A Q&A with Dylan and Sean Penn on the opening night of their film "Flag Day" at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn, moderated by Back To One host Peter Rinaldi. August 20, 2021 Follow Back To One on Instagram

When it comes to her characters, Emmy nominee Jurnee Smollett is guided by truth. In this episode, the “Lovecraft Country” star talks about how painting in the tiny details helps her know how to live in a character, and why she doesn’t need to know what her character doesn’t know. She talks about why actors shouldn’t be afraid to speak up when they are not getting what they need, and why she needs to express herself through acting for her very survival. Plus we go off on a pretty cool Al Pacino tangent, and much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

Actor, rapper, writer, producer, Daveed Diggs loves wearing many hats, often at the same time. “Hamilton” made him a star. He won a Tony for it. Now he’s nominated for an Emmy for his incredible work in the filmed version of the musical. In this episode, he talks about his need to find the character somewhere in his body, and why attending editing sessions for his new show “Blindspotting” on breaks from acting in the television series “Snowpiercer” was the opposite of overwhelming. He paints us a picture of his creative life in the lead-up to the life-changing experience of “Hamilton,” and the times, toward the end of his run, where it was hard to find the required energy. Plus I ask him about the time I watched him make a whole quiche from scratch, and MUCH more! Follow BACK TO ONE on Instagram

After six seasons, Matthew Rhys won an Emmy for his stellar work on “The Americans.” Spielberg’s "The Post,” and “A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood” (opposite Tom Hanks) followed, and now he’s nominated for another Emmy for his incredible work in “Perry Mason” on HBO. In this half hour, he compares the experience of building (and “wrestling”) his two major television characters into life. He talks about the humiliating way he learned the acting lesson that listening is just as important as speaking. He shares a few tools he uses when he can’t get in the groove, explains why he’s easily distracted while performing, and lists the brand new worries he’s fortunate enough to have as a leading man. Plus MUCH more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram

“Teeth,” “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “Chained For Life,” “The Good Wife,” are just a few of the great Jess Weixler’s credits. Ten years ago she co-stared in “The Lie” with Joshua Leonard. They played a couple with a baby and one big problem. He directed. Most of the dialogue came out of improvisation. Now they’ve done it again with “Fully Realized Humans.” They again play a couple. This time the baby is in utero and the laughs are bigger, the situations more absurd yet also more thought-provoking. Weixler is credited as co-writer. In this episode she details the improv method they used to build the dialogue out of the circumstances in the scene. We try to figure out what Leonard meant by “the phantom leg of naturalism,” and she talks about what it was like to film this indie comedy while 8 months pregnant, including one moment of empowerment prompted from an unlikely source. Plus lots more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Phillipa Soo’s first time on Broadway was in the unprecedented phenomenon that is “Hamilton.” She was nominated for a Tony for her portrayal of Eliza, and now she’s nominated for an Emmy for her incredible work in the filmed version. In this episode, she talks about how she managed to not let the superlatives overwhelm her into paralysis during that run, and the surprising way deeper, more playable meanings began to grow out of the text. She details a few specific ways the tools she was given at Juilliard came in handy, particularly in her first New York stage production, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet on 1812,” and why it’s important to “let the little guy drive,” plus much more! All of this recorded outside, in a thunderstorm, with only a tree as cover! This episode doubles as a soothing nature recording. Follow Back To One on Instagram

Jon Huertas is the first actor on the podcast to talk extensively about the “BMS Technique” for preparation. He plays Miguel on “This Is Us.” His past credits include “Castle,” “Generation Kill,” and the new film “Initiation.” He tells an amazing story about botching an audition so badly that he felt a formal apology was necessary (of course he landed the role). He talks about the importance of making different choices with every take, his mission, on the other side of the camera, to create content about Latinx people that completely avoids stereotypes, and much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

For the past decade, Frank Mosley has been independent cinema’s go-to actor. “Upstream Color,” “Thunder Road,” “Some Beasts,” “Chained For Life,” “Freeland,” “The Ghost Who Walks,” are just a few examples of films that benefit from the authenticity, deep-rooted intensity, and “all-in” approach he brings to every performance. His talents extend to the other side of the camera as well. His uncompromising, visionary shorts and features have played around the world, from Slamdance to the Champs-Elysées. In this hour, he informs, inspires, and reflects on this wonderful and insane creative endeavor that he can’t stay away from without getting withdrawal symptoms. He talks about his fondness for rehearsal, how directing has helped his acting craft, what he did to give himself a boost when he felt the fire going out, the important power of empathy for the actor, why he’s never going to stop creating, and much more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram

It makes sense that “Cobra Kai” star William Zabka often uses phrases common to musicians, like “find the rhythm” and “in the pocket,” to help describe his acting process. Not only is he a musician himself, but music plays a fascinating part in his process. The phenomenal surprise success of "Cobra Kai” is due in no small part to the depth and intensity Zabka brings to the role of Johnny, which obviously has deep roots in his career. On this episode he talks about those roots, breaking down the text until it “falls into his belly,” the “rivers” that run through his characterization, the layer of secrets that “aren’t intended to be discovered,” and the necessity to “cut the lines” to all those things in order to lay in the moment. Plus much more! It’s a fascinating talk with an actor who is delivering a performance for the ages that has caught the attention of viewers across generations. Follow Back To One on Instagram

Ben Rosenfield has only been at it for 10 years, but he already has an interesting body of work behind him—“Boardwalk Empire,” “6 Years,” “Greetings From Tim Buckley” (in which he played Buckley), the third season of “Twin Peaks,” and last year’s “Mrs. America,” to name just a few. Not to mention the New York stage productions where he performed opposite Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan. Maybe this is why the 28 year old speaks with the wisdom of an acting elder. He talks about the “turning of the soil” that has to happen with the text before he builds anything on top of it, how each approach to a character has to be different for it to be creative, and why he’d like to beneficially incorporate rejection into his actual process. Plus he talks about his latest starring role, in Hannah Marks’ hilarious and poignant romantic epic “Mark, Mary & Some Other People,” which has brought him to the Tribeca Film Festival.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

We’re catching the super talented Susan Kelechi Watson at an interesting moment. She plays Beth Pearson on the network television phenomenon “This Is Us,” which just finished its fifth season and announced that the sixth will be its last. On this episode, she talks about what makes a performance “leave the screen,” learning the power of minimalism from watching Sade, how sometimes being a little lost “in the wilderness” is an important part of her process, why she started building her post-“This Is Us” career many seasons ago, and much much more!

Jean Smart is the very definition of versatile. The three-time Emmy winner’s first act highlights include “Designing Women," “Frasier,” “24,” and now a new act in her career, filled with even juicier roles, starting with “Fargo,” “Legion,” and “Watchmen,” has led to current HBO favorites “Mare of Easttown,” with Kate Winslet, and a staring role in “Hacks.” In this half-hour she talks about the importance of hearing the character’s voice, why not being an ingenue may have helped her career, frustrating ways the industry has changed for actors, her love for her current co-stars, why studio audiences throw her off her game, and much more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram

On a very special DOUBLE EPISODE, Laura Donnelly and Ann Skelly sit down for in-depth conversations on their craft and the magic they make together on the new HBO series “The Nevers.” Donnelly talks about an artistic breakthrough that happened in rehearsal for a play that changed her perception of herself as an artist. Skelly talks about coming to the realization, early on, that she was getting “too technical” and what she did to bring back her “sense of discomfort again.” And they both talk about the fascinating ways their approach to the work complement each other, and how their mutual fondness fuels the energy they use to create. Plus MUCH more! "The Nevers” is streaming on HBO Max.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Fifteen-time arm wrestling champion and three-time Emmy nominee Dot-Marie Jones inspired viewers with her moving portrayal of Coach Beiste on “Glee,” which was her third time in a Ryan Murphy universe, after “Nip/Tuck” and “Pretty/Handsome.” Last year she played “Little Helen” in “Greener Grass,” and now she’s “Big Sexy” in the hilarious and charming arm wresting comedy “Golden Arm.” On this episode she tells the story of how, as an athlete who knew nothing about acting, an opportunity propelled her into the business after hearing the words “cold read” and imagining some kind of weather endurance test. She talks about how having a very specific type has benefited her, and nearly dying last year has mostly angered her, and why she dreams of getting back on the stage in “Rock Of Ages.” Plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

With remarkable performances in films like “Hacksaw Ridge,” “The Social Network,” “Under The Silver Lake,” and “Silence,” Andrew Garfield has established himself as one of the great actors of his generation. And now a virtuoso performance in Gia Coppola’s new film “Mainstream” solidifies that. On this episode, he talks about two transformative experiences in the theater (“Death of A Salesman” and “Angels In America”) that changed him in deep ways, and what he did on the nights when he felt so emotionally drained that he literally couldn’t go on the stage. He talks about why he needs to feel “called” to a role, why he sometimes wonders what the moon is thinking when it looks at the earth, and how the fear and self-loathing he feels at the start of every production became an integral part of his preparation process. Plus much much more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram

I first came in contact with the juggernaut that is Shannon DeVido in her hilarious portrayal of Andrea Mumford on “Difficult People.” Another recurring role on the Netflix series “Insatiable” followed, and now the actor/singer/comedian gets to combine it all in the smile-inducing new movie musical “Best Summer Ever.” On this episode, she talks about the passionate, super-positive, love-filled environment that fueled that ambitious production, and the ways she adjusted to a starring role after years of guest spots. She gives us a peek at what it’s like to navigate the acting world as a disabled person, and why the biggest limitations she faces are not due to her wheelchair, but those in the minds of decision-makers. Follow Back To One on Instagram

Julian Kostov is a multilingual Bulgarian actor, producer, and advocate for slavic representation. He plays Fedyor on the new hit Netflix fantasy series “Shadow and Bone.” On this episode, he takes us from his depressed student years, when it was folly to even dream of working as an actor, through the difficult period of the growth of his craft, recovering from big auditions, strengthened by personal breakthroughs that fuel the work, all the way through the harnessing of his ability to bring his unique spin to wonderful roles and help others with the founding of his company JupiterLights Media, which bridges Bulgarian and other Eastern-European talent to the international entertainment industry. His success is not just built on hard work, but love, generosity, and a belief in the connection that binds us all. You’re going to love this actor.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Clancy Brown is a living legend of actor’s actors. With nearly 300 credits, from “Highlander" and “The Shawshank Redemption” to “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Promising Young Woman,” he’s morphed and adapted in this business and made it work for him. On this episode, I ask him how his approach to preparation has changed over the years. He talks about the importance of knowing the narrative purpose of your character, why “faster, funnier, louder” are directorial notes that work for him, and how he looked at auditioning as exercising his Spencer-Tracy-don’t-bump-into-the-furniture muscles. You can tell he had fun playing Montgomery Dark, a creepy Crypt-Keeper-esque storyteller, in his latest, the new anthology horror film “The Mortuary Collection,” but, as you’ll hear, playing King Lear would really get him excited.   Follow Back To One on Instagram

In this epic episode, we really get to know the talented actor Danny Deferrari, who plays Max in Emma Seligman’s brilliant and hilarious new film "Shiva Baby," and I’m eternally grateful for it. He talks about appreciating the “emotional language” that Seligman speaks and the heavy life situation that was weighing on him during that movie. He takes us through his early training as an actor, his formative and important seasons at the Williamstown Theater Festival, and the trials and tribulations that brought him to his “Holy Trinity of Artistic Safety.” I break down how a small performance of his was successful because I didn’t even know he performed it, and much much more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Billy Magnussen is a Tony nominated actor who you know from “Game Night,” “Into The Woods,” “Ingrid Goes West,” and “Maniac.” On this episode, he talks about the foundational benefits of his early stint on a soap opera, the importance of showing up for your career, his fondness for Cristin Milioti, his co-star on the wonderful new HBO Max series “Made for Love” (with stories of pestering her mercilessly when they both performed on Broadway in theaters next door to each other), and he makes an impassioned plea for the celebration of NEW works in the theater.  Plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

Lily Rabe is probably best know for inhabiting a half-dozen characters over many seasons on Ryan Murphy’s hugely popular “American Horror Story” series, and recently her supporting performance in “The Undoing” had a lot of people talking, but in New York City, she’s theater royalty. I pinpoint my first encounter with her greatness. It was as Portia in “The Merchant of Venice” for Shakespeare in the Park. The court scene. She details the lengths director Daniel Sullivan went to avoid rehearsing that scene, and the miraculous occurrence when they finally did. She talks about being an “over-packer” when it comes to preparation. I ask if there’s a healthy way to go to dark places and still be affective, and about working with amazing young actors on her addictive new thriller series “Tell Me Your Secrets” (now on Amazon Prime), plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

“Westworld” star Leonardo Nam didn’t know that I saw him perform a scene in an acting class in New York City way back when. An inventiveness and creativity were on display there that I still see in his work. In this hour, he tells an amazing story of literally coming to a crossroad in his young life, and how he boldly chose what felt right, and turned toward the pursuit of acting. He talks about the importance of finding the “play” in every role, why the costuming days are his favorite in pre-production, and how meditation helps get him “back to one.” Plus much more!

You’re about to hear the name Julia Sarah Stone quite a bit. The young Canadian acting phenom is turning Hollywood heads with a focused talent and poise well beyond her years. Her latest movie, the unique sci-fi thriller “Come True,” which has been wowing audiences at festivals, is opening Friday March 12th from IFC Midnight. In this episode, she talks about the “playable” characteristic that helped her performance in that film, the traps actors easily fall into when they lay in the emotion while losing sight of basic aspects such as motivation, and why she always wants to be a student of the craft, no matter where her career takes her. Plus much more! She’s the kind of actor that will make you want to open Final Draft and finally start writing that script. Follow Back To One on Instagram

Since playing Lau in “The Dark Knight,” Chin Han has been on a Hollywood run, acting in blockbuster action movies like “Ghost in a Shell,” “Skyscraper,” and “Captain American: Winter Soldier,” as well as work on a less grand scale for Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, and the celebrated Netflix series “Marco Polo.” Now he stars in the eagerly anticipated new “Mortal Kombat” movie as the shape-shifting villain Shang Tsung. I asked him how he dealt with the history, fan passion and anticipation for the character in his preparation and how it affected him during production. He talks about his interesting process of de-linking the text and deconstructing himself as a way of building the performance. And we discuss iconic lines and how to approach their delivery, plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram 

She’s probably best known for her Emmy-Nominated performance as FBI secretary Martha Hanson on FX’s critically acclaimed series “The Americans,” and now Alison Wright has breathed life into another complex character in yet another hit series—Ruth Wardle on TNT’s “Snowpiercer.” In this hour, she gives us a peek under the hood of her craft and we get closer to understanding how she’s able to bring such naturalism and depth to all her performances. She talks about her early fascination with “The Method” that led her to the Lee Strasberg Institute, her “thought-linked” approach to the text which she developed over the years (that just might be a big part of the secret to her greatness), and I ask her about taking the challenge of playing Emilia in “Othello” for the Public Theater’s legendary Shakespeare in the Park, having never touched the Bard before, and possibly redefining and revolutionizing the role forever. Plus LOTS more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

Olivia Cooke had no formal training and claims to have no real process. Is she just a natural? A freak of nature? How else to explain the incredible range and astounding talent of this rising star? I first took note of her work in the black comedy “Thoroughbreds,” and then Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” and the British mini-series “Vanity Fair.” She is on fire now with three new films, “Little Fish,” “Pixie,” and last year’s “Sound of Metal.” I ask her to break down one amazing scene in the latter, and she talks about the advantages of its immersive filming process. She explains the importance of not taking herself or the job too seriously, and why she once needed to punch a wall to make herself cry. Follow Back To One on Instagram

There are several moments in Delroy Lindo’s performance as Paul in “Da 5 Bloods” where I believe the voiceless (Black solders who never came back from Vietnam?) speak through him. Sure that might be hooey, but the very idea that I believe it says something about his incredible work in Spike Lee’s celebrated Netflix film. On this episode, I ask Lindo to break down the filming of the gripping monologue that is the centerpiece of that performance, and about his initial apprehension and ultimate acceptance of the MAGA aspect of Paul’s character. He takes us back to his first formative experience on the stage, as Herald Loomis in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” and tells a vexing story of the first time the word “Oscar” was being tossed around him. Plus lots more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram 

Christina Anthony plays Denise on the ABC series “Mixed-ish.” She generously gives us a fascinating inside look at working on a sit-com from the point of view of an actor who is totally new to the process. She tells the story of sitting at a table read 90 minutes after being cast on the show following years of struggling through 100+ fruitless pilot auditions, talks about how her Chicago theater roots still pay dividends in her work, getting used to the idea of rotating directors, knowing when to speak up about issues with the script, and how she’s ready to be your next action hero. Plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

As the annual Sundance Film Festival begins again this week, legendary actor/director Tom Noonan takes us back 27 years to a very different Sundance, where his film “What Happened Was…” won the Grand Jury Prize. It’s the ultimate “actor’s film,” just two people, Noonan and the incredible Karen Sillas, in one room, real time, on a first date like no other. He talks about the circumstances that led him to Sillas, the extensive rehearsal process they had, the production, and the ups and downs of its ultimately triumphant reception. Plus Noonan tells the story of the first big lesson that formed his craft, why he’s not (at the moment) pursing acting, and lots more. A gorgeous restoration of “What Happened Was…” is being released on Friday January 29th by Oscilloscope in select virtual theaters. 

Some actors go through a transformation to the point where the word “performance” feels inadequate. “Embodiment” is more apt. Nicole Beharie transforms into Turquoise Jones in Channing Godfrey People’s film “Miss Juneteenth.” It’s a wonder to behold. On this episode, she talks about the immersive preparation work that went into her Gotham Award-winning performance, how the opportunity to take her time and “own the space” affected her work in a deep way, and the substitutions necessary to create the motherly bond so central to the film. Plus we discuss the benefits and drawbacks of unanswered questions in a performance, and how simply loving people and life actually helps the work.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

The only thing that makes this a “Special Holiday Episode” of Back To One is a brief mention of Hanukkah, but the talented Nat Wolff brings plenty of joy to make up for it. He talks about playing Lloyd Henreid in the new version of "The Stand" on CBS All Access, and one scene in particular that worried him until an 11th hour “cloak of inspiration” fell upon him in the form of a song. I ask about his directorial debut, a short called "Youngest" that just might be the film that has affected me the most of all the films I’ve viewed during the pandemic. He shares why auditioning isn’t getting easier, his journey from insecure cockiness to actual confidence, how he keeps his head in this maddening business, plus much more!   Follow Back To One on Instagram

Willa on “Succession,” Astrid on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Jade on “Younger,” Holly on “Mr. Mercedes,” all characters brought to life by the great actor Justine Lupe, with all their quirks and nuances rooted in a reality that makes them seem to go on living outside the frame. On this episode, she takes us back to her time at Juilliard where she enjoyed the bootcamp-like training that suited her all-in approach to the work. She talks about growing to appreciate all kinds of directors, the importance of bonding with the camera operator, and shares her incomprehensible, hieroglyphic-like script marking technique that just might be the secret to her awesomeness. Plus much more!

English actor Tuppence Middleton is on a steady, slow rise and that seems to suit her just fine. On this side of the pond she’s perhaps best known for playing Riley Blue on the Netflix Sci-fi series “Sense8” and Lucy Smith in the “Downton Abbey” movie, but you’d be foolish not to seek out her work in “Trap For Cinderella” and "War and Peace.” Now she’s part of the impressive ensemble in David Fincher’s latest film “Mank.” She plays “Poor Sara” Mankiewicz, wife of the alcoholic co-writer of Citizen Kane, played by Gary Oldman. I ask her about working with Fincher, whom actors (many of whom have been on this show) seem to adore, despite not necessarily having the traditional “actor’s director” traits. We also talk about an under-appreciated film she starred in last year called “Disappearance at Clifton Hill,” and what to say (or not to say) to an actor when they access their pain for the betterment for the film. Plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

From “Parks And Recreation” to “Legion,” from indie film queen to “Happiest Season,” Aubrey Plaza is not done surprising us. Everybody’s favorite late night talk show guest and hilarious awards show host rarely gets to show off the serious roots of her acting chops. Enter “Black Bear.” The Sundance hit from Lawrence Michael Levine stars Plaza as a former actress on a writing retreat opposite Christopher Abbott and Sarah Gadon. Further description is not only pointless, it can be detrimental to your enjoyment of the film. Let’s just say it’s worth your time, in large part because of the emotional territory Aubrey Plaza gets to dive into. In this half hour, she talks about how the difficult circumstances of that shoot actually helped her process, she takes us back to her formative years with one teacher in particular that spoke her language, and she talks about how auditioning still sucks, why she never wants to shoot a movie with an iPhone, and much much more.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

It’s become a tradition to have actor’s actor Kevin Corrigan on the show every year. This is his third visit (his first two episodes are #1 an #67). Sitting down with the wise sage of indie film always ends up being both a reset and recharge. He has a way of speaking about this art that helps bring us back to the root of what it’s all about: connection, empathy, being alive. In this hour, he tells us about a life-changing event that happened right after wrapping work on the Showtime series “Ray Donovan,” and how the effects reverberate throughout his dealing with the pandemic. We talk about a scene in “The Godfather Part II,” and try to wrap our arms around the brilliant work of the young actor Jack Dylan Grazer, star of “We Are Who We Are.” I ask him about working on “The Exorcist III” thirty years ago, and Onur Tukel’s latest film this past Summer. As always, there are Brando quotes, plus much, MUCH more.

With mesmerizing performances in such series as “Luther,” “Mrs. Wilson,” and “The Affair,” Ruth Wilson has established herself as one of our great actors. Her latest is the deliciously sinister Marisa Coulter on the hit fantasy series “His Dark Materials.” In this episode she explains the fascinating way she’s been able to build the multi-dimensional aspects of that character, and the challenge of hitting the proper balance when playing such a larger than life villain. She talks about the meditative aspect to her process, the invigorating power she gets from the theater, and how the energy of the audience affects her performance on the stage. Plus lots more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

English actor Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù has two major releases happening in the States this month, the intense and compelling “Gangs of London” on AMC+, and the profound and unsettling horror film “His House” on Netflix. Taken together, they offer an apt representation of the impressive range of this great actor. We talk about his approach to the physicality required for the instantly famous epic fight scenes in “Gangs of London,” and what on-set elements helped his process. He takes us back to his time at the Royal Shakespeare Company and how being seeped in that material affects his approach to other work. Plus he details two big auditions in his past, one filled with self-inflicted disappointment, the other—revelation. Follow Back To One on Instagram

You know Matthew Del Negro from “Scandal,” “Goliath,” “The West Wing,” or as Cousin Brian on season four of “The Sopranos,” or maybe, like me, you were wowed by his comedic tour de force as Jason Allen Ross in Netflix’s “Huge In France.” He’s currently filming his second season as Detective Chris Caysen on Showtime’s “City on a Hill.” He also hosts a great podcast called “10,000 NOs” where he has deep conversations with people who’ve overcome rejection on the way to success in their field. He’s just written a book of the same name which draws on his own story of survival as an actor, and it’s a gold-filled “must read.” In this hour he talks about his journey as a working actor, the benefit and drawback of having an athlete’s mindset when approaching the work, how a low point in his recent past led directly to an enrichment of his performance, the importance of connecting the role to your own story, and lots more! Find more info about "10,000 NOs: How to Overcome Rejection On The Way To Your Yes" here Follow Back To One on Instagram

Dylan Gelula brings a captivating authenticity to her characters that makes them seem like they go on living outside the frame. Look at her work in “Flower," “Support The Girls,” and “First Girl I Loved,” to name a few. Her latest performance as Maggie in the SXSW winner “Shithouse" is a revelation. It snuck up on me and left me moved and in awe. On this episode she talks about her instinctual, untrained approach to this craft that she claims she hasn’t fully wrapped her arms around yet. I ask her about some specific moments from “Shithouse,” and about working with first time director and co-star Cooper Raiff. She professes her love of Mike Leigh, and tells us something good that’s come from quarantine time. Plus lots more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

Cooper Raiff is the writer, director, producer, editor and star of one of my favorite films of the year, “Shithouse,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at the SXSW Film Festival this year. The 23 year old has filmmaking instincts and a sophisticated perception of people, and himself, that belies his years. In this episode, he tells a miraculous story of getting Jay Duplass to watch his short film, and how he became instrumental in getting "Shithouse" made. He talks extensively about his time at the Dallas Young Actors Studio and how that foundational work instilled him with the tools he needs to tell his story on both sides of the camera. Plus why it was important for him to inject a specific kind of love, comfort, and caring into the film, the brilliance of his co-star Dylan Gelula, why he’s not afraid of losing his voice in the film business, and lots more. ("Shithouse" opens Friday October 16th) Follow Back To One on Instagram

Some actors steal scenes, Harry Melling’s scenes steal movies. The limb-less thespian in “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” the sinister Zuckerberg-like villain in “The Old Guard,” and now the “spider preacher” Roy Laferty in “The Devil All The Time,” are just some of the characters he’s brought to life, who all feel like they continue to exist beyond their short time on screen. In this episode he talks about his early acting education performing in the Harry Potter films, the importance of “forgetting it all” in order to be in the moment, getting the “invitation” to “play,” and not getting down in Covid time, plus much more!

Carrie Coon has quietly built a reputation as an acting powerhouse though a collection of phenomenal performances in television shows like “The Leftovers,” “Fargo,” and “The Sinner,” and movies such as “Gone Girl,” “The Post,” and her latest, “The Nest.” In this episode, she talks about the paramount importance of breath work, using “touchstones” for emotional connection, her first experience on the New York stage in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” the quarantine film education she’s getting with her husband, Tracy Letts, and much more!

Katherine Waterston is one of our most brilliant and committed actors. She brings superstar power to indies like “Queen of Earth” and “State Like Sleep,” and a captivating authenticity to franchises like “Fantastic Beasts” and “Alien.” It was “Inherent Vice” that first brought her to my attention. In this episode, she talks about why she was “a pig in shit” making that film, why having lots and lots of time to live with a script is ideal for her, becoming "comfortable being uncomfortable," the “best feeling I can experience without breaking the law,” and her exciting new multi-part project “The Third Day,” starting September 14th on HBO. Plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram (Photo by Tung Walsh)

When one has the opportunity to listen to an actor with the amount of experience as Rosalind Chao has, one must seize it. From the legendary final episode of “M.A.S.H” to “Black-ish,” from "The Joy Luck Club” to Disney’s eagerly anticipated live action “Mulan,” Chao has seen it all! On this episode, the once “professional guest star” opens up about how she’s happier when working and happiest on a happy set. She talks about why it’s important to get to the fitting early in her process, adding years to her age to get her first job, learning from Peggy Feury, appreciating Robin Williams, gaining something from every character, and much more!

Ramy Youssef won the Golden Globe for lead actor in a comedy series for his work in "Ramy," the Hulu series he co-created. The second season came out in May, and the struggles of being a devout young Muslim man in America that fueled the first season, deepen, grow and expand out to peripheral characters in the second, highlighted by the addition of Mahershala Ali as Ramy’s wise and loving sheikh. Youssef directed more episodes this season (he’s nominated for an Emmy for directing as well as acting). We talk about that and the overall collaborative effort at work behind the scenes, the origins of the Ramy character, and about how the fear connected to what’s being depicted helps him play that stripped-down version of himself. Plus he shares some surprising reactions to the show from Egyptian Muslims to American Christians, and much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

Irish actor Niamh Algar has been making her mark in the UK of late portraying women dealing with their intense pasts, like Dinah in Shane Meadows’ “The Virtues” and Ursula in “Calm With Horses” (which just opened in the states as “The Shadow of Violence”). The intensity continues with her latest project, “Raised By Wolves," Ridley Scott’s sci-fi series for HBO MAX (which drops on September 3th). In this episode, she talks about following her gut, why she asks questions early, adapting to the director, the importance of not taking yourself too seriously, and much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

Kevin Alejandro is finishing his fifth season playing Detective Dan Espinoza on Netflix’s “Lucifer.” He’s also graced your small screen in such series as “The Returned,” “Southland,” and “True Blood.” In 2017 he graduated from the Warner Brothers television director’s workshop and directed an episode of "Lucifer.” Since then he started his own production company and has turned into a multi-hyphenate, churning out award winning shorts, including the absolutely hilarious “Adult Night.” He’s back in the director’s chair on “Lucifer’s” fifth season (part 1), which drops August 21st on Netflix. On this episode, he talks about how the need to create between jobs perpetuated that desire to direct, how learning how your body works opens up avenues in your mind, and he tells a great story about selling all his possessions as a young man to put on a production of “True West” to fundraise his transition to Los Angeles to begin his career, plus much more! Follow Back To One on Instagram

The brilliant young British actor Paapa Essiedu speaks about the work with wisdom that belies his years. He plays Kwame on Michaela Coel’s groundbreaking new HBO series “I May Destroy You.” In 2016, his “Hamlet” at the Royal Shakespeare Company received great acclaim. In this episode he compares those two characters, who are each facing defining moments in their lives, and talks about the “conscious unconsciousness” necessary to embody them. He discusses the various ways curiosity is useful, and why it’s so important to immerse yourself in the world of the story.  Plus lots more!  Follow Back To One on Instagram