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In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

312 episodes — Page 5 of 7

Aidy Bryant

Actor-writer-comedian Aidy Bryant’s philosophy when it comes to her industry is to create the work she likes—even if no such work exists yet. Born in Phoenix and trained in comedy at Chicago’s The Second City, she has turned her uniqueness into both a guiding light and, against all odds, a thriving career. “If you’re not getting the parts that you want,” she advises, “it’s up to you to make it.” Since 2012 Aidy has been stealing the show every week as a cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” which has earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She’s also made appearances on “Girls,” “Portlandia,” “Horace and Pete,” “I Feel Pretty,” and the animated “Danger & Eggs,” and now writes, executive produces, and stars on the groundbreaking Hulu comedy “Shrill,” adapted from Lindy West’s book of the same name. To read more, check out Aidy’s Meet the Maker feature: https://bit.ly/32ScCQ5 --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Sep 3, 202055 min

2020 Emmy-Nominated Casting Directors

Casting directors have a special position within the entertainment industry, matching talent and roles on dozens of projects at once. Actors, of course, want to understand those on the other side of the audition table: What are casting directors looking for, and what exactly do they do? Three Emmy Award nominees for casting, and Senior Editor Elyse Roth, join the podcast to answer those questions and more. Cindy Tolan is the winner of five Artios Awards and an Emmy for her work in casting. Her career spans New York theater, TV, and film, from “Avenue Q” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” to “Flight of the Conchords” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” to “Straight Outta Compton,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and the forthcoming “West Side Story” movie. Cindy is currently Emmy-nominated again for Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Amazon Prime Video comedy “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 3. Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas are celebrating a 20-year partnership at their award-winning casting company Bialy/Thomas & Associates. Sharon is known for casting “Rudy,” “Point Break,” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” while Sherry got her start on the film “Contact.” Together, they’ve cast Broadway and Los Angeles theater, indie and blockbuster films, and TV hits including “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul,” “The Walking Dead,” “Barry,” “The Righteous Gemstones,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “The Act.” The seven-time Emmy nominees are now in contention again, for both Liz Feldman’s Netflix comedy “Dead to Me” and Bruce Miller’s Hulu drama “The Handmaid’s Tale.” This episode is brought to you by HBO. To read more advice from casting directors, check out Backstage’s “In the Room” features: https://bit.ly/3jf424A --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Aug 27, 20201h 25m

Maya Rudolph

Acting, for Maya Rudolph, “comes with a suit of armor and allows me to protect my little, sensitive insides.” The comedian, musician, and all-around performer reflects on the childhood influences that inspired her artistry; by pretending to be other people, she empowers herself to explore different energies and vulnerabilities. When it comes to creating characters, as she’s done for years in animated roles and on “Saturday Night Live,” that empowerment is a joyful process. Maya booked her childhood dream job of “Saturday Night Live” in 2000, after working as a costume assistant and studying comedy at the Groundlings in L.A. She’s stolen the show in “Away We Go,” “Bridesmaids,” “Wine Country,” and films by her partner Paul Thomas Anderson, and produced and starred on “Maya and Marty” and “Forever.” At the upcoming Emmy Awards, Maya is nominated three times: for her voiceover work on Netflix’s “Big Mouth” as the hormone monstress Connie, and her guest appearances on NBC’s “The Good Place” as The Judge and on “Saturday Night Live,” where she’s returned to play vice presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris. --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Aug 20, 202053 min

Cord Jefferson & Damon Lindelof

Like any good collaborators, co-writers Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson can find common ground despite drawing from different inspirations. One similarity they share may be familiar to artists in any field: imposter syndrome. As the two tell Backstage, great screenwriting requires overcoming such self-doubt achieving agency in one’s career by churning out first drafts. Another tip: get off Twitter. Damon is an Emmy-winning writer and showrunner, known as the creator of the hit series “Lost” and “The Leftovers,” as well the writer of films “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Prometheus,” “Tomorrowland,” and more. Cord is a journalist-turned-screenwriter with 2020 Writers Guild of America Awards for “Succession” and “The Good Place.” They are Emmy-nominated together this year in the limited series writing category for HBO’s “Watchmen,” their sequel to, and radical re-imagining of, the beloved comic book of the same name. --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Aug 13, 202058 min

Nancy Cartwright

When it comes to voiceover, says Nancy Cartwright, “you can’t really make any mistakes.” The television legend, best known for her longtime work as Bart Simpson, here gives listeners a crash course on breaking into the biz as a voiceover talent—plus many words of inspiration. Whether you’re curious about voice acting or an artist wondering how to navigate the ongoing industry shutdown, this interview covers it all. Born in Ohio and mentored by Daws Butler in the art of voice acting, Nancy is the voice behind Bart Simpson and other characters on the world’s longest-running sitcom, Fox’s “The Simpsons.” She’s also appeared on “The Animaniacs,” “Kim Possible,” “Rugrats,” “The Replacements,” and more, turned her autobiography, “My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy,” into a one-woman play, and wrote and produced the film “In Search of Fellini.” For “The Simpsons,” Nancy won the voiceover performance Emmy Award in 1992, and is in contention again this year. Check out Backstage’s coverage of all things voiceover here: https://bit.ly/3i9hExR --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Aug 6, 20201h 4m

The 2020 Emmy Award Nominations

In this special discussion episode, Jack is joined by Backstage’s social media specialist Katie Minard and senior staff writer Casey Mink to chat the 2020 Emmy Award nominations: gut reactions ranging from gratifying to frustrating, Emmy trends both typical and unusual, and what the Sept. 20 ceremony might have in store for us. Will the Television Academy vote for new streamers Disney+ and Apple TV+, and how much might Netflix win? Are there categories that deserve another look, or new ones to introduce? And what about the pandemic? This lively, insightful conversation from three TV-watching experts (you can follow them on Twitter @JackSmartWrites, @KatieMinard, and @Casey_Mink) will help you brush up on all things Emmy. To read about the Emmy nominations, click here: https://bit.ly/3fu31mW --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Aug 4, 202037 min

Jean Smart

Jean Smart has the kind of craft and career advice only an actor with her breadth of experience could provide. Since her early days studying theater in her home state of Washington, there’s little the three-time Emmy Award-winning actor hasn’t taken on, avoiding pigeonholing and receiving constant critical acclaim. Case in point: her recently Emmy-nominated work as Laurie Blake on HBO’s Damon Lindelof limited series “Watchmen.” As she puts it, “Who knew at this stage of the game I was going to become an action hero?” Jean’s breakout role as the naive Charlene Frazier on “Designing Women” was followed by “Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story” as the titular serial killer. In addition to Emmy-winning work on “Frasier” and “Samantha Who?,” she’s stolen the show on “24,” “Fargo,” “Legion,” in “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Garden State,” and “A Simple Favor,” on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” and much more. --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 30, 202056 min

Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz has developed a philosophy toward auditions that any actor facing the prospect of rejection can adopt for themselves. “The truth is, you were always right or you were never right,” says the actor-model-musician, reflecting on her recent experience on the other side of the audition room table. The daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, Zoë grew up surrounded by artists, and has plenty of advice, from navigating the artistic life in general to her specific creative process, to pass along. Since her film debut at age 17 in “No Reservations,” Zoë has appeared in indies “Beware the Gonzo” and “Yelling to the Sky,” blockbusters “Divergent,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and “Fantastic Beasts,” and on “Californication.” This season she returned to star on HBO’s Emmy Award-winning “Big Little Lies,” and executive produced Veronica West and Sarah Kucserka’s Hulu adaptation of the classic rom-com “High Fidelity,” playing the gender-flipped leading role of Rob. She will next star as Catwoman in “The Batman.” --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 23, 202045 min

Eugene Mirman & John Roberts

If voicing a character on a hit animated sitcom is your idea of a dream job, let this deep dive into both voiceover and comedy be your guide. Eugene Mirman and John Roberts, both voice actors on Fox’s Emmy Award winner “Bob’s Burgers,” join us to map out how they broke into the biz and offer advice for those looking to do the same. Their paths were different but their advice is the same: create and test out the material that best showcases your talent. Loren Bouchard’s animated family comedy “Bob’s Burgers” has run for 10 delightful seasons, featuring Eugene as son Gene Belcher and John as matriarch Linda Belcher. Eugene is also known for his work on “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” “Flight of the Conchords,” and “Delocated,” and for the alternative standup comedy he has helped turn into a movement. John, a musician as well as theater and commercial actor, made a name for himself writing and performing in popular web sketches. Check out eVocation, the upcoming virtual conference devoted to the business of voiceover: https://www.vocationconference.com/ --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 16, 20201h 16m

Ana Fabrega & Julio Torres

The hilarious Ana Fabrega and Julio Torres take a serious approach to comedy, a philosophy echoed in their advice for other writers and performers: do what you like, and only what you like. “Creatively, if it’s not fun, stop doing it,” says Julio. “You should be enjoying what you’re doing at all times,” agrees Ana. The two comedians are the co-creators and stars, along with Fred Armisen, of HBO’s “Los Espookys,” the Spanish-language comedy following a group of friends who launch a business specializing in supernatural horror services. Ana starred on and wrote for “The Chris Gethard Show” and is featured on “At Home With Amy Sedaris,” while Julio served as a writer on “Saturday Night Live” and last year released the HBO special “My Favorite Shapes.” This episode is brought to you by HBO. To hear more about “Los Espookys,” check out Julio’s interview with costume designer Muriel Parra on Backstage’s The Slate: https://bit.ly/3gEfWnd --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 9, 202049 min

Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney’s credo has always been “make what you want to see.” It’s the advice the actor-writer-producer keeps coming back to in this inspiring interview, which spans Rob’s childhood in Philadelphia, the bit-by-bit process by which he became a TV creator and star, and the audition philosophy his fellow performers should keep in mind. Best known as Mac on FXX’s long-running “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” which he co-created and co-produces with Glenn Howerton, Rob was and still is inspired by the format of classic sitcoms. Alongside Charlie Day and Megan Ganz, he is now the co-creator, as well as writer-director-star, of AppleTV+’s comedy “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet,” a workplace sitcom set in a video game studio. This episode is brought to you by AppleTV+. Check out this year’s roundup of actors who are long overdue to win Emmy Awards: https://bit.ly/3iPls8G --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 8, 202057 min

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw has proven herself a chameleonic star of stage and screen. Since studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, appearing on London stages and TV series, and then breaking out with her British Independent Film Award-winning turn in the feature film “Belle,” the actor-activist has dazzled in everything from period dramas to sci-fi adventures. In episode #100 of “In the Envelope,” Gugu opens up about the artistic processes she relies on—including using music, accents, and even scents—to get into character. Gugu has starred in “Larry Crowne,” “Undercovers,” “Beyond the Lights,” “Concussion,” “Miss Sloane,” “Black Mirror: San Junipero,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Cloverfield Paradox,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Fast Color,” “Motherless Brooklyn,” and this year, on AppleTV+’s drama “The Morning Show” as Hannah Shoenfeld and in the film “Misbehaviour” as Miss World pageant winner Jennifer Hosten. 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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 3, 202058 min

D’Arcy Carden

D’Arcy Carden is proof that breaking through in the biz usually requires years of studying the craft of acting, practicing resilience amid rejection, and getting by with survival gigs. After graduating from Southern Oregon University and moving to New York City, D’Arcy was “equal parts delusional and also confident,” she says. She knew the odds of making it as a professional actor and held onto the dream anyway. She is now best known as Janet, the cheerful virtual assistant of the afterlife, on four seasons of Mike Schur’s beloved NBC comedy “The Good Place.” Around the same time she was enduring countless auditions for that job, she was cast on HBO’s award-winning Bill Hader hit “Barry.” D’Arcy also appeared on “Broad City,” “Other People,” and shorts and other comedy projects with the Upright Citizens Brigade. This episode is brought to you by HBO. To keep up with changes to the 2020 Emmy Awards, which begin their nominating window today, click here: https://bit.ly/3giimYw --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jul 2, 20201h 3m

Hailee Steinfeld

Superstar Hailee Steinfeld had the biggest of big breaks at age 13, when she earned an Academy Award nomination for the Coen brothers’ “True Grit,” opposite Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. Her thriving career ever since, both as an actor and singer-songwriter, is the result of a childhood obsession with playing other people—and, with her family’s support, managing realistic expectations. “Every time I walk onto a set for the first day I feel like I know nothing,” she reveals. “And I hope that feeling never goes away.” An Oscar nominee for “True Grit” and a Golden Globe nominee for “The Edge of Seventeen,” Hailee has taken on a wide variety of roles in the last decade, starring in “Ender’s Game,” “Romeo and Juliet,” the “Pitch Perfect” movies, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and “Bumblebee.” Her newest challenge is executive producing Alena Smith’s Peabody Award-winning comedy “Dickinson” from AppleTV+, and leading the series as a particularly irreverent Emily Dickinson. This episode is brought to you by AppleTV+. To read about the 2020 Peabody Awards, click here: https://bit.ly/2VwDW3K --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 30, 202049 min

Keegan-Michael Key

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 crew jobs, click here: https://bit.ly/3hYb4Lh ---- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 25, 20201h 1m

Michelle Dockery

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 by AppleTV+. --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 23, 202051 min

Zoey Deutch

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. 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 18, 202054 min

Mark Duplass

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 16, 202059 min

Cynthia Erivo

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 by UCLA’s Professional Programs at the School of Theater, Film and Television. --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 11, 20201h 5m

Yvonne Strahovski

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 4, 202057 min

Raphael Bob-Waksberg

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 acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit our list of resources: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Jun 3, 20201h 14m

Sarah Snook

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

May 28, 202059 min

Dan Bucatinsky

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

May 26, 202057 min

Laura Linney

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 update on virtual content offerings in The Slate: https://bit.ly/3cRTXaS --- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

May 21, 20201h 5m

Janet Mock

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

May 14, 20201h 8m

Mishel Prada

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Browse Backstage casting listings: https://www.backstage.com/casting/ Check out Backstage’s community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

May 7, 202051 min

Nathan Lane

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 Dreadful: City of Angels.” -- 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Apr 30, 202058 min

Elle Fanning

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 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 the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ -- Subscribe and listen to In the Envelope: - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - iTunes: https://apple.co/2rs0llz - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis

Apr 23, 202041 min

Jonathan Pryce

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 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Jan 30, 202059 min

Billy Crudup

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. 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Jan 16, 20201h 11m

Joey King

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://apple.co/2rs0llz - Google Play: https://bit.ly/2DHkPwt - Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD - Overcast: https://bit.ly/2OJvWGk - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Jan 14, 20201h 0m

Kathy Connell

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: https://spoti.fi/2QNmu6C - Stitcher: https://bit.ly/2DJv6bD - Overcast: https://bit.ly/2OJvWGk - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Jan 7, 202038 min

Paul Rudd

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 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Jan 2, 202058 min

The 2020 SAG Award Nominations

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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Dec 30, 201922 min

Tony Shalhoub

A mastercraftsman of the stage and screen, Tony Shalhoub is the winner of two SAG Awards, a Golden Globe, four Tony Award nominations with one win for “The Band’s Visit,” and four Primetime Emmy Awards—one this year for his hilarious Abe Weissman in Amazon’s Amy Sherman-Palladino comedy “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Born in Michigan and educated at the Yale School of Drama, the American Repertory Theater, and on and off Broadway, Tony then broke out on screen in the sitcom “Wings,” procedural classic “Monk,” and dozens of hit films. Although he hesitates to give acting or life advice, what he does provide is pure listening gold. This episode is brought to you by Amazon Prime Original “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." -- 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Dec 5, 201951 min

Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Da’Vine Joy Randolph is having a breakthrough moment playing an actor having a breakthrough moment. The Pennsylvania native and Yale School of Drama graduate portrays the real-life Lady Reed in Netflix’s film “Dolemite Is My Name,” directed by Craig Brewer and starring Eddie Murphy as blaxploitation comedian Rudy Ray Moore. Tony-nominated for “Ghost the Musical” and determined to work in theater, television, and film, Da’Vine objects to the notion that artists need to stay in their respective lanes: “What if I want the whole highway?” This episode is brought to you by Universal Pictures. -- 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Dec 3, 201951 min

Tim Blake Nelson

What is a character actor? Tim Blake Nelson, the supporting star of everything from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” to “The Incredible Hulk” to the title role in “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” has specific advice on how to work consistently in Hollywood. The Oklahoma native and Juilliard alum also generates his own work a writer-director-producer, helming “The Grey Zone,” “Leaves of Grass,” “Anesthesia,” and “Socrates.” This year, Tim stars as the shiny-masked Looking Glass on Damon Lindelof’s adaptation of “Watchmen” on HBO, and makes memorable appearances in Amazon Studios’ “The Report” and Warner Brothers’ upcoming “Just Mercy.” -- 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Nov 26, 201955 min

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu has become an award-winning artist and A-lister by nature of her attitude: she loves both the craft and career sides of acting. Born in Queens and schooled at the University of Michigan, Lucy took every theater job available to her—despite a dearth of Asian-American roles—until her breakout on the sitcom “Pearl.” She then earned an Emmy nomination for her work on “Ally McBeal,” and starred on the big screen in everything from “Charlie’s Angels” to “Kill Bill” to the SAG Award-winning “Chicago” to last year’s “Set It Up.” For the past seven years the actor-director has played Joan Watson on CBS’ Sherlock Holmes procedural “Elementary,” and can now be seen as the fabulously domineering Simone Grove in Marc Cherry’s CBS All Access drama “Why Women Kill.” -- 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Nov 21, 20191h 4m

Taron Egerton

Taron Egerton was fresh out of drama school when he went through a rigorous audition process for the lead role in action comedy “Kingsman: The Secret Service”—a task the young actor relished, since he loves auditioning. Raised in Wales and bit by the acting bug as a teenager in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Taron trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before going on to play several real-life figures on the big screen, in “The Testament of Youth,” “Legend,” “Eddie the Eagle,” and this year’s “Rocketman,” the dazzling Paramount Pictures musical with Taron singing in flashy finery as a young Elton John. This episode is brought to you by Universal Pictures. -- 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Nov 19, 201955 min

The 2019–20 Awards Season Preview

We’re back for another deep dive into Hollywood’s awards races! Jack Smart and Kasey Howe of Backstage’s awards team highlight this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Emmy results, and performances to keep an eye on during this 2019–20 film and guild awards season. Who will emerge as frontrunners at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and more...? -- 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and “In the Envelope” on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media Manager: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Samantha Sherlock and Kasey Howe

Nov 14, 201927 min

Jonathan Van Ness

Growing up in rural Illinois with dreams of launching an empire as a hairdresser, Jonathan Van Ness has achieved that goal and then some. He left the midwest for Los Angeles and broke into the online comedy world with the now Emmy-nominated Funny or Die web series “Gay of Thrones,” a recap of “Game of Thrones” filmed in his hair salon. He produces the interview podcast “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness,” has dabbled in writing, stand-up comedy, ice skating, and gymanstics, all while experiencing the whirlwind rise to reality TV fame as the grooming expert on “Queer Eye,” Netflix’s award-winning reboot of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Looking for fabulous inspiration? Jonathan has advice for aspiring entertainers, content creators, and pretty much everyone. 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Aug 27, 201951 min

Laverne Cox

Award-winning triple threat, producer, and activist Laverne Cox has earned three guest actress Emmy nods for Jenji Kohan’s Netflix prison drama “Orange Is the New Black.” As the first openly transgender performer to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy, the first openly trans woman to win a Daytime Emmy for her special “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” and broadcast TV’s first trans lead in CBS’ “Doubt,” Laverne has been blazing trails since her early days dancing in Mobile, Alabama and studying acting in New York City. She played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again,” and can be seen on “The Mindy Project,” “Dear White People,” and countless upcoming projects. Special thanks to Oriella St. Louis! -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Aug 22, 20191h 19m

Anna Chlumsky

Anna Chlumsky has received six consecutive supporting comedy actress Emmy nominations as Amy Brookheimer on HBO’s award-dominating political satire “Veep,” from Armando Iannucci, David Mandel, and producer-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Breaking into the industry as a child star in “My Girl,” Anna didn’t come around to the idea of pursuing acting passionately until after a much-needed hiatus at the University of Chicago and in the publishing industry. Then she was inspired by Mercedes Ruehl onstage and eventually began training, working off-off-Broadway, and appearing on camera again. Her number one piece of advice, in acting or in life: tell the truth. 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Aug 20, 20191h 2m

The 2019 Emmy Awards

Join us for another deep-dive episode of “In the Envelope,” this time with an eye on the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards! Jack Smart is joined by Backstage senior editor and fellow TV fanatic Elyse Roth for a dissection of all things 2019 Emmys: Which TV industry trends might affect the race? Which of our favorite series and performances deserve attention from the Television Academy? And which will win...? -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Aug 13, 201932 min

Seth Meyers

A fixture of late-night TV, specifically at the headquarters of NBC, Seth Meyers is the host of the acclaimed “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” With roots in Illinois, Michigan, and New Hampshire, Seth studied comedy in Chicago and Amsterdam before auditioning for “Saturday Night Live” in 2001, where he worked for 13 years as a performer, head writer, and “Weekend Update” host. Aspiring comedians, writers, hosts, and actors alike should not miss this interview—recorded in Seth’s “Late Night” offices on the eighth floor of 30 Rockefeller Center. -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Lauren Routt - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Jun 20, 201952 min

Debra Messing

A reigning member of TV royalty, Debra Messing is a leading comedy actress Primetime Emmy Award winner for NBC’s “Will and Grace.” Her performance as Grace Adler, from 1998 to 2006 and now in its revival since 2017, has also earned her Golden Globe, SAG, and other nominations aplenty. Known also for “Ned and Stacey,” “The Starter Wife,” “Smash,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” and her work in feature films and on New York stages, Debra has valuable advice for actors looking to advocate for themselves—as she has done from the very beginning of her fabulous career. -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Lauren Routt - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Jun 18, 20191h 2m

Heléne Yorke

Heléne Yorke (pronounced “huh-LAY-nuh york”) is well known to Broadway audiences for “Bullets Over Broadway” and “American Psycho,” and is now cracking up TV audiences in her breakout TV role: as the aimless Brooke Dubek in Comedy Central’s “The Other Two,” from Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider. She joins us to talk about her post-audition routines, living in the moment, and her hard-won ability to embrace the rejection and uncertainty in her profession. -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Lauren Routt - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Jun 13, 20191h 0m

William Jackson Harper

Actor William Jackson Harper went from his native Dallas to Santa Fe to the stages of New York City, following his passion for playing fascinating, sometimes oddball, characters. Just before catching his big break in TV, he was reevaluating his career, weighing its many rejections against that passion. Then he joined NBC’s inventive Michael Schur comedy about the afterlife, “The Good Place,” as the neurotic Chidi Anagonye, a performance that has earned him a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination and Emmy buzz. -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Lauren Routt - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Jun 11, 201951 min

The 2019 Tony Awards

Join us for an “In the Envelope” first: our in-depth look at awards contenders! Jack Smart is joined by Backstage senior staff writer Casey Mink for a discussion on everything you need to know about the 2019 Tony Awards and what’s on Broadway today: Which productions and performances are the favorites (and our personal favorites) at the upcoming ceremony? And what do this year’s Tony nominations say about the state of theater today? Tune in for the full scoop. -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Lauren Routt - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Jun 6, 201926 min

Jez Butterworth

Award-winning writer-director Jez Butterworth has come across the pond from his native London to stun Broadway audiences with plays like “Jerusalem” and “The River,” and now this season’s Tony-nominated family epic about The Troubles in 1981 Ireland, “The Ferryman.” In this fascinating peek at his writing process—and how ideas for stories chase him down—Jez ponders and untangles the many mysteries of theater-making, providing crucial advice on how to do it. -- 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 SUBSCRIBE and listen 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 - SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/2jUpnnw Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social Media: Francis Ramos and Lauren Routt - Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins - Additional Support: Kasey Howe and Samantha Sherlock

Jun 5, 20191h 8m