Q&A with Transparent’s Jeffrey Tambor

NEW YORK: Jeffrey Tambor, the star of Transparent, discusses with World Screen his role on the show, in which he portrays a transgender woman named Maura Pfefferman.

One of Hollywood’s most versatile and prolific actors, Jeffrey Tambor has specialized in characters that blend opposing traits. Among his most famous are the despicable yet all too human Hank Kingsley in The Larry Sanders Show; and the evil and vulnerable George/Oscar Bluth in Arrested Development. None has represented more of a contrast than Maura Pfefferman, the transgender woman in Transparent, with which Tambor ventures into uncharted territory for scripted programming.

WS: How was your preparation for the role of Maura different from how you've prepared for other roles?
TAMBOR: Every role has its own set of [characteristics], externally and internally, that you have to bring into yourself. There is a wonderful adage in acting: You're stuck with your character but your character is also stuck with you. With Maura what's interesting is that she is transitioning. She is a transgender woman and so there was a whole other set, externally and internally, that I had to adopt, adapt to, acquire and learn about and it's been one of the most thrilling rides of my career! I continue to learn every day. Just the other day, with Zackary Drucker, who is one of my trans consultants on the show and one of our producers, I had one of the most incredible conversations. I keep asking what is, how is, what about this, what about that, and new avenues and explorations happen every day. I don't know if that answers your question. I will tell you this, I thought that the external part would be more daunting than the internal part, whereas indeed the internal part seems to be the one that has the most—for want of better words—gravy and guts. The outside was very easy and I adapted to it very easily and love it.

WS: Did you take on the role of Mort who transitioned into Maura, or did you feel like Maura from the very beginning?
TAMBOR: That's an excellent question! No, I’ve always felt that Maura was within my grasp. I don't mean to sound all actor-y when I answer, so please use that as a preface, but I feel that Maura is a friend; a friend I have rediscovered again. She has allowed me to use more Jeffrey than I've ever used in my roles.

WS: I imagine you can tap into more vulnerable, softer, more humane parts of you for Maura than for George Bluth or Hank Kingsley.
TAMBOR: Certainly George Bluth; he is the original Darwinian! But Oscar Bluth had a bit of vulnerability, as did Hank, poor Hank! It’s glib of me to say that because Maura is a woman she is more vulnerable. We are all vulnerable. The more I find out about Maura and her voyage, the less meaning any term has for me. I don't know if that makes sense, it’s just my purview on it. It sure is thrilling, I did a scene the other day with the wonderful Alexandra Billings, who plays my transgender friend Davina, and she is a transgender artist of great talent. I remember as we were doing this particular scene for season two I said, this has never been done on television before. Stay tuned!

This interview continues here.