Natalie Morales' Dating Rules

Jarett Wieselman

By Jarett Wieselman
@JarettSays

October 26, 2011

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In 2008, Natalie Morales burst onto the scene with ABC Family's brilliant but barely-watched series, The Middleman. And while the slice of sci-fi heaven didn't snag a second season, Natalie scooped up plenty of fans -- both in and out of the industry.

Now, she stars in 6 Month Rule, one of the years most refreshing indies. As Sophie, a woman caught between two men (one of whom lives by the rule that you can get over any girl in six months), Natalie exudes all the "it girl" effervescence required for this kind of role, making it easy to understand why Sophie's worth fighting for.

I caught up with Natalie to talk about this must-see movie and her personal dating rules before getting the scoop on her return to Parks & Recreation!

Insider.com: What was it that attracted you to 6 Month Rule?
Natalie Morales: I liked that it was a different way of telling this particular type of story. People are saying "this is just a rom-com" but it's more like a rom-dram. Or a rom-dark-com? Something like that [laughs]. And I just think that Blayne [Weaver, writer/director] did a really great job creating this world and these characters and I wanted to be a part of it.

Insider: And you make it easy to see why so many men would be lusting after Sophie.
Natalie: [laughs] Thanks. I think I tend to get typecast as this "artist type" but I'm a lot less cool than Sophie. What I liked about this character is she has flaws that I don't. She's a little scared of things and people, which make her unwilling to take risks. And I just thought it was a very interesting thing to attribute to a person who was that romantic "ideal" but in reality, not so great.

Insider: The movie lays out lots of Tyler's dating rules -- what are Natalie's?
Natalie: Well, the rules have changed as I've grown up, but the biggest rule -- and something I've recently realized -- is that people are inherently nice. There are good people out there, so if anyone is treating you like s*** in any way, get out because it's not worth it. You can always justify the way they treat you -- his dad was an a**hole, his mother beat him, his sister was a prostitute -- but it doesn't mean they have the right to treat you less than you deserved to be treated. The second big rule I've always had is, to immediately get out if someone you're dating is weird to your friends. Huge sign! People can be so blinded by love that they don't see the person they're dating is a jerk to their friends or to the waiter. How the person you're dating treats others is a big sign of how they'll treat you in 10 years. Or, one year [laughs].

Insider: Suffice it to say, you supported Lucy's decision to dump Tom on Parks & Recreation then?
Natalie: Yeah! He liked somebody else. It was so obvious. I think sometimes when you're with someone and you really like them, you make excuses about the way they behave. You wanna keep them around. And sometimes those excuses are valid. Sometimes one outweighs the other. But when it comes to your own self-esteem and what you deserve, you shouldn't compromise that for anybody.

Insider: That said, I heard from a little birdy you're going to be back on P&R this season.
Natalie: Yes, I'm very excited. I think it's this week's episode.

Insider: What can you tell us about her return?
Natalie: You'll have to wait and see. I can't tell you. I shouldn't even tell you that I’m gonna be on there. Well, it's not like they made me sign a confidentiality agreement, but it's more fun this way.

Insider: Is she pregnant? I feel like the exes always crop up with babies in these situations.
Natalie: No [laughs]. But wouldn’t that be amazing? A little Tom Haverford baby would be so funny. In loafers and a suede jacket. That'd be so great. That would be the funniest baby.

Insider: Would you ever date Tom in real life?
Natalie: Um, I would never date Tom Haverford. I kinda think Lucy is a bit of a freak who just likes crazy stuff in the bedroom. Everyone thinks she's this normal person, but when you get comfortable with her, I think a lot of her personality is very similar to Tom's. She probably is as uncool as he is when she feels like it's safe to be.

Insider: Do you ever think you've played someone like yourself?
Natalie: I'm probably the most similar to Wendy Watson. I don't use big words as often as she does, I'm not as eloquent, but in terms of personality -- we're probably the most alike.

For more information on 6 Month Rule, click here!


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