Late Tuesday, CBS announced it had cast indie film starlet Greta Gerwig in the lead role of its proposed “How I Met Your Mother” spinoff, “How I Met Your Dad.” Her casting follows in the footsteps of Zooey Deschanel, another indie darling, whose casting in a TV series — Fox’s “New Girl” — three years ago was considered a coup.
“How I Met Your Dad” will follow the format of “HIMYM” from a female perspective, with Gerwig, 30, playing Sally, who, after breaking up with her husband of less than a year, finds a circle of support in her friends and family.
With the New York City-based Gerwig set to up TV’s indie cred next season (if the pilot indeed gets picked up to series), here are five things you might not know about the actress.
1. She’s been called the “Meryl Streep of mumblecore.”
Gerwig is one of the actors most associated with mumblecore, that genre of filmmaking characterized by low-budget production values and naturalistic dialogue, and often focused on single characters in their 20s and 30s. She has worked with prominent mumblecore filmmakers including Joe Swanberg on “Hannah Takes the Stairs” (2007) and Jay and Mark Duplass on “Baghead” (2008).
2. Her breakout role was as Ben Stiller’s love interest.
In the 2010 film “Greenberg” from director Noah Baumbach, she played the female lead, Florence, a role that originally cast Amy Adams. Mainstream roles followed in 2011 as Natalie Portman’s friend in “No Strings Attached” and as Russell Brand’s love interest in “Arthur.”
3. She’s also a writer.
Gerwig has co-written several feature films, including 2013’s “Frances Ha,” which she also starred in (earning a Golden Globe nomination), “Northern Comfort” (2010) and “Nights and Weekends” (2008). As part of her starring role on “HIMYD,” she is expected to write for the series and serve as a producer.
4. She’s book-smart.
Gerwig graduated from Barnard College, where she studied philosophy, and used to tutor the children of wealthy New Yorkers to finance her early acting career.
5. She’s involved with “The Worst College in America.”
Gerwig’s a voice actor for the Adult Swim animated series “China, IL.” She voices Pony Merks, the teacher’s aide for the history department at the fictional college known for its uncaring faculty and staff.