Hulu's How to Die Alone lets chaotic women & their gay BFFs get messy

Finally, it's Natasha Rothwell's turn to be the main character.

Over the years, the actor has stolen our hearts with breakout moments as multiple supporting characters. Rothwell played the hilarious theater teacher in the 2018 gay rom-com Love, Simon,the chaotic best friend on HBO's Insecure, and opposite Jennifer Coolidge on White Lotus' iconic first season.

Now, finally, she's the star! Rothwell created, co-show runs, executive produces, and plays Mellissa in Hulu's upcoming dramedy How to Die Alone.

"It is a literally dream come true," Rothwell tells Out. "I was always performing, and I was raised by TV. To have my own show on television is something that I didn't even think to dream. It's just been a really surreal moment."

The story follows an airport worker named Melissa whose fear of exploration keeps her life mundane until a near-death experience finally pushes her to really live. The series is dark and somber, then quickly turns absurd and hilarious, resulting in a unique and heartwarming experience for anyone needing a nudge into the next chapter of their lives.

"One of my favorite things is delighting and surprising audiences. It's also an opportunity to play a character that allows me, a plus-size Black woman, to take up space and have the full range of emotion and the depth to play the slapstick, to have a moment to make you feel and make you think. It's just a privilege to be able to do it because that's life."

So why now? "These opportunities don't come often, especially to creators of color. When given an opportunity, I didn't want to leave any chicken on the bone baby," she explains. And if there's one thing she learned from therapy, it's "Follow the fear. The things that scare me the most, I wanted to run towards them."

Opposite Rothwell is Fire Island star Conrad Ricamora as Rory, her gay BFF.

"The dynamic between two people who are struggling with who they are and who they want to be. They are as thick as thieves and have a toxicity that I think can sometimes be a part of those relationships." She's excited the show explores "how they hinder each other after Mel has her awakening."

Rothwell was also excited to be able to work and develop a friendship with the actor she once watched on How to Get Away with Murder.

"There's no one better than Conrad. Just to play opposite him is a dream come true. If I could write a letter to the version of me that was watching him on How to Get Away with Murder, like girl, he's gonna be your best friend. On the show and in real life."

Ricamora also expressed his admiration of Rothwell.

"I really wanted to do the show because I've been a fan of Natasha ever since I saw her in a bit part in Love, Simon," he recalls. "She's incredible. Everything from getting tased at Coachella to then surprising us at all by playing Belinda in season one of White Lotus. We've only seen 5 percent of what this genius can do and I'm so happy she is now creating worlds for her to express these different characters that live inside her."

Oliver, Ricamora's character on ABC's primetime hit How to Get Away with Murder, has become one of the most iconic LGBTQ+ characters on television, and he doesn't take the responsibility of representation lightly.

"As Asian American men, we are so often taught by our parents and our own Asian American culture to just behave, to keep your heads down, work head, and don't make waves. To be able to play someone so sloppy like Rory on the heels of being a part of Fire Island where Joel got to play somebody extremely sloppy, and years before that playing Oliver who's so buttoned up and timid and shy scared of the world. I really love we're seeing now this diversity of portrayals of expressions within our own community. We're not just existing in any one capacity, we're multifaceted and layered like we all are in real life."

His character on How to Die Alone gets an equally entertaining arc.

"When we meet Rory, he is living unabashedly a very nonmonogamous life," Ricamora teases. "Rory is not committing and proud of it but I also think it's because deep down inside, he's scared nobody's going to love him back. Before they can reject him, he can reject everyone else. I've definitely been there in my own personal life. So what happens when you're confronted with somebody that's like, 'I'm not going anywhere, so what do you wanna do?'"

Watch Out's full interview in the video above.How to Die Alone premieres this Friday, September 13 on Hulu.