She even shaved her noggin for the part.
By: Naomi Grossman
Might as well start at the beginning!
Now, I’m short5 feet exactly.
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Ryan Murphy
But I’m proportionate, darn it!
There’s not much I can do to prepare for that!
So I already felt like I was at a disadvantage.
Besides, it’sAmerican Horror Story!
They’re going to cast the real freak!
And, well, they cast me.
The audition itself was unusual in that they didn’t give us Pepper’s actual part to read.
But that’s of course because the role was under such tight wraps.
I didn’t know well after I was cast what the role even was!
I think they just wanted to see if we could act.
I remember feeling like I’d nailed it, for a giant.
But still didn’t expect a callback.
Next came a meeting with the special effects makeup department.
They took dozens of pictures of my head, asked me all sorts of covert questions, i.e.
“Are you claustrophobic?”
“Will you cut your hair?”
Then, once it was official, I underwent a series of makeup meetings and tests.
I watched Tod Browning’sFreaks, and anything and everything “Schlitzie.”
(He was the inspiration behind this character, after all.)
I find the makeup really informs the character.
You get those big ears and nose and brow on, and boom!
They literally place freckles and veins like I’m a work of art!
But then, that’s what makes for an Emmy-nominated makeup crew.
There’s really nothing they can’t do.
I have fake teeth, which of course change the shape of my face (and speech).
There’s even a wacky lens for one of my eyes.
Well, in my case, it’s all in the eye!
At first, they toyed with a bald capand believe me, it looked phenomenal.
I personally saw no need to shave my head.
But better to leave the makeup questions to the makeup professionals.
Besides, the makeup crew takes great pride in not having to rely on such tricks.
It was quite clever of them actually.
Instead of making my head small, they built up my body by putting me in a fat suit.
(And all that time spent slaving at the gym!).
Ultimately, the end product is well worth sacrificing my hair and sitting countless hours in the makeup chair.
I figured I’m an actress first, a person with hair second.
And well, they provided me with a wig identical, if not better, than my actual hair.
Now every day is a great hair day!
I’m not saying it wasn’t a tad nerve-wracking.
I worried I’d never get laid again!
But then my fears subsided when I got asked out through a car window the very next day.
And now it takes me all of three minutes to get ready in the morning!
Not to mention I’m in this special, little club withNatalie Portmanand Siggy Weaver.
Another challenge was not being able to talk about it!
They just assumed I had a penis coming out of my head!
Even on set, they kept me a secret.
I’d zip by in a golf cart, and tourists would assume they’d seen Lady Gaga!
Then of course all my on-set time-wasters are gone.
I can’t take phone calls because my ears are buried in silicone.
I can’t text because the iPhone doesn’t recognize my silicone fingers.
I can’t graze at the craft services table, because that would require taking out my teeth.
I’m not complaining.
It’s just part of the unusual circumstances of being Pepper.
But that’s not half of it.
That first day on set, no one wanted to make eye contact with me.
They assumed they’d cast a real microcephalic.
Then, they began to warm up, figuring, “Oh!
It’s an actress!
We’re shooting a TV show!”
Immediately the hierarchy of star vs. guest star vs. co-star vs. background was dispelled.
Then Ryan Murphy came over, took one look, and said, “Pepper is the best.”
He was referring to the makeup, of course, but still, it made me feel pretty good!
Everyone has been so friendly and nice.
Early on, Jessica Lange brought her grandchildren over to meet me.
That was a highlight.
I got recognized on the street for the first time recently.
I was immediately hit with a rush of mixed feelings: pride/personal achievement and complete self-revulsion.
Do I really look like Pepper?!
Still, it’s great that she’s so popular.
… Now ifPepperwill just share her success with Naomi!
