American actress says she loves life “North of North”

Actress and comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub says she knew little about Iqaluit for most of her life.

A hotel room in the capital of Nunavut has been her home for several months while she is filming scenes for North of Norththe upcoming CBC/Netflix/APTN sitcom co-created by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok MacDonald.

She will play the director of the community center of Ice Cove, the fictional community created for the series.

“I didn't know where I was going or what to expect before I left. All I was told was how to dress, that there were no street names and that all taxis cost nine dollars,” Rajskub, who normally lives in Los Angeles, said in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.

The Michigan-born actress is best known to audiences for her role as Chloe O'Brian in the hit drama 24and as Gail the Snail, a popular recurring character in the long-running comedy series it's always sunny in Philadelphia.

Rajskub has also appeared in several other popular television shows, including Arrested development And Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

However, filming in Iqaluit is very different than working on a studio lot in LA.

For example, shooting for North of North did not take place in a film studio, but on the city's curling rink and on the streets of Iqaluit.

Additionally, since filming takes place in a much smaller and more remote location than Los Angeles County, the cast spends a lot of time together outside of work, hanging out at different locations around the city or doing activities like dog sledding and campfires.

“For me, it was definitely great to get to know the city and the culture, and yes, the cast is really close,” Rajskub said.

“For me personally, it was really refreshing to just see what my life is like at home. I would never have had the time to meet up at a bar, play Scrabble, play a few rounds of cards or go to karaoke.”

She added: “It sounds silly, but for me, things like that, just having the opportunity to do that, were really meaningful.”

Rajskub said some people recognized her in the community and called her by name. Always sunny Character name.

The comedian has something special planned for this weekend: a comedy charity show to raise money for the Qimaavik women's shelter.

The doors at the Aqsarniit Hotel open at 7pm on Saturday and the show starts at 8pm.

The evening includes performances by a mix of locals and North of North Cast includes Terrie Kusugak, Zorga Qaunaq, Bibi Bilodeau, Nicole Eititiq, Bailey Poching and Steve Sullivan.

Rajskub said she is looking forward to bringing laughs to Iqaluit this weekend and hopes the television show she is filming is a success.

She said she hopes her family will be able to visit Iqaluit after filming is complete and experience the warm welcome she received there.

“I'm just really excited about the show because I think it's unique,” Rajskub said of the sitcom, which is set in a fictional Nunavut community.

“I’m just glad I was able to be here.”

Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Nunatsiaq News