ERIN FOGEL SPOTLIGHTING LIFE’S BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
From her iconic roles in 27 Dresses and Blue Bloods to producing groundbreaking content, Erin Fogel is a powerhouse of creativity. With her new comedy series Running Erins making waves, the actress and producer opened up about balancing ambition, motherhood, and the art of storytelling.
“DON’T LET OTHERS GET IN YOUR WAY. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT MAGIC YOU WILL CREATE LONG AFTER THEY HAVE LEFT YOUR SPHERE.”
ERIN FOGEL, ACTRESS, WRITER & PRODUCER
Erin Fogel’s career has always been about more than just playing a role. From her early days in Freehold, New Jersey, to carving out a name for herself in New York City, Erin’s journey through the entertainment world is one of reinvention, heart, and humor. If you’re a TV fan, you’ve seen her on Boardwalk Empire, Law & Order: SVU, Younger, and in the beloved 27 Dresses—but there’s so much more to Erin than the parts she’s played on screen.
Her latest project, Running Erins, is as personal as it gets. A scripted docu-comedy inspired by her own life as a mother juggling the highs and lows of family and community in New York City, it’s a hilarious and authentic look at the chaos that so many can relate to. The show will debut at the Dances With Films Festival, and for Erin, it’s a chance to tell a story that feels real and raw yet funny in all the right ways.
Erin’s creative work stretches far beyond acting. In recent years, she’s found herself drawn to producing and writing, immersing herself in projects that are as deeply personal as they are universally relatable. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, she can craft meaningful and effortlessly engaging stories.
In our conversation, Erin shares the story behind Running Erins, how she balances the many roles in her life, and explains why humor has always been a driving force in the stories she chooses to tell.
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID NOLES
Let’s start with your new project, Running Erins. It’s a unique concept—a scripted docu-comedy inspired by your life. How did the idea come about, and what made you say, “I have to make this”?
The projects that I most love watching are the ones that feel the most authentic. Shows that have an element of realism captivate me the most, and allow me to fully submerge and connect with the characters. When it came to “Running Erins,” to be honest, I had the title of the show before I even approached the script. Once I had the title, I knew I needed to make something special and unique. When I was little, my mom would always tell me that she needed to run errands. Of course, I confused the word with my name, and I have made a personal association with that term ever since! I continued flowing through a treatment that fell between reality and fantasy. I wanted to create a show that paid homage to all the television and films I loved throughout my life- something that included beloved 80’s and 90’s references, music that I enjoyed, and that included cast and crew who I have known for so long... the inner circle that could say we have watched each other grow up and get through the best and worst of times. Though “Running Erins” takes place in the present, it began to write itself and flow with the idea that though Erin is over 40 years old, she is still a teenager in her heart. Erin still has fears of acceptance and wonders if she will ever find her true purpose. I was most inspired by the real people around me who, in the end, stepped in to play themselves. I wanted to give the known actors I chose a chance to really strut and take on roles that I knew they had the depth to play. I felt that if I wanted the most authentic experience, it needed to come from the love and support of family, friends, and my closest professional community. Nothing bad can ever come from love.
You’ve played so many memorable characters over the years. Is there one role that still sticks with you or taught you something surprising about yourself?
That would definitely be my first role of Shari Rabinowitz in “27 Dresses”. Up until that point, I had been doing theatre, but I had been dreaming of working in TV and film. I had been the girl that was told I would never make it in the industry, that I was awkward and uncastable. Though I persevered and continued to pursue the craft, there was still a small voice inside of me that wondered if they were right. It was an insecurity that was holding back my confidence. When I was first approached by an agent for TV/Film representation, I was over the moon. It was my first step in learning that it was my quirks and awkwardness that were somehow interesting and unique! “27 Dresses” was one of my first film auditions ever. I was so excited and grateful to be in the room. Booking that film was one of the single most memorable moments of my entire life. I found myself on the most professional set, working with celebrities, and traveling on location. Attending big press events and a blowout premiere was surreal. No matter what happened after that, it became my daily reminder that “I could do this.” I learned how to truly believe in myself.
From Freehold, New Jersey, to the bright lights of New York City—it’s a big leap. How has your journey shaped the storyteller and creator you are today?
Growing up as the “weird chubby girl” in an affluent suburb of New Jersey is present in every story I have ever produced. I was incredibly bullied in school and was constantly striving to “prove myself” and somehow change people’s minds. Struggling through childhood really gave me a sense of vulnerability and an unwillingness to allow what other people thought of me to affect pursuing my dreams. This business is filled with those moments, times where your fears can outweigh the facts. Every character I create has a bit of this sensibility within them and allows for me to relate to people and accept them for who they are. It gives them the feeling of comfort to be honest and forthright, share their stories and allow for me to learn more about what goes on inside their minds. This has become an invaluable tool when writing characters who are quite different from me because, in our core, we are not that different after all. Everything I write is without judgment or scrutiny.
Your schedule must be wild acting, producing, writing, and being a mom. How do you keep it all together? Do you ever want to drop everything and take a nap?
Not gonna lie; I love a good nap! I have the type of career that can be completely saturated in production for periods of time, which allows me to enjoy the downtime in a way I could never imagine. As a single mom, balancing the times where I am immersed in a project and am equally immersed in my son’s day-to-day is a real lesson in staying calm and finding solutions to what seem like unsolvable obstacles. Running to school drop-off and then running to the set is not unfamiliar to me. Motherhood itself is not unlike being a producer in many ways. Luckily, my son is one of my biggest supporters. He helps me on set, and even plays himself in “Running Erins”. He loves being a part of “the crew” and relishes his time with me when I am working. I could not be luckier to have him as a reminder of what’s important.
Comedy is a big part of how you connect with your audience. What is it about humor that makes it the perfect way to tell your stories?
Comedy is my coping mechanism. When the chips are down, making jokes and laughing is what gets me through every hurdle. It is important for me to have my work help others as well. TV shows and films that allow for the audience to see the humor in dark situations or take the time to step away from their own issues and chuckle for a while can be therapeutic. When I see someone laugh or smile from my content, it is the most incredible feeling.
“STRUGGLING THROUGH CHILDHOOD REALLY GAVE ME A SENSE OF VULNERABILITY AND AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ALLOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT OF ME TO AFFECT PURSUING MY DREAMS.”
ERIN FOGEL ON SET OF THE COMEDY SERIES RUNNING ERINS
You’ve been producing for almost a decade, which is a different beast than acting. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being on the other side of the camera?
Each project I produce is a constant reminder of teamwork, collaboration, and community problem-solving. Whatever I may think is going wrong is actually going exactly right and leading me to what the show really needs. I apply this to everything I do. It allows me to take the daily challenges and struggles of life and spin them into what I know is a journey to a better situation.
Golden Skyline Entertainment sounds like such an exciting venture. What’s the vision behind it? What kind of stories do you feel the world needs more of now?
My producing partner, Guillermo Ivan, and I have always loved taking projects from inception to distribution. For the last decade, our company, Golden Ceiba Productions, has put out countless high-quality independent content. Over the years, we have been able to keep everything in-house and work with the same company of crew. We know that now is the time to make our metamorphosis into being a full-service production studio. ‘Running Erins” is our premiere project under our new company, and we are excitedly moving forward with new projects and new horizons.
What was the most “real-life Erin” moment that found its way into Running Erins? Did you ever have to stop and laugh because it felt too real?
Wow, there are so many of these; it’s hard to choose just one! I’ll say that a genuine moment in the show is with my son, Milo. One moment, Milo is a real momma’s boy and then the next, he’s calling me “bro” and not wanting me to embarrass him as he runs off with his friends. We see this enacted in “Running Erins,” and I continue to experience this situation almost every day!
You’re premiering the pilot at the Dances with Films Festival—congratulations! What’s it like to finally share this project with the world? Nerves, excitement, or both?
I could not be more excited to be screening with DWF! They are the highest caliber independent festival I have ever worked with. I try to keep any nerves at bay, because I will be surrounded by my cast and crew, who are my best friends and most calming environment.
The entertainment industry can be challenging, especially for women. What keeps you motivated when things get difficult?
I think that having lots of other things I love to do aside from the business will always keep me going. Being a mom can be a welcome distraction when things seem to not be moving in my entertainment life. He is certainly very entertained by me, so I always have a captive audience right in my living room. I also am incredibly social and like to have my schedule filled with events to keep me busy. Additionally, I work a lot with Milo’s school- I chair “Sandwiches for the Hungry” throughout the year, Chair the annual Parents Association Party, and teach yoga to the school staff every month. I also have a wonderful boyfriend, Brian Heller (who we catch a glimpse of in Running Erins), and I look forward to our dates and spending time together. I am very grateful to have produced a life that makes me happy every single day.
Looking back on your career so far, what advice would you give to your younger self or someone just starting this business?
I would remind myself and others to block out “the noise” and not to give up based on what’s happening right now. People will give you unsolicited opinions and sometimes purposefully look to get in your way. Don’t let them. They don’t know what magic you will create long after you they have left your sphere.
