Alice is a quirky young woman with a mental condition. She wins a lottery jackpot and follows her dream of becoming Lady O - and Alice has the money that can make it happen.
"The first day of shooting was Tim Robbins and Kristen Wiig and so I got it all over with at once all - my nerves," Piven said. "Tim I've known for 25 years but he's still an intimidating dude. Joan Cusack and Kristin Wiig together is kind of just a dream I also feel that they're both these comic actresses with a really vulnerable and sort of tragic side to them."
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Shira's parents founded the acclaimed Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston. Her younger brother is actor Jeremy Piven.
"When we were kids we were barely aware - my brother literally thought my parents sold shoes because my mom didn't throw away old shoes and had a lot of shoes collecting in her closet," Piven said.
Showbiz is tough, but the Midwest is tougher.
"The Chicago winters prepare you for anything, for sure. I was born in New York lived there until I was 6. Most of my childhood was in Chicago - makes you a little bit tougher," Piven said.
Shira continues the family business. She's married to actor-filmmaker Adam McKay, of the "Anchorman" movies.
"Adam is definitely funny a lot of the times and so we laugh a lot and that's the best," Piven said. "All I can hope that if I keep following my passion and doing projects I love hopefully they'll get made."
So after "Welcome to Me," what's up for Shira? Well, she's planning on co-writing a screenplay, directing it, and it will star brother Jeremy.