Soon she was being cast in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" and alongside Jim Belushi in the Broadway revival of "Born Yesterday." The Wall Street Journal advised audiences to "save your program. Your grandchildren will be impressed when you tell them that you saw Nina Arianda before she was famous." She's also appeared in a recent episode of "The Good Wife" and the current Universal comedy "Tower Heist."
Until Dec. 18, she can be seen in "Venus" at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. When asked how she hopes to follow up this success, Arianda says, "Definitely employment, first and foremost." She laughs, "Honestly, I have no idea, Shakespeare? A little 'Taming of the Shrew?'"
After thinking for a moment, she adds: "I would say, let's sign a contract that in 40 years, 30 years, on paper: Martha, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' in blood — let's do it, that's what I want to do."
Though Arianda deliberately avoided any commitments while preparing for this Broadway run of "Venus," there no doubt is more film and television work ahead for her. Still, she says, "I know for a fact that I could never leave the theater, because I wouldn't feel good, not only physically but certainly mentally. It's something that I need to do. I don't mean to sound corny or dramatic, but it's very true for me."
She can't quite picture the end of "Venus in Fur." "I think this has a life that's longer than what our set date is," she says. "Right now I don't know what that's going to look like. After the off-Broadway version, I wasn't even close to being done with Vanda. I don't think I ever will be done with figuring her out."
There's no official word about an extension or the run or a tour. Center Theatre Group's Michael Ritchie says that he's seen the play and that "it is certainly on a list of shows that we are considering."
Is Nina Arianda up to taking Vanda on the road? "I don't know if my feet will hold up," she says with a laugh, "but sure. Why not? … Vanda's all about 'go big or go home.'"
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