With an expansive body of theater work (hello, Dear Evan Hansen), Rachel Bay Jones begins a new chapter in Los Angeles this fall. Forging forward in the TV space with Chuck Lorre in the new Young Sheldon spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage premieres tonight on CBS—and no one is more excited than Bay Jones. In the sitcom, she portrays Audrey, Mandy’s overbearing mother who provides a ton of comic relief, and some ’90s beauty moments to boot.
How are you feeling as you lead up to the debut of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage? There’s been a ton of buzz.
I’m super excited, obviously. We’ve been recording it and filming it since July. It just feels like we’re making this semi-secret thing that is going to explode. And everyone watching gets to share it. I’m really excited for that part of it, like, “I made you a surprise!”
That’s exciting. Congrats. Your character is a specific one, and she exists in the ’90s on the show. What did you have to do to get ready to play Audrey?
It’s been interesting! They wanted it to give a feel of the period but not be overtly recognizable. It’s been a little bit of a journey because I had to cut my hair. I had long hair for Audrey and Young Sheldon. But then I cut my hair for a film that I did over the hiatus and came back to do Georgie and Mandy’s with short hair. There was a big decision about whether or not Audrey was going to live in that new reality—like did Audrey get a haircut, too, or should we just do extensions? But the team and I really liked the haircut. We kept it. We’ve been making minor adjustments to it as we go along. It’s been really fun.
But, yes, the hair has been a little journey! But I like reimagining her with cute, flippy, short hair. The wardrobe is very similar. The makeup look is fresh. What would this aspirational homemaker be wearing? What would she be looking like? I think we have it down.
I heard that you went to the WB party last night and it was sponsored by Fenty. A little birdie also told me that your daughter helps you with your makeup. How does that work when you’re hitting up all these events?
She’s not a makeup artist, but she’s so good at it! She’s so much better at it than I am! Oftentimes, if she can, she’ll come over and do my glam for me, which is really fun and sweet. There’s nothing sweeter than having your daughter put makeup on your face. It reminds me of when she was little. We just have much better results now—less colorful eyeshadow and no lipstick hearts on my cheeks.
That’s very sweet. You’re also a theater kid at the core. Are there any products that you love to wash off your face when you wrap the day?
Yes. Well, to take everything off is always a challenge [laughs]. It usually requires at least two different cleansers! Clinique Take The Day Off ($44). Then, I followed up with DHC Deep Cleansing Oil ($26).
Oh my gosh. I have not used that for years. That is such a good product.
Right! It is so good! Then, I have to have a soap because I’m a child of the ’80s and ’90s. The skin has to be squeaky clean. Then my all-time favorite product—this is the one thing that I swear by, and I use it all the time—is Dermaviduals. They have an amazing Vitamin Cream Mask.
Besides washing away the day, what do you do after work to keep your head clear?
I swim. As I get older, it feels like this beautiful, gentle meditation. It is the most wonderful way to relax and clear your mind. I feel like a mermaid.
