Nancy Robertson takes us through her acting journey, highlighting her initial struggles leading up to her iconic role in Corner Gas. She delves into the show's unique chemistry and her own personal development in a conversation filled with nostalgia and laughs, hosted by Aaron Pete.
Nancy Robertson, celebrated for her role as Wanda in "Corner Gas," Canada's most-watched sitcom, has earned a Gemini Award, Canadian Comedy Award nominations, and Leo Awards for her versatile performances across TV, film, and stage, including a gender-transforming role in "Alice" and critical acclaim for "The Delicate Art of Parking." Recently, she shone as Billie in AMC's "Lucky Hank," adding to her impressive legacy and recognition as one of MORE Magazine's "Most Compelling Women."
Nancy Robertson takes us through her acting journey, highlighting her initial struggles leading up to her iconic role in Corner Gas. She delves into the show's unique chemistry and her own personal development in a conversation filled with nostalgia and laughs, hosted by Aaron Pete.
Nancy Robertson, celebrated for her role as Wanda in "Corner Gas," Canada's most-watched sitcom, has earned a Gemini Award, Canadian Comedy Award nominations, and Leo Awards for her versatile performances across TV, film, and stage, including a gender-transforming role in "Alice" and critical acclaim for "The Delicate Art of Parking." Recently, she shone as Billie in AMC's "Lucky Hank," adding to her impressive legacy and recognition as one of MORE Magazine's "Most Compelling Women."
Welcome back to another episode of the Bigger than Me podcast. Here is your host, aaron. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of corner gas. I've spoken with Brent Butt, lauren Cardinal and now I'm speaking with the comedic genius who played Wanda. We explore her background, passion for acting, the journey onto the set of corner gas and the impact that it had. My guest today is Nancy Robertson. Nancy, I've been looking forward to this interview. I have watched corner gas so many times. I am such a huge fan of the show. It had such a big impact on me growing up. Would you mind briefly introducing yourself for listeners who might not be acquainted with your amazing work?
Nancy Robertson:Oh, my name is Nancy Robertson. I played Wanda on corner gas for six seasons and do other shows and just abroad.
Aaron Pete:Just abroad, fantastic. Would you mind telling me what got you interested or passionate about acting?
Nancy Robertson:It just kind of always Sorry, I'm drinking tea it was just something I always wanted to do. I was always horsing around. Growing up, I grew up with a very my older sister and brother were really funny, or are, and my dad was a riot. We were just always making plays and doing things. I could not think of anything else I wanted to do, but it just seemed like it was impossible to do.
Nancy Robertson:But when I graduated high school I thought all right, so I went to secretary class. I went nope, this isn't going to do, I'm not going to do this, and not that there's anything wrong with that. I just knew I wanted to make my own way. So it just took a while. And then I went to theater school and just finally took a leap. I worked for the cable company for a while and then I said, nope, can't do this. And I left and just jumped in and got really fortunate that I started landing work, because it's such a hard business to do that and there's always people way more talented that are beside you, ahead of you, behind you, and so sometimes there's no rhyme or reason why something works out and I'm just grateful that. So far, so good.
Aaron Pete:Where do you think the authentic, passionate energy comes from for you? Because that seems to be a very unique trait for you, that you bring this great energy.
Nancy Robertson:Oh well, that's nice. I don't know. That's hard for me to say I don't know, Because when it's something that I say that's attributed to yourself, you don't know anything different. So I don't know.
Aaron Pete:You must have met people over the years who are very bland, very vanilla, very check the box. Life is so-so and you don't bring that energy to your work professionally but just in conversations. You just don't have that type of energy. You seem high spirited and positive.
Nancy Robertson:I am. I'm kind of extreme. I can be very up and positive and full of energy when called for, but I can also be pretty low key and reserved at the same time too. So I think it's like everybody, just like if you meet people that you may think are kind of bland or whatever, they're probably not. It's just the circumstances, maybe that you meet somebody in and maybe in their own private world they're a blast. So I don't know, I'm just saying I don't know a lot.
Aaron Pete:It's a very thoughtful. I don't know, though. There's a lot of information tied in with it. When did you start to find your path? When did you start to realize how you were going to make your way in acting?
Nancy Robertson:I don't think I ever knew how I was going to make my way. The only thing that I knew was that if I didn't keep moving at it, it wasn't going to happen. There were lots of times where you're thinking well, I got to give it up, I've sold my bike, I've done all these kind of things, trying to make my way and feed myself while doing this. It's kind of the same old story, but it's true. It's feast or famine in this industry, and most of it is famine. So there's a lot of times you just feel like this just isn't going to happen, I'm not going to get this. And it's tough and, like I said, the most incredible actors and performers are ones that we'll never know, and because it's just so difficult but I just knew that I just couldn't think of anything else I would do, and I think that's one of the key things.
Aaron Pete:Was there a moment that?
Nancy Robertson:clicked that, I got work, or.
Aaron Pete:Anything where you realize that this is it and there's nothing else for you. Was there a moment when you were on stage or anything?
Nancy Robertson:Oh yeah, yeah, I think it started when I started, when I was going to theater school and we would do I don't know what they called it. We would have plays and showcases in the theater and they went really well. I had a lot of fun with them and I thought, okay, maybe I can get by on this. So it was a little bit of a smattering of approval that came about and that made me feel that maybe I was headed in the right direction. But you see, the thing is, too is that you're never going to be everybody's taste. But I knew from the response in the audience, from the first showcases and stuff, that I had done, that it felt really great and I got some approval from that and that I think that probably sealed it. You know, I didn't know what I would do without it. I honestly didn't know what I would do with my life.
Aaron Pete:That's really good to hear, because I think some people can feel lost and then other people seem to find exactly where they're supposed to be and exactly what they're supposed to be doing.
Nancy Robertson:Yeah, yeah, I mean, I think so because the only way I can kind of it's not necessarily based on my ability, but I've been able to feed myself, and that's a big deal in this thing, so I haven't had to go elsewhere for sustenance and that's, yeah, it's. I'm just really, really fortunate, and I know that.
Aaron Pete:Is there a type of character that you enjoyed playing in those early days? A dark character? A happy character? Is there something that stood out to you about the people that you were playing?
Nancy Robertson:I kind of like Greetings". I always like a little bit of dark in a comedy, in a way that there's something kind of underlying a little bit. And then when I did the series Hiccups years ago, she was such a I played such a happy character where she basically I always figured if she was one of those people like my dad that he woke up with this, you know, a great expectation for the day, and happy and whistling and alls it took was somebody just to put a damper on it. That would just ruin it. So but your first place to jump off is happy and so it was fun playing somebody like that too. So but when she, you know, when somebody made her unhappy, she would go dark as well. So I like a little bit of everything I'm I can. You know I like dark as much as I like light.
Nancy Robertson:I don't know whether I you know, it's just I don't know. I kind of go I don't go too introspective into it either, because sometimes it's just you don't even know where you're going with something and it just kind of takes you, you know, depending on your, who you're acting opposite from and and who's directing and the writing and and and then just out of splash of what you bring to it. It's important that you do that's our job to bring in our own flavor.
Aaron Pete:Yeah, you have a long history with Fred.
Nancy Robertson:You and Chuck Would you mind taking us all the way back to the beginning.
Aaron Pete:Did you mind taking us all the way back to the art of parking?
Nancy Robertson:Oh yeah, absolutely, Um, I did I first he. I used to do Vancouver theater sports and he knew a lot of people that that I would be performing with and so I'd heard of him. And when we had the first read through for delicate art of parking, he was there, obviously because he was the lead. And, um, we didn't have. I don't think we had any scenes together. Actually, fred and I I'm trying to think, um, but we got to know each other, like at the rap party, at the read through and everything.
Nancy Robertson:And then I'm a director that we had mutually worked with doing a short film asked if I would come and do a part on this film and Fred was on it, and so we hadn't seen each other since the premiere of delicate art of parking. And uh, uh, it was kind of funny because we were just sitting there in between takes and he just said, uh, you know what are you up to? And I said, oh, you know not much. I said I'm on hold for some TV show. I don't know whether I'm going to get it or not, but they've got me on hold.
Nancy Robertson:And he said, yeah, me too. And then we just kind of took a beat and he said what show are you on hold for? I said it's called corner gas and he went I am on hold for that too. So lo and behold, you know, a few weeks later we both got it and he flew out, I think a few days ahead of me, and when I flew in I didn't know anybody except him. And he came and met me at the Regina airport and uh and, uh, yeah. And then from then on, and he's my buddy.
Aaron Pete:Fascinating. Would you mind walking us more specifically through that? I had Brent recount the casting for it, the process that they went through, and then he mentioned that you were infamous for improv that you were. You were well known for being so funny and so likable and that you were one of their top choices when they were going in for auditions. Would you mind recounting your own experience getting that offer to come and audition for this, for this opportunity?
Nancy Robertson:Well, when I, when I got the you know the agent, my agent called, my agent at that time called and said um, you know, you want to read for this? Um, I think they were looking older, not not too old, but a little bit older. Um and um, and so the casting director had mentioned to um, the network people and and to um, brent and David and Virginia, the um, uh, executive producers, about bringing in Nancy Robertson. And, uh, so I came in, I did it, uh, I improv this little tag at the end of it. Um, cause you want to be careful not to overdo it. It's just something that just kind of fell out naturally at the end of it and I laughed, I didn't think anything about it.
Nancy Robertson:What is the tag story? Um, it was something about. It was in, obviously it was in the first season, but it wasn't the first episode, I don't think it was. Oh, I was ants. I was asking if it was. I don't know whether it was the uh garbage person, the recycling person or the tech person or something I can't remember, but somebody, a regular service person, that would come into the gas station and I said which one is it? Is it the one with? I think something with a mole on his neck or something, I don't know. I don't remember what I said, um, but it was something about, um, uh, a handsome one, and I I don't remember what it was.
Nancy Robertson:It's rash Wednesday or something like that, something like that, and I and, and that was the end of the scene. And we did another scene in the in the show, but I don't remember what it was, but I know it was just kind of a tag and um, uh, and then I was told that I was being considered and they would like me to come back in um, uh and do uh a call back. Um, and I had come in, uh, cause everybody kind of went in looking really shabby and they asked they said you know it, these people aren't shabby, they're just. They just live in a smaller town. And so they said, just come back up, basically clean up a little bit and then come in and reread.
Nancy Robertson:And the um had of CTB at that time had before I had read, he had um, another actress that had worked on one of their shows in mind, and uh for Wanda, and she apparently looked very similar to uh Gabe who played Lacey. And they said that it's too, you know, and um, and they were, you know, like I think they did for all of us. They just they were. The executive producers were really really great about sticking with who they really wanted and um, so I came in and read it again and waited about another 10 days didn't hear a thing. And uh, then I got it and I think I think it was basically 10 days later. I'm on a plane to Regina.
Aaron Pete:What did you think of the character when you first started preparing?
Nancy Robertson:Um, kind of. I kind of took it literally at first. I took her to be kind of like. Originally I kind of had her as um, she was smart and, um, more normal than I, and then I think I kind of started moving her to be, you know, juvenile in a arrogant way. That makes sense. Um, making her her. You know her brain's a little uh, obnoxious and um and juvenile responses to Hank and uh and everybody.
Nancy Robertson:And then the thing is too is when you start a series, the beauty of it and it's such a privilege. As you get to, you grow, the, the, the actors and the writers grow together because we all see, we see what we're given, as you know, from the writing room, and they see what we're giving you know the actors are giving, and then we grow, the characters grow together and it's, it's really cool and it's uh, that's the real blessing of a, you know, of a series, because you can help grow and you can help change and everything, like if it's a film or if you're just on as a guest star and stuff like that, you've got one shot to. You know, you know to to come up with a character. But with a series you can. You can make the the character grow, so yeah, it was just a really good time.
Aaron Pete:I've I've spoken to Lauren and I've spoken to Brent, and one of my question was did you ever see it going the direction it did when you've did the first read, when you're flying out to Regina? Did you ever have any clue?
Nancy Robertson:No, none at all. Um, I know that we had a really good first table read through with uh, with everybody. Um, when everybody got out there and we were all settled into Regina and we had the big read through and there was kind of like a little bit of a silence after we read the the first uh, first script, because you normally read two scripts at a time because we're shooting two at a time.
Nancy Robertson:But after we read the first one there was kind of like a oh, this was fun and uh, and everybody was enjoying each other and uh, what they were, you know the read and and what was coming out. So that was really kind of nice. And then I think I can't remember how many episodes we shot back then Um, I think it was 10, and uh, and we were told, um, by one of the executive producers, um, with a network that you're going to have to get, you know, 500,000 viewers for it to stay, and back then in Canadian television that was pretty much unheard of, and we're like whoa, uh-oh, and so we didn't think of any, we didn't think about it. And then the, then the reviews started coming out and they were, they were really great. And oh, I know, when I thought it might be good was when we saw the promos and whoever did the promos, and I forget they looked different back then. They were sharper, the images were sharper, it was, um, it just kind of grabbed your interest and the and the twangy, um background music that went with it. It was like, oh, this looks like a good show.
Nancy Robertson:And then when we got the numbers from the first night that it aired, we were like oh my God. And then the next ones came in and, and at that point I mean we never sunk below a million viewers in the whole six season and in fact, you know, it got even bigger and um, and that just wasn't happening. We actually were, um, see, I shouldn't have had tea, because now I'm hyper. The Big Bang Theory when that came out, um, they bumped us behind it because it was a brand new big US show and the ratings weren't great for the Big Bang Theater theory theory originally. So they put us back as a lead in to the Big Bang Theory and then, of course, the Big Bang Theory just blew everything up literally and, um, their numbers were, were great. So we were really lucky that we had the audience that we did back then, really really lucky and just so, and how they've kind of kept with us, it's just been fantastic. I don't, I don't know what that's about, but we'll take it.
Aaron Pete:There's real loyalty there. Yeah, when did you and Brent start to work together? When did you start to have conversations? When did the spark take place?
Nancy Robertson:Oh, I'm not going to go into too much detail about that. But, um, by the end of the season, and you know, at that point you're thinking, well, this'll never go. Anyways, We've all been. You know, most things don't go again, and especially if it's a Canadian show, it doesn't. You know, it's hard. And so, um, we just clicked. We liked the same things, we liked the same humor, uh, uh, like the same films, Um, and it was just the perfect time in our our life to, to, to meet. And when we wrapped, um, the season one, uh, we, uh, we started dating. And, uh, I'm here in his garage right now, Years later so Brilliant?
Aaron Pete:And what were the next steps? Were you guys excited, going into the future, of of what things were going to take place? Were you confident in season two? One season one wrapped.
Nancy Robertson:Um, yeah, you know I I I don't remember feeling confident, but I also don't remember feeling nervous about this. I think I was. I think we were all really excited to get back at it and so thrilled we got. You know that we're going back for season two, um, with such nice ratings and and uh, reviews and everything, and um, and I think you know there's always a trepidation because everything gets measured from the first, and so, you know, I think once we wrapped season two we were like, oh, I hope it's people enjoyed as much as he did season one. Um, and there's been growth to different characters Um, suzanne Boyce, who's so wonderful, she was one of the heads of uh, uh CTV and she called and me one time at season one and she was looking at some of the dailies and she said that, uh, if there's a season two, um, I would like to see more of your character and I would like to see more of uh, davis and Karen the cops, and I thought, well, that would be lovely, but you know it's a big cast.
Nancy Robertson:So we all started to get to grow a little bit and, uh, and that was exciting, there was, you know, more to do and um, yeah, it just uh, it was fun, but I don't re, I think, just always being grateful that I was never. I didn't really think about not getting picked up when we went into the second season because it was just all so much gravy that, even if it didn't, what a riot we had, you know we broke some rating records and uh, but then we ended up going for six.
Aaron Pete:That's such a healthy mindset and Brent shared the same kind of sentiments that, like everything after that, was kind of like just be grateful that you had this opportunity and not setting too much expectations on things, and maybe we get stuck as people in the expectations to where are we going rather than enjoying the ride.
Nancy Robertson:Yeah, that's it, you know, and that's so true, and it was kind of that because we really were enjoying the ride and um and uh, and you know, you and, and as the seasons went on, you had to kind of, you know, by the time we got to like, say, season five, it's kind of like well, season four and five, it was kind of like well, this is the norm. And that's where you got to be careful, because it's not the norm, it can be taken away at any moment. And um, so you, just, you know, as, the longer we were in it, the more we just had to kind of let go hey, we're really lucky. I wouldn't say lucky, we're. I'm just very grateful, you know, I, I kind of don't know about luck. I think I think things happen, you know, um, that are meant to happen, and I, uh, but um, just very grateful because, like I said, there's so many amazingly talented people out there behind and in front of the camera that you're just like, wow, you know, why aren't you a bajillionaire and in everything?
Aaron Pete:Oh, do you think that? Do you think that there was something about all of you having fun in the process? That it wasn't just checking a box, it wasn't just doing a scene? It seemed like there was genuine chemistry there of enjoying the process.
Nancy Robertson:I think so. I mean, in my opinion, I think we all felt that. I think that there was chemistry and there and there was something to be said about being planted in Regina, um, together. You know, we lived in the same condo building, we were driven in the same vans to set. For the first couple of years. It was like you you that, I think, really assisted in it and um and uh, and also the the the more popular it got, the more we traveled together.
Nancy Robertson:Because we were going to, you know, we would be meeting in Toronto for press, we'd be doing things. We went down to New York when the show was nominated for an international Emmy. So we were in New York together and you know, we've just spent so much time together and, like I said, living in the same condo. We're going out for dinner, we're going out to a Hanlon's pub in Regina. When we wrap on a Friday it's uh, it's pretty hard not to get to. You know, to feel really, really comfortable around your classmates and like a family you know, did you have a favorite?
Aaron Pete:A favorite like moment has wanded. Did you have a time where you, where it stood out to you?
Nancy Robertson:Yeah, I think I really liked season five for Wanda and I'm speaking selfishly, like for my character. I felt that I I mean I had fun with her all seasons and we were just blessed with these amazing writers. You know, brenton is crew and everything, and but five. I really liked it because she had the contagious fortune, the pink eye episode, buzz driver when Oscar is driving the bus and Wanda is getting all wound up on the haywire juice and there's another one I forget where she's the bartender and she ends up tearing Davis and Karen apart. Yeah, I just thought that was a really good, you know, a really good season for her. And I have to say I think, shooting the, I can't pick a favorite I I have a hard time watching myself now and I don't necessarily watch it when I go by. I spend like maybe a minute on it because I'm so much younger.
Aaron Pete:My favorite, I think is is buzz driver and for that exact reason because I think as a young person, like we all, have that experience where we've had way too much energy drink and that was like such an accurate representation of how you feel when you're on it and to see some of the dramatic moments was just kind of pulled everything together.
Nancy Robertson:Oh yeah, and it was fun because you know they had me up on the roof of the gas station and flipping down, you know, below. I was terrified of that. It wasn't that high but I still wasn't thrilled about it. So I had, you know, I had Roger, I think, one of our crew, holding onto my ankles, so I didn't, you know, I didn't fall off when I flipped down there, but it was no, it was, it was fun. I liked, yeah, there was so much fun and you kind of sometimes you forget it because you know they're long hours and and the weather, you know it's either really really hot and and so we're kind of you get, kind of, I know you can you got to have to check yourself every once in a while and go. You know there's other jobs that you could be doing that aren't so great, and this is really great.
Aaron Pete:So was that at all strange to be brought out to the middle of nowhere to do some of these shots, in comparison to being in Vancouver or doing some of the shots.
Nancy Robertson:Um, yeah, I mean it, it was my first location. Uh, shoot, and it was kind of odd and uh, because I'm used to the water, being born and raised in Vancouver, that to go out somewhere where there's no water, you can't see it was a little claustrophobic and uh, and then I, you know, and I'd never been there before, and um, and I remember saying to somebody I went I just know nothing about, you know Saskatchewan in general, I don't have any connection to it, and then I had to stop and go. Yeah, I do. My dad was born in Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, and then brought when he was a young boy into Vancouver. And uh, and my dad and mom and older sister, I had to go out before I was born because dad got a job just outside in Regina and my brother was born in Regina before I was born. So I realized, yeah, so all the men in my life are from Saskatchewan my brother, my dad, my husband.
Aaron Pete:Is there a standout moment with the live show? It's Stephen Harper, uh like the morning news one. Was there a standout moment to you of the whole show? That was somewhat unique.
Nancy Robertson:Well, it was unique having, um, uh, stephen Harper and Paul Martin and Paul, uh, I didn't. I wasn't on set with Paul Martin, but I met him later that evening and he was lovely and um, but when we were shooting, um, uh, the one with, uh, uh, stephen Harper, we're pulling up into this little dirt triangle that was the, the corner gas set, like it literally is in the middle of nowhere and, um, and it's just this gas station built to, you know, to shoot in and outside of. But there was black limos all the way down the dirt road, security limos. And that's just bizarre. When you're pulling in at you know six in the morning and you still sleep, and then there's all these limos there and then standing outside, um, uh, my trailer was a secret security uh guy and he wouldn't look at me, and, uh, because he has to keep his eye out.
Nancy Robertson:So I remember going up to my trailer, I said, oh, you know, um, excuse me, but I actually have to get in behind you. This is my trailer. And he said, all right, and then I just leaned into him and I went what are you looking at? And he said pie shape, ma'am, pie shape. And I said what do you mean he goes. We all take.
Nancy Robertson:Every secret service person takes their vision into a pie shape and they're responsible for that piece of pie. So if anything happens on their watch and that slice of pie it's on them. And uh, and so I went, oh, cool, so I went in and I got into my wardrobe heading to, and I was getting out of my trailer and I was just standing outside talking to somebody I don't know who, and it was on my way to hair and makeup and I hear this big tap on my back and I turn around and it's just big hand coming at me, going Stephen Harper. I went, oh hello, and I see these piercing, um wolf-like eyes. And so that was, and that was, uh, that was my introduction to Stephen Harper.
Aaron Pete:And was that your favorite one? Or, like Brent mentioned the tragically hip performing for you guys almost privately.
Nancy Robertson:Oh, that's, that's my favorite, and I think it was. I mean, we had everybody. He probably told you that everybody that wasn't working that day just happened to turn up first thing in the morning. So we shot part of that in the studio in Regina and then we had to go out and drive to Rolo to do the exterior, where we're coming into the garage, and to do the turnaround, and uh, and while we're all hanging out in the studio waiting for things to get going, they're just playing, they're just playing the guitars, singing, just doing what they do, I guess, to make themselves comfortable.
Nancy Robertson:And they were all so great and so funny, and uh, and when we were, we were separated into two vans, of course, the tragically hip kind of one band, and then Brent and, uh, I think it was just maybe Fred and I in the van heading out to where we're doing the next shot for the exteriors with them, and I just started talking to them on the radio, back and forth from one band to the other, and uh, pretending that they couldn't hear me and just saying, oh my God, they're dreaming, oh the stuff, so they're laughing. And so they were great, they were wonderful, it was, uh, it was just so surreal because I used to. I had their CDs when CDs were the thing. I also had the CDs of the odds. Like Craig Norley, he does all the music, so it was just so cool to meet these people and work with them. Um, if I you know who would have thought when I was listening to their CDs in my beatbox that I'd be working with them?
Aaron Pete:Was it hard for season six to come and for that chapter to come to a close?
Nancy Robertson:Harder than I thought it was going to be. Yeah, I think, um, uh, in in some ways it was time. I think you know it was a long time for a lot of people that had families that were away, because, you know, we were gone four and a half months at least, and I mean, as the series went on, we got lots of flights home for the weekends or whenever we had days off during the shoot. Uh, we would, you know, a lot of us would fly home, but a lot of the people can't like a lot of the. Um, the writers couldn't fly home, uh, brent could never fly home. Um and um, it was just, it was.
Nancy Robertson:I think it was the right time, you know, I mean there's a financial end of it. You know you think, oh well, you know, more money wouldn't have been such a bad thing, but that's not why you, you do it, cause then it just gets all. If that's what it's all about, then it's the charm and everything goes. So I think, I think it, I know it ended when it should have ended, but it still didn't make it any easier when it was happening and I think the but it didn't really hit until we were shooting the very last episode and we shot it as the very last episode because sometimes you don't run them in sequence and we did, and it was. The Reader was pretty tough, the rap when you finished your final scene, because all of us were wrapped at a different depending what scene you're in, we're at a different time. Fred and I were wrapped together and yeah, it was. It was very emotional, but it was nice.
Aaron Pete:Nice of the movie come back yeah.
Nancy Robertson:I mean, I, I was surprised that that was even going to be happening, like I didn't know what I thought about that. I thought, oh, what's this going to be like? And back then five years seemed like a long, long time. But now, and I look back at it, it doesn't seem that it was that far between wrapping the series and the film, but I guess it was. It was timed pretty well, is that, you know? Not that I had anything to do with that, but yeah it was. Yeah, it was great and it was so weird because we went back to the same places where we used to stay at the condo and it's like we had never left and it was bizarre. It was like there wasn't a, there wasn't a beat, you know. So that's kind of nice too, that it just all fell in completely naturally. It was fan home in a way.
Aaron Pete:What was the big difference between the live show and the animated show for you A?
Nancy Robertson:big difference I. The scripts were different because you could go wider and bigger. Do you know what I mean? So I felt that there was which was good, because we were, our characters were different than it, to a certain degree, a little bit different than they were on the live action, because here we were animated and we could get away with more things and it was far less work for us, the actors. I mean, we're so used to working together that we would just go in and record and out we went, and so that was a positive and a negative.
Nancy Robertson:I missed being physically a part of it. I felt that it was hard not to. I mean, we would move our bodies almost like we normally. Would you know if we were doing the live action? But it's just, it's different, it's a whole different way of acting. So I found that, I found it more convenient and I enjoyed it, but I did miss the physical part of it of actually being able to contribute, even though they did copy our mannerisms from the live action. So it was, it was, it was a great new experience. I loved it. I could have done we could have done more of those, for sure, but that, if I had to say. There was one thing that was strange to me is that it's just not being fully body-wanda.
Aaron Pete:And that chemistry, I guess, would have lacked a little bit more in that regard too, right.
Nancy Robertson:Well, yeah, because we were separated a lot of times because the in the sense that if you weren't in some scenes you didn't come in at the same time. So it's not as if we're hanging out in the makeup trailer and we're seeing each other on set or anything before we're going on the scenes and stuff like that. And then when the pandemic hit, we were all in different rooms because we couldn't record in the same room and so we're not beside each other. But our history together made that a lot easier. We're thankful for that, because we knew the beats and the timing of all the other characters and everything and it's. And we didn't have Janet. So that was different too, because we'd lost Janet and but Kareen came in and she was amazing. But so those were different things. You know it was, but it was fun to do. And we had great actors that do animation, I think for the most part, and they're so off-scaled and they were great. Who played the townspeople, they were amazing.
Aaron Pete:Lauren had talked about how one of his experiences from like the impact of the show that he got to see was that he had spoken to some veterans who were over in Afghanistan that were getting rocket attacked and they had come to him and said we were watching corner gas during a time where we were scared for our lives and we were just bunkered down. Brent had talked about how he heard a lot that it was a generational show where different people could watch it. They could watch it with their kids. What were your big takeaways from hearing from the public? What was the response you got in terms of the impact of corner gas?
Nancy Robertson:Just kindness, just genuine kindness, like it's not. You know, sometimes if you do something and somebody comes up and goes, oh I saw you in this good job, or something like that, and it's just kind of like it's nice but it's not, you know, it's just a nice comment, but the one slip of the corner gas, it was basically, I think, when they would see us. I think we felt a bit like home to them, because they always said that they watched it with their family because they could, and we had every demographic I mean, you can't get those numbers without having every demographic watching and, yeah, it was just a kindness and a warmness. I was never it never anything negative or sarcastic. It was just you just felt. You just felt really lucky to be a part of something that is part of these people's lives. That brought them, you know, and still to this day brings them comfort and and joy and everything like how fortunate are we to be in something like that?
Nancy Robertson:Because we weren't nice to each other, the characters weren't nice to each other. It wasn't as if this was as sweet as I think people think it is. It's just that the characters because that's all they're, all they had, it would basically nobody else can make fun of you, but we can. We weren't a sucky group of people Like do you know what I mean? We weren't. It was just, I think, a nice story about people knowing each other too well in a small town existing and nothing more than that.
Aaron Pete:I think one of my favorite parts about the show is it reminds you to find beauty in the small moments, that small, small things are really the big things. When we talk about wanting to go on a vacation to Mexico, that's a week of your year or maybe two weeks of your year, but the reality is you want to find beauty in the 365 days and you want to find fun and joy and humor and connection and you want to be able to joke around with people and not take things too seriously and not get offended by things and just have fun around each other.
Nancy Robertson:Yeah, and that's a safety If you're around people that you're safe with, like these characters were safe because where were they going to go? And they found safety in knowing how, knowing each other characters so well that nothing really shocked them and nothing. There was no damage done Because, like I said, they're in the small town. Where are they going to go? If you disliked everybody then you wouldn't go out. So, yeah, and I think there was just comfort in that, in over familiarity, and we all have it, we all have it in our families, we have it no matter where we live, where you work, and, yeah, I think it was a nice little slice of life and nothing disastrous happened. It was big problems made out of little things.
Aaron Pete:One of my favorite things about how you portrayed the character and, I think, your genuine energy is that you can be serious, you can be intelligent, but you don't have to be boring. And as somebody who's gone to law school, who's gotten the degrees, I find that people who go to law school want to come across intelligence, so much so that I think they sacrifice parts of their personality in order to be perceived as the profession. And I never want to become that.
Aaron Pete:I always want to do my best to be intelligent or think things through, but to be fun and lighthearted, but still to be lighthearted and not to take myself too seriously, and I found that, wanda, and how you portray yourself is so thoughtful to that. You can be smart, you can think things through, but you can also be fun and silly, and that doesn't take away from who you are. It actually enriches who you are.
Nancy Robertson:Well, that's lovely to say. Yeah, I wanted her to have a weakness and in not having power with her, that her power, her intelligence or the intelligence that she thought she had, wasn't the power she thinks it is. And you could always get her. Hank could always get her, and I think I'm not sure, I think the first time Wanda jumps over the counter I'm not so sure, but I think that was improvised and chased him out of the gas station and because he just gets to her and like a sibling, and so we were given opportunity to do things and I mean, well, it's your job, it's actually it's a smart thing to do and I think that's what you is to. We helped mold what they were by dropping little things in, and then the writers were so great, then they'd pop a little, pop a little bit more onto it and then you take it and it's like it's such a great collaboration. So, yeah, I, I like playing Wanda.
Aaron Pete:We have to get down to the crux of the issue, though You're one of the only people I know who can cut somebody's hair and blow up so much on YouTube. Would you mind telling me about cutting Brent's hair and how viral that video went for for a reason I didn't?
Nancy Robertson:want to do it. I said, no, I'm not. First of all, hey, I'm not cutting your hair and B, I don't want to do it, I don't want to do this. But he talked me into it and I didn't know it was that popular, to tell you the truth. So that's interesting.
Aaron Pete:But I, no, no, no. I think it's got like over 20,000 views at least.
Nancy Robertson:Yeah, oh really, oh, that's so funny. No, I don't I, but it was fun and and I did cut his hair and I didn't do a good job, and but I told him that was probably what's going to happen. So, but you know, it was such a weird time as COVID, wasn't it? And it's like you, just it was, you know, maybe one of the reasons I did it. You know that we did it is just some way to be creative and perform when we can't, you know. So it was such a weird time, you know, I don't, I don't know if we've ever still fully recovered from it while it's still going on, but, yeah, weird.
Aaron Pete:Have you thought about what next steps you want for your career? I do find that you and Brent watching that video is so funny that you guys still have a dynamic. Do you have any plans in the future?
Nancy Robertson:No, I mean not at this point, no, I think. I mean I like to do, we both like to do separate things, and because that's kind of what we do. You know so. But I mean who knows? I mean there's certainly nothing in the plans right now, but I mean never see, never, I don't know. I don't know what my next gig is at any point in time, you know so, which is maybe it's good and bad. You know, it's always feast or famine.
Aaron Pete:Do you have any advice for young creators on how to get their message out and how to stay authentic in a time where I do see so many people trying to figure out how to fit into niches and into other people's boxes, how to stay authentic and continue to share their gifts?
Nancy Robertson:You mean in the industry or just in life? Just in life, well, I don't know. You see, because it's hard to say that, because I think it also depends on what age you're at. I think at certain ages, when you're younger, I mean that's part of the thing is wanting to fit in, but when you get older, you look back at it and you go, well, that's not necessarily the coolest place to be. You know, like being who you are is the best you can be, and because who you are is great, and I think when you try really hard to be something else, that you're not, you're not happy. And I think sometimes, maybe that brings out behavior in people that stops them from going forward and stops them from finding their people. But you don't know until you get older and you know that's a good thing.
Nancy Robertson:Well, there's lots of good things about getting older, but I, yeah, I mean who you are, there's only one of you. There's only one of you. So, just by that math, you're incredible and you're unique and you know. Yes, you pick up things just by your environment, but I think you're also born a certain way and there's all these things, there's these chemicals, there's these genes, these experiences, everything that everybody goes through is solely their own, so you're all you got. Have some fun with yourself. That doesn't sound right, but you know what I mean. Just enjoy yourself as you are. And I know that that's hard, because it's hard, I mean, we're all tough on ourselves. But if you can step back and look at it, I think, yeah, you're great just as you are, because you you're you and nobody is like you.
Aaron Pete:That is an apt observation, I don't know about that. Thank you, that was really well said. Nancy, I want to thank you for doing this. I watched Corner Gas as a kid. I used to use it to go to sleep at night I would have it on the background and so I am a student of the work that you all put into that show. I am so grateful for all of the insights you shared and, again, for me, I always look at that show and go.
Aaron Pete:It's okay to be silly, it's okay to be serious, but it's okay to be fun and easygoing and make a joke of yourself at times. You don't have to take yourself too seriously. You're not defined by the silliest thing you did. You're not defined by the most professional thing you did. You're a dynamic person and you're going to have different vibes and different moments, and you should share all of yourself with the world, because that's what's going to lift others up to allow them to do the same. Corner Gas is a reflection of that. So thank you for being willing to do this interview and share your journey.
Nancy Robertson:Well, it's such an honor to have you, you know, to have to have been a part of your life, and that's so wonderful. And look how wonderful you turned out, see. I don't know about all that, yeah no, and this is, and so I'm honored to be a part of your podcast. This is so great. Thank you so much.
Aaron Pete:Brilliant Tim. How did we do Fabulous? I'm just listening and smiling ear to ear. It's been great.
Nancy Robertson:Well, thank you so much and I'm so sorry about the other day. I am the worst. My agent is just gets sucked. I frustrate him to no end. I frustrate all my friends from no end because I am so forgetful. I'm just yeah and I apologize so much, so I'm so sorry about that.
Aaron Pete:You were very much worth the wait. This was a fantastic interview and, as I said, you bring such an authentic energy to the conversation that it feels I don't know breezy it feels easy going. Sometimes people are really serious when they're on the other side of the camera and this was just so much fun.
Nancy Robertson:Oh good, I had. I enjoyed myself too. So have you got Fred on yet?
Aaron Pete:I haven't got Fred on and I haven't had my apologies, oscar, on either.
Nancy Robertson:Oh, Eric.
Aaron Pete:Yes, eric. Well, both of those guys, you know they're fantastic, they're all, they're all everybody's fantastic You're all so sneaky on social media though, like trying to find like I tried to find you on Instagram, twitter, and then I reached out. I figured out how to reach out to your agent and then I reached out through that means, but it's hard to find some people on how to contact them.
Nancy Robertson:Yeah, cause. Yeah, what is Fred's?
Aaron Pete:Fred doesn't do a lot of social media, but no, that's not true, I think it's like you can have social media, but you can also have it turned off, so people can't contact you.
Nancy Robertson:Oh, I don't know that he does that. I don't I. I don't. I just don't remember what his his tag is, but he does have. He is on Instagram. He went off Twitter and Instagram for a long time and then came back on it. Eric is not on any of it, I know he's not, but I know he's with characters in. I think he's with characters in Toronto and Fred is with I think he's with Murray at Red Talent. I'm pretty sure. But but I'm sure Fred, I'm sure both of them would be very happy to do this Brilliant. So I'm just trying to think, yeah, I wish I, if I had my phone here, I could give you his you know what. Maybe see if I can find it Now that I've got your email, I'll see if I can get there. I can get Fred's for you Like his.
Nancy Robertson:Instagram or whatever. Yeah. So and then for Eric. I think characters in in Toronto.
Aaron Pete:That would be fantastic. Again, thank you so much for being willing to do this. I really appreciate it. It sounds like it was a little bit of work getting the studio all prepared, but I appreciate it.
Nancy Robertson:This is because I'm a leadite. I'm just useless. I just I'm horrible at this stuff and I get I had to do my taxes this this week and all I was just miserable because it all on the computer, everything I'm I don't, yeah, I yeah. I hope there's not an apocalypse because I wouldn't do very well.
Aaron Pete:It sounds like everything would go back to normal for you. Yeah that's right. That's right. There wouldn't be any electronics, so you'd be good to go.
Nancy Robertson:I would be good. Hey, that's who you follow on the apocalypse, then Be me Exactly.
Aaron Pete:Yeah.
Nancy Robertson:Well, thank you both so much and and I'll see if I can get his Instagram not to you Find out, because I don't remember what his label is.
Aaron Pete:Sounds good. I will go looking for it and I can follow up with you. Thank you so much again.
Nancy Robertson:Thank you so much. Thank you so much, bye, bye. Oh, now I got to do this, got it? Nope, you're back.
Aaron Pete:It was fun, that was fun.