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In the new Hulu showDeli Boys, she takes on her most fiery role yet.

Is anyone on TVhaving more funthan Poorna Jagannathan right now?

Like, I could die.But frosty weather be damned.

Poorna Jagannathan On ‘Deli Boys,’ Friendship, & A Career Pivot

So youve got to really make them padded.

So, I now walk around with very padded shoulders all the time.

I hope I never lose this character.

Poorna Jagannathan on Deli Boys. Photo via Hulu

Below, Jagannathan dishes onDeli Boys, friendship, and why she owes her career toE.T.

I didnt realize you were instrumental in gettingTan FranceonDeli Boys.

Can you tell me about your friendship and shooting that epic fight scene in Episode 6?

Tan France and Poorna Jagannathan at the Sundance Film Festival.

Oh, were old friends.

The South Asian community isnt that big, and we met at some Emmys party.

We [became] inseparable.

Sarita Choudhury, Poorna Jagannathan, and Richa Moorjani a ‘Never Have I Ever’ event.

He doubles as my stylist many, many, many times.

I could watch you both forever.

The stunts were great.

‘Deli Boys’ stars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh and Poorna Jagannathan at the Sundance Film Festival.

Tan wanted to do his own stunts.

He is like an actual boxer, so he just wanted to go for it.

What was your approach?

I will do what is required for it to cut together.

I got lucky many, many times.

Yes, my best friend.

Thats amazing.It can be hard to make and maintain those relationships as adults.

What have you learned from yours?

To navigate this industry, you’re free to do two things.

I do not utter a word from a script without having rehearsed with Sarita for weeks and weeks.

Shes someone I am inspired by every day.

Its amazing that you and Sarita rehearse together.

How did you become friends?

It was my first acting job.

She was playing a role and had to have a girlfriend.

She wanted it to be an Indian woman.

I was still in school, but I auditioned for it and got cast.

I might have been a glorified extra.

That was 20 years ago.

I loved seeing your characters origin story, the day shes christened Lucky by Arshad Baba Dar.

Do you have a similar moment that you consider foundational to your life and career today?

I just realized something very recently.

So the other way [into the world ofE.T.]

But, yeah, it was inconceivable to me that I could be an actor.

I dont take it for granted.

After I was forced to quit astrophysics, I studied journalism with an advertising minor.

I found that a lot of people in advertising were creative.

So I did that for many years and had my own company.

My last gig was in 2016.

But the transition has been very slow.

I was 42, and its been a very beautiful, slow journey.

Its like the turtle and the hare story I feel like the turtle all the time.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.