Amita Rao, the breakout star of FX’s acclaimed comedy Adults, is returning to screens as the delightfully confident and outrageously funny Issa in the show’s highly anticipated second season, which premiered yesterday, August 27. The 27-year-old actress and comedian delves into the evolving dynamics of the series, particularly the intricate relationships that extend beyond typical romantic entanglements, offering a fresh perspective on the modern sitcom landscape.
FX’s ‘Adults’ Returns with Fan Anticipation
The FX comedy Adults has quickly established itself as a standout series for its authentic portrayal of young adult life, resonating strongly with a Gen Z audience. Its return for a second season was met with considerable anticipation, as fans eagerly awaited the continuation of its unique narrative and sharp humor. The show distinguishes itself by capturing a specific generational ethos, making it a pivotal series in contemporary television.
Rao’s character, Issa, is central to the show’s ensemble, known for her vibrant personality and quick wit. As Adults enters its sophomore season, the narrative promises deeper exploration of its characters and their interconnected lives, building on the foundation laid in its critically praised debut. The series is celebrated for its ability to blend humor with genuine emotional depth, a quality often sought but rarely fully achieved in modern comedies.
Amita Rao Navigates Complex Character Dynamics
Season one concluded with a surprising twist: Issa’s boyfriend, Paul Baker (played by Jack Innanen), married another member of their friend group, Anton (Owen Thiele), primarily to address Paul Baker’s immigration status as a Canadian citizen. This development sets the stage for a complex love triangle, a common trope in comedic narratives. However, Amita Rao emphasizes that the most compelling aspect for her lies elsewhere.
Rao revealed in an interview that her primary interest in the unfolding storyline centers on the palpable chemistry and unspoken tension between Issa and Anton, particularly as best friends. She noted that she and co-star Owen Thiele spent considerable time discussing the "said and unsaid behind the scenes," feeling it was crucial for their characters to have debriefed the unusual circumstances. This focus on platonic relationships and their inherent complexities offers a nuanced take on familiar comedic structures.
Capturing a Generation’s Voice
From its inception, Amita Rao recognized Adults as a distinctive project, stating that she "hadn’t seen a show that really encapsulated a Gen Z ethos" quite like it. This cultural specificity is a cornerstone of the series, attracting an audience that feels truly represented. The show’s ability to tap into the unique anxieties, humor, and social dynamics of this generation has been a key factor in its success.
Rao recounted a moment with co-star Malik Elassal when they discussed the "energy shift" that accompanied the show’s premiere. This phenomenon, she explained, differed significantly from the immediate feedback loop experienced in live stand-up comedy. While stand-up offers an "instant energy exchange" with an audience, the impact of a television show unfolds differently, creating a more diffused yet profound connection with viewers over time.
Amita Rao on Identity and Public Perception
A common challenge for actors, particularly in comedy, is the blurring of lines between their personal identity and the characters they portray. Amita Rao frequently encounters this, observing that "people totally do believe that I am Issa." She can discern this audience perception instantly, often from the way individuals greet her. This phenomenon of character projection is an inherent part of being a public figure.
Rao, however, approaches this with a healthy perspective, stating she doesn’t "feel hurt about it." She acknowledges that public figures and actors often become "canvases for projection," a facet of the profession that comes with the territory. While she might feel "a little more uncomfortable" if her personal artistic creations were exclusively viewed through the lens of Issa, she accepts the broader dynamic of audience engagement with fictional personas.
Balancing Creative Freedom with TV Production
Amita Rao’s artistic background is multifaceted, extending beyond acting to include stand-up comedy and producing her own creative work. This experience imbues her with a particular appreciation for projects where she feels she can contribute meaningfully. When she first read the script for Adults, she felt an immediate connection, believing she "could add to it," which is a crucial criterion for her involvement in any project.
This desire for creative input presents a unique challenge when transitioning from self-produced, egalitarian environments to the more hierarchical structure of television production. Rao describes this as a "big switch," contrasting the collaborative, "anti-hierarchical craft" of improvisational comedy—where the goal is "making sure everyone is on the same ground and equal"—with the inherent power dynamics of TV and film. Despite these differences, she notes that the aspiration for "pure egalitarian play" remains, even within a fast-paced, structured production.
Building Authentic Friendships On and Off Screen
The authentic chemistry displayed by the core friend group in Adults is a hallmark of the show, a quality that Amita Rao credits in part to an unconventional strategy employed by FX. Similar to how FX facilitated cast bonding for The Bear by sending actors to culinary school, the network encouraged the Adults cast to spend a month together prior to filming the pilot.
Rao playfully recounted that while FX paid for their accommodations, allowing them to "get drunk and party," the experience fostered deep and rapid connections. This shared time, coupled with being at similar "inflection points" in their careers, created a genuine camaraderie among Amita Rao, Owen Thiele, Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, and Jack Innanen. The immersive, pre-production bonding period proved instrumental in forging the natural, unmoored relationships seen on screen.
A Glimpse into Amita Rao’s Downtime
Away from the demanding schedule of television production, Amita Rao envisions a perfect day off as an immersion in nature and contemplative pursuits. Her ideal scenario involves swimming in a lake, an activity she deeply cherishes. She describes a lake as "Mother Nature’s womb," finding that being in the water helps her engage her mind and subconscious.
This tranquil setting would be accompanied by a friend, sandwiches, books, and sketch pads. Her reading choices often lean towards the profound and introspective. She recently finished Miranda July’s short story collection, No One Belongs Here More Than You, and is currently engrossed in Audre Lorde’s biomythography, Zami, quoting Lorde’s powerful assertion: "If I did not define myself for myself, I would be crunched into the fantasies of others and eaten alive." Rao is also reading Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s posthumously published When Breath Turns to Air, a neurosurgeon’s reflection on life and death after a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The Enduring Love for Comedy and Connection
Despite working in comedy, Amita Rao’s personal reading often gravitates towards heavier, more introspective themes of grief and mortality. This seemingly paradoxical preference is common among many comedians, some of whom consciously avoid consuming comedy outside of work. Rao acknowledges this dynamic but clarifies that it’s "not the comedy" she avoids, but rather "happy things."
She explains that "so much of me is made of grief, and it’s where so many of my interests lie." For her, thinking about death, which was once an "acute fear," has become a space where her "body and brain live," serving as a grounding force. She finds that "the stuff that lives more in the in between and the gray or the darker that just feels more… yokes you to the present." This profound engagement with serious themes, rather than detracting from her comedic work, seems to enrich her artistic depth.
To sustain her passion for comedy and acting amidst the demands of her profession, Rao continually returns to the core elements of "true connection and true presence." These moments, whether experienced in a scene, during an improvisational set where she feels part of a "group mind," or while performing with her comedy partner, are where the "magic" lies for her. Her dedication to the art form is rooted in these authentic human connections, which transcend the transactional aspects of a job and keep her artistic spirit vibrant.
