Life & Beth premieres March 18 on Hulu.
Below, Schumer talks about the show’s inspiration.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s start at the beginning.
Scott McDermott/Hulu
Is this something you’ve been thinking of doing for years?
How did this all start for you?
AMY SCHUMER:My dad had restored this old, broken-down farm from the 1790s.
Jeong Park/Hulu
We would go all the time when I was a kid.
And then when we went bankrupt, that was one of the things we lost.
So when I made money, I bought it back.
Jeong Park/Hulu
Being in that place where my parents had gotten married, I started writing this story.
It just hit me.
It felt like something I had to get out.
Marcus Price/Hulu
And I do have my journals from about 10 years of my life starting around that age.
So for a million reasons, I just really wanted to get this out.
I can vividly remember every horrible experience from my pre-teen and teen years.
Scott McDermott/Hulu
And then you’re just stuck with all this armor when you’re older.
I’m trying to deal with it every day, you know?
I really think so many people will relate to this.
Speaking of that, how much of this is based on your life and experiences?
It’s based on themes from my life.
But there is stuff that Beth does that really happened.
There’s an episode where she flashes some boys.
That happened to me.
And episode 9 has a dark moment that’s real.
Throughout your career, you’ve always shared really personal things.
Are you ever hesitant to do something so personal?
Is it cathartic for you?
It is cathartic for sure.
I am a communicator.
And Beth says, “I’m a woman.”
That is saying something, you know?
I’m so grateful because other artists have done that for me.
And especially right now, I feel like so many people are having such a hard time.
For so many people right now, television might be their only escape.
Absolutely, and I’m the same way.
Like tonight, I cannot wait untilThe Bachelor.
I’m going to watch it with commercials.
You know what I mean?
And I’m so grateful because part of healing is giving yourself that break.
I put my son to bed, and then I watch TV for eight hours.
Isn’t that what we all do?
Isn’t he such a heartthrob?
I’ll be honest, it was a little weird for me to see him like this.
It feels different, but I love it.
Yeah, I know.
It’s not the person that you usually see as the romantic lead.
I thought, “What would this really look like?
Who’s someone that I would feel safe enough with to speak this way and do that?
That I could fall in love with?”
It’s the dream.
It’s about so much.
It’s really what I am thinking about every day, which is releasing your own shame and fear.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Life & Bethpremieres March 18 on Hulu.
