From celebrated comedies to scene-stealing roles on Broadway, Michael Urie has delighted audiences in every character he’s taken on. His latest role in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking sees him as part of a chosen family supporting each other through the highs and lows of life. His standout performance, among a standout cast, earned him his first Critics Choice’ nomination for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
While his characters are often high-energy, acting wasn’t always an innate calling for him. “If you ask my parents, they’d say I was always performing, but I was very shy,” he recalls. Moving towns in the middle of the school year didn’t help but he found solace in movies, especially Tim Burton films of the late 80s, particularly Beetlejuice and Batman.
“For a long time, I thought I wanted to be a movie director because I idolized Tim Burton. But the biggest real takeaway was Michael Keaton—knowing that an actor could be a person who is Beetlejuice and then the next year is Batman.” Urie then had a full circle moment when he starred alongside Keaton in the independent film Goodrich last year. “It was thrilling and he is such a special actor. I didn’t tell him any of this when I worked with him,” he admitted with a laugh.
Broadway Dreams: Chasing Inspiration
Urie’s journey to Broadway was fueled by a performance that shifted his perspective. “I wasn’t a very musical person. I knew I wasn’t going to be in Phantom of the Opera or A Chorus Line,” he explained. “But then I saw Roger Bart play Bud Frump in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and I was like, ‘Oh, I could sing and dance like that. It was seeing him in that show on tour in Dallas that really showed me what a stage animal tear up the stage.”
This led Urie to pursue and ultimately land the role of Bud in the 2011 revival of the musical opposite Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges, making his Broadway debut. He has since starred in five more Broadway shows, most recently in Once Upon a Mattress opposite Sutton Foster, and Spamalot in 2023.
Lessons in Professionalism from Ugly Betty
Looking back at his time on the hit ABC series Ugly Betty, which is where many first came to know Michael from, he shared that professionalism was one of his biggest takeaways. “At that point, I was 25 when we shot the pilot, and I didn’t know what being on set was. Vanessa Williams was such a pro—watching her navigate publicists, fans, red carpets, and the set was incredible. America Ferrera, even though she was younger than I was, was a born leader. She taught me so much about promoting a show and treating people with respect. ”
“Becky Newton and I became best friends immediately,” he went on. “We were both learning the ropes of television and she really taught me the importance of knowing what you don’t know. It’s so valuable. There’s a great power in knowing what you don’t know and asking, and a lot of times we’re afraid to ask. This is such a prideful country. We’re so afraid to ask but that’s actually really powerful. Asking somebody for advice is very empowering.”
On Shrinking: Chemistry, Collaboration, and Hopes for Season 3
As Urie delves into his role on Shrinking, which has already been renewed for a third season, he remains inspired by the ensemble cast and the show’s nuanced storytelling. “No two characters are the same on Shrinking. There’s a special chemistry when you put two of these characters together that’s really exciting and new and different.”
“The writers expect a lot of the audience,” he explained. “We don’t spend half the show with backstory. We expect you to catch up and it’s actually great. I think it makes people pay more attention. “
A standout moment in season two was an intense monologue that Urie’s character Brian delivers brilliantly, not just once, but twice in a single episode. During a fan-submitted question segment of the show, Urie was asked about his approach to memorization and preparation in television compared to theater.
“On TV, you need to get it right more than once—it has to be repeatable for multiple takes. In theatre, it becomes muscle memory. Sometimes, my body knows what’s next before my brain does. It’s ingrained in you after months of performing.”
“[In regards to the monologue,] it’s very believable to me that Brian practiced it in his mirror or in his car. And so when it was time to say it, it was a little bit rehearsed. So I spent a lot of time with it, with the material alone, and rehearsed on my own a lot.”
Looking ahead at the new season, Urie shared, “I hope season three dives deeper into these dynamics—especially with Luke Tennie’s character, Sean. I don’t want to speculate or pitch, but there could be some really funny and poignant stuff between those two guys.”
You can watch our full interview with Michael Urie above or tune in on your favorite podcast platform.
Seasons one and two of Shrinking are streaming now on Apple TV+.
