Annie Murphy from ‘Schitt’s Creek’ in her 2020 Emmy nomination

Before being cast as Alexis Rose in “Schitt’s Creek”, the little sitcom she could, Annie Murphy, finding little success, was about to give up.

“I had a big scream in the Pacific Ocean that I was 100% sure acting was not for me, and the next day I was auditioned for ‘Schitt’s Creek,'” she said Tuesday morning by phone from Toronto, “And it changed. my life in so many incredible ways. “

Now, six years later, she has an Emmy nomination (for supporting an actress in a comedy series), as do the other members of her television family: Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose and co-creators Eugene Levy and Dan. Levy as Johnny and David Rose, a rich and suddenly poor family forced to live in a small-town motel, along with several diverse artists behind the camera.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of a show that was received so positively,” said Murphy, “and that also celebrated love, inclusion and acceptance, very important things that everyone needs right now.”

How are you this morning?

It has been a very good morning. I got up early, there were pancakes, bacon, coffee and then there was the nomination. So yes, it has been a lovely day so far.

Did you have any premonitions? Did you feel lucky?

I felt lucky for Eugene and Catherine, and I am very, very glad that they got their nominations. But it’s also fair, this is our last season and having writing and directing, hair, makeup and costumes, and everyone recognized across the board, it’s amazing, because it’s a wonderful group of very, very, very talented people, and I’m so glad that everyone is getting the recognition they deserve.

Alexis had a pretty emotional final season. Was there a scene that stood out to you?

Oh yes, there were a lot of emotional scenes this year. The scene of breakup with [boyfriend] Ted and Alexis stood out, also because Dustin Milligan, who plays Ted, was one of his last days on set, so it was kind of a goodbye for our characters and a goodbye to work together at the same time. And then the last scene we filmed saying goodbye to Johnny and Moira was my last scene and Dan’s last scene from the entire series, so I feel like you can see Dan Levy and Annie Murphy crying therapeutically. and not so much Alexis and David Rose. But the tears came. Let’s say it was character tears.

Now that a year has passed since you finished, what is your emotional state?

[Laughs] It is a forceful question. I send Dan vibes every other day to write another season or make a movie. I miss everyone so much, and it all comes in waves: I’m fine for a few weeks and then I realize I don’t have the show to go back to, where I would see all those faces together again. . But I had six of the best years of my life filming that show, and I’ve made many friends with so many truly amazing people. So I said goodbye to the characters, but not to the people behind them. I feel very lucky for that.

Do you remember the time when you felt at home on the show?

Honestly, I was very, very nervous to start because I realized, like, the night before [that] I should be acting with my comedy idols. But after the first takes of the first scene the four of us took together, it was when Catherine O’Hara said, “Well, how about we try like this?” and it was so obvious that exciting collaboration, fun and excitement was happening. And that set the tone for the next six years.

How do you feel about where the series took Alexis?

I am so grateful to the writers for writing such a beautiful character arc for Alexis. Because when we met her, she really was a handful. But it was also a real handful with a lot to offer and lots of layers to peel off, and I am so thankful that those layers are removed throughout the seasons. We start with a very dependent, needy and male-chasing girl, and we end with this independent woman. She grew up a lot and I was very grateful to be able to play a character that developed so beautifully.

One last question. When you’re in the world, do Alexis’s limp hands look at you?

Yes, often people just twist their faces in a weird way and wave my wrists. And it will never grow old.