Comedian and actress Nikki Glaser has revealed a surprising chapter from her early career in Hollywood: a well-paid babysitting job for one of the industry's most famous families.
From Babysitter to Collaborator
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM's The Howard Stern Show, the 41-year-old star recounted how, back in 2007, she was hired by director Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann to look after their two daughters. The couple were busy working on their comedy-drama film, Funny People, which would eventually be released in 2009.
Glaser was tasked with caring for Maude Apatow, now 28 and known for her role in Euphoria, and Iris Apatow, now 23, who voiced a character in Sausage Party. For her services, she was handsomely compensated. "They paid well," Glaser recalled. "This was 2007, I think it was like $35, $40 an hour, which was like more than I had ever been paid to babysit."
She described the experience fondly, noting the children were "so sweet" and "so funny." For Glaser, the job holds a special significance in her career trajectory. "I was really tickled by that because it's such a special moment for me that I started out as his babysitter," she told Stern.
A Star-Studded Phone Call and a Missed Role
One of Glaser's most memorable moments from the gig involved an unexpected phone call from a Hollywood A-lister. She explained that one evening, while Apatow and Mann were out, the phone rang. "I remember one night Adam Sandler called," she said. The comedian and actor, thinking he was speaking to the eldest daughter, said, "Hello, Maude, this is Adam."
After Glaser identified herself as the babysitter, Sandler was charmingly polite. "He said, 'Oh, sorry, you're the babysitter? I'm Adam Sandler. And how's your night going?'" Glaser shared, adding, "It was my first interaction with Adam Sandler, and I have loved him ever since. I was like, 'That is the nicest call I've ever gotten from someone when I was babysitting.'"
The babysitting job also presented a professional opportunity. Glaser revealed she worked up the courage to ask Judd Apatow for an audition for Funny People. She was struck by how closely a particular character—Daisy Danby, a struggling 25-year-old comedienne who loves the band Wilco—mirrored her own life at the time.
"I really was embarrassed to do it," she admitted. However, a friend convinced her, saying, "You didn't move to Los Angeles to be the greatest babysitter." Apatow granted her an audition, which she described as "really nice," though the role ultimately went to Aubrey Plaza.
Full-Circle Moment: Writing a Movie Together
Today, the story has come full circle. Glaser, whose first film role was in 2009's Punching the Clown, is now collaborating professionally with the man who once employed her as a childminder. She disclosed that she and Judd Apatow are currently writing a movie together.
The project emerged from a casual conversation where Glaser opened up about personal struggles, including her career focus, not having children, and fears about commitment. "He got something out of me that we thought, 'OK, this could be a really fun idea for a movie,'" she explained.
Glaser, who has been in an on-off relationship with TV producer Chris Convy since 2013, teased that the film will be funny but, like all of Apatow's work, will have heart and explore real emotions. What began as a lucrative babysitting side-hustle has evidently blossomed into a genuine creative partnership, marking an unusual and inspiring path in the entertainment world.
