Awards Chatter

The fast-rising actress (Oscar-nominated at 14 for 2010's 'True Grit') and singer (whose 2015 debut EP 'Haiz' was a hit) talks about child stardom (she auditioned for 'The Hunger Games'), balancing movies and music ("I don't see myself doing one and not the other"), plans to direct and the teen dramedy for which she just got a Golden Globe nom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British actor of Nigerian descent reflects on a childhood caught between two worlds, why he owes so much to George Lucas (and repeat-collaborators Lee Daniels and Ava DuVernay), the 'Selma' "snub" ("The films I do very quickly get politicized") and his latest project: Disney’s first live-action film made with an all-black cast and/or set and shot in Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The single most influential person in the history of doc filmmaking reflects on how a gig that was to last 13 weeks has gone on for more than 30 years, how the arrival of Vice at HBO and the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon has impacted her division and what she thinks the future holds — for her, her division and doc filmmaking in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of Hollywood's most bankable young stars reflects on his early pretty-boy roles ("I had no fucking interest in all these"), his failed audition for 'Avatar' ("I was just awful"), almost turning down 'Star Trek' ("I was scared") and finding his best part yet in a modern-day Western ("the only experience I've had where I knew I had to do it"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 65-year-old rock star reflects on how he got his nickname ("It was derisory"), why he disbanded The Police ("My intuition was telling me that that was the thing to do") and how, over Thanksgiving dinner, he came up with the song that could bring him his fourth Oscar nom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 33-year-old discusses why he joined the Marines after 9/11, how he wound up at Juilliard, why he almost passed on 'Girls' and 'Star Wars,' and what drew him to the indie 'Paterson,' for which he has been voted best actor of 2016 by the LA Film Critics Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the finest actresses of her generation looks back on child stardom, her decision to attend college and refusal to attend graduate school and the two films she's made with Darren Aronofsky, 'Black Swan' ("It was very lucky it happened exactly when it happened") and 'Jackie' ("one of the most incredible creative experiences — if not the most incredible creative experience — of my life"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legend on his greatest roles, how he's different than he was when he broke through ("I don't feel that I need to put that much time and effort in"), Marty and Leo ("I'd love for the three of us to do something"), directing again ("It's a real uphill battle") and Trump ("I feel like I did after 9/11"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved actress reflects on her 53 years in the business, including the sitcoms that made her a star ('Gidget' and 'The Flying Nun'), her odds-defying jump to the big screen (via 'Sybil'), her two Oscars in six years (for 'Norma Rae' and 'Places in the Heart'), that infamous acceptance speech and her struggle to keep finding great roles as she gets older. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved Oscar winner reflects on growing up in the business, overcoming his 'anxiety' about acting, playing 'The Dude' and garnering some of the best reviews of his career for his portrayal of a retiring sheriff in one of 2016's most acclaimed indies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two-time Oscar nominee opens up about being discovered by Al Pacino and starring in six 2011 films ("I was like, 'What is happening in my life?!'"), the 'Zero Dark Thirty' "take-down" ("I wanted to just murder everyone") and plans for the future ("I'm probably going to act less... I'm more interesting in producing and maybe even directing"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of Hollywood's few leading men under the age of 30 discusses the near-death experience that changed his life (and face), why he owes his career to Nicole Kidman, the reason he almost turned down 'Whiplash,' his thoughts on 'Fantastic Four' and finally landing his first come-of-age role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 79-year-old legend, during his first podcast interview, reflects on his 55 years in the business, how he became "a control freak," the impact of 'Bonnie and Clyde,' the "agenda" that took down 'Ishtar' and his latest film, which centers around Howard Hughes and "America's sexual puritanism." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The revered Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner discusses a long-ago visit to a prophetic palm reader, her experiences of sexual harassment, what she wrote in a letter to Queen Elizabeth II and the one award she hasn't yet won but really wants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most commercially successful black filmmaker in history discusses his abusive upbringing ("What kept me going was my faith"), harsh critics ("We all have the right to tell our stories") and future 'Madea' subject matter (he'd like to "find a way to talk about police brutality, and all of these people being shot by police officers, through this character"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 40-year-old Brit reflects on unexpected roles in blockbusters (two 'Pirates' and Bond films), high compliments (Winnie Mandela "said no one had ever depicted her better") and why she almost turned down the role for which she's now an Oscar favorite ("I'd always drawn a line at playing a crack addict"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 42-year-old, best known as Remy Danton on 'House of Cards,' reflects on his journey from athletic prodigy to poet to actor, his disastrous 'Game of Thrones' audition, the social significance of 'Luke Cage' and generating Oscar buzz for helping to bring to life "the most beautiful script I'd ever read." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 43-year-old opens up about young motherhood, Hollywood sexism, the upsides and downsides of 'Underworld' stardom and reuniting with Whit Stillman and Chloe Sevigny, 18 years after 'Last Days of Disco,' on a project that's brought her career-best reviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The youthful 41-year-old reflects on his early years with Ben and Matt, following an Oscar-nominated perf with a controversial mockumentary, falling in love with acting again thanks to Christian Bale and doing his best work for old pal Kenneth Lonergan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 28-year-old, coming off an Emmy nom, dishes on his breakthrough roles on 'Friday Night Lights' and 'Breaking Bad,' 'Fargo' co-star Kirsten Dunst, auditioning for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' his controversial sex scene with Zach Woods and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 83-year-old Oscar nominee and Emmy winner on Natalie Wood and Paul Newman's influence on his career, the unexpected success of the original 'The Magnificent Seven' ("We thought, 'This picture's gonna be the bomb of all-time'"), his pursuit of a Ph.D while starring on 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and returning to the big screen in Victoria Negri's feature debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best actress Oscar contender reflects on her biracial heritage, getting cut out of '12 Years a Slave' and tapping into 'the spirit' of one half of the couple at the center of the landmark 1967 inter-racial marriage Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 69-year-old reflects on growing up in his legendary father's shadow, shifting his focus after 'All in the Family' from acting to directing and the 2016 presidential election ("I'm rooting for the gal that Meathead would've voted for," not a "con man"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most prominent feminist of the last 50 years, an Emmy nominee for her Viceland series ("I put the V in Vice"), sounds off on the mistreatment of women (its depiction in 'Mad Men' was "not as bad as it really was"), plus Hillary ("a miracle to me"), Trump ("a fraud"), Nate Parker ("he has taken this very seriously"), the Kardashians ("painful"), the Real Housewives ("a female minstrel show") and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 62-year-old comedy legend asserts 'Seinfeld' was never "a show about nothing" and was ripped off by 'Friends' ("our show with better-looking people"); Donald Trump would be welcome on his web series ("He is buffoonish enough"); he'd like to act in the next 'Star Wars' film (playing a character named "Areyouserious"); and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Most people that suffer the injuries that I suffered aren't hosting no fucking TV show," the beloved TV comedian, a guest actor in a comedy series Emmy nominee for his October 2015 hosting of 'SNL,' says in reference to the car wreck that nearly claimed his life in June 2014. "They're in vegetative states." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The co-founder of Upright Citizens Brigade and Emmy nominee for his portrayal of Selina Meyer's bumbling press secretary explains why he abandoned a career in psychology for comedy, why he's drawn to improv and what it's like working opposite perhaps the funniest TV actress alive today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 27-year 'Simpsons' vet discusses getting his voice insured, the acting teacher who convinced him he could do more than just voices, the challenges and rewards of guest acting (which he's previously done on 'Friends' and 'Mad About You') and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The king of the rom-com, who is now 55, discusses why he stopped making movies for several years ("terrible and embarrassing" stage-fright attacks) until he was coaxed out of retirement to star in a dramedy opposite Meryl Streep ("If you play tennis with Rafa Nadal, you play better tennis"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The enigmatic comedy legend opens up, in his first podcast interview, about his hits and misses ("Any movie that I was in that they paid me a lot of money for was a fucking smash"), aging ("I'm a mushier, softer person as I get older"), the world today ("I haven't read a newspaper in 20 years... I don't have a computer, I don't have email, I don't have any of that shit") and why he's returning to the big screen after a five-year absence — in a drama ("There was no pressure at all because there was no expectation"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 55-year-old icon, Emmy-nominated for the first time, recalls his discovery of drag ("Bugs Bunny was my first introduction"), clarifies misconceptions ("It was never about being a woman at all, it was always about f-you to society") and reveals why he today resists getting glammed up and won't for the Emmys ("You won't see in my drag if I'm not getting paid"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar and Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner discusses her uphill climb to stardom (she's been a single mother since college), the first project she discussed with Lee Daniels ("I wanted to play Precious!"), why she refused to play Cookie unless her 'Hustle & Flow' costar played Lucious and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved 'Friends' alum, who will turn 50 this year, talks about the dark side of celebrity, turning down Will Smith's part in 'Men in Black' and why he decided to return to TV to play Kim Kardashian's dad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary actress, who's poised to add to a string of summer hits unprecedented for a woman over 60, sounds off on why its 'bad business' to bet against women, why Oscars matter, why 'the greatest' label gives her 'agita' and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The comedy vet explains why he should have been fired from 'SNL,' how 'Mr. Show' landed him 'Breaking Bad' and how 'How I Met Your Mother' almost cost him the gig that has netted him two consecutive best actor Emmy noms — for a drama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The quirky SNL vet-turned-Emmy nominee on why he initially turned down Lorne Michaels ("I was tortured"), the grind of writing and starring in a network series ("Nothing prepared me for this") and what's next (another 'MacGruber' and more). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 20-year-old rising star discusses landing her first pro gig, the part of Sansa Stark, at 13, growing up in the public eye ("It can really get you down") and Sansa's season-six evolution ("She really showed people what she could do"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The storied exec reflects on his years at ABC, Paramount and Disney, and offers his take on Ovitz ("a mistake"), Katzenberg ("had to let him go"), Iger ("different than me, but equally good or better"), the Weinsteins ("troublemakers") and the Clintons ("an absolutely real relationship") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Taipei-born filmmaker, who made his name with a Sundance sensation before helming four 'Fast and Furious' blockbusters in eight years, opens about his youth as an undocumented immigrant, Hollywood's resistance to diversity and his handling of his "most personal" film yet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 68-year-old discusses his iconic 1970s films, his descent into darkness in the 1980s ("I spent those years being a low-down dirty dog and drugging myself into oblivion") and why he un-retired to play a "sociopathic son-of-a-bitch" in an ABC miniseries ("I literally did not know how to feed my family"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HBO's provocative talk show host discusses his rise through the comedy ranks, Donald Trump ("he's LOL every day"), Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert ("never say anything that challenges their own audience") and his 1-for-35 track record at the Emmys ("I wear it as a badge of honor at this point"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 86-year-old legend reflects on his rise to prominence during Hollywood's Golden Age, his four-year affair with Barbara Stanwyck, his late wife Natalie Wood and his Emmy-contending guest spot on CBS's highest-rated drama series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollywood's go-to producers for anything related to musical theater — the movie musical 'Chicago,' music-filled Oscar shows and NBC's live musicals — dish on color-blind casting, hate-watching and plans to bring 'The Wiz' and 'Bombshell' to Broadway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The creator, sole writer and executive producer of the dearly-departed drama series talks about his decades as a character actor (he appeared in a Bond movie), his transition to writing (he won an Oscar at 52 for his first produced screenplay) and the evolution — and potential future — of the Crawleys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary interviewer, who's nearing his 90th birthday, reflects on life before his hit Bravo show (he was an actor, writer, producer and yes, pimp), discusses the episodes that mean the most to him and answers the questionnaire he's made famous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBC's 42-year-old veteran, who was at 'SNL' longer than all but one other cast member in its history, says writing was his 'key to survival' at the fabled sketch show, that he left it very reluctantly but that he's grown to love the 'consistency' of late night talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best-director-of-a-play Tony nominee reflects on his long and varied career as a Broadway actor ('Angels in America,' 'The Normal Heart') and director (he's won Tonys for directing a play and a musical, and helmed the blockbuster 'Wicked'), and the joys and bumps he's experienced along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The actress/playwright explains why she calls herself a "Zimerican," how her part on 'The Walking Dead' relates to her plays about African women and what led Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o to her most acclaimed show yet — seven years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 28-year-old co-creator, writer and star of NBC's acclaimed multi-camera comedy series reveals how his life changed in a Winston-Salem shoe store, why he turned down a part on 'New Girl' when he had no money and what it was like skewering Bill Cosby on the air after visiting him at his home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tony-nominated star of Broadway's biggest phenomenon in memory (he plays Aaron Burr) dishes on his debut at 17 in 'Rent,' how he got out of a 7-year TV show contract so he could do 'Hamilton' at The Public for $500 a week, why he and his castmates fought for profit-sharing when it became a hit and why he's not worried about what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices