Andrew Rannells might take the cake for the most random singing gig in Hollywood.
“I sang songs from The Book of Mormon at Maude Apatow’s Sweet 16,” Rannells, 47, revealed exclusively in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “ It was fun, but that was real random.”
The Broadway vet starred on HBO’s Girls from 2012 to 2017, which Maude’s father, comedy legend Judd Apatow, produced.
Keep scrolling for more outrageous stories from Rannells, who appears on season 2 of Hulu’s Deli Boys, out Thursday, May 28:
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1. My go-to dish to cook is a turkey meatball. The kids really dig them. It was the first thing I figured out how to make that they actually liked. [Rannells’ partner, Tuc Watkins, is dad to 13-year-old twins Catchen and Curtis.]
2. My most vivid childhood memory is doing elaborate lip-synch routines to the soundtrack of West Side Story with my sister Natalie.
3. A favorite Girls memory includes the days Lena Dunham and I filmed that cocaine episode.
4. My favorite Book of Mormon song to sing is “I Believe.” Duh.
5. The vibe when Lena Dunham and I work together is lots of laughing and lots of hugging. And many, many knowing glances.
6. I do not read my own reviews. I learned that lesson very early in my career.
7. When I was in Hairspray on Broadway, I learned how to blow-dry my hair into a very solid pompadour. It’s a skill I’m still very proud of.
8. I’m a morning person. I really enjoy getting a lot done before 10 a.m.
9. Growing up, I idolized my first acting teacher, Pam Carter. I thought she was the coolest woman alive.
10. My phobia is big crowds in tight spaces. It’s probably why I don’t see more concerts.
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11. I have always loved working with The Trevor Project. I think the work they do is incredibly vital to young queer people.
12. I sang songs from The Book of Mormon at Maude Apatow’s Sweet 16. It was fun, but that was real random.
13. My go-to karaoke song, hands down, is “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen. No one expects me to know all the words to that song.
14. I love when [my family] can find something we all want to watch on TV. It’s surprisingly hard to do that, but when we do, it’s pretty perfect.
15. My entire family still calls me Andy. When I got to New York in 1997, I only introduced myself as Andrew. So if I hear someone call me Andy, it’s safe to say they are probably from Omaha, Nebraska.
16. DTF St. Louis was definitely appointment television in my house! I absolutely love that entire cast.
17. I had a fan follow me from the stage door of Hedwig into [Mormon costar] Rory O’Malley’s wedding reception a few blocks away. They completely crashed the wedding and took photos with Rory’s family.
18. In Omaha as a teenager, we used to hang out at a place called Stage Right Coffee. We used to go there and watch Conor Oberst sing songs with his guitar.
19. My most embarrassing onstage moment was when I ripped the back of my pants open during a performance of Gutenberg! on Broadway. There was no time to leave the stage, so I finished the first act with a huge rip in the back of my pants.
20. My most valuable possession is a Saint Andrew medal that my parents gave me for my first communion. I still wear it to this day.
21. My first car was a red Ford Escort.
22. The most famous person in my phone book is Meryl Streep.
23. My most starstruck moment? Please see above … Meryl Streep.
24. When performing, it’s very important for me to create a little quiet time before I have to launch anything too difficult. I’ve learned I need to take a little space to myself.
25. My celebrity crush growing up was Maxwell Caulfield in Grease 2. Hands down.
