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Rooster, HBO’s eagerly awaited new comedy, has officially made its debut. With Bill Lawrence as a co-creator, Steve Carell taking the lead role, and Allison Jones managing casting, audiences can anticipate a remarkable ensemble and an array of notable guest appearances.
Set against a college backdrop, the series explores the dynamics between celebrated author Greg Russo (played by Carell) and his daughter, Katie, portrayed by Charlie Clive, who is also a professor. The series features performances from Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai. Throughout the first season, viewers will see appearances from stars like Connie Britton and Alan Ruck. As highlighted in our comprehensive review at Decider, the show’s triumph largely depends on the chemistry and appeal of Clive and Carell’s characters, with Clive particularly standing out alongside the star of The Office.
Curious about Katie’s role in Rooster? Or wondering about Charlie Clive, the actress who brings Katie to life? With Rooster premiering on March 8 on HBO and HBO Max, we delve into Katie’s character, Clive’s career before Rooster, and share insights from Decider’s interview with the show’s leading lady.
Who Is Katie On Rooster?
Katie, in addition to being Greg’s daughter, is a Ludlow College professor and married to fellow professor Archie (Dunster), who is unfaithful with a graduate student named Sunny (Tsai). As described in Decider’s review, Greg arrives at the liberal arts college as a guest lecturer, but his true intention is to check on his daughter, Katie, who is understandably on edge. When the college president (McGinley) indicates her job might be in jeopardy due to erratic conduct, Greg hesitantly agrees to extend his stay for the semester to help secure her position.
Clive effortlessly captures Katie’s complex personality, from her chaos and impulsive nature to her raw emotional depth, captivating audiences with a blend of empathy and humor. The real-life experiences of Girl Dads Lawrence, co-creator Matt Tarses, and Carell have influenced Rooster‘s central relationship, yet it is Clive’s natural chemistry with Carell that ensures their interactions resonate with authenticity, no matter the scene’s mood.
“I found [the father/daughter dynamic] easier to carve than I thought, because I was quite intimidated by everything about the project initially. And on our very first table read, I saw Steve and I was like, ‘Oh my god. I’ve got to go talk to Steve Carell. And instantly it felt it felt a little bit scary and then completely fine,’” Clive told Decider over Zoom. “When we finished the table read, we both had to get in a buggy somewhere, and I said, ‘Oh wow, this is so cool. I’ve never been on a lot before.’ We were filming on the Warner Brothers lot, and Steve was like, ‘Wait, you’ve never seen it? Oh my god! I have to show you around.’ So he sort of commandeered the buggy. I was wowed about everything. And I think Steve was enjoying seeing it through my eyes.”
“It was instant. Even on Zoom, I could tell, ‘Oh that’s her!’”
Steve Carell, Rooster
Carell told Decider the father/daughter chemistry was “instant” for him. “Even on Zoom, I could tell, ‘Oh that’s her! That’s her! I love it!’ We felt so comfortable right from the start. I think part of that was a sense of trust as actors. I was going to support anything she chose to do. And I felt the same way about her.” While we wait to see more of Katie and Greg’s dynamic on Rooster, let’s learn more about Clive’s career.
Who Plays Katie In Rooster? Meet Charlie Clive
Katie is played by Charlie Clive, a 33-year-old British actor and comedian with a downright fascinating career trajectory. At age 23, Clive learned she had a brain tumor, but rather than let the experience discourage her, she took inspiration from it, named the tumor “Britney,” and wrote a hit comedy show about it. Over the years, Clive has starred in Channel 4’s drama Pure and projects like All My Friends Hate Me, The Lazarus Project, and more. She also stars in the upcoming comedy thriller, Everybody Wants to F*ck Me, alongside Taron Egerton. But Rooster is her first American TV role, and is sure to serve as a big breakout.
We can’t wait to see Clive shine on the new HBO comedy. And if you want to stay up-to-date with the talented Rooster star off-screen, you can follow her on Instagram at @charlyclive, where she had 12,000 followers ahead of Rooster‘s March 8 premiere.
Stay tuned for more Rooster coverage from Decider.