Taylor Schilling: ‘Orange Is the New Black’ nod is like Christmas

Taylor Schilling earned her first Golden Globe nomination Thursday morning for portraying Piper Chapman, a New York yuppie sent to prison in the dramedy “Orange Is the New Black.” Based on Piper Kerman’s memoir of the same name, the series quietly debuted this past summer on Netflix.

Bolstered by strong word of mouth and critical praise, it went on to become the service’s most-watched original, besting the more heavily promoted “Arrested Development” and “House of Cards.” Now, following a nomination by the Writers Guild of America last week, it also looks set to be an awards contender. We talked with Schilling about show’s sleeper success and what’s ahead in Season 2.

How are you feeling?

I feel like … I don’t know. I feel like it’s adult Christmastime.

FULL COVERAGE: Golden Globe nominations 2014

“Orange Is the New Black” is such an ensemble show. How does it feel to be representing it for the first time at the Golden Globes?

It feels extraordinary. Nobody stands alone on our show. It really does feel like representing this extraordinary group of actors that we create this world together via Jenji Kohan’s really brilliant vision. It’s really a brilliant example of everything being greater than the sum of its parts. It feels kind of exciting to be able to go in and I really know that to be true. I feel incredibly, incredibly lucky to be representing everybody. This is a dream. I’m talking on the phone with you, I just woke up. I have yogurt and some really yummy blueberries. Life is good.

After “House of Cards” and “Arrested Development,” it’s fair to say that this show caught a lot of people by surprise, becoming the most-watched original on Netflix. Were you expecting it to be such a hit?

It felt like we were all in on this really special fun secret while we were making it. You never know. There’s nothing that’s in an actor’s control. I’ve learned at this point you do things and you let them go. There’s no way to control the outcome. The only thing I have any sort of reign over is my own experience. In the doing of this last year, it sort of, it was such an exciting wonderful experience. The process itself was kind of the reward. That’s the ultimate creative process and so rarely, especially on TV, is that able to happen because you’re worried about how many people are watching. In this way, the first season was incredible stars aligning for us to have this really pure experience. I think that showed. We were in a vacuum. Nobody even really knew what doing a thing for Netflix was. We were just like, well, the scripts are really great and this is a blast.

LIST: Golden Globe nominations 2014

On the show you’re almost always wearing prison scrubs and scant makeup. Are you excited to get gussied up for the Globes?

Oh yes, very much so. Most of my life right now is in between pajamas, the jumpsuit I wear at work or yoga clothes or a T-shirt, so it will be fun to put on a dress.

What can you tell us about Season 2 without actually telling us anything about Season 2?

We’re done at the end of January. What I can say is that I think everybody goes a little deeper. I think we learn more about everyone. That thing I so responded to in the first season of all these characters being so fully fleshed out. Just like human beings, you can’t predict it. They’re real, living, breathing entities.

You’re in such a competitive category. Are you a fan of your fellow nominees?

Honestly, I feel like I have already won times a thousand. I can’t believe I’m nominated with these people. I can’t believe I’m going to be in the same room as Meryl Streep. It’s so incredible. I feel like God, really, you want me at this party?

Anyone you’re looking forward to meeting, besides Meryl?

I think everyone. I’m not very cool. I have a really hard time meeting people and stuff. Pretty much everyone, I’m sure I’ll be really thrilled.

What TV are you bingeing on these days?

To be completely honest with you I’m not watching anything because I’m working. I have not done the whole “Game of Thrones” thing yet but I’m really looking forward to that. I haven’t seen any of it, I feel like I have this massive treat waiting for me. I’m going to do that over break. I have two weeks off and then I’ll talk to you all about “House of Cards.”

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Twitter: @MeredithBlake