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Greta Gerwig is the star of Lockerz favorite Gerta Gets A Boyfriend. She’s also starred in the indie classics LOL and Hannah Takes The Stairs. On March 19th, she hits the big screen in Greenberg, alongside Ben Stiller in a role that’s already winning her raves.  We asked her a few questions about obsession, inspiration and living your life online.

Where did the idea for Gerta Gets A Boyfriend come from?

I was originally interested in how boring the act of Internet stalking is, although the emotions are extreme. You’re just sitting on your couch, searching. But your heart is racing and your mind is exploding thinking about the possible people your boy/girlfriend might have kissed. But when I actually sat down to write the episodes, I realized that I was also interested in the misinformation and the sense that you know a person that you don’t know at all.

What do you personally think about social networking?

I think it’s wonderful – I think that once a stalker, always a stalker. Social networking sites make it easier, but if you are the type to snoop, I think you will.

How do you think romance is changing when we’re all on the Internet?

I think that social networking is blurring or eliminating the line between public life and private life. In some ways, it’s like everyone is living like a celebrity – everything’s out there.

Gerta reads her boyfriend’s emails, setting off a catastrophic series of events. Is this something you’ve ever done – or been tempted to do?

Yes! Where do you think I get all the tricks? You have to go through not just the inbox, but also the sent mail, the drafts, the trash. I mean, you do all that if you are crazy jealous and looking to hurt yourself.

The locations and friendships in Gerta feel very real. Who are the other actresses?

Gerta’s “friends” are played by my real-life friends: Lena Dunham and Mary Wall are both actresses/writers/directors, and my friend Ana Kayne is an actress in New York City. The guy is Zach Woods, and he is a fixture of comedy here in New York at Upright Citizens Brigade — and he is now on The Office. It is always fun to shoot in New York with friends — it feels like structured playtime.

You’re in the new film Greenberg with Ben Stiller. Who do you play and what is the film about?

I am so bad at answering that question in any kind of succinct way, as it is far too close to me, but this is the Focus Features blurb: “GREENBERG is about Roger Greenberg [Ben Stiller], single, fortyish and at a crossroads in his life. He csoon finds himself spending more and more time with his brother’s personal assistant Florence (me!) , an aspiring singer and also something of a lost soul.”

What are you working on now?

I am writing a feature film, a play, and working on a strange video piece that involves early colonial American life. I think it is sort of going to be a faked PBS Ken Burns style documentary. Other than my own projects, I am looking at scripts for films and television and trying to figure out what comes next!

We just launched PLAY and Gerta Gets A Boyfriend is one of our first original shows. Our members really love the show. Have you had a chance to check out Lockerz?

Yes! Lockerz is a great website and a super idea! I am so happy that people are enjoying Gerta – it either means that they all feel sorry for me, or that they are all secretly stalkers themselves.

What films and books inspired you while making Gerta?

Comic strips inspired me, actually. I think they are the nearest thing to a web show  — short, punchy, clever. I mean, maybe Gerta isn’t punchy or clever – but it certainly is short.