Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars
Rannells picked up a Grammy and Tony nomination for his role on Broadway's The Book of Mormon. The actor, 34, from Omaha, Neb., has segued into a co-starring role on the NBC comedy and an arc on HBO darling Girls.
INDUSTRY MENTOR: Judith Light. She was doing a play in New York while I was on Broadway. I've come to depend on her ear quite a lot.
BIG BREAK: Book of Mormon changed my life. I'd been working for 10 years before that -- off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and regionally.
BEST ADVICE: Mark Ruffalo once said, "Your career is happening right now, it's not something that will start when you get a certain job."
10 YEARS AGO: I was directing Saturday morning cartoons for a company called 4Kids Entertainment: Sonic the Hedgehog and Kirby.
CAN'T-MISS TV: American Horror Story because I'm in love with Jessica Lange. She's so bonkers.
WHEN I'M NOT WORKING: I'm cleaning, much to the horror of my boyfriend. I love ironing and vacuuming.
