Popular's Leslie Grossman Reflects on the Show's 25th Anniversary, Says 'It Transformed My Life' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Leslie Grossman as Mary Cherry on ‘Popular’ in 1999.Photo:Touchstone Television/Courtesy Everett Collection

Touchstone Television/Courtesy Everett Collection

“Oh my God, that makes me feel ancient,” Grossman quips to PEOPLE when asked about the milestone anniversary for the series. “But 25 years, that’s crazy.”

While reflecting on her time on the show, she notes that it was “an incredibly formative time, safe and really lovely experience” for her. “That was my first series I ever did. It was the show that I met Ryan doing. It totally transformed my life,” she says.

The cast of ‘Popular’ in 1999.Touchstone Television/Getty

Touchstone Television/Getty

She adds, “I did everything I could do to always make Ryan laugh. And it was because there was no social media, because I was so young and it was so new, I felt really protected. And so, I look back on that time with a lot of affection and sort of sadness that it will never be like that again.”

When it comes to her costars — Leslie Bibb, Carly Pope, Tamara Mello, Tammy Lynn Michaels and Sara Rue as well as Bryce Johnson, Christopher Gorham and the late Ron Lester — the actress says they will always have a special place in her heart.

“We went through that experience together,” she says. “I have nothing but the best feelings for all those people. It’s like looking back on your senior year of high school.”

Since the series ended in 2001, Grossman has gone on to star onWhat I Like About YouwithAmanda BynesandJennie Garthand make notable appearances onGrey’s Anatomy,Scandalas well asLove, Victor. She has also reunited with Murphy several times, first recurring onNip/Tuckfrom 2003 to 2008 before becoming a regular fixture onAHS, with roles onCult,Apocalypse,1984,Double Feature,NYCandDelicate.

Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth on ‘Monsters’ in 2024.Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

The two, meanwhile, most recently worked together onMonsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, with Grossmanportraying Judalon Smyth, a key figure in the 1989 murder case of thebrothers' parents, José and Kitty. It’s anotherscene-stealing rolethat came out of their close relationship, with the actress recalling how she was speaking to Murphy about the Netflix true crime series when it was still in development.

As forAHS, “I am game to show up to any party Ryan invites me to. I love doing that show. It has transformed my life,” she says of appearing on thehit FX anthology horror series. “I’ve met some of my most favorite people in the world who have become my dearest friends on that show. It’s been creatively so enormously satisfying.”

Leslie Grossman on Sept. 16, 2024.Leon Bennett/WireImage

Leon Bennett/WireImage

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Saying she “would be thrilled to do another season,” she explains that thanks to Murphy, she’s gotten to “play the sweetest people, the meanest people, villains and victims. I feel like I’ve been lucky that I’ve gotten to sort of run the gamut of what he’s let me play.” She adds, “I gotta tell you, I trust him implicitly.”

And that trust has come out of a bond the two have developed over the two-plus decades since first working together onPopular.

“Ryan has become my family. He’s very close with my daughter,” she says, referring to Goldie. “I adore his children. Our lives have changed so much in all those years, obviously, and we have always been able to sort of grow together.”

“He has been the most wonderful friend to me, and not just in terms of employment. But he is a real friend to me,” she continues. “When I personally have gone through really tough times, he has been such a stalwart of support to me. So most of our friendship has absolutely nothing to do with work. I am eternally grateful for him the way I’m eternally grateful for any of the dear friendships that I’ve been lucky enough to have over decades.”

source: people.com