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Da'Vine Joy Randolph

May 12, 20261 hr 14 min
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Summary

Amy Poehler sits down with Oscar-winning actress Da'Vine Joy Randolph, discussing her unique career path from classical opera to comedic acting, and the profound impact of mentors like Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy. Da'Vine shares insights into crafting her "Holdovers" role, including mastering a Boston dialect and advocating for her character's dignity. They also bond over unexpected topics like luxury kitchenware, sparkling water, and their favorite rom-coms, revealing her quiet confidence and imposter syndrome.

Episode description

Da'Vine Joy Randolph has some copper cookware she wants to recommend. Amy hangs with the Oscar-winning actress and talks about what kitchenware is currently on her wish list, how Miss Piggy shaped her, and being up on a ladder with Al Pacino.


Host: Amy Poehler

Guests: David Freyne and Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Executive producers: Bill Simmons, Amy Poehler, and Jenna Weiss-Berman

For Paper Kite Productions: Executive producer Jenna Weiss-Berman, coordinator Sam Green, and supervising producer Joel Lovell

For The Ringer: Supervising producers Juliet Litman, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin; video producers Jack Wilson and Aleya Zenieris; audio producer Kaya McMullen; social producer Bridget Geerlings; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat Spillane

Original music: Amy Miles


Hilton. For the Stay. https://www.hilton.com/

This episode is brought to you by Subaru. Love goes the extra mile in a long-range Subaru Hybrid…with up to 597 miles per tank in the Crosstrek Hybrid and up to 581 in the Forester Hybrid. Visit subaru.com/hybrid to learn more.

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Transcript

Intro / Opening

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Welcome and Director's Insights

Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We are gonna talk today to Daveine Joy Randolph and I am really, really excited. I'm such a fan of her work and we are gonna get into it today. We're gonna talk about opera. We're gonna talk about musical theater. We're gonna talk about how to do a good Boston accent. And we're gonna hear how Al Pacino made her cry in a good way.

So uh it's a great convo and I can't wait to get started. But before we do, we always talk to somebody who knows our guest and has uh a question to ask our guest and joining me today. is the director of the film Eternity. Um, a film that Dave Mine is in, and uh I I believe uh he is uh calling from uh Another country. He's zooming from another country, another time zone. So let's see. Uh it's David Frain joining us. David. Yeah.

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It's fun because Dave and I have to say is one of I I really don't know very much about or we've never met and we have friends in common and people in common and but I've only kind of watched her as a fan and watched her stuff. Um So I'm interested to get to know her today and to talk about her today. But um before we do that, I just wanted to say congratulations on your film and Um, it's you know, I'm always looking for um comedy in theaters and in film.

It's been not to be very honest, like not always the easiest genre the last decade to get good things out in the world. And comedy is like music. It's so subjective. It's people have big strong opinions about it. Um how d where did you where were your comedic influences? Like like when you started writing and and directing, um, who were you looking to at the time?

grew up loving uh like Billy Wilder was my idol. So him um and then like I mean Thirty Rock and and Parks and Wreck and those just great iconic kind of T V comedies were where where you get such a high joke rate per minute, which I think we don't get very often. So I always look to that and I think with eternity we wanted to make sure it was Like laying down with jokes, just like joke after joke after joke. Um, because I kind of I miss.

really hard comedy. And I think that like segueing to Divine and my Incredible Cast, that discusses you can write as good a script as you want, but that's the delivery. That's the actors. And and you know, some Some of the best dramatic actors in the world cannot land the joke and I think that holy grail They better not. Yeah. You can't do it all.

Before we get to Dave, I'm one last question and it uh feel f we can always if it's too personal of course, we can lose it. But um you shared a really um personal and intense story about your health journey after writing this film that feels like it is in c completely attached to and tied to the bigger idea that you're writing about.

Yeah. So in the summer, like about six months ago, I had really bad headaches, which I had during the production as well. Like I would work really hard and then collapse on the weekends. Um, but I got they found uh an apple sized tumor in my head uh that had kind of kind of broken through my brain and and surrounded my optic nerves and carotid arteries and like it was it was a really surreal, devastating thing to go through and um

uh at the start they didn't know if it was going to be kind of operable or or malignant or n and my my immediate thoughts were like, I'm not gonna get Sea Eternity released, which is such a vain thing to say, but you know, after so many years. But um You know, the the I I've had incredible care and doctors and incredible family and and my partner and it's, you know, slowly it's gotten better and I've had a great great outcome from a surgery and

I will say having gone through that in the last few months after making a film set in the afterlife, I felt quite contented. Like I felt I felt I was looking at debt with a lot more curiosity than fear. I think had uh you know, I think I would have been much more afraid had it happened before the film. And I think just the experience of making the film was so fun and joyous and I think the

the the things we spoke about with with Divine and the cast and and my passion just like as well, like even just not just the work you want to do, but the people you want to spend your time with and the people you want to work with. And working with good people, kind people. uh people that share your kind of passions, I think that that becomes much more important because you don't really have time for ourselves. I also don't have time for assholes either.

Yeah, yeah, arsehole are arseels. They're the worst. Okay.

Da'Vine's Talents and Calm

So, um, tell me about working with Dave. Studied. I mean, she has done a ton of she's like a in like a student in voice and acting. She has really knows her stuff. Yeah, she's she's she's extraordinary. I think um I think what really strike like me firstly I was we were desperate to work with her and I really wanted her for the role and then she won her Oscar and I was really bummed'cause I thought now I won't get to work with her.

But thankfully she still wanted to do the film. Um but yeah, she's she's had the most. incredibly varied career from opera to theater to to then finding acting and And it it does feel like she can do anything. I mean, I n you know, I th we knew even though the holdovers are such a dramatic role, we knew she'd be really funny, but

Like she might be the most naturally gifted comedian I've ever worked with. She's extraordinary and it it does feel effortless to her. Like it doesn't feel like she has Like annoyingly she seems to not have any of the Um anguish and anxiety that most comedians I know have. Like she just she just is brilliant, and I think she maybe can't kind of slightly know she's brilliant. Yeah. Yes. Um yeah, she's she's extraordinary. She has She comes to said. And it comes to everything with such

a weird level of calm. She's completely unflappable, which I like she could come like the set could be on fire and she'll just be like, okay, hey Dave, what's going on? Are we going to evacuate or are we going to shoot? Like she's just extraordinary. Like Ooh, I want to talk to her about that. That's really interesting. Like nothing seems to either either she hides it very well or nothing phases her. Or um which I find fascinating because I'm phased by most things. Um yeah, she's

She is um like she can kind of she's one of those people that I would put no limits on. I think she can do I think she can do anything as as a performer, as an actor, as as a comedian. Um Yeah, it's kind of almost infuriating how good she is. To be that good of an actor and to also be funny is It's not nice. It's not nice for the rest of everybody, you know? Like

It's not fair. Um So I I would love to ask you, as I as I have Daveine here today, is there a question you think I should ask her, um, big or small, um specific or you know, um, existential, something that y a story that you think she might want to tell, or um, something that you've have yet to know about her that you'd like to have answered. I mean I really want to know two things. Is one is where did the comp did the calm she has come from? Because it's so it's it's so admirable to me and I

I d I I don't I don't think you can be born with that. It's something else. And the other thing is because she's had such a varied career is when did she know how funny she was? Like when did she discover she was a comedian? Because it's not like she didn't do

sketch comedy really or stand-up. Like when did she know she had that gift? Was that later in life that she was like, oh, I'm really funny. Maybe I'll try that. So they're the two things I'd love to know because I haven't got that out of her. Great questions, both. I I love to ask this to people when I'm on Zoom with them and they have books behind them. Will you just randomly pick one book up out from behind you and tell us what the title is?

Yeah. Oh, I'm gonna pick this one because my uh my sister-in-law wrote it, The Boldness of Betty. The boldness of Betty? It's an amazing series of kind of YA books. They're beautiful. Always looking for a new book. Thank you for that, Rex. Yeah. Yeah. And also I just got to check to make sure those books are real. No, I actually can't read. Uh yeah. I can tell. It's just the covers and the inside is It's inside, yeah. Yeah.

Yes, perfect. Perfect. Thank you so much, David. Such a pleasure talking to you. Thanks for your time. Thanks so much. Have a lovely day. Yeah, you too. Bye bye. This episode is brought to you by Subaru. For me, going the extra mile means taking the long way home. If you're going to grab snacks and the 10-minute trip turns into a two-hour journey, suddenly you're on a new street.

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Kitchenware and Online Delights

Dave Vine, we're talking about sparkling water. We're talking about water and you love sparkling water. I love sparkling water. Me too. And why can't we drink it anymore? You said we can't drink it anymore. My doctor said I'm on the verge of having a hernia. Because of so much of the like. Almost. The alkaline, it's salt and stuff in it. But you said something that you said that's my coffee. That is my coffee. That's it's my that's my cocktail. That's my cocktail. Like a cocktail.

When you open up the bottle and it's not a little bit more. I know. Squeeze a little lime in there. And you know what's fascinating how in Europe they have percentages A fish? Also, well, how do you feel about your sparkling water? Because I get the big bottles, but then I don't you only drink like half of it and then it's done. It's dead. A dead sparkling. So, what I do is I pour it in a fancy, like, wine glass. So, that's funny that you say cocktails. I immediately twist it. Yeah, really tiny.

Up brute. Like almost about to cut my fingers. Super tight. Put that bad boy back in the fridge. I put my seltzer waters in a wine cooler chest. I have a wine cooler chest. This is how much I reveal. Me too. I I completely, completely to me. In the same way one would be like, Oh no, I gotta make sure that there's wine in my fridge. I panic if there's not a uh sparkling water situation in my fridge. I know and some brands are hard to get The boxes of Right. I have fought many a clerks.

Bristol Farms because they're like, No, no, ma'am, you can't take that whole box. And I'm like, Then you shouldn't have had it out here. Also, have you ever been real bougie and ordered it from uh oh, I don't know, like a delivery service and then all of a sudden you get the heaviest box that you gotta carry in your house and you're it's filled with sparkling water? This is me. That's success.

is if you're on postmates and you tell them to get the water for you and you want the thirty three point five fluid ounces. And they'll show up with a twenty two or a sixteen. And I'm like, you should have called me. Yeah. Cause then I would have said, Yeah, don't get'em. Mm-hmm. Or how many of the thirty-three did you have? Four? Okay, just get those and then go to the next Bristol Farms and get the other ones.

I found out recently you can't get light bulbs delivered anymore. Why? They won't take the risk. Like they're like They're like it's gonna show they're like we it's gonna break. And it's like what? What? People are getting soft down here. I don't like that. Light bulb. It's not even on. I mean I have to say I do love ordering things and then like putting it out of my mind and then when a package comes I'm like what is

And I think I'm like what is it? What is it? What could it be? And then I open up and it's like the best Christmas ever I know it's the best. spatula that I wanted. Yes. That I ordered. Two days ago! Yeah. And it shows up and you're like, Oh my gosh. I was literally in Costco yesterday and I was going past the the mixers. Like right? Like the the mixers. What is that? Like tableware? I don't know what it's called. I love kitchenware, tableware.

So I went past and I was like, gosh, it's on sale. I want one. And I literally remembered. Because life is lifeing. No, no, no, babes. You ordered one for Black Friday already. And I literally almost cried with excitement. I couldn't believe it. I have one already. It was crazy. That's how weird life is right now. I love kitchen gear Yeah. So much. It's like a treat. I sometimes I'll go past the wall of gadgets.

I'm like, okay, I have a garlic press, I have a wooden mallet, okay, I have a zester, I have a but I'm like, what do I need for my collection? And then I'm big on aesthetics. So the mixer I got, have you seen it? It's like the limited collection from William and Sonoma. Not a sponsor. Okay. Talk me through this, what you got. Hunter Green. Oh. With a dark mahogany wood mixing bowl. Uh it's a little bit. A wooden oh wow. So we're talking kitchen aid. Yeah. Oh wow. Yeah.

And I forgot and I was gonna just a stainless steel one or like the red one in Costco, like Oh geez, I wish I had one. Oh This is very a very I can't remember that I have that bad boy on this way. I can't believe you forgot that you ordered this. And do you see why I almost cried in Costco? Cause I was like, you're gonna get better than that. Before we get into we haven't started yet. But before we can I also so then I'm about to really knock your socks off.

I've been wanting these pots and pans. Stand by. For generations. Wait there that good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. William and Sonoma. Now you're Crushing it at William and Sonoma. Heritage Copper. Oh, you got me right there. I don't know. No you got me right there. It's this Italian company. I think it begins with an R. Copper cookware. Fuck, I love cookware. I could talk about cookware all day long. Um, let's see, what do we got here? Roof Rufoni. Yes, baby.

Okay, for those who don't know, these are we're looking at a copper pan with a silver stainless steel inside. Yeah. Historical hammered copper, 11 piece set. Guess what? Originally two thousand dollars on your price fifteen forty nine. What? Why would you not buy that? And and the price is in red, so I gotta get it. And no more. Trust and believe I got that love in peace. Salute. I'm gonna pass that down to my children. Like it's so beautiful. It's made in Italy. Like what?

Anything that's Italian, forget it. If someone's like, This is an Italian knife, it's like I gotta get it. Okay. No problem. Dave Einjoy Randolph is here. Oh. So we just got right into it. We already have all our cookware for I'm getting everything. I tr and I trust your taste. Blazer, text it to me. That's a good thing. See like your first meal I wanna see your first meal made and I'm literally tearing up. Do you love to cook? I love Me too. Uh to cook.

And I I talked about this on the podcast a little bit. I came late to cooking. I did not grow up cooking and my mom always is like, I cooked but my mom's a working mom who um are your parents teachers? Yeah. So are mine. Yes. But yeah, but anyway. Holidays maybe, then she showed out. Yeah. And she was busy working. But so I didn't really know how to cook. And I thought in my 40s, I was like, I'm just not gonna be able to cook. Yeah. And I learned and now I

Discovering Diverse Talents

Love it. Well, I actually this is gonna dovetail into the theme that I wanted to talk to you about today because I'm I'm really impressed. I I I think you're so talented. Thank you. And so naturally talented and so such a good actress and so funny. And those and and such a good singer. Like you do so many things so well. And your career is a lot of like I'm gonna try that. A lot of like Maybe I should try that. No, hold on. What's over here? Maybe I should try that. Still. Still. Still.

Cooking. Yeah. Why not? Right. Yeah. A a lot of people know you as an actress, but I don't think as many people know that you first kind of entered the world of arts as a singer. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And that was where that was kind of like the door you walk. Story. Mm-hmm. I like to I like to ask this to people who are have beautiful voices. When did you when did you know you had a good voice? When did you hear it for the first time or someone say, You have a good voice? When was the first time?

I didn't know. I thought that's what people sounded like. Right. And it wasn't until like I started getting training that I was like, oh. There's people out here who can't sing. When you say started getting trained, what does that mean? Yeah, taking voice lessons. So when I was younger, it was like right like

family and friends and I thought they're just being nice or whatever because I I'm a Gemini. Like I'm a Taurus Gemini. So like I'm a very focused Gemini that wants all the options. So like even as a kid It wasn't like, and you are a singer. Like I was the poster child for after school programs. I did it all. Yeah. And I like I r I so appreciate that that my parents instilled that and was never like stage parents or like they were like whatever you want lock in have fun but

Even now I think that's why acting is fun to me of like trying on these different people and not staying one with one for too too long. But that's also my life. It's people telling me like, no, no. For real though, you really could. Like I thought I've always thought like I'm decent and it's taken people who I've really admired to be like, No, there's something there, um, and keep going or keep

push up. That's amazing. I I hear what you mean. Like it takes sometimes like a mentor or someone to say, You what you have isn't the same as what everyone else has. Keep working on it. Keep doing it. Like that encouragement can really But can I ask you a question? To me, when I watch you work, to me it seems as if There is a natural ease in what you do. Would you say that that's true?

Thank you for saying that. I think I would hope that it f f it feels some version of like that it's I'm not s trying or striving too hard. But it did take definitely directors and teachers and stuff to be like, no, you're funny. Keep going. Like just the keep going part. The keep going part, yeah.

And and and as you know too, a lot of it is like we know I know people way funnier than me. I know people way better actor than me, I know better singers. But the half of the battle is just Not giving up. Yep. And being ready when it presents itself. Getting a regular job, not having health insurance, not like just for a long time and being like, I'm just gonna try to make it. Yeah. It's not easy. No, no, no. It's not easy.

Opera Studies and Miss Piggy

So you start you you're in Philly? Mm-hmm. I'm from Boston. I felt the northeast one hundred percent. And I gotta talk to you about your Boston accent. Okay, we'll get there. Oh, that means so much. Thank you. Hard one and we're we're tough. So is Philly, I think. And that was what was hard for me. I know because they're close. But feeling has that like um they don't like the O's are real Yeah, Miles Teller does that. He has a Philly accent? And I'm like what?

Down. These guys I can't even do it. Yeah. So Philly, you go to you start studying music, your parents are teachers. And you decide to go to school for opera. So I'm very competitive. Are you? I love competitive people. Man, we are literally Women. I like competitive women. Yeah. So um my dad was like it's interesting. I I always think of this and this is so random. My parents did not for both of their children want to know the gender in advance. I feel like that was so cutting edge.

Yeah. And my dad really was manifesting and wishing for the first one to be a boy. So didn't happen, but he had a heavy hand in like sports and competitive and like not backing down and so Literally I I was just a competitive and so there was this girl and like a new girl at my high school that was like, I went to this performing arts school called Interlockin' And my brain went do do do do do and I went home that day I will dominate it, interlocking. I will win it. I will win it.

That's literally what I said to my mom. She was like, okay. I had no idea what this thing was. And I applied. Explain what it was like that camp. I got interlocking is one of the most magical places. I'm not even kidding. I would recommend any parent who has a child that has remote interest in any form of the arts. They do theater, music, they have a writing department. It is just like A safe haven for young grade school artists, like budding it taught me to respect and revere.

You know what I mean? Like in everyday life, it's not I don't know, maybe now of these generations it's cool to be an artist. But like me growing up, it was kind of like, oh yeah, you do that other stuff too. Do you know what I mean? It was kind of like have fun and then find your real job. Yes. And so that was a place that I think is so integral for high school age kids, particularly. I mean, you can literally go at four years old.

But for high school kids to go to to like really start to dip their toe into finding themselves as an artist. And it's just so such a beautiful place in my life. And so that was a moment, a very strong moment, um,'cause it was classical. And I was like, oh no, where's the R and B? Uh that's for me. Uh and so it was all classical. Whoa, so you were singing classical and did you do you can you read music? Now I can At the time, I just had like a really good ear.

Well you're a classically trained opera singer. And it was because of that. It's that's what started it. And it was teachers being like, No, you actually have a natural gift. Keep going. Had you seen any opera before that? No. I know. I feel like opera is this thing that you only see like what is like a it just it But field trip.

It's a field trip. It's so funny. I l I I love how we when we grew up like well, you're younger than me, but when I was growing up like the the genres kind of crossed at times and it's where you learned about s people. And I remember I was thinking when I was doing preparing for today I was like, when did I first know about opera? And I think it was from The Muppet.

Because Beverly Sills, who was an opera famous opera singer, was sang opera on the Muppets. And um I'm also obsessed with the Muppets, so that's why my whole face just dropped when you said that. My pets? Babes, I wanted to be on that. And they were like, We're not doing humans this year I said. What do you mean? They're like to be like three humans, but it's really them. I was upset. Who was your favorite Muppet?

Peggy, are you kidding? Yeah, I know she's the right. She l that lady literally lady. That lady that lady owes me a lot of money. I am who I am today because of her. As a child to imagine as a young age that being like instilled in you like you don't take shit from men, you do your thing, be fabulous, you don't change so you I was like, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I literally made my parents buy me a tricycle. So you know she has that skit where she's like with the motorcycle pack.

And she's like, get around, get I used to do it all the time. And I used to make my mom give me a leather jack. Girl, it was a thing. That's my girl. When they told me the thing was coming back, I said, please. And they said, mm mm. The other place that I saw opera was um Queen in um Bohemian Rhapsody. Sure. Yeah. I was like, oh, it's... I actually think that's a that's a bridge like a a gateway for a lot of people.

Yeah, I think a lot of people were like, What is he singing? How is he singing that way? It was like, Oh no, that's what opera sounds like. So you when did you see your first opera? immedi like immediately once I went to the performing art school, it was like they completely like slapped me with the culture. And I was like, whoa. And what what was your first feeling about it? Like what did you like about it having like what made you want to keep pursuing it?

the power in my voice that I was like, oh, there's and also I'm gonna be really honest. They really sold me on the idea that it was a really good life. Like you're gonna live in Europe and men are gonna drool over you. And you get to wear beautiful gowns. Roses at your feet.

And eat pasta all day. And you work hard but not that hard. Like'cause opera singers, they don't the how many sh like even if you're at the top of your game, yeah, if you have concerts, but they don't like we can do seventeen million shows in a year. They may do like two, three opera. So I was like, this is a nine. Broadway schedule. W are you does opera is do you have to kind of like pick like a like an athlete? Do you have to pick your role like uh The voice part kinda dictates it.

So what is your voice? I'm considered a baby dramatic soprano, which means like I don't know that's what they say. Baby. And I'm always like, well, I always have the baby part, even as I get older. I don't know, maybe. But it it's like basically it's like so Leon Team Press, I don't think they would consider her a baby, but uh dramatic soprano basically means you have the low note.

But you can also get up to the high notes. But instead of like traditionally a soprano, the high notes are very like soft and airy, like more like Ariana Grande, like right? Like really breathy and soft and just like heavenly and like a dramatic soprano is like you can get up there but like with some hef.

From Opera to Acting

Baby dramatic soprano. And did you ever do an opera on stage? I went to Temple University for the teacher. Quinta went there. Uh we were there at the same time, Quinta Bronson. And Did you guys were you friends? Did you know each other? We were in passing because she was like so theater and I was still music. Yeah and they were still felt separate.

Yeah, they were very at that time now it's like a conservatory and there's a musical theater department. Um and so so anyways, I went to Temple and we were doing Aida. Wow. And Uh you know, my middle class parents, teachers, like they're not dumb, but it's like if you were to watch Shakespeare for the first time, like.

They all know what's going on. And so I remember my brain was just like, I want to be able it wasn't even acted. I want to be able to portray this character and know this character very well so that it can translate For like my family and friends that come see this. I remember that very clearly. I don't even know where that came from. Yeah. And so I remember you to go across the street to the theater department, what was like communications, to copy sheet music.

And I literally was copying sheet music and it sounded like people were dying in the room next door and it was a theater class. And so I went up to this teacher afterwards and I was like, Hey, I'm working on an opera across the street like Could you help me? I wanna like bring this to life and it'd be good. Ah wow. Very long story short, the media department got UltraPiff. And they were like, No, no, you can't do that.

I was like, I don't want to cross over. I don't want to be an actor. But I guess because it had happened so many times, they were very like territorial over it and they flunked me out. Exque? Yep. And it was my mom that I'm like bawling on the phone. This is like my junior spring. Oh no. I'm out of here. I'm about to go be in Italy, like living my best life.

And my mom was like, go across the street. I'll never cause she talked so you know how moms are when their child is like devastated. Yeah. And she was like, Step one, go across the street, go speak to the administration. You're going to apply to the theater program because most of your credits can transfer. Mm-hmm. And I actually think you might be good at it. That's literally how she said it was like But she knew I needed logic first. Like

Credit'cause I kept thinking, oh my god, like I'm about to graduate. I have to now completely find a new Right. You're pot committed to this thing. And I was like, okay. I remember they tell me this to this day that I went to the administration office and I was like, I have to be an actor. And they were like, what? And I was like, my mom's. They're crying. You are

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Shakespeare Training and Philosophy

And then you got really into Shakespeare, right? You did a lot of Shakespeare. Later, yeah, later. So when I got into Yale, I faked it. I did Shakespeare, but I think I did like Tatanya when she sees bottom and she's like in love. So I didn't have to really like, you know. I don't. I had to really mean. Like is that c more comedic? Is it It is kind of more comedian. Interesting that what you're saying is like there's like there's Shakespeare and then there's

It wasn't me reciting like Hamlet where it was like, okay, you're just standing there and delivering this speech. It was It was like this strong Tatanya's like kind of like Michelle Obama, like a tough girl that's like got it all together, who now you see gets to be like she's drunk the Kool-Aid and she's like whimsically like this ingenue in love and just being silly and in love with this like

you know, having like a kind of like teenage middle school moment of like, Oh my god, this guy is so cute. But like I'm saying in the sense of like I wasn't doing ham. Do you wanna do shake more Shakespeare? So I went to after my first year I was like, I don't know this because I was doing another classical art. I don't know this one. And so uh I went to the British Academy of Dramatic Arts. Oxford, which I couldn't believe it. We literally ate lunch.

Where Harry Potter ate lunch. Like I remember walking in there being like, Oh my God, I made it. Yeah, and so I was it was just so cool because I learned Shakespeare like By the people who do it. Wow. But I love that sense of command that they have over language. I love how much you have trained. Thank you. You are you really know your stuff. Thank you, I really appreciate that.

I I wish It's fun. I bet and it gives to to your point, like it's supposed to be a journey, like fun. And when you get to try and fail over and over again and then you get stronger and better. Is the best feeling. To me, it's kind of like freedom with inform. Like as long as I know the guardrails are up, I'm gonna bang up against those guardrails. But like you're right to in order for me to really be loose and give all of myself, even with comedy, like I just need to know the parameters. Yeah.

And then I'm just gonna go off. And it allows me to um so I guess in a way the training is like the guardrails. And then when I work, I'm like, whatever. Like have you ever watched something back of yours? I don't like to. I don't love to. don't like ADR is one of the most traumatic Also ADR is uh for people who don't know, it's like that moment in the film when you have to kinda go back sometimes and re-record stuff. Which for me is my first time of seeing it ever.

Yes, it's often your first time seeing it and it hasn't been like color corrected or anything. And so you're just like orange. Why do I look like that? I guess I'm a hundred years old. Like it's just it's seeing your face for the first time uh in a thing that isn't finished. Yeah. And you have to record new stuff and it's brut and it's brutal. I always c I used to call my mom crying afterward. And she was like, go across the street to the

You are okay. You are not the character. You serve the character. Mm is really good at calming. When you were at Yale, was there anyone else there that we would know at the time? But were you with Who are you? Who else was there? When I was there when I was a second year, Lupita was a first year. Then after Lupita was Winston Duke. Then after that was I could be mixing this up because I was now gone, but was then Yahya. Then after that was Mama Duke. Like it just Wow. Yeah. Wow. As intense.

Intense. And then you go and you go from that to talk about training being put to the test.

West End, Nannying, and Mentors

You have to open Ghost on in the West End with about a week of rehearsal. Yeah. Which made no s so um I was When I graduated, I got an agent and like, you know, I gotta have a survival job. Yeah. So uh I applied everywhere in New York City and that little Yale degree. Even though it's in theater, people were like, You're overqualified. No. And I was like, but it was theater. And so I couldn't get any job. And so...

I was like, okay, I'm gonna nanny. So I nannyed for this amazing family and it was amazing because I worked the system. Cause I was broke. And I said, listen, as a curator of art, Your children need to go to five star hotels and experience what that is like. Desserts really nice places, and we need to teach them how to eat out of five. Literally, and they were like, okay. And literally, can you imagine? Two little white boys and me like at a table, and they're like, Mr. Fine.

Because just in case their friends are here watching, I gotta make this credible. That's so smart. It was so much fun. So smart. Yeah. So they were like, Oh, this is an audition. for the like understudy, understudy, a swing. And so they were like, you'll n if you get this, you'll rarely go on. No big deal. I go in there because I'm young and I had never auditioned for anything before, those people told me So you're gonna do the entire thing?

They made me audition for seventy five percent of that musical. Wow. In the room. Here's more. Wow. Seventy five percent of the musical. Build it. It was just adrenaline. Yeah. But one thing that was a blessing and a curse, I was on a high. Like my body. I say speaking of belting high, baby, I belted high that day. Then they wrote it? Because it was an original musical. So they were like, Oh, she wants a belt and a Never be good at something you don't want to do.

'Cause eight shows a night and they went basically up there. I was like, No, we're gonna have to bring it down. So I did that audition in like August. I didn't hear anything for two days. I'm not thinking about it. It's the understudies, understudy, understudy. My team then hits me up and is like, You booked and I'm like, Oh, okay, cool. And I was bummed because I was like, I gotta tell these kids, I gotta leave them. Yeah.

My team was like argue. It was the lifestyle. I was saying goodbye to the lifestyle. And so they literally they were like days later they're like, Why are you not more excited, my team? And I was like, It cause you it's just whatever. Like if everyone gets sick, then maybe I'll go on. They were like, Yeah, we lied. Um

You are playing Whoopi Goldberg's part and I was like, Come on. What? Why would you do this? So then I'm terrified. And it was literally the like the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. And so I had never done a job of that magnitude, but I had never done a a like seasonal job. Yeah. And I really love the holidays. Yeah. So I started crying and I was like, but do I get to spend days getting with my parents? And you know, ages, are you dying? You make Oh no, that's dead!

worked with so many great people and you talk about them a lot and you talk about Robin Williams. And I I can't believe that was my first move. That's amazing. I cannot believe that. Sadly, that was my first movie and that was his last movie. I cannot believe it. So grateful. There's something that I notice in legendary comedians specifically. Robin had it.

Eddie had I had that experience. It's different, but they have a similar trait. Eddie shows up in Steve Martin for sure, Martin Short. And there's this thing when we talk about when people Tap me on my shoulder and be like, Hey And I never would think it would be those people. In my mind growing up, I thought, you know, like they either really stay to themselves or they're distant or like

Their egos won't ever give you the satisfaction. And Robin was the complete opposite. And he actually talked to me more than anybody else. We just talked for a we. I literally just sat there and listened to everything. that that man said to me. And I will eve in the moment while he was talking to me, I was like, This is crazy. No one's gonna believe you. So don't even tell anyone. Like, maybe later you can share a great anecdote, but.

It was unbelievable and he just poured into me. And it would just be like in between the takes. He would just be like blah blah blah la and then, you know, immediately just Go into this thing. But yeah, he would if I would say career wise, he was the first person that was like, ご視聴ありがとうございました What an anointing from someone like that. And then you worked with Eddie, a dolomite, and what and y and same thing. Eddie really took you under his wing.

He really did. He really did. And something that was interesting, so like differences. Robin was so explosive. It felt like I o when people ask, the only thing I can think of is like, you know how in Penn Station The ticker thing.

Yeah. It's like you can't his thoughts are so loud when he's not talking that even when you stand next to him it's like and I'm just like I can feel like almost like having coffee, like you just feel this buzz being next to him and just was like Um and with Eddie, something that I learned, and it was interesting to work with him at that stage of his life and that point of his career.

there is a stillness and a quietness when he's not working or in between scenes and then there's the action and then

whole thing comes to life. Yeah. And it was something that in the first again, supporting actor being like, Oh, okay, this is your rhythm and this is how you work to that I then uh like adjusted and then I was like, okay, so I'm not Well that it feels like your musical training comes in there'cause you're picking exactly what you said, rhythm and breath and energy, like the dynamic. One hundred percent.

The rhythm is the biggest thing, I think, especially with comedy and especially with legends like that. You right? You wanna learn quickly, not ask any questions and observe and like feels like jump rope of like, I'm jumping in and I'm jumping out you know what I mean, learning that kind of pacing and but it was after um that he really kind of prepared me for the industry in that when we did pre like we had a full-blown press tour.

And he was like, she's come whatever I'm going to, she's coming to all of it. And so like 100% it prepared me for holdovers. I think if I didn't have that, I would be like, what is this crazy machine? Of things and so in a more chill way, I got to experience it. I got to see what insane fame. Looks like Yeah. Which is scary to me. Yeah. That's really intense.

The Holdovers: Role Creation

For it. Sorry. But no, no, no. You mentioned the holdovers. It I just have to say to you that film. It is in it is now forever in rotation in as a Christmas film because not only is it beautifully acted and b beautifully directed by Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti and Dominic, they're amazing. You're the three of you together are just Thank you. But it also captures this melancholy. Like you say you love the holidays and It's this holiday Salty, sweet, sour sadness that happens to all of us.

Even if you have a house full of people or whatever you consider like A traditional happy Christmas. 'Cause like the loneliness finds its way in. Every time. I know even with a full house, the way you Depicted that mother in that movie is one of my favorite cinematic performances. I love you in that movie. Congratulations on winning the Academy. And um so deserved. Thank you. And just so first of all, Paul Giamatti

Love him. Always loved him. Always loved him. And like similarly, he's so good at so many things. But he's really good at playing like that underdog that can't quite figure it out and just like keeps hitting their head against the w I ugh. So good. I had a fun moment when he hosted SNL when I was there and you know, you're like down under the um bleachers, like changing clothes really fast. And at one point I turned to him and I was like, Are you having fun? And he was like, This is a nightmare.

Inside everything is painful when he's dying inside. Yeah. Even while we're filming and I'm like, Wow, we're really doing it He's like Not he hates like acting. No. But do you know what I mean? That's why he's so funny. put himself in like risky like inside his anxiety is through the room. And he's like, I'll do it.

We feel it. We feel it with him. And the the the trio of you three like unexpected friends. Yeah. Like, you know, like a random family. Yeah. Yeah. So good. What kind of prep did you do for that role? So it was interesting when because I love cooking, um I was like, uh, so listen, contractually, I have to cook for real.

And you for many reasons and due to that time period, I wanted it to be clear that this was actually her job and that she was good at it versus like I ne I first asked Alexander, I said. Is she the help or is she a learned chef? And he was like, I actually want her to be a learned, he said cook. And I said, we're not gonna say that word, we're gonna say chef.

If you're saying she has an education in it, she's a chef. Right. Um, and so once I knew that's where he was going with it, I was like, okay, so then you're going to have to establish scenes and moments. where I'm dealing with the food and facilitating the kitchen to show my um prow over this area. Yeah. Right. And so and I remember there was like there was And he was so down which was so cool for someone that

acclaimed and lauded to have that much flexibility and collaboration, which I think is another huge reason why that movie just did so well, because he trusted us and we really got to work together. And so like there was a moment where I was like, you know,

To be honest, he had a lineup of extras for people that were gonna be in my kitchen and they were all women of color. And I was like, You're gonna have to put some white ladies in there too. Mm-hmm. And he was like, Really? Why? And I said, because it The other ones look like it's my friends that I just brought in. And then this other version makes it again look like.

Oh no, I'm in charge. Yeah. And these are the cooks. So I ad lib this line in the movie where I'm like, to the white lady, ah, too much paprika. Cause I my mind now is like, no, no, no. She can taste it and be like Too much paprika. Period. I was like, I want if you're saying she's a chef, I don't want those lines to be blurred. But in regards to prep, the the fur the thing that Alexander was Thank you for sharing that with me.

Just to take a minute, I love knowing that because you're exa I couldn't capture it the what you're exactly what you're saying, which is a there's a regalness to her. Yeah. There's a prize. Even if that lady has two cents in her pocket, which is another thing, because he understandably uh he wanted her to be in hot pink rollers.

And that cozy, warm purple moo moo. Mm-hmm. The entire most of the movie. Yeah.'Cause he was like, It's the holidays and I was like, No, she has so much pri she's working. Yes. She may be, you know, they might be in like living shared living quarters, but she's working. She wakes up. This is her job. Yes. And so it was something that he we had to like negotiate for him to realize, no, this isn't just Auntie with the, you know what I mean? Um tension because that is her space.

The scene when she's serving and when uh when she she when everyone is eating her food that she's good at cooking and um Paul's character standing up for her and Yeah. It's beautiful. That's one of my favorite moments. Same. And it's just a look. She just looks at the kid. Wow. But she but you know the volume in which Paul yelled, she heard it. Yes. And you know what I mean? Like she wasn't there for it, but she heard that he had his back. And so the main prep was

Uh Alexander was very keen on smoking. It was almost like an audition question. Do you smoke? And I was like, no, I don't. And he was like, oof. And I was like, you can send a pack on over and we can figure it out. Part of the prep was Learning how to smoke, making it look realistic. I s it was great that I was in Boston. There's so many smokers in Boston, but I would just watch like there is a science you can tell the level of addiction or how many years it I'm not gonna say addiction.

long you've been in the game. Ooh, tell me what you noticed about how people The loose the more that it feels like it is literally another finger, they've been doing it for a while. Right. Right. The person is usually like older men that like it's hang how. I don't even know. It's like that one bead of saliva. Because a person that has their like one cigarette It's tighter.

It's tight and they're like enjoying every minute. I'm I'm I'm thinking about like the girls outside the club. Sure. Like bumming it from someone else. Yes. And and but someone who's like, Oh, there's a hundred more where that came from. It'll fall out. They like Take it off, whatever. I'm gonna light another one right away. Yeah. And so part of my process was like So interesting. her level of addiction and in certain

times and what she's going through, I wanted the the smoking to signify what like psychologically was going on for her. So and then the big the biggest n most diffic the two difficult things most difficult things about filming and smoking timing of knowing when to like how to pace of the between the talking and when to pull. Right.

Yeah. And blowing that smoke so it's not in your face for the camera unless there's some moments where you want it to get in or not like directing that smoke was tricky. Ooh, I can't I'm I'm I'm gonna be rewatching this movie again. Literally, we could have a beautifully acted scene. And Long's gonna be like, mm-mm, that smoke went in pause face, pause face, do it again. And then the last thing was the dialect, which he was like, literally. Let's talk about

He was like, You're from Philadelphia, it's cool. And I was like Alexander. Back fully. Respectfully how dare you? No, sir. And he was adamant about it. And you worked, I can tell'cause it was so good. Yeah. I went with Nicole Kidman's dialect coach, who's the best and so down to earth, but I yeah, I said, no, no, no.

Like we said, I'm from Philadelphia. It it's so close, but yet it's not the same thing. And also it was technically it's a period piece. And so the biggest reason why I wanted to do the dialect, not only because that is what is the world. I needed something to differentiate and to separate from me. Yeah. And so... Uh. I needed that dialect. The smoking, yeah. Clothes helps. The hair helped a lot, but the dialect was the thing that really allowed me to lock in.

Were there words that helped you lock in? Like What was his name? Hat Haver. مرحنم مرحنم مرحنم مرحنم مرحنم مرحنم مرحنم Yeah. When they meet and then she's like, Mr. Hunnam, I'm paraphrasing. She's like, Mr. Hunnam, I heard you had babysitting duty. How'd you manage that? And that was like my key phrase. Yes. That I would I could get right Baby sitting. Babysitting. How'd you manage that? What was helpful was the crew was all Boston. Oh yeah. Yeah. And they're like, eh.

Ya, no shame, I was like, did I say that right? It ain't get it.'Cause Boston and me, you know, is b our ears are attuned. It's yeah, to me it's like the Australian accent. For sure. Is like you i i when it's wrong, it is rough. Yeah. And so what I basically said to myself is I I worked on it and prepped it a lot and I told myself You're gonna have the first day of filming.

If you get a lot of feedback on this dialect, either being distracting or too much or not right, we're gonna leave it alone. Yeah. Smart. And not. Yeah, it worked. And I was like, okay. But in between still, I literally in between takes the gaffer. I'm like, is it? That's small at all. And they're like smart.

John Early and Rom-Com Favorites

Speaking of films, we're talking about eternity, the rom-com that you're in with the hilarious John Early, who we love. I think he was one of the last people that they cast. And I knew from the script that I would have quite a bit of stuff with this character. And I kept saying who I kinda didn't want to sign on the download line until I knew who that person was and it just didn't work out that way.

And I never forget we were um in like what they call it? Camera testing. We were camera testing And I was Ear hustling and I heard them say and I go ah yes and they were like what is wrong and I'm like oh my job just got way better. And funny. Really? You guys are great together. He has the stuff that's up there in that brain. Mm-hmm.

And it's so much. Do you know you obviously know what I mean? And you know what I was a little worried about? Because he's so so good that I was like, oh, he's gonna be doing the button thing. You know the button thing when you're around funny ha ha? And it's like the scene is done, and now every funny person in that room is like, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da. And then that person goes back, and I'm like, wow.

Oh my god, I've never heard it said like that. That's I'm really I'm really sweating because I I so Infectious. You're so right though. There's an instinct for comedy people to be like, and one more thing. Button. Now person A's gotta do second button. And then it goes and it just go and my always I'm like very present but and that's usually when the camera cuts to me. But yeah, he didn't have any of that. So I don't think he ever repeated a joke. I'm just so, so impressed by him.

What is your relationship to rom coms? What rom coms you are you a rom com person? Do you like rom coms? It was when I was in high school when I felt like was let me tell you something. How is a guy in ten days? Oh yeah. It's perfect. And if you tell me different, I'll fight you. That I like how you whispered. Baby, that scene when they're out in Staten Island, Long Island, playing that card game, I'm bawling. It really makes me want to watch that again.

Okay. I like it too because it's like it's a relatable New York couple you know some of those New York round comms you're like, Well, I'm never gonna be in that penthouse so Yeah, the p the apartment. Austin. I love how it was like they were regular New Yorkers. Um and that like Staten Island, I forget which one it is, Staten Island, Long Island uh family was a really good touch. Um, my best friend's wedding. Yes. That's so good. I think it's the ones that are really relatable.

I know and and it and and they just dig in in some like they're like rainy day delicious treats. Yeah.

Calmness and Confidence On Set

And okay, so we have this thing where we talk to people who know our guest. We talk well behind their back. we get a question for them. So we talked to the director of eternity, David Frayne, and we got to talk about how incredible it was working with you. And he and he was explaining, which I'm f I'm now getting to see in real time, the feeling of there was like a c there's a calmness to you when you work and a confidence. That is

he says like it just as a director, it just makes you feel like everything is gonna work out. Like everything you know Oh that's wonderful. He had two questions for you. Where do you think you find the calm o or as he said, the can. Yeah.

Because he had a great tax and prepared to find the calm. Yeah. But um the um where so that was his first question is like, is that true? Are are you feeling like when you step in work that there's a calmness to you? It's do people project that on you? Is that real? What did it I think it's um uh how do I say it's a little p projected. It's all of it, right? So number one, yes, it's part of that like

Preparing to then like have so much fun, like right, like within the boundaries. Like I know I did the work. Yeah. But then I'm very open to what is the direction? What are you giving me? What you know I mean, what is it gonna be in this m I know her. Um, and you could tell me we're gonna go on Mars. Great, we're going on Mars. What's that gonna be? Yeah. So there's that. There's also two, I'm very well aware of like

It's interesting how leads speak of like their role of leadership and da-da-da. I am aware that part of my role is to not say anything out loud, but to reassure. And to like um nurture a little, but like create a foundation. That's really interesting. As yeah. Um, not to name drop, but I will. I've been name dropping a lot today. Um, Gwynneth Paltrow was in the seat and she I've been she said something that I thought was really interesting, which is

You know, we were talking in terms of like codependency. Yeah. And trying to figure out and when you're in a supporting role in any aspect of life, you have to balance what you talked about, which is Knowing what is needed for the room and she used the term thermometer, like is the room too hot? Do I need same with every scene. That's a giving, supportive, collaborative person, and then also taking care of yourself. That's right. It's a it's a hard balance. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. And I think I've gotten really good at that. Yeah. And I think that's also why I've been able to work with the type of people I've gotten to work with. Because I think It's that mixed in with they then feel a reassurance to then be them their best selves. Yeah. And so then I'll have like it's so cute and I can't believe I'm even saying this. Steve Martin will literally be like cause I normally when I film for Only Murders, they're so kind and with my schedule, they allow me to like

shoot out. So I'm doing like in two weeks, like five episodes. And so we get like this kind of like intense two weeks with one another. And and then I'll be like gone for a year and then we'll catch up for like press and then do the next year. And he always is like, God, I forgot about this feels good. I'm feeling good. And that to me is the Yeah. Greatest, greatest compliment that I can think of. And so Yeah.

I think it is a bit of that. And then I think also there is like I do still suffer with imposter syndrome and this format. Mm-hmm. Like when we have to talk about it. But I don't when we're doing it. If that makes sense. That does. But it's a but it's a but it's a quiet. Maybe that's what we mean about that calmness, reassuredness. It's a quiet confidence.

Yeah. But also at the same time, there's a lot of adrenaline and excitement buzzing through me. And do you ever find sometimes when you perform this kind of like Sometimes I'll have this moment of like zoom in, zoom out. Yeah. Where I'm like kinda up overhead. Oh yeah, disassociating. It's great. I highly recommend it. I love it. You're like, I'm on the ceiling, babe. I nothing can touch me. No. I'm not here. And we're doing... Yeah. Yeah. And I have that sometimes. Me too.

And it's a s and it's a um what you're saying is like a technique to get past exactly what you said, the fear and adrenaline. And I don't know if you're like this, but I can get nervous after I do something. Like I get through it and then like an hour later I'm like, huh? Yeah, did we do it?

Speed Round: Career Highlights and Joy

And it all starts to shake out because yeah, I wasn't really there. I wanna finish with a very quick speed round. If you can give me a sentence or two about this about some of these people or things. And number one is Zoe Krabbit. The best and I knew she was extremely talented when I first met her.

She was an executive producer. I think that was her first executive producer role. And she went above and beyond. And so when she began starting to direct, I was like, duh, we saw that. I remember one time she literally And it was so cool'cause we were the same age, we're like the youngest people on said, and she was literally like it was a coffee cup. We were doing a scene in a bodega and it was a coffee cup and she was like, That's not

what real coffee cups look like in New York. Like why is it I think it was like red and you know it's supposed to like be black with the blue and the white. And they were like, oh, Zoe, because we're young and she's a woman. So they're like, no, no, Zoe, it's fine. And she's like, no, no. Get it right and we'll wait. In a very polite but professional and stern way. And I was like, she's got it. Okay, speed run. Yeah, I'm talking monologue. Al Pacino.

Yeah, so Albacino, I was telling you you're getting good ones and you're like speed around. Al Bacino on Broadway, stressed out, voice tired, eating soup in like this little French bistro. He randomly is there. Uh, he goes to checkout. And he backs back and like comes and sits down at my table.

And we have this like beautiful, heartfelt thing. And I share with a stranger, like, it's really hard. I can't talk. Like, you know what I mean? I have no life, the amount that is required for this. Um, and he gave me The most beautiful advice ever. And he used this metaphor of a ladder and said like as you continue to go up a ladder, you have to let go of more and more weight. And kind of was like, it's nat what you're feeling is natural.

another moment of someone being like, you've got it. Keep going. And it was like, I'll see you at the top of the ladder. Cut to, we do Dolomite. Netflix decides they're now gonna start doing magazines, like their own magazines. We get to the chute and there's a ladder there and I'm like, oh my God, oh my God, because I knew he was going to be in this chute because it was like the Irishman and all this and I was like, yo, if they put me on this ladder, I'm losing.

And they're like placing everyone. So they place Al. He's next to the ladder. And I said, please, please, please, because he's still got to put like Laura Dern and Scarlett Johansson. So I was like, yo, I want that ladder. And they put me on the ladder. I'm bawling the entire photo shoot. And I'm like looking down at him and I'm like, how do you remember the legend? No. No. But I'm like, it's the letter. And he's like, all right, honey. Like whatever.

Mine, I was like full circle. I'm on the ladder and I'm looking at you, and you said it was gonna happen. Oh my god, that's a perfect story. And then Steven Sondheim. I miss him. I know that sounds so crazy. It's like he was like the modern. He, okay, sometimes that musical theater stuff is a lot for me. Like I was never a kid that I was like, rent, dun, dun, dun.

But it cause I came into it late and I just like, well, I'm a vocalist and this is theater. And I had to like find my way into musicals, which is funny that my first gig was a musical. But I just vibed with him so much because it felt like Strong story, really good acting. And we just so happen to sing beautiful, beautiful songs. To me, it's like the purest for me in my taste, one of the purest ways of expressing musical theater.

And in college we did Into the Woods and I played The Witch. Oh. And I was like, Okay, I think I like this stuff. Single little man of it. Is that so crazy? You don't have to do that. So This is Wait, but what's the Sing a little Steven anything from Steven sometime. What is the one the one that the witch Want me to get it on my laptop? But what though I'm gonna look up the lyrics. This is crazy. And I'm gonna order that William Sonoba. Please do it.

I'm not kidding you, I've thought about it the entire time. With a hunter green. Okay, hopper. Okay. Um Uh What are we looking up? Where are the clouds? Send in the clowns Tinks bed. Only for you. Literally. Thank you. For a year. Oh Oh no yeah years. Okay. I appreciate you. I appreciate you. And um Uh the w the world like needs to hear your voice. I know. I gotta work through the stuff. And so that's why I'm gonna figure out

I think honestly, I talk about this a little bit, but I think honestly, um, because the classical thing, like I feel like there's a lot of people that can like sing like pop and R and B. But I do feel like that's like one of my special little tricks. Like you said, how singing is a trick, but like classical. I think I want to do a biopic on Leon Team Price. Oh. And just like, okay, we're doing it. Oh yeah. With the band aid off. Everybody. Back into singing.

Listen the everybody listening, let's make that happen. Yeah. God, that would be amazing. be fine. And then our my last question is, because you're so funny, times and times are stressful. We ask a lot of our guests. um what they listen to, read, go to to laugh. What it like, is there anything right now that you're watching, consuming? Like a vi like a dump video, a T V show. It really makes me I did a podcast with Royal Court. Oh. Brittany.

I to the point where I had to tell my publicist like Go back and take some things because I just felt so comfortable and we were just I saw you on that and you guys were hilarious. cracking up and I was like, Oh, she's got so I think what her podcast is giving people right now. is really, really nice. I watch a lot of old stuff. I don't do you are you like that? Do you sometimes sometimes I'm like, oh, I don't wanna be I don't want to do that. Tainted or like Jokes and

Mm-mm. In fact, I mean one of the reasons why the the kind of intention behind this podcast is to me the way for my own mental health was like feeling like chatting and laughing with people. Yeah. Connection was getting me up out of things. Yeah. But the actual like watching comedy at home and like sometimes it feels like whew. If it's good, I'm like, damn. I can't wa because I'm judging it.

I can't watch contemporary stuff because I'm like, my friend's in that. Her hair looks crazy. You know what I mean? Like, why did they do? So I like to watch older things and so I mean you can't beat a 90s com which I feel like is a lot of stuff that you've done but like a nineties comedy is just so good. Ooh, like what? What would you put on like to like run as you were like are you talking friends? Are you talking I love rush hour. Yes.

It that's a one of one of the best buddy duos that you would never think of. And it is oh so good. Let's watch a rush hour scene before you go. What's in? They don't give a damn about you. They don't like you, but like you. I'm here for the girl. The girl like you. Nobody likes you. You came all the way over here for nothing. And isn't it funny how people get so like you touch the radio? This is not even your car. Don't touch the radio.

I mean also I d I love when people are give it to give it to somebody straight and they're like, I don't like you It really makes me laugh. Don't enjoy it. say that in real life. No, you never get to say comedy lets you say stuff you could never say. Yeah. Just deadpan. I don't like you. She doesn't like you. Just not into you, sorry. Well, Daveine, I love you and I think we should be friends. And I think we should buy um various things together.

I'm gonna give you my number. I want you to text me when you get the mixer. I think you should get a pot just get one of the pots. I gotta get all the puzzles. Okay, good, that's what I was hoping for. And then like when you cook something in there, text it to me. And then I'm gonna text it to you too. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I mean, what are we why are we working so hard if we can't buy ourselves discounted copper pots? Black Friday said we deserve it. In this economy. So what the price used to be.

Why would you it's the but it's that red ink that you speak about? That's that urgency of Such a lot. Five left. There's 50,000 in inventory in the back. Yeah, but I'm gonna get it and I'm gonna go pick it up. Um, do you have pasta thingies? Pastor thinking what we're saying? Like so when you get that, you can then also, for I think it's like 99.99, get the attachment has to then make fresh pasta. A pasta making machine or the So you get the kitchen maid. Thank you for coming.

And this podcast that we're gonna go shopping. Kitchen mate, you just take the head off and then attach the pasta different things on so you could do the one where it's like zzz lasagna, then taste that off, macaroni. And then you got endless possibilities. I've never made pasta and I've always wanted to. I'm gonna do it. Yeah, I would love to. Let's do it. Let's hire a guy. Thank you so much, Daveine, Joy, Randolph. You were so fun and uh I love talking to you and and um

I I I'm just so blown away by your talent and your training. And um so thanks for joining me on the pod. And speaking of talent and training, I just wanna use this polar plunge because we were talking a little bit about Shakespeare. And there's a person that I discovered in my phone where I discover everything, read everything and learn everything, um, uh uh a a performer named Michelle Terry. And um

She is, I believe she ran uh uh the Shakespeare uh Globe Theater or a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company um and then Royal National Theater. She performed at all those places. She's really good. She's a really good actress. She uh is a person who continually amazes me and translates Shakespeare to me in a way that feels like n no one has for me. So

I don't know, if you're on your phone right now and you wanna type her name in, uh, and you're gonna see videos of her playing Hamlet and Richard the Third. Incredible. Okay. So if you never liked Shakespeare before, Michelle Terry is gonna get you there. Um, so that's my plunge. Thank you um uh for listening and uh see you next time. Bye.

You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss Berman, and me, Amy Polar. The show is produced by The Ringer and PaperKite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane. Kaya McMullen and Alea Zanaris. For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.

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