The character that Lauren Graham most loved playing was that of Lorelai Gilmore, a single mom who raised her young daughter, Rory, in a small town in Connecticut in the hit show Gilmore Girls. The role cemented Graham’s presence in pop culture, as the show is still widely adored today. Graham’s experiences of filming of the original series (as well as the sequel movies) provide the framework for Talking as Fast as I Can. Graham writes, “I wondered what it would be like to put someone I loved so much down for eight years and then pick her up again” (6). In the book, Graham’s return to the role of Lorelai Gilmore is as instrumental to her own life story as was her initial casting in the show.

Graham writes that the character of Lorelai blends and expands upon a several typical roles that are often available to women. She says, “To me, Lorelai was equal parts Gal About Town and The Mom, plus a magical mix of smarts and humor that made her totally unique” (63-64). Some of Graham’s friends were initially afraid that the role would age her in the eyes of her fan base and prevent her from being cast in younger roles. However, Graham argues that Lorelai is much more than the role of a typical mother, and playing this character never hindered her career prospects.

Lorelai remains a beloved character even more than 20 years after the show was first released. The character holds a great deal of nostalgia for Graham, who expands upon The Impact of Pop Culture in this context. When Graham was able to revisit the role of Lorelai for the sequel movies, she felt an immediate sense of familiarity in the character and reveled in the opportunity to return to the world of Stars Hollow, indulging in the nostalgia that comes from reuniting with many friends and sharing old memories.

Actress Alexis Bledel’s first role on screen was that of Lorelai Gilmore’s daughter, Rory Gilmore. Graham says of Bledel, “She was only eighteen years old, but kind and curious, and beautiful of course. I had a good feeling about us from the start. We clicked as friends right away too. But it was all a stroke of luck!” (67). Graham’s descriptions show that she clearly treasures her friendship with Bledel, and this sentiment supports the book’s theme of finding community among storytellers.

Graham disliked the storyline in Gilmore Girls that briefly put Lorelai and Rory at constant odds. She says, “Lorelai was so crabby with Rory for several episodes, not to mention that I missed my favorite scene partner” (82). She adds that even for a more seasoned actress like herself, it can be difficult to draw the line between what is happening to the character and what is happening to the performers. This challenge demonstrates that Graham preferred to engage in storylines that portrayed her character and Bledel’s character living in harmony, as these storylines allowed them to perform in more scenes together.

Bledel also returned to make the sequel movies, and Graham reflects on how much her young friend has grown. She states, “Alexis was so green when we first started, […], that I’d sometimes put my arm through hers to help guide her to our mark. But the first day we returned to Lorelai’s house it was me who reached for her arm for support” (173). This part of the book shows the development of the two women as both actresses and friends. When Graham recounts her time on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, she describes her excitement upon learning that Bledel would be cast alongside her other on-screen daughter, Mae Whitman. Graham’s fondness and support for Bledel is evident throughout the book, and her descriptions indicate that the women’s bond far surpasses the relationship that they portray together on the screen.

The final “Gilmore Girl” of the show is actress Kelly Bishop, who played the role of Emily Gilmore. Graham writes, “From the start of the show, Kelly named herself my TVM, or TV mom, by which she meant she was taking her character role seriously […] [in] the real world” (72). Graham describes Bishop’s maternal approach to their real-world interactions, even suggesting that Peter Krause would be a good romantic match for Graham. 

During the original series, Bishop portrays Emily Gilmore as being strong-willed enough to match wits with her on-screen daughter. Every now and then, however, Emily has a scene that shows a more emotional side to the Gilmore family matriarch. Graham observes, “I love the scene with Kelly in the private plane where she blames herself for Rory’s troubles. Vulnerable Emily is so compelling, especially because Kelly [Bishop] only lets her out once in a while” (83). Graham’s descriptions indicate that Bishop’s portrayal of Emily is a testament to her talent as an actress.

Because Edward Herrman, who originally portrayed the kind but stern Richard Gilmore (Emily Gilmore’s husband and Lorelai’s father) died not long before the filming of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Emily Gilmore’s arc in the revival revolves around her grief in the wake of her husband’s death. Graham reveals a tender moment on set in which Bishop asked the deceased Edward Hermann to make himself known as they started filming. Then, “during the scene, a key light goes out for no reason. ‘Thanks, Ed,’ she says. Tears” (188). On screen and off, Bishop loved the actors who portrayed the Gilmores as if they were a real family.