Can the DMV make you laugh instead of cry? With Harriet Dyer, it’s possible

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“Now serving G455 at Window No. 5” … “Now serving G456 at Window No. 12.”

Neither my companion nor I had a scheduled appointment at the Hollywood DMV. But Harriet Dyer confidently walked through the entrance as if it were a familiar workplace, responding to the calm, automated instructions guiding stressed visitors applying for licenses or transferring vehicle ownership. She immediately stopped, though, seemingly captivated by the scene – as if admiring a masterpiece like the Sistine Chapel, except this one featured a ceiling of buzzing fluorescent lights and eye charts.

She struggled to express her emotions, her Australian accent noticeable as she spoke.

It’s surprising to find something so amazing in a place often seen as a prime example of American bureaucracy’s problems.

Perhaps that’s giving the show too much credit. However, it’s evident that the creator, Dyer, is looking past the DMV’s generally negative reputation as she develops the characters for CBS’s new comedy, “DMV.” The show, which begins Monday, is set in a made-up DMV location in East Hollywood and focuses on the quirky employees just trying to cope with the challenges of dealing with the public every day.

Dyer stars as Colette, a friendly driving examiner who’s worked at the DMV for five years. She’s convinced her time dealing with new drivers – and hoping they don’t crash while she’s in the passenger seat – won’t last forever. She truly believes that.

Dyer explains that she doesn’t see the job as negative. In fact, she finds it exciting because every day brings a new environment and new people. She genuinely enjoys helping students learn to drive and gain their independence, and she really wants them to succeed. She’s a cheerful and optimistic person who brings a positive energy to everything she does.

Dyer also has an advantage: because he wasn’t raised with strong opinions about the Department of Motor Vehicles in the US, he doesn’t start with the assumption that everyone thinks it’s a bad experience.

The 36-year-old actress is well-known for her roles in television shows like “Love Child” and “No Activity” in her home country. Recently, she’s been gaining attention in the United States with several TV appearances, including creating and starring in the popular Australian romantic comedy “Colin From Accounts,” which found an audience in America on Paramount+. Now, she’s leading a broadcast sitcom called “DMV,” alongside Tim Meadows.

The series was created by Dana Klein, known for her work on shows like “Friends” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” She drew inspiration from her own experiences as a parent constantly driving her three teenagers, as well as a short story called “Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented” by Katherine Heiny – the story’s title came from nicknames the author gave to people she knew. The story featured three driving instructors, including a character named Colette. Klein was looking for an actor who could portray someone brave, endearing, and hilariously clumsy, and the first episode doesn’t disappoint, featuring a scene of the actor hanging from a bathroom window.

You know, from the very beginning, Harriet was the actress I pictured for the role. I’d seen her in ‘Colin From Accounts’ and instantly became a fan – she’s just so naturally charming! I honestly find myself on her character’s side no matter what she’s going through. That’s why I was so excited to have her as part of the show, alongside my co-showrunner, Matt Kuhn.

Having worked with many comedians throughout his career, Meadows praises Dyer’s ability to create relatable characters. He notes she excels at both physical comedy and emotionally resonant performances, skillfully balancing broad humor with genuine heart and humanity.

Television

Tim Meadows and Harriet Dyer star in ‘DMV,’ a new CBS comedy about the cynical employees working at a Department of Motor Vehicles office in East Hollywood. (It’s a fictional DMV!)

Dyer’s fascination with everyday details is evident, even while watching people simply wait – a slow and unremarkable scene from our recent field trip. She’s down-to-earth and doesn’t take herself too seriously, wearing casual jeans and a green t-shirt with a playful design: a woman doing a handstand split with the words “mental gymnastics academy.” It’s a fitting image, considering how deeply she’s thinking about everything. She immediately admits she forgot paperwork for her license renewal, saying, “I remembered too late.” She worried that this simple mistake could derail the interview, adding, “The whole show is about how difficult this is – what if I mess it up because I don’t have my birth certificate?” When she starts talking about learning to drive, her eyes light up as she remembers her weekly lessons with her driving instructor as a teenager.

She was really surprised by how large her blind spot was. Her driving instructor told her to check over her shoulder, which she questioned because her parents never did that. When the instructor stood directly in her blind spot and waved, she couldn’t see them in either mirror, and it really frightened her. She still thinks about it and worries about missing someone. She also wants everyone to know that she’s excellent at parallel parking on the left side of the road.

Dana Klein, the creator and co-showrunner of “DMV,” says she based her character Harriet on Bexx Francois, whom she admired after seeing her in “Colin from Accounts.”

Born and raised in Townsville, Dyer showed an early talent for performing, likely influenced by her father, who was a lawyer by day and a musician at night. When he auditioned for a production of “Annie,” featuring a large cast of children, both Dyer and her older sister were excited to try out. Her sister landed the lead role of Annie, and Dyer was cast as Molly, one of Annie’s friends. Dyer recalls her father being incredibly anxious about them even getting into the ensemble, but they both succeeded in earning roles and making him proud.

Her first performance taught her how powerful being on stage could be. She described it as a temporary escape from herself, similar to the feeling actors get between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ on a film set. She compared it to meditation, explaining that a different, freeing energy takes over – a welcome break from her own thoughts.

After finishing drama school in Sydney, she consistently found work in theatre, movies, and television. In 2017, she moved to Los Angeles with her husband, Patrick Brammall, an actor who was developing his Australian comedy show, “No Activity,” for CBS All Access (now Paramount+). However, a few months after the move, Dyer found herself bored and restless, as she wasn’t accustomed to being out of work.

I was incredibly busy with life in Sydney, and my husband, Patty, was constantly working on the show ‘No Activity’. I started to feel overwhelmed and wondered if I was becoming depressed, which was new for me. Patty suggested I try writing something to help. We’d recently gone for a hike where we’d brainstormed a story idea – a charming first meeting involving a car, a dog, and a mutual attraction. I jotted down some notes on my phone, and Patty encouraged me to explore the idea about the dog further.

Awards

Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall created, star in and produce the Australian romantic comedy.

Dyer found a Black Friday deal on Final Draft, the most popular screenwriting software used in Hollywood, and bought it. She even had to remove The Sims from her computer to make space, which she jokingly compared to a difficult sacrifice, saying it felt like ‘growing up’.

A week later, she started writing. Dyer finished the first script for “Colin From Accounts” – originally called “Dog With Wheels” – in just four days. She says the writing came easily, and the first draft ended up being incredibly long – over 2,800 pages!

The story begins with a man in his car noticing an attractive woman walking nearby. As she playfully exposes a breast while crossing the street, he’s momentarily distracted and accidentally hits a dog. Luckily, the dog is unharmed, but it does require some care and needs a special device to help it move around.

It took a moment for actress Harriet Dyer to gain recognition beyond her role as ‘Colin From Accounts.’ She starred in the short-lived NBC series “The InBetween” and landed a part in the Australian show “Summer Love.” She used this opportunity to learn more about writing by requesting to join the writers’ room, sharing a pilot script she’d written as an example of her work. Later, an executive who had worked on “Summer Love” moved to a new production company and remembered her script.

The comedy series “Colin From Accounts,” featuring Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, first launched in Australia in late 2022, winning several awards including Logies and AACTA Awards. As it gained popularity in the US, it received nominations at the new Gotham TV Awards. However, Dyer faced a setback when “American Auto,” the NBC show she was on, was cancelled after two seasons, leading to concerns about her career.

I was working on a project called ‘Colin,’ but then I couldn’t find any more work. One morning, I got a notice saying I was about to lose my health insurance, which really brought me down. It felt like I was losing my place in the industry. Around that time, while working on ‘DMV,’ I remember feeling similarly lost and wondering if anyone even cared.

Getting the call about the ‘DMV’ pilot was a mix of exciting and stressful. The show was likely to be filmed in Canada, and if successful, would remain there. She and her husband, Brammall, had recently settled in Los Angeles and were in the middle of adopting their second child. She was uncertain how taking the job would impact the future of her show, ‘Colin’.

She was confident they could handle everything, and she believes they have. Things are hectic right now, though. She’s been writing scripts for the third season of “Colin” with her partner, Brammall, while also filming “DMV,” and the scripting is almost finished. Production is scheduled to begin in January. Brammall has also been keeping busy – he recently went viral while filming the sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada.” Dyer jokes about still being amused that Andy (Anne Hathaway’s character) is with him, calling him incredibly handsome and wondering what happens next. A friend even photoshopped Dyer’s face onto Hathaway’s body in a picture from the viral moment – she’s wearing a blue sequin dress, and the photo is framed and displayed in Dyer’s trailer.

She explains that when she has a lot of writing to do for her project, nicknamed ‘DMV,’ it’s hard to focus. It’s actually a good thing she doesn’t have time for endless scrolling online. She needs to stay focused, but it’s a challenge. Often, she has to limit herself to working on ‘DMV’ only, and that’s the case more than half the time.

During a phone conversation, Brammall enthusiastically praised his wife’s driving, saying she has a perfect record and is naturally suited to play a driving examiner. He spoke just as highly of her abilities as an actress and writer.

Brammall, who co-writes “Colin From Accounts” with Dyer, praises her exceptional talent for writing realistic conversations. He notes that writing has really boosted her self-assurance. She would become completely absorbed in the process, writing intensely and quickly. Brammall often had to interrupt her – whether for dinner or other commitments – and she’d be visibly focused, almost as if she feared losing her train of thought if she stopped.

It’s why Dyer appreciates the break and only having to worry about her performance on “DMV.”

You know, talking to her, I got the sense she genuinely prefers being a supportive player rather than taking the lead. She told me she thrives in a collaborative environment, and honestly, finds it freeing to not have to shoulder all the responsibility. It’s about contributing her skills – honed during her work on ‘Colin,’ she mentioned – and trusting her instincts. She’s comfortable being a vital part of the machine, but not necessarily the one steering it.

She’s always open to feedback. When asked about performances she admires, Dyer immediately mentions Toni Collette in “Muriel’s Wedding,” particularly how the film manages to be both funny and deeply moving. This makes her think of a scene she recently filmed for “DMV.”

Colette recalls a moment on set where she delivered a line – “See you at the next window” – and unexpectedly moved the director to tears. Everyone thought the script supervisor was crying, but it turned out to be the director, who was deeply touched by the performance. While the director praised the emotional depth, she also reminded Colette they were filming a lighthearted network comedy. Colette realized she was craving the opportunity to really connect with and express emotion through her acting.

And, let’s be honest, who hasn’t shed tears at the DMV?

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2025-10-13 13:32