June 25, 2024 • 43 mins
It’s hard to forge your own path in Hollywood. It’s even more difficult to do so when your aunt is Julia Roberts, you rose to fame as a Nickelodeon star, and executives seem to think of you only in terms of one role: “the girl next door.” Emma Roberts faced all these challenges. But because of a single show (American Horror Story), and a single producer (Ryan Murphy) who saw untapped potential in her, Roberts was able to transition from child stardom into a wide-ranging career that has spanned over two decades. That she balances rolling out new projects—her latest, Space Cadet, comes out July 4th—with her book club, Belletrist, and raising a son makes it all the more impressive. On this episode of Table for Two, the actress joins host Bruce Bozzi and discusses how Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop inspired her, the importance of financial independence, and her lifelong love of reading.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey everybody, thanks for pulling up a share Today on
Table for two. We're back at my favorite joint, the
Sunset Tower here in Los Angeles on this incredible summer day.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I'll take some water please and can Arnold Palmers.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
As today we're having lunch with a young lady who's
been in the business since she was a young kid,
so she has seen it all and she's only in
her early thirties. She's a single mom. She's clearly the
muse of mister Ryan Murphy. She has started in many
of his American horror story seasons. She's also coming out
(00:41):
with a movie called Space Cadet. She has a book imprint,
so we're going to be talking about her love of
books and reading. She's an all around incredible person and
super fun to hang out with, so this lunch is
going to be a lot of laughs. We were having
lunch with this incredible woman who's walking towards me right now,
Miss Emmory. Hey, I'm Bruce Bossi and this is my
(01:10):
podcast Table for two. Okay, so if you've pulled up
a shirt today, as I was saying, we are having
lunch at the Tower Bar. It's a beautiful summer day.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It is a beautiful day.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
We're having lunch with a person that I hold very
close to my heart. I know you since you bore
in your twenties. Yeah, a young woman. I've seen you
grow into the woman you are beautiful as we all know,
missus Emma Roberts. Hi, Hi, welcome to the table for two.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Thank you for having me. I was just saying that
I feel like I've been with you all week because
I've been catching up on your podcast. So hearing your
voice is just like comforting.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
That is sweet. Did you eat? I mean assume we're
going to eat.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
We can eat. I usually get the chop salad here.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I usually get the chop salad here. You put a
protein in it?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yes, I do. I put chicken in it, really really
really fancy.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
So we're gonna talk about Space Cadet because I know
that's coming. That's dropping soon July fourth, July fourth.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Even if you just watch the trailer, you can see
that it's like a super feel good, fun summer movie.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Well you get a script like that, is that your
basis for choosing it is? It's like, okay, like I
just want a fun summer easy groove.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I mean for me, it's actually funny because Space Cadet.
First of all, the title. When it came into my
email inbox, I was like, Okay, I know I'm gonna
love this so much that I don't even want to
read it because if I can't be in it, I'm
gonna be bombed. Yeah, because it wasn't a straight offer.
And so I met with the writer director, Liz Garcia,
who is absolutely amazing, and we've for like a decade
(02:39):
almost worked together, you know, haven't, and so she wrote this,
was directing it. We met, and then you know, they
were like, they're gonna look at some other people and
take some time. And so year went by and I
had forgotten about it, because you have to kind of
purposely forget about things that you don't get always. Yeah,
it's too disappointing. And so yeah, my agents were calling me,
(03:02):
and they were calling me in a group, and you know,
when there's a group calling, you either got a part
or you're in trouble. And so I was no thing
I had gotten.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Apart, and so right, you don't know where it's going
to go.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I was like, if there's three of you on, that's
so down.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
We need to have a conversation with you.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
So they were like, remember that movie Space Get Ahead,
and I was like, stop, shut up, and they're like
it's you. So they we're going to shoot this summer
and I'm like, oh my god. And I was just
so excited because when I read the script to go
back to your original question, it was just like I
was smiling the whole time. I was laughing. It just
felt really kind of like fresh and original, but also
nostalgic in the ways that like legally Blonde and Private
(03:37):
Benjamin and kind of those fishadow Water stories. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, and your character is that you really embody that
sort of like there's a bubbliness too. Yeah, there's like
a real energy.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
And they're the unlikely and intelligent, like intelligenctly street smart,
not necessarily book smart, and then that turns into them
being BookSmart. And so I think it's a very I
liked the messaging a lot. I feel like for young people,
and I just hadn't seen this kind of story before.
Like I love space movies, but you know, there we do.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I like which ones, like what are the faiths?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Interstellar okay, CRMB my Eyes Out Arrival okay, my favorite
movie ever with Amy Adams.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Okay, but my.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Point being that space movies are it's pretty sad or
dark or so this was kind of I liked that
we were taking kind of a genre making it younger.
It's like four younger people to watch. Like, I mean,
if your daughter's like, hold her daughter, now, I've scared you even.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Out turning seventeen.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
No, in my mind, she's taen.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I know. I mean, you know from the Begame. It's crazy.
But yeah, yeah, it goes that fast.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Okay, well that's frightening. We'll circle back to that. But
my point is a ten year old could watch this movie.
And so yeah, I feel like there'st have a lot
of movies where you can watch with your mom and
not be like cringing. Like I watched The Sultfurn with
my mom. Love, loved the movie, didn't love watching it
next to my mom.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
That is really tough to watch with your mother.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I honestly think someone needs to start like a blog
that's like movies to not watch with your parents, because
especially with like streaming now, like you click or you.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Don't know, right, you don't know, and all of a
sudden you're like looking at that scene in your bathtub
and you're with your mom and you're like, oh God,
how do I get half of this room?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
So yeah, so anyone else there that wants to start
a blog about that, really should?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I think we'll do well. I think that's great. So okay,
so that movie, So that resonated and it hits this summer.
So that's how you sort of now hitting the circuit
of promoting it and just that like so that's like
the jam.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, we're doing some promotion. So we're having a premiere
in New York, which I'm really excited about because I
feel like people don't really do that anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's exciting. End of June.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
At my favorite theater. I love to give a shout
out to a good theater, the Metro Bra. Yes, they
play old movies, new movies. They have amazing concessions, a
great restaurant there. So anyways, that's like my hang in
New York. So it just happened to be word of
doing the premiere there. So I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I love that. I love I love a shout out
to a place that you love. I was really upset
with the Ziegfeld Close in New York. That was like
I kind of I saw the movie Hair there in
nineteen seventy, and I like, there are certain places like
I totally remember where you were so to have like
the bookstores like and stuff. I think there's people that
are listening love these like yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Tonight, I'm still upset about the arc Lay closing. I
mean I would go there like at least once a week,
if not more, with my mom or racistter.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
We're talking to one on in West will Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It's so and the one there. There's a bunch of them,
but they're.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
All closed now they're all closed. FYI you say it,
so I'll share. But that's where I saw your aunt's movie.
Can tell you when I was sitting in nineteen ninety one,
when you were being done born, I could tell you
the seat I was sitting in. Because there are movies
that you as a natural, So you do those movies
as the viewer when you're doing your job, and you
do it so beautifully. You remember where you're at.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Do you know that Legally Blonde made me realize my
own mortality? Which sounds crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
It does because I saw me it does.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It does. I saw it so many times and for
some whatever reason, it hit me where I was like,
what if this movie came out? I was dead, like
what would I do? And it made me realize that
one day I would die, Like how dark is that?
But that's how what movies can do. Were I'm not
I would have I would die if I couldn't have
seen this movie because I loved it so much. I
saw it literally five times in theaters.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
What do you think resonated with I'm gonna get it
the character's name? Okay, what resonated as a young girl
with you and that character?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Well, first of all, I just loved that I hadn't
seen a character like that ever before for me and
with Reese, with There's been the way she did that,
and Elle Wood's the character itself. She was like the
unlikely hero of the one that people also didn't believe
in that people kind of wrote her off as one thing.
And I think like, as a young woman and growing up,
it's like I've felt that way before, where it's like
(07:44):
people think you're one thing and won't give you a
chance to be something else.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Felt that because you not only are beautiful young, which
in this industry sometimes can be sort of pigeoned, you
also have come from the sort of and I've you know,
sat with King. You know, families that have like lineage,
So there's that. So people like have a lot of things.
(08:07):
So how did you navigate that?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, you know, because it is people definitely have preconceived
notions of you. I think there's two sides of the coin.
You know, people like to say, oh, you know, you
have a leg up because you're a family in the industry.
But then the other side to that is, you know,
you have to prove yourself more. Also, if people don't
have good experience being to be with other people in
your family, then you'll never get a chance.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And also I think there's something to be said where
everybody loves the kind of overnight success story and so
if you're kind of not the girl from the middle
of nowhere that broken Hollywood, you know, there's kind of
an eye roll of like all your dad was this,
And I always joke I'm like, why is no one
calling out George Clooney for being a neo baby. It's
very true, But I feel like also the point is,
(08:50):
like young girls, I feel like, get it harder with
the like everything with the with the nepo baby thing,
Like I don't really see people calling out you know,
sons a famous actress. It's that they should be called that.
I don't think anyone should be called out wanting to
follow their dreams.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Again the male female thing they did. But you know,
I do think to your point, and like this whole
phrase that sort of just paraded recently, the NEPO baby thing.
You know, you know, it comes from a place of
resent you as we know from people like oh, look
at that. But I often said, you can get in
the room maybe because you're related to someone, but if
you can't deliver, you're not staying in there. So okay, yes,
(09:25):
and that and that, you know, and we look at
it from like the actors standpoint, because it's there's such
a public figure and celebrity about it, but it goes
on across all fields.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Oh totally.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
So it's like, okay, like I can get my kid
into whatever she's going to be interested, but if you
don't have the goods, you know, I could say, like
my nephew who went through the program at CIA and
now he's a big, you know, a very successful sports agent,
so he got a leg in to have that interview,
but if he sucked, yeah, totally beyond total No.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I mean, I I can like, oh, put in a
good word for me on this, and haven't booked things.
And I think that's the thing that I always talk about,
is like people kind of only see your way because
they only see, you know, when you're on the poster
of a movie. They don't see yeah, all the like
rejection along the way. That's why I'm always very open
about things I've auditioned for and haven't gotten the part for, right,
And like, I think it's important to talk about because
(10:13):
otherwise people just think, oh, you know, everything's been so
great and linear and easy, and it's like, no, it's
been not at all. But of course it looks like
that to the outside perspective or to the naked.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Eye, right. And I think a lot of people who
started young, like you, they weren't able to navigate it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
No, it's crazy and and honestly, you know, there are
moments in time where I'm like, maybe this isn't for me,
or maybe either because I decide it's not, or because
the industry will decide it's not, you know, like either way,
and I feel very lucky that you know, I was
able to navigate you know, being a teenager and being
in my twenties and you know, going through emotionally hard
(10:48):
things and still being able to kind of show up
for myself and work. But yeah, it's been totally crazy
in the sense of I feel so lucky that I
get to be thirty three and still get to be
doing things that I love. And also now I'm much
more like thoughtful about it. I think in my teens
and twenties, I was always just like, you know, going
from job to job to job to job and kind
of not really being present. And that makes sense, yeah,
(11:10):
And I mean, now it's nice to be able to
feel like I'm more present for the experiences because also
it's taking time away from my son, and so jobs
have to kind of have more meaning. And whether the
movie or the show is a hit or not, I
at least want the experience to have been something like
has either enriched me or taught me something, or I
don't have to work with friends or you know, it.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Has to be much more discerning, and there's there and
as one as it happens, the it's just more factors
in life that present themselves because you're creating a.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Life, you know, and the other thing that I think
must have been hard, And you tell me it's natural
for all of us in our teens and twenties.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
You know, we were living, we're going through stuff and
those are so like, but you're now being looked at
and it's also being looked at this social media. How
did you navigate that and get through that because that's tough.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Well, I think it's harder now, honestly, Like I always say,
if I was like a teenager or even twenty now
who was social media and everything, like, I don't know
how I would be able to do it. Because luckily,
I agreed, social media had like just started really becoming
like you were able to kind of quantify your fame
on social media. Yeah, when I was already in my
(12:25):
early twenties, because I remember specifically. I think that was
when I was filming an American horror story in New Orleans,
and I just remember because I would always be taking
more pictures down there because I was like, oh, social media.
So that's when it kind of became I became more
aware of it. But now even now, like I find
myself getting into the scroll on there where I'm like,
I need to get off of this.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I do too anyway sucks you in and I.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Feel like and I feel bad about myself, and I'll
get into like talk to my mom about it, and
she's like, oh my god, you have to stop. She's like,
it's not normal for people to be looking at themselves
this much, like you have to know that. And I'm like,
you're so right here.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah, it's really hard. It's like, you know, and I
think I think we are culturally now in a conversation,
especially with that age group, to understand when should they
get smartphones? How do we all sort of break this addiction.
And then also without too much judgment, I think like
sometimes I'll get lost in the scroll of the wheels
and people are doing funny and entertaining stuff. Totally okay,
(13:19):
this is I'm just I'm having fun right now, judge it,
you know. But when it becomes too much, Yeah, and
you know, when it becomes too much, totally, I got
I got it. I gotta get off there.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well for me, it's it's even more so, not even
like what I'm consuming, but I just feel like it's
short circuiting my brain in a sense of topic jumping
in a way. But then when I'm off of it,
I feel like I'm a little scattered. I'm a little disconnected.
So that's what freaks me out is I'm like, are
we like short circuiting our brains? Like you have to
be one hundred percent? Can't We're not meant to consume
(13:50):
this many different things in one sitting.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
It's right, I'm a doctor, you know that I play
on TV. Mean the thing that is an I find
that attention span at the level of anxiety because like,
oh wait, all this stuff is coming in. It's coming.
It's like it's the text, it's the social media, it's
the emails, it's just this. It's taking care of the
kid and said, hey, what's that schedule? Okay, he has
(14:12):
to be here. Oh I have to make sure I
apply there.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
You then you just want to read where there's twenty
seven people on it, and I'm like, love you guys,
please taking off the thread. You can't call me, call
me or like send me an email. But I'm like
this text thread, I'll.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Learn every two seconds you're like and you don't know,
you're like, oh, okay, okay. And especially with all due
respect when it comes to like kids and the parents, totally,
they want to discuss everything at every single so it's
you got to for your own sanity. I also think
(14:52):
you're very like curated because you know, you've also done
something that I find and there are other people that
I admire, like yourself, who're able to parlay your acting career,
your work to also your love of literature and what
we'll talk about, to being brand ambassadors for companies for
(15:14):
launching things like becoming the sort of corporation that you
can be like the CEO smart, you know person I
even hate to say woman, just person. You know that
you know, and that's not everyone can do that. Thank you, Angel,
you have done that early on. This is is that
something you enjoy I mean totally.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
The thing about that that's so interesting is like I
didn't even know that it was possible. Like I remember
being in my teen years and being like, wait, I
love this book, how do I make it into a movie?
Or wait? I at the time was a brand am
master for a makeup company and I was like, I
want to do my own line of lipstick within within
the company? Can I do that? And the answer was
always kind of like uh no, or like that's not
what people aren't really doing that And so then now
(15:58):
it's like you see, you know, like when it's Power
trop for example, when I'm her biggest fan, Like what
she did with Goop, I remember like really inspired me
to be like, wait, I don't have to be just
one thing in Resa with her book club and production company,
and I'll never forget you know, the story where she
was supposed to be in Gone Girl and then stepped
just as a producer on it. I read somewhere and
I was like, wow, that's so cool, Like I didn't
(16:20):
even think that's right.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
I don't have to be an actress in that. Can
iually produce it?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And so like I I give credit to those women
who I feel like, you know, we're obviously and still
are some of the biggest actresses. Yeah, and they did that,
and I remember me seeing it is what made me
think that I could.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Like do that right.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
And and also just like you know, passion, like I
really like love, love, love, love, like putting shows together
and movies together, and I love curating with what you said,
and I love to read and.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So the love of reading and books first all, I
don't want to Mispronouncedelladris Beladris. Yeah, starting this company? When
did that? Like when did that Aha moments you say, oh, okay, wait,
I'm going to do this because it also must help
you with identifying projects not only for yourself but to.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Totally right, I mean for me. I wanted to start
before Instagram existed. If you guys can believe it, then
I remember then that I remember then, which is grating.
But no, I wanted to start a blog called Beauty
in the Book where we talk about beauty products and
books like. That was my dream, and so I kept
talking about it with my best friend Kara Price was
(17:23):
the co founder of Bellatrist, with me, and eventually Instagram
launched and there was a handle taken Beauty in the Book. Oh,
and so we were like okay, and we also weren't
quite ready and didn't know what we were. And I
think it was twenty seventeen where we'd come up with
the name Bellatrist, which is like a word from the
sixteen hundreds that means like a writer of flowery words,
and it was kind of used like derogatory. So we
(17:44):
kind of liked the idea of having it be like
a ton in cheek, kind of like like someone who's
not super serious about reading, but it sounds.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Serious It sounds very serious, right, because that's.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Always been kind of our thing, is like we don't
care what you're reading as long as you're reading, because
I don't like this kind of judgment of like you
have to be reading something cool or something literate or
something this like like I love a great memoir, I
also love a trashy be read like I love it
all and I think, no judgment. So when we were
picking the name, we wanted to keep that in mind,
and in the beauty in the book was kind of
(18:14):
that that's important.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
That's important. It's important to remember them because you do,
you can get stuck like in mud because you're like, oh,
I'm not supposed to be reading, or I should be
reading this classic and I you can't get through if
what you got to read, what you just love and
reading is and you know and you're doing it in
Sar Jessica, who's a big advocate of.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
My other queen Die For Sara doesn't Parker too.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
And she is a big advent supporter of libraries, local
bookstores and reading and reading and reading.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And totally, I think it's so important because to me,
I feel like one book or one story can really
change the trajectory of somebody's life. As cheesy as that sounds, Yeah,
but like especially having access to like certain stories and
certain writers. I don't know, I feel like reading the
right book can make you feel seen in a way
that is so important.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Can you give me an example of a book that
story that that has happened with you totally?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
First, I just want to say that my sister was
twenty three. She when she was sixteen and seventeen, she'd
just say I hate reading. And I'm like, don't ever
say that to me again. I was like, don't you know,
I don't say that to people either. I was like,
that's not a good look. Fine, And so she kept
saying it and saying and finally I was like, Okay,
I'm going to be proactive. I was like, maybe she
just hasn't found the right book. So I would give
her book after the book after book, never would finish,
(19:30):
never would finish. And funny enough, the book that we
both read together and loved in literally a week was
Daisy Jones and the Sixth which then rest made into
the show, which is amazing. But that book brought us
together in a way where like she would literally come
to me and be like, Okay, what am I reading next?
And I was like, I'm gonna cry, Like is this
someone who said I hate reading to now is like
what are we reading next? Like it's right, and you
(19:52):
know it's and again it's not like I was like,
you here read War and Peace? Like what it was
Daisy Jones in the six It was fun. It's fun,
it was romance. We cried, laughed and like the fact
that's what we bonded over and that was the first
book we read together.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
And two that it really is and we're back. In
(20:28):
twenty thirteen, our guest Emma Roberts joined the cast of
American Horror Story for its third season, entitled Coven. Since then,
she's worked closely with creator Ryan Murphy, appearing in multiple
seasons of the show as well as on screen queens.
I'm curious, what's it been like to work together for
(20:48):
over a decade. You know, there are people that have
like their troops, so it was very clear. I would
argue that you were Ryan Murphy's or have been his
muse for many many years.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
He's my music. I just mean like he inspires me.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
He's right, man, is so talented and the American horror.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Story franchise, franchise show, I mean a franchise, so it
has become that.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
How did that sort of change the trajectory of you, Yeah,
to short of be able, because I think it must
have not the answer for you. But I am a
little bit no kind of layering the pieces of Emma
Robert totally me. So how was that experience, you know,
to be the muse? Because I always like and it's
like Cassavetti's had his troop, you know what I mean,
(21:34):
Woody Allen has his troop. You know what I mean.
It's like, yeah, that was his true you know, Peter Falk.
Those are the people that I he continually worked with.
Clearly Ryan loves working with you and writes for you.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Well, I love him and he really, I mean even
he changed my life. I was twenty two years old.
I you know, it was so funny because I would,
you know, I would audition for things and go up
for things, and everyone always saw me as kind of
like the girl next door or they like, you know,
we're kind of putting me in this category of like
a teen actress, you know, not letting me kind of
(22:06):
do anything edgy. And he but what he does for
so many people, by the way, women especially. He always
sees something in someone that other people don't, and that
is like one of his superpowers, I think. And not
only does he see that thing, but then he trusts
you with it and is like, okay, go right, Like
there's no doubt that he gives me this confidence that
like you can be this thing, and like I'm going
(22:27):
to show you what that is. And he did that
for me with American Horse Story Covin Madison Montgomery. I
was I was supposed to go down there for like
three episodes and you know we've been working together now
for ten years.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Right, Oh really, Covin, you were only going to be
three episodes.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
It was maybe not it was three. It was definitely
not the pore time. And that's why they killed me
and they like being brought back. That wasn't originally the plan, right,
And I think the reason that people love it is
because it was just so authentic, because I felt super confident.
I was so excited to play a role that no
one had seen me in. He really trusted me and
wrote for me, and it was just I had so
(23:05):
much fun and it was unexpected. Yeah, it was really unexpected.
And I remember he called me and he's like, look,
I don't know if this is for you. It's definitely
a little edgy in the pilot. There's some a lot
of traumatic things happened, so you know, let me know.
And I was just like, you know what, you fuck it?
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Yes, yeah, well you're well yeah, well, I mean, what's
very clear about you. You are a risk taker, and
you also you have you have a very strong voice,
very strong presence, meaning so like I think I can
understand why he would say that, but that your reaction
be like bringing up well, I.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Mean this Partony was like, you know, a little scared.
Of course, I'm not gonna lie. But when you know,
when Ryan Murphy calls calls your landline and has to
be on a show, you say.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yes, did you answer that landline on a ride? Did
you know?
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Because landlines are scary now that they You're like, no,
I was prepped beforehand that I was getting a call
that I needed to answer, so I was I was,
I'm quite literally waiting by the phone. But I was
so excited because I remember watching the pilot of a
marm Harror story the night that it aired. Remember when
we used to watch things weekly once a week or
it aired, and I was like, I love this show.
(24:07):
I was like, I'd get anything to be on a
show like this, but it would never put me on
a show like this. And I remember like second season
as well, I was like, I'm like, you know, I
just would love the chance to be on something like this,
And so, I mean, I think I may have manifested
it a little bit, but no, it was cool and
living in New Orleans, I was twenty two, and yeah,
it changed the trajectory of my career and as an
(24:29):
actress definitely just gave me a whole new experience and
different level. I mean, the the people that he works
with obviously, the writers and the directors and everyone was
just such an amazing caliber that it makes you a
better actor.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Right, he sees something in you. You get in the room,
and then you deliver, which is why then consistently you're
part of his troop, because if you don't deliver, he's
not bringing you back.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
No, He's I mean, and that's and that's I mean,
I've gotten the chance through working with him. The fact
that I got to work with like Sarah Pulson and
Jessica Lang. I still do this day, like, think about
the days I had with Jessica Lang, because she's such
an icon for me completely.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Were you surprised when Kim Kardashian came into the conversation like,
oh okay, because I mean she's an incredibly talented sort
of very smart human. I never thought of her as
an actress.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Well, I was just blown away. But then also, I
mean so because Ryan and I were talking about American
horror story Delicate, which is the latest season which has
already aired on Effects and now is streaming Undulu, and
we have been talking about casting, and I just remember
like I kept just coming up with horrible ideas. We'd
like I want to stop, and I'm like, I know
(25:47):
these are bad ideas, are like what's wrong with me?
Speaker 1 (25:50):
And is never a wrong answer in a group think
tag totally.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
You know you know what I mean? The point is
like I just I was like what I'm like, let's
all like clicking, Like I'm usually so good at coming
up with ideas. I'm just and so anyways, he called
me one day and he's like, Kim Kardashian playing your publicist.
I don't evenk he's an hide to me. And I
was like this is why you're you. I just like
that is a genius because what I loved about it
(26:14):
is like obviously when you watch the season, you find
out that you know, she's not just a publicist, but
the point is like putting her in the role of
like a publicist and me being an actor, like already,
that's just so such a great dynamic to play with, right,
And let me tell you, she is one of the
most prepared actors I've worked with.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Really.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I mean I've come I've come to work sometimes and
you know, people that I won't name, but you and
know who they are, like don't know theirs at all,
which whatever, it's fine, we all have those days. But
like she do every single like mine. And she also
she just looks you in the eye and do it.
And I'm like, wow, like to be that kind of
open and vulnerable at some like, you know, I still
get embarrassed sometimes and I've been acting for twenty something years. Yeah,
(26:52):
and you know, she just she's she's super professional, confident
and just the way that she carries herself. She doesn't
have a huge entourage. She's very normal, and that was
also really inspiring to see.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Yeah, you know, coming from the family and the level
of success that that family has had. You can only
get there by doing shoop of professionals, So that doesn't
surprise me. And I was just wondering, you know what
it would be like, well, what your thoughts were on that,
because I had to say I.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Was totally something. I used to buy jeans from them
at Dash in Calabasas their store, So that was the
other thing too. We were laughing a little, like I
was like, wow, and look at look at now, like
you're you and I'm on this show with you and
we're together, and I'm like, I used to buy seven
jeans from you in Calabasas, like.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Literally, I mean literally from her working in the store,
be in the store.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
I think I was like twelve or thirteen. This was
right before they did their show and I had a
show on Nickelodeon, you know, and with yes, like was like, thought,
it was so cool that like I could afford to
buy like seven jeans that Dash from working, so like
it's just so funny that then now you know, this
much time later, at the end of the day, we're
just two girls from Calabasas.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
You know. You bring up another point which I think
is also empowering, is becoming financially independent. She's a very
powerful thing that you know, must have felt great.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
I love that you bring. No one's ever brought that
up to me, I think in an interview, No I did,
and I remember, yeah, like ever since I was very
very very young, just wanting to like be self sufficient.
I think, seeing like you know, my mom and a
lot of her friends go through a lot of really
bad divorces and breakups and stuff, and just knowing from
a very young age, especially being raised by a single
(28:36):
mom who like is the best, Like, I never wanted
to have to depend on anyone and almost to probably
like I shouldn't have like known that so young, but
I'm glad I did, and I'm glad that you know.
I like it was never a motivation to necessarily act
for money, but even like I would do like lemonade
stands or like you know, like even to my mom
(28:57):
if I wash the windows, can I have five dollars
if I do the like, just wanting to kind of
have that that's freedom that depends totally. And so it's
been nice. It's nice now that I have been working
so long where you know, I can support myself and
can tell about other people. And also with my son,
like to just know that I can always support him
on my own is a very freeing thing that I
know is a huge It's it's a it's a privilege,
(29:21):
like you know, and and and some people can't. And
I just always want to encourage people to know that
they can.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Yeah. I think it's you can try. Yeah, they could try,
you could try your best. I was watching Goldie Hawns
speak once years ago. She was on a panel and
she was there with people asking her like, you know
why she married Kurt Russell on that and I was
she were talking about the relations, but she also talked
about the importance and especially of her generation specifically because
(29:49):
women didn't have financials becomes that the freedom she had
that and because she worked and because she was able
to like make decisions that she wanted to make that
I would. It's a gift. And it's also a gift
that you knew that early and had that drive totally
because saying you know, mom, can you get five bucks
(30:10):
to wash the windows means like would people? Yeah, I'm
trying to instill that with my kids to say, oh, okay,
like this is the deal, Like, if you want to
do that, you have some money saved.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah, it's just like I just yeah, I think it's
it's it's just important to because what I was trying
to say be words. I know not everybody can, but
I want everyone to feel inspired to because I feel
like a lot of times, people, especially women, feel stuck.
I mean, like I like I said, I saw, I mean,
I saw my mom go, you know, go through a
breakup and you know, be a single mom. And you know,
(30:41):
I'm so lucky that she could be a single, full
time mom and not have to leave me at you know,
a daycare, and she could spend spend all her time
with me. But even now, like I have such mom guilt.
We're away from I'm away from my son.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
You know.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, you're always working for twelve hours a day and
then on the weekend, I'm so tired, and I feel
like I'm not being my best self right and so,
but the other side that coin is like I know
that he will always know that, like his mom works
really hard and loves what she does and therefore will
always you know, be able to support him.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Right.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Welcome back to Table for two. For someone in their
early thirties, Emma has already had a long and successful career.
She starred in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous as a teenager,
and she has appeared in countless films and TV shows
since then. What was it like to start off in
Hollywood at such a young age? That must have been
(31:53):
tough too, because you had to navigate adults in working
situations who I'm sure were just complete assholes.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
You know, I feel like I was. I mean, I
feel like I've encountered more assholes as an adult as
a kid, which is really a good thing. But no
I will they you know, it is really interesting because
I felt like I was almost like more mature as
a kid because I had to be where like now
sometimes I feel I feel like younger than I am,
(32:20):
where back then I felt older than I was, if
that makes sense, And so kind of like navigating that
now we're like when I was, you know, younger, everyone
who I worked with on set was older than me.
And now a lot of people I work with are
way younger than me. And so that's really interesting because
I was always the youngest person in the room and
now I'm not. And so it's just really interesting to
(32:40):
kind of I don't know, like like see how that
feels and figure that out, and like, also, I don't
know if you experienced this, but like now that I'm
in my thirties, I literally don't know how old people are,
to a point where I'm like, I'm like, how old
are you? And they're like, I'm twenty one. I'm like what, Like,
I have no concept of what seventeen is, I no
concept of sex, zero none, what's the zero?
Speaker 1 (33:02):
And I take it a step further because I still
feel like I'm looking out of the lens of a
your age. Yeah, this is kind of where you get
you kind of settle into an age. And I always
say to Brian, I'm like, I look exactly like that,
like when they would like but they always have the
new school that starts at the end of August and
all these kids in their twenties, and I'm like, if
I walked into that room they went on think twice
(33:24):
and I was like, you're so old and you look
so old, but you get stuck I am, you know,
which I also think keeps you kind of like yeah, funny,
but yeah, I have no sense.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
My mom always says, she's like she's like my mind
is twenty, but my body has betrayed me.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
It's true, it does true.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
And she's like it's She's like, do you know how
unfair it is? She's like, I feel twenty and I
look in the mirror and.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I'm like, you do you go? Who is that?
Speaker 4 (33:49):
Like?
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Why is this right? I'm like, oh my god, it
really it's And yet there's a freedom that you get
as you get older, and you're feeling it already in
your thirties compared to who you were, and you were
you know, when you or a younger actor even and
it gets better good and you get to know yourself
better and you get free. So do you care less
about Well?
Speaker 2 (34:07):
I like myself more now than I have at any
other point about right, So I like, you know, I
wouldn't trade the.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Isn't that nice? You like yourself totally?
Speaker 2 (34:14):
But I mean, I mean it's obviously it's still like
a process, but I'm just like, I'm so much happier
with who I am and I kind of know more
like what it means to be me and what I
stand for than when I was twenty three. Like I
don't even think I was in my own body like
I was around like.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
No, little just we were reacting and.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Doing, reacting and doing totally.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
That's how we were, that's where we lived our lives.
You're like, okay, I'll take that out now. There's more intention, Yes,
and especially because you're a mom, there's intention, And because
you also are a you're a business person. You're an actress,
but you're.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
A business person, always trying.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
It's just sort of like maybe like an esoteric question,
what scares you and what advice advice for young actors?
Shorting out? But I kind of want to put that aside.
I want to over at you.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Wait, I mean what scares me? I guess I mean
on an emotional level or a literal level or both both. Okay, Well,
literal would be I'm very claustrophobic. Okay, Like last night
I didn't get on sleep because I kept having this
dream that I was stuck in an elevator, which I'm
sure I can dig into on Monday with my therapist.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Yes, elevator stops for a second, I can't it.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Panic, Yeah, small spaces, overcrowded like that's I don't know,
it just freaks me out. And then I mean emotionally,
it used to be like being alone. Which I can
tie that into advice to younger people, which is, like
I had spent my twenties I feel like, you know,
constantly like surrounding myself with people and work and you know,
(35:51):
getting upset over things didn't matter, and standing too long
in relationships and worrying about you know, guys that did
not even deserve my attention instead of like getting to
know myself and sitting with myself and being alone with myself.
And I really wish upon people in their twenties, like
my sister, I'm like, go, like, spend time with yourself,
travel with yourself, like spend time alone, Like I spent
(36:14):
not that much time alone. And now I have a kid,
and I'm in my thirties and you know, I quite literally,
you know, will never be alone after your kid.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
You're never alone.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
And I don't regret it, but like, I just wish
that I had spent more time with myself, traveling and
just like getting to know myself.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Yeah that's a big one.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
And so now, like you know, it's taking a lot
of time in therapy, but I'm not scared of being alone.
And it feels so good to be able to say
that in a minute, because like I mean, from when
I was, like, you know, however long till I was,
you know, thirty one years old, like I was definitely
like scared to be by myself and spend time with myself.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
I agree. I think that's a really important and I
love that that's what you're saying, because I think at
the end of the day, all we have is ourselves.
You know, you want to love yourself, you want to
be with You will never be alone because he is
in your life, but he will eventually be in his life.
Really that's what you want. But like that, and you're
and I understand completely because what young people also don't
(37:11):
realize is, you know, your twenties, it goes away, so
all of a sudden, you're not like to.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
Your mother's point, to my point, he's fifty eight years old,
you go, oh wait, damn, you know, like I was
in that body, I had that time and like I didn't,
you know know too, because and it's just you learn
it as you go.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
And you're certainly, I mean supremely young enough to still
have all this time to yourself and to explore the
world with him, because twenty the world with your son
is going to be one of the most amazing things.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
That's already the best. I mean, we we recently went
to Disneyland, and everyone told me, like, he's too young,
he's three, wait till he's four or five, is a
waste of time. And I was like, you know what,
I want to do something special with him that I've
been working a lot, like, I want to I want
to do it with him, so whatever, So we went.
He had the best time ever, and like a week later,
he just woke up and in his crib when I
picked him up, he goes, I want to go to
(37:59):
Disney And I literally started getting to your eye kids.
I'm like, oh my god, you remember right, And he's
you know, he's talking a lot now when he was
a delayed talker, and so it's just meant so much
on so many levels where I'm like, you know, and
again as a mom, always like I'm going out with
my gun and took him Like everyone it's not a
waste of time when we have you have such a
special time, and it keeps bringing it up, and I'm
(38:19):
just so glad that I got to share that with him,
and I was the one to take him. And it
also gave me confidence to do more stuff like that,
because I feel like sometimes as a parent, you're like,
I guess, I guess we'll just stay home. Y, I
guess we'll just you know whatever, And it's like, you
know what, No, Like my mom would always be like
get in the car, like we're wan to o high
or like you know, we're gonna go the farmer's market,
or we're gonna go to the beach, and just those
little things add up to so many memories.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
Completely, And I think to your point, it's to your
point of the concern of like your working mother, you
have a lot on your place, so you're not always
going to be able to be there because you're working.
So it's not necessarily about the quantity, it's about the
quality totally. What brings you joy?
Speaker 2 (39:07):
I mean joy? I would say what brings me joy
is having free time and not being in a rush,
And like obviously that you know, so many things fall
into that category, and like of also you know, spending
time with my family, my friends, you know, being with
my son. But I think overall, like not feeling like
I'm in a rush, because so much of my life
I feel like I've smith trying to get somewhere at
(39:28):
a certain time and accomplish something and do something right
and say the right thing and look the right way,
and so like to me to wake up and not
be in a rush or have and to have a
free day. It's like it just makes me so right,
right do.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
You looking at you and you know you have everything
it takes to be like a massive movie star. Not
to say you're not a huge star, okay, but you
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
I know what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Is that something you want? I mean, you've seen it,
it's around you.
Speaker 6 (39:57):
Well, it's so interesting because I always say, like, you know,
I think I saw very up close what that really
looks like with my aunt Julia. It's obviously, you know,
it's fun and it's great, but there is a part
of it that's really scary. And so I've always wanted
to kind of carve my own path of not just
like straight ahead, oh, be a big movie star, but like,
(40:20):
you know, do stuff that's like creatively fulfilling, because to me,
fame has never been the goal because fame at a
certain level is kind of scary. And I remember as
a kid, even as in my later teens, I was
like I never want my fame to outweigh.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
My work, because there's nothing scarier to me than being
so famous that you're never left alone. But also you're
not getting good jobs. And that was kind of like
happening to a lot of people I think when I
was in my teens in early twenties, and that really
scared me, and so I always I never wanted that
to happen to me. So I was very conscious of
like just not wanting to be in it for the fame.
And like I said, when you've seen fame like that
(40:56):
up close and you see what that really like does
to people onto to their family and and and like
it's it's scary sometimes. I mean, I'm just like had
a weird like stalker situation a few weeks ago that
I can say because it got leaked to the press.
And even that alone, the fact that was leaked into
the press, I feel like such a violation because I was, like,
I was just so scared.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
So anyways, Yeah, to me, I want to keep doing
things that are creatively fulfilling, things that are fun, work
with friends, and you know, if other things come along
with a great but like you know, I'm trying to
just take things a little bit at a time, and
thank you. I am I'm trying. I feel like this
last year something has clicked in, so I'm really excited
(41:38):
to kind of see how that affects the reats to
all other aspect of my life.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Well, I'm very thankful that you join you today. I
was able for two and I'm really looking forward because
I have an up close personal scene to seeing all
the next chapters of your life. I love you with
the mob, I love you so much. Thank you for
joining to thank you Brews. Table for two with Bruce
(42:05):
Bosi is produced by iHeartRadio seven three seven Park and Airmail.
Our executive producers are Bruce Bosi and Nathan King. Our
supervising producer and editor is Dylan Fagan. Table for two
is researched and written by Jack Sullivan. Our sound engineers
are Meel B. Klein, Jess Krainich, Evan Taylor, and Jesse Full.
(42:27):
Our music supervisor is Randall Poster. Our talent booking is
done by Jane Sarkin. Table for two's social media manager
is Gracie Wiener. Special thanks to Amy Sugarman, Uni Scherer,
Kevin Yuvane, Bobby Bauer Alison, Kanter Graber, Barbara Jen, Jeff Klein,
and the staff at the Tower Bar in the world
famous Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio,
(42:52):
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Hey everybody, thanks for pulling up a share Today on
Table for two. We're back at my favorite joint, the
Sunset Tower here in Los Angeles on this incredible summer day.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I'll take some water please and can Arnold Palmers.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
As today we're having lunch with a young lady who's
been in the business since she was a young kid,
so she has seen it all and she's only in
her early thirties. She's a single mom. She's clearly the
muse of mister Ryan Murphy. She has started in many
of his American horror story seasons. She's also coming out
(00:41):
with a movie called Space Cadet. She has a book imprint,
so we're going to be talking about her love of
books and reading. She's an all around incredible person and
super fun to hang out with, so this lunch is
going to be a lot of laughs. We were having
lunch with this incredible woman who's walking towards me right now,
Miss Emmory. Hey, I'm Bruce Bossi and this is my
(01:10):
podcast Table for two. Okay, so if you've pulled up
a shirt today, as I was saying, we are having
lunch at the Tower Bar. It's a beautiful summer day.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
It is a beautiful day.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
We're having lunch with a person that I hold very
close to my heart. I know you since you bore
in your twenties. Yeah, a young woman. I've seen you
grow into the woman you are beautiful as we all know,
missus Emma Roberts. Hi, Hi, welcome to the table for two.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Thank you for having me. I was just saying that
I feel like I've been with you all week because
I've been catching up on your podcast. So hearing your
voice is just like comforting.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
That is sweet. Did you eat? I mean assume we're
going to eat.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
We can eat. I usually get the chop salad here.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I usually get the chop salad here. You put a
protein in it?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yes, I do. I put chicken in it, really really
really fancy.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
So we're gonna talk about Space Cadet because I know
that's coming. That's dropping soon July fourth, July fourth.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Even if you just watch the trailer, you can see
that it's like a super feel good, fun summer movie.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Well you get a script like that, is that your
basis for choosing it is? It's like, okay, like I
just want a fun summer easy groove.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I mean for me, it's actually funny because Space Cadet.
First of all, the title. When it came into my
email inbox, I was like, Okay, I know I'm gonna
love this so much that I don't even want to
read it because if I can't be in it, I'm
gonna be bombed. Yeah, because it wasn't a straight offer.
And so I met with the writer director, Liz Garcia,
who is absolutely amazing, and we've for like a decade
(02:39):
almost worked together, you know, haven't, and so she wrote this,
was directing it. We met, and then you know, they
were like, they're gonna look at some other people and
take some time. And so year went by and I
had forgotten about it, because you have to kind of
purposely forget about things that you don't get always. Yeah,
it's too disappointing. And so yeah, my agents were calling me,
(03:02):
and they were calling me in a group, and you know,
when there's a group calling, you either got a part
or you're in trouble. And so I was no thing
I had gotten.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Apart, and so right, you don't know where it's going
to go.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I was like, if there's three of you on, that's
so down.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
We need to have a conversation with you.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
So they were like, remember that movie Space Get Ahead,
and I was like, stop, shut up, and they're like
it's you. So they we're going to shoot this summer
and I'm like, oh my god. And I was just
so excited because when I read the script to go
back to your original question, it was just like I
was smiling the whole time. I was laughing. It just
felt really kind of like fresh and original, but also
nostalgic in the ways that like legally Blonde and Private
(03:37):
Benjamin and kind of those fishadow Water stories. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, and your character is that you really embody that
sort of like there's a bubbliness too. Yeah, there's like
a real energy.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
And they're the unlikely and intelligent, like intelligenctly street smart,
not necessarily book smart, and then that turns into them
being BookSmart. And so I think it's a very I
liked the messaging a lot. I feel like for young people,
and I just hadn't seen this kind of story before.
Like I love space movies, but you know, there we do.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I like which ones, like what are the faiths?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Interstellar okay, CRMB my Eyes Out Arrival okay, my favorite
movie ever with Amy Adams.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Okay, but my.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Point being that space movies are it's pretty sad or
dark or so this was kind of I liked that
we were taking kind of a genre making it younger.
It's like four younger people to watch. Like, I mean,
if your daughter's like, hold her daughter, now, I've scared you even.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Out turning seventeen.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
No, in my mind, she's taen.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I know. I mean, you know from the Begame. It's crazy.
But yeah, yeah, it goes that fast.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Okay, well that's frightening. We'll circle back to that. But
my point is a ten year old could watch this movie.
And so yeah, I feel like there'st have a lot
of movies where you can watch with your mom and
not be like cringing. Like I watched The Sultfurn with
my mom. Love, loved the movie, didn't love watching it
next to my mom.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
That is really tough to watch with your mother.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I honestly think someone needs to start like a blog
that's like movies to not watch with your parents, because
especially with like streaming now, like you click or you.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Don't know, right, you don't know, and all of a
sudden you're like looking at that scene in your bathtub
and you're with your mom and you're like, oh God,
how do I get half of this room?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
So yeah, so anyone else there that wants to start
a blog about that, really should?
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I think we'll do well. I think that's great. So okay,
so that movie, So that resonated and it hits this summer.
So that's how you sort of now hitting the circuit
of promoting it and just that like so that's like
the jam.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, we're doing some promotion. So we're having a premiere
in New York, which I'm really excited about because I
feel like people don't really do that anymore.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's exciting. End of June.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
At my favorite theater. I love to give a shout
out to a good theater, the Metro Bra. Yes, they
play old movies, new movies. They have amazing concessions, a
great restaurant there. So anyways, that's like my hang in
New York. So it just happened to be word of
doing the premiere there. So I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I love that. I love I love a shout out
to a place that you love. I was really upset
with the Ziegfeld Close in New York. That was like
I kind of I saw the movie Hair there in
nineteen seventy, and I like, there are certain places like
I totally remember where you were so to have like
the bookstores like and stuff. I think there's people that
are listening love these like yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Tonight, I'm still upset about the arc Lay closing. I
mean I would go there like at least once a week,
if not more, with my mom or racistter.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
We're talking to one on in West will Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
It's so and the one there. There's a bunch of them,
but they're.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
All closed now they're all closed. FYI you say it,
so I'll share. But that's where I saw your aunt's movie.
Can tell you when I was sitting in nineteen ninety one,
when you were being done born, I could tell you
the seat I was sitting in. Because there are movies
that you as a natural, So you do those movies
as the viewer when you're doing your job, and you
do it so beautifully. You remember where you're at.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Do you know that Legally Blonde made me realize my
own mortality? Which sounds crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
It does because I saw me it does.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It does. I saw it so many times and for
some whatever reason, it hit me where I was like,
what if this movie came out? I was dead, like
what would I do? And it made me realize that
one day I would die, Like how dark is that?
But that's how what movies can do. Were I'm not
I would have I would die if I couldn't have
seen this movie because I loved it so much. I
saw it literally five times in theaters.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
What do you think resonated with I'm gonna get it
the character's name? Okay, what resonated as a young girl
with you and that character?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Well, first of all, I just loved that I hadn't
seen a character like that ever before for me and
with Reese, with There's been the way she did that,
and Elle Wood's the character itself. She was like the
unlikely hero of the one that people also didn't believe
in that people kind of wrote her off as one thing.
And I think like, as a young woman and growing up,
it's like I've felt that way before, where it's like
(07:44):
people think you're one thing and won't give you a
chance to be something else.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Felt that because you not only are beautiful young, which
in this industry sometimes can be sort of pigeoned, you
also have come from the sort of and I've you know,
sat with King. You know, families that have like lineage,
So there's that. So people like have a lot of things.
(08:07):
So how did you navigate that?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Yeah, you know, because it is people definitely have preconceived
notions of you. I think there's two sides of the coin.
You know, people like to say, oh, you know, you
have a leg up because you're a family in the industry.
But then the other side to that is, you know,
you have to prove yourself more. Also, if people don't
have good experience being to be with other people in
your family, then you'll never get a chance.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And also I think there's something to be said where
everybody loves the kind of overnight success story and so
if you're kind of not the girl from the middle
of nowhere that broken Hollywood, you know, there's kind of
an eye roll of like all your dad was this,
And I always joke I'm like, why is no one
calling out George Clooney for being a neo baby. It's
very true, But I feel like also the point is,
(08:50):
like young girls, I feel like, get it harder with
the like everything with the with the nepo baby thing,
Like I don't really see people calling out you know,
sons a famous actress. It's that they should be called that.
I don't think anyone should be called out wanting to
follow their dreams.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Again the male female thing they did. But you know,
I do think to your point, and like this whole
phrase that sort of just paraded recently, the NEPO baby thing.
You know, you know, it comes from a place of
resent you as we know from people like oh, look
at that. But I often said, you can get in
the room maybe because you're related to someone, but if
you can't deliver, you're not staying in there. So okay, yes,
(09:25):
and that and that, you know, and we look at
it from like the actors standpoint, because it's there's such
a public figure and celebrity about it, but it goes
on across all fields.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Oh totally.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
So it's like, okay, like I can get my kid
into whatever she's going to be interested, but if you
don't have the goods, you know, I could say, like
my nephew who went through the program at CIA and
now he's a big, you know, a very successful sports agent,
so he got a leg in to have that interview,
but if he sucked, yeah, totally beyond total No.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I mean, I I can like, oh, put in a
good word for me on this, and haven't booked things.
And I think that's the thing that I always talk about,
is like people kind of only see your way because
they only see, you know, when you're on the poster
of a movie. They don't see yeah, all the like
rejection along the way. That's why I'm always very open
about things I've auditioned for and haven't gotten the part for, right,
And like, I think it's important to talk about because
(10:13):
otherwise people just think, oh, you know, everything's been so
great and linear and easy, and it's like, no, it's
been not at all. But of course it looks like
that to the outside perspective or to the naked.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Eye, right. And I think a lot of people who
started young, like you, they weren't able to navigate it.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
No, it's crazy and and honestly, you know, there are
moments in time where I'm like, maybe this isn't for me,
or maybe either because I decide it's not, or because
the industry will decide it's not, you know, like either way,
and I feel very lucky that you know, I was
able to navigate you know, being a teenager and being
in my twenties and you know, going through emotionally hard
(10:48):
things and still being able to kind of show up
for myself and work. But yeah, it's been totally crazy
in the sense of I feel so lucky that I
get to be thirty three and still get to be
doing things that I love. And also now I'm much
more like thoughtful about it. I think in my teens
and twenties, I was always just like, you know, going
from job to job to job to job and kind
of not really being present. And that makes sense, yeah,
(11:10):
And I mean, now it's nice to be able to
feel like I'm more present for the experiences because also
it's taking time away from my son, and so jobs
have to kind of have more meaning. And whether the
movie or the show is a hit or not, I
at least want the experience to have been something like
has either enriched me or taught me something, or I
don't have to work with friends or you know, it.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Has to be much more discerning, and there's there and
as one as it happens, the it's just more factors
in life that present themselves because you're creating a.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Life, you know, and the other thing that I think
must have been hard, And you tell me it's natural
for all of us in our teens and twenties.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
You know, we were living, we're going through stuff and
those are so like, but you're now being looked at
and it's also being looked at this social media. How
did you navigate that and get through that because that's tough.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Well, I think it's harder now, honestly, Like I always say,
if I was like a teenager or even twenty now
who was social media and everything, like, I don't know
how I would be able to do it. Because luckily,
I agreed, social media had like just started really becoming
like you were able to kind of quantify your fame
on social media. Yeah, when I was already in my
(12:25):
early twenties, because I remember specifically. I think that was
when I was filming an American horror story in New Orleans,
and I just remember because I would always be taking
more pictures down there because I was like, oh, social media.
So that's when it kind of became I became more
aware of it. But now even now, like I find
myself getting into the scroll on there where I'm like,
I need to get off of this.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I do too anyway sucks you in and I.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Feel like and I feel bad about myself, and I'll
get into like talk to my mom about it, and
she's like, oh my god, you have to stop. She's like,
it's not normal for people to be looking at themselves
this much, like you have to know that. And I'm like,
you're so right here.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Yeah, it's really hard. It's like, you know, and I
think I think we are culturally now in a conversation,
especially with that age group, to understand when should they
get smartphones? How do we all sort of break this addiction.
And then also without too much judgment, I think like
sometimes I'll get lost in the scroll of the wheels
and people are doing funny and entertaining stuff. Totally okay,
(13:19):
this is I'm just I'm having fun right now, judge it,
you know. But when it becomes too much, Yeah, and
you know, when it becomes too much, totally, I got
I got it. I gotta get off there.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Well for me, it's it's even more so, not even
like what I'm consuming, but I just feel like it's
short circuiting my brain in a sense of topic jumping
in a way. But then when I'm off of it,
I feel like I'm a little scattered. I'm a little disconnected.
So that's what freaks me out is I'm like, are
we like short circuiting our brains? Like you have to
be one hundred percent? Can't We're not meant to consume
(13:50):
this many different things in one sitting.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
It's right, I'm a doctor, you know that I play
on TV. Mean the thing that is an I find
that attention span at the level of anxiety because like,
oh wait, all this stuff is coming in. It's coming.
It's like it's the text, it's the social media, it's
the emails, it's just this. It's taking care of the
kid and said, hey, what's that schedule? Okay, he has
(14:12):
to be here. Oh I have to make sure I
apply there.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
You then you just want to read where there's twenty
seven people on it, and I'm like, love you guys,
please taking off the thread. You can't call me, call
me or like send me an email. But I'm like
this text thread, I'll.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Learn every two seconds you're like and you don't know,
you're like, oh, okay, okay. And especially with all due
respect when it comes to like kids and the parents, totally,
they want to discuss everything at every single so it's
you got to for your own sanity. I also think
(14:52):
you're very like curated because you know, you've also done
something that I find and there are other people that
I admire, like yourself, who're able to parlay your acting career,
your work to also your love of literature and what
we'll talk about, to being brand ambassadors for companies for
(15:14):
launching things like becoming the sort of corporation that you
can be like the CEO smart, you know person I
even hate to say woman, just person. You know that
you know, and that's not everyone can do that. Thank you, Angel,
you have done that early on. This is is that
something you enjoy I mean totally.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
The thing about that that's so interesting is like I
didn't even know that it was possible. Like I remember
being in my teen years and being like, wait, I
love this book, how do I make it into a movie?
Or wait? I at the time was a brand am
master for a makeup company and I was like, I
want to do my own line of lipstick within within
the company? Can I do that? And the answer was
always kind of like uh no, or like that's not
what people aren't really doing that And so then now
(15:58):
it's like you see, you know, like when it's Power
trop for example, when I'm her biggest fan, Like what
she did with Goop, I remember like really inspired me
to be like, wait, I don't have to be just
one thing in Resa with her book club and production company,
and I'll never forget you know, the story where she
was supposed to be in Gone Girl and then stepped
just as a producer on it. I read somewhere and
I was like, wow, that's so cool, Like I didn't
(16:20):
even think that's right.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
I don't have to be an actress in that. Can
iually produce it?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And so like I I give credit to those women
who I feel like, you know, we're obviously and still
are some of the biggest actresses. Yeah, and they did that,
and I remember me seeing it is what made me
think that I could.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Like do that right.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
And and also just like you know, passion, like I
really like love, love, love, love, like putting shows together
and movies together, and I love curating with what you said,
and I love to read and.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So the love of reading and books first all, I
don't want to Mispronouncedelladris Beladris. Yeah, starting this company? When
did that? Like when did that Aha moments you say, oh, okay, wait,
I'm going to do this because it also must help
you with identifying projects not only for yourself but to.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Totally right, I mean for me. I wanted to start
before Instagram existed. If you guys can believe it, then
I remember then that I remember then, which is grating.
But no, I wanted to start a blog called Beauty
in the Book where we talk about beauty products and
books like. That was my dream, and so I kept
talking about it with my best friend Kara Price was
(17:23):
the co founder of Bellatrist, with me, and eventually Instagram
launched and there was a handle taken Beauty in the Book. Oh,
and so we were like okay, and we also weren't
quite ready and didn't know what we were. And I
think it was twenty seventeen where we'd come up with
the name Bellatrist, which is like a word from the
sixteen hundreds that means like a writer of flowery words,
and it was kind of used like derogatory. So we
(17:44):
kind of liked the idea of having it be like
a ton in cheek, kind of like like someone who's
not super serious about reading, but it sounds.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Serious It sounds very serious, right, because that's.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Always been kind of our thing, is like we don't
care what you're reading as long as you're reading, because
I don't like this kind of judgment of like you
have to be reading something cool or something literate or
something this like like I love a great memoir, I
also love a trashy be read like I love it
all and I think, no judgment. So when we were
picking the name, we wanted to keep that in mind,
and in the beauty in the book was kind of
(18:14):
that that's important.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
That's important. It's important to remember them because you do,
you can get stuck like in mud because you're like, oh,
I'm not supposed to be reading, or I should be
reading this classic and I you can't get through if
what you got to read, what you just love and
reading is and you know and you're doing it in
Sar Jessica, who's a big advocate of.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
My other queen Die For Sara doesn't Parker too.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
And she is a big advent supporter of libraries, local
bookstores and reading and reading and reading.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And totally, I think it's so important because to me,
I feel like one book or one story can really
change the trajectory of somebody's life. As cheesy as that sounds, Yeah,
but like especially having access to like certain stories and
certain writers. I don't know, I feel like reading the
right book can make you feel seen in a way
that is so important.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Can you give me an example of a book that
story that that has happened with you totally?
Speaker 2 (19:09):
First, I just want to say that my sister was
twenty three. She when she was sixteen and seventeen, she'd
just say I hate reading. And I'm like, don't ever
say that to me again. I was like, don't you know,
I don't say that to people either. I was like,
that's not a good look. Fine, And so she kept
saying it and saying and finally I was like, Okay,
I'm going to be proactive. I was like, maybe she
just hasn't found the right book. So I would give
her book after the book after book, never would finish,
(19:30):
never would finish. And funny enough, the book that we
both read together and loved in literally a week was
Daisy Jones and the Sixth which then rest made into
the show, which is amazing. But that book brought us
together in a way where like she would literally come
to me and be like, Okay, what am I reading next?
And I was like, I'm gonna cry, Like is this
someone who said I hate reading to now is like
what are we reading next? Like it's right, and you
(19:52):
know it's and again it's not like I was like,
you here read War and Peace? Like what it was
Daisy Jones in the six It was fun. It's fun,
it was romance. We cried, laughed and like the fact
that's what we bonded over and that was the first
book we read together.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
And two that it really is and we're back. In
(20:28):
twenty thirteen, our guest Emma Roberts joined the cast of
American Horror Story for its third season, entitled Coven. Since then,
she's worked closely with creator Ryan Murphy, appearing in multiple
seasons of the show as well as on screen queens.
I'm curious, what's it been like to work together for
(20:48):
over a decade. You know, there are people that have
like their troops, so it was very clear. I would
argue that you were Ryan Murphy's or have been his
muse for many many years.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
He's my music. I just mean like he inspires me.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
He's right, man, is so talented and the American horror.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Story franchise, franchise show, I mean a franchise, so it
has become that.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
How did that sort of change the trajectory of you, Yeah,
to short of be able, because I think it must
have not the answer for you. But I am a
little bit no kind of layering the pieces of Emma
Robert totally me. So how was that experience, you know,
to be the muse? Because I always like and it's
like Cassavetti's had his troop, you know what I mean,
(21:34):
Woody Allen has his troop. You know what I mean.
It's like, yeah, that was his true you know, Peter Falk.
Those are the people that I he continually worked with.
Clearly Ryan loves working with you and writes for you.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Well, I love him and he really, I mean even
he changed my life. I was twenty two years old.
I you know, it was so funny because I would,
you know, I would audition for things and go up
for things, and everyone always saw me as kind of
like the girl next door or they like, you know,
we're kind of putting me in this category of like
a teen actress, you know, not letting me kind of
(22:06):
do anything edgy. And he but what he does for
so many people, by the way, women especially. He always
sees something in someone that other people don't, and that
is like one of his superpowers, I think. And not
only does he see that thing, but then he trusts
you with it and is like, okay, go right, Like
there's no doubt that he gives me this confidence that
like you can be this thing, and like I'm going
(22:27):
to show you what that is. And he did that
for me with American Horse Story Covin Madison Montgomery. I
was I was supposed to go down there for like
three episodes and you know we've been working together now
for ten years.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Right, Oh really, Covin, you were only going to be
three episodes.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
It was maybe not it was three. It was definitely
not the pore time. And that's why they killed me
and they like being brought back. That wasn't originally the plan, right,
And I think the reason that people love it is
because it was just so authentic, because I felt super confident.
I was so excited to play a role that no
one had seen me in. He really trusted me and
wrote for me, and it was just I had so
(23:05):
much fun and it was unexpected. Yeah, it was really unexpected.
And I remember he called me and he's like, look,
I don't know if this is for you. It's definitely
a little edgy in the pilot. There's some a lot
of traumatic things happened, so you know, let me know.
And I was just like, you know what, you fuck it?
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Yes, yeah, well you're well yeah, well, I mean, what's
very clear about you. You are a risk taker, and
you also you have you have a very strong voice,
very strong presence, meaning so like I think I can
understand why he would say that, but that your reaction
be like bringing up well, I.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Mean this Partony was like, you know, a little scared.
Of course, I'm not gonna lie. But when you know,
when Ryan Murphy calls calls your landline and has to
be on a show, you say.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yes, did you answer that landline on a ride? Did
you know?
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Because landlines are scary now that they You're like, no,
I was prepped beforehand that I was getting a call
that I needed to answer, so I was I was,
I'm quite literally waiting by the phone. But I was
so excited because I remember watching the pilot of a
marm Harror story the night that it aired. Remember when
we used to watch things weekly once a week or
it aired, and I was like, I love this show.
(24:07):
I was like, I'd get anything to be on a
show like this, but it would never put me on
a show like this. And I remember like second season
as well, I was like, I'm like, you know, I
just would love the chance to be on something like this,
And so, I mean, I think I may have manifested
it a little bit, but no, it was cool and
living in New Orleans, I was twenty two, and yeah,
it changed the trajectory of my career and as an
(24:29):
actress definitely just gave me a whole new experience and
different level. I mean, the the people that he works
with obviously, the writers and the directors and everyone was
just such an amazing caliber that it makes you a
better actor.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Right, he sees something in you. You get in the room,
and then you deliver, which is why then consistently you're
part of his troop, because if you don't deliver, he's
not bringing you back.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
No, He's I mean, and that's and that's I mean,
I've gotten the chance through working with him. The fact
that I got to work with like Sarah Pulson and
Jessica Lang. I still do this day, like, think about
the days I had with Jessica Lang, because she's such
an icon for me completely.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Were you surprised when Kim Kardashian came into the conversation like,
oh okay, because I mean she's an incredibly talented sort
of very smart human. I never thought of her as
an actress.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Well, I was just blown away. But then also, I
mean so because Ryan and I were talking about American
horror story Delicate, which is the latest season which has
already aired on Effects and now is streaming Undulu, and
we have been talking about casting, and I just remember
like I kept just coming up with horrible ideas. We'd
like I want to stop, and I'm like, I know
(25:47):
these are bad ideas, are like what's wrong with me?
Speaker 1 (25:50):
And is never a wrong answer in a group think
tag totally.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
You know you know what I mean? The point is
like I just I was like what I'm like, let's
all like clicking, Like I'm usually so good at coming
up with ideas. I'm just and so anyways, he called
me one day and he's like, Kim Kardashian playing your publicist.
I don't evenk he's an hide to me. And I
was like this is why you're you. I just like
that is a genius because what I loved about it
(26:14):
is like obviously when you watch the season, you find
out that you know, she's not just a publicist, but
the point is like putting her in the role of
like a publicist and me being an actor, like already,
that's just so such a great dynamic to play with, right,
And let me tell you, she is one of the
most prepared actors I've worked with.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Really.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
I mean I've come I've come to work sometimes and
you know, people that I won't name, but you and
know who they are, like don't know theirs at all,
which whatever, it's fine, we all have those days. But
like she do every single like mine. And she also
she just looks you in the eye and do it.
And I'm like, wow, like to be that kind of
open and vulnerable at some like, you know, I still
get embarrassed sometimes and I've been acting for twenty something years. Yeah,
(26:52):
and you know, she just she's she's super professional, confident
and just the way that she carries herself. She doesn't
have a huge entourage. She's very normal, and that was
also really inspiring to see.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Yeah, you know, coming from the family and the level
of success that that family has had. You can only
get there by doing shoop of professionals, So that doesn't
surprise me. And I was just wondering, you know what
it would be like, well, what your thoughts were on that,
because I had to say I.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Was totally something. I used to buy jeans from them
at Dash in Calabasas their store, So that was the
other thing too. We were laughing a little, like I
was like, wow, and look at look at now, like
you're you and I'm on this show with you and
we're together, and I'm like, I used to buy seven
jeans from you in Calabasas, like.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Literally, I mean literally from her working in the store,
be in the store.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
I think I was like twelve or thirteen. This was
right before they did their show and I had a
show on Nickelodeon, you know, and with yes, like was like, thought,
it was so cool that like I could afford to
buy like seven jeans that Dash from working, so like
it's just so funny that then now you know, this
much time later, at the end of the day, we're
just two girls from Calabasas.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
You know. You bring up another point which I think
is also empowering, is becoming financially independent. She's a very
powerful thing that you know, must have felt great.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
I love that you bring. No one's ever brought that
up to me, I think in an interview, No I did,
and I remember, yeah, like ever since I was very
very very young, just wanting to like be self sufficient.
I think, seeing like you know, my mom and a
lot of her friends go through a lot of really
bad divorces and breakups and stuff, and just knowing from
a very young age, especially being raised by a single
(28:36):
mom who like is the best, Like, I never wanted
to have to depend on anyone and almost to probably
like I shouldn't have like known that so young, but
I'm glad I did, and I'm glad that you know.
I like it was never a motivation to necessarily act
for money, but even like I would do like lemonade
stands or like you know, like even to my mom
(28:57):
if I wash the windows, can I have five dollars
if I do the like, just wanting to kind of
have that that's freedom that depends totally. And so it's
been nice. It's nice now that I have been working
so long where you know, I can support myself and
can tell about other people. And also with my son,
like to just know that I can always support him
on my own is a very freeing thing that I
know is a huge It's it's a it's a privilege,
(29:21):
like you know, and and and some people can't. And
I just always want to encourage people to know that
they can.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
Yeah. I think it's you can try. Yeah, they could try,
you could try your best. I was watching Goldie Hawns
speak once years ago. She was on a panel and
she was there with people asking her like, you know
why she married Kurt Russell on that and I was
she were talking about the relations, but she also talked
about the importance and especially of her generation specifically because
(29:49):
women didn't have financials becomes that the freedom she had
that and because she worked and because she was able
to like make decisions that she wanted to make that
I would. It's a gift. And it's also a gift
that you knew that early and had that drive totally
because saying you know, mom, can you get five bucks
(30:10):
to wash the windows means like would people? Yeah, I'm
trying to instill that with my kids to say, oh, okay,
like this is the deal, Like, if you want to
do that, you have some money saved.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah, it's just like I just yeah, I think it's
it's it's just important to because what I was trying
to say be words. I know not everybody can, but
I want everyone to feel inspired to because I feel
like a lot of times, people, especially women, feel stuck.
I mean, like I like I said, I saw, I mean,
I saw my mom go, you know, go through a
breakup and you know, be a single mom. And you know,
(30:41):
I'm so lucky that she could be a single, full
time mom and not have to leave me at you know,
a daycare, and she could spend spend all her time
with me. But even now, like I have such mom guilt.
We're away from I'm away from my son.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
You know.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, you're always working for twelve hours a day and
then on the weekend, I'm so tired, and I feel
like I'm not being my best self right and so,
but the other side that coin is like I know
that he will always know that, like his mom works
really hard and loves what she does and therefore will
always you know, be able to support him.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Right.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Welcome back to Table for two. For someone in their
early thirties, Emma has already had a long and successful career.
She starred in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous as a teenager,
and she has appeared in countless films and TV shows
since then. What was it like to start off in
Hollywood at such a young age? That must have been
(31:53):
tough too, because you had to navigate adults in working
situations who I'm sure were just complete assholes.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
You know, I feel like I was. I mean, I
feel like I've encountered more assholes as an adult as
a kid, which is really a good thing. But no
I will they you know, it is really interesting because
I felt like I was almost like more mature as
a kid because I had to be where like now
sometimes I feel I feel like younger than I am,
(32:20):
where back then I felt older than I was, if
that makes sense, And so kind of like navigating that
now we're like when I was, you know, younger, everyone
who I worked with on set was older than me.
And now a lot of people I work with are
way younger than me. And so that's really interesting because
I was always the youngest person in the room and
now I'm not. And so it's just really interesting to
(32:40):
kind of I don't know, like like see how that
feels and figure that out, and like, also, I don't
know if you experienced this, but like now that I'm
in my thirties, I literally don't know how old people are,
to a point where I'm like, I'm like, how old
are you? And they're like, I'm twenty one. I'm like what, Like,
I have no concept of what seventeen is, I no
concept of sex, zero none, what's the zero?
Speaker 1 (33:02):
And I take it a step further because I still
feel like I'm looking out of the lens of a
your age. Yeah, this is kind of where you get
you kind of settle into an age. And I always
say to Brian, I'm like, I look exactly like that,
like when they would like but they always have the
new school that starts at the end of August and
all these kids in their twenties, and I'm like, if
I walked into that room they went on think twice
(33:24):
and I was like, you're so old and you look
so old, but you get stuck I am, you know,
which I also think keeps you kind of like yeah, funny,
but yeah, I have no sense.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
My mom always says, she's like she's like my mind
is twenty, but my body has betrayed me.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
It's true, it does true.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
And she's like it's She's like, do you know how
unfair it is? She's like, I feel twenty and I
look in the mirror and.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I'm like, you do you go? Who is that?
Speaker 4 (33:49):
Like?
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Why is this right? I'm like, oh my god, it
really it's And yet there's a freedom that you get
as you get older, and you're feeling it already in
your thirties compared to who you were, and you were
you know, when you or a younger actor even and
it gets better good and you get to know yourself
better and you get free. So do you care less
about Well?
Speaker 2 (34:07):
I like myself more now than I have at any
other point about right, So I like, you know, I
wouldn't trade the.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Isn't that nice? You like yourself totally?
Speaker 2 (34:14):
But I mean, I mean it's obviously it's still like
a process, but I'm just like, I'm so much happier
with who I am and I kind of know more
like what it means to be me and what I
stand for than when I was twenty three. Like I
don't even think I was in my own body like
I was around like.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
No, little just we were reacting and.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Doing, reacting and doing totally.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
That's how we were, that's where we lived our lives.
You're like, okay, I'll take that out now. There's more intention, Yes,
and especially because you're a mom, there's intention, And because
you also are a you're a business person. You're an actress,
but you're.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
A business person, always trying.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
It's just sort of like maybe like an esoteric question,
what scares you and what advice advice for young actors?
Shorting out? But I kind of want to put that aside.
I want to over at you.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Wait, I mean what scares me? I guess I mean
on an emotional level or a literal level or both both. Okay, Well,
literal would be I'm very claustrophobic. Okay, Like last night
I didn't get on sleep because I kept having this
dream that I was stuck in an elevator, which I'm
sure I can dig into on Monday with my therapist.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Yes, elevator stops for a second, I can't it.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Panic, Yeah, small spaces, overcrowded like that's I don't know,
it just freaks me out. And then I mean emotionally,
it used to be like being alone. Which I can
tie that into advice to younger people, which is, like
I had spent my twenties I feel like, you know,
constantly like surrounding myself with people and work and you know,
(35:51):
getting upset over things didn't matter, and standing too long
in relationships and worrying about you know, guys that did
not even deserve my attention instead of like getting to
know myself and sitting with myself and being alone with myself.
And I really wish upon people in their twenties, like
my sister, I'm like, go, like, spend time with yourself,
travel with yourself, like spend time alone, Like I spent
(36:14):
not that much time alone. And now I have a kid,
and I'm in my thirties and you know, I quite literally,
you know, will never be alone after your kid.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
You're never alone.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
And I don't regret it, but like, I just wish
that I had spent more time with myself, traveling and
just like getting to know myself.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Yeah that's a big one.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
And so now, like you know, it's taking a lot
of time in therapy, but I'm not scared of being alone.
And it feels so good to be able to say
that in a minute, because like I mean, from when
I was, like, you know, however long till I was,
you know, thirty one years old, like I was definitely
like scared to be by myself and spend time with myself.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
I agree. I think that's a really important and I
love that that's what you're saying, because I think at
the end of the day, all we have is ourselves.
You know, you want to love yourself, you want to
be with You will never be alone because he is
in your life, but he will eventually be in his life.
Really that's what you want. But like that, and you're
and I understand completely because what young people also don't
(37:11):
realize is, you know, your twenties, it goes away, so
all of a sudden, you're not like to.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
Your mother's point, to my point, he's fifty eight years old,
you go, oh wait, damn, you know, like I was
in that body, I had that time and like I didn't,
you know know too, because and it's just you learn
it as you go.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
And you're certainly, I mean supremely young enough to still
have all this time to yourself and to explore the
world with him, because twenty the world with your son
is going to be one of the most amazing things.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
That's already the best. I mean, we we recently went
to Disneyland, and everyone told me, like, he's too young,
he's three, wait till he's four or five, is a
waste of time. And I was like, you know what,
I want to do something special with him that I've
been working a lot, like, I want to I want
to do it with him, so whatever, So we went.
He had the best time ever, and like a week later,
he just woke up and in his crib when I
picked him up, he goes, I want to go to
(37:59):
Disney And I literally started getting to your eye kids.
I'm like, oh my god, you remember right, And he's
you know, he's talking a lot now when he was
a delayed talker, and so it's just meant so much
on so many levels where I'm like, you know, and
again as a mom, always like I'm going out with
my gun and took him Like everyone it's not a
waste of time when we have you have such a
special time, and it keeps bringing it up, and I'm
(38:19):
just so glad that I got to share that with him,
and I was the one to take him. And it
also gave me confidence to do more stuff like that,
because I feel like sometimes as a parent, you're like,
I guess, I guess we'll just stay home. Y, I
guess we'll just you know whatever, And it's like, you
know what, No, Like my mom would always be like
get in the car, like we're wan to o high
or like you know, we're gonna go the farmer's market,
or we're gonna go to the beach, and just those
little things add up to so many memories.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
Completely, And I think to your point, it's to your
point of the concern of like your working mother, you
have a lot on your place, so you're not always
going to be able to be there because you're working.
So it's not necessarily about the quantity, it's about the
quality totally. What brings you joy?
Speaker 2 (39:07):
I mean joy? I would say what brings me joy
is having free time and not being in a rush,
And like obviously that you know, so many things fall
into that category, and like of also you know, spending
time with my family, my friends, you know, being with
my son. But I think overall, like not feeling like
I'm in a rush, because so much of my life
I feel like I've smith trying to get somewhere at
(39:28):
a certain time and accomplish something and do something right
and say the right thing and look the right way,
and so like to me to wake up and not
be in a rush or have and to have a
free day. It's like it just makes me so right,
right do.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
You looking at you and you know you have everything
it takes to be like a massive movie star. Not
to say you're not a huge star, okay, but you
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
I know what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Is that something you want? I mean, you've seen it,
it's around you.
Speaker 6 (39:57):
Well, it's so interesting because I always say, like, you know,
I think I saw very up close what that really
looks like with my aunt Julia. It's obviously, you know,
it's fun and it's great, but there is a part
of it that's really scary. And so I've always wanted
to kind of carve my own path of not just
like straight ahead, oh, be a big movie star, but like,
(40:20):
you know, do stuff that's like creatively fulfilling, because to me,
fame has never been the goal because fame at a
certain level is kind of scary. And I remember as
a kid, even as in my later teens, I was
like I never want my fame to outweigh.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
My work, because there's nothing scarier to me than being
so famous that you're never left alone. But also you're
not getting good jobs. And that was kind of like
happening to a lot of people I think when I
was in my teens in early twenties, and that really
scared me, and so I always I never wanted that
to happen to me. So I was very conscious of
like just not wanting to be in it for the fame.
And like I said, when you've seen fame like that
(40:56):
up close and you see what that really like does
to people onto to their family and and and like
it's it's scary sometimes. I mean, I'm just like had
a weird like stalker situation a few weeks ago that
I can say because it got leaked to the press.
And even that alone, the fact that was leaked into
the press, I feel like such a violation because I was, like,
I was just so scared.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
So anyways, Yeah, to me, I want to keep doing
things that are creatively fulfilling, things that are fun, work
with friends, and you know, if other things come along
with a great but like you know, I'm trying to
just take things a little bit at a time, and
thank you. I am I'm trying. I feel like this
last year something has clicked in, so I'm really excited
(41:38):
to kind of see how that affects the reats to
all other aspect of my life.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Well, I'm very thankful that you join you today. I
was able for two and I'm really looking forward because
I have an up close personal scene to seeing all
the next chapters of your life. I love you with
the mob, I love you so much. Thank you for
joining to thank you Brews. Table for two with Bruce
(42:05):
Bosi is produced by iHeartRadio seven three seven Park and Airmail.
Our executive producers are Bruce Bosi and Nathan King. Our
supervising producer and editor is Dylan Fagan. Table for two
is researched and written by Jack Sullivan. Our sound engineers
are Meel B. Klein, Jess Krainich, Evan Taylor, and Jesse Full.
(42:27):
Our music supervisor is Randall Poster. Our talent booking is
done by Jane Sarkin. Table for two's social media manager
is Gracie Wiener. Special thanks to Amy Sugarman, Uni Scherer,
Kevin Yuvane, Bobby Bauer Alison, Kanter Graber, Barbara Jen, Jeff Klein,
and the staff at the Tower Bar in the world
famous Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio,
(42:52):
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Host
Bruce Bozzi
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