What starts as a conversation about acting quickly turns into a heartwarming reunion between two North Carolina natives who had no idea they practically grew up next door. Molly Griggs opens up about her Southern roots, early theater experiences at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and how growing up in Fayetteville shaped her worldview both on and off stage. From MerleFest memories to reflections on leaving—and later embracing—her hometown identity, this episode is full of unexpected nostalgia.

Molly also talks about her emotionally charged role in John Proctor Is the Villain on Broadway and why it felt like the universe handed her the script at just the right moment. She reflects on the vulnerability required to bring parts of her younger self to the stage, the tension between people-pleasing and truth-telling, and what it means to play “the one you love to hate” in Netflix’s The Residence. It’s a layered, funny, and refreshingly honest look into how personal growth and performance are deeply intertwined.

Molly Griggs is a stage and screen actor currently starring as Bailey Gallagher in John Proctor Is the Villain on Broadway. Her previous credits include Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!, as well as TV roles in Succession, Servant, Doctor Death, and Netflix’s The Residence, where she plays Lily Schumacher.

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