When Miriam Maisel decided to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian, she was already an adult by the standards of the time and had distinct identities as wife, mother and daughter. But Rachel Brosnahan, who played the fictional entertainer in five seasons of Prime Video’s period comedy drama The Marvelous Mrs. she says.

“I literally grew up on this show,” Brosnahan said during a roundtable with “Mrs. Martin.” Maisel” co-starring in mid-April. “I started doing this when I was 26. We all had a lot going on in our lives while we were together. So we’re part of each other’s experiences both on and off the show.”

For now, the experience is over. The latest season of Mrs Martin. Maisel’ is a highly stylized, fast-paced look at the changing cultural conventions of the 1950s and his ’60s, and this is his last. At its launch in 2017, the series made Brosnahan a star (at the time, he was better known for his supporting roles on shows such as “House of Cards”).

“Mrs. Maisel” also contributed to the return and reinvention of familiar cast members like Michael Zegen (“Boardwalk Empire”), who played Miriam’s on-and-off husband Joel. Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”) and Malin Hinkle (“Two and a Half Men”) played her doting parents, Abe and Rose. and Alex Borstein (“Family Guy”), who played her hot-tempered manager Susie.

As they bid farewell to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, these actors talk about the show’s early days, the remote locations it took them to, and the genius of its creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. Reminisce.

Not surprisingly, the breakup process caused the stars a mixture of sadness and relief. “It’s kind of like attending your own funeral,” Borstein said. “It’s great that you’re alive to say goodbye, but it’s really hard to get out of yourself.”

“It’s like a chapter in a book,” says Brosnahan. “I can watch it again, at least in memory.” Or on TV, “Thank God for digital,” she says.

It’s been months since production on the show ended.are you still with each other‘‘s life?

Brosnahan: I see Marin all the time.

Hinkle: At one point, she texted, “Hey, do you happen to be home?” I was like, “Yeah, why?” She asked, “Um, do you have a dollar or two?”

Brosnahan: There is a cash-only bagel store that makes the best bagels in the city. And I forgot my wallet at home. I just got back from a trip and all I had was euros.

Shalhoub: I still can’t believe that bagel shop doesn’t accept euros.

Hinkle: And to Rachel Brosnahan. I think they would say “We trust you.” Take the bagel. “

Bolstein: It’s New York, buddy. they don’t care

Do you feel like your “Mrs.” Are the Maisel’s characters still in you somewhere, or are they just packed up and sitting on the shelf?

Brosnahan: When you do something this long, they become a part of you and you become a part of them. I immediately started by putting the season together into a play and playing a completely different character. I quickly realized that Midge was still alive in my body and voice.

Zegen: I started a new job. And on the first day, the director came to me and said, “You can do it later.”

Shalhoub: [indicating Hinkle] We had the exact same thing.what we worked on [the ABC series] “Your company.” The director came over and said, “I’m fine.” But I can’t–” And I couldn’t do it.

Zegen: I feel like I can’t say goodbye. This is not given to you by your superiors or anyone else. But I can’t imagine not revisiting these characters at some point.

Bolstein: It will be a nice surprise. But it started, it ended in the middle, and it feels like it’s over. I think it was a very satisfying ending.

Hinkle: I really want to keep holding on to you guys and Rose. No one has ever surprised me more than this character I played. I had no idea of ​​this human extraordinariness that I was about to become.

What are your memories of when the series started?

Brosnahan: I remember reading the script for the first time. I was watching “Nurse Jackie” by Edie Falco. After years of dying and crying in roles, I used to think that if they wanted me, it must be something like “Nurse Jackie.” Couldn’t be more wrong. During one scene in the pilot, Amy pulled me aside and said, “I just want you to remember that this is a comedy.” shoot me dead I’m going to jump into the Hudson River.

Zegen: The first day I got a job they were shooting you [Brosnahan] Open the oven and remove the breast. And I remember she thought she was such a good person. And all she did was take out her breast. She can’t do that, she thought. She can make it look incredible.

Hinkle: A lot of the other shows I’ve been on have focused on what the face is doing. And I have a lot of self-criticism and self-loathing and I don’t even know why I became an actor. This is the first show where I’ve actually let go of self-consciousness about my face, as the cameras are rarely close-up.

Brosnahan: There is a production that “Midge falls down on the sofa”. And well, we failed. Amy kept saying, “I want you to be pounded,” and I was like, “I’m pounded.” But her husband just left me. I’m getting emotional. I was like, “Feeling comes first.” Then she said, “But only if it fails.” After about 100 pups, I realized this was the beginning of the greatest learning experience of my life.

Shalhoub: You should watch her wandering now.

Did you learn to seek support from each other early on?

Brosnahan: In my first standup set, I was completely panicked and said to Alex, “Help me.” Tell me if something terrible happened. I am not sensitive. Please help me fix this. ’ And Alex turned to me and said, But take up your own space and ask what you need. ’ And that was a lesson I needed to keep learning throughout this series.

Bolstein: She’s like—

Brosnahan: Panic?

Bolstein: — “I just don’t know if I got it. I don’t think I got it,” I said. “Then tell him you want another injection. I know you clearly want another. This is your show.”

Is it common for TV shows to travel as much as “Mrs. Martin”? Was that the case with Maisel?

Shalhoub: No, this place is better than anywhere else. On “Monk,” they kept scenes for each episode and then took us to San Francisco to shoot the outdoor stuff. But around season 4, I realized I could do it cheaper with a green screen.thank god we [on “Mrs. Maisel”] I also went to Paris and Miami.

And summer must be spent in the Catskill Mountains.

Brosnahan: I wish it was as compelling as the others, but it was shot at Deposit in New York.

Zegen: It’s probably the most fun I’ve had on this show. It felt like summer camp.

Bolstein: I was planning a summer camp in Brooklyn for my son. And then I realized that I was no longer with you. So I was going back and forth between Deposit in New York and Brooklyn. It was a three and a half hour drive. I rented a car and went back and forth, and they said, ‘She’s going to die.

Brosnahan: The best thing about going to Deposit and Miami was being able to take the entire staff with you.

Bolstein: Miami was a lot of fun. Except for the heat exhaustion and being nearly eaten by a shark.

Brosnahan: Alex and I were nearly killed in Miami, but it was our fault. We are too pale to go to the beach during the day.

Bolstein: I thought it would be cute to go to the beach at 1am

Shalhoub: But then the shark comes out.

Brosnahan: We felt safe if we stayed at the shallow end. And it was the worst choice. There they feed.

Shalhoub: Imagine needing a rewrite.

Bolstein: I came to Paris just to hang out with you guys. I didn’t shoot, but I lived in Barcelona. It was an hour flight, so I went with my kids.

Zegen: She lent us a minibus to take us to Disneyland Paris.

Did you feel that Amy was trying to push you out of your comfort zone as an actor?

Brosnahan: I remember that Amy was very happy to have the opportunity to make us uncomfortable. I received the following text from Amy: “By the way, 850 backgrounds are available for the opening of this new season.” [actors]. I hope that’s okay. ’ And I was like [laughs nervously]Then she said, “But if you don’t mind, you can go as low as 250 for close-ups.”

Bolstein: It was a nightmare. That’s what I didn’t wake up to with my alarm clock. The set was an hour from where I was. Amy was worried because I didn’t answer the phone, and she said, “I wonder if she killed herself.” Then I panicked and cried when I learned that 800 extras were waiting. Somehow it was a miracle that I got there. You guys ran a little late, so they let me in the moment I got there.

How did it feel to perform in front of an audience after that?

Brosnahan: It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. This must be what it feels like to be a rock star. I’ve never heard laughter so loud run through space. I wanted to save this experience in case something bad happened in the future.

What do you remember about the last day you finished work on the series?

Brosnahan: Alex and I couldn’t see each other.

Bolstein: Amy did a really great job saving the ensemble scene for the end so we could all be together. I said, Anything is fine. things end. fine. ” When I went on set, I felt like [weeping]”There’s something stuck in your throat.”

Zegen: We finished around 4am and there were streamers, confetti, champagne and lots of tears.

Brosnahan: The last scene we saved, none of us involved acting.

Bolstein: we can tell them that. Rachel’s character dies.

Brosnahan: you’re talking to my ghosti have committed [to it]. But I was able to do it on the first take. Then Amy continued, “See you later.” “Again.” “Again.” But she kept saying, “Let’s do it again.” At some point everyone said, she Not ready. “

Shalhoub: She couldn’t say “cut”.

What do you miss most about “Mrs. Martin”? Maisel”?

Bolstein: We were all treated very well. I’m not saying anything flashy or pretentious, just respect. Many program producers don’t like actors, [here] they love them

Brosnahan: And they pressure you to do better. They also don’t accept anything below you. and they know it. They know areas we have yet to venture into, and will not accept anything other than us reaching as high as possible.

Bolstein: I miss receiving random texts during breaks [as they prepped for the following season] “Hey, can you ice skate?”

Hinkle: “do you speak french?”

Brosnahan: “Can you ride a bicycle?”

Zegen: “Can you hit a baseball?”

Shalhoub: “Are you allergic to tomato juice?”