Jane Lynch (©Dan Busta/Corbis Outline)
Not only has Jane Lynch conquered the world of movies as Christopher Guest’s secret weapon, and TV as brutally hilarious cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on “Glee,” but she’s now tackled the Emmys as host and is touring the country with her laugh-out-loud funny memoir “Happy Accidents.”
The 51-year-old Lynch, married to psychologist Lara Embry, spills to The Post about having diva moments in a dress and heels and why she found herself strangely attracted to Snooki.
In filming the segment for the Emmys, which “Jersey Shore” cast member did you like the most?
Snooki was oddly attractive and sexy. And this is the girl who gets drunk and falls. But she’s a big star now, and she has kind of this loose, come-to-me kind of energy. And I found myself wanting to go to her.
What would Sue Sylvester tell the cast of “Jersey Shore”?
“You’re perfect. Don’t ever pick up a book, don’t ever read a newspaper, continue to drink, and just be yourselves because we’re loving it.”
What did you think of Charlie Sheen’s performance? You wrote fondly of him in your book.
I thought it was very classy. When we were rehearsing the show, we presented him as Presenter 007, just to keep it a secret. So even the people working on the show didn’t know.
You worked with Sheen on “Two and a Half Men.” Did you have contact with him when he was talking about having “tiger blood” and seemed to be flaming out?
A little bit. A couple of texts. And I did worry about him. He was very thin, and I was a little concerned. Then I got a text, like two days later, that said, “I’m back, and I look much better.”
In an interview about a fey guy on TV, you joked “Couldn’t he butch it up?” because you want to make gay people more “palatable to the world.” Was this part of your decision to wear all dresses on the Emmys?
I don’t choose anything dressing-wise on whether I look gay or not. David Meister designed them, and I was so grateful to him that he wanted to do this. I think my favorite would have to be the last one I wore. It’s kind of a silvery, sage halter.
The most quoted bit of the night was your line, “A lot of people are very curious why I’m a lesbian. Ladies and gentlemen, the cast of ‘Entourage.’ ” Kevin Dillon later said he thought the joke was “not fair.”
Oh, he took it personally? I guess that’s his choice.
You may have some Michele Bachmann inspirations in this season of “Glee.” What do you think of her and her husband?
All I say is, anything we’re crusading against in our life is usually 100 percent projection on some level. That’s not saying he’s a gay man who’s fighting his own gay. It doesn’t even have to be that literal. But anytime somebody is crusading against another group of people, you got to look inside, pal. You got to be directed right back inside.
Why do you think you play characters that, in your own words, are “angry, scary, probably lonely women who live in their own delusions”?
I am fascinated with extremities. I am fascinated with people who go so far. I’m a fan of Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids,” how far she went. The huge choices she makes. Remember she was wearing like carpal-tunnel braces in “Bridesmaids”? Just insane. She went so far, but didn’t cross the line. I am obsessed with that, how far you can go.
What’s been the riskiest extreme character choice you’ve made?
When I sang “Guatemalan Love Song” to Steve Carell in “40-Year-Old Virgin,” I was very nervous about doing that. I didn’t tell anybody I was going to do that. Nobody knew. It was supposed to be a scene about something else, but I also added that. The only thing I did is, I told Steve Carell right before we rolled, “I’m probably going to sing you a song.” And he went, “All right.” And up until the moment I wasn’t sure if I was going to do it.
When “Glee” mocked Lindsay Lohan, you said she shouldn’t take it so personally, but you’ve said that you had empathy toward her struggle to get sober. What do you think of her latest antics?
I do not pay attention to the trials and tribs of Lindsay Lohan. I wish her the best, but I don’t pay attention to her.
Speaking of Lohan, in the book you admit to diva moments. Do you still have them?
Oh, yes. You should have seen me the night of the Emmys. The driver takes the wrong turn, and we are in hell. Because there are barricades, and there’s a parade and 20 minutes later I’m still in the car. And I could have been done with the red carpet. And I have a show in like 45 minutes.
So finally I just said, “Stop the car.” I get out of the car, and I walk in my gown and my heels through this parking lot, with security saying, “Stop, stop.” And I’m saying, “I’m the host!”
Who have been your favorite “Glee” guest stars?
Carol Burnett and Olivia Newton John. I couldn’t choose between the two of them. For me that was it. It was just amazing.
Are you worried about overexposure?
Yes, I am. I think a little bit of Jane Lynch goes a long way. I may be hitting my limit, and I’m going to go away for a little while.
You once played Carol Brady in the live stage version of “The Brady Bunch.” Do you think someday someone will be portraying Sue Sylvester onstage?
I bet there will be. I think that would be funny. That sounds rather braggy of me, but I think we are ripe for mockery.
mstadtmiller@nypost.com