Actress and filmmaker Heather Graham joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss acts of kindness throughout her lengthy career, how her new film Chosen Family helped her learn to keep people pleasing under control, holding unconditional self-love and more.

HEATHER GRAHAM discovered her passion for acting at an early age and caught the attention of filmmakers with her breakout role in Gus Van Sant's DRUGSTORE COWBOY, for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Graham went on to land unforgettable roles in the 1997 classic BOOGIE NIGHTS, for which she received the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, in 1999's AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME and in 2009’s THE HANGOVER alongside Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifinakis. 

Graham has expanded into writing, directing, and producing, proving herself to be a multi-hyphenate leading talent with critically acclaimed, HALF MAGIC, a film she wrote and directed, which was released in theaters and on VOD February 2018. The raunchy, female-driven comedy follows three women set out on a hilarious search for self-fulfillment while overcoming the roadblocks in their personal and professional lives. Graham also executive produced and starred in the feature film CAKE, a romantic comedy also starring Sandra Oh and Cheryl Hines.

That self-fulfillment theme, along with a throughline of people pleasing is prevalent in her latest flick - CHOSEN FAMILY. Graham wrote, directed, and starred in the rom-com, which debuted in 2024. This movie is a centerpiece to today’s conversation, along with kindness, of course. In addition to more producing, up next, Graham will be featured alongside Nicolas Cage in the Western THE GUNSLINGERS.

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Music:

"Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio.

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