ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Just how big of a deal was it for you to land this part?
KATE MCKINNON:It was pretty much the biggest deal of my life.
Other than getting cast inSNL.
Credit: Hopper Stone
Those are the two biggies.
I didnt know of any movie parts that were for a woman who is also a scientist wearing pants.
Its very rare to see a movie part like that.
It was really fortuitous that [director] Paul [Feig] let me be in his movie.
What was interesting to you specifically about playing Jillian Holtzman?
She hits close to home for me in that shes kind of on another planet.
Im just playing myself with cooler accessories.
How long did this science obsession last?
I had some other hobbies but that one was a big one for me.
I hope I did.
It was very much all there in the script.
All the science stuff was perfect.
They created a total loon who I just loved.
I added a few blips here and there but it was really fleshed out.
Paul told me once it was based on me.
He said that it was sort of inspired by some of my traits.
Whats the coolest thing your character invents?
Shes in charge of inventing all the cool stuff.
The proton wand is undergoing a constant evolution.
Thats her role, to perfect these machines.
Shes obsessed with coming out with different doodads and improving them.
They were very close to us the whole time, on our backs.
What was your relationship to the original film?
I was a huge fan.
Certainly a childhood favorite.
It came out the year I was born.
My mom was watching it while she was giving birth to me.
I came in around Act 2.
What was it like the first day the four of you showed up in uniform for your camera test?
Oh man, there were tears.
There was a collective sigh of Holy mother, I cant believe we are getting to do this!
Each one of us was really bowled over and really emotional about it.
Were friggin Ghostbusters, ya know?
Ghostbusters to me are the best kind of superhero.
You dont have to be born to fly or anything.
And we felt just like superheroes.
What was the most difficult part of the shoot?
It was the physical stunts for me.
I like to freestyle dance very much but Im unable to perform choreographed movement.
Im not that much of an exerciser or a gymnast so the stunt stuff was hard.
I didnt want to look like the uncoordinated mess that I am in real life.
Theres some very coordinated shooting stuff and I was really proud that I made it through that.
Do you have a favorite moment that stands out?
When we wrapped, me and Kristen, Melissa, and Leslie all stood in a circle and cried.
It had been such a life-changing experience for all of us.
We got so close over the summer.
It felt like the last day of camp.
But the better camp, the cooler camp.
What made it so life-changing?
And were so grateful we get to do that.
Shes got it in her to fight.
Or no, I would send me.
I would talk to the ghost.
I would find out what they were really bummed about and then I would venture to fix it psychologically.
