Born Elizabeth Jean Philipps, Busy was given her unusual nick-name from her parents as an infant because she never stopped moving around, it stuck, and after meeting her at the Monte Carlo Television Festival it’s very clear why! Another thing that took me by surprise as I pulled up a chair beside the bubbly, blonde actress was her slim, athletic frame, but I guess appearing alongside the pint-sized Courteney Cox in the hit comedy Cougar Town would give anyone the impression that they’re bigger than they are. Sporting a bright sherbet-orange strapless dress, the mother-of-one, who once worked the toy-fair circuit as a real-life Barbie is a picture of health and happiness.

“I’m into it”, she beams, when I asked about her relationship with fashion.

“My credit card statement would rather if I wasn’t but I do love shopping, however having my baby has put the kibosh on it a little bit.”

Two years ago, Busy, who is married to screen-writer Marc Silverstein gave birth to their first child, a little girl, called Birdie. When it came to loosing the baby-weight, she is refreshingly open, by Hollywood standards, when she admits that she found it a difficult task.

“I think it all depends on how much weight you gain when you’re pregnant. If you happen to be an actress who gains twenty pounds then I imagine you could be out in a slinky black dress in a month, but if you happen to be an actress like myself who gained eighty pounds it takes a little bit longer,” she says with her attention-grabbing laugh.

“I went through a real period after my baby was born when I was over-weight that I thought I would just wear jeans and a t-shirt for the rest of my life – no more fashion for me. But I remember when I still had about twenty pounds to go but I had lost a huge amount of weight and I went to a party and one of my friends from L.A said ‘She’s back!’”

Despite her humorous approach to the topic of weight, on a more serious note, the actress revealed that she was actually discounted for a role, prior to Cougar Town, because she hadn’t shed the pounds.

“I actually didn’t get another job because I hadn’t lost all the baby weight, which I guess is just part of the deal. They want you to look a certain way and if you don’t that’s it. I mean that was hard for me, but ultimately it worked out, and I don’t think I was ready to go back to work then anyway.”

Now having the last laugh, Busy is riding high as Courteney Cox’s gal pal and assistant Laurie Keller in Cougar Town. Cox plays divorced mother and real estate agent Jules Cobb, who is trying to get back into the dating world. Philipps is the younger, party hearty friend helping her get her groove back. Ultimately the two get into all sorts of mischief along the way. This scenario is a major turn for Philipps, who is enjoying co-starring on a brand new series after years of playing solid supporting roles.

“Courteney Cox sets the bar really high for the rest of us,” says Busy sincerely.

“She’s just so lovely, funny, sweet and incredibly generous. I remember when I got the show another actress friend of mine was being snotty about it and said ‘well how are you ever going to be allowed be funny on that show because Courteney is the lead.’ And that’s just not the case, she wants everyone to shine in their own way.”

And shine they have, the show has recently been picked up for a second season and there’s now talk of changing its name as the producer don’t feel it reflects the direction the show’s taken and Busy agrees.

“I feel like people already have it in their minds as Cougar Town. So I think changing the title is tricky. But I also get it because I don’t think the show is indicative of the title. I believe something else would suit it better, but I don’t know how that would work. Thankfully, I don’t work for the network.”

So with everything, it seems, shining as brightly for Busy as the Monte Carlo sunshine, could life get any better?

“I feel incredible blessed to be having the career that I have now and have my daughter in my life too”, she smiles

“If you have to be a working mom, being an actress on a TV show is not a bad gig.”

From RTÉ

Busy Philipps knows her husband Marc Silverstein will never break her heart – because he put the promise in writing in a binding legal contract.

The Cougar Town actress married the Valentine’s Day screenwriter in 2007 and they have a young daughter together, Birdie. Philipps has revealed her husband is a romantic at heart and his most endearing gesture is a legal document, which he drew up to prove his love for his wife.

She tells Britain’s OK! magazine, “He did do something really romantic – he drew up a contract that says he will never break my heart. He had it all drawn up and notarized so it’s legal and he had it framed and hung it on the wall. So if we’re arguing I can say, ‘Um, excuse me, can I just point out what’s hanging above the mantel!’”

From Starpulse

Busy Philipps has described her Cougar Town co-star Courteney Cox as “incredibly open”.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Philipps explained that Cox has taught her a lot during the time they have worked together.

“Comedically, you can’t buy the kind of experience she got when she was on Friends,” she said. “But seeing how she brings that into her producing of the show too, how she’s very hands-on and how that works for her, has been really rewarding and informing.”

Philipps continued: “She’s not just a producer on our show in title only. She give script notes, she’s in the editing room all the time, she’s always watching cuts of the show.”

However, Philipps explained that she feels comfortable working with Cox even though the star also produces the programme.

“When we’re working together as actors, we’re just working together as actors,” she said. “She’s more of a creative producer, more that than a cracking the whip type. She’s an incredibly open person. I think because she was such a big part of such a big show for years, she decided she couldn’t hide anything, because it would come out anyway.”

From Digital Spy

Pound for pound, laugh for laugh, “Cougar Town” rivals its time-slot partner “Modern Family” for comedy supremacy on a weekly basis — and quite frankly, wins more than it loses. Oddly, the show has remained under the radar, buzz-wise, despite racking up Golden Globe nominations and snaring 8 million viewers a week.

But that’s fine with me — I enjoy feeling like I’m hep to some big secret. Speaking of secrets, I knew Busy Philipps was funny from her “Freaks & Geeks” days, but her turn as Laurie has revealed an entire new level to her comedy.

As “Cougar Town” prepares to unleash its season finale on the world tonight, I caught up with Busy to talk about the metamorphosis her show has undergone this year. In addition to talking about that controversial title change, I also found out what’s really in the cast’s wine glasses and that “Cougar Town” is basically a reality show.

PopWrap: With all the hoopla about “Modern Family” I feel like “Cougar Town” could have totally been eclipsed, but it’s carved out a nice little niche for itself this season.
Busy Philipps: I think it’s really neat that people have responded to the way our show has evolved. I think initially they tuned in to see a gimmick but I’m glad they stuck around to see what a cool show it’s turned into as the characters developed. I feel really lucky that so many people love and support the show.

PW: Evolution seems to be the word du jour since anyone who has watched from day one knows the pilot and most recent episode are like completely different shows.
Busy: I loved the pilot, but I have to be honest I love the show that I’m on now even more. This is the kind of show I always wanted to be on. About halfway through the season I turned to my husband and said, “I’m on a totally different show, this is awesome, I love this show!” It just gets weirder and funnier and cracks me up every week.

PW: Personally, I fell in love with the show when Laurie defended wearing nails on just her smoking hand.
Busy: [laughs] That was my favorite thing from the pilot. Oh, that and “you left this at the bar bitch.” I get the best lines, I feel bad for everyone else on the show. But when I watch the show, it’s stuff that Courtney does that cracks me up. She kills me. Her delivery is perfect. I’m sort of obsessed with her. I love when she brings the guns out. And then puts them back in the holster.

PW: I have to say I’m a big fan of any show that incorporates running jokes.
Busy: I love Grayson’s tiny eyes too! [laughs]

PW: It reminds me a bit of “Cougar” creator Bill Lawrence’s last show, “Scrubs.”
Busy: I am friends with Zach [Braff] and Donald [Faison] and Sarah [Chalke] but I had never really watched “Scrubs” until I got “Cougar Town” – don’t tell Bill [laughs]. And while our show has all those quirky elements to it, because of Courteney’s taste it’s a little bit different. There’s a lot of heart.

PW: And I think that’s why fans are taking to the show, because these characters actually feel like people.
Busy: I agree. And not to bring up the comparison too much, but I was a huge “Friends” fan. And that’s the reason I still watch it today — I laugh when Joey does something because it’s Joey, not always because it’s the funniest thing in the world. So if you know what makes a character tick, the jokes become funnier.

PW: Well for many of the characters, it seems like cocktails are what make them tick.
Busy: [laughs] It’s my favorite thing too.

PW: I heard you in an interview imply that it’s spilled over into real life as well?
Busy: I talked about it on Chelsea Handler’s show because I knew she’d appreciate it and now I feel like I opened a big can of worms. Wine Wednesdays, Margarita Mondays, Free-for-all Fridays … listen, we’ll have a glass of wine whenever we need to have one.

PW: So is it always prop wine on camera then?
Busy: Not necessarily [laughs] Sometimes … listen, I think, per Disney and ABC, I have to say yes, it’s always fake.

PW: But if you slip the prop guy a fiver…
Busy: I don’t know what happens back there in the prop room [laughs].

PW: Another thing I love about the show is Laurie’s relationship with Ellie — although it was incredibly hostile at first, it’s turned really sweet in recent weeks. Do you prefer it like this?
Busy: It’s funny because, like Laurie, I was terrified of Christa [Miller, who plays Ellie] at first. She’s a very strong woman and has been on a million hits shows. I was always intimidated by her. So it started off in a similar place, but over the course of the season as she and I have become real friends, Laurie and Ellie have become real friends.

PW: You and Laurie seem to share a lot of characteristics — loving Courteney/Jules, fearing Christa/Ellie and boozing. Level with me, is “Cougar Town” a reality show?
Busy: It’s basically a reality show – except we’re getting paid more than those girls on “The Hills.” Actually, no, that’s what is so sad – they get paid more than us.

PW: I think they get paid more than anybody.
Busy: Yeah, they’re up there with Charlie Sheen – Speidi gets $2 million an episode [laughs] It’s crazy. It’s bonkers.

PW: Tonight is the “Cougar Town” finale — what can you tell us about it?
Busy: I hope nobody gets upset, but there are no big cliffhangers. I know people love having to wait the whole summer to get the answer to something, but Bill and Courteney don’t feel like that’s the show we’re doing. It’s just a really nice ending to the first season where Jules and Grayson come clean about what’s going on. But I do think the fact Laurie slept with Grayson is going to have to come back up.

PW: I am a little surprised it hasn’t already.
Busy: Me too. I thought they were going to do it this season, but I think they just felt like it was too soon. I don’t know though, maybe it’s next year’s season finale.

PW: That relationship did teach us a lot about Laurie’s sexual preferences however.
Busy: Ah yes, REO Speedwagon.

PW: What have you enjoyed the most about playing Laurie?
Busy: I personally love finding the lawyers in every episode. It’s hard for me when I feel like the whole episode is one liners for me. As an actor, that’s what I have the most difficulty with – I get real actory-schmactory about it. That’s what Bill calls it. So for me, learning about her has been great. Because it’s not like we started off the season and all her issues were laid out for me. That stuff developed as I was playing her, so it’s been great finding out.

PW: Lastly, I have to ask you about the potential title change. Thoughts?
Busy: I have mixed emotions. I feel like people already have it in their TiVos as “Cougar Town.” So I think changing the title is tricky. But I also get it because I don’t think the show is indicative of the title. I believe something else would suit it better, but I don’t know how that would work. Thankfully, I don’t work for the network.

PW: Is there a suggestion box?
Busy: There’s a suggestion email. I like “The Family Jules,” but so many titles that seem appropriate are already taken. My pitch was “Modern Friends” but that’s obviously not going to work. Why can’t we just call it “if you like ‘Modern Family’ and ‘Friends’ you’re probably going to like ‘Cougar Town,’ so why don’t you give it a shot?”

PW: That would need a ridiculously long acronym.
Busy: I, Y, L. … oh god, I can’t do it. [laughs]

PW: Well thanks for chatting with me, I can’t wait for season two!
Busy: Same here! I’ve been really sad without seeing my friends every week, but we’ve been seeing each other a lot. Going out and [sighs] having some drinks. Listen, I drink less than the rest of them because I have a little one. Although I’m kind of hung over right now [laughs].

From the New York Post

Busy Philipps, 30, (Cougar Town airs on ABC Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.) shares the 25 things you don’t know about her with UsMagazine.com.

1. I had a baby with no pain medicine, mainly because most people I talked to didn’t think I’d be able to do it. So there.

2. That’s also kind of the reason I’m an actress.

3. I love TV, and I don’t believe it when people say they don’t watch it.

4. I was a live Barbie doll at a Mattel Toy Fair when I was 17.

5. I have dislocated both of my knees.

6. I had a boyfriend who once told me that I I laughed way too loud, and I’ve been self-conscious about it ever since.

7. I once let strangers sit with me at a restaurant, because I couldn’t figure out how to tell them I wasn’t their friend’s new girlfriend.

8. I have a “story by” credit on Blades of Glory. You’re welcome, America.

9. My hair was dark brown for a year. I swear, people were nicer to me.

10. I weirdly relate to Men of a Certain Age.

11. I constantly drink water and leave the cups around the house. It’s sort of like that M. Night Shyamalan movie.

12. I eat 6 to 10 Godiva dark-chocolate chips a night.

13. I get irrationally angry if I am woken up at night.

14. Sometimes I get needlessly confrontational, but when I should be, I’m not.

15. I believe everyone should be able to get married if they want.

16. My hobby is cake art.

17. I love Mexican food.

18. I’m excited for Grizzly Bear at Coachella this year.

19. I went to college with Linda Cardellini and Colin Hanks.

20. I once ate a turkey sandwich every day for almost a year.

21. My favorite movie is Noah Baumbach’s Kicking and Screaming.

22. I always watch HGTV before bed. Or Friends.

23. I hate it when people tell me to smile.

24. I love to lie on the beach.

25. I am not Bijou Phillips.

From US Magazine

When Busy Philipps and Josh Hopkins recently sat down to chat with Zap2it’s Korbi TV, I was very honest, telling them up front that they were my favorite part of “Cougar Town”.

Turns out, they are their favorite part of “Cougar Town” too!

“The dynamic is pretty great,” says Phillips. “It’s one of those things that happens on a TV show where you have all these people that can pretty much work well together. But it’s not until you actually get them in scenes together that you go, ‘Oh wait that kind of works. Let’s explore that.’”

Truth be told though, these days the entire cast is really killin’ it and Philipps talks in the clip below about the producers and writers getting a better sense of which duos and dynamics really spark as this first season has progressed.

Of course we’ve seen the spark between Philipps’ and Hopkins’ characters Grayson and Laurie, but Philipps says they will continue to deal with ramifications of their secret hook up. Though Grayson and Laurie are cool with it, Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox) finding out — or not finding out — is still an issue.

This week, however, it’s all about Laurie’s other man, Smith, whom Laurie will introduce to Jules.

“Ryan Devlin is [back] playing Smith, my law school, upper crusty boyfriend,” Philipps says. “He’s doing a few [episodes] sort of on and off and I think that [show creators] Bill [Lawrence] and Kevin [Biegel] and the writers have done that for a reason so that we can kind of go back and forth between this dynamic that [Grayson and Laurie] have and the guy that I should probably be dating.”

Sounds good to me.

So what else is on tap for “Cougar Town”?

“More singing! And guitar playing!,” Hopkins spills. “And everybody’s getting in on the act.”
“Laurie’s mom shows up,” says Philipps of Beverly D’Angelo’s upcoming guest spot. “It’s going to be very exciting.”

You can watch a video of the interview at Zap 2 It!

While some may not love Busy Philipps‘ name choice for her 17-month-old daughter Birdie Leigh, the Cougar Town star reveals that the shortened moniker is no accident.

“After having grown up with a nickname, there is no way I’m naming my kid one thing and calling her something else,” she noted during a visit to The Bonnie Hunt Show.

“The first day of school [or] anytime there was a substitute teacher, I had to explain that I preferred to be called this weird adjective instead of Elizabeth. And people would really give me the look that I was a little strange!”

Before Busy became pregnant, she and husband Marc Silverstein were listening to a radio show discussing the late Lady Bird Johnson when inspiration struck.

“My husband said, ‘Wow, what a cool woman and what an amazing name … it would be so cool to name a kid after her,’” Busy recalls. The actress, who also liked ‘Birdie,’ was inititally a bit hesitant as “Lady Bird” was a nickname itself.

Eventually, when the parents-to-be complied a list of baby names for their soon-to-be-born daughter, Busy jotted down Birdie. “We didn’t name Birdie before she was born,” she explains. “When she came out I said, ‘I think we gotta go with Birdie, I think that’s her name.’”

Adding that she loves the “retro” feel of the moniker, Busy admits Birdie’s name fits her to a ‘T’!

Cougar Town airs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

From Celebrity Baby Blog