Back To One

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