Awards Chatter

A titan of ’50s and ’60s popular music — rivaled only by Elvis Presley, who once opened for him — reflects on reconciling his religious upbringing with mainstream stardom, his now-controversial covering of songs by Black artists and being one of the last people put under contract to a Hollywood studio before the studio system’s collapse. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most admired stage and screen actresses of her generation shares her conflicted feelings about her star-making run run on 'The X-Files,' why she subsequently left and then returned to Hollywood and what it means to her, after so many ups and downs, to now receive universal acclaim for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most artistically and commercially successful producers in Hollywood history, a 2018 recipient of the Academy’s Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, reflects on breaking into the biz 53 years ago with Peter Bogdanovich, the chance encounter that resulted in his longtime collaboration with Steven Spielberg and marriage to Kathleen Kennedy and what inspired him to direct — for the first time in 14 years — a music doc that’s now up for six Emmys. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The much loved actors' actor, now an Emmy frontrunner for Disney+'s first MCU series, reflects on learning to improvise with the Frat Pack, cornerning the market on sexually daring parts and landing the role she was meant to play... all along. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first female VP at a major Hollywood studio (UA in the 1970s), who died on August 3 at 95, spoke with Scott Feinberg in 2013 about working on Madison Ave. in the 1960s, transitioning from being a top literary agent to a top production executive and lessons she learned while helping to make ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,’ ‘Rocky,’ ‘Carrie,’ ‘Annie Hall,’ ‘Coming Home,’ ‘Apocalypse Now,’ ‘The Big Chill’ and other classics. (Nasatir’s friend and former Bantam Books colleague Esther Margolis can briefly be heard during the conversation.) Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The powerhouse team of documentary filmmakers behind some of the most acclaimed and socially impactful docs of the 21st century reflect on their very different backgrounds, how they began collaborating and how sexual misconduct became the major theme of their work together. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Australian multi-hyphenate reflects on the filmmaking collective that he helped to establish 25 years ago, leveraging an early role in 'Star Wars' and the varied credits that have followed, from 'Warrior' to 'Loving' to, most recently, Barry Jenkins' acclaimed limited series adaptation of Colson Whitehead's bestselling novel. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The star of Hollywood's Golden Age turned author, who is now 90 and celebrating the 65th anniversary of her start in the movies in 'Giant' and 'Baby Doll,' shares the pros and cons of being a sex symbol, memories of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe and thoughts about the #MeToo movement — including an unpopular opinion of Bill Cosby, who was unexpectedly released from prison the next day. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best character actor working today, according to a 2021 industry survey, reflects on how he came to acting by way of the scene shop, why he quit the profession for two years in the early 2000s and what explains his remarkable past decade — a Tony nom, an Emmy nom (with another likely next month) and roles in five best picture Oscar nominees, two of which won. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first lady of television reflects on how her challenging childhood shaped her as a person and an actress, early jobs that were expected to be game-changers but proved not to be and the origins and evolution of her close collaboration with Ryan Murphy. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The character actor's character actor — there's a reason the 'Six Degrees' game is named after him — reflects on lessons learned from early projects like 'Animal House' and 'Diner,' why he sabotaged his own stardom after 'Footloose,' how he later reinvented himself as a character actor and why his attitudes towards television changed. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved comedy writer, actress and producer — the first female head-writer and second female 'Weekend Update' anchor in the history of 'Saturday Night Live' — reflects on the roots of her interest in comedy; her 'SNL' experience, from Poehler to Palin; and her experiences with series TV, from '30 Rock' to her pandemic projects 'Mr. Mayor' and 'Girls5Eva.' Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The thrice Oscar-nominated and twice Emmy-winning founder/CEO of Blumhouse, who the New York Times called "the king of low-budget horror movies," reflects on getting his start by producing college roommate Noah Baumbach's directorial debut, becoming an independent producer after years of working for Harvey Weinstein and making his name with breakout hits like 'Paranormal Activity,' 'The Purge,' 'Insidious' and 'Get Out.' Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The comedienne who went viral with her videos lip-syncing Donald Trump reflects on walking away from a Google to pursue comedy, what it was like becoming famous during a global pandemic and her new Netflix comedy special. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The indie darling turned Marvel star reflects on what she learned from older sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley, overcoming debilitating panic attacks as her own career suddenly exploded and finally getting to portray Wanda Maximoff's humor and complexity on Disney+'s first MCU TV series. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The brilliant and funny writer, talker and thinker reflects on how she first wound up in New York, her decades-long battle with writer's block and what it's like being the subject of a Martin Scorsese documentary and docuseries. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 25-year-old breakout star of Netflix’s most popular limited series ever reflects on her unusual childhood, the twists of fate that led her to modeling and screen acting and why she almost quit the biz just before ‘Emma’ went into production. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The revered stage and screen actor reflects on his decades of commercials and guest spots before becoming famous at 43, the happy accidents that led Vince Gilligan to cast him on 'Breaking Bad' and what it was like, seven years after that show ended, to return to TV in the limited series format. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixar's chief creative officer, a writer/director who is the most Oscar-nominated person in the history of the best animated feature category, reflects on the roots of his love of animation, transitioning from hand-drawn to computer and succeeding John Lasseter. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Martin Luther King of the disability rights movement reflects on how polio shaped her childhood, why she became an activist and the legacy of the camp at the center of Netflix’s Oscar-nominated documentary in which she appears. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The four-time Grammy winner reflects on adopting a moniker that stands for “Having Everything Revealed,” helping to repopularize R&B and landing an Oscar nom for her new tune “Fight for You.” Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The trailblazing superstar reflects on growing up between India and America, winning the Miss World beauty pageant and building an international acting career. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary star of Hollywood’s Golden Age, one of America's top box office attractions in the 1950s and the leading lady of the greatest movie of all time according to Sight & Sound’s famous poll, Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo,' reflects on the challenges and rewards of the studio system, what really happened between her and Sammy Davis Jr. and why she abandoned Hollywood for a quiet life making art and caring for animals in Oregon. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Grammy-nominated singer and Golden Globe-winning actress talks about her path from a strip mall to Stevie Wonder, creating the unofficial BLM anthem "Rise Up" and why it seems she was fated to portray Billie Holiday in Lee Daniels' new film. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fan favorite and youngest-ever best actress in a drama series Emmy winner, for HBO's 'Euphoria,' reflects on the roots of her love for acting, navigating child stardom and why she and the writer/director Sam Levinson bring out the best in each other. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar-winning Welsh actor best known for playing Hannibal Lecter reflects on getting early breaks from Laurence Olivier, leaving the stage and ending up on the screen in 1973 and becoming a major star at 53. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the great chameleonic actors of his generation reflects on his British working-class roots, the personal things that have shaped his professional journey (from alcoholism to single fatherhood) and the challenges and rewards of playing people who actually lived, from Sid Vicious to Herman J. Mankiewicz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

55 years into a legendary career, one of the few people ever to be a bona fide movie star as both a child and an adult reflects on what got her into and keeps her in the game, why she's drawn to characters who could have been — and sometimes were written to be — males, and how her objectives changed when she turned 50. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar-winning actor and 30 Seconds to Mars frontman reflects on his transformation from homeless to heartthrob, totally committing to his parts and very nearly quitting acting before ‘Dallas Buyers Club.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The man who made hip hop mainstream reflects on becoming a mogul by 23, the east/west feud that claimed his best friend and expanding his brand into fashion, vodka and socially-important films like a new short about police brutality on which he is an executive producer. But first: Travon Free, the Emmy-winning writer and co-director of 'Two Distant Strangers,' discusses the short's origin story and desired impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved actress reflects on growing up as Charlie McCarthy’s ‘sister,’ the blessing and curse of great physical beauty and how ‘Murphy Brown’ changed America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar-nominated filmmaker who reinvented the action genre reflects on his roots in TV, his fascination with terrorism and his latest film, a Western which marks his second collaboration with Tom Hanks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The triple-threat discusses her years-long journey to becoming an 'overnight sensation'; life as a young actress in the #MeToo era; and providing musical theater to the masses while Broadway is shuttered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The multihyphenate A-lister reflects on a rollercoaster career, from highs like his breakthrough with Matt Damon and two Oscar wins to lows like the 'Bennifer' period and his struggles with alcoholism, and why he considers his latest role "the crowning achievement of my life as an actor." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most popular funnyman of the past 25 years reflects on his circuitous route to comedy, followed by his rapid ascension up its ranks; his long and fruitful collaboration with Adam McKay, both at 'SNL' and on films; and his most recent project, which is Grammy-nominated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The iconic talent and beauty reflects on the moment, some 40 years ago, when she decided to pursue acting, the parts with which she made her name (and that got away) and why her latest role is one of her all-time favorites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last surviving major female star of Hollywood's Golden Age reflects on her humble beginnings in Italy, the films and filmmakers that shaped her career and how it feels, at 86, to be garnering raves for a Netflix film directed by one of her sons. But first: Carlo Ponti, Loren’s second child and a talented filmmaker in his own right, talks about growing up around and directing his mom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary documentary filmmaker reflects on his decision a half-century ago to abandon a career in the law and make movies, his fascination with American institutions and why he hates the term 'cinema verite.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The popular starlet reflects on pressures felt by young actresses in Hollywood, overcoming stage fright and receiving career-best notices for portrayal of Marion Davies in David Fincher's new film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary funny man reflects on how, as a teen, he was impacted by his father's sudden death; how a crushing disappointment as a standup actually paved the way for his TV and movie stardom, which, in turn, led to him hosting the Oscars more times than anyone except Bob Hope; and how it feels, at 72, to be garnering some of the best reviews of his career (for a non-comedic part, no less). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar and four-time Emmy winning actress reflects on the challenges of emerging from child stardom, the personal considerations and professional limitations that drove her from films to TV for many years and why, only recently, she returned to films — and began directing, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Korean-American actor reflects on his immigrant experience, how he wound up on the cable ratings-smash ‘The Walking Dead’ and his remarkable four years of international film work since leaving the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar- and Emmy-winning documentarian reflects on being a late-bloomer, how he manages to be so prolific and what he learned while making his latest doc, a portrait of Trump's bungled response to COVID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The veteran character actor reflects on his decades-spanning collaboration with Spike Lee, shortcomings of the industry and of himself that stunted his early career momentum and, at 68, garnering the best notices of his career for his portrayal of a haunted Vietnam vet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 31-year-old English actress reflects on the late relatives who inspired her to become a performer, the sudden fame that came when the ‘Downton Abbey’ unknown landed the lead in Disney’s ’Cinderella’ and why, five years later, she is looking to shed her good-girl screen persona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Brit of Pakistani descent who in 2017 became the first Muslim and Asian male to win an acting Emmy discusses how his early work reflected and perpetuated inner conflict, what caused a post-Emmy breakdown and why he is returning to his indie roots. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nevada's longest-serving and most influential U.S. Senator reflects on his odds-defying journey to D.C., key fights during his decades there and Trump, Biden, McConnell and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 26-year-old two-time Emmy winner reflects on how learning disabilities led her to acting, how casting directors see her and what it was like playing two polar-opposite characters over the past year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The six actors at the center of one of the most beloved sitcoms in TV history — Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen, Eve Plumb and Barry Williams — reconvene for a rare group interview to discuss how they wound up on that show, what really went on behind the scenes and why an HGTV special reunited them 50 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The eccentric described by Roger Ebert as "the most creative screenwriter of his generation" reflects on abandoning acting for filmmaking, his creative process and why 12 years elapsed between his first and second live-action directing gigs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices