Jvanbrink/Darlene Hunt |
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Darlene Hunt is an actor/writer and creator of the critically acclaimed hit Showtime series The Big C. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Hunt studied theater at Northwestern University outside of Chicago, the Royal National Theatre in London and the British American Drama Academy in Oxford. While in college she co-wrote a play aimed at high-school students entitled No Problem (Dramatic Publishing), which she toured across the country.
In the past, Hunt has toured comedy clubs as a comedian and has been seen at the Chicago Comedy Festival and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. Hunt has studied with Second City in Chicago and performed as a member of the Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles.
On stage, Hunt wrote and starred in Platonically Incorrect. The play also starred Sean Hayes (from TV's "Will & Grace"). It was produced in Los Angeles and New York and was later developed into a pilot by ABC. After writing nine more pilots for various networks, her series The Big C, starring Laura Linney, debuted on Showtime in August 2010 to much acclaim.
After the birth of her daughter, Hunt began to contemplate the idea of her own mortality in the eyes of her child. “There's nothing like having kids to confront you with your mortality. You can block it out for a long time until you have a kid and start thinking about their lifespan.". This lead to the creation of The Big C. On the development of the series, Hunt says, "I'm not a cancer survivor and I didn't necessarily want to watch a show just about somebody getting treated for cancer and using their humor to get through it. My way into the character was from the point of view of a mother confronted with her mortality. No matter how much we explore the cancer angle, it will always be a show about living and not dying.”
Hunt has previously co-starred with Ted Danson on ABC’s ''Help Me Help You'' and on the big screen she has played opposite Jude Law and Lily Tomlin in David O. Russell's film I Heart Huckabee's. Other Film credits include A Lot Like Love with Ashton Kutcher, Idiocracy directed and written by Mike Judge, and The Merry Gentleman directed by Michael Keaton. She has also been seen in numerous commercials and television shows most recently doing guest stars on Hung and Parks and Recreation.