Tracy Ullman has been sending up American stereotypes on television for many many years now-her wildly popular self-titled show has gained her a vehemently loyal following. "The Simpsons," of course, premiered as a short on her show before exploding on the FOX Network. A comedic chameleon, Ullman barely stays in character for more than five minutes on her show, but she elicits sympathy and laughs as Frenchy Winkler, the lead role in Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks. Talking to her in New York City, I realized that Ullman is just as hilarious and witty off camera as she is once they start rolling.

THC: Do you ever worry about criticism for playing to American stereotypes?

TU: No, not really. I mean, I've been doing it for so long now. But you know what, I'm so sick of political correctness in American comedy-you know the black shows here, the white shows here. Why can't we all just work together?

THC: So you think there is a universal comedy?

TU: Oh yeah.

THC: Then you must hate it when people ask you the difference between British and American comedy. You've obviously been successful in both countries.

TU: Yeah, I do get sick of that question. If it's funny, it's funny. It's so integrated now. I've been living here since 1982 so I myself feel integrated here. The only thing I don't do is vote-I'm not a citizen, just a green card girl. But I don't think I'm missing that much there. [laughs] I feel like I have an international viewpoint-I'm in with that group, Toppa Gigio, Nanamus Scurry, Celine Dion, the best! I just travel around, I don't even know where I live anymore. What was the question? Oh yes, I mean I'm proud of myself now. You talk about longevity in this business! I'm starting to say, "Look how long I've been here!" I've been getting awards with Calista Flockhart, Lisa Kudrow and suddenly I'm older than them now. I feel very fortunate, very accepted here. Talent is really applauded and relished here.

THC: Ten or twelve years ago, you said in an interview that you dreamed of working with Woody Allen someday.

TU: I used to write to him, you know. I used to write silly notes. And I hate pushing myself -but I always used to go have tea with Juliet Taylor, his casting director and another friend of mine, Julie Kavner, slipped him a tape of mine years ago. And the feedback I heard he gave was, "She's funny from the inside." And I was just overwhelmed. Because he made such an impact on me when I saw Broadway Danny Rose. I had just come to live in America and all I had really seen was "The Facts of Life" on TV-I used to think those four girls are so big, they're gonna break the floorboards-and then I thought, "Oh God, this is humor in America." And then I saw Broadway Danny Rose which celebrates the loser. And that doesn't seem to be a lot of what I see in America. Everyone's like, "I'm a winner and I'm special and I'm great." It was so good to see someone different from all that. Now, of course, I know you're all losers as well. You just disguise it a lot better than we do in England. In England, it's like, "Bah, I'm nobody." But Woody touched me because it was the comedy I liked. It's not trying so hard, it was just endearing, poignant, beautiful.

Another thing is, it's just so daunting for actors to meet him. He's such a legend now and all the actors want to work with him because you know you're being cast because you're right for the part, not because you're pretty or box office or anything like that. You just want to do so well for him. I've seen lots of actors come in and be overcome by nerves in front of him because they want to impress him so much. That's why he gives so little direction.

He's also got a great team around him. They're all there to do the best work they can do. Everyone's on the same level, everyone works for the same pay. Filming is usually such a bore-it's usually about the bleepin' cappucino machine and people taking four hours in makeup and shit-so boring. There's no spontaneity-that's why I love TV, it's quicker. No dicking around with the big crane shot. I mean, tell a story for God's sake. But with Woody, it's obviously different. But still it was tough-I mean somedays, Woody would make me reshoot stuff and I would go home questioning myself.