The Complex 7: Alison Brie

Photos By Greg Chow

She may play an semi-uptight rich girl on Mad Men, but don’t get it twisted—Alison Brie is down to earth and willing to share all her dirty secrets. Her role on the show—playing wifey to professional cockboy Pete Campbell—leaves us wishing we could see more of her face on the screen, and not just consoling Pete after JFK’s assassination, like last night’s episode.

Luckily for us, Alison’s been getting serious face time on NBC’s only saving grace new hit, Community. And if you’re one of those “I don’t own a TV” people, you can still get familiar—Alison will also soon appear in the indie film Montana Amazon opposite Haley Joel Osment (which we’d be happy to buy you a ticket for if it means you’ll stop the pretentious yammering about your TVlessness). With all that, you’d expect the girl to have at least some dark circles under her eyes, but Alison is as energized and open as can be. Click on for more pics and Brie’s thoughts on suede loafers, arrogant men, and her many male (and female) crushes…

Interview by Valeriya Safronova

 #1: WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND?

Allison Brie says: [If he] takes himself too seriously. That’s the number one deal-breaker. I feel like you have to have a sense of humor—I’m not saying you have to be a comedian and make me laugh, but if you take yourself too seriously, I can’t take you seriously.

 #2: WHAT TYPE OF FOOTWEAR WOULD COMPLETELY MAKE YOU DISMISS A MAN AS A POTENTIAL HOOK-UP?

Allison Brie says: Probably suede loafers. I’d just be like, “You know, not my thing.” I don’t know, maybe a guy could pull them off. I mean Chevy Chase pulls them off…but other than that, maybe not my guy.

 #3: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RAP ALBUM?

Allison Brie says: The Lil’ Wayne album was great. “A Milli” was a good song. I’m a big fan of that, but…T.I., actually, I think is better. That’s an album that I went and bought one song on iTunes, and then went back and bought another song, and four songs later, I was like, “I’ll get the album.” They were such good songs. I love that album.

 #4: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD OR HANGOVER REMEDY?

Allison Brie says: It’s a hangover remedy/comfort food: fried zucchini from this place High Life that was our local high-school hangout. I get it in South Pasadena, California. It’s where we would hang after middle school and high school. And it’s like the greasiest, best, fried [food]…it’s like the fried part is almost falling off the zucchini. And the oil is leaking through. With some ranch dressing? So good.

 #5: WHAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE APHRODISIAC FOR YOU?

Allison Brie says: Gosh. Probably…I feel like you want something tangible, and yet I would say taking charge or arrogance. There’s something about that. “Yeah, take care of me. Yeah baby. Do it just like that. Take care of me just like that.” [Laughs.]

 #6: WHO IS A CHILDHOOD CRUSH THAT YOU CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAD?

Allison Brie says: I don’t know. Some—most of them—were pretty good, I gotta say. Joseph Gordon Levitt; I had a big crush on when he was on 3rd Rock from the Sun, with his hair down to his shoulders. And now he’s in 500 Days of Summer, and I still have a crush on him. That crush really stood the test of time. We were talking earlier about Full House, and having a crush on Uncle Jesse. John Stamos…I kind of stand by that one, too. I had good taste when I was little! Although…oh, I know! Jonathan Taylor Thomas. That’s embarrassing. We—my friends and I—our catch phrase would be “J.T.T. is H.O.T.” ’cause it was on the cover of Teen Beat Magazine. That was embarrassing.

 #7: WHO IS YOUR FEMALE CRUSH?

Allison Brie says: Zooey Deschanel. She’s gorgeous. I just love her. She was on Top Chef Masters—they cooked her a vegan meal—and I thought, “Oh, she’s eating a vegan meal on Top Chef Masters.” She stole my heart. I think she’s a great actress, and she chooses amazing roles, and her style…her singing voice is amazing. Yeah, I like her a lot.

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