May 9, 2025 • 40 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by Academy Award-winning actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who captured audiences with her breakout role opposite Eddie Murphy in DOLEMITE IS MY NAME. Randolph also starred in the acclaimed film THE HOLDOVERS earning numerous prestigious accolades including that Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and so many more. You also may know and love Da’Vine from her fan-favorite role in ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. Now she’s kicking some butt in the action thriller SHADOW FORCE (also starring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy) in theaters May 9th. Today, Da'Vine opens up about how winning her Academy Award has become a way for her to pay it forward, the pressure that comes after winning an Oscar, how she learned to find inspiration and motivation from within, why she believes that anxiety can sometimes be a gift if you listen to it, what made her want to join her first action movie, the one thing she believes is crucial to making an action movie believable, her #1 tip to kicking some butt, why Bradley Cooper is still at the top of her list to work with, the movie she wants to remake with him, how Hollywood constantly challenges her worth, what keeps her focused and able to persevere, filming the new season of ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, if she finally has more scenes with Meryl Streep, if her and Selena Gomez bust out a tune on set, why empathy allows us to feel more connected to one another, and so much more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy di Dario. I hope that you are in the
mood to feed your soul today, because my guest came
into the studio. She sprinkled her joy and wisdom all
over that room, and she left me feeling like I
was ready to take on the world. That is the
magic of the one and only Academy Award winning actress
(00:23):
Davine Joy Randolph. You may have caught one of her
inspiring speeches during the award circuit for her film The Holdovers,
which is just, oh my god, it's such a gorgeous movie,
the movie that she won the Oscar for. But to
sit across from this woman and to look into her
eyes and to listen to her speak, it's probably one
of the most soul shaking experiences I have had on
(00:44):
my show. And now I am just so excited to
share this conversation with you. I don't want to delay
this a second more. We just have to get to it, Okay,
So let's see if today we can get Davine to
say something that she has never said before. Dave I
(01:05):
Joy Randolph, how are you, my friend? I'm good I'm
so happy to be hanging out with you today. Are
you feeling good?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I am. Today is a gorgeous day in New York.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, you're not from New York.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I'm from Philadelphia, but I lived here in New York.
These are the days you dream of.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
East Coast girl. I'm from Jersey, so when I meet
a fellow East Coaster, I already know I love you.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah. What part of Jersey? Are you? Philly Jersey or
New York.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
No, I'm more New York Jersey, more Central Jersey. But
you know I go to the Jersey Shore, which isn't
that far from Philly.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yes, so I have respect, I respect.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I spent some days in Philly in my in my time,
which we're not going to talk about, but I've had
some fun.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I already know.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Oh you do.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
What about you feeling in the blinks. I'm aware you've
seen me.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
You've seen me, uh huh, I certainly did.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
I am so happy you're here. I feel like you
were one of these artists that I have had my
eye on for quite some time, and I've been so
excited to see where you've gone and what you're doing
and where you continue to go and grow and I
feel like the world is yours, like what can't you do?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Thank you? I really appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I truly, I truly mean it. So to begin, this
is my burning question for you. You ready for it?
Do you ever randomly during your day, whether you're grocery
shopping or doing laundry or at work, just stop and think.
I'm an Academy Award winner.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Never never, never, No. And I think when people say it,
it thwarts me that I'm like, oh, yeah, that happened.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Why.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I think it's because it was such and is still
an odd of body of experience that it was a
whirlwind and then it just happens. Right, You're on this
campaign for eight months. I'm still to me very early
in my career. So of course we all have goals
(02:55):
and wants and needs, but I never was like it
wasn't until quite honestly, the very end of all of
a war season and I was like, oh, maybe I
hope I might maybe get nominated, do you know what
I mean? So when it happened, still feels very very surreal. No,
(03:15):
I don't think about it, and I think, if anything,
what I am hyper focused on is using whatever that
will and can garner me to create other opportunities only
for myself, but for other people. That I would say
I've been very focused on less of the title, but
more of how can I use that to gain access
(03:40):
to the right doors and with the right people, to
not only help myself, but to help others, because I
know that I'll have more longevity in my career by
helping other people. Right, Like, if it was just me,
I can only get but so far. If I just
kept tunnel vision to just me, I can only get
so far. But if I made it more about other
(04:04):
people and a community and building a community, I think
we can can not only accomplish more, but it would
behoove me as well.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
That's pretty cool that you see this big win in
your career as a way to pay it forward.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I think you have to wow right so that it
then doesn't feel like a fleeting moment or oh yeah,
that thing that happened, Because sometimes the biggest of moments
can feel like that, right that you spend all this
time and energy towards trying to make this thing happen, right,
whatever it is for any type of person, and then
(04:39):
it happens and you're like okay, and now what you
know what I mean, especially I've exerted so much energy
on that thing, and so I think it's always people
in my circle joke with me of like, you're such
a planner, you always have a strategy of something, and
I think it's because of the fact that you know,
(04:59):
I just it's never just right in front of you.
There always needs to I love a zoom and zoom
out right short term, long term, and so I just
think even with that award, I was always keenly focused
then on Okay, now what can we do with this
long term? Because now people are listening, right, And so
(05:23):
when you have a platform, I think you better have
a very clear intention and it can change and evolve,
but a clear intention on what you want to do
to pave the road for others and to really make
a difference.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Do you feel like when something that monumental happens in
your career, which it did, that you have this pressure
to keep one upping yourself.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I already have that irregardless you're really honest, which maybe
how and why I got there I don't know, but yeah,
but I'm like that in general with anything at all things,
and it probably can be intent sometimes to be around me.
But I think at the same time, I'm always looking
(06:10):
as to how to maximize any experience. I guess that
could be the nice way of saying it, but truly
that I'm like, how can we get the most out
of this? How can we, you know, really make an impact?
That no thing is a small thing. And I think,
especially since my career thus far has been of a
(06:31):
supporting actress, you learn that of like okay number one,
you quite literally are here to support the other actor,
but to you are contributing and moving this forward, the
story forward. How can you make the most impact with
what you're given? And I think that's something that I've
just been a huge part of my life since the
(06:52):
very beginning, but also even more so as an actor,
I've been able to lean into that even more. I
think now in this day and age, there's so many
potentials for opportunities. It's not like you know, when our
parents were younger, where was much more you know, cutthroat
of you do this, you go to that school and
(07:12):
bring bang boom. You know one plus one equals too.
It's way good bad, are indifferent. There's way more opportunities.
You have to keep your eyes open and be ready.
And so I think it's about diversifying yourself as much
as possible so that you know you never know what
will stick. But I think it's always good and crucial
(07:36):
to constantly be in tune with yourself and your wants
and needs. And I always do this like a like
a scan, like a check in with myself of like
who am I now, what are my wants and needs?
How can I help others? What do I need to improve?
It's a constant thing for me so that hopefully I'm
(08:01):
constantly evolving and as you said, leveling up. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
And what I love about you is not only have
you created such incredible work and you have a new
movie coming out which we're going to talk about in
a bit, but you also stand for so many things
that make people feel seen and just by being yourself,
just by giving beautiful speeches like you did at the
Oscars where you said, for so long you want it
to be different, but in that moment and now you
realize you just want to be yourself.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I mean to just pour that out is magical for people.
It's medicine for people.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Yeah, it's funny because the other speeches I wrote them
we wrote them, and my prop says was like, we're
going to do this off the dome. I was terrified.
I cried as we were getting ready. I'll never forget.
I went into the corner of the hotel and I
was like, I'm scared. I don't know what to say
if it happens, and she just was like, we just
(08:55):
like recapped on all of it, and so it's wild
to watch it back. But I really do mean that.
I think often, at least my generation was taught like
be different, br unique, have that niche have that thing.
And the more and more I do this, and having
(09:16):
the opportunity to travel the world and interview with people
and meet all these different people from all different walks
of life, what I realize is that there's a lot
of people that don't know just how important and special
they are just as is. And I find that people
are constantly searching outside of themselves for inspiration and motivation,
(09:38):
which is great, but I think people a lot of
times people miss that it's within, and so I try
to just like I said that, like psychological scan as
much and it changes right you. And it's not to
say you're not gonna have bad days or not feeling
one hundred percent. But I find with those check ins,
it allows you to be truthful to where you really are,
(10:01):
and it allows you to have more empathy for where
you're at and how you can grow from there, because
sometimes we can be striving for that thing over there,
not even acknowledging where we're at here right, and so
in missing that connection, we're just getting more and more frustrating,
not realizing, well, you're not evaluating where you're at now
and what can be done here and now. I think
(10:25):
there's a mis nomenclature of like you got to like
dreaming is a privilege, or you have to wait for
that thing, And I just kind of of the philosophy
nowadays of it's always the thing, you can always be
doing something. I'm always telling my team, but we can
do something, we can do something right now. What can
(10:47):
we create for ourselves now? What opportunity can we do now?
How can we have an impact now? Yes, we have
that long term goal of whatever that thing is at
the time, but what can you do for yourself in
the present?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
And I'm sure having that mentality just makes you feel
seen right, and it helps you feel like this is me.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
And it grounds yourself into who you are, and you
then grow in this. It takes time, a confidence in
knowing for yourself what you want and what you want
to do, and you then kind of when your intentions
are right, when your heart is open and pure, and
(11:28):
when it comes from a place of giving. Oftentimes I
just say it to myself, it's not about me being right,
it's not. But then I'm like, not everyone's gonna get
it yet, but it'll catch on. And so it requires
consistency and persistency to execute it. And sometimes you're doing
that alone, and that I feel like it is the
(11:50):
true test. How can you stick with something, bet on yourself,
root for yourself even if no one else is, And
then when they do sign on, how can you still
do that with an open heart and not be like, well,
you guys weren't here. What it doesn't matter. They're there
now right, It's aligned now right. And so that takes
(12:13):
humility and patience. And so that's why all these things
can happen. And I don't sit there thinking like I
don't even think I would be able to accomplish things
if I just sat thinking of like, oh my god,
I'm gonna asking winter and to be fair, I also
need to work on acknowledging things that I accomplish if
(12:35):
I'm being completely transparent with you. But at the same time,
I don't allow myself to get caught up into that,
and instead, I don't know. I look at it as
like a joyful reminder of you accomplish that, so great,
So what are we going to do? Let's continue to
(12:56):
bet on ourselves because I think if you do. I
think the world honestly would be a better place if
we bet it on earth. Right, there's so much insecurity
and fear and understandable. It's hard, it's really hard. But
sometimes the best support system is within and then through
doing so, you radiate and attract the right people to
(13:18):
come into your circle to further. Yeah, but that takes discernment, right,
That's why I'm like, it's the inside work first, because
if it's not, you will always attract things good, better
and different. And there are moments right where we're like
how when you look at your circle and your like
or you know, the moves that you're making, like what
(13:40):
is going on? Why am I? And a lot of
times it's just because you're not taking the time to
look in or checking in or identifying your wants and
needs and you're just going along with the flow. Sometimes
comfortability is like one of the most dangerous things, right,
even when it feel good, that things that feel good
aren't always good for you. And that's a tough lesson
(14:01):
because some people are like, but I just I just
made it. I just started feeling comfortable, and it's like, okay, cool,
keep some of that, but it's on to the next
with the other stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
What I'm gonna need you to do before you leave
today is record three hundred and sixty five inspirational messages
in my phone so that every single day I can
wake up and press play and just hear you say something.
Because you are are giving me all the good fuel
in the world that I need right now. And I
love that and I appreciate you sharing your insights because
I think we can't grow and learn and be better
(14:38):
people unless we take these yeah lessons, these little nuggets
of wisdom as I like to call it, and then
go make it our own.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yes, I think that's the key, right you and I
only can say these things because I've experienced it, right,
It's not that I'm just saying, you know, high falutin
things that sound good. Anyone knows when you know, you know,
you have to experience it to know it. And I
think it's our job and part of our purpose is
(15:09):
to pass those lessons along. Like you have friends right
that if you go through something or they ask you
for advice, you can give them the advice. Some of
your nearest and DearS, you're like, Okay, nope, they're not
ready for it yet, heard it, yeah, or they either
don't want to hear it, or they heard it and
it just washed over them. But I do genuinely believe
that the consciousness does take it in. Yes, right, and
(15:33):
we'n't even experienced ourselves, almost like deja vu. It comes
back and we're like, like, where did that sounded familiar?
Where did that come from? And it's like, well, you
had that soul exchange where a gem was a lesson
was told to you. You just weren't ready for it then.
And I think that will help us require more patience
(15:54):
and empathy with one another of like we all want
the best for ourselves, we all want to be good
people and make the most of it. But sometimes there's
blocks and things in the way, or sometimes you gotta
deal with something else in order to get to that.
So yeah, I think it's important that we listen to
(16:16):
our feelings and intuitions. I read something the other day
that I thought was really really great. They were saying
that triggers, when one is triggered, it is one of
the greatest gifts you can ever get and one of
the best indicators that your body is giving you to
let you know, like we need to look into this.
(16:37):
It may not be bad like whoa, but it's that
voice or that thing that's a gift of like I
just want to bring this to your attention, like just
look at this, right. And I think sometimes we get
so caught up and overwhelmed and anxiety over triggers, but
their gifts right when our nervous system, when our body
(16:58):
is like ah, that's something, and it's ultimately trying to
protect you and alert you. And so I say all
this as a like give you. We need to give
ourselves more grace, just more grace because life is lifing
all the time. But I really think it's just a
series of tests and it's just seeing how we're navigating
(17:22):
it to just go through, right. You can't force it.
You just got to go through it.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
You gotta go through it. You have to go through
what's thrown in front of you and what you're meant
to go through, and it gives you clarity to continue
on and live your life and do your job and
be the best you you can be and bring your
best self to whatever it is you're doing, which you,
my dear, have done with Shadow Force.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
You are in the action world now, yeah, you are
kick ass.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Tell me about the movie, why you wanted to do it,
about your role.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So Joe Carnahan, which I was obsessed with with in
particular when he did Smoking Aces I think it's a classic,
had reached out and he said he thought of me
for this role, which I was like, what, I was
blown away that he even would consider as such. And
he was like, I want it to bring in some
(18:14):
comedy and warmth to this movie yet still having all
the beautiful fun elements of, you know, an action movie.
And he felt as though this character and the character
other role who I'm partnering with with method Man perspectively
and Auntie could bring that to life. And I just
(18:36):
think what's so cool about this movie is that while
it is an action movie. What's really unique is that
it is targeting, to me from my perspective, not only
a female conscious by having the gender roles kind of flipped,
by having this woman being arguably the better assassin, as
(19:03):
well as like a single dad kind of right raising
his son, but also seeing a black family at the
center of an action movie. I don't think we've ever
had that. So it has all these great elements of
like you know, femforward, a black family, a loving family,
(19:24):
international aspect to it in this sense of community and
you know, going by any means necessary for fighting for
what's yours. So the themes of it was just so
great that I was like, yeah, yeah, sign me up.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah yeah. So what's been fun about doing an action
based movie versus some of the other work you've.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Action requires, at least for me, trust because there are
elements when filming an action movie that you don't know
about yet. Does that make sense? Like you they have
to add in sound and CGI and special effects, so
not that it feels empty, but there are like missing
parts does that make sense when filming it that later
(20:07):
have to be layered in where like something else, I
know what it is, I know I can see what
it is all these things are here, So that was
a really nice challenge. And it's also it's a lot
of synchronicity, meaning we were lucky enough to have about
a month almost two months of training with a marine
(20:30):
specialist and so like the dutiful student and me was
like okay, okay, I got it. But then it's like
a little bit of this right of the action element
but then also acting and because it's action, you want
to be super safe, but they make it look supernatural
and flow. So that was a great way to like
(20:51):
stretch my brain because it wanted to compartmentalize, you know
what I mean almost like can we do all the
action stuff and then do the acting stuff. I don't
do the core. That's totally what it felt like, right,
so I really have a lot of respect for people
who do that. And then to make it look so
effortless was really great. Also, uh tonally like delivery wise,
(21:17):
it's a bit more straight in regards to your delivery,
which at first I was like, oh my gonna sound
like really monotone. But there's just there's like little things
stylistically that I honestly just had to like watch everyone
and take it in of like okay, okay, so that's
how I do that and that. So it was really
(21:40):
really cool to learn these new tools or ways of
acting in that action format.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
So what's your number one tip to successfully kicking some butt?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Uh? Passion?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Passion?
Speaker 2 (21:58):
No, it really is passion, I think. So I found,
like from an acting point of view, when it was like, okay,
you know, like you said, the choreography, you know it,
and when they say action, it's really of like the
connection of what's driving you to do what you're wanting
to do, you know what I mean, and just be
passionate about it, knowing you know what I mean? The
(22:20):
why is it? Because I realize, like you know, when
I started, I was like, oh, I get it, there's
a shooting a gun. It's like, no, why what is
the relationship? What did they do to you? What did
they do to your friend? Like? What is the reason?
And that is when I saw that it connected much
more profoundly.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Do you sound like you have the action bug? Like
you might want to do some more.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I think it's fun. I think it's really fun. I
think it stretches another side of my brain and I
never want to limit myself. So I think it's really
cool to have that option in your back pocket.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Maybe another action movie with you and someone I know
at the top of your list Bradley Cooper.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Oh, that would be yeah. Project I'm thinking of in
particular too, that could be fun. He's a cool guy.
He's a cool guy. He's a very hard worker, very sweet.
Like just watching in recent years like If a Star
is Born and the recent movie he did that man
(23:30):
is just he really is passionate and he's all in
and there's so much humility, and I just in general,
I would love to be around as many creatives as
possible that have that kind of intention, that really care
still possessed because there's a lot of smoke of mirrors
and other things in this industry that I feel like
(23:54):
you have to work harder to be focused. Then it
requires more energy, right, So I really admire people at
the top of their game who I know have so
many things coming at them, and yet they choose, in
my opinion, the right path, which is like good work,
hard or you know, hard working, good work, ethic, honest, honorable,
(24:20):
passionate people.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Not always easy to find, no, and it's.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Not their fault, right, Like it's almost in a weird
way intended that way to be all this other stuff. Yeah,
so it really means a lot. When I meet that,
I'm like, wow, that took a lot of conscious effort.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
So what's the I'm sure you can't say, or you're
keeping it close to your heart, but what's the type
of projects that you have in mind for you?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
There is a movie, an older movie called to Catch
a Thief with Carrie Grant and I am blinking on
her name, Grace Kelly, and it is actually a Alfred
Hitchcock movie that is supposed to be adapted, and I
(25:04):
think that could be a really from project.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
We're declaring it right now. Yes, I love that. I
love that for you.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
That's movie.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
That's a good one.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
A little spy, yeah yeah, great fashion set in the
South of France.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Oh yeah, okay, I'm in. I'll just like blow a
fan your away on set because I want to be
there for all that. Okay, I'm in. I'm in. What's
so cool about you is you speak so beautifully from
the heart. You've had so much success, You're so accomplished,
And when I meet people like you, I'm always very
interested because I don't think publicly we see the hardships right,
and rejections over the years. Was there ever a time
(25:42):
in your career that you can remember where you maybe
really wanted a roll and you had your whole heart
in it and it just didn't work out and you
had to pick yourself up and keep.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Going constantly, and I would say less of a role
and more of the This industry is a mare, and
there's constantly things that will come your way that challenges
you your worth. It's hard not to take it personal because
(26:13):
you know, I used to, I guess I still am
a musician, and so I used to always be jealous
of the instrumentalists because I felt as though, and this
could be wrong, but to me, they could quote unquote
hide behind their instrument and as a vocalist, I felt
so naked and quite literally like your heart is open.
(26:36):
It felt a lot, right, Yeah, And so similarly in
this industry, of course, you're literally portraying these roles. It's very,
very hard not to take this personally. It's filled with
tons of rejection. You're constant being compared and contrasted. It's
very competitive. There's strategy, there's so many layers to it,
(26:57):
and I think the biggest hardship has been staying in it.
Not because I've lost the passion, far from it, but
there's just constantly things that are coming at you. But
I will say the reason why I can speak to
you in this way is because of right, like when
(27:18):
I say the lessons and almost feels like and I
don't know, maybe because it's in my scope, but the
entertainment business and at this level it's like life on speed. Right,
So we're an average person may have a really bad day,
like I don't know, once a month, like a really
bad day once a month. In this industry, it might
(27:39):
be once a week, right where you're like whoa, Okay,
this might be it, right, but you have to be
like no, okay, regroup, have your support around you. And
I've grown to take my time, reclaim my time, but
also give myself a beat. And I've been trying to
(28:01):
tell this to other loved ones too, of like, you
don't have to answer everyone immediately right in the moment.
If something's coming up by the thing they're asking, just say,
let me get back to you. They do it all
the time, right, But we as the talent or the
thing of focus, feel like, oh okay, because sometimes we
(28:25):
don't make the right decisions for ourselves because we're trying
to people.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Please or not seem difficult or whatever it may.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, yeah, And so that's the stuff I think is
the hardest, continuing to challenge yourself, being open, but also
at the same time advocating for yourself. And so the
only way I know how to stay in this is
to do those check ins, those scans, having a support
system around me, having a belief in something other than myself,
(28:56):
so it doesn't feel so incl and like it's engving
in on you, cause it's a lot. It's a lot.
Like I think people should have empathy for more artists,
Like there's a reason why. It's slightly off topic, but
I think there is a reason why some of your
favorite musical or you know whatever, any kind of creative entity,
(29:20):
there's reasons why sometimes they spiral or will have Like
it's a lot, and I don't think people will realize that.
And if you don't have the necessary tools and prioritizing
the care needed, there's a reason why some of the
greatest artists we ever know haven't had long lives. It's
this weird, interesting exchange. And so I think it's a lesson,
(29:45):
but it's it's to say that, you know, I think
you can have it all. You just got to take
care of yourself and know when to be like, this
is going to be here, It's always going to be here.
Let me take care of myself.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Especially when you have so much going on. I mean,
even here, you're doing this press tour for this new
movie that everybody's gonna go out watch. Right, We're gonna
go see that movie. We want to go see its
shadow for us. But you're also filming things as you're
doing it. Aren't you currently filming yea only murders a
new season, right, So there's a lot you have to
protect your own well being while you're doing all of that.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Yeah, And I'm very lucky my team has they've gotten
I think they know me very well and know like
before early in my career, I would say yes to everything,
and I find by me saying no to certain things,
I'm open and willing to do more if that makes couch.
When I said yes to everything, I burned out in
like two months. When I was more particular about what
(30:48):
I wanted, more, not only more things came to me
in abundance, but of the right things, but my longevity
was able to sustain for far more.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
We need you to be here forever. Don't you be
burning out on us? Okay, yes, we need more work
from you, We need more art from you. How it
is only murders going than it.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Is so much fun. It literally honestly gets better and
better every season. I don't know how they do it,
but it literally gets better and better every season. And
the cast that we get every year, they just top.
It's beyond.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Do you have more scenes with Meryll's I know that's
what you wanted. You finally got it.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Yes, yes, so we I've shot half of my episodes, uh,
so far and then I'll do the last half in
like two weeks, three weeks, and so yeah, I get
to real.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Yeah, you did it. You're doing it. Very blessed you're
doing it. And you know you you are a singer.
We alluded to that. Of course, you are a very
accomplished singer on stage that we know and love. Do
you ever bust out a tune on set?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
You?
Speaker 3 (31:54):
No, not that never, not even with Selena Gomez. You
aren't like, let's do what you West's interesting. This is
my theory on like karaoke. People who can actually sing
hate doing karaoke. I don't even like going no.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
No, I've tried it, and then it's cringey because inside
you're like, you're flag at this, Like it's like little
judgments going on in my head. People who actually can
sing rarely sing. Selena is silent. You I've never heard her.
If she's in the best mood, she may hump and
you're like, right, Martin short constantly. He's actually a very
(32:31):
good singer. Actually, it's like it's giving like Broadway one
on one really, yeah, it's show.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Tunes and you don't jump in come on.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Unless they pay me to do that. On this episode
they have which they have that, which they definitely have.
No he no, but it's it's it's beautiful to see
I love to see him sing. But you know what,
I actually need to work on that. I I don't know.
I don't sing enough even for my own enjoyment. And
(33:03):
that's interesting, Like since becoming an actor, I haven't engaged
in that as much, and I need to, Okay, I
definitely we.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Look forward to more of that from you, for sure, Davine.
I could speak for hours with you. This is so
much fun. But as we wrap up, Yes, the name
of the show is called I've never said this before,
and it was born we were talking earlier from this
idea that I cover a lot of our carpets and
press junkets, and as you know, you get three minutes
or six minutes with the reporter and it's just not
(33:33):
real conversation. We all try our best, but it's so
quick and we have to get the bites in. And
it was born from an idea of wanting to connect
with people on a more human level because we all
go through the same stuff, and when we talk about
it or share lessons or advice, I think we're better collectively.
So with all of that being said, is there anything
today you can think of that maybe you've never said
(33:53):
before in an interview that you want to share.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
I think I probably have said some version of this,
but I think I just want to really reiterate kind
of what you just said. Like I really wish people
would understand and know that the same life I live
in many ways is still the same life you live.
(34:21):
Does that like you don't need to be a movie
star or a rock star or whatever, Like we all
go through the same things. They're just in different settings.
And so I just wish that people will give themselves
more grace, and I wish that people would be honest
(34:42):
and take down the masks so that they can connect,
because I think a lot of times we're scared to
be vulnerable and share with friends and loved ones what's
going on. And I think if we did, not only
would we be healthier, but we will learn the lessons quicker.
I really so like these past two weeks, right, so
(35:10):
many people have called me and been like, girl, is
mercury and retrograde? Because the hell? And I was like,
I think it is. I really think like everybody, And
I use as an example, right that all people from
all walks of life reached out to me and was like, girl,
I am going through it now. I could have lied
because of what they assume my life is. Right. I
(35:33):
think a lot of times people assume with success is
smooth sailing. One of the realest things Jay z Ever
said was more money, more problems, more success, more problems,
more anything. The more you have, the more you have
to deal with, point blank. Period. So I could have
lied and been like, oh really, oh so sorry, I
was going through it, and I say that to say it.
(35:56):
We don't just because people are. And I say this
because it's such a social media driven world right now,
and there's so many people like all respect in the
world to influencers and how they've been able to, you
know what I mean, really catapult themselves and quite literally
create revenue and exposure for themselves that is amazing. I
think if we all could have a bit of that,
(36:18):
that's great. But in that I think now which is beautiful,
that it inspires like anybody can make it, which I
love that aspect of it, because I do believe anyone can.
But I think now there's this desire to reach for
fame or celebrity or whatever, and I think that's to
(36:39):
be less of the goal of what we're going for,
and I think it's more of the community and the collective.
And so I think, like, you know, just because a
lot of people are aspiring for that, but please understand
it comes with its whole new you know, I mean,
bag of tricks. And so more so than anything, I'm
(37:02):
just kind of like life is gonna life me the
same way it's gonna life you, and we just need
to connect with one another and not let these other
things and signs of status and stuff get in the way.
Because I'm also very well aware even being in this
position tomorrow you may never see me, you know what
(37:25):
I mean, Like all that I've accomplished. You know how
the world is, Like, I'm not gonna do You're not
gonna find me, no scandal. I'm not messy like that,
but do you know what I mean? Like I could
be hot and then it'd be like what was her name? Right?
So I gotta feel good about who I am and
what I've contributed in the legacy that I'm creating, so
that I'm not relying upon that. That's why I don't
(37:48):
wake up every morning being like, oh why I'm an
oscar because okay, cool that happened. Now what else? Right?
Like okay, cool, that's that. What else can you bring
to the table outside of your career? How are you
as a human being? What other things are interesting about you?
And I like to surround myself around a mix of
(38:09):
people where it isn't all just industry people, or if
it is industry people, like we were saying, grounded people
because life is so much important, more important, And that's
why I became an actor and I choose the roles
that I do. I like to play women who have
complexities and stuff of them and making the ordinary extraordinary,
(38:32):
right Like, I intentionally like to go for more blue
collar like women and make them into these superheroes. I
looked out having this action movie, but you know what
I mean, who's actually kicking butt? But let's also give
voice to the voiceless of these women who are just
getting by in their day to day, right because that's
(38:55):
really important. The fancy stuff is fine, we have the
fancy moments, but life is really more of that stuff.
And so I just hope people are encouraged of like,
you don't have to have what you think this life
is in order to be special and understand whatever you're
dealing with in Wisconsin, I'm dealing with the same thing here.
(39:16):
It's the same thing. It's just on a different scale
or a different amalclamation, but it's the same. And I
think though allow people to have empathy.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
Yeah, thank you, thank you for sharing that. I think
it's really powerful to hear and it's why we all
kind of yearn and search for connection because we all
do feel the same things. So I couldn't love that more.
I also couldn't love more that. Here's my phone for
those three hundred and sixty five inspirational messages, Avine, what
a joy. Thank you for hanging out. I adore you.
(39:50):
I'm always rooting for you from Afar and everybody needs
to go out and see Shadow Force. It is out.
It is fantastic and we can't wait to see it.
Thank you hanging out.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Thank you. I've Never Said This Before is hosted by
me Tommy Dedario. This podcast is executive produced by Andrew
Puglisi at iHeartRadio and by me Tommy, with editing by
Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before is part of
the Elvis Duran podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more,
(40:22):
rate review and subscribe to our show and if you
liked this episode, tell your friends. Until next time, I'm
Tommy Dedario
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with me,
Tommy di Dario. I hope that you are in the
mood to feed your soul today, because my guest came
into the studio. She sprinkled her joy and wisdom all
over that room, and she left me feeling like I
was ready to take on the world. That is the
magic of the one and only Academy Award winning actress
(00:23):
Davine Joy Randolph. You may have caught one of her
inspiring speeches during the award circuit for her film The Holdovers,
which is just, oh my god, it's such a gorgeous movie,
the movie that she won the Oscar for. But to
sit across from this woman and to look into her
eyes and to listen to her speak, it's probably one
of the most soul shaking experiences I have had on
(00:44):
my show. And now I am just so excited to
share this conversation with you. I don't want to delay
this a second more. We just have to get to it, Okay,
So let's see if today we can get Davine to
say something that she has never said before. Dave I
(01:05):
Joy Randolph, how are you, my friend? I'm good I'm
so happy to be hanging out with you today. Are
you feeling good?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I am. Today is a gorgeous day in New York.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yeah, you're not from New York.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I'm from Philadelphia, but I lived here in New York.
These are the days you dream of.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
East Coast girl. I'm from Jersey, so when I meet
a fellow East Coaster, I already know I love you.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah. What part of Jersey? Are you? Philly Jersey or
New York.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
No, I'm more New York Jersey, more Central Jersey. But
you know I go to the Jersey Shore, which isn't
that far from Philly.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yes, so I have respect, I respect.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I spent some days in Philly in my in my time,
which we're not going to talk about, but I've had
some fun.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I already know.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Oh you do.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
What about you feeling in the blinks. I'm aware you've
seen me.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
You've seen me, uh huh, I certainly did.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
I am so happy you're here. I feel like you
were one of these artists that I have had my
eye on for quite some time, and I've been so
excited to see where you've gone and what you're doing
and where you continue to go and grow and I
feel like the world is yours, like what can't you do?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Thank you? I really appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I truly, I truly mean it. So to begin, this
is my burning question for you. You ready for it?
Do you ever randomly during your day, whether you're grocery
shopping or doing laundry or at work, just stop and think.
I'm an Academy Award winner.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Never never, never, No. And I think when people say it,
it thwarts me that I'm like, oh, yeah, that happened.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Why.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I think it's because it was such and is still
an odd of body of experience that it was a
whirlwind and then it just happens. Right, You're on this
campaign for eight months. I'm still to me very early
in my career. So of course we all have goals
(02:55):
and wants and needs, but I never was like it
wasn't until quite honestly, the very end of all of
a war season and I was like, oh, maybe I
hope I might maybe get nominated, do you know what
I mean? So when it happened, still feels very very surreal. No,
(03:15):
I don't think about it, and I think, if anything,
what I am hyper focused on is using whatever that
will and can garner me to create other opportunities only
for myself, but for other people. That I would say
I've been very focused on less of the title, but
more of how can I use that to gain access
(03:40):
to the right doors and with the right people, to
not only help myself, but to help others, because I
know that I'll have more longevity in my career by
helping other people. Right, Like, if it was just me,
I can only get but so far. If I just
kept tunnel vision to just me, I can only get
so far. But if I made it more about other
(04:04):
people and a community and building a community, I think
we can can not only accomplish more, but it would
behoove me as well.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
That's pretty cool that you see this big win in
your career as a way to pay it forward.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I think you have to wow right so that it
then doesn't feel like a fleeting moment or oh yeah,
that thing that happened, Because sometimes the biggest of moments
can feel like that, right that you spend all this
time and energy towards trying to make this thing happen, right,
whatever it is for any type of person, and then
(04:39):
it happens and you're like okay, and now what you
know what I mean, especially I've exerted so much energy
on that thing, and so I think it's always people
in my circle joke with me of like, you're such
a planner, you always have a strategy of something, and
I think it's because of the fact that you know,
(04:59):
I just it's never just right in front of you.
There always needs to I love a zoom and zoom
out right short term, long term, and so I just
think even with that award, I was always keenly focused
then on Okay, now what can we do with this
long term? Because now people are listening, right, And so
(05:23):
when you have a platform, I think you better have
a very clear intention and it can change and evolve,
but a clear intention on what you want to do
to pave the road for others and to really make
a difference.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Do you feel like when something that monumental happens in
your career, which it did, that you have this pressure
to keep one upping yourself.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I already have that irregardless you're really honest, which maybe
how and why I got there I don't know, but yeah,
but I'm like that in general with anything at all things,
and it probably can be intent sometimes to be around me.
But I think at the same time, I'm always looking
(06:10):
as to how to maximize any experience. I guess that
could be the nice way of saying it, but truly
that I'm like, how can we get the most out
of this? How can we, you know, really make an impact?
That no thing is a small thing. And I think,
especially since my career thus far has been of a
(06:31):
supporting actress, you learn that of like okay number one,
you quite literally are here to support the other actor,
but to you are contributing and moving this forward, the
story forward. How can you make the most impact with
what you're given? And I think that's something that I've
just been a huge part of my life since the
(06:52):
very beginning, but also even more so as an actor,
I've been able to lean into that even more. I
think now in this day and age, there's so many
potentials for opportunities. It's not like you know, when our
parents were younger, where was much more you know, cutthroat
of you do this, you go to that school and
(07:12):
bring bang boom. You know one plus one equals too.
It's way good bad, are indifferent. There's way more opportunities.
You have to keep your eyes open and be ready.
And so I think it's about diversifying yourself as much
as possible so that you know you never know what
will stick. But I think it's always good and crucial
(07:36):
to constantly be in tune with yourself and your wants
and needs. And I always do this like a like
a scan, like a check in with myself of like
who am I now, what are my wants and needs?
How can I help others? What do I need to improve?
It's a constant thing for me so that hopefully I'm
(08:01):
constantly evolving and as you said, leveling up. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
And what I love about you is not only have
you created such incredible work and you have a new
movie coming out which we're going to talk about in
a bit, but you also stand for so many things
that make people feel seen and just by being yourself,
just by giving beautiful speeches like you did at the
Oscars where you said, for so long you want it
to be different, but in that moment and now you
realize you just want to be yourself.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I mean to just pour that out is magical for people.
It's medicine for people.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Yeah, it's funny because the other speeches I wrote them
we wrote them, and my prop says was like, we're
going to do this off the dome. I was terrified.
I cried as we were getting ready. I'll never forget.
I went into the corner of the hotel and I
was like, I'm scared. I don't know what to say
if it happens, and she just was like, we just
(08:55):
like recapped on all of it, and so it's wild
to watch it back. But I really do mean that.
I think often, at least my generation was taught like
be different, br unique, have that niche have that thing.
And the more and more I do this, and having
(09:16):
the opportunity to travel the world and interview with people
and meet all these different people from all different walks
of life, what I realize is that there's a lot
of people that don't know just how important and special
they are just as is. And I find that people
are constantly searching outside of themselves for inspiration and motivation,
(09:38):
which is great, but I think people a lot of
times people miss that it's within, and so I try
to just like I said that, like psychological scan as
much and it changes right you. And it's not to
say you're not gonna have bad days or not feeling
one hundred percent. But I find with those check ins,
it allows you to be truthful to where you really are,
(10:01):
and it allows you to have more empathy for where
you're at and how you can grow from there, because
sometimes we can be striving for that thing over there,
not even acknowledging where we're at here right, and so
in missing that connection, we're just getting more and more frustrating,
not realizing, well, you're not evaluating where you're at now
and what can be done here and now. I think
(10:25):
there's a mis nomenclature of like you got to like
dreaming is a privilege, or you have to wait for
that thing, And I just kind of of the philosophy
nowadays of it's always the thing, you can always be
doing something. I'm always telling my team, but we can
do something, we can do something right now. What can
(10:47):
we create for ourselves now? What opportunity can we do now?
How can we have an impact now? Yes, we have
that long term goal of whatever that thing is at
the time, but what can you do for yourself in
the present?
Speaker 1 (11:01):
And I'm sure having that mentality just makes you feel
seen right, and it helps you feel like this is me.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
And it grounds yourself into who you are, and you
then grow in this. It takes time, a confidence in
knowing for yourself what you want and what you want
to do, and you then kind of when your intentions
are right, when your heart is open and pure, and
(11:28):
when it comes from a place of giving. Oftentimes I
just say it to myself, it's not about me being right,
it's not. But then I'm like, not everyone's gonna get
it yet, but it'll catch on. And so it requires
consistency and persistency to execute it. And sometimes you're doing
that alone, and that I feel like it is the
(11:50):
true test. How can you stick with something, bet on yourself,
root for yourself even if no one else is, And
then when they do sign on, how can you still
do that with an open heart and not be like, well,
you guys weren't here. What it doesn't matter. They're there
now right, It's aligned now right. And so that takes
(12:13):
humility and patience. And so that's why all these things
can happen. And I don't sit there thinking like I
don't even think I would be able to accomplish things
if I just sat thinking of like, oh my god,
I'm gonna asking winter and to be fair, I also
need to work on acknowledging things that I accomplish if
(12:35):
I'm being completely transparent with you. But at the same time,
I don't allow myself to get caught up into that,
and instead, I don't know. I look at it as
like a joyful reminder of you accomplish that, so great,
So what are we going to do? Let's continue to
(12:56):
bet on ourselves because I think if you do. I
think the world honestly would be a better place if
we bet it on earth. Right, there's so much insecurity
and fear and understandable. It's hard, it's really hard. But
sometimes the best support system is within and then through
doing so, you radiate and attract the right people to
(13:18):
come into your circle to further. Yeah, but that takes discernment, right,
That's why I'm like, it's the inside work first, because
if it's not, you will always attract things good, better
and different. And there are moments right where we're like
how when you look at your circle and your like
or you know, the moves that you're making, like what
(13:40):
is going on? Why am I? And a lot of
times it's just because you're not taking the time to
look in or checking in or identifying your wants and
needs and you're just going along with the flow. Sometimes
comfortability is like one of the most dangerous things, right,
even when it feel good, that things that feel good
aren't always good for you. And that's a tough lesson
(14:01):
because some people are like, but I just I just
made it. I just started feeling comfortable, and it's like, okay, cool,
keep some of that, but it's on to the next
with the other stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
What I'm gonna need you to do before you leave
today is record three hundred and sixty five inspirational messages
in my phone so that every single day I can
wake up and press play and just hear you say something.
Because you are are giving me all the good fuel
in the world that I need right now. And I
love that and I appreciate you sharing your insights because
I think we can't grow and learn and be better
(14:38):
people unless we take these yeah lessons, these little nuggets
of wisdom as I like to call it, and then
go make it our own.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yes, I think that's the key, right you and I
only can say these things because I've experienced it, right,
It's not that I'm just saying, you know, high falutin
things that sound good. Anyone knows when you know, you know,
you have to experience it to know it. And I
think it's our job and part of our purpose is
(15:09):
to pass those lessons along. Like you have friends right
that if you go through something or they ask you
for advice, you can give them the advice. Some of
your nearest and DearS, you're like, Okay, nope, they're not
ready for it yet, heard it, yeah, or they either
don't want to hear it, or they heard it and
it just washed over them. But I do genuinely believe
that the consciousness does take it in. Yes, right, and
(15:33):
we'n't even experienced ourselves, almost like deja vu. It comes
back and we're like, like, where did that sounded familiar?
Where did that come from? And it's like, well, you
had that soul exchange where a gem was a lesson
was told to you. You just weren't ready for it then.
And I think that will help us require more patience
(15:54):
and empathy with one another of like we all want
the best for ourselves, we all want to be good
people and make the most of it. But sometimes there's
blocks and things in the way, or sometimes you gotta
deal with something else in order to get to that.
So yeah, I think it's important that we listen to
(16:16):
our feelings and intuitions. I read something the other day
that I thought was really really great. They were saying
that triggers, when one is triggered, it is one of
the greatest gifts you can ever get and one of
the best indicators that your body is giving you to
let you know, like we need to look into this.
(16:37):
It may not be bad like whoa, but it's that
voice or that thing that's a gift of like I
just want to bring this to your attention, like just
look at this, right. And I think sometimes we get
so caught up and overwhelmed and anxiety over triggers, but
their gifts right when our nervous system, when our body
(16:58):
is like ah, that's something, and it's ultimately trying to
protect you and alert you. And so I say all
this as a like give you. We need to give
ourselves more grace, just more grace because life is lifing
all the time. But I really think it's just a
series of tests and it's just seeing how we're navigating
(17:22):
it to just go through, right. You can't force it.
You just got to go through it.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
You gotta go through it. You have to go through
what's thrown in front of you and what you're meant
to go through, and it gives you clarity to continue
on and live your life and do your job and
be the best you you can be and bring your
best self to whatever it is you're doing, which you,
my dear, have done with Shadow Force.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Oh thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
You are in the action world now, yeah, you are
kick ass.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Tell me about the movie, why you wanted to do it,
about your role.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So Joe Carnahan, which I was obsessed with with in
particular when he did Smoking Aces I think it's a classic,
had reached out and he said he thought of me
for this role, which I was like, what, I was
blown away that he even would consider as such. And
he was like, I want it to bring in some
(18:14):
comedy and warmth to this movie yet still having all
the beautiful fun elements of, you know, an action movie.
And he felt as though this character and the character
other role who I'm partnering with with method Man perspectively
and Auntie could bring that to life. And I just
(18:36):
think what's so cool about this movie is that while
it is an action movie. What's really unique is that
it is targeting, to me from my perspective, not only
a female conscious by having the gender roles kind of flipped,
by having this woman being arguably the better assassin, as
(19:03):
well as like a single dad kind of right raising
his son, but also seeing a black family at the
center of an action movie. I don't think we've ever
had that. So it has all these great elements of
like you know, femforward, a black family, a loving family,
(19:24):
international aspect to it in this sense of community and
you know, going by any means necessary for fighting for
what's yours. So the themes of it was just so
great that I was like, yeah, yeah, sign me up.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yeah yeah. So what's been fun about doing an action
based movie versus some of the other work you've.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Action requires, at least for me, trust because there are
elements when filming an action movie that you don't know
about yet. Does that make sense? Like you they have
to add in sound and CGI and special effects, so
not that it feels empty, but there are like missing
parts does that make sense when filming it that later
(20:07):
have to be layered in where like something else, I
know what it is, I know I can see what
it is all these things are here, So that was
a really nice challenge. And it's also it's a lot
of synchronicity, meaning we were lucky enough to have about
a month almost two months of training with a marine
(20:30):
specialist and so like the dutiful student and me was
like okay, okay, I got it. But then it's like
a little bit of this right of the action element
but then also acting and because it's action, you want
to be super safe, but they make it look supernatural
and flow. So that was a great way to like
(20:51):
stretch my brain because it wanted to compartmentalize, you know
what I mean almost like can we do all the
action stuff and then do the acting stuff. I don't
do the core. That's totally what it felt like, right,
so I really have a lot of respect for people
who do that. And then to make it look so
effortless was really great. Also, uh tonally like delivery wise,
(21:17):
it's a bit more straight in regards to your delivery,
which at first I was like, oh my gonna sound
like really monotone. But there's just there's like little things
stylistically that I honestly just had to like watch everyone
and take it in of like okay, okay, so that's
how I do that and that. So it was really
(21:40):
really cool to learn these new tools or ways of
acting in that action format.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
So what's your number one tip to successfully kicking some butt?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Uh? Passion?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Passion?
Speaker 2 (21:58):
No, it really is passion, I think. So I found,
like from an acting point of view, when it was like, okay,
you know, like you said, the choreography, you know it,
and when they say action, it's really of like the
connection of what's driving you to do what you're wanting
to do, you know what I mean, and just be
passionate about it, knowing you know what I mean? The
(22:20):
why is it? Because I realize, like you know, when
I started, I was like, oh, I get it, there's
a shooting a gun. It's like, no, why what is
the relationship? What did they do to you? What did
they do to your friend? Like? What is the reason?
And that is when I saw that it connected much
more profoundly.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Do you sound like you have the action bug? Like
you might want to do some more.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I think it's fun. I think it's really fun. I
think it stretches another side of my brain and I
never want to limit myself. So I think it's really
cool to have that option in your back pocket.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Maybe another action movie with you and someone I know
at the top of your list Bradley Cooper.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Oh, that would be yeah. Project I'm thinking of in
particular too, that could be fun. He's a cool guy.
He's a cool guy. He's a very hard worker, very sweet.
Like just watching in recent years like If a Star
is Born and the recent movie he did that man
(23:30):
is just he really is passionate and he's all in
and there's so much humility, and I just in general,
I would love to be around as many creatives as
possible that have that kind of intention, that really care
still possessed because there's a lot of smoke of mirrors
and other things in this industry that I feel like
(23:54):
you have to work harder to be focused. Then it
requires more energy, right, So I really admire people at
the top of their game who I know have so
many things coming at them, and yet they choose, in
my opinion, the right path, which is like good work,
hard or you know, hard working, good work, ethic, honest, honorable,
(24:20):
passionate people.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Not always easy to find, no, and it's.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Not their fault, right, Like it's almost in a weird
way intended that way to be all this other stuff. Yeah,
so it really means a lot. When I meet that,
I'm like, wow, that took a lot of conscious effort.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
So what's the I'm sure you can't say, or you're
keeping it close to your heart, but what's the type
of projects that you have in mind for you?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
There is a movie, an older movie called to Catch
a Thief with Carrie Grant and I am blinking on
her name, Grace Kelly, and it is actually a Alfred
Hitchcock movie that is supposed to be adapted, and I
(25:04):
think that could be a really from project.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
We're declaring it right now. Yes, I love that. I
love that for you.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
That's movie.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
That's a good one.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
A little spy, yeah yeah, great fashion set in the
South of France.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Oh yeah, okay, I'm in. I'll just like blow a
fan your away on set because I want to be
there for all that. Okay, I'm in. I'm in. What's
so cool about you is you speak so beautifully from
the heart. You've had so much success, You're so accomplished,
And when I meet people like you, I'm always very
interested because I don't think publicly we see the hardships right,
and rejections over the years. Was there ever a time
(25:42):
in your career that you can remember where you maybe
really wanted a roll and you had your whole heart
in it and it just didn't work out and you
had to pick yourself up and keep.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Going constantly, and I would say less of a role
and more of the This industry is a mare, and
there's constantly things that will come your way that challenges
you your worth. It's hard not to take it personal because
(26:13):
you know, I used to, I guess I still am
a musician, and so I used to always be jealous
of the instrumentalists because I felt as though, and this
could be wrong, but to me, they could quote unquote
hide behind their instrument and as a vocalist, I felt
so naked and quite literally like your heart is open.
(26:36):
It felt a lot, right, Yeah, And so similarly in
this industry, of course, you're literally portraying these roles. It's very,
very hard not to take this personally. It's filled with
tons of rejection. You're constant being compared and contrasted. It's
very competitive. There's strategy, there's so many layers to it,
(26:57):
and I think the biggest hardship has been staying in it.
Not because I've lost the passion, far from it, but
there's just constantly things that are coming at you. But
I will say the reason why I can speak to
you in this way is because of right, like when
(27:18):
I say the lessons and almost feels like and I
don't know, maybe because it's in my scope, but the
entertainment business and at this level it's like life on speed. Right,
So we're an average person may have a really bad day,
like I don't know, once a month, like a really
bad day once a month. In this industry, it might
(27:39):
be once a week, right where you're like whoa, Okay,
this might be it, right, but you have to be
like no, okay, regroup, have your support around you. And
I've grown to take my time, reclaim my time, but
also give myself a beat. And I've been trying to
(28:01):
tell this to other loved ones too, of like, you
don't have to answer everyone immediately right in the moment.
If something's coming up by the thing they're asking, just say,
let me get back to you. They do it all
the time, right, But we as the talent or the
thing of focus, feel like, oh okay, because sometimes we
(28:25):
don't make the right decisions for ourselves because we're trying
to people.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Please or not seem difficult or whatever it may.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Yeah, yeah, And so that's the stuff I think is
the hardest, continuing to challenge yourself, being open, but also
at the same time advocating for yourself. And so the
only way I know how to stay in this is
to do those check ins, those scans, having a support
system around me, having a belief in something other than myself,
(28:56):
so it doesn't feel so incl and like it's engving
in on you, cause it's a lot. It's a lot.
Like I think people should have empathy for more artists,
Like there's a reason why. It's slightly off topic, but
I think there is a reason why some of your
favorite musical or you know whatever, any kind of creative entity,
(29:20):
there's reasons why sometimes they spiral or will have Like
it's a lot, and I don't think people will realize that.
And if you don't have the necessary tools and prioritizing
the care needed, there's a reason why some of the
greatest artists we ever know haven't had long lives. It's
this weird, interesting exchange. And so I think it's a lesson,
(29:45):
but it's it's to say that, you know, I think
you can have it all. You just got to take
care of yourself and know when to be like, this
is going to be here, It's always going to be here.
Let me take care of myself.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Especially when you have so much going on. I mean,
even here, you're doing this press tour for this new
movie that everybody's gonna go out watch. Right, We're gonna
go see that movie. We want to go see its
shadow for us. But you're also filming things as you're
doing it. Aren't you currently filming yea only murders a
new season, right, So there's a lot you have to
protect your own well being while you're doing all of that.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Yeah, And I'm very lucky my team has they've gotten
I think they know me very well and know like
before early in my career, I would say yes to everything,
and I find by me saying no to certain things,
I'm open and willing to do more if that makes couch.
When I said yes to everything, I burned out in
like two months. When I was more particular about what
(30:48):
I wanted, more, not only more things came to me
in abundance, but of the right things, but my longevity
was able to sustain for far more.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
We need you to be here forever. Don't you be
burning out on us? Okay, yes, we need more work
from you, We need more art from you. How it
is only murders going than it.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Is so much fun. It literally honestly gets better and
better every season. I don't know how they do it,
but it literally gets better and better every season. And
the cast that we get every year, they just top.
It's beyond.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
Do you have more scenes with Meryll's I know that's
what you wanted. You finally got it.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
Yes, yes, so we I've shot half of my episodes, uh,
so far and then I'll do the last half in
like two weeks, three weeks, and so yeah, I get
to real.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Yeah, you did it. You're doing it. Very blessed you're
doing it. And you know you you are a singer.
We alluded to that. Of course, you are a very
accomplished singer on stage that we know and love. Do
you ever bust out a tune on set?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
You?
Speaker 3 (31:54):
No, not that never, not even with Selena Gomez. You
aren't like, let's do what you West's interesting. This is
my theory on like karaoke. People who can actually sing
hate doing karaoke. I don't even like going no.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
No, I've tried it, and then it's cringey because inside
you're like, you're flag at this, Like it's like little
judgments going on in my head. People who actually can
sing rarely sing. Selena is silent. You I've never heard her.
If she's in the best mood, she may hump and
you're like, right, Martin short constantly. He's actually a very
(32:31):
good singer. Actually, it's like it's giving like Broadway one
on one really, yeah, it's show.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Tunes and you don't jump in come on.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Unless they pay me to do that. On this episode
they have which they have that, which they definitely have.
No he no, but it's it's it's beautiful to see
I love to see him sing. But you know what,
I actually need to work on that. I I don't know.
I don't sing enough even for my own enjoyment. And
(33:03):
that's interesting, Like since becoming an actor, I haven't engaged
in that as much, and I need to, Okay, I
definitely we.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Look forward to more of that from you, for sure, Davine.
I could speak for hours with you. This is so
much fun. But as we wrap up, Yes, the name
of the show is called I've never said this before,
and it was born we were talking earlier from this
idea that I cover a lot of our carpets and
press junkets, and as you know, you get three minutes
or six minutes with the reporter and it's just not
(33:33):
real conversation. We all try our best, but it's so
quick and we have to get the bites in. And
it was born from an idea of wanting to connect
with people on a more human level because we all
go through the same stuff, and when we talk about
it or share lessons or advice, I think we're better collectively.
So with all of that being said, is there anything
today you can think of that maybe you've never said
(33:53):
before in an interview that you want to share.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
I think I probably have said some version of this,
but I think I just want to really reiterate kind
of what you just said. Like I really wish people
would understand and know that the same life I live
in many ways is still the same life you live.
(34:21):
Does that like you don't need to be a movie
star or a rock star or whatever, Like we all
go through the same things. They're just in different settings.
And so I just wish that people will give themselves
more grace, and I wish that people would be honest
(34:42):
and take down the masks so that they can connect,
because I think a lot of times we're scared to
be vulnerable and share with friends and loved ones what's
going on. And I think if we did, not only
would we be healthier, but we will learn the lessons quicker.
I really so like these past two weeks, right, so
(35:10):
many people have called me and been like, girl, is
mercury and retrograde? Because the hell? And I was like,
I think it is. I really think like everybody, And
I use as an example, right that all people from
all walks of life reached out to me and was like, girl,
I am going through it now. I could have lied
because of what they assume my life is. Right. I
(35:33):
think a lot of times people assume with success is
smooth sailing. One of the realest things Jay z Ever
said was more money, more problems, more success, more problems,
more anything. The more you have, the more you have
to deal with, point blank. Period. So I could have
lied and been like, oh really, oh so sorry, I
was going through it, and I say that to say it.
(35:56):
We don't just because people are. And I say this
because it's such a social media driven world right now,
and there's so many people like all respect in the
world to influencers and how they've been able to, you
know what I mean, really catapult themselves and quite literally
create revenue and exposure for themselves that is amazing. I
think if we all could have a bit of that,
(36:18):
that's great. But in that I think now which is beautiful,
that it inspires like anybody can make it, which I
love that aspect of it, because I do believe anyone can.
But I think now there's this desire to reach for
fame or celebrity or whatever, and I think that's to
(36:39):
be less of the goal of what we're going for,
and I think it's more of the community and the collective.
And so I think, like, you know, just because a
lot of people are aspiring for that, but please understand
it comes with its whole new you know, I mean,
bag of tricks. And so more so than anything, I'm
(37:02):
just kind of like life is gonna life me the
same way it's gonna life you, and we just need
to connect with one another and not let these other
things and signs of status and stuff get in the way.
Because I'm also very well aware even being in this
position tomorrow you may never see me, you know what
(37:25):
I mean, Like all that I've accomplished. You know how
the world is, Like, I'm not gonna do You're not
gonna find me, no scandal. I'm not messy like that,
but do you know what I mean? Like I could
be hot and then it'd be like what was her name? Right?
So I gotta feel good about who I am and
what I've contributed in the legacy that I'm creating, so
that I'm not relying upon that. That's why I don't
(37:48):
wake up every morning being like, oh why I'm an
oscar because okay, cool that happened. Now what else? Right?
Like okay, cool, that's that. What else can you bring
to the table outside of your career? How are you
as a human being? What other things are interesting about you?
And I like to surround myself around a mix of
(38:09):
people where it isn't all just industry people, or if
it is industry people, like we were saying, grounded people
because life is so much important, more important, And that's
why I became an actor and I choose the roles
that I do. I like to play women who have
complexities and stuff of them and making the ordinary extraordinary,
(38:32):
right Like, I intentionally like to go for more blue
collar like women and make them into these superheroes. I
looked out having this action movie, but you know what
I mean, who's actually kicking butt? But let's also give
voice to the voiceless of these women who are just
getting by in their day to day, right because that's
(38:55):
really important. The fancy stuff is fine, we have the
fancy moments, but life is really more of that stuff.
And so I just hope people are encouraged of like,
you don't have to have what you think this life
is in order to be special and understand whatever you're
dealing with in Wisconsin, I'm dealing with the same thing here.
(39:16):
It's the same thing. It's just on a different scale
or a different amalclamation, but it's the same. And I
think though allow people to have empathy.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
Yeah, thank you, thank you for sharing that. I think
it's really powerful to hear and it's why we all
kind of yearn and search for connection because we all
do feel the same things. So I couldn't love that more.
I also couldn't love more that. Here's my phone for
those three hundred and sixty five inspirational messages, Avine, what
a joy. Thank you for hanging out. I adore you.
(39:50):
I'm always rooting for you from Afar and everybody needs
to go out and see Shadow Force. It is out.
It is fantastic and we can't wait to see it.
Thank you hanging out.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Thank you. I've Never Said This Before is hosted by
me Tommy Dedario. This podcast is executive produced by Andrew
Puglisi at iHeartRadio and by me Tommy, with editing by
Joshua Colaudney. I've Never Said This Before is part of
the Elvis Duran podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more,
(40:22):
rate review and subscribe to our show and if you
liked this episode, tell your friends. Until next time, I'm
Tommy Dedario
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