Nate Bargatze Shares His Favorite Mandy Moore Experience
Everyone has their favorite Mandy Moore project — for Nate Bargatze, it’s all about Entourage.
In his Us Weekly cover story, the comedian expresses his admiration for Moore, who plays his wife in their new family film The Breadwinner (hitting theaters Friday, May 29).
“I first knew her as a singer years ago,” Bargatze shares. “Then came Entourage, so I couldn’t resist asking her about it. I think she enjoyed her time on Entourage, but back then I was the age where the show resonated with me as I was starting my comedy journey. I tried to control my excitement about Entourage when speaking to her, but I couldn’t help myself a bit. I mentioned how much I loved Entourage, then dialed it back a little to show some respect.”
Moore portrayed a fictionalized version of herself in the legendary HBO comedy series, which aired from 2004 to 2011, playing the girlfriend of Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier).
“Everyone seems to have their own personal favorite project of hers,” Bargatze adds. “That’s the beauty of it. She has such a diverse career that people can connect with her on many levels.”
In The Breadwinner, Moore takes on the role of Katie, a stay-at-home mom whose life transforms when her clever home invention goes viral on Shark Tank, prompting Nate (Bargatze) to adapt to a new lifestyle at home.
“She’s often viewed as America’s mom, so she was the ideal choice for this part,” Bargatze tells Us. “I felt at ease working with Mandy. I surrounded myself with talented actors, just in case I faltered! She was the first person we approached, and we were thrilled when she agreed. Mandy was incredibly supportive and helped me navigate the process.”
In another part of his cover interview, Bargatze talked about his aspirations for The Breadwinner, the PG-rated film he co-wrote, which marks his first major starring role. He aims to demonstrate that family-friendly entertainment still has a place even if it’s not animated.
“I want it to evoke that Ted Lasso vibe,” he explains, “where it’s a feel-good story you want to watch over and over.” It’s something he would enjoy watching with his wife, Laura, and their 13-year-old daughter, Harper.
That commitment to mastering his craft — and eventually excelling in it — is what Bargatze has built his career upon. “I don’t want to be mediocre at everything,” he emphasizes. “I aim to be exceptional at something.”
