Fortune Feimster is making waves as Sam, the unlikely caddy to disgraced golf legend Lonnie Hawkins, played by Will Ferrell, in the new Netflix comedy series "The Hawk." Feimster, known for her stand-up specials and roles in "The Mindy Project," described how the character of Sam, who initially knows nothing about golf, became an extension of Ferrell's larger-than-life character.

"You don't want to have two of those [overly confident, crazy characters]," Feimster explained in an interview with TIME. "I decided that my character would be an extension of him. Whatever he wants to do, I'm gonna go for it. If he says something ridiculous, I'll tap into that ridiculousness, too. But because he had this energy that was so larger than life, it sort of lent my character to be grounded."

Feimster's casting in "The Hawk" came about after she met Ferrell on the set of "You're Cordially Invited." He later invited her to his home and shared that the role of Sam was written with her in mind. This familiarity with her work, Feimster noted, allowed the writers to develop the character thoroughly before filming began.

Comedic Roots and On-Screen Chemistry

Feimster cited Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon, her "Saturday Night Live" idols, as major inspirations. Having both studied at The Groundlings, she and Ferrell share a similar improvisational background, which contributed to their natural on-screen chemistry. "What no one could have anticipated was the chemistry Will and I had," she said. "Things were so organic, and that's because we became friends in real life. We had really similar energies."

Feimster also drew inspiration from Carol Burnett, whom she called her "original North Star." "Watching her be ridiculous made me not be so self conscious, whatever I was doing," Feimster recalled. Other influences include SNL cast members like Adam Sandler and Chris Farley, as she gravitated towards "big characters, the over-the-top silly people."

A Unique Approach to the Caddy Role

While Feimster grew up watching classic golf movies like "Caddyshack" and "Happy Gilmore," she intentionally avoided researching traditional caddy roles for "The Hawk." Since Sam is a novice, Feimster wanted her unfamiliarity with golf to be genuine.

"When I'm pulling out the clubs, that's me genuinely not knowing what Lonnie wants," she said. She found that the caddy role, often a sidekick to the golfer protagonist, offers a unique position to insert humor and provide comedic release.

"The main character builds the tension, and I get to be part of the release, which is what comedy is based on," Feimster explained. "So when you're the character that gets to sprinkle the extra stuff onto the show, it ends up being the person you want to watch and root for. If I'm doing my job right, you're into the caddy."

Creative Process and Future Hopes

Feimster felt that playing Sam allowed her to reach a new acting level, tapping into a different emotional space than in previous projects. She highlighted the support from director Shiri Appleby, who helped her access deeper emotional moments, including genuine tears during a scene where her character and Lonnie experience a rift.

The series also features musical moments, including improvised riffing on Hanson's "MMMbop" and a serious rendition of the Chili's Baby Back Ribs jingle. Feimster expressed a desire for a second season, hoping to explore more throwback songs, possibly including Salt-N-Pepa.

When asked about measuring success, Feimster reflected on the current media landscape. "I feel successful—I’m making a living doing what I love, and I'm getting paid to make people laugh," she stated. "Not in my wildest dreams did I think that could be a career." For Feimster, success is about continuing to work and having a comfortable life while pursuing her passion.