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Laughter follows Lisa Ann Walter wherever she goes. From her scene-stealing part as Melissa Schemmenti on Abbott Elementary to her iconic breakout role in The Parent Trap, the Maryland-born comedian has won over fans with her big laugh and larger-than-life presence. Now, she’s bringing that same energy to a new role as “Head Teacher” for the BIC Supply Ride Tour.
Amid it all, Walter is giving fans a rare, unfiltered look at her life off-camera — from an unexpected audition rivalry with Jane Lynch to favorite hangouts with IRL bestie Elaine Hendrix to a cringe-worthy starstruck moment with the late Catherine O’Hara.
Get the full scoop in her exclusive 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me interview with Us, from our latest issue on newsstands now.
1. I threw out the first pitch at a Phillies game. The roar that went up in the crowd [from Abbott fans] was so important to me. I lost it that they were like that.
2. My celebrity crushes [in] middle school were Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
3. Quinta Brunson wears a necklace that says “kindness as the character.” She runs our show with that as the bottom line.
4. The kids from [the musical] Heathers got me into Love Island. I’m not proud of myself, but I do have my favorites!
5. My go-to karaoke song is “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin.
6. My favorite thing in the world is chocolate cake. By the way, it’s a meal.
7. My wind-down ritual? Take the bra off. I think the bra comes off in the car.
8. I can’t wait to have grandkids so I can go through [and write down] the goofball things that they say.
9. My favorite comfort movie is Sense and Sensibility, hands down, no questions asked.
10. The superlative I’d give the Abbott cast is Best Chemistry. They’d say I am Most Likely to Be on My Phone.
11. I did a movie with the late, fantastic Catherine O’Hara. I walked into our makeup trailer, and I immediately was like, “Oh my God, I’m such a huge fan! You’re [SCTV’s] Lola Heatherton. I want to [bear all your children]!” I started doing her character to her.
12. My best high school memory is going to my senior prom with a date and then meeting my first serious boyfriend at that prom and leaving with him.
13. I can crochet a hat in less than 15 minutes.
14. My favorite way to spend a Saturday is trivia night.
15. My mom’s best advice: Your mother knows best and she doesn’t care about anyone more than she cares about her kids. Also: Don’t let anyone take care of your money but you.
16. I collect Genie Francis dolls.
17 . I love the dance scenes in the movie Shall We Dance. [Being part of that] was one of the things I’m most proud of.
18. My most sentimental items are all the Christmas tree decorations my kids made.
19. My favorite things to do with my bestie Elaine Hendrix: dance, any adventure, re-binge Game of Thrones, jigsaw puzzles.
20. The secret to a long-lasting friendship is only one of you can fall apart at a time.
21. There was a point when every time I went to a network [audition], it was me and Jane Lynch. We would just go, “Well, I guess they don’t know what they want because we could not be more different!”
22. My phobia is bats.
23. An Abbott storyline I’ve always loved [is my character] Melissa as somebody who’s
super confident with men. I’m not, but I’m glad she [is]!
24. My first car was a Chevrolet Caprice Classic.
25. My best industry advice: Do stage work first.
