You might recognize Bronx-born Iris Bahr as the girl who jumped off the ski lift on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maybe you saw her in the Larry the Cable Guy movie. Or perhaps you've caught one of her one woman shows, Planet America or Dai. Now, Iris is showing off some serious writing chops with her latest creative endeavor: an endearing memoir called Dork Whore, which details her solo journey through Asia and repeated attempts to lose her dreaded V-card. Pulse hopped on the phone with Iris to talk about the book, her future acting plans and her advice for other people trying to break into the industry.

What made you sit down and write the book?
I was raised in the Bronx, moved to Israel when I was 13, and stayed there until I completed my military service. After that, it's typical to take a tour of Asia. These are the stories from my half year of travel that I've been telling my friends for years—getting stranded alone in the jungle and having a stripper shoot a banana at my face in a Thai sex club. At first I thought it might make a good one woman show, but then there was so much, I knew it needed to be an entire book.

What were you hoping people would take away from Dork Whore?
Besides advice on how to lose their virginity? I think people can relate to the insecurity I felt as a 20-year-old. And I think they can laugh at it, too. I went on this journey thinking it was going to change me as a person and give me a fresh start, and in some ways, it did. In other ways, I realized how much I had stayed the same.

Your solo show, DAI (enough) had a good run in New York earlier this year. Any plans to bring it back to off-Broadway?
I'll be doing Dai for some industry folks out here in Los Angeles next week, which is always hard. No one laughs out loud, they just say, "That was funny." It makes you want to slit your wrists. But yeah, I'm talking about bringing show back to New York later this year. It's more serious than my book, but I think it shows people a different side of Israel that isn't really talked about.

What advice do you have for emerging artists?
Don't conform. Always create your own work, and don't expect people to hand creative opportunities to you. If you're an actor, write your own stuff, or find someone who can write material that's tailored for you. I always write characters who stimulate me, and I think that's made all the difference. And find people who inspire you. Steven Wright, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock are all genetically-gifted comedians who make me laugh.

How often do people approach you as that chick from Curb?
It doesn't happen too often, because I like to think I look better than that in real life. A lot of times when it does, it's just some guy who thinks that we've slept together. So I have to be like, "No, there's a reason you don't know my name, you just saw me on TV."

RANDOM TANGENT:
Iris is nominated for a 2007 Drama Desk award for her solo show Dai. The competition includes Ed Harris and Vanessa Redgrave!

Similar Topics:Literature, Theater, TV

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