Exclusive Interview
Romance Rewind: Dermot Mulroney Looks Back at ‘Family Stone,’ ‘New Girl’ & More (VIDEO)
Dermot Mulroney is romance royalty. He’s starred in a plethora of rom-coms and romance-adjacent projects throughout his career. There’s a romance somewhere in most of Mulroney’s movies or shows. The actor, with his near photographic memory, spoke with Swooon about his biggest roles in romance.
When we brought up 1991’s Career Opportunities as his first real rom-com, Mulroney quipped, “I would put my first rom-com as Long Gone. That’s HBO. That was a really early job for me.” The 1987 sports romance also starred William Petersen and Virginia Madsen.
Naturally, Mulroney discussed his role in the romance classic My Best Friend’s Wedding. While the 1995 film features a significant love triangle between Mulroney, Julia Roberts, and Cameron Diaz‘s characters, the actor said The Thing Called Love was “the best love triangle” project he was in until New Girl. He called The Thing About Love, a rom-com about an aspiring singer looking for love and fame in Nashville, a “life-altering film for me.”
Everett Collection
The actor was a part of a romance trifecta in 2005 with The Wedding Date, Must Love Dogs, and The Family Stone. When looking back at the memorable (and complicated) romantic threads in The Family Stone, Mulroney said with a laugh, “How do you wife swap basically?” Mulroney’s Everett was dating Sarah Jessica Parker‘s Meredith and fell for her sister, played by Claire Danes, over Christmas. Meredith ended up with Everett’s brother, Ben, played by Luke Wilson.
He also recognized just how perfect Everett’s wardrobe was in the classic holiday film. “Everett’s turtleneck took on its own space in the culture,” Mulroney said.
The Chicago Fire star joined the cast of New Girl in the recurring role of Russell, a charming suitor for Jess (Zooey Deschanel), in the first season. Mulroney said he knew in the “first 30 seconds on that set I was with geniuses.”
He played Sydney Sweeney‘s dad in Anyone But You, the rom-com that helped put romance movies back on the map. The film also reunited him with Rachel Griffiths, who also starred in My Best Friend’s Wedding. Mulroney revealed his surprising hot take about the debate over Glen Powell‘s Ben and Darren Barnet‘s Jonathan for Bea’s heart.
“I really love Jonathan,” Mulroney told Swooon. “I thought Jonathan was perfect for her. Perfect. It has a little bit of that Nick-Russell feel.” Sorry, Glen. Mr. Mulroney is Team Jonathan.
Watch the full video above to check out Mulroney’s trip down romance lane.
