Lauren Lapkus has spent more than a decade making chaos look effortless—on screen, on tour and throughout a prolific podcast career. Now, she’s bringing that same energy back to the fan-favorite role of Denise, the comic book store assistant manager who became Stuart’s girlfriend on The Big Bang Theory. She returns July 23 in HBO Max’s Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. This time, Denise isn’t just keeping the shop running; she’s surviving a full-blown multiverse apocalypse.
It’s a big moment for an actress who’s built her career on range. She’s an Emmy nominee for The Earliest Show, a standout in Orange Is the New Black and Jurassic World, the star of Netflix’s The Wrong Missy, one of the platform’s most popular comedies of 2020, and the host of With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus, an improv podcast that debuted at number one on iTunes’ comedy chart. Off camera, Lapkus is a mom of two navigating early call times, chaotic mornings and a beauty routine that’s had to get realistic fast.
We caught up with the star to talk about what “camera-ready” actually looks like for a project this physical, the one gadget she swears by between takes and why she thinks it’s time for a very specific hairstyle to stage its comeback.
You’ve mentioned moisturizing your neck is a non-negotiable. What does the rest of your daily routine look like, and has that changed?
“My daily routine is really dictated by my daughters at this point. They're five and two, and I'm finding these ages are particularly crazy to negotiate with in the mornings. I tend to be the last one ready to go, after I spend the first hour or two of my day getting them dressed and fed and ready for the day. If I have an early call time, I sneak around in the dark to avoid waking anyone up and get out before all the madness! I find now that my work life is even more fun for me because it's an opportunity to just be myself as an individual in the world, and then I get to come home and be their loyal servant.
Moisturizer is still a non-negotiable—and I always do my night routine no matter how tired I am. My go-to products right now are DERMA-E Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Scrub ($17) and Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer ($38). In between, I layer on any oil or serum I'm feeling at the moment. Right now, that's Everyday Oil ($54).”
Between acting, podcasting and touring, your schedule sounds relentless. What’s the one beauty or wellness ritual you refuse to skip, no matter how packed the week is?
“I'm obsessed with my TheraFace Depuffing Wand ($170)! I tell everyone about this thing. It gets warm or cold—the warm setting is great for helping products sink into your skin, and the cold setting tightens your skin. I try to do it while driving to work so that I show up feeling fresh and ready to go. It's also great on a plane.”
Denise has to survive an apocalypse in this one. Did anything about the character’s look or energy shift for this series compared to her Big Bang Theory days, and did that affect how the team approached her hair and makeup on set?
“Yes! Denise was super sweet and go-with-the-flow in the original series. She still has those traits but has seen some wild stuff by this point and it's definitely affected the way she interacts with the world. We are so lucky to have amazing hair and makeup people on this show. They nailed every universe we fell into, and even though Denise is constantly running from bad guys or falling through a black hole, we managed to find the perfect balance where she can have a low-key look but still always have good hair.”
If there’s a multiverse of Laurens out there, which alternate-universe beauty routine are you most curious about: high-maintenance glam Lauren or zero-effort Lauren?
“I really, really know what zero-effort Lauren looks like. It's chill but not my favorite vibe, kinda reminds me of those early pandemic days when no one could get a haircut and I mainly socialized via Animal Crossing. (I cut my husband's hair live on Instagram—we were all desperate for connection! ICYMI, the haircut turned out awful.) I'd like to see the version of me that knows how to do super glam makeup and takes the time to style her hair every day. I need to watch some YouTube tutorials! I've been saying that for years. Maybe someday I will!”
You've built a career across sketch, improv, film and now sci-fi comedy—does the beauty and glam prep differ noticeably depending on the project, or is there a version of ‘camera-ready’ that stays consistent no matter what you’re filming?
“I've always had a tendency to let the hair and makeup experts do what they envision, but more recently, I've started to note my favorite products and styles, and I'm enjoying that bit of consistency from job to job. I love a subtle lash and eyeliner—and never underestimate the power of leg makeup! Westmore leg makeup is the best one I've tried so far.”
As someone who’s spent a decade in comedy and podcasting, what’s a beauty trend you’ve seen come and go that you actually think deserves a comeback?
“The side part was pushed so far out of style that I think it's gotta come back around. Some people look amazing with a side part and should get to live their truth!”
