderfully for women. I am similar to Maggie in the sense that I am a great friend to have and will give you the shirt off my back. I am the oldest in the cast, and my character brings wisdom that you only get with age.

I'm very outspoken to begin with, so that part is a no-brainer. But I also spent time with a dear friend of mine named Yvonne Casas, who lived in Williamsburg, across the street from the studio where we filmed. She was a beautiful, Cuban lesbian who was an artist and the most incredible dresser. She had a huge loft there for 25 years. Sadly, she passed before we commenced production. I channeled her every morning on my way to the studio.

I think women and men alike will relate to this show, as its themes are part of the discussion that everyone experiences in the workplace or in relationships—especially these days.

Three years ago, I moved back home to Brooklyn after doing 20 years in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, you go from point A to point B by car. I missed the streets and people in New York City; my “cup” felt empty. I wanted my children transported into realness: public school, stoop life and taking the subway, which to me is the best theater of all! Shooting in the same borough as my home is the American dream. I feel like I'm living in a Berenice Abbott picture.

Extra Virgin

is a completely different animal than

Younger

, which is scripted. It's challenging and so much fun. I get to write comedy, showcase my husband's heritage (he's from Tuscany), produce, direct, cook and eat! Working with my kids is great, as I only use them if they are willing and excited to be a part of it.

That was a really special period in NYC. We were all so young and creative; no one was afraid of crazy fashion. Art was exploding; punk was colliding with new wave and hip-hop. It was probably the most diverse period in New York that I have experienced. I worked at Mudd Club doing the door to the VIP floor. I didn't know who anyone really was, and I was 16 years old! [Club owner] Steve Mass probably thought it was funny to have an underage kid deciding who was cool enough to come in. Everybody walked through those doors. I met everyone. I have a book in the works about this period.

I am a proud New York “bridge and tunnel” girl. I have lived in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Manhattan; everything has changed! So much old character is gone. Many of the old theaters and diners are gone, and “40 Deuce” [42nd Street] is an outdoor shopping mall, just like lower Broadway. It's good for the economy, but I do miss the mom-and-pop shops. Little Italy is gone; the Lower East Side is built up and cleaned up. But the subways have never been more efficient [and] they even have Wi-Fi in many stations. The

High Line

is one of the most exciting things to happen in NYC.

Central Park

and

Prospect Park

are as regal as ever. However, the boroughs are still my favorite! I returned to Brooklyn because it's closest to my heart, and I have history here, which I wanted to share with my children. Let's face it, the world has changed everywhere, but NYC is still the biggest melting pot in the world. The diversity in culture is unmatched.

Central Park, Prospect Park, the High Line,

Coney Island

, the

New York Transit Museum

, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the

Natural History Museum

,

MoMA PS1

in Queens, the

Guggenheim

,

Lincoln Center

,

BAM

and the

Brooklyn Museum

. Shopping at

Bergdorf Goodman

and

Macy's

. Also,

Governors Island

,

Ellis Island

, the

Statue of Liberty

and water taxis! The Cloisters,

Fort Tryon Park

, West Side Highway for biking, Chelsea Market,

Eataly

, the Flatiron District and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.

All of the above!!