August 6, 2024 • 30 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by actress Brianna Hildebrand who reprised her fan-favorite role as Negasonic Teenage Warhead in Deadpool and Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. The film is currently the 6th highest opening of all-time at the US box office and has become the most talked about film this summer. Between having the power of generating explosions from her body, to being effortlessly stoic and cool, to representing a community that feels seen through one of the first queer superheroes, it’s safe to say that the world wants more Negasonic Teenage Warhead. Today, Brianna opens up about how she was only sent pages for the scenes that she was in, what her very first day on-set for Deadpool was like, how Ryan Reynolds helped make her feel less nervous, booking a dream role for her very first movie, her favorite moments for her character throughout all three films, admitting to Ryan that he was her childhood crush, fighting the urge to crack-up when filming scenes opposite her co-stars, getting to work with the iconic Wolverine, if she hopes to play her character in more installments of Deadpool or a spin-off, what being thrust into the spotlight was like after the first Deadpool was released, how she protects her peace and stays grounded, and learning to put other people’s opinions aside to focus on the things that truly matter.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with
me Tommy Di Dario oh Man today's guest. She is
in a very tiny little movie that maybe you've heard of,
and that movie is Deadpool and Wolverine. Yeah, the movie
that is literally taking over the entire summer. Brianna Hildebrand
(00:24):
is reprising her role as Negasonic teenage Warhead opposite Ryan
Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a movie that is breaking
all sorts of records. People cannot get enough of this
film now. From the moment that audience has met her
in the very first Steadpool, she quickly became a fan
favorite character. I mean between having the kick gas power
(00:44):
of generating explosions from her body, to being effortlessly stoic
and cool, to representing a community of people that feel
seen through her, It's safe to say that the world
wants more of Negasonic teenage Warhead and Brianna Oh. She
is such a gifted actor and this episode is a
total celebration and love letter to her journey throughout the
(01:05):
last three Deadpool films. We are diving deep and oh
it is so much fun. So let's see if today
we can get Brianna to say something that she has
never said before. Brianna, how are you today? It is
so good to see you.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
That's good to see you. I'm good. How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I am fantastic. I feel like I've had no one
to kind of air my grievance about this yet. So
you're the one that's gonna have to be my punching
bag for a second. Because that Madonna song Like a
Prayer has been in my head for literally weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I'm so sorry, Like I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
A dick did. It's on my playlist at the gym NonStop.
I put it on when I'm getting ready. I maybe
put it on at night, and like literally my husband's like,
it's enough, Like we're good.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it, you.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Know, Oh it's so good. Well. I love seeing you
in this Deep Pool and Wolverine movie. You've been such
a pivotal character for all of these films, such a
fan favorite character for so many people. Is it true
that for this film and maybe even the other ones,
you were only sent the scenes that you were in.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yes, actually it was only this one.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I think Marvel is like very much secretive, especially about
this movie. But about all of their content. So this
one was like high security, you know, like I met
with Disney Marvel's security guy and they gave me the
rundown of what I can and cannot see or do,
and so yeah, this one was locked down.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I only saw the things that I was in.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I had no idea of anything else that was happening.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
That's so wild. Were you trying to get information where
you're like, okay, someone like give me a little hint,
Ryan or Huart, like let me know what's happening, and
everybody just was like nope.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
It's interesting because in one sense it's kind of helpful
to know what's going on in the movie for like
interview purposes. But then in the other sense, obviously there
are things that you can't say, and a lot of
the special appearances in this movie were like high key,
top priority secrets. So it's maybe was for the best
(03:19):
that I didn't know, so I had nothing to really
hide as far as like whenever I was being grilled,
But yeah, there was part of me that definitely wanted
to know a little bit more also just because I
was curious.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
You know, yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure. And when you're
on set filming your scenes, does it feel I don't know,
more locked down than other sets do, or at that
point you can't really tell the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Well, this one in particular, at least the scenes that
I shot were filmed in a studio, so it was
kind of already very much locked down, just as far
as you can't get onto the premises really without passing
through multiple layers of security. So that's definitely for the best.
But yeah, even since the first one, it's been pretty
(04:04):
heavy on lockdown, just because you know, there are a
lot of scenes that use like streets and that are
shot out in the open. So yeah, but they've definitely
locked down extra for this last one.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, it's important because you know, you don't want spoilers
and some end up coming out, but you want to
protect as much as you possibly can. So I totally
get that. This movie for an actor, is such a
dream to be a part of. I imagine let alone,
you know, the entire franchise that you get to be
a part of. So how did this all come to be?
Like what was that audition? Like what was the project call?
(04:39):
Did you know what you were going out for?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, it's interesting, I knew that I was auditioning for Deadpool.
I had no prior knowledge of who Deadpool was because
I wasn't really into comics beforehand.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So I knew that it was a superhero movie.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I knew that Ryan Reynolds was attached, But as far
as the information is what I got, Like for auditioning,
I knew I was auditioning for a character who had
a power and her name was Kathy, and that was
pretty much it. I think it was maybe like eight
to ten pages of just like some made up stuff
(05:17):
and yeah, just kind of went.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
In there and did my thing and then.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Yeah, it's crazy to think, I think that was maybe
eight or nine years ago now. And yeah, it was
the first movie that I ever worked on, so I
was cast and it really just kinda pulled me into
what into acting?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
That is so crazy? Can you imagine, like even hearing
you say that it was the first movie that you
worked on, that is such a rarity in this industry
and you get to be in this epic superhero film
for the audition, did you have to like show physicality too?
Because you kick some ass? Girl? I mean, you know
what you're doing, you know what?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Surprisingly I didn't. I just went in there.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
And did you know, the reading of the scenes a
couple of times and was called back. But they definitely
put me through some training, some physical training I did,
like muay Thai training and also just general stunt training.
They have this gym in Vancouver for their stunt training
that was so fun to work in because they have
all of these wires and like, I didn't do too
(06:21):
much wirework, but I think that was my favorite part.
It was I was like trying to stay on the
wires during my training.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Wow, that's so badass. So you did end up doing
some of your own stunts.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, a little bit of some of it.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I mean we also obviously we had great stunt people
and they did an amazing job. But we do as
much as we can, just you know, for editing purposes.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It's easier if your face is on there.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
You know, for sure for sure. And it's such like
I said, it's such a badass character. I mean, you
can generate explosions from your body, which it's so cool,
and visually it's so cool. Did you have a favorite
moment throughout all three of these films for yourself that
you really were like, Okay, I'm kind of a badass.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I don't know. I mean there I think in the
first movie.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I think it was the first movie, I did a
stunt where I was exploding, obviously, but I was coming
down from my explosions, so.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I did this.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
We did this shot where I got to jump off
the edge of this really large platform and that was
so fun.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I had a great time doing that.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
But also generally, I mean, my power is very cool,
but without all of the special effects, it's really just
me like trying to detonate, you know, like shaking, and yeah,
it does feel.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
A little bit silly.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Sometimes I did make jokes about like, am I does
it look like I'm farting?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Like am I?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Everyone please look away for my explosion, you know. But
plus the special effects very cool, big fan.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah, yeah, I never even thought about it like that.
But wow, when you actually got to see the thing
product with those effects, you must have been like, WHOA,
that is so cool. It felt nothing like how I
felt on set.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Yeah, absolutely, Well, that goes for a lot of the
things in the film. The CGI for all of the
movies is just so amazing. I always watch it back
and I'm like, oh, that's what it was supposed to.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Look like you said it was your very first movie.
Do you still remember your first day on set? Like,
were you just the wreck? How do you walk into
a film like this and say, Okay, I'm here, let's work.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
No, I was very, very nervous.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I also didn't know any of the on set terminology.
People kept saying Okay, on the day, we're going to
do this in reference to one of the scenes, and
I remember thinking, are we not doing this scene today
and then stressing out about it, which for a reference
like when people say on the day, they mean when
we do the scene, But in my head, because I'd
(08:53):
never heard it before, I was like, We're not doing
the scene today. I prepped the wrong scene. I'm freaking out,
you know it like I had. I'm pretty sure I
called my dad to have him talk me off a
ledge because I just was like, I feel like I
can't do this. And yeah, the imposter syndrome was very real.
But Ryan really helped me through a lot of that,
and the director Tim Miller on the first one. They
(09:14):
helped me to kind of chill, you know, and not
take it so seriously.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I mean, it's easier said than done. So I imagine you
had to really get in that kind of frame of mind.
But it's nice when you have people around you who
encourage you and you know, want you to do your
best work and feel the most comfortable that you can be.
And speaking of Ryan, I mean, what a great artist
and what he's done with these films is so iconic.
(09:39):
But I heard that he was maybe a childhood crush
of yours. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
That is true? Yes, yes, he was.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Like he was all over my bedroom walls, like my
teen walls. You know, I had a bunch of posters
of bands and stuff. I had Ryan up there. All
of my friends knew this as well, like I have
notes that I saved from childhood of people like referencing
Ryan as a joke, and it's just Yeah, it was
a very exciting time for me to finally meet him
(10:12):
and tell him about.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
My crush because I thought it was funny.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I don't know that he thought it was as funny
at the time. He might have been a little bit
weirded out because I was still a teenager, and I
don't know how I received that myself.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
So but I had to tell him.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
You know, I give you props for actually coming clean
with That's that's pretty ballsy.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Thank you. Yeah, well, I just couldn't.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
I had to get it off my chest because I
felt like otherwise I would just be I'm just happy
to be here, Like, I just felt like I needed
to get it out in the open.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
That's hysterical. We always have like that one. Like for me,
it was Jennifer Love Hewett. I mean, there were posters
all over in my bedroom with Jennifer Love you, which
is confusing for many reasons, but that was my one.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, that's actually true. There is always a one.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Huh yeah, for sure. For sure. So you've worked with
him now for obviously all three films. How has it
been teaming up with him and working with him so closely?
You mentioned on day one how he calmed you down
and made you feel at peace with jumping into this role.
(11:16):
So how has that relationship been together?
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, it's been great.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I mean, we don't it's funny, like I feel like,
especially this last time, it had been so long since
i'd seen him that it's really great to get together again.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
And it's also been really cool to see him start
a family.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I mean he's added more and more kids as we've
been filming and so like getting to see them on set.
I remember seeing one of his daughters on.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
The second Deadpool.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
She came to set dressed as like a superhero and
she was just such a joy to have roaming around.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
So it's been really cool because I feel like I've really.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Grown up, like from eighteen to almost twenty eight now,
so it's I feel like he's also so work through
a stage of his life and it's yeah, it's really
nice to see him sort of be a family man
and set all of these huge things into place for
himself and his businesses, and yeah, it's really inspirational.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
It's been great to work with him, and.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Your dynamic together has been so fun over the years.
I mean, you play someone so kind of stoic and
hard and tough, and he's obviously this the goofiest character.
How do you not crack up? Like when you've worked
with him over the years. Is it hard to operate character?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Yes, it really is.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I Mean there have been times where I've been like,
all right, I need to not talk to you or
like distance myself from you for the next five hours
because otherwise it's I mean, it is a challenge, and
there definitely have been times that I've lost it across
him because he's just so quick and he always surprises
you with his improv so but you know, I just
(12:55):
feel honored that I've gotten to, like work with someone
who is so skilled and who has their craft so
well honed. It's just a yeah, it's an honor to
be there, to be challenged, you know.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
I feel like there could potentially be a really good
blooper reel somewhere floating around.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Oh yeah, there definitely is.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
There's definitely some there's definitely some of me cracking up somewhere.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
All right, Well, we'll have to try to get those
released in the future. And Hugh Jackman, of course, he
was also just wonderful in this film, and he was
a new face for you to get to work with.
I was teaming up with him and you actually got
to have a nice scene with him.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
It was so great meeting him.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
He was lovely and I mean just such a sweetheart.
Like it's honestly impressive that he and Ryan have remained
so humble and just down to earth and easy to
talk to. Like both of them are really incredible people.
I was excited to meet Hugh. I grew up watching
him so it was a dream.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Honestly, do you hope for more Deadpool in the future?
Do you wanted you more? Are you like rolling up
your sleep and you're ready?
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Yeah? Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I feel like it would be so fun to do
another movie. And I mean, I'm just great like this.
Like I said, the first one really catapulted my career
and started everything for me. So I'm just grateful for
having Deadpool in my life at all. And there are
some of the most fun things I've worked on to
this day, just all of the stunts and the huge crew,
(14:24):
and so yeah, I would be so honored to do
anything Deadpool related again in the future.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
When you walk onto a set like this and it's
what I imagine larger than life, and you, like you said,
there's things that are implanted later in cgi. But do
you still feel the magic when you're making it or
is it so deconstructed it's just like, all right, we're
just here shooting something and let's see how it looks.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
No, it's definitely magical, and I think that's part of
the fun and the magic of it too, is that
everyone on set, including the crew, knows that they're part
of something so special. Deadpool isn't like the other superheroes.
I mean, he's really sort of like a I mean
he's really like broken some boundaries and made a name
(15:08):
for himself. So I think everyone working on these films
knows that they're a part of something special, and everyone's
excited to be working on it, you know, And that's
part of what makes it so fun, is that you
can feel that energy.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
I need your hot take on this because I've tried
to figure out what my answer would be and I'm
not quite sure. So if you had to decide between
having a best friend that's either Wolverine or Deadpool, who
would you pick? And why that.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Is actually really hard? You know what, I would probably
choose Deadpool.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
I feel like he might be a little bit more unpredictable,
but that might add a sense of excitement to the friendship.
And you know, I feel like he's also even though
he's morally ambiguous.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
He's a very loyal guy.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
So I'm going to go ahead and say Deadpool, I think,
and you.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Know what, I'll go with Wolverine because if I picked Deadpool,
between the two of us, we won't shut up and
never We'll never be able to get a word in edgewise.
So that's going to be a disaster. Okay, Yeah, someone's
right right, I got him, So we got them all covered.
You know, Brianna, you said that you were eighteen when
you started off on this wild adventure, which is so young,
(16:22):
and I imagine kind of growing up in the industry
and working in such a high profile environment at that age.
While it was incredible and amazing and you feel so
lucky and blessed to do that, it also I'm sure
could have been an adjustment for you. So was it
weird kind of being in your most formative years growing
up in such a public way.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, I mean it was weird.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
It's also I mean, I feel lucky that I got
into the industry sort of at the tail end of
being a teenager. I don't know that I would have
handled it very well had I gotten into it any earlier.
But it's also I mean, I'm grateful that I'm not
living in this early two thousands age of like very
intense paparazzi and people paying as much attention as they
(17:10):
used to. I guess, if you know what I'm saying, Like,
I feel like the market is a little bit oversaturated.
There are a lot of people doing movies now and shows,
and so maybe there wasn't as much focus on me
as there might have been in the past.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
But that being said, it definitely was an adjustment.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I'm an introvert, I'm a super private person, and so
there are a lot of things about the industry that
were hard to get used to, like just not being
able to post just my friends on social media without
a response, or people commenting on just life, you know,
or feeling like I have to be careful about what
(17:51):
I say sometimes in interviews just so that people don't
take things the wrong way like it always. It was
definitely an adjustment for me as an entry. But I
think that I've turned out okay.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I hope that I've turned out okay. I don't feel
so lost about it.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Luckily, I had a very good support system in my
family and friends. So yeah, it was an adjustment for sure,
But it's just life. I think it's part of the
business and I love what I do. I love acting,
so in the end, I think it's worth it for me.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Well, it's clear, you keep your head down, you do
the work, you don't get caught up in a lot
of the bs out there and that's very admirable because
it can be very easy to get caught up in
that cycle of you know, Hollywood, so to speak. And
there was something I read from you that I really
just thought was a beautiful quote, and you said, I
think it was. In a different interview, you said, I've
had to find a balance of making time for myself
(18:45):
and putting everyone else's opinion aside, which, oh, that can
be hard to do. You know, how did you develop
that mentality seemingly so young, because I think a lot
of people kind of work towards that.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I don't know, I'm just speaking from personal experience, but
for me.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's been a big lesson of my twenties.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I've noticed is like, especially considering just my position, but
I think also a lot of people in their twenties
go through this where it's you're coming out of being
a teen and following even your maybe your guardian's opinions,
and you think, oh, they're thinking the best for me.
But at some point it is important to get to
a stage where you can decide what's the best for yourself.
(19:27):
And for me, I went through a few years of
not knowing really what I thought about things about many
things you know, I think that's maybe also.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Just part of being young, but I don't know. I
think I realized that COVID happened and I moved from.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
LA closer to home where I'm from in Texas, and
I think that brought a lot to my attention. And
I think I realized I need the space to figure
out who I am. I need alone time and privacy maybe,
and that it's okay to like try things because that's
ultimately how you learn.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
So yeah, I think for me moving away from the.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
City and really clearing my mind and honing in on
what I want and what makes me happy, that's been
important for me recently.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Oh I love hearing that because I think it's hard
sometimes to separate yourself from what you're used to or
what you think you should be doing right. And you
might think, oh, I have to be in LA and
that's my industry, and what when moving away look like
or mean And you're like, no, no, I need to
take care of me and I can still have the
career of my dreams but in a different place. And
I think that's something that is so important for us
(20:36):
all to remember that you sometimes need to take those
steps that might not be conventional or might not be
the norm, but you need to do it to protect
your own well.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Being, right, Yeah, yeah, I agree, I agree, definitely. I
think for me, it's been really nice to be closer
to family, and I moved at a time when I
needed that support, and so yeah, that's been really helpful
for me. Not to say that I have everything figured out,
because I definitely don't, but you know, this is what
makes me feel good.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Right now, and so I'm just doing my thing.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
It's important to do what makes you feel good, and
you make a lot of people feel good as well
because of the representation aspect of what your character means
in this Deadpool world and in this franchise. And you know,
she's one of the first openly queer superheroes. And that's
something that when I announced you as my guest, I
saw so many people writing in saying, oh my god,
like that helped me at such a young age, and
(21:30):
that made me feel invincible. That made me feel good enough,
and it just is so rewarding, I'm sure as an
artist to hear and see things like that, as I'm
sure you have. So do you kind of wear that
badge of honor proudly.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I mean, I'm just honored that Ryan even wanted to
make that a part of my character story, and I, yeah,
I think it. Initially I felt a lot of pressure
about it, and I'd expressed to Ryan like, I just
want to make sure that it's you know, it's not
so I don't know. I want to make sure that
we're doing it right. And I also, I mean trusted
(22:06):
Ryan and the writers to make it as great as
they could, and I think they did a great job.
But it's been it's really been an honor getting to
meet so many young queer people, especially at conventions, who
they say the same things to me, like, oh, this
is it's been really great to see your character. She's
inspired me or she's given me strength in some way,
(22:27):
especially in countries that are maybe not as progressive or
openly accepting of people who are queer. That's been probably
the most rewarding thing about getting to play Negasonic. It's
really I'm so grateful that, yeah, I've been given that opportunity, And.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Like you said, it was brought up in a way
that wasn't dramatic or heavy or weird. It was, like
I think in the second movie, when your character brought
out her girlfriend, it was just kind of like, hey,
what's up, Like there wasn't this whole big scene about it,
which I think is sometimes what's needed in the different
forms of art, Like sometimes you just have to have
it be at least that's my opinion.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Yeah, I agree, And that's also what I was saying
to Ryan about it, is that it doesn't need to
be a whole like, oh, she's so different for this thing.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
It just can be.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
And I think that it's important for young queer people
to see your queerness doesn't make you. It doesn't have
to define you.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
You know.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
I think that what we need is a spin off
of your character. I'm just putting it out there.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I think that would be pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
What you're saying is you're not opposed.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Right right, right, Yeah, no, I'm here. Just give me
a call whenever it's happening.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
I want to know more of her story and her background,
and I really do find her to be such a
fascinating character simply because of the stoicism, and you know,
you want to learn more like what was that backstory like?
And where did she come from? And there's pieces you
want to know and I'm just saying how she's written
it leaves that very much open or possibility.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Yeah, yes, I agree, I agree, and I think that
would be awesome. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Can I ask you something, how do you turn off
the for lack of a better word than noise when
something like this gets put into the world and everyone's
focusing on the box office and numbers and it's just
weeks and weeks and weeks of non stop bombardment of
this film and of news and headlines like, are you
(24:32):
able to separate from it a little bit or are
you kind of like on your phone looking up things?
What is the after process like for you?
Speaker 3 (24:40):
I think I definitely used to be very much on
my phone looking up things, seeing what people are saying,
And recently I tried not to do that sort of thing.
I turned off all of my like Instagram notifications a
long time ago and all of that sort of thing,
just because I've found that it's better for me mentally
if I just don't think.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
About it that hard or at all. You know, I
like to tune into my Instagram whenever I'm ready to see.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
That kind of stuff, but yeah, generally I try to
stay away from it, you know, I try to use
this time as like a celebratory we did it sort
of thing and try to lock into work a little
bit more. And yeah, I keep my focus away from
all of it because it can be very overwhelming.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
It can be it can.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Feel like too much, very easily for me. So that's yeah,
something I try to stay away from.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Man, I feel like we have about ten years between us,
yet you have figured out life so much more than
I did at that age. And I know you say
you don't have it all figured it out, and none
of us do and we're all works in progress. But
how did you get to this point? Like a can
you be my life coach and be like, how are
you so just grounded at this point of your life?
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
I spend a lot of time with my dad and
I are really close, so I spend a lot of
time with him and hanging out with his friends, and
they're all older people, so maybe that's a reason why.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
But yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I think I just have really tried to work things out.
I went through a period of time toward the end
of living in LA where I was really just not
doing well, like emotionally, so I think I fell into
a self help place and now I've yeah, I'm yeah,
I'm realizing where I'm comfortable and so it's been good.
(26:29):
But I really, I don't know. I don't have like
a straightforward answer for that. It just it's funny because
I don't feel that way. But I appreciate you saying that.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Yeah, yeah, well I mean it, I really do. I
think it's it's cool to see when people seem truly
at peace and grounded, you know, in their lives. That's
what I think we all want on a human level
for each other. So I love to see that. And Brianda,
the name of the show is called I've never said
this before, So I'm wondering, is there anything that comes
to mind that you want to share today that you
(26:59):
haven't talked to before. I know you've done a bunch
of interviews and press and things along the way, but
does anything come to mind for you?
Speaker 3 (27:07):
So I did a show called Trinkets a few years ago.
It only ran for two seasons, but I really miss
working on that. I miss all of my co stars
and filming in Portland, and also like I might have
had a little bit of a crush on one of
my co stars.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
So I miss seeing them. I do. That's something that
I haven't said.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Oh do you keep in touch with everyone?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Yeah? I talked to them every now and again.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
It's weird because we all live in different places, you know,
And that's I feel like that's how a lot of
filming goes. It's like you, once you stop filming, you
really don't see each other as much, and we don't
make a point to get together, but we probably should
because I had so much fun filming that.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
And does the person who you had a crush on
know that you had a crush on them?
Speaker 3 (27:56):
No? And now you know, I think I think at
this point this person is in a relationship.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I think so. But you know I miss I just
miss seeing them. I just miss you know how you
have like that work crush that you're just like, hey,
and you enjoy seeing them. I miss that.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Well now I'm dying And no, but something tells me
you're keeping that one close to your heart.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Yeah, you know, I feel like I can't say it.
I feel like now it would just be weird. I
was like, oh, they're I think they're in a relationship.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
So yeah, but you can tell Ryan you are crush.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Right, Well, I was like, isn't this funny? I might
I think I'm gay, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
That's amazing. Well that's a great one. I love that.
I love when people get to share little little tidbits
that they don't often talk about. And I know that
you know you said earlier, you don't tend to do
a lot of this stuff. You're introverted, and it's sometimes
not always the easiest for introverts to open up and
have a long form conversation. So I I appreciate you
(29:01):
coming on out of curiosity. What made you be like, yeah,
I'll do a half hour conversation as an introvert.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
I don't know. My team sent it to me. They
were like, would this be interesting?
Speaker 3 (29:13):
And I look through a lot of your stuff and
you seem super friendly, and yeah, I just I had
a good.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Feeling about it. I wasn't intimidated.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
So oh, well, thank you for joining. I'm really I
really enjoyed this conversation. And I think it's so cool
that you're a part of such a pop culture phenomenon,
and you have been for years now. That means so
much to so many people. And I love hearing your
origin stories, you know, doing this project to now and
(29:41):
everything in between, and just keep rockingmend and I hope
we see a lot more of you. I hope we
get that spin off. I'm rooting for you me too.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Awesome. Thank you, I mean thanks for having me. I
really I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Oh, thank you so much. Thank you. Until we meet again. Yeah,
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
(30:14):
podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and
subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy de Dario
Hey, guys, welcome to I've never said this before with
me Tommy Di Dario oh Man today's guest. She is
in a very tiny little movie that maybe you've heard of,
and that movie is Deadpool and Wolverine. Yeah, the movie
that is literally taking over the entire summer. Brianna Hildebrand
(00:24):
is reprising her role as Negasonic teenage Warhead opposite Ryan
Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in a movie that is breaking
all sorts of records. People cannot get enough of this
film now. From the moment that audience has met her
in the very first Steadpool, she quickly became a fan
favorite character. I mean between having the kick gas power
(00:44):
of generating explosions from her body, to being effortlessly stoic
and cool, to representing a community of people that feel
seen through her, It's safe to say that the world
wants more of Negasonic teenage Warhead and Brianna Oh. She
is such a gifted actor and this episode is a
total celebration and love letter to her journey throughout the
(01:05):
last three Deadpool films. We are diving deep and oh
it is so much fun. So let's see if today
we can get Brianna to say something that she has
never said before. Brianna, how are you today? It is
so good to see you.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
That's good to see you. I'm good. How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I am fantastic. I feel like I've had no one
to kind of air my grievance about this yet. So
you're the one that's gonna have to be my punching
bag for a second. Because that Madonna song Like a
Prayer has been in my head for literally weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
I'm so sorry, Like I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
A dick did. It's on my playlist at the gym NonStop.
I put it on when I'm getting ready. I maybe
put it on at night, and like literally my husband's like,
it's enough, Like we're good.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it, you.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Know, Oh it's so good. Well. I love seeing you
in this Deep Pool and Wolverine movie. You've been such
a pivotal character for all of these films, such a
fan favorite character for so many people. Is it true
that for this film and maybe even the other ones,
you were only sent the scenes that you were in.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yes, actually it was only this one.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I think Marvel is like very much secretive, especially about
this movie. But about all of their content. So this
one was like high security, you know, like I met
with Disney Marvel's security guy and they gave me the
rundown of what I can and cannot see or do,
and so yeah, this one was locked down.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
I only saw the things that I was in.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I had no idea of anything else that was happening.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
That's so wild. Were you trying to get information where
you're like, okay, someone like give me a little hint,
Ryan or Huart, like let me know what's happening, and
everybody just was like nope.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
It's interesting because in one sense it's kind of helpful
to know what's going on in the movie for like
interview purposes. But then in the other sense, obviously there
are things that you can't say, and a lot of
the special appearances in this movie were like high key,
top priority secrets. So it's maybe was for the best
(03:19):
that I didn't know, so I had nothing to really
hide as far as like whenever I was being grilled,
But yeah, there was part of me that definitely wanted
to know a little bit more also just because I
was curious.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
You know, yeah, I'm sure, I'm sure. And when you're
on set filming your scenes, does it feel I don't know,
more locked down than other sets do, or at that
point you can't really tell the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Well, this one in particular, at least the scenes that
I shot were filmed in a studio, so it was
kind of already very much locked down, just as far
as you can't get onto the premises really without passing
through multiple layers of security. So that's definitely for the best.
But yeah, even since the first one, it's been pretty
(04:04):
heavy on lockdown, just because you know, there are a
lot of scenes that use like streets and that are
shot out in the open. So yeah, but they've definitely
locked down extra for this last one.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, it's important because you know, you don't want spoilers
and some end up coming out, but you want to
protect as much as you possibly can. So I totally
get that. This movie for an actor, is such a
dream to be a part of. I imagine let alone,
you know, the entire franchise that you get to be
a part of. So how did this all come to be?
Like what was that audition? Like what was the project call?
(04:39):
Did you know what you were going out for?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, it's interesting, I knew that I was auditioning for Deadpool.
I had no prior knowledge of who Deadpool was because
I wasn't really into comics beforehand.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So I knew that it was a superhero movie.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I knew that Ryan Reynolds was attached, But as far
as the information is what I got, Like for auditioning,
I knew I was auditioning for a character who had
a power and her name was Kathy, and that was
pretty much it. I think it was maybe like eight
to ten pages of just like some made up stuff
(05:17):
and yeah, just kind of went.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
In there and did my thing and then.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Yeah, it's crazy to think, I think that was maybe
eight or nine years ago now. And yeah, it was
the first movie that I ever worked on, so I
was cast and it really just kinda pulled me into
what into acting?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
That is so crazy? Can you imagine, like even hearing
you say that it was the first movie that you
worked on, that is such a rarity in this industry
and you get to be in this epic superhero film
for the audition, did you have to like show physicality too?
Because you kick some ass? Girl? I mean, you know
what you're doing, you know what?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Surprisingly I didn't. I just went in there.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
And did you know, the reading of the scenes a
couple of times and was called back. But they definitely
put me through some training, some physical training I did,
like muay Thai training and also just general stunt training.
They have this gym in Vancouver for their stunt training
that was so fun to work in because they have
all of these wires and like, I didn't do too
(06:21):
much wirework, but I think that was my favorite part.
It was I was like trying to stay on the
wires during my training.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Wow, that's so badass. So you did end up doing
some of your own stunts.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, a little bit of some of it.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I mean we also obviously we had great stunt people
and they did an amazing job. But we do as
much as we can, just you know, for editing purposes.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It's easier if your face is on there.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
You know, for sure for sure. And it's such like
I said, it's such a badass character. I mean, you
can generate explosions from your body, which it's so cool,
and visually it's so cool. Did you have a favorite
moment throughout all three of these films for yourself that
you really were like, Okay, I'm kind of a badass.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I don't know. I mean there I think in the
first movie.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I think it was the first movie, I did a
stunt where I was exploding, obviously, but I was coming
down from my explosions, so.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I did this.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
We did this shot where I got to jump off
the edge of this really large platform and that was
so fun.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I had a great time doing that.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
But also generally, I mean, my power is very cool,
but without all of the special effects, it's really just
me like trying to detonate, you know, like shaking, and yeah,
it does feel.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
A little bit silly.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Sometimes I did make jokes about like, am I does
it look like I'm farting?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Like am I?
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Everyone please look away for my explosion, you know. But
plus the special effects very cool, big fan.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah, yeah, I never even thought about it like that.
But wow, when you actually got to see the thing
product with those effects, you must have been like, WHOA,
that is so cool. It felt nothing like how I
felt on set.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Yeah, absolutely, Well, that goes for a lot of the
things in the film. The CGI for all of the
movies is just so amazing. I always watch it back
and I'm like, oh, that's what it was supposed to.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Look like you said it was your very first movie.
Do you still remember your first day on set? Like,
were you just the wreck? How do you walk into
a film like this and say, Okay, I'm here, let's work.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
No, I was very, very nervous.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I also didn't know any of the on set terminology.
People kept saying Okay, on the day, we're going to
do this in reference to one of the scenes, and
I remember thinking, are we not doing this scene today
and then stressing out about it, which for a reference
like when people say on the day, they mean when
we do the scene, But in my head, because I'd
(08:53):
never heard it before, I was like, We're not doing
the scene today. I prepped the wrong scene. I'm freaking out,
you know it like I had. I'm pretty sure I
called my dad to have him talk me off a
ledge because I just was like, I feel like I
can't do this. And yeah, the imposter syndrome was very real.
But Ryan really helped me through a lot of that,
and the director Tim Miller on the first one. They
(09:14):
helped me to kind of chill, you know, and not
take it so seriously.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I mean, it's easier said than done. So I imagine you
had to really get in that kind of frame of mind.
But it's nice when you have people around you who
encourage you and you know, want you to do your
best work and feel the most comfortable that you can be.
And speaking of Ryan, I mean, what a great artist
and what he's done with these films is so iconic.
(09:39):
But I heard that he was maybe a childhood crush
of yours. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
That is true? Yes, yes, he was.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Like he was all over my bedroom walls, like my
teen walls. You know, I had a bunch of posters
of bands and stuff. I had Ryan up there. All
of my friends knew this as well, like I have
notes that I saved from childhood of people like referencing
Ryan as a joke, and it's just Yeah, it was
a very exciting time for me to finally meet him
(10:12):
and tell him about.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
My crush because I thought it was funny.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I don't know that he thought it was as funny
at the time. He might have been a little bit
weirded out because I was still a teenager, and I
don't know how I received that myself.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
So but I had to tell him.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
You know, I give you props for actually coming clean
with That's that's pretty ballsy.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Thank you. Yeah, well, I just couldn't.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
I had to get it off my chest because I
felt like otherwise I would just be I'm just happy
to be here, Like, I just felt like I needed
to get it out in the open.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
That's hysterical. We always have like that one. Like for me,
it was Jennifer Love Hewett. I mean, there were posters
all over in my bedroom with Jennifer Love you, which
is confusing for many reasons, but that was my one.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Yeah, that's actually true. There is always a one.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Huh yeah, for sure. For sure. So you've worked with
him now for obviously all three films. How has it
been teaming up with him and working with him so closely?
You mentioned on day one how he calmed you down
and made you feel at peace with jumping into this role.
(11:16):
So how has that relationship been together?
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, it's been great.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I mean, we don't it's funny, like I feel like,
especially this last time, it had been so long since
i'd seen him that it's really great to get together again.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
And it's also been really cool to see him start
a family.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I mean he's added more and more kids as we've
been filming and so like getting to see them on set.
I remember seeing one of his daughters on.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
The second Deadpool.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
She came to set dressed as like a superhero and
she was just such a joy to have roaming around.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
So it's been really cool because I feel like I've really.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Grown up, like from eighteen to almost twenty eight now,
so it's I feel like he's also so work through
a stage of his life and it's yeah, it's really
nice to see him sort of be a family man
and set all of these huge things into place for
himself and his businesses, and yeah, it's really inspirational.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
It's been great to work with him, and.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Your dynamic together has been so fun over the years.
I mean, you play someone so kind of stoic and
hard and tough, and he's obviously this the goofiest character.
How do you not crack up? Like when you've worked
with him over the years. Is it hard to operate character?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Yes, it really is.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I Mean there have been times where I've been like,
all right, I need to not talk to you or
like distance myself from you for the next five hours
because otherwise it's I mean, it is a challenge, and
there definitely have been times that I've lost it across
him because he's just so quick and he always surprises
you with his improv so but you know, I just
(12:55):
feel honored that I've gotten to, like work with someone
who is so skilled and who has their craft so
well honed. It's just a yeah, it's an honor to
be there, to be challenged, you know.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
I feel like there could potentially be a really good
blooper reel somewhere floating around.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Oh yeah, there definitely is.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
There's definitely some there's definitely some of me cracking up somewhere.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
All right, Well, we'll have to try to get those
released in the future. And Hugh Jackman, of course, he
was also just wonderful in this film, and he was
a new face for you to get to work with.
I was teaming up with him and you actually got
to have a nice scene with him.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
It was so great meeting him.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
He was lovely and I mean just such a sweetheart.
Like it's honestly impressive that he and Ryan have remained
so humble and just down to earth and easy to
talk to. Like both of them are really incredible people.
I was excited to meet Hugh. I grew up watching
him so it was a dream.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Honestly, do you hope for more Deadpool in the future?
Do you wanted you more? Are you like rolling up
your sleep and you're ready?
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Yeah? Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I feel like it would be so fun to do
another movie. And I mean, I'm just great like this.
Like I said, the first one really catapulted my career
and started everything for me. So I'm just grateful for
having Deadpool in my life at all. And there are
some of the most fun things I've worked on to
this day, just all of the stunts and the huge crew,
(14:24):
and so yeah, I would be so honored to do
anything Deadpool related again in the future.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
When you walk onto a set like this and it's
what I imagine larger than life, and you, like you said,
there's things that are implanted later in cgi. But do
you still feel the magic when you're making it or
is it so deconstructed it's just like, all right, we're
just here shooting something and let's see how it looks.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
No, it's definitely magical, and I think that's part of
the fun and the magic of it too, is that
everyone on set, including the crew, knows that they're part
of something so special. Deadpool isn't like the other superheroes.
I mean, he's really sort of like a I mean
he's really like broken some boundaries and made a name
(15:08):
for himself. So I think everyone working on these films
knows that they're a part of something special, and everyone's
excited to be working on it, you know, And that's
part of what makes it so fun, is that you
can feel that energy.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
I need your hot take on this because I've tried
to figure out what my answer would be and I'm
not quite sure. So if you had to decide between
having a best friend that's either Wolverine or Deadpool, who
would you pick? And why that.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Is actually really hard? You know what, I would probably
choose Deadpool.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
I feel like he might be a little bit more unpredictable,
but that might add a sense of excitement to the friendship.
And you know, I feel like he's also even though
he's morally ambiguous.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
He's a very loyal guy.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
So I'm going to go ahead and say Deadpool, I think,
and you.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Know what, I'll go with Wolverine because if I picked Deadpool,
between the two of us, we won't shut up and
never We'll never be able to get a word in edgewise.
So that's going to be a disaster. Okay, Yeah, someone's
right right, I got him, So we got them all covered.
You know, Brianna, you said that you were eighteen when
you started off on this wild adventure, which is so young,
(16:22):
and I imagine kind of growing up in the industry
and working in such a high profile environment at that age.
While it was incredible and amazing and you feel so
lucky and blessed to do that, it also I'm sure
could have been an adjustment for you. So was it
weird kind of being in your most formative years growing
up in such a public way.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, I mean it was weird.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
It's also I mean, I feel lucky that I got
into the industry sort of at the tail end of
being a teenager. I don't know that I would have
handled it very well had I gotten into it any earlier.
But it's also I mean, I'm grateful that I'm not
living in this early two thousands age of like very
intense paparazzi and people paying as much attention as they
(17:10):
used to. I guess, if you know what I'm saying, Like,
I feel like the market is a little bit oversaturated.
There are a lot of people doing movies now and shows,
and so maybe there wasn't as much focus on me
as there might have been in the past.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
But that being said, it definitely was an adjustment.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I'm an introvert, I'm a super private person, and so
there are a lot of things about the industry that
were hard to get used to, like just not being
able to post just my friends on social media without
a response, or people commenting on just life, you know,
or feeling like I have to be careful about what
(17:51):
I say sometimes in interviews just so that people don't
take things the wrong way like it always. It was
definitely an adjustment for me as an entry. But I
think that I've turned out okay.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I hope that I've turned out okay. I don't feel
so lost about it.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Luckily, I had a very good support system in my
family and friends. So yeah, it was an adjustment for sure,
But it's just life. I think it's part of the
business and I love what I do. I love acting,
so in the end, I think it's worth it for me.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Well, it's clear, you keep your head down, you do
the work, you don't get caught up in a lot
of the bs out there and that's very admirable because
it can be very easy to get caught up in
that cycle of you know, Hollywood, so to speak. And
there was something I read from you that I really
just thought was a beautiful quote, and you said, I
think it was. In a different interview, you said, I've
had to find a balance of making time for myself
(18:45):
and putting everyone else's opinion aside, which, oh, that can
be hard to do. You know, how did you develop
that mentality seemingly so young, because I think a lot
of people kind of work towards that.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I don't know, I'm just speaking from personal experience, but
for me.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's been a big lesson of my twenties.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
I've noticed is like, especially considering just my position, but
I think also a lot of people in their twenties
go through this where it's you're coming out of being
a teen and following even your maybe your guardian's opinions,
and you think, oh, they're thinking the best for me.
But at some point it is important to get to
a stage where you can decide what's the best for yourself.
(19:27):
And for me, I went through a few years of
not knowing really what I thought about things about many
things you know, I think that's maybe also.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Just part of being young, but I don't know. I
think I realized that COVID happened and I moved from.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
LA closer to home where I'm from in Texas, and
I think that brought a lot to my attention. And
I think I realized I need the space to figure
out who I am. I need alone time and privacy maybe,
and that it's okay to like try things because that's
ultimately how you learn.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
So yeah, I think for me moving away from the.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
City and really clearing my mind and honing in on
what I want and what makes me happy, that's been
important for me recently.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Oh I love hearing that because I think it's hard
sometimes to separate yourself from what you're used to or
what you think you should be doing right. And you
might think, oh, I have to be in LA and
that's my industry, and what when moving away look like
or mean And you're like, no, no, I need to
take care of me and I can still have the
career of my dreams but in a different place. And
I think that's something that is so important for us
(20:36):
all to remember that you sometimes need to take those
steps that might not be conventional or might not be
the norm, but you need to do it to protect
your own well.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Being, right, Yeah, yeah, I agree, I agree, definitely. I
think for me, it's been really nice to be closer
to family, and I moved at a time when I
needed that support, and so yeah, that's been really helpful
for me. Not to say that I have everything figured out,
because I definitely don't, but you know, this is what
makes me feel good.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Right now, and so I'm just doing my thing.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
It's important to do what makes you feel good, and
you make a lot of people feel good as well
because of the representation aspect of what your character means
in this Deadpool world and in this franchise. And you know,
she's one of the first openly queer superheroes. And that's
something that when I announced you as my guest, I
saw so many people writing in saying, oh my god,
like that helped me at such a young age, and
(21:30):
that made me feel invincible. That made me feel good enough,
and it just is so rewarding, I'm sure as an
artist to hear and see things like that, as I'm
sure you have. So do you kind of wear that
badge of honor proudly.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I mean, I'm just honored that Ryan even wanted to
make that a part of my character story, and I, yeah,
I think it. Initially I felt a lot of pressure
about it, and I'd expressed to Ryan like, I just
want to make sure that it's you know, it's not
so I don't know. I want to make sure that
we're doing it right. And I also, I mean trusted
(22:06):
Ryan and the writers to make it as great as
they could, and I think they did a great job.
But it's been it's really been an honor getting to
meet so many young queer people, especially at conventions, who
they say the same things to me, like, oh, this
is it's been really great to see your character. She's
inspired me or she's given me strength in some way,
(22:27):
especially in countries that are maybe not as progressive or
openly accepting of people who are queer. That's been probably
the most rewarding thing about getting to play Negasonic. It's
really I'm so grateful that, yeah, I've been given that opportunity, And.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Like you said, it was brought up in a way
that wasn't dramatic or heavy or weird. It was, like
I think in the second movie, when your character brought
out her girlfriend, it was just kind of like, hey,
what's up, Like there wasn't this whole big scene about it,
which I think is sometimes what's needed in the different
forms of art, Like sometimes you just have to have
it be at least that's my opinion.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Yeah, I agree, And that's also what I was saying
to Ryan about it, is that it doesn't need to
be a whole like, oh, she's so different for this thing.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
It just can be.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
And I think that it's important for young queer people
to see your queerness doesn't make you. It doesn't have
to define you.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
You know.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
I think that what we need is a spin off
of your character. I'm just putting it out there.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I think that would be pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
What you're saying is you're not opposed.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Right right, right, Yeah, no, I'm here. Just give me
a call whenever it's happening.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
I want to know more of her story and her background,
and I really do find her to be such a
fascinating character simply because of the stoicism, and you know,
you want to learn more like what was that backstory like?
And where did she come from? And there's pieces you
want to know and I'm just saying how she's written
it leaves that very much open or possibility.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Yeah, yes, I agree, I agree, and I think that
would be awesome. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Can I ask you something, how do you turn off
the for lack of a better word than noise when
something like this gets put into the world and everyone's
focusing on the box office and numbers and it's just
weeks and weeks and weeks of non stop bombardment of
this film and of news and headlines like, are you
(24:32):
able to separate from it a little bit or are
you kind of like on your phone looking up things?
What is the after process like for you?
Speaker 3 (24:40):
I think I definitely used to be very much on
my phone looking up things, seeing what people are saying,
And recently I tried not to do that sort of thing.
I turned off all of my like Instagram notifications a
long time ago and all of that sort of thing,
just because I've found that it's better for me mentally
if I just don't think.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
About it that hard or at all. You know, I
like to tune into my Instagram whenever I'm ready to see.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
That kind of stuff, but yeah, generally I try to
stay away from it, you know, I try to use
this time as like a celebratory we did it sort
of thing and try to lock into work a little
bit more. And yeah, I keep my focus away from
all of it because it can be very overwhelming.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
It can be it can.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
Feel like too much, very easily for me. So that's yeah,
something I try to stay away from.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Man, I feel like we have about ten years between us,
yet you have figured out life so much more than
I did at that age. And I know you say
you don't have it all figured it out, and none
of us do and we're all works in progress. But
how did you get to this point? Like a can
you be my life coach and be like, how are
you so just grounded at this point of your life?
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
I spend a lot of time with my dad and
I are really close, so I spend a lot of
time with him and hanging out with his friends, and
they're all older people, so maybe that's a reason why.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
But yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I think I just have really tried to work things out.
I went through a period of time toward the end
of living in LA where I was really just not
doing well, like emotionally, so I think I fell into
a self help place and now I've yeah, I'm yeah,
I'm realizing where I'm comfortable and so it's been good.
(26:29):
But I really, I don't know. I don't have like
a straightforward answer for that. It just it's funny because
I don't feel that way. But I appreciate you saying that.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Yeah, yeah, well I mean it, I really do. I
think it's it's cool to see when people seem truly
at peace and grounded, you know, in their lives. That's
what I think we all want on a human level
for each other. So I love to see that. And Brianda,
the name of the show is called I've never said
this before, So I'm wondering, is there anything that comes
to mind that you want to share today that you
(26:59):
haven't talked to before. I know you've done a bunch
of interviews and press and things along the way, but
does anything come to mind for you?
Speaker 3 (27:07):
So I did a show called Trinkets a few years ago.
It only ran for two seasons, but I really miss
working on that. I miss all of my co stars
and filming in Portland, and also like I might have
had a little bit of a crush on one of
my co stars.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
So I miss seeing them. I do. That's something that
I haven't said.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Oh do you keep in touch with everyone?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Yeah? I talked to them every now and again.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
It's weird because we all live in different places, you know,
And that's I feel like that's how a lot of
filming goes. It's like you, once you stop filming, you
really don't see each other as much, and we don't
make a point to get together, but we probably should
because I had so much fun filming that.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
And does the person who you had a crush on
know that you had a crush on them?
Speaker 3 (27:56):
No? And now you know, I think I think at
this point this person is in a relationship.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I think so. But you know I miss I just
miss seeing them. I just miss you know how you
have like that work crush that you're just like, hey,
and you enjoy seeing them. I miss that.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
Well now I'm dying And no, but something tells me
you're keeping that one close to your heart.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Yeah, you know, I feel like I can't say it.
I feel like now it would just be weird. I
was like, oh, they're I think they're in a relationship.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
So yeah, but you can tell Ryan you are crush.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Right, Well, I was like, isn't this funny? I might
I think I'm gay, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
That's amazing. Well that's a great one. I love that.
I love when people get to share little little tidbits
that they don't often talk about. And I know that
you know you said earlier, you don't tend to do
a lot of this stuff. You're introverted, and it's sometimes
not always the easiest for introverts to open up and
have a long form conversation. So I I appreciate you
(29:01):
coming on out of curiosity. What made you be like, yeah,
I'll do a half hour conversation as an introvert.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
I don't know. My team sent it to me. They
were like, would this be interesting?
Speaker 3 (29:13):
And I look through a lot of your stuff and
you seem super friendly, and yeah, I just I had
a good.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Feeling about it. I wasn't intimidated.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
So oh, well, thank you for joining. I'm really I
really enjoyed this conversation. And I think it's so cool
that you're a part of such a pop culture phenomenon,
and you have been for years now. That means so
much to so many people. And I love hearing your
origin stories, you know, doing this project to now and
(29:41):
everything in between, and just keep rockingmend and I hope
we see a lot more of you. I hope we
get that spin off. I'm rooting for you me too.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Awesome. Thank you, I mean thanks for having me. I
really I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Oh, thank you so much. Thank you. Until we meet again. Yeah,
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
(30:14):
podcast Network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and
subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
tell your friends. Until next time, I'm Tommy de Dario
Host
Tommy DiDario
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