Conversations with Actors

MAD MEN's Stephanie Drake talks juggling a retail job in Beverly Hills while playing Don Draper's secretary, making the mistake of paying $1500 for a showcase, and reveals the honest truth about what it's like to get dropped by a big agency after getting her "big break."

Actor and producer Rachel Stander (SCANDAL) discusses how being in New York on 9/11 influenced her desire to act, studying with master teacher Judith Weston, and transitioning into her work as a producer.

Marion Kerr (HEART OF NOW, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER) talks being inspired by Captain Hook in "Peter Pan", dreaming in character, her ambivalence about actors using social media, and why she'd love to play Joan of Arc someday.

Film, TV, and theatre actor ARYE GROSS (MINORITY REPORT, CASTLE) talks dropping out of UC Irvine to do plays at South Coast Repertory, how teacher Roy London taught him how to bring himself to material, and why he hates the recent changes to Los Angeles 99-seat theatre.

Legendary actor William Sadler (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE) discusses his start doing Shakespeare in the Park for Joe Papp, letting himself "go there" playing the father of murdered daughters in THE GREEN MILE, and how directors such as Frank Darabont and Bill Condon create safe spaces so actors can go further into the moment.

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Elizabeth Ho (DISJOINTED, TWO AND A HALF MEN) talks getting fired from playing Princess Jasmine at Disneyland, her love for Marion Cotillard’s performance in LA VIE EN ROSE, and the steep learning curve of on-camera work.

Theme Music: Johnny Haway – “My Gun Does Error”

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Patrick Fischler (ONCE UPON A TIME, LOST) explains why no representation is better than bad representation, what is was like auditioning for MAD MEN, and why he really wants to play a “normal dad.”

Robin Weigert (DEADWOOD, BIG LITTLE LIES) discusses the similarities between acting and psychoanalysis, earning her MFA at NYU, and how she used the Grotowski technique to build her fearless performance as Calamity Jane.