In The Envelope: An Awards Podcast

Keegan-Michael Key combined his early passion for both theater acting and Bugs Bunny to become the stage and screen presence, and sketch comedy genius, he is today. Not long after COVID-19’s industry shutdown, he chatted with Jack about the state of the biz, training on Second City stages, and where improvisation and scripted writing overlap. “Just figure out how to help solve the problem,” he advises his fellow artists. “All anybody here is thinking about is, how do we make the project the best thing it can be?” The actor-writer is best known for his work on “MadTV” and opposite Jordan Peele on their Emmy-winning variety sketch show “Key and Peele.” Keegan-Michael now hosts National Geographic’s “Brain Games,” and has starred on and Off-Broadway, on “Playing House,” “Friends From College,” in feature films “Keanu,” “The Predator,” “Dolemite Is My Name,” and in countless voiceover roles. This episode is brought to you by National Geographic’s “Brain Games.” To check out Backstage’s coverage of film and TV c

Although likely best known as Lady Mary Crawley, Michelle Dockery seems to reinvent herself in compelling role after compelling role, proving there’s little she can’t do. The English stage-to-screen star has learned how to harness nerves in auditions, avoid over-preparing for a role, and channel vulnerability into her characters. “You walk on every day feeling vulnerable,” she says. “We’re all just holding hands and jumping in and seeing what happens.” Trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in her hometown of London, Michelle turned her breakout role in the National Theatre’s production of “His Dark Materials” into a steady career of on-camera work in the U.K. and U.S., earning three SAG Award wins and four Emmy nominations. From Lady Mary in Julian Fellowes’ hit series “Downton Abbey” and its 2019 feature film, to “Anna Karenina,” “Good Behavior,” “Godless,” “The Gentlemen,” and now Mark Bomback’s “Defending Jacob” from AppleTV+, it seems there’s little she can’t do. This episode is brought to you

Actor-producer-activist Zoey Deutch has turned her lifelong obsession with the craft into a succession of fascinatingly varied characters—prepared, as she reveals in this soul-baring interview, with an arsenal of actorly tricks including improvisation, animal work, and more. “It sounds so silly and it sounds so weird,” she says of her process, “but so much of it is just getting out of your head and doing something that feels so out of your comfort zone.” The child of director Howard Deutch and director-star Lea Thompson, Zoey began studying acting long before her first gig as a teenager on the Disney Channel. She’s appeared in “Everybody Wants Some!!”, “Rebel in the Rye,” “Set It Up,” “Zombieland: Double Tap,” and Netflix’s “The Politician,” and produced and starred in indie film “The Year of Spectacular Men” and this year’s “Buffaloed.” Check out Backstage’s guide to self-care and mental health here: https://bit.ly/2YbKhmJ --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years.

Film and TV writer, producer, director, musician, and actor Mark Duplass has made a name for himself in super-low-budget, naturalistic, independent projects, and forged a path for others to do the same. In this podcast’s 100th interview, he outlines many of the obstacles facing aspiring filmmakers and his techniques to overcome them: “I am very encouraging of embracing limits—and if you don’t have that many limits, self-imposing them.” Mark and Jay Duplass’ production company, Duplass Brothers Productions, has brought such critically acclaimed indies to the screen as “The Puffy Chair,” “Baghead,” “Safety Not Guaranteed,” “The One I Love,” “Creep,” and more recently, HBO’s “Room 104” and Netflix’s “Paddleton” and “Horse Girl.” Mark has also starred on “The League,” “Togetherness,” “Goliath,” and now, AppleTV+’s hit drama “The Morning Show” as Chip Black. This episode is brought to you by AppleTV+. --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s p

Cynthia Erivo’s acting dream has expanded since her childhood in England: from her breakout turn in the London-to-Broadway revival of “The Color Purple” musical to her meteoric rise in Hollywood, she has lived in “a state of newness probably every day,” she says in this intimate, insightful interview. “If it feels like I’m slightly walking on a tightrope every time, having to rebalance myself, then that’s where the learning comes.” After earning the Tony Award and a Daytime Emmy Award for “The Color Purple,” Cynthia made her film debut in Steve McQueen’s “Widows” and Drew Goddard’s “Bad Times at the El Royale.” This year she earned dual Academy Award nominations, for original song and leading actress, as Harriet Tubman in Kasi Lemmons’ “Harriet,” then starred as Holly Gibney on HBO’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Outsider” and as Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s now-delayed “Genius: Aretha.” To read more, check out her Backstage cover story: https://bit.ly/3cSkJzk This episode is brought to you

Yvonne Strahovski has been working in film and TV, voiceover, and on Broadway, ever since what she thought was a temporary trip from her home in Australia to the U.S. This interview offers a glimpse at her creative process across multiple mediums, and offers specific tips on both craft and career. In her experience, not booking roles is such an integral part of being a working actor, “I don’t even know if rejection is a good word...it’s just part of the exercise.” After her breakout leading role in the hit show “Chuck,” Yvonne has starred on “Dexter,” “24: Live Another Day,” “The Astronaut Wives Club,” and now ABC’s drama “Stateless.” For three seasons she’s brought Margaret Atwood’s dystopia Gilead to life as Serena Joy on Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a role that has earned her nominations from the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Primetime Emmys. To read Backstage’s statement of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, click here: https://bit.ly/2MnXZMO --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for ac

Raphael Bob-Waksberg is a writer, comedian, voice actor, and pioneer of animated series. “I still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing,” he admits in this candid interview covering the voiceover industry, career advice, and more. “I’ve kind of freed myself of the expectation that I ever will.” Raphael teamed up with illustrator and production designer Lisa Hanawalt to create and produce Netflix’s “BoJack Horseman,” the Emmy-nominated, Annie Award-winning tragicomic satire about a Hollywood has-been horse. He is also the co-creator, with Kate Purdy, of the Amazon animated series “Undone,” and producer of Netflix’s “Tuca and Bertie.” To read more, check out Backstage’s recent feature on “BoJack Horseman” here: https://bit.ly/3cqfN4v --- 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

Working actors everywhere can take Sarah Snook’s advice to heart, particularly when it comes to the many rejections that follow auditions. This in-depth interview reveals the actor’s approach to both her career and character-building process, which involves finding their vulnerability and where it overlaps with her own. “You’re afraid of revealing yourself? You’re meant to as an actor.” Sarah is likely best known as the fabulously ruthless Siobhan “Shiv” Roy on Jesse Armstrong’s Emmy-winning drama “Succession” from HBO. She’s worked in theater, TV, and film in the U.S. and her native Australia, including in “Sisters of War,” “Predestination,” “The Dressmaker,” and “Jessabelle,” winning two Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. After hearing her advice about self-taped auditions, read Backstage’s guide to self-taping: https://bit.ly/3dmnhqB --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth c

Writer, producer, actor, and advocate Dan Bucatinsky has created his own opportunities in pursuit of becoming a self-described Hollywood “hyphenate.” Since his post-college days (auditioning through Backstage!) he has taken a multifaceted approach to the biz, allowing dreams to evolve and pivoting whenever necessary. His philosophy, both in the entertainment industry and as a father, husband, and human being, boils down to an essential question: “What are the variables that I can control and what are the variables I can’t control?” One of Dan’s first big breaks came from writing and starring in the gay romantic comedy film “All Over the Guy.” His résumé also includes everything from executive producing “The Comeback” and “Web Therapy” with Lisa Kudrow, to writing the memoir “Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?” to winning an Emmy Award for his performance on Shonda Rhimes’ “Scandal,” and he now stars on ABC’s comedy-drama “The Baker and the Beauty.” --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and tal

Three-time Oscar nominee, four-time Tony nominee, and four-time Emmy Award winner Laura Linney is known for her technical prowess and innate humanity in film, theater, and television—three mediums she approaches distinctly when building characters. Growing up the daughter of a playwright and realizing early just how much there is to learn about acting, Laura studied theater history before joining the Juilliard School and focusing on her mission to “make some tiny contribution to something that had been going on for centuries before me.” Star of “Tales of the City,” “You Can Count On Me,” “Wild Iris,” “Kinsey,” “Frasier,” “John Adams,” “The Savages,” “The Big C,” and 12 Broadway shows including this year’s solo show “My Name Is Lucy Barton,” Laura has for three seasons played the deceptively dangerous Wendy Byrde on Netflix’s crime drama “Ozark” opposite Jason Bateman. Read her Backstage cover story here: https://bit.ly/36jsAUS We also check in with Benjamin Lindsay, Backstage’s managing editor, for an updat

From activism to autobiography to screenwriting, producing, and directing FX’s “Pose,” there’s not much Janet Mock can’t do. “Head first, experience first,” she says, is how she journeys through both Hollywood and life. When Ryan Murphy offered the chance to lend her voice to a trailblazer of a series featuring transgender and queer characters, Janet gave herself a crash course in becoming a writer-director-producer—and can now pass on that knowledge to other aspiring multihyphenates. Janet worked as a journalist and correspondent in digital media before her bestselling memoirs “Redefining Realness” and “Surpassing Certainty” led her to television and film. She became the first trans woman of color to write and direct a TV episode, on “Pose,” and now also executive produces the Netflix mini-series “Hollywood.” Check out Backstage coverage of “Pose” here: bit.ly/3dII7Qt For coverage of COVID-19 including advice and resources, click here: bit.ly/2WxUFVj --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and

Mishel Prada went from being turned down by agents (the Dominican-American actor was told they already had an “ethnically ambiguous person on their roster”) to the leading role of Emma Hernandez on “Vida,” the Starz drama from writer-producer Tanya Saracho. In this advice-filled interview, Mishel reveals the approach to both the entertainment industry and life—even, or especially, amid a global pandemic—that can earn actors their big break. TV audiences may also know Mishel from the Emmy-nominated “Fear the Walking Dead: Passage,” or currently on the CW’s hit “Riverdale.” To read more, check out her Backstage cover story: https://bit.ly/2WwYXLq Our feature on “Vida” and “Stranger Things” casting director Carmen Cuba can be found here: https://bit.ly/2yqP6Ph --- 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 yo

Nathan Lane, renowned for his impeccable comedic timing and stage presence, is proving to be one of those legends who can make any material come to life. “It’s like going into battle,” he says of his approach to the craft, which he’s been honing in theater, commercials, TV, and film for over 40 years. In this interview, Nathan reflects on the influences and advice that has guided him, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic’s current impact on the entertainment industry. Audiences likely know Nathan from “The Birdcage,” as the voice of Timon in “The Lion King,” guest star of “Modern Family,” or “The Producers” movie. His performance in “The Producers” musical, as well as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and the recent “Angels in America” revival, have earned him three Tony Awards out of six nominations and over 20 Broadway credits, in addition to six Primetime Emmy nods, two Golden Globe nods, and a SAG Award. He now stars as a tough-talking detective in Showtime’s new series from John Logan, “Penny

Elle Fanning has been acting her entire life, growing up on screen in both indie darlings and mainstream blockbusters. In fact, it’s her imaginative inner child guiding her through both the biz and our ongoing coronavirus crisis today. Listen in for insights on how she stays in touch with creativity, brings such specificity to her characters, and acts in the moment. We also check in with Briana Rodriguez, Backstage’s editor in chief, for an exciting update on our virtual, community-driven opportunities! Since first appearing alongside her sister Dakota Fanning in “I Am Sam,” Elle has starred in “Super 8,” “Ginger & Rosa,” “20th Century Women,” “The Beguiled,” “Teen Spirit,” and as Princess Aurora in Disney’s “Maleficent” and its sequel. This year she appears in the Netflix film “All the Bright Places” and comes to TV as both executive producer and the leading role in Hulu’s new historical romp from Tony McNamara, “The Great,” as a young Catherine the Great. Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and

Award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce has built a career of fascinating, varied characters, from his breakout in “Brazil,” the first of many collaborations with Terry Gilliam, to hits like “Evita,” “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Game of Thrones.” Born in Wales, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, and winning two Tonys and two Oliviers for his level of craftsmanship onstage, the legendary star is now nominated for his first Academy Award (finally!), recognizing his leading role as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio a.k.a. Pope Francis in Netflix’s “The Two Popes.” -- For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features interviews with some of the most exciting actors and storytellers working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Listen and subscri

Billy Crudup has long been both a leading man and character actor of stage and screen, appearing on Broadway, with four Tony nominations and a win to his name, and films including “Almost Famous,” “Spotlight,” and “Jackie.” The native New Yorker studied communication at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, eventually developing a philosophy about performance valuing process over results. He’s currently nominated for a slew of accolades, and won a Critics’ Choice Award, for his fascinatingly zany work as a television executive on Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show,” created by Jay Carson and starring and produced by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. This episode is brought to you by HBO. -- For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features interviews with some of the most exciting actors and storytellers working today. Chec

Joey King has been acting, and passionate about acting, since her first acting job: in a Life cereal commercial. At only age 20, she’s already been nominated for Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe Awards—all as the real-life Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu’s limited series “The Act” opposite Patricia Arquette. She had her breakout leading role as Ramona Quimby in “Ramona and Beezus,” and has appeared in “Crazy Stupid Love,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Kissing Booth,” and much more—and given her knowledge of and commitment to her craft, she’s only getting started. This episode is brought to you by HBO. -- For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features interviews with some of the most exciting actors and storytellers working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Listen and subscribe to “In the Envelope” on: - iTunes: https:/

We have an extra special episode today! Kathy Connell has been the executive producer of the Screen Actors Guild Awards since founding it 26 years ago, and heads up national programming for SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s biggest guild. A former actor herself with plenty of craft and career advice, Kathy joins the podcast to talk about what went into creating an awards show exclusively for on-camera talent—and to remind working SAG-AFTRA members to vote for their favorite film and television performances in the SAG Awards, held Jan. 19! -- For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features interviews with some of the most exciting actors and storytellers working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Listen and subscribe to “In the Envelope” on: - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - Spotify:

Paul Rudd has charmed and cracked up audiences in everything from his breakout in “Clueless” and “Wet Hot American Summer” to Judd Apatow’s comedy classics, “Friends,” “Role Models,” and much more. The Kansas City-born, theater-trained actor, screenwriter, producer, and philanthropist is probably best known as Scott Lang in Marvel’s “Ant Man” and its sequel, which he co-wrote. This year, in addition to box office champion “Avengers: Endgame,” Paul has landed a well-deserved a Golden Globe nomination for Netflix’s Timothy Greenberg comedy, “Living With Yourself,” in which he takes on the challenge of acting opposite a clone of himself. -- For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features interviews with some of the most exciting actors and storytellers working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Listen and subscribe

Capping off a year of terrific acting and looking ahead to an exciting awards season, we’re back with another discussion episode. Jack Smart and Benjamin Lindsay of Backstage’s editorial team break down this year’s Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and more: which individuals and ensembles made the cut, where we stand with both television and film awards races, and who were our favorite performers of 2019. Happy New Year! -- For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features interviews with some of the most exciting actors and storytellers working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Listen and subscribe to “In the Envelope” on: - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD - Overcast: https://bit.ly/2OJvWGk - SoundCl