Michelle Buteau Proves You Can Strike It Big at Any Age With 'Zero Apologies'

The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott

Michelle Buteau is proof that you can strike it big anytime. At 46, she's out with her new film Babes (May 17), she has a hit Netflix series based on her memoir Survival of the Thickest and is the first woman to film a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall. She says there's this idea you should "have it all figured out by 40, you should be doing your thing. It's like, no, we don't have it all figured out. We're still growing." Babes, directed by Pamela Adlon and co-starring Ilana Glazer, who also co-wrote the script, shows the role of friendships at pivotal times. "I don't think we talk about how hard relationships are." One thing Buteau does talk about is the need to celebrate yourself, which she does on her Netflix series. "Season one, thick girls were the moment and now it's like, nah, now we all the movement. There's zero apologies. It is bigger. It's Blacker. It's b*******. It's all the things 2.0." As for her comedy special, it's for all those voices "who need to be on the stages" but are rarely given the opportunity she has. "How can we be seen like that unless we see someone?"

Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.