Add
Private Notes
“The Imitation Game” star Benedict Cumberbatch talks theater and film with “Birdman” actor Edward Norton.
Jake Gyllenhaal (“Nightcrawler”) and “Boyhood” actress Patricia Arquette talk about their first acting roles, sting operations and more.
Hilary Swank ("The Homesman") and Tilda Swinton ("Snowpiercer") talk about being Oscar winners.
Oscar Isaac ("A Most Violent Year") and Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("Belle") talk about Shakespeare.
“Interstellar” actress Jessica Chastain and Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”) trade stories about their first acting jobs.
Laura Dern (“Wild”) and “Theory of Everything” star Eddie Redmayne talk about inspiration.
“Inherent Vice” actor Josh Brolin talks about his early days of acting and “Whiplash” star J.K. Simmons remembers his theater days.
James Corden (“Into the Woods”) tells Oscar-winner Kevin Costner (“Black or White”) about his new late-night gig for CBS and more.
Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”) and “Birdman” actor Michael Keaton trade stories about their careers and current acclaimed roles.
'Imitation Game' actress Keira Knightley and 'Boyhood' star Ethan Hawke talk reviews and dealing with criticism.
Newcomers Jack O’Connell (“Unbroken”) and David Oyelowo (“Selma”) talk about their rising careers.
Felicity Jones (“The Theory of Everything”) and Jenny Slate ("Obvious Child") interview each other.
Jennifer Aniston ("Cake") with Emily Blunt ("Into the Woods") in intimate conversation.
Ralph Fiennes ("The Grand Budapest Hotel") and Christoph Waltz ("Big Eyes") discuss working with fastidious directors like Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino.
Marion Cotillard and Timothy Spall, who won the N.Y. Critics Film Circle’s Best Actor awards for “Two Days, One Night” and “Mr. Turner,” talk about acting rituals and getting into character.
“Get On Up” star Chadwick Boseman talks about his upcoming role as Marvel’s Black Panther alongside “Fury” actor Logan Lerman.
Taraji P. Henson ("Empire") with Queen Latifah ("Bessie") talk about staying in character and the break-neck speed of filming television.
Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul") and Michael Sheen ("Masters of Sex") discuss working in both comedy and drama. Bob Odenkirk tells Michael Sheen that he knew nothing about his character, Saul, before taking the job on Breaking Bad and discusses how the character grew in the series.
Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder") and Jane Fonda ("Grace and Frankie") talk about their process, fighting for roles, and playing complex women in television.
Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) reveals that she was written as a guest star in the pilot of “E.R.,” while Clive Owen (“The Knick”) talks about his break with the independent film “Croupier.”
Don Cheadle ("House of Lies") and Claire Danes ("Homeland") talk about how they keep it fresh even after multiple seasons of their television shows and what makes cable "the place to be".
Jamie Dornan ("The Fall") and Michael Kelly ("House of Cards:) discuss how they get into character and the pratfalls of playing dark characters.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep") and Jeffrey Tambor ("Transparent") talk about their long and varied careers and what keeps them at the top of their game.
Uzo Aduba ("Orange is the New Black") and Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin") discuss working with their show’s creators and the balance between comedy and drama in their respective shows.
Josh Gad ("The Comedians") and Justin Theroux ("The Leftovers:) talk about what drew them to their parts on television and their influences.
Though one’s now starring in a drama, the other in a comedy, Lizzy Caplan (“Masters of Sex”) and Allison Janney (“Mom”) have both famously spent time in the other category — and agree that the lines are now getting blurred. Their back-and-forth banter at Variety’s “Actors on Actors” studio proved the point, as the actresses chatted about the thrill of doing theater, and the emotional toll of getting into character.
It may be a cliche, but blondes Jessica Lange and Taylor Schilling did have plenty of fun when they sat down for a conversation at Variety’s Actors on Actors studio. The stars of “American Horror Story: Freak Show” and “Orange Is the New Black” discovered they’ve got more in common than just their hair color. Here, they reveal what they’ve learned about their craft, and how best to perform it — whether on screen, on stage, or on location in Ireland.
Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Honorable Woman”) and Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”) teamed up in Variety‘s Actors on Actors studio. The two talented thespians — who have also worked on film and the stage — talked about the unique challenges of working in television.
If there’s one thing Matt LeBlanc and Jesse Tyler Ferguson know, it’s how to make audiences laugh. During their one-on-one conversation at Variety’s Actors on Actors studio, the stars of Showtime’s “Episodes” and ABC’s “Modern Family” discussed how they keep their roles fresh after a long run of several successful seasons. And, of course, crack each other up in the process.
Mindy Kaling (star and executive producer of “The Mindy Project”) began her writing career as an intern on Conan O’Brien’s talk show. When they reunited in Variety’s Actors on Actors studio, they quickly segued into a revealing conversation about pleasing their parents. Or not.
Kerry Washington ("Scandal") in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
Amy Schumer and Lily Tomlin tackled tough roles this year. Schumer wrote and starred in “Trainwreck” as a hard-partying journalist who reluctantly falls in love; in “Grandma,” Tomlin’s character must drive her granddaughter to an abortion clinic. At Variety‘s Actors on Actors studio, they discuss the joy of playing unlikable women.
Both Bryan Cranston and Jason Segel established themselves with long-running TV shows. Now both are playing real-life writers on the big screen: Cranston as the titular blacklisted screenwriter in “Trumbo” and Segel as “Infinite Jest” author David Foster Wallace in “The End of the Tour.”
After journeying to Middle-earth together for the “Lord of the Rings” movies, Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellen are playing more grounded roles in this year’s films. In “Mr. Holmes,” McKellen stars as the famous detective in old age. Blanchett pulls double duty in “Carol,” as a 1950s housewife who falls for a younger woman; and in “Truth,” in which she plays embattled “60 Minutes” producer Mary Mapes.
Veteran actors Charlotte Rampling and Isabella Rossellini trade stories about Hollywood and their new dramas.
Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton have shared the screen several times, in comedies like “The Other Guys” or dramas such as Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown.” Jackson is reunited with Tarantino for “The Hateful Eight,” in which he plays a bounty hunter in post-Civil War Wyoming. Keaton leads an impressive ensemble in “Spotlight,” Tom McCarthy’s drama about Boston Globe reporters who broke the story of the Catholic Church’s cover-up of child molestation by priests.
After earning Oscar nominations for their breakthrough film roles — Rooney Mara as the hardened sleuth Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and Steve Carell channeling John du Pont in “Foxcatcher” — the two actors are back with very different performances. Mara is shy and subtle as a young woman in the 1950s who falls for Cate Blanchett’s lead character in “Carol.” And Carell is all manic energy and heart in “The Big Short,” which details the individuals who cashed in on the recent housing collapse.
Benicio Del Toro landed an Academy Award for 2000’s “Traffic,” in which he played a conflicted police officer. His new film, “Sicario,” puts him back in the world of drug trafficking, but as a very different character — a mysterious, dangerous man bent on revenge. Will Smith has earned two Oscar nominations for playing real-life people in “Ali” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.” He stands to earn his third nod for his portrayal of Dr. Bennet Omalu, a doctor who fought against the National Football League to expose the danger of head trauma in players. Among many topics, the two spoke about their mutual love of Roger Deakins and Eddie Murphy.
Brie Larson (“Room”) and “Black Mass” actor Joel Edgerton talk about the making of their new films.
Elizabeth Banks and Carey Mulligan are earning buzz for their portraits of strong women: Banks won some of the best notices of her career playing Melinda Ledbetter, the wife of Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson in “Love & Mercy”; and Mulligan portrays a working-class wife and mother who joins the fight for British women’s right to vote in “Suffragette.”
Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet each won acclaim as teenagers. Ronan was 13 when she earned an Oscar nom for “Atonement,” while Winslet was 17 when she burst onto the scene in Peter Jackson’s “Heavenly Creatures.” In their new films, both use accents that are not their own. Ronan headlines “Brooklyn,” playing an Irish girl who immigrates to New York in the 1950s. Winslet disappears behind a wig, glasses, and a Polish accent for “Steve Jobs” to portray Joanna Hoffman, a friend and adviser to the Apple founder.
This year, both Paul Dano and Joseph Gordon-Levitt portray real-life legends on screen; Dano plays the young Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys in “Love & Mercy,” while Gordon-Levitt takes on the role of wire-walker Philippe Petit in “The Walk.
Seth Rogen (“Steve Jobs”) and “The Hateful Eight” star Jennifer Jason talk about awkward auditions and the challenges of shooting their acclaimed new dramas.
Kerry Washington and Aziz Ansari openly discussed everything from Hollywood stereotypes to #OscarsSoWhite.
Lady Gaga of “American Horror Story: Hotel” and Jamie Lee Curtis of “Scream Queens” are arguably some of the most famous new faces on TV. But fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be — at least not for Curtis, who told Gaga that it’s “isolating.” The duo also discussed Curtis’ blockbuster films “True Lies,” “The Jinx”, and working with “American Horror Story” creator Ryan Murphy.
“Black-ish” star Tracee Ellis Ross recently sat down with “The People v. O.J. Simpson” actor Courtney B. Vance where they discussed race and the intensity of working in television.
“Game of Thrones” actress Emilia Clarke and “Transparent’s” Jay Duplass talk about Clarke’s crazy “Thrones” audition, the awkwardness of filming sex scenes, and more.
Kirsten Dunst may not have been the lovable vampire Claudia in “Interview With the Vampire” if it were not for her acting coach. Dunst sat down with Rami Malek for Variety‘s and PBS’ fourth “Actors on Actors” series and revealed that her coach made her re-do her audition after a not-so-perfect performance. “I was with my coach,” she recalled. “He was outside of the room. He listened on the door to hear, like, what I was doing. And he knows I didn’t nail it. And I walked out, and he was like, ‘No, you go back in there.’ He’s like, ‘Apologize to the casting director.’ He’s like, ‘She didn’t do what she can do.'”
Jennifer Lopez and Felicity Huffman found a maternal common ground during their conversation. The two actresses, who are starring in “Shades of Blue” and “American Crime,” respectively, struggle with juggling motherhood and work — something they say many men don’t experience. “They asked working moms, they said ‘What percentage of you guys feel guilty about working outside the home?’ And it was 98%. And they said, ‘Even part-time moms, what percentage?’ And it was again like 98%,” Huffman said. “And then they asked working dads, both full-time and part-time. And guess what percentage of working dads feel guilty about their kids?” “Was it zero?” Lopez asked. “Goose egg! That’s exactly right; not at all. It’s just so different!” Huffman replied. “You know when it was over for them,” Lopez added.
TV sex scenes might appear steamy to viewers, but the actors who perform them on-screen don’t always feel the heat. “Jessica Jones'” Krysten Ritter and “Outlander’s” Sam Heughan said there’s no pleasure in shooting sex scenes. “I don’t like doing sex scenes, but with Jessica, I always felt like the sex scenes came from such a place of character and strength so it always made sense to me,” said Ritter, who plays the title character on Netflix’s “Jessica Jones.” “I never thought of them as being like anything that spectacular.”
Sarah Paulson described how she transformed into Marcia Clark for “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” studying the lawyer right down to the perfume she used to wear. Bobby Cannavale, meanwhile, remembered an early role of his in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ play alongside Chris Rock, while chatting for Variety and PBS’ “Actors on Actors.”
Aaron Paul ("The Path") & Tom Hiddleston ("The Night Manager") sat down to chat and a bromance was born. The two talked about Paul’s disastrous “Cloverfield” audition, social media and more.
John Travolta may be a thoroughly established actor, but he still has to fight for his roles. He and Rob Lowe chatted about that and more, including staying relevant in Hollywood and Travolta’s preparation for “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” for Variety and PBS’ “Actors on Actors.”
The “Billy on the Street” star chatted with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" star Rachel Bloom about how a fan encounter made him “understand the challenges of being Justin Bieber,” how both of them found fame on social media and more.
Patrick Stewart and Thomas Middleditch: a nerd match made in heaven. The two talked about “Star Trek,” “Silicon Valley” and even played a game of “F—, Marry, Kill” during Variety and PBS’ “Actors on Actors.”
Amy Adams ("Arrival" and "Nocturnal Animals") chatted with Andrew Garfield ("Hacksaw Ridge") about their portrayals of comic-book icons.
Molly Shannon ("Other People") chatted with Emma Stone ("La La Land") about facing rejection in showbiz.
Natalie Portman ("Jackie") with Michelle Williams ("Manchester by the Sea") chatted about their starts as child actors.
Taraji P. Henson ("Hidden Figures") with Ryan Reynolds ("Deadpool") sat down to chat about everything; from bad auditions to social media, to their characters Deadpool and Cookie.
Viola Davis ("Fences") with Tom Hanks ("Sully") chatted on a range of topics, including sex scenes and diversity on TV vs film.
Annette Bening ("20th Century Women") with Naomie Harris ("Moonlight") chatted about the roles for women in today’s films.
Jeff Bridges ("Hell or High Water") with Matthew McConaughey ("Gold") chatted on a range of topics, including their most iconic roles.
Adam Driver ("Paterson") chatted with Michael Shannon ("Nocturnal Animals") about making “socially conscious” blockbusters.
Casey Affleck ("Manchester by the Sea:) with Nicole Kidman ("Lion") chatted about the themes of adoption in “Lion”.
Octavia Spencer ("Hidden Figures") & Dev Patel ("Lion") talk about type-casting and roles for minorities.
Greta Gerwig ("20th Century Women") chatted with Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight") about their love for New York City.
Oscar-winner Sally Field (“Hello My Name Is Doris”) and Oscar-nominee Hailee Steinfeld (“The Edge of Seventeen”) talk about their characters, and what drew these two Valley girls to the silver screen.
Hugh Grant (“Florence Foster Jenkins”) and Colin Farrell (“The Lobster”) talked about directors, why the Irish are so emotional, and the effect of mustaches on their private lives.
Kevin Bacon ("I Love Dick") and John Lithgow ("The Crown," "Trial and Error") discuss their new TV shows, working for steaming services, and starring together in "Footloose".
Milo Ventimiglia ("This Is Us") and Freida Pinto ("Guerrilla") discussed their new TV series, facing rejection in Hollywood, and auditioning for their biggest roles to date.
Riz Ahmed ("The Night Of") and Elisabeth Moss ("The Handmaid's Tale," "Top of the Lake: China Girl") discussed how they dealt with fame following their work on the critically acclaimed shows "The Night Of" and "Mad Men," respectively, and swapped nightmare audition stories.
Sterling K. Brown ("This Is Us," "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story") brought Pamela Adlon ("Better Things") to tears during their "Actors on Actors" conversation, in which they also discussed their best and worst auditions.
Friends Thandie Newton ("Westworld") and Oprah Winfrey ("The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks") discuss their HBO series and reminisce about shooting "Beloved" together.
Millie Bobby Brown ("Stranger Things") and Evan Rachel Wood ("Westworld") talked about their worst auditions, how to deal with online vitriol, and their hit sci-fi show.
Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”) and Ewan McGregor (“Fargo”) discuss the difference between TV and film, and share memories about shooting “Moulin Rouge” 16 years ago.
Brit Marling ("The OA") and Issa Rae ("Insecure") discuss auditioning, being typecast, and choosing their own paths.
Sarah Jessica Parker ("Divorce") and Michelle Pfeiffer ("The Wizard of Lies") discuss their HBO series and revisit their past, reminiscing about Parker's "Sex and the City" and Pfeiffer's most recognizable roles: "Scarface" and "Catwoman."
Christine Baranski ("The Good Fight") and Minnie Driver ("Speechless") discuss the "single hardest thing" Baranski's ever done as an actress, Driver's favorite film and TV roles, and more.
Lauren Graham ("Gilmore Girls") and Constance Zimmer ("Unreal") discussed what drew them to their characters of Lorelai and Quinn, respectively, and the risks of reviving "Gilmore Girls" and "Entourage".
Kaley Cuoco ("The Big Bang Theory") and Anthony Anderson ("Black-ish") discuss their broadcast comedies and how their shows have paved the way for other series.
Kaitlin Olson ("The Mick") and Giovanni Ribisi ("Sneaky Pete") discussed how they got their start in the industry and their worst audition stories.
Salma Hayek (“Beatriz at Dinner”) and Mary J. Blige (“Mudbound”) sat down for a chat.
Gal Gadot ("Wonder Woman") and Kumail Nanjiani ("The Big Sick") sat down to talk about auditions, name mispronunciations, young fanbases, and more.
Hugh Jackman ("Logan") and Willem Dafoe ("The Florida Project") sat down to discuss the evolution of superhero films and how they chose their latest roles.
Jake Gyllenhaal ("Stronger") and Margot Robbie ("I, Tonya") sat down to talk about playing real-life people, separating fame from their personal lives, and more.
Jennifer Lawrence (“Mother!”) and Adam Sandler (“The Meyerowitz Stories [New and Selected]”) sat down and discussed negative reviews of their movies, how they handle fan encounters in public, and more.
Laurie Metcalf ("Lady Bird") and Richard Jenkins ("The Shape of Water") talk about why they actually like auditioning, Jenkins' shot at Bruce Dern's role in "Nebraska," and more.
Jessica Chastain ("Molly's Game") and Holly Hunter ("The Big Sick") discussed working with female directors and exploring women's strengths.
Timothée Chalamet ("Call Me By Your Name") and Daniel Kaluuya ("Get Out") sat down for a chat in which they talked about their movies' pivotal scenes, on-screen chemistry, and more.
James Franco ("The Room") and Dustin Hoffman ("The Meyerowitz Stories") discussed the inspiration for "Why Him" and their early jobs before their big breaks.
Jamie Bell ("Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool") with Robert Pattinson ("Good Time") chatted about the difference between indies and blockbusters, finding humility in fame, and more.
Saoirse Ronan ("Lady Bird") and Kristen Wiig ("Downsizing") talked about "Saturday Night Live," finding time to unwind between roles, and more.
Gary Oldman ("Darkest Hour) sat down with Kate Winslet ("Wonder Wheel") to chat about Winslet working with Woody Allen on "Wonder Wheel," Oldman portraying Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour," and more.
Allison Janney ("I, Tonya") and Sam Rockwell ("Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri") talked about early jobs, John Wayne, technical methods, and more.
Hong Chau ("Downsizing") sat down with Diane Kruger ("In the Fade") to talk about inhabiting characters who have experienced loss, feeling like they are meant for a particular role, and more.
Issa Rae ("Insecure") and Michael B. Jordan ("Fahrenheit 451'" talk about 'Black Panther,' finding new audiences, and holding back from social media.
Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney talk about "The Looming Tower" and "Ozark".
Tiffany Haddish and John Legend talk "The Last O.G." and "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert".
Alison Brie and Jessica Biel's talk "GLOW" and "The Sinner".
*This conversation took place before the cancelation of 'Roseanne.* "Roseanne" star Sara Gilbert and "SMILF" star Frankie Shaw talked about bringing life experiences to characters and how their shows have evolved over time.
David Harbour reveals he reads 'Stranger Things' fanfic and what his worst director's note was with Actors on Actors partner, and 'Twin Peaks' legend, Kyle MacLachlan.
"Ozark" star Jason Bateman and "Barry" star Bill Hader full discussion from Variety's Actors on Actors series.
J.K. Simmons and Edie Falco talk "Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders" and "Counterpart".
Laura Dern ("The Tale") and Angela Bassett ("9-1-1") discuss how the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement has changed Hollywood.
Benedict Cumberbatch ("Patrick Melrose") and Claire Foy ("The Crown") discuss finding their careers as actors and future aspirations.
Freddie Highmore and Dakota Fanning talk about "The Good Doctor" and "The Alienist".
Darren Criss ("American Horror Story") fans out over the 1999 album 'So Real' by Mandy Moore ("This Is Us").
Jonathan Groff and Maggie Gyllenhaal talk "Mindhunter" and "The Deuce".
Michael B. Jordan ("Creed II" and "Black Panther") sat down with Charlize Theron ("Tully") for a candid conversation that brought Theron to tears, they spoke about inclusion riders and why “Black Panther” deserves a spot at the Oscars.
Lady Gaga ("A Star is Born") chatted with Lin-Manuel Miranda ("Mary Poppins Returns").
Timothée Chalamet ("Beautiful Boy") chatted with Emma Stone ("The Favourite").
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s obsession with one talented student has disastrous consequences in “The Kindergarten Teacher,” a disturbing drama that was the talk of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Regina King also turned heads playing a tough but loving mother of a pregnant girl in “If Beale Street Could Talk,” an adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel of the same name that will surely score her an invitation to the Oscars. Both films are testaments to actresses at the top of their game.
"Boy Erased" star Nicole Kidman and "Vice" star Amy Adams' full conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors.
"A Star is Born" star Sam Elliott and "The Wife" star Glenn Close's full conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors.
"A Quiet Place" star and director John Krasinski and "A Private War" star Rosamund Pike's full conversation for Variety Actors on Actors.
"On the Basis of Sex" star Armie Hammer and "Suspiria" star Dakota Johnson's full conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors.
"Mary Poppins Returns" and "A Quiet Place" star Emily Blunt and "The Front Runner's" Hugh Jackman's full conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors.
"Crazy Rich Asians" star Constance Wu and "On the Basis of Sex" actress Felicity Jones discuss the progress women have made in Hollywood and what needs to happen next.
Mahershala Ali ("Green Book") on how he convinced 'True Detective' creator Nic Pizzolatto to change the race of the lead character for the third season of the HBO series. Plus, John David Washington on how he went from football star to the top of the call sheet on "BlacKkKlansman".
"Black Panther" actress Lupita Nyong'o and Melissa McCarthy from "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" discuss headlining movies on their own terms.
Chadwick Boseman and Viggo Mortensen compare the refugee politics in "Black Panther" to those of today's administration, plus more on Mortensen's "Green Book".
Benicio del Toro ("Escape at Dannemora") with Michael Douglas ("The Kominsky Method") compared the acting advice they received early in their careers and Douglas claimed Steven Spielberg stopped him from receiving a Best Actor award for HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra” at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
Emilia Clarke ("Game of Thrones") with Regina Hall ("Black Monday") spent the TV season playing characters who break through the boys’ club. Clarke opens up to Hall about her brain hemorrhages that nearly took her life. They discuss the process of getting ready for their shows from getting ready to carry themselves in a male-dominated world, and the importance of wardrobes for their shows.
“Homecoming” star Julia Roberts and “Escape at Dannemora” lead Patricia Arquette break down the fourth wall, revealing the secrets of their craft. The duo participated in a long talk about working as an actress in Hollywood.
Billy Porter and Rachel Brosnahan sit down to have a conversation discussing Brosnahan’s “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Porter’s FX series “Pose”. "Misogyny and the hatred of things feminine transcends just the biological female community," said Brosnahan, when discussing how their shows tackle misogyny.
Sam Rockwell (“Fosse/Verdon") and Renée Zellweger (“What/If”) talk choreography, accents, and audition stories.
Taraji P. Henson ("Empire") sat down with Ellen Pompeo ("Grey's Anatomy") to discuss the 'toxic' culture at “Grey’s Anatomy” and fair pay.
Patricia Clarkson ("Sharp Objects") sat down with Michelle Williams ("Fosse/Verdon") to discuss the preparations they undertake for their shows and how the industry has changed for the better.
Sacha Baron Cohen ("Who Is America?") with Don Cheadle ("Black Monday") talk about the extreme characters they have taken on in their latest starring roles on Showtime. “You want to provoke them...I want to see what people’s real thoughts are and real beliefs are and what would they say,” said Cohen.
Robin Wright ("House of Cards") gushed over “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, and Chris Pine ("I Am the Night") remembered how Jenkins pitched him the DC Comics film while doing all the sound effects herself. The pair also touched on the #MeToo movement and the increased representation they’ve seen in Hollywood. "It’s interesting to be a female antihero that everybody loves to hate," said Robin Wright.
Penn Badgley ("You") and Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin") talk about why Joe from "You" is the perfect creepy guy and shouldn't be adored by fans and how Badgley gets the perfect "crazy eyes" look.
Amy Adams and Richard Madden sit down for a chat to talk about their shows "Sharp Objects" and "Body Guard". They discuss the difficulty of leaving their character on set, which types of roles attract them, and the new wave of television. "What is happening on TV? I need to pay attention 'cause it feels like a renaissance, and it is really exciting," Adams said, when talking about the new wave of television shows.
Tracee Ellis Ross ("Black-ish") with Sarah Paulson ("American Horror Story") talk about delving into the intimidating world of directing and how their characters have evolved in their respective long-running series.
Natasha Lyonne ("Russian Doll") with Maya Rudolph ("Forever") sit down to discuss their television shows, mortality, and the respect they have for each other. “Speaking of adulthood, inevitably it only goes in one direction which [is], spoiler alert, the end for all of us: death,” Lyonne said.
Chris Evans ("Knives Out") and Scarlett Johansson ("Marriage Story") talked about "Avengers: Endgame" becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time and Martin Scorsese saying Marvel films aren't cinema.
Brad Pitt talked about going to Tarantino's house to read the one copy of the "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" script and Adam Sandler talked about his colonoscopy scene in "Uncut Gems".
Sterling K. Brown ("Waves") chatted with Laura Dern ("Marriage Story") where Dern revealed that her mother didn't want her to be an actress and Brown talked about the importance of having a person of color in "Frozen II".
Eddie Murphy ("Dolemite Is My Name") talks about returning to "Saturday Night Live" and Antonio Banderas ("Pain and Glory") reveals how his priorities in life changed after having a heart attack in 2017.
Robert Pattinson ("The Lighthouse") talked about why he wanted to play Batman and Jennifer Lopez ("Hustlers") discussed her upcoming Super Bowl performance.
Shia LaBeouf ("Honey Boy") sat down with Kristen Stewart ("Seberg") to talk about what fame and being talented means to them and rave about reality TV like "Naked and Afraid".
Tom Hanks ("A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood") with Renée Zellweger ("Judy") talk about playing real-life people, Mr. Rogers and Judy Garland, in their films this year, and they reflect on their first jobs in the film industry.
Adam Driver and Charlize Theron talked about their awards-season movies, "Marriage Story" and "Bombshell," and why they are drawn to playing unlikeable characters.
Beanie Feldstein ("Booksmart") with Florence Pugh ("Little Women") talk about working with Meryl Streep, how to pronounce "Midsommar" and what to expect in Marvel's "Black Widow".
Alfre Woodard and Cynthia Erivo talked about their films "Clemency" and "Harriet" and how Erivo started singing when she was 5 years old.
Constance Wu and Mindy Kaling talk about working with female directors on "Hustlers" and "Late Night" and the pressures of being an actor of color in Hollywood.
Taron Egerton and Awkwafina share their love for Elton John and Miss Piggy and talk about their films "Rocketman" and "The Farewell".
Tessa Thompson ("Westworld") and Ramy Youssef ("Ramy") discuss representation, working with Mahershala Ali, and the kind of dads they would want to play their fathers.
Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) with Lisa Kudrow (Space Force, The Good Place and Feel Good); Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) with Anthony Mackie (Altered Carbon); and Henry Cavill (The Witcher) with Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: Picard)
Claire Danes (Homeland) with Damian Lewis (Billions); Zendaya (Euphoria) with Mj Rodriguez (Pose); and Chris Evans (Defending Jacob) with Paul Rudd (Living with Yourself)
Jodie Foster (The Mauritanian) with Anthony Hopkins (The Father); Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) with Steven Yeun (Minari)
George Clooney (The Midnight Sky) with Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit); Zendaya (Malcolm & Marie) with Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman); and Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy) with Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island)
Ben Affleck (The Way Back) with Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and The Trial of the Chicago 7); Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday) with Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami); and Jared Leto (The Little Things) with John David Washington (Malcolm & Marie)
Jamie Dornan (Wild Mountain Thyme) with Eddie Redmayne (The Trial of the Chicago 7); Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman) with Amanda Seyfried (Mank); and Tom Holland (Cherry) with Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)
Nicole Kidman (The Undoing) with Chris Rock (Fargo); Josh O'Connor (The Crown) with Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit)
Ewan McGregor (Halston) with Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian); Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision) with Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) with Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision); Emma Corrin (The Crown) with Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton)
Gillian Anderson (The Crown) with Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale); Uzo Aduba (In Treatment) with Billy Porter (Pose)
Lady Gaga (House of Gucci) with Jake Gyllenhaal (The Guilty), Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) with Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos) with Daniel Craig (No Time to Die)
Penélope Cruz (Parallel Mothers) with Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) with Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Oscar Isaac (The Card Counter) with Jared Leto (House of Gucci)
Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick... Boom! and The Eyes of Tammy Faye) with Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard) with Regina King (The Harder They Fall), Jamie Dornan (Belfast) with Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog)
Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos) with Kristen Stewart (Spencer), Marlee Matlin (CODA) with Bradley Whitford (Tick, Tick... Boom!), Mahershala Ali (Swan Song) with Bradley Cooper (Nightmare Alley and Licorice Pizza)
Viola Davis ("The First Lady") and Samuel L. Jackson ("The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey") share their advice for young actors; Jennifer Aniston ("The Morning Show") and Sebastian Stan ("Pam & Tommy") reveal how they spend their time in the makeup chair; and Jared Leto ("WeCrashed") and Amanda Seyfried ("The Dropout") discuss their responsibility in playing real people.
Zendaya ("Euphoria") and Andrew Garfield ("Under the Banner of Heaven") discuss carrying the emotional weight of dark stories. Cynthia Nixon ("And Just Like That") and Bowen Yang ("Saturday Night Live") share stories of writing and directing for television. Courteney Cox ("Shining Vale") and Faith Hill ("1883") compare their process for finding good roles.
Martin Short ("Only Murders in the Building") and Jean Smart ("Hacks") discuss the joys of generational humor. Jung Ho-yeon ("Squid Game") and Sandra Oh ("The Chair", "Killing Eve") compare experiences working as a native Korean and a Korean-American actor. Tom Hiddleston ("The Essex Serpent", "Loki") and Lily James ("Pam & Tommy) talk about using American accents both on, and off, the set.
Anne Hathaway ("WeCrashed") and Jeremy Strong ("Succession") share stories of playing characters in over their heads. Christina Ricci ("Yellowjackets") and Sydney Sweeney ("Euphoria") discuss changing opportunities for female actors. Quinta Brunson ("Abbott Elementary") and Adam Scott ("Severance") talk about their roots in comedy. And Josh Brolin ("Outer Range") interviews... himself.
Cate Blanchett ("Tár") and Michelle Yeoh ("Everything Everywhere All at Once") discuss portraying characters originally written for men; Kate Hudson ("Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery") and Glen Powell ("Top Gun: Maverick") share the importance of chemistry with co-stars; and Laura Dern ("The Son") and Michelle Williams ("The Fabelmans") exchange their thoughts on working with young co-stars.
Carey Mulligan ("She Said") and Margot Robbie ("Babylon") discuss the range of female portrayals in film; Austin Butler ("Elvis") and Janelle Monáe ("Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery") reveal how acting takes a toll on a personal life; and John Boyega ("The Woman King") and Letitia Wright ("Black Panther: Wakanda Forever") discuss the importance of black stories in Hollywood blockbusters.
Viola Davis ("The Woman King") and Jennifer Lawrence ("Causeway") get honest about female action heroes; Jamie Lee Curtis ("Everything Everywhere All at Once") and Colin Farrell ("The Banshees of Inisherin") discuss their recent complex roles; and Brendan Fraser ("The Whale") and Adam Sandler ("Hustle") share their movie history and special connection.
Ana de Armas ("Blonde") and Eddie Redmayne ("The Good Nurse") disscuss playing infamous real people; Paul Dano ("The Fabelmans") and Brian Tyree Henry ("Causeway") compare working with talented writers and directors; and Joe Alwyn ("Stars at Noon") and Paul Mescal ("Aftersun") share stories of working with female directors.
Emily Blunt ("The English") and Brian Cox ("Succession") bond over fascination with new characters; Taron Egerton ("Black Bird") and Rachel Weisz ("Dead Ringers") confess the enjoyment they found in harrowing roles; Elle Fanning ("The Great") and Jenna Ortega ("Wednesday") deliberate bringing old characters to life in new contexts.
Pedro Pascal ("The Last of Us") and Steven Yeun ("Beef") gush about each other- and their experiences acting in post-apocalyptic worlds; Melanie Lynskey ("Yellowjackets") and Natasha Lyonne ("Poker Face") reconnect to discuss the benchmarks in their careers; Kieran Culkin ("Succession") and Claire Danes ("Fleishman in Trouble") delve into embodying their characters' specific psychologies.
Jennifer Garner ("The Last Thing He Told Me") and Sheryl Lee Ralph ("Abbott Elementary") reflect on their approaches to characters and motivations; Theo James ("The White Lotus) and Brett Goldstein ("Ted Lasso") on what it's like to have multiple roles on a production; Katherine Heigl ("Firefly Lane") and Ellen Pompeo ("Grey's Anatomy") reunite to discuss their shared pasts and divergent futures.
Jennifer Coolidge ("The White Lotus") and Jeremy Allen White ("The Bear") talk insecurity and finding confidence in their roles; Jason Segel ("Shrinking") and Ali Wong ("Beef") debate the compexities of navigating both comedy and drama; Hayden Christensen ("Obi-Wan Kenobi") and Diego Luna ("Andor") discuss their dynamic roles within the Star Wars universe over the decades.
Cillian Murphy ("Oppenheimer") with Margot Robbie ("Barbie); Bradley Cooper ("Maestro") with Emma Stone ("Poor Things").
Robert Downey Jr. ("Oppenheimer") with Mark Ruffalo ("Poor Things"); Colman Domingo ("Rustin", "The Color Purple") with Jacob Elordi ("Priscilla", "Saltburn").
Michael Fassbender ("The Killer") with Carey Mulligan ("Maestro"); Greta Lee ("Past Lives") with Andrew Scott ("All of Us Strangers"); Halle Bailey ("The Little Mermaid", "The Color Purple") with Rachel Zegler ("The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes").
Emily Blunt ("Oppenheimer") with Anne Hathaway ("Eileen"); Taraji P. Henson ("The Color Purple") with Jeffrey Wright ("American Fiction"); Paul Mescal ("All of Us Strangers") with Natalie Portman ("May December").
