In The Envelope: An Awards Podcast

The role of intimacy coordinator is a relatively new one in the entertainment industry; at its core, it's designed to make sex scenes on set and stage safer and more comfortable for the actors involved. While the professionals shaping this position come from different backgrounds and have adopted their own unique approaches, the origins of intimacy coordination lie in a desperate need that went unfulfilled for far too long. “I did a call out, I think it was on Facebook, and I just said, ‘please send me your experience with intimate scenes. I want the good, the bad, the ugly,’” says intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot (“Bridgerton”). “My inbox was just flooded, absolutely flooded. And I think all of them were negative. Every single person who had written in had a negative experience.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, we sat down with Talbot and fellow intimacy coordinators Alicia Rodis (“And Just Like That…”), Mia Schachter (“Blindspotting”), and Nisha Ahuja (“Never Have I Ever”) to di

How did Jessie Mei Li go from teaching assistant to West End alum and lead of Netflix’s “Shadow & Bone” in just a few short years? Besides a bundle of talent (always helps!), the young actor comes equipped with a laser focus on what they want. “When I feel like I'm on the right path, it's almost like you're not going to stop me from doing it,” Li tells us. “When I got the part in 'Shadow & Bone,' I was like, 'well yeah, that feels right to me.' I don't think it comes out of arrogance, I think I'm very good at feeling when something feels right. I'm not afraid, in that moment, to go for it.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Li takes us behind the scenes of the Netflix fantasy series’ season 2 return and explains how co-star chemistry has made grueling production days smoother. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television

Stephanie Hsu is a newly minted Oscar nominee—one of 11 historic nods for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the madcap multiverse epic with a primarily AAPI cast. But for the NYU Tisch graduate, this recognition from the Academy is far more than a personal milestone. “Ever since I was coming up in New York, I was taught that anytime you have a voice, you have to use it for good,” she says. “That doesn't mean the art has to be wholesome. But you have to really know why the story is being told. Especially because I was often one of so few people who looked like me who got in through the door, I always felt like every opportunity was an opportunity to bring ten other people alongside me… I will continue, always, to carry the responsibility and the beautiful chance to bring other people into the fold. I'm very humbled that I get to be one of the people who does that.” On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Hsu takes us through the journey that got her here—from experimental theater in New

Brendan Fraser was never really that far away—but when you’re as beloved as he was, any retreat at all feels like a loss. Luckily, the actor is back in a major way with Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” a role that earned him his first Oscar nomination, and a renewed sense of self. “I know how wanting this profession can make people become… it can really change your brain chemistry to turn you into a different person that you maybe weren't anticipating,” Fraser says. “I wanted to make sure that I had a strong sense of identity. And that always came from feeling like I was comfortable in my own skin." In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Fraser explains all the ways he’s changed as an actor—and as a person. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting

Anyone familiar with Paul Walter Hauser from lighthearted romps like “Cobra Kai” and “Cruella” might be surprised to learn his performance in the Apple TV+ true crime series “Black Bird'' is genuinely one of the most unnerving in recent history. But for Hauser, taking on the role of serial killer Larry Hall—which has earned him Golden Globes and Critics Choice wins to go with a SAG nomination—was simply a matter of leveling up. "I really liken my acting to like how Dave Grohl talks about music, like you can be classically trained or you can just suck and then get good,” he tells us. “I don't think I ever sucked sucked, but I definitely wasn't where I am now. I think it's trial and error and you just absorb and you do. I think what I lacked in craft and sort of performance intellect I had in recklessness and fearlessness.” On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Hauser takes us behind the scenes of his chilling performance and what it taught him about acting—and himself. --- Backstage has

Ke Huy Quan found instant success as a child actor with “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies”—and then he stepped away for decades, unsure if he’d ever return. Now? Quan is an Oscar nominee for the role of Waymond Wang in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” just one of 11 nominations for the universe-hopping A24 action-comedy. "I've waited more than 30 years for this. Don't give up. That opportunity will come knock and you just have to be ready,” he says. “When it does, you have to pour your entire heart and soul into it. I hope people can hear my story and know if it can ever happen to me, it can happen to you. You just have to be patient." In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Quan walks us through his entire inspiring journey back to acting, the doubts along the way, and what’s next for his improbable comeback. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth convers

Barry Keoghan woke up the morning after his first Golden Globes ceremony—where his latest project, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” took home three wins—to learn that “Banshees'' had also nabbed five Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, including a supporting actor nod for himself. But even as a newly crowned awards season favorite, the native of Summerhill, Dublin always seeks to remember his roots. "I always want to hold on to some rawness. Hold on to that rawness,” he advises fellow actors. “That's what the truest form is; the purest form. Hold on to whatever that is, that untrained thing that you're doing." In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Keoghan gets candid about his unlikely road to Hollywood, his roles in films like “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” “Eternals,” and “The Batman,” as well as the surprising story behind his emotional scene in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s

Olivia Cooke just had the biggest year of her career, thanks to HBO’s hit “Game of Thrones” spinoff, “House of the Dragon.” Part of creating her standout performance as Alicent Hightower was accepting not every part of her process would line up exactly with the massive amount of fan expectations surrounding the show. “Whatever layers I try to give the character in order to make a more nuanced performance… ultimately it’s not going to please everyone,” she says. “But that’s just what I have to do in order to give a decent, honest performance. I have to imbue it with just things that justify the characters, actions and emotions. And those might not necessarily be in the original text, or even in the scripts.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Cooke brings us behind the scenes of “House of the Dragon,” explains the layers she added to Alicent, and shares her mindset as she gears up for season 2. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the En

Austin Butler is building Oscars buzz for his lead performance in “Elvis”—the peak of an inspiring journey that started with background and one-line roles in children’s TV. "I look back on Nickelodeon shows or Disney things that I did, and... even though my skill wasn't there, I still had a mentality of wanting to give the energy of if I was gonna go make ‘Raging Bull,’ '' he says. “I just kept that sort of fierce dedication towards trying to find more truth." In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Butler dives deep into that same fierce dedication he brought to “Elvis,” how he’s preparing for “Dune: Part Two,” and what he’s learned from Denzel Washington, Quentin Tarantino, and Baz Luhrmann. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceov

Eddie Redmayne is an Oscar, Tony, SAG, and Olivier Award winner because he puts in the work. Whether it’s a “Cabaret” revival, the massive “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, or quiet true crime character studies like “The Good Nurse,” the actor always finds his character in the preparation. “The more you can go and just gain insight into what [the role] is, the more ideas you can come with on the day,” he says. “Whether it’s props or costume, I try to get ahead of all that. So there’s always something surprising on the day. You only have such a limited period on camera to find ideas, so it’s good to have some sort of runway.” On this episode on In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Redmayne explains what he learned from the major roles in his career, including blockbusters like “Jupiter Ascending” and his subtler turns in “The Theory of Everything” and “The Danish Girl.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, i

Janelle Monáe has a simple explanation for how she became an eight-time Grammy nominated musician, activist, sci-fi writer, and an actor in buzzy awards films and the highly-anticipated “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” “I have clones,” Monáe says. “All of my clones go out, and they are representatives for the many things that I put my heart and my spirit into. Sometimes things don't go as planned, but that is life, and so I welcome all the highs and the lows and the peaks and the valleys.” She’s kidding. Or is she? In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, we unlock the mystery of Monáe’s multifaceted output, from turns in Oscar players like “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures” to her enigmatic role in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your g

Aubrey Plaza has played a Marvel mutant, a social media-obsessed cyber stalker, an underground credit card scammer, and Aaron Burr. Understandably, she’s a bit tired of all these characters getting painted with the same brush. “Soon I'm going to get into the world of prosthetics… where I change my nose and my hair so people can just completely forget that it's me,” she says. “I'm always surprised that when I do something new, there's always that one person who says, 'there she goes, doing the Aubrey Plaza thing again.' I only have my own instrument to work with. Anyway, I sound bitter, but I'm not. But I am always surprised that people use 'deadpan' to describe some things that I've done. It just feels a little reductive. But that's my journey.” On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Plaza takes us even deeper into that journey, including her creative process for ‘Emily the Criminal’ and ‘The White Lotus,’ as well as what to expect from Francis Ford Coppolla’s ‘Megalopolis’ and the MCU’

Jonathan Majors is a Netflix Western hero; the Big Bad of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; the most formidable opponent to sit across from Michael B. Jordan in the “Creed” series. He is, in other words, extremely cool. But one of the secrets to his success, he says, is how deeply uncool he can be about his craft. “It’s okay to care. That’s one of the things that really gets me about actors; about us,” he says. “Sometimes there’s this devil may care attitude. ‘I’ll get to it when I get to it.’ The truth of the matter is, you care more about this thing than anything else in the world and it scares you to death. You can act cool about it. I don’t act cool about it at all. It is what I love the most.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Majors dives deep into the process that led him to Kang the Conqueror, “Creed III,” and beyond. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversation

Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke have nearly 200 acting credits combined, with four Oscar nominations and an Emmy win thrown in there, and yet neither actor had worked together until this year’s “Raymond & Ray.” For Rodrigo García’s small-scale black comedy, the two veteran actors found an instant on-set spark, the key to a great performance. “If you feel like somebody's not on your side on set, it's really difficult. You don't feel safe,” says McGregor. “So it's really important, as actors, to allow each other to feel safe and to know that you're there for them, they're there for you. Then you can achieve anything really.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, McGregor and Hawke discuss the wonders of a collaborative creative process and why you should never ask actors about finding chemistry with a scene partner. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s mos

Ana de Armas is already well on her way to superstardom—but playing Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde” has put her right in the center of the cultural conversation, from awards chatter to the film’s controversial take on the life of an icon. For de Armas, however, the only thing that really matters is the next great role. “To me, all I'm doing is working,” she says. “The expectation of something changing, or the thought that this dramatic thing in your life is going to happen and now people are going to see you in a different way—very quickly I understood that's just not something I want to look forward to, or pay attention to.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, de Armas breaks down what it takes to maneuver a “big break” while delivering her breathtaking “Blonde” performance— from her first day on set to the night she said goodbye to Marilyn. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth co

Returning to the “Star Wars” franchise in the Disney+ series “Andor” presented a morbid challenge for Diego Luna—portraying a character whose death he already played in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” But Luna found the process creatively invigorating, like finding new pockets in an old jacket. “It's like approaching a historical piece, when you know an event happened or a character existed,” the actor says. “But now a film or series is going to tell you what you don’t know.” In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Luna takes us through his entire acting journey, from his unorthodox entry into the world of Mexican theater to his ambitious re-entry into “Star Wars.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to cas

Xolo Maridueña is right on the edge of superstardom. The fifth season of his massively popular “Karate Kid” sequel series, “Cobra Kai,” crane-kicks its way on to Netflix on September 9th; after that, the young actor sets his sights on the debut of “Blue Beetle,” the DC Comics superhero movie that marks a massive leap forward in his career. All in all, you’d forgive him for being pretty excited—but Maridueña is taking this one step at a time. “There's always got to be room to grow,” he says. “You have to be constantly expanding. I hope this is just the beginning.” On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Maridueña takes us inside the trajectory of a rising star, to the bittersweetness of “Cobra Kai” season 5 to the invaluable lessons learned from leading his own DC Comics movie. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and th

Robin Thede makes it look easy. And as with most great comedians, that sense of effortlessness stems from decades of discipline, setbacks, and perseverance.  “My [training] was just being a student of all the different types [of comedy], and learning and being fascinated by, like: Holy shit, how do they come up with those jokes?” she says. “A lot of people think you’re just funny in your head, and then it comes out. No. These people work so hard to craft these jokes, and they work them over and over and over.”  On this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Thede walks us through the comedy odyssey that led her to creating and starring on HBO’s groundbreaking “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” which garnered five 2022 Emmy nominations for its third season.  This episode is brought to you by HBO Max. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, televisio

You’d have to be fearless to thrive in the fiery ensemble of HBO’s hit drama ‘Succession,” which is probably why Matthew Macfadyen just earned his second Emmy nomination for doing just that. “[Actors] can always find something to blame,” he says. “But it's actually just fear of committing and jumping in and doing the scene; saying the words, and looking the other person in the eyes, and playing the scene." In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Macfadyen breaks down how to be a breakout performer, even in a show that’s all breakout performances. This episode is brought to you by HBO Max. -- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In th

Kaitlyn Dever credits the 2013 indie drama “Short Term 12,” in which she plays a troubled teen dealing with self-harm, as the project that completely altered the way she looked at her acting career. “It was really an incredible realization,” she says. “You can not only love acting and doing the job, but also being a part of something that has real impact.” Since then, the actor has made a habit of bringing often-overlooked characters to life on-screen, from a queer high-schooler in “Booksmart,” to a sexual assault survivor in “Unbelievable,” to her Emmy-nominated portrayal of an Oxycontin-addicted coal miner in “Dopesick.” On this episode of “In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast,” Dever takes us through the highs and lows of her evolution from promising child actor to Emmy-award frontrunner. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theat