October 6, 2025 • 38 mins
Malin Åkerman is living proof that life only gets better with age. The star of The Hunting Wives joins us to spill on how the role of Margo Banks landed in her lap during a career standstill—and why it’s become one of her all-time favorites. From the freedom of playing a deliciously complex character to the instant chemistry she found with Brittany Snow, Malin takes us behind the scenes of her latest project while opening up about her own evolution. She gets candid about breaking free from people-pleasing, leading with “no,” and trusting her gut. Rooted in her Swedish upbringing and decades of experience, Malin shows us what it means to know yourself and step fully into your prime.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Before we get into today's episode, we have an announcement
to make The time is almost here, folks, come join
me and the brightest female founders, thinkers, and creatives at Shinaway.
If you've been, you know Shinaway is more than just
an event. And if you haven't been yet, what are
you waiting for? It is a two day celebration that
invites you to step into a world of joy, depth
(00:20):
and discovery. The lineup is out now and I cannot
wait to see all my faves like Morning Show star
Karen Pittman, Power Pause author Naha Rouche. And I'll also
be sitting down for a special edition of the bright
Side with entrepreneur Chrissy Teagan. Plus, if you're like me
and reading along with Reese's book Club, get ready to
go behind the scenes with authors like Rainbow Rowl and
(00:41):
Temby Lock. It's all going down October eleventh and twelfth
in Los Angeles and tickets are selling fast.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So get here is now today.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
On the bright Side, Malin Ackerman is here. She's the
star of the Netflix series we can't stop talking about
The Hunting Wives. We're getting into her undeniable Chemist Street
with co star Britney Snow. We'll learn how they hype
each other up to film the show's most intimate scenes,
and you'll hear why forty seven is Mollin's best year yet.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I have felt really sexy, and I have felt really
confident and proud of all the work that I've done
on myself and in the world, and proud of the
mother that I am to my son. And it's like
a lot of growth has happened in my forties.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I'm simoone voice, and this is the bright side. From
Hello Sunshine, From iconic rom coms like The Proposal and
twenty seven Dresses to the bingeworthy Netflix series The Hunting Wives,
Malin Ackerman has proven there's nothing she can't do. I've
been watching Mollin light up the screen for years, but
until today, I never truly understood the source of that
(01:48):
deep well of emotion that she draws from. So you're
about to hear it all how she made it, from
her breakout role in the two thousand and five comedy
The Comeback, through Motherhood, career, dry Spells, and heartbreak, to
now stepping into her newest chapter as a queer icon
with her fearless turn as Margo Banks in The Hunting Wives.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
This is Malin Ackerman. Like you've never heard her before, y'all.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
She is unfiltered, radiant, and unmistakably in her prime.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
So let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Malin Ackerman, Welcome to the bright Side.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I'm so happy to have you. You have had quite
the year, lady, Yes, ma'am, I sure have. I mean,
your twenty.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Twenty five is on fire, The Hunting Wives exploding on Netflix.
You presented at the VMA's the Emmys. I know that
you've been in the industry for decades because I remember
being an entertainment reporter, like a baby entertainment reporter, and
starting out and just seeing you everywhere and I was like, Wow,
she's just like she's doing it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
She's working so much, she's everything.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
But how does it feel to show up to these
events now as the star of a hit show of
this magnitude.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
It's pretty wild.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Wild has been at the top of my vocabulary lately,
because that really is what it feels like. I've, like
you said, I've been in this business a long time.
I've never experienced anything quite like it. And it's really fun,
it's really really exciting and I'm so happy because we
love this show so much, everyone who worked on it,
(03:21):
so to see everyone else enjoying it as much as
we did and do is just fantastic. And we said
at the end of shooting season one, we all were
keeping our fingers crossed to saying, you know, all we
want is just a season two because we just want
to keep working together. But you know, as much as
this moment is fantastic and lovely, it's a moment and
(03:43):
we all know Hollywood, and the moment's come and go,
and so I'm basking in it for right now and
I'm loving it and it's wonderful and I hope it
leads to more seasons and maybe some other new fun jobs,
but it comes and goes. So you know, I'm not
trying to be too attached to it.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
That's real wisdom right there. Well, it's been in it
for a while.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yes, completely, Yeah, Well, we can all let out a
big cyb of relief at least for now because we
know that The Hunting Wives has been picked up for
season two.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yes, and that just.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Felt like a no brainer with the outpouring of support
that the show has gotten. But I'm so curious how
did the role of Margo Banks come to you? And
more specifically, where were you in your life and professional
life when this role landed on your desk.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I was in the point in my professional life at
a bit of a standstill right after the strike. It
was a bit stagnant for most of my friends who
are in the industry.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We all were kind of texting each other going are
you working?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
No? Are you what's happening? And so it was a
bit of a.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Weird and concerning moment.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And as an actor, you know, you never have a
steady job and so you always think this is it,
Like this is I'm done, Like I'm done, I'm not
relevant anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
This is it.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You know, new kids are coming in and that's it out.
So it was a really weird time and I just
felt like I really need a little boost. I need
something that's really great to come along, and boom in
came the Hunting Live scripts. And I say scripts because
normally you're sent a pilot, like the first episode, and
that's all you get, and then you just they promise
(05:18):
you the world and you hope that that's what you
get with a character, and you just never know. But
this was all eight episodes fell into my inbox. I
was in Sweden actually promoting a Swedish movie. It was
around Christmas time. My husband was flying in the next
day I started reading it and loved the character of Margo.
Was a little concerned about many things within the script.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You know, really, yeah, I can't imagine why.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I mean, listen, finally enough, it wasn't really all the
intimate stuff. It was just more like the politics of
it and all these.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Topics that are very hot button topics.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
I just thought, okay, I have to really take a
moment and go what is this, what are we saying?
And how do I feel about it? And the more
I read, I just went, oh, okay, I see what
this is. This is brilliant and it's tongue in cheek
and it's just an incredible environment and an incredible character.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
So I had my husband read it.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
So what do you think they could give me your
honest opinion with it? Four episode? Reading four episodes, you
just went, are you kidding me? Why are you even doubting?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You have to do this? It's tailor made for you,
which is also.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Concerning when someone says Margo Banks is tailor made for you,
but he then explained, you know, I think it's just
a nice way to showcase all your talents. So that
was really lovely of him to say, But it's true.
I think this character of Margo Banks is just so
multi dimensional and so juicy and nuanced and fun, and
(06:44):
really trying to keep her grounded and not become a
caricature of something right was the challenge, Right, keep it,
keep it real as much as you can within this
wild world.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
One of my favorite ways to get to know a
character is by asking this question, Yeah, what do you.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Think Margo Banks's dating profile would say?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Well, it would probably be something along the lines of
I like to do whatever the fuck I want to do,
and if you want to come on this wild ride
with me, then click.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
So I don't know, what do you do? Swipe right,
swipe left. Yes, you know, I think she'd be pretty straightforward.
There's no beating around the bush for that woman.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
She's so messy and magnetic and charismatic and complicated. And
you said that she's one of your favorite characters to play.
Why is that what made her so irresistible to you?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I guess there's the freedom in her that we all
want to live vicariously through. I mean, she makes bad choices,
don't get me wrong, terrible choices, but the fun bits
of her are just so intoxicating, and I loved playing that,
you know.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
But I also think that.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
For me, it's just the different layers of Margo Banks
that are super interesting building that character and going right.
You know, she comes from this She is really a survivor,
and the survival skills in this woman are top notch.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
She's a master manipulator.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So it's a lot of fun to play all these
different nuances of a person. But I do think that
the most exciting bit is just the freedom that she has.
And I feel like all of us wish we could
just say like I want to do whatever the fuck
I want, you know, and go do it.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
She seems like a person who really doesn't care what
other people think. Yeah, And as much as I want
to convince myself that I'm that way, I don't know.
I don't know that I am.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
We all try, we all say it out loud, and
we're like, I don't really care, but we do because
we're human and we all want to be seen and
we all want to be accepted. But I think the
fine line there is who do we want to be
seen by? And who do we want to be accepted by?
And let's be careful picking that because we're not not
everyone ever is going to like everything that we have
to say or what we do, and that's an acceptance
(09:07):
in and of itself.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
And I think Margo caras too.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Of course she does, but she just makes us feel
like she's free as a bird.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Some people are better at hiding it than others, exactly well,
I think the reaction to the show is so fascinating
and it kind of lets us in on who we've
become as people, and like where we are as consumers
and what we want because I mean, the Hollywood Reporter
calls it a deliciously trashy drama. Even the creator, Rebecca Cutter,
(09:37):
referred to it as anti prestige. It does feel like
this rejection of some of the more I don't know,
pretentious prestige dramas. What do you think that says about
what audiences want?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Dependulum always swings right.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
So Prestige came in, and I love myself a good
prestige show. I love all these beautiful shows that have come.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Out, and you've been in them.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
You were in.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Billions is a great example.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
But I do think once one thing hits, everyone wants
to do the same thing and get that hit show
in that vein, you know, and then we get an
abundance of that, and then all of a sudden, when
you get something that's so off kilter, like The Hunting Wives,
that's so unexpected because everything else has been chasing this
prestige thing that's been going on, it hits like a
(10:22):
breath of fresh air. Yeah, and really, I mean I
think the other thing was there's a few factors to
the hit of this show, and that is for when
it was meant to be on Stars. So we made
it as a Stars show, which is a little bit
more salacious than most networks. And so when it cut
to Netflix, I think it was quite shocking. I mean,
they didn't censor any of it, which I'm so glad
(10:44):
they didn't, and they shouldn't because we're all adults there
too on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
But I just feel like.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
There were things that maybe you would expect when you
turn on Stars, that you didn't expect when you turn
on Netflix.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
And that was fun.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Well, one of the reasons why the show works is
because your chemistry with Britney Snow is just electric and
you'd think that you two were best of friends for years.
But I mean that's the magic of finding the right
collaborators right and finding the right performers. I read that
you didn't even do a chemistry reader, there was none
of that development beforehand.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
What do you credit that chemistry too?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Well, first, I have to take my hat off to
the casting director who went these two, put these two together,
and like has obviously met us throughout the years and
been through a lot of different auditions and projects. But
I think that we got really lucky as well that
we did hit it off, because yeah, without a chemistry read,
(11:41):
I was very nervous. I mean I had seen Brittany
once in passing at a party, so I couldn't tell
you anything about her. I just knew that she was
in the same circles as I was. So I thought,
all right, well that's good. I mean, these are good
people that I was with, and yeah, so hopefully she's
good people too. And we all landed in Charlotte. She
(12:01):
and I just said, all right, we got a lot
of things to do in this show, so why don't
we go out for dinner and just get to know
each other a little bit, and that one dinner solidified.
It was like that first date night where we were
just like, oh, this is.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Going to work.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
We have so many similarities and such an interesting history
both of us. It all just resonated. And she's so
easy to get along with. She wears her heart on
her sleeve. I mean, she's one of my many best friends.
But I just adore her as a human being, as
a woman, as an actress. So yeah, we were lucky
(12:37):
that we hit it off, and not just us, but
the whole gang, all the women. We all hung out
every single weekend, every single night when we could. I mean,
we couldn't get enough of each other.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
I really believe that the right collaboration can change you
as a performer and as creative. What have you gained
from this experience of collaborating with her and the entire cast.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Well, when you go in two roles, you either trustfall
or you don't. And that trustfall only happens if you
feel like you have collaborators who will hold the space
for you and going into scenes that are so vulnerable.
If you don't have the right collaborator, then you're not
going to give you all because you just you don't
(13:20):
feel safe enough to do that. You don't feel like
your partner's going to catch you. But that wasn't the
case in there, and that's all around from the top up,
from Rebecca Cutter to our directors, to Britney to everybody
who was around supporting. It was such a great set
that we went, Okay, I feel like I can trust
(13:42):
this process. I feel like I can trust you. Let's
just jump in headfirst. And that does make a difference
in your performance. I've had the opposite where I've had
to go into performance where you're going, do.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
You want to see me fail?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Because this is just an I'm just feeling like this
is all Often I don't trust you at all. I'm
doing a bad job because I'm just in my head.
So definitely made a huge difference to have Brittany.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
We've got to take a short break, but we'll be
right back with Malin Ackerman. When you show up to
a set at this stage in your career, do you
feel like you've been able to let go of some
of those insecurities that younger Malin might have brought to side.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
God, yeah, I mean just on set and in life.
My people pleasing was out of control when I was younger. Yes,
it was my answer because I didn't want to ever
disappoint anyone or make anyone mad. Now I try to
lead with no just go let me just think about
it for a second. Is this something that I really
want or don't want? But yeah, I think of course.
(14:44):
I mean I didn't know then what I do now.
And the more it's a muscle, the more you do it,
the more your body sort of understands what you're doing
and how to access certain parts of yourself, and the
more experience you have in life that bleeds into your performances.
And becoming a mother was a huge one, and going
through a divorce was another milestone that just affected me
(15:06):
in different ways in different parts of my body that
I now have access to that I didn't when I
was twenty. So, you know, life experiences and work experiences
they build you and make.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
You what you are, especially in this craft. Right.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I think it's so insane that for years we tried
to act like an actress's expiration date was what thirty
forty before she even has life experience.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
It's crazy, Like, I just I'm so happy that I'm
living in a time now where that's not the case.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
You know, it's all just changed so much.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I remember a director saying when I was in my
twenties and I had gotten a role and they the
director had said, you know, yes, so and so was
really after this role, but she had just had a
baby and no one wants to see her naked anymore.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
And I just I just went, oh, is that how
it works? No idea?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
She was early thirties and that was that such a
big statements that I think about often. That doesn't ring
true anymore, which is fantastic. I mean, Margo Banks is
a good example of that. I'm a forty seven year
old woman who's had a child, and you know, it
seems like some people want to see that.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Still, Yeah, she's hot.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
So I just feel like it's a different time for
women and I'm very happy about that, and not just
about getting naked, but just that the roles are more
developed and just as women we become older and it
doesn't have to just be woman. Anybody who's in this
business with the experience that you get. My stepdad's an
architect and he I remember him saying to me when
(16:38):
I was younger, he said, you know, I don't understand
why people want to retire when they're sixty five. When
you're in a creative business, you're just hitting your peak
at that point.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
You just He's like, I'm getting better and better as
I go. And I think that's true of all artistic avenues.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
And hopefully we have many peaks.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Okay, let me fact check something that I read Tequila
shots before sex scenes.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Was that happening on set at all?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Once?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Okay, So the first time we ever had an intimate
scene together, Brittany and I had brought literally it was
literally one shot each.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
We had this little tiny bottle.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
It was like a little some sort of little tupperware,
and we were in the bathroom getting ready and like
getting all the body makeup put on, and you know,
we were so we were excited and getty and nervous,
and it was more just like, all right, we're choosing
to this.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
We're going for a girl.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And we did a.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Little shot tequila with the scene because we were so nervous,
so just a calmer nerves, and then we went for
it and we're like, oh, this is great, this is
so easy. It's you, It's you and me, babe. Like,
this is how lovely is this? This is amazing?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Well, because of that undeniable chemistry that you share with Brittany,
you have become a queer icon. You've become a queer icon,
and you've earned the title of mother. I mean, you're
up there with Nicole Kidman, Catherine Han cap Chat bring
it baby.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Well okay, so bring it?
Speaker 4 (18:03):
What does that mean?
Speaker 1 (18:04):
What does it like stepping into that kind of cultural
embrace at this stage?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
It's beautiful to be embraced in general, just by anybody,
and to be called mother is an honor.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I get it.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Margo is worthy of that.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
She's quite the character, but also just so happy. You know,
I'm not the spokesperson, but I definitely feel so happy
to be embraced by the queer community and to have
some sort of representation for them, because I feel like
this is a good moment for that and very needed.
This show is not necessarily it's not the L word
(18:41):
going this, here's your gay show. But that's also what
I love about it, because then you have people who
are tuning in who might not have tuned in, and
then might be questioning themselves and might get curious and
might it might open up a lot of doors. So
it's exciting all around, but absolutely honored and happy to
be accepted.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I mean to get an endorsement from the queer community. Yes,
it's baseless, bring it. Do you have any plans for
this new title of yours as mother?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
My queer community is very important to me.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
You know, I was in the modeling world and so
dancing is part of my life and I love you know,
West Hollywood is where you go to dance.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
But yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
It's just it's nothing new. But maybe now I'll wear
a wig when I go out and do Margo.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Oh my gosh, please thank you.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Imagine my husband and I we actually fell in love
at Drag Queen Bingo at Hamburger Mary's.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
So we're very invested in the queer community.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
We love them.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
They just bring a little extra sparkle and shine and
magic to the world.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
So I'll continue to be out there.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
We need to see Margo Banks on a float.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yes, please we go that there.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I'm manifesting that well, moll And you make me really
excited about my forties because you've said that at forty seven,
you finally feel like you're really stepping into yourself. What
do you think has shifted for you in this chapter
of your career and just your personal life and the
way you view yourself.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
It's been a lot of work over the years of
figuring out who I am and what I want. I
like to look at it as like unpacking a suitcase
and pulling pieces out and going, is this mine? Or
is this maybe something that my mom gave me that
I didn't want, don't need and put it over there?
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Is this mine?
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Or is this something that society told me?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Or so it's that unpacking that has happened over many,
many years and not caring as much anymore, truly, because
you know who your people are and you know what
you need from your people, and then the rest is
just chatter. And especially now in this age of social
media and everyone having an opinion, everyone's entitled to their opinion,
(20:50):
but I don't have to take it in and I'm
not going to please everybody.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
And I'm really truly okay with that.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
You know.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I have an incredible husband. I just feel really good
about myself. I do take care of myself mentally, physically.
I just have figured out who I am right now,
and it takes a while to do that. And so
my forties have been I have felt really sexy, and
(21:16):
I have felt really confident and proud of all the
work that I've done on myself and in the world,
and proud of the mother that I am to my son.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
And it's like a lot of.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Growth has happened in my forties, and listening to my
gut has been the biggest one where I was very
scared to do that in my twenties and started to
look at that in my thirties. But I'm excited for
my fifties. I think it only gets better and better.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Us I think so too. Yeah, what do you credit
that growth to?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
I inherently am a curious person as far as I
wanted to become a therapist. I studied psychology at university
only for one year and then acting kind of took off.
But a lot of self help books, just that kind
of that world has always been interesting to me. I
was raised a Buddhist and so just the philosophies within
(22:09):
Buddhism have been really helpful, but absolutely therapy, and that
started later on in life in my thirties, I would say,
and coaching, doing courses on becoming a coach and certified
youth and child development coach, and all of that stuff
has just been the curiosity of people and the mind
(22:29):
and my own inner workings and my own gremlins and
quieting them down and letting you know, the rest of
the positivity sort of shine through and my gut be
louder than anything else. So yeah, a lot of journeying
and being more honest and open and brave enough to
(22:50):
be vulnerable with my friends and asking for help when
I need it, because that I used to feel was
a weakness and now I realize that that's a strength,
and that's brave to go and ask for help from
your friends, your partners, your family, whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
I'm so glad that you brought up your child psychology
work because I think that's my favorite mall. In fact,
I love Malan the actress, but I love that you
have this heart for children and this heart for helping
them articulate their feelings. I read that you were certified
as a youth and child development coach during COVID, Yes,
(23:25):
and that you actually conducted group sessions with boys in
juvenile hall. Yeah, tell me about that.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
So the juvenile hall, So that happened before I was
certified because another friend of mine is a coach. She
has her own company called up Level Productions, and she
trains leaders how to be better leaders and has done
it for like twenty five years. And so she asked me,
she said, I'm going to create a twelve week course.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
For boys in juvenile hall.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Why don't you come and do one weekend course at
my coaching institute so that you like understand it and
I'll build the course and you be my co leader.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
And so we did.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
We went in and we did every Saturday for twelve weeks,
for four hours a day. We go in and work
with these boys and doing a hall and you know,
walking in, we're like, we're coming in to coach you
and like teach you values mining and aligning yourself with that.
And funnily enough, we were the ones who were coached.
I mean, these boys are the most emotionally intelligent humans
(24:25):
I've ever met. You know, they have a lot of
adversities and they have to be street smart. But boy,
when you start getting them to share and seeing them
aligning with their values and speaking to us about what
their lives look like and how we can bring ourselves
together and figure out a way forward. It was just
like magic happened. And then my friend who started this course,
(24:46):
she ended up moving out of LA and so I went,
how am I going to get back in there? I'm
not certified, you know. I can't just walk in and
be like, hey, I just want to talk to the boys.
So I decided to certify myself and have yet to
start building a course and doing all of that again.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
But it's a work in progress, but we'll get there.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
But that is one of the things that makes me
feel the most alive is being in the trenches with
anybody really who just wants to be open and vulnerable
and talk about real things.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Why do you think it makes you feel so alive?
What does it give you? I think it's humans connecting.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
It's seeing and being seen and being curious and discovering things.
It's journeying again, you know, but truly journeying in an
authentic space. We take all our guards down and it
just makes us all feel like we're okay. We're all
experiencing the same thing things. We're all having a human experience.
(25:43):
But a lot of us are taught to put your
best foot forward, put on a happy face, and everything's
good and be positive, and that certainly has been my
motto of my whole life. And I do want to
look for the good things in life, but we also
have to break ourselves down and be real, be transparent,
and otherwise everything just feels shameful and you're going but oh, you're.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Also doing that.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
You also feel that, Oh no, I don't feel as
much shame because that's normal. So I think that's what
I get out of it.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
So you could work with adults. Why do you have
a heart for children.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Because I saw it so much as a child's went
through it myself as a child, growing up with a
parent who struggled with depression her whole life, and it
was really hard because she didn't have the tools to
speak to me about it, and I didn't have the
vocabulary to talk about it or understand. I never spoke
(26:37):
to friends about it. I never It was just kind
of taboo. Mental health wasn't a thing like it is now,
and so I felt lost. I didn't understand if it
was my faults. And I saw other kids who were
struggling at school. I had two friends at school that
took their own lives in high school, and just people struggling,
(27:00):
and I think that children really just don't have the tools,
and all you have are the people that are in
your house. Usually those are your main mentors, and they're
not always well equipped to help you in life. And
so if we could find a way to give every
child a mentor who has the tools to guide them
(27:22):
at least with that kind of stuff, just to give
them vocabulary and tell them it's okay to talk about
things and to talk about feelings and it's not their
fault that their parent is angry right now or.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
But I just have a soft spot because kids are
so vulnerable, and they also have so much opportunity. You know,
we have this opportunity here to plant some really great
seeds so that they can move forward with tools and
get a better chance at it.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Earlier on more from Malin Akerman after this quick break,
and we're back with Malin Akerman. You grew up in
a Swedish households and culture. What does that mean to
you to be Swedish? What's the most Swedish thing about you?
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Meatballs?
Speaker 3 (28:10):
No, the Swedish culture to me is very logical. I
feel like it's quite open minded. I feel like because
we're such a small country. We learn many languages in school.
Right off the bat, we know that if we're going
to go out in the world, nobody speaks Swedish, like
we're a minority, and so when you go out, you're like, Hi,
(28:32):
what is there to learn? Like, what's out here? What's
this language? So there's an inherent curiosity, and I also
feel like there are a lot of things that make
sense to me. Body consciousness. Bodies are natural, they're presented
as a naked body is a.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Natural thing versus a sexual thing.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
You know, growing up, I would be naked and asana
with all sorts of family members and you go skinny,
you know, at the lake and you get in the
side like there was nothing sexualized about it.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
It was just natural.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
So there's an openness with you know, your body, and
which I think translates because people always ask like.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
How do you feel about being naked on set?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
You know, getting into these intimate scenes, and of course
it's uncomfortable. It's not like, oh, I'm Swedish, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Well, you don't have all these like gaffers and grips
watching me.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
It's very, very different when you're on a set and
it's not the day that you jump and jump for joy.
But I also don't feel like it's crazy and wild.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
It's just part of being human.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Is there a Swedish word or concept that can't be
translated that you really love?
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Well, I don't know if I love it, but it's
actually one that there's two that I can think of,
and I don't love either one to be honest with you.
One is logom, which is like it's somewhere in the middle.
You're like, it's, oh, well, I guess you can. I
guess you can say kind of it's just right, it's
just enough, but it's more of a negative connotation like
(30:04):
don't do too just do it.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Log the like just do it.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
It's kind of like trying to just be don't be
better and don't be less, like just melting. And then
the other one, which is in the same vein as
yum the log, which is also like we have this
unspoken rule in Sweden.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Where its yuan the log.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
It's a law that is just be just melt in
like don't be don't think you're better than, or don't
be too much or don't be just just right. Everything's
kind of like, you know, there's a lot of Yeah,
just blend in it, just blend it.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Don't do anything too crazy, exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I mean it sounds like a pretty peaceful society to
live in based off of those rules.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
Yeah, but then you don't get the inspiration and the craziness.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I like people going for it, you.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Know, which can come with a lot of crazy, but
sometimes it's good crazy.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Well, that is something that I think America does well,
this idea of you can be anything you want to be,
You can create whatever business you want to create. Anybody
can be president. And when you travel and talk to
other people, you realize, oh, that's actually not a philosophy
that transfers to other societies.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
No, it's not at all. And that's the beauty of it.
That's why we're here living out our dreams exactly here
we are.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Look at us.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Well, I am so thrilled to see you getting all
your flowers, because, like I said, you have been out
here working girl. And one of my favorite roles of
yours is on the comeback with Lisa Kudrou And I
know that that was your big break in the industry,
and I was thinking as you were coming here today,
it must be so interesting to reflect on that role
(31:40):
now because the character that you played was this young
Angenoux who is kind of disrupting the industry. She's breaking
in and she's essentially dethroning Lisa Kudro's character, who's like
this older actress who's like looking for a comeback, looking
to break back in. It's so layered now considering where
(32:02):
we are and where you are what we were.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Just talking about.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Yes, I was like, it's just a moment, so let's
just calm down. Someone younger and new is waiting for
that to step in it. But there's a What I've
realized is that there's a cycle and that you can,
you know, reinvent yourself over and over and over again.
So it's okay, you can have a moment and it
can disappear. You can reinvent yourself. But yeah, I mean
that it's so true to this business where I keep saying,
(32:28):
you know, that was I'll say this with quotes, like
the easiest role of my life, only because I just
had to emulate real life. They just said, you're this
new young actress coming in and you get to work
with someone that you've idolized your whole life, which I had,
so it's like, oh, so I just have to play
myself because it's Lisa Kudro, Michael Patrick King, Like what
(32:51):
is not to love about this? So it was really
interesting and now looking back, you know, twenty years, just
going wow, this is it is so true.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
This is how this business works.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
They were so onto something with this show, and they
are and they continue to be. So it's exciting that
The Comeback was the beginning for me and they gave
me life in this business.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Is really what happened. But it's kind of meta. It
really is.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
It really is so meta. And we're getting a season
three of The Comeback. Yeah, third and final season. Yeah,
I hear, as of right now, you're not involved?
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Do we have more?
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Oh? I don't know. No, no, no, no, you know
what y'all. It is giving me a coy smile right now.
I have no idea. I know there's a third season.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
I love everyone who's on it.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
I've been in this business long enough to know that smile.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
I'm not gonna say anymore.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Excited for them season three and for all the fans
gonn me great.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Well, I am so excited to see that and also
so excited to see season two of The Hunting Wives.
You have called this role the role of a lifetime
to be able to jump back in and now expand it. Yeah,
what does that mean to you? And what are the
layers that you're hoping to dig into.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
I feel like we've done pretty deep already, but I
am so excited to go back and get to continue
as Margo Banks. I think the excitement comes from the response.
You know, to go back and get to reprieve something
and know that there are fans out there waiting for
us to come back as these characters is so exciting.
Speaker 4 (34:32):
I know that Rebecca's.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Freaking out a bit because she's never written under so
much pressure before.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Yeah, she's like, I've really got to make the fans happy.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
You know. She's the sweetest and I know she'll succeed,
but I really don't know how we top that first season.
That's why I'm not the writer. That's why I'm not
the mastermind mind this. I'll just go play the character.
But I've said that about many shows where just you know,
you finish the season, You're like, that was so good,
how are they going to make it as good or better?
(35:00):
And they succeed. So I have faith that Rebecca will
do something great with this next season.
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Have you seen any scripts yet?
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Nahing yet? I mean, the poor thing she's it just
got announced. We need them now and usually get like a.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Five month writer's room, but we start in November already,
so she's you know, she's hustling right now, just to
give the fans a summer release.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
That's what they want, that's what they get.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
Well, Malin, I love to end each episode by asking
each guest, what are you celebrating right now?
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Oh my gosh, right now, I'm going to continue to
celebrate this season, to pickup and the success of this show.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Because it feels really at.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
The surface of everything. It's what's bubbling on top. So yeah,
I'm going to write it for a minute.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
Yeah you deserve it. Thank you, Thank you, Molan, thanks
so much.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Malin Ackerman is a Swedish Canadian actor catcher right now
in Netflix's The Hunting Wives. Before we wrap today's episode,
I wanted to take a minute to share a little
parenting hack brought to you by Microsoft. I have shared
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(36:15):
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(36:59):
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(37:21):
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Speaker 4 (37:56):
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Speaker 1 (38:04):
The bright Side is a production of Hello, Sunshine and
iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and
me Simone Boyce. Production is by a Cast Creative Studios.
Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, Abby Delk, and
Darby Masters. Our production assistant is Joya putnoy Acasts executive
(38:24):
producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen Polo and
Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
For Hello Sunshine.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Ali Perry and Lauren Hansen are the executive producers for
iHeart podcasts. Our theme song is by Anna Stump and
Hamilton lighthauser
Before we get into today's episode, we have an announcement
to make The time is almost here, folks, come join
me and the brightest female founders, thinkers, and creatives at Shinaway.
If you've been, you know Shinaway is more than just
an event. And if you haven't been yet, what are
you waiting for? It is a two day celebration that
invites you to step into a world of joy, depth
(00:20):
and discovery. The lineup is out now and I cannot
wait to see all my faves like Morning Show star
Karen Pittman, Power Pause author Naha Rouche. And I'll also
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and reading along with Reese's book Club, get ready to
go behind the scenes with authors like Rainbow Rowl and
(00:41):
Temby Lock. It's all going down October eleventh and twelfth
in Los Angeles and tickets are selling fast.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
So get here is now today.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
On the bright Side, Malin Ackerman is here. She's the
star of the Netflix series we can't stop talking about
The Hunting Wives. We're getting into her undeniable Chemist Street
with co star Britney Snow. We'll learn how they hype
each other up to film the show's most intimate scenes,
and you'll hear why forty seven is Mollin's best year yet.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I have felt really sexy, and I have felt really
confident and proud of all the work that I've done
on myself and in the world, and proud of the
mother that I am to my son. And it's like
a lot of growth has happened in my forties.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
I'm simoone voice, and this is the bright side. From
Hello Sunshine, From iconic rom coms like The Proposal and
twenty seven Dresses to the bingeworthy Netflix series The Hunting Wives,
Malin Ackerman has proven there's nothing she can't do. I've
been watching Mollin light up the screen for years, but
until today, I never truly understood the source of that
(01:48):
deep well of emotion that she draws from. So you're
about to hear it all how she made it, from
her breakout role in the two thousand and five comedy
The Comeback, through Motherhood, career, dry Spells, and heartbreak, to
now stepping into her newest chapter as a queer icon
with her fearless turn as Margo Banks in The Hunting Wives.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
This is Malin Ackerman. Like you've never heard her before, y'all.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
She is unfiltered, radiant, and unmistakably in her prime.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
So let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Malin Ackerman, Welcome to the bright Side.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I'm so happy to have you. You have had quite
the year, lady, Yes, ma'am, I sure have. I mean,
your twenty.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Twenty five is on fire, The Hunting Wives exploding on Netflix.
You presented at the VMA's the Emmys. I know that
you've been in the industry for decades because I remember
being an entertainment reporter, like a baby entertainment reporter, and
starting out and just seeing you everywhere and I was like, Wow,
she's just like she's doing it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
She's working so much, she's everything.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
But how does it feel to show up to these
events now as the star of a hit show of
this magnitude.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
It's pretty wild.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Wild has been at the top of my vocabulary lately,
because that really is what it feels like. I've, like
you said, I've been in this business a long time.
I've never experienced anything quite like it. And it's really fun,
it's really really exciting and I'm so happy because we
love this show so much, everyone who worked on it,
(03:21):
so to see everyone else enjoying it as much as
we did and do is just fantastic. And we said
at the end of shooting season one, we all were
keeping our fingers crossed to saying, you know, all we
want is just a season two because we just want
to keep working together. But you know, as much as
this moment is fantastic and lovely, it's a moment and
(03:43):
we all know Hollywood, and the moment's come and go,
and so I'm basking in it for right now and
I'm loving it and it's wonderful and I hope it
leads to more seasons and maybe some other new fun jobs,
but it comes and goes. So you know, I'm not
trying to be too attached to it.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
That's real wisdom right there. Well, it's been in it
for a while.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yes, completely, Yeah, Well, we can all let out a
big cyb of relief at least for now because we
know that The Hunting Wives has been picked up for
season two.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yes, and that just.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Felt like a no brainer with the outpouring of support
that the show has gotten. But I'm so curious how
did the role of Margo Banks come to you? And
more specifically, where were you in your life and professional
life when this role landed on your desk.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I was in the point in my professional life at
a bit of a standstill right after the strike. It
was a bit stagnant for most of my friends who
are in the industry.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We all were kind of texting each other going are
you working?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
No? Are you what's happening? And so it was a
bit of a.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Weird and concerning moment.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
And as an actor, you know, you never have a
steady job and so you always think this is it,
Like this is I'm done, Like I'm done, I'm not
relevant anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
This is it.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You know, new kids are coming in and that's it out.
So it was a really weird time and I just
felt like I really need a little boost. I need
something that's really great to come along, and boom in
came the Hunting Live scripts. And I say scripts because
normally you're sent a pilot, like the first episode, and
that's all you get, and then you just they promise
(05:18):
you the world and you hope that that's what you
get with a character, and you just never know. But
this was all eight episodes fell into my inbox. I
was in Sweden actually promoting a Swedish movie. It was
around Christmas time. My husband was flying in the next
day I started reading it and loved the character of Margo.
Was a little concerned about many things within the script.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You know, really, yeah, I can't imagine why.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I mean, listen, finally enough, it wasn't really all the
intimate stuff. It was just more like the politics of
it and all these.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Topics that are very hot button topics.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
I just thought, okay, I have to really take a
moment and go what is this, what are we saying?
And how do I feel about it? And the more
I read, I just went, oh, okay, I see what
this is. This is brilliant and it's tongue in cheek
and it's just an incredible environment and an incredible character.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
So I had my husband read it.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
So what do you think they could give me your
honest opinion with it? Four episode? Reading four episodes, you
just went, are you kidding me? Why are you even doubting?
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You have to do this? It's tailor made for you,
which is also.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Concerning when someone says Margo Banks is tailor made for you,
but he then explained, you know, I think it's just
a nice way to showcase all your talents. So that
was really lovely of him to say, But it's true.
I think this character of Margo Banks is just so
multi dimensional and so juicy and nuanced and fun, and
(06:44):
really trying to keep her grounded and not become a
caricature of something right was the challenge, Right, keep it,
keep it real as much as you can within this
wild world.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
One of my favorite ways to get to know a
character is by asking this question, Yeah, what do you.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Think Margo Banks's dating profile would say?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Well, it would probably be something along the lines of
I like to do whatever the fuck I want to do,
and if you want to come on this wild ride
with me, then click.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
So I don't know, what do you do? Swipe right,
swipe left. Yes, you know, I think she'd be pretty straightforward.
There's no beating around the bush for that woman.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
She's so messy and magnetic and charismatic and complicated. And
you said that she's one of your favorite characters to play.
Why is that what made her so irresistible to you?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I guess there's the freedom in her that we all
want to live vicariously through. I mean, she makes bad choices,
don't get me wrong, terrible choices, but the fun bits
of her are just so intoxicating, and I loved playing that,
you know.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
But I also think that.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
For me, it's just the different layers of Margo Banks
that are super interesting building that character and going right.
You know, she comes from this She is really a survivor,
and the survival skills in this woman are top notch.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
She's a master manipulator.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So it's a lot of fun to play all these
different nuances of a person. But I do think that
the most exciting bit is just the freedom that she has.
And I feel like all of us wish we could
just say like I want to do whatever the fuck
I want, you know, and go do it.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
She seems like a person who really doesn't care what
other people think. Yeah, And as much as I want
to convince myself that I'm that way, I don't know.
I don't know that I am.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
We all try, we all say it out loud, and
we're like, I don't really care, but we do because
we're human and we all want to be seen and
we all want to be accepted. But I think the
fine line there is who do we want to be
seen by? And who do we want to be accepted by?
And let's be careful picking that because we're not not
everyone ever is going to like everything that we have
to say or what we do, and that's an acceptance
(09:07):
in and of itself.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
And I think Margo caras too.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Of course she does, but she just makes us feel
like she's free as a bird.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Some people are better at hiding it than others, exactly well,
I think the reaction to the show is so fascinating
and it kind of lets us in on who we've
become as people, and like where we are as consumers
and what we want because I mean, the Hollywood Reporter
calls it a deliciously trashy drama. Even the creator, Rebecca Cutter,
(09:37):
referred to it as anti prestige. It does feel like
this rejection of some of the more I don't know,
pretentious prestige dramas. What do you think that says about
what audiences want?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Dependulum always swings right.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
So Prestige came in, and I love myself a good
prestige show. I love all these beautiful shows that have come.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Out, and you've been in them.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
You were in.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Billions is a great example.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
But I do think once one thing hits, everyone wants
to do the same thing and get that hit show
in that vein, you know, and then we get an
abundance of that, and then all of a sudden, when
you get something that's so off kilter, like The Hunting Wives,
that's so unexpected because everything else has been chasing this
prestige thing that's been going on, it hits like a
(10:22):
breath of fresh air. Yeah, and really, I mean I
think the other thing was there's a few factors to
the hit of this show, and that is for when
it was meant to be on Stars. So we made
it as a Stars show, which is a little bit
more salacious than most networks. And so when it cut
to Netflix, I think it was quite shocking. I mean,
they didn't censor any of it, which I'm so glad
(10:44):
they didn't, and they shouldn't because we're all adults there
too on Netflix.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
But I just feel like.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
There were things that maybe you would expect when you
turn on Stars, that you didn't expect when you turn
on Netflix.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
And that was fun.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Well, one of the reasons why the show works is
because your chemistry with Britney Snow is just electric and
you'd think that you two were best of friends for years.
But I mean that's the magic of finding the right
collaborators right and finding the right performers. I read that
you didn't even do a chemistry reader, there was none
of that development beforehand.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
What do you credit that chemistry too?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Well, first, I have to take my hat off to
the casting director who went these two, put these two together,
and like has obviously met us throughout the years and
been through a lot of different auditions and projects. But
I think that we got really lucky as well that
we did hit it off, because yeah, without a chemistry read,
(11:41):
I was very nervous. I mean I had seen Brittany
once in passing at a party, so I couldn't tell
you anything about her. I just knew that she was
in the same circles as I was. So I thought,
all right, well that's good. I mean, these are good
people that I was with, and yeah, so hopefully she's
good people too. And we all landed in Charlotte. She
(12:01):
and I just said, all right, we got a lot
of things to do in this show, so why don't
we go out for dinner and just get to know
each other a little bit, and that one dinner solidified.
It was like that first date night where we were
just like, oh, this is.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Going to work.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
We have so many similarities and such an interesting history
both of us. It all just resonated. And she's so
easy to get along with. She wears her heart on
her sleeve. I mean, she's one of my many best friends.
But I just adore her as a human being, as
a woman, as an actress. So yeah, we were lucky
(12:37):
that we hit it off, and not just us, but
the whole gang, all the women. We all hung out
every single weekend, every single night when we could. I mean,
we couldn't get enough of each other.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
I really believe that the right collaboration can change you
as a performer and as creative. What have you gained
from this experience of collaborating with her and the entire cast.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Well, when you go in two roles, you either trustfall
or you don't. And that trustfall only happens if you
feel like you have collaborators who will hold the space
for you and going into scenes that are so vulnerable.
If you don't have the right collaborator, then you're not
going to give you all because you just you don't
(13:20):
feel safe enough to do that. You don't feel like
your partner's going to catch you. But that wasn't the
case in there, and that's all around from the top up,
from Rebecca Cutter to our directors, to Britney to everybody
who was around supporting. It was such a great set
that we went, Okay, I feel like I can trust
(13:42):
this process. I feel like I can trust you. Let's
just jump in headfirst. And that does make a difference
in your performance. I've had the opposite where I've had
to go into performance where you're going, do.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
You want to see me fail?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Because this is just an I'm just feeling like this
is all Often I don't trust you at all. I'm
doing a bad job because I'm just in my head.
So definitely made a huge difference to have Brittany.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
We've got to take a short break, but we'll be
right back with Malin Ackerman. When you show up to
a set at this stage in your career, do you
feel like you've been able to let go of some
of those insecurities that younger Malin might have brought to side.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
God, yeah, I mean just on set and in life.
My people pleasing was out of control when I was younger. Yes,
it was my answer because I didn't want to ever
disappoint anyone or make anyone mad. Now I try to
lead with no just go let me just think about
it for a second. Is this something that I really
want or don't want? But yeah, I think of course.
(14:44):
I mean I didn't know then what I do now.
And the more it's a muscle, the more you do it,
the more your body sort of understands what you're doing
and how to access certain parts of yourself, and the
more experience you have in life that bleeds into your performances.
And becoming a mother was a huge one, and going
through a divorce was another milestone that just affected me
(15:06):
in different ways in different parts of my body that
I now have access to that I didn't when I
was twenty. So, you know, life experiences and work experiences
they build you and make.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
You what you are, especially in this craft. Right.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
I think it's so insane that for years we tried
to act like an actress's expiration date was what thirty
forty before she even has life experience.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
It's crazy, Like, I just I'm so happy that I'm
living in a time now where that's not the case.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
You know, it's all just changed so much.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I remember a director saying when I was in my
twenties and I had gotten a role and they the
director had said, you know, yes, so and so was
really after this role, but she had just had a
baby and no one wants to see her naked anymore.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
And I just I just went, oh, is that how
it works? No idea?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
She was early thirties and that was that such a
big statements that I think about often. That doesn't ring
true anymore, which is fantastic. I mean, Margo Banks is
a good example of that. I'm a forty seven year
old woman who's had a child, and you know, it
seems like some people want to see that.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Still, Yeah, she's hot.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
So I just feel like it's a different time for
women and I'm very happy about that, and not just
about getting naked, but just that the roles are more
developed and just as women we become older and it
doesn't have to just be woman. Anybody who's in this
business with the experience that you get. My stepdad's an
architect and he I remember him saying to me when
(16:38):
I was younger, he said, you know, I don't understand
why people want to retire when they're sixty five. When
you're in a creative business, you're just hitting your peak
at that point.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
You just He's like, I'm getting better and better as
I go. And I think that's true of all artistic avenues.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
And hopefully we have many peaks.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Okay, let me fact check something that I read Tequila
shots before sex scenes.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Was that happening on set at all?
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Once?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Okay, So the first time we ever had an intimate
scene together, Brittany and I had brought literally it was
literally one shot each.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
We had this little tiny bottle.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
It was like a little some sort of little tupperware,
and we were in the bathroom getting ready and like
getting all the body makeup put on, and you know,
we were so we were excited and getty and nervous,
and it was more just like, all right, we're choosing
to this.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
We're going for a girl.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
And we did a.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Little shot tequila with the scene because we were so nervous,
so just a calmer nerves, and then we went for
it and we're like, oh, this is great, this is
so easy. It's you, It's you and me, babe. Like,
this is how lovely is this? This is amazing?
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Well, because of that undeniable chemistry that you share with Brittany,
you have become a queer icon. You've become a queer icon,
and you've earned the title of mother. I mean, you're
up there with Nicole Kidman, Catherine Han cap Chat bring
it baby.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Well okay, so bring it?
Speaker 4 (18:03):
What does that mean?
Speaker 1 (18:04):
What does it like stepping into that kind of cultural
embrace at this stage?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
It's beautiful to be embraced in general, just by anybody,
and to be called mother is an honor.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
I get it.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Margo is worthy of that.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
She's quite the character, but also just so happy. You know,
I'm not the spokesperson, but I definitely feel so happy
to be embraced by the queer community and to have
some sort of representation for them, because I feel like
this is a good moment for that and very needed.
This show is not necessarily it's not the L word
(18:41):
going this, here's your gay show. But that's also what
I love about it, because then you have people who
are tuning in who might not have tuned in, and
then might be questioning themselves and might get curious and
might it might open up a lot of doors. So
it's exciting all around, but absolutely honored and happy to
be accepted.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I mean to get an endorsement from the queer community. Yes,
it's baseless, bring it. Do you have any plans for
this new title of yours as mother?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
My queer community is very important to me.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
You know, I was in the modeling world and so
dancing is part of my life and I love you know,
West Hollywood is where you go to dance.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
But yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
It's just it's nothing new. But maybe now I'll wear
a wig when I go out and do Margo.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Oh my gosh, please thank you.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Imagine my husband and I we actually fell in love
at Drag Queen Bingo at Hamburger Mary's.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
So we're very invested in the queer community.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
We love them.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
They just bring a little extra sparkle and shine and
magic to the world.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
So I'll continue to be out there.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
We need to see Margo Banks on a float.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yes, please we go that there.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I'm manifesting that well, moll And you make me really
excited about my forties because you've said that at forty seven,
you finally feel like you're really stepping into yourself. What
do you think has shifted for you in this chapter
of your career and just your personal life and the
way you view yourself.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
It's been a lot of work over the years of
figuring out who I am and what I want. I
like to look at it as like unpacking a suitcase
and pulling pieces out and going, is this mine? Or
is this maybe something that my mom gave me that
I didn't want, don't need and put it over there?
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Is this mine?
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Or is this something that society told me?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Or so it's that unpacking that has happened over many,
many years and not caring as much anymore, truly, because
you know who your people are and you know what
you need from your people, and then the rest is
just chatter. And especially now in this age of social
media and everyone having an opinion, everyone's entitled to their opinion,
(20:50):
but I don't have to take it in and I'm
not going to please everybody.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
And I'm really truly okay with that.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
You know.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I have an incredible husband. I just feel really good
about myself. I do take care of myself mentally, physically.
I just have figured out who I am right now,
and it takes a while to do that. And so
my forties have been I have felt really sexy, and
(21:16):
I have felt really confident and proud of all the
work that I've done on myself and in the world,
and proud of the mother that I am to my son.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
And it's like a lot of.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Growth has happened in my forties, and listening to my
gut has been the biggest one where I was very
scared to do that in my twenties and started to
look at that in my thirties. But I'm excited for
my fifties. I think it only gets better and better.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Us I think so too. Yeah, what do you credit
that growth to?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
I inherently am a curious person as far as I
wanted to become a therapist. I studied psychology at university
only for one year and then acting kind of took off.
But a lot of self help books, just that kind
of that world has always been interesting to me. I
was raised a Buddhist and so just the philosophies within
(22:09):
Buddhism have been really helpful, but absolutely therapy, and that
started later on in life in my thirties, I would say,
and coaching, doing courses on becoming a coach and certified
youth and child development coach, and all of that stuff
has just been the curiosity of people and the mind
(22:29):
and my own inner workings and my own gremlins and
quieting them down and letting you know, the rest of
the positivity sort of shine through and my gut be
louder than anything else. So yeah, a lot of journeying
and being more honest and open and brave enough to
(22:50):
be vulnerable with my friends and asking for help when
I need it, because that I used to feel was
a weakness and now I realize that that's a strength,
and that's brave to go and ask for help from
your friends, your partners, your family, whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
I'm so glad that you brought up your child psychology
work because I think that's my favorite mall. In fact,
I love Malan the actress, but I love that you
have this heart for children and this heart for helping
them articulate their feelings. I read that you were certified
as a youth and child development coach during COVID, Yes,
(23:25):
and that you actually conducted group sessions with boys in
juvenile hall. Yeah, tell me about that.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
So the juvenile hall, So that happened before I was
certified because another friend of mine is a coach. She
has her own company called up Level Productions, and she
trains leaders how to be better leaders and has done
it for like twenty five years. And so she asked me,
she said, I'm going to create a twelve week course.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
For boys in juvenile hall.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Why don't you come and do one weekend course at
my coaching institute so that you like understand it and
I'll build the course and you be my co leader.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
And so we did.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
We went in and we did every Saturday for twelve weeks,
for four hours a day. We go in and work
with these boys and doing a hall and you know,
walking in, we're like, we're coming in to coach you
and like teach you values mining and aligning yourself with that.
And funnily enough, we were the ones who were coached.
I mean, these boys are the most emotionally intelligent humans
(24:25):
I've ever met. You know, they have a lot of
adversities and they have to be street smart. But boy,
when you start getting them to share and seeing them
aligning with their values and speaking to us about what
their lives look like and how we can bring ourselves
together and figure out a way forward. It was just
like magic happened. And then my friend who started this course,
(24:46):
she ended up moving out of LA and so I went,
how am I going to get back in there? I'm
not certified, you know. I can't just walk in and
be like, hey, I just want to talk to the boys.
So I decided to certify myself and have yet to
start building a course and doing all of that again.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
But it's a work in progress, but we'll get there.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
But that is one of the things that makes me
feel the most alive is being in the trenches with
anybody really who just wants to be open and vulnerable
and talk about real things.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Why do you think it makes you feel so alive?
What does it give you? I think it's humans connecting.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
It's seeing and being seen and being curious and discovering things.
It's journeying again, you know, but truly journeying in an
authentic space. We take all our guards down and it
just makes us all feel like we're okay. We're all
experiencing the same thing things. We're all having a human experience.
(25:43):
But a lot of us are taught to put your
best foot forward, put on a happy face, and everything's
good and be positive, and that certainly has been my
motto of my whole life. And I do want to
look for the good things in life, but we also
have to break ourselves down and be real, be transparent,
and otherwise everything just feels shameful and you're going but oh, you're.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Also doing that.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
You also feel that, Oh no, I don't feel as
much shame because that's normal. So I think that's what
I get out of it.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
So you could work with adults. Why do you have
a heart for children.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
Because I saw it so much as a child's went
through it myself as a child, growing up with a
parent who struggled with depression her whole life, and it
was really hard because she didn't have the tools to
speak to me about it, and I didn't have the
vocabulary to talk about it or understand. I never spoke
(26:37):
to friends about it. I never It was just kind
of taboo. Mental health wasn't a thing like it is now,
and so I felt lost. I didn't understand if it
was my faults. And I saw other kids who were
struggling at school. I had two friends at school that
took their own lives in high school, and just people struggling,
(27:00):
and I think that children really just don't have the tools,
and all you have are the people that are in
your house. Usually those are your main mentors, and they're
not always well equipped to help you in life. And
so if we could find a way to give every
child a mentor who has the tools to guide them
(27:22):
at least with that kind of stuff, just to give
them vocabulary and tell them it's okay to talk about
things and to talk about feelings and it's not their
fault that their parent is angry right now or.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
But I just have a soft spot because kids are
so vulnerable, and they also have so much opportunity. You know,
we have this opportunity here to plant some really great
seeds so that they can move forward with tools and
get a better chance at it.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Earlier on more from Malin Akerman after this quick break,
and we're back with Malin Akerman. You grew up in
a Swedish households and culture. What does that mean to
you to be Swedish? What's the most Swedish thing about you?
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Meatballs?
Speaker 3 (28:10):
No, the Swedish culture to me is very logical. I
feel like it's quite open minded. I feel like because
we're such a small country. We learn many languages in school.
Right off the bat, we know that if we're going
to go out in the world, nobody speaks Swedish, like
we're a minority, and so when you go out, you're like, Hi,
(28:32):
what is there to learn? Like, what's out here? What's
this language? So there's an inherent curiosity, and I also
feel like there are a lot of things that make
sense to me. Body consciousness. Bodies are natural, they're presented
as a naked body is a.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Natural thing versus a sexual thing.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
You know, growing up, I would be naked and asana
with all sorts of family members and you go skinny,
you know, at the lake and you get in the
side like there was nothing sexualized about it.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
It was just natural.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
So there's an openness with you know, your body, and
which I think translates because people always ask like.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
How do you feel about being naked on set?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
You know, getting into these intimate scenes, and of course
it's uncomfortable. It's not like, oh, I'm Swedish, it's fine.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Well, you don't have all these like gaffers and grips
watching me.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
It's very, very different when you're on a set and
it's not the day that you jump and jump for joy.
But I also don't feel like it's crazy and wild.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
It's just part of being human.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Is there a Swedish word or concept that can't be
translated that you really love?
Speaker 3 (29:43):
Well, I don't know if I love it, but it's
actually one that there's two that I can think of,
and I don't love either one to be honest with you.
One is logom, which is like it's somewhere in the middle.
You're like, it's, oh, well, I guess you can. I
guess you can say kind of it's just right, it's
just enough, but it's more of a negative connotation like
(30:04):
don't do too just do it.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Log the like just do it.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
It's kind of like trying to just be don't be
better and don't be less, like just melting. And then
the other one, which is in the same vein as
yum the log, which is also like we have this
unspoken rule in Sweden.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Where its yuan the log.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
It's a law that is just be just melt in
like don't be don't think you're better than, or don't
be too much or don't be just just right. Everything's
kind of like, you know, there's a lot of Yeah,
just blend in it, just blend it.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Don't do anything too crazy, exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I mean it sounds like a pretty peaceful society to
live in based off of those rules.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
Yeah, but then you don't get the inspiration and the craziness.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
I like people going for it, you.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Know, which can come with a lot of crazy, but
sometimes it's good crazy.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
Well, that is something that I think America does well,
this idea of you can be anything you want to be,
You can create whatever business you want to create. Anybody
can be president. And when you travel and talk to
other people, you realize, oh, that's actually not a philosophy
that transfers to other societies.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
No, it's not at all. And that's the beauty of it.
That's why we're here living out our dreams exactly here
we are.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
Look at us.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Well, I am so thrilled to see you getting all
your flowers, because, like I said, you have been out
here working girl. And one of my favorite roles of
yours is on the comeback with Lisa Kudrou And I
know that that was your big break in the industry,
and I was thinking as you were coming here today,
it must be so interesting to reflect on that role
(31:40):
now because the character that you played was this young
Angenoux who is kind of disrupting the industry. She's breaking
in and she's essentially dethroning Lisa Kudro's character, who's like
this older actress who's like looking for a comeback, looking
to break back in. It's so layered now considering where
(32:02):
we are and where you are what we were.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Just talking about.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Yes, I was like, it's just a moment, so let's
just calm down. Someone younger and new is waiting for
that to step in it. But there's a What I've
realized is that there's a cycle and that you can,
you know, reinvent yourself over and over and over again.
So it's okay, you can have a moment and it
can disappear. You can reinvent yourself. But yeah, I mean
that it's so true to this business where I keep saying,
(32:28):
you know, that was I'll say this with quotes, like
the easiest role of my life, only because I just
had to emulate real life. They just said, you're this
new young actress coming in and you get to work
with someone that you've idolized your whole life, which I had,
so it's like, oh, so I just have to play
myself because it's Lisa Kudro, Michael Patrick King, Like what
(32:51):
is not to love about this? So it was really
interesting and now looking back, you know, twenty years, just
going wow, this is it is so true.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
This is how this business works.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
They were so onto something with this show, and they
are and they continue to be. So it's exciting that
The Comeback was the beginning for me and they gave
me life in this business.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
Is really what happened. But it's kind of meta. It
really is.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
It really is so meta. And we're getting a season
three of The Comeback. Yeah, third and final season. Yeah,
I hear, as of right now, you're not involved?
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Do we have more?
Speaker 1 (33:30):
Oh? I don't know. No, no, no, no, you know
what y'all. It is giving me a coy smile right now.
I have no idea. I know there's a third season.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
I love everyone who's on it.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
I've been in this business long enough to know that smile.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
I'm not gonna say anymore.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Excited for them season three and for all the fans
gonn me great.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
Well, I am so excited to see that and also
so excited to see season two of The Hunting Wives.
You have called this role the role of a lifetime
to be able to jump back in and now expand it. Yeah,
what does that mean to you? And what are the
layers that you're hoping to dig into.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
I feel like we've done pretty deep already, but I
am so excited to go back and get to continue
as Margo Banks. I think the excitement comes from the response.
You know, to go back and get to reprieve something
and know that there are fans out there waiting for
us to come back as these characters is so exciting.
Speaker 4 (34:32):
I know that Rebecca's.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Freaking out a bit because she's never written under so
much pressure before.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Yeah, she's like, I've really got to make the fans happy.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
You know. She's the sweetest and I know she'll succeed,
but I really don't know how we top that first season.
That's why I'm not the writer. That's why I'm not
the mastermind mind this. I'll just go play the character.
But I've said that about many shows where just you know,
you finish the season, You're like, that was so good,
how are they going to make it as good or better?
(35:00):
And they succeed. So I have faith that Rebecca will
do something great with this next season.
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Have you seen any scripts yet?
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Nahing yet? I mean, the poor thing she's it just
got announced. We need them now and usually get like a.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Five month writer's room, but we start in November already,
so she's you know, she's hustling right now, just to
give the fans a summer release.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
That's what they want, that's what they get.
Speaker 1 (35:23):
Well, Malin, I love to end each episode by asking
each guest, what are you celebrating right now?
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Oh my gosh, right now, I'm going to continue to
celebrate this season, to pickup and the success of this show.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Because it feels really at.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
The surface of everything. It's what's bubbling on top. So yeah,
I'm going to write it for a minute.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
Yeah you deserve it. Thank you, Thank you, Molan, thanks
so much.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Malin Ackerman is a Swedish Canadian actor catcher right now
in Netflix's The Hunting Wives. Before we wrap today's episode,
I wanted to take a minute to share a little
parenting hack brought to you by Microsoft. I have shared
quite a bit of my parenting journey with you on
this podcast, and one thing I didn't expect when I
became a mom, was the constant buzz of background worry.
(36:15):
My boys are four and five now, and it's just
the rumination over how they're doing, what they're doing, and
if I'm doing the right things to support them. This
is the constant inner monologue that I face. When they
were younger, it was things like are they going to
fall off the monkey bars? Did they eat enough vegetables? Today?
Have I given them too much sugar? Definitely guilty of that. Well,
(36:38):
now they're a little older and we've graduated from the
monkey bars to full blown rock climbing walls, and my
anxieties have evolved too. As my kids begin to reach
for phones and computers, my worries have shifted into the
digital space. I catch myself wondering is that game download harmless?
Or is it opening a door to a scary virus?
(36:59):
Could their personal information be out there before they even
get their driver's licenses? And as a journalist who's covered
a lot of cybersecurity issues, I know that these aren't
far fetched scenarios. It can feel overwhelming, especially as a parent.
That's why I started leaning on Microsoft Defender. It's one
app that works across our devices, and it quietly does
(37:21):
the work I can't always do myself, flagging suspicious links,
blocking shady downloads, scanning for threats, even watching out for
signs of identity theft. For me, it's not about being
a perfect parent or locking my kids out of the Internet.
It's about feeling like I have backup. Defender takes some
of that invisible weight off my shoulders so I can
(37:42):
spend less time worrying and more time just being present
and enjoying watching them grow up. Because at the end
of the day, that's what mindful parenting looks like. Knowing
where to focus your energy and having tools that help
you protect.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
What matters most.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
To learn more, visit Microsoft three dot com.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
Slash Defender.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
The bright Side is a production of Hello, Sunshine and
iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and
me Simone Boyce. Production is by a Cast Creative Studios.
Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, Abby Delk, and
Darby Masters. Our production assistant is Joya putnoy Acasts executive
(38:24):
producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen Polo and
Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
For Hello Sunshine.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
Ali Perry and Lauren Hansen are the executive producers for
iHeart podcasts. Our theme song is by Anna Stump and
Hamilton lighthauser
Host
Simone Boyce
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