Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out Nathan Lane: The Safest Thing You Can Do Is Take a Risk
Mar 23, 2026
Nathan Lane, acclaimed stage and screen actor with multiple Tony and Emmy wins, shares career anecdotes and memories of working with Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Robin Williams, and Joaquin Phoenix. He talks about choosing his stage name, creative friction on The Birdcage, collaborating with directors, and why Elaine May advised that the safest thing is to take a risk.
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How A Stuffed Animal Unlocked Joaquin Phoenix
- Nathan Lane describes improvising with Joaquin Phoenix on Bo Is Afraid to loosen an initially stiff performance.
- He suggested playful business (using a stuffed animal) which made Phoenix laugh and opened the scene to truthful play.
Pushing Back On Harmful Punchlines
- Nathan Lane pushed back on the use of the slur in The Birdcage and discussed it with Mike Nichols.
- Nichols asked him to deliver it "as written," reflecting generational differences about comic language in a mainstream film.
Show Up Prepared And Trust The Casting
- Do arrive prepared and assume directors cast you for a reason; let them correct you only when necessary.
- Nathan Lane admires the Clint Eastwood model: actors show up knowing their lines and point of view.