June 7, 2024 • 42 mins
Maya Erskine sits on the the TV Topics couch to discuss her work on Mr. & Mrs. Smith, PEN15 and of course, some TV Topics.
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(00:03):
Hey, where's the remote? It's time for TV Topics, where
those who love television discuss the series and
performances that should be on your radar.
Welcome back to TV Topics. I'm your host Stephen
Krasikowski. Hanging out today on the TV
Topics couch is an actress who revisited all the awkwardness of
(00:24):
growing up as a 13 year old version of herself, and Hulu's
10/15 was a very animated sword master in Netflix's Blue Eye
Samurai. Most recently, she's been
dealing with everything that being a spy and being in a
relationship can throw at you inPrime Videos Mr. And Misses
Smith. Of course.
(00:44):
I'm talking about the great MayaErskine.
Hi, I'm Maya Erskine and today I'm hanging out with Steven
Prusikowski on TV Topics. Welcome to the show, Maya, and
we're going to get into your work about Mr. and Missus Smith
in a few minutes. But first we'll talk some TV
topics. There's no pressure here, no
right or wrong answers. It's just just a bit of fun.
OK, So my first question, what has your relationship with TV
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been looking back over the yearswhere you're ATV junkie who
watches everything, where you'revery selective?
I was ATV junkie a bit because Iremember I wasn't really allowed
to watch that much. So I would like run into my
parents bedroom and sit right under the TV with my finger like
ready to turn it off as soon as they walked in.
So I I would watch snippets of things, but as a family we would
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watch The Simpsons. Like that was our treat after
dinner together. And I got into like sex and the
city at a really young age because my mom's friend worked.
She was part of the foreign press for Golden Globes, so she
had all these videotapes of likeHBO shows and things like that.
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So I would get those old tapes and I just started watching them
and and kind of started binging from an early age.
Maybe a little bit of early education, I guess.
What age were you when you did watch this I.
Think I was young. I mean, I think 'cause what, it
was 1999 or I'm not sure when itcame out, but I, I definitely
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got in trouble with other friends parents because I would
bring the tapes and we'd watch it and, you know, and I was such
an innocent prude and like, sometimes the friends would be
doing other things, but I got introuble for showing, you know,
Sex and the City to my friends. Yeah, with my daughters, you
know, we have things playing andnow they're, you know, they're
getting older, but we'd always have things playing.
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And you wonder what do they grasp?
And my wife's like, we gotta turn this off.
I'm like, they don't understand any of these words.
It's all, you know, it's all make, you know, made-up
language. And then there's a few dozen
between. So I think we get get away with
it, but always curious like fromthe other perspective.
My brother said, 'cause he was introduced to, like, movies at a
young age, and sometimes, you know, classrooms would show you
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movies that were probably, like,very mature for that age or
pretty violent. And I think he had watched, I
don't know, my dad got really mad, but I think he had watched
Platoon or, I don't know, something.
But yeah, he was like 8 or or seven.
My my father would, we would be watching things like Friday the
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13th and it's still kind of likeit's still I, I need therapy for
it today. It's still like one of those
things, like I shouldn't have been watching that.
I should have been watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, you
know, things like that. But.
Right, but it got you into movies and TV.
It's what probably heard you into a cinephile.
Yeah, so I I too was ATV junkie growing up and I too watched
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probably some things that I shouldn't have watched.
And I think that, like with my parents, occasionally we would
accidentally watch something that I shouldn't have watched
because of the whole immigrant parents situation.
So. So that makes me laugh looking
back. But this is gonna be a hell of a
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transition. But Speaking of laughter, do you
personally have a show that makes you laugh a lot?
It's like a comfort show. It's something you always go
back to, something you put on ifyou need to pick me up.
Yeah, I mean, there's a couple if I need to feel comforted,
like the office is something that I'll go back to just
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because it can feel like very familial and familiar, and it
feels like, yeah, just old friends that I can come back to.
I would also watch Getting On, which is like, you know, I think
it was only two seasons, but it's brilliant.
And that just is so good. What else do I watch?
I mean, I guess that for laughter.
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I'm sure more will come up sometimes Seinfeld, but I'm not
like a like, I never saw all of them.
So I'm just getting more into it.
Yeah, there may be more that popup in my head.
That's a good choice. Yeah.
It's great when you have those classics that you can go to that
are new to you. You know, everyone else is like
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run through the whole list and you're like, oh wait, I've never
seen this one so. Yeah, it's great.
And I want to like get into Frasier.
Like they're just some sitcoms that I, I didn't watch but I
know are supposed to be the best.
So I gotta I gotta get into those.
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, what's the last show
that made you cry? Or one that touched you the
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most, if you recall. I mean, I'm more in the I've
been watching more movies latelyand less TV actually, because
there's just been so much TV. But the last TV show that made
me cry, I rewatched The Sopranos, but I don't know if I
cried watching that. It might have been like Terrace
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House make an emotional scene. I'm also pregnant so I'm
hormonal so like random things will make me cry.
I don't. I wouldn't say it was because of
like something very poignant. Congratulations.
Thank you. Is this is this your second
child or? Second, yeah.
Yes, fantastic. I, I, I'm a father of two, two
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daughters, two wonderful daughters.
So Two's a good number. Are they?
About 2 1/2. Oh, perfect.
Yeah. Which seems to be like the age
when you like, forget that diapers were terrible and this
was terrible and this was terrible.
But then as soon as that, that new, you know, child is in your
house and that bonding starts happening.
And like, they are, I say to my wife all the time, my gosh, they
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are, they are like attached, like spiritually, there's
something there. They'll be giggling about things
and everything that I didn't expect.
And it's like, it's the most wonderful thing.
And I'm like, I, I'm so happy that we decided to extend the
family and do it. And I'm glad I forgot about
diapers because it might not have happened.
Well, yeah, that's that's a, that's a real thing.
You black it out that whole timeperiod.
(06:57):
Otherwise you probably wouldn't have more kids.
So human the human race would end.
Yeah, I would. Oh, that's really sweet.
And over the years, has there been a character that you most
connect with or one that you remember that like early on that
was like, this is me or I am I kind of get this character?
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I mean, I loved from My So-called Life, like Daria, I
really identified with, even though I'm nothing like Daria,
but I just like I felt like I identified with her when I was
younger and let me think. It doesn't have to be a good
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person. Like I have some that I'm like,
I shouldn't, like you've mentioned The Sopranos.
I'm like, I kind of identify with some of those characters,
which you're like, yeah, you don't really want to, but.
You don't want to, but no, I definitely identified with
moments and I I this was crazy, but when I was young and
watching Sopranos, I like fantasize of like, oh, that's
what I want in my life to be like.
I want to marry a mafia guy. Like I just thought it just
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'cause it felt so glamorized. And then as I watch it older,
I'm like, Oh yeah, no, but but yeah.
So I, I guess I identified with wanting that as you know, a
romance and more. For me, it was movies.
Like when I was a kid, I would, I would watch.
I had this great video store called Galaxy and it was like
really close to us 5 minutes. And what I loved about it was it
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wasn't like Blockbuster because it just had like so many random
foreign films and really weird like coming of age foreign films
that for whatever reason, you know, at 13 or I know why.
But at 13 I would go and I wouldjust pick out all of the movies
that were like 13 year old girlscoming of age and having these
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romances that, you know, they wouldn't make those kinds of
movies in the States and like Pauline at the beach.
And I wanted to be those girls so badly, but no one was
attracted to me in those ways atthat age.
So I lived vicariously through these characters.
I think one was called like French Kiss about like this in
France. It's very hard to find now, but
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yeah, so I, I had, those were the ones that I, I held on to as
like, I can see myself becoming this person maybe next year, but
it didn't happen. Let's move on to Missus, Missus
Smith. And just before we do though, I,
I do want to kind of go back in time a little bit.
I'm curious what made you pursueacting and entertainment?
(09:36):
So I think from a young age I was, you know, I have these home
videos that my mom has shown me where I'm like talking to the
flowers and the plants and like I'm done doing a whole thing and
she's like secretly recording me.
And when I see that she's recording me, I get very angry.
Like don't do that because I don't want to be like it's my
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special world of make believe. And I think from a young age, I
just was drawn to it. I loved playing.
I loved make believe. I loved pretending I was a mom
that was running errands. And so I would play all these
different characters. And then I think when I fell in
love with it was in middle school and the popular girls
went to this after school performing arts program and
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they're like, we're gonna do musicals.
And I was like, OK, me too. And when I, when I did it, I
just fell in love with it. Like I was background, you know,
I was in the ensemble 42nd Street, just like tapping my
shoes. And I'm like smiling from ear to
ear, just like in heaven. And so I, I was probably 12 and,
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and then it turned into a great haven for me of like, oh, the
theater is, is where I'm accepted, where I, you know,
'cause I struggled a lot with social world and, and that time
and puberty and, and feeling like ditched by friends.
And so that was my safe space. And I just, yeah, kept pursuing
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it. So I was like doing theater and,
and I went to a performing arts high school and I went to
college for theater and just like kind of kept going.
With it, it's amazing how many, you know, people I've spoken
with you say that, you know, they played a tree or something
and then like they got it and they're like, this is, this is
part of me, Like I can be something else.
I can, I can kind of latch onto this and and and suddenly
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somehow it leads to where they are now and I'm talking to them.
Yeah, yeah. It's just, it's like the idea of
being able to like jump into another mask or another person
and feel another person's feelings when, when you're going
through something that isn't great in your own personal life,
It that that seems to be like the impetus for a lot of
people's like, oh, I can feel like anything through this other
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needs and and it's community too.
It's like it's finding your people.
Yeah, I tune the musical theaterkid in recovery.
Welcome. My name is Emily.
Go ahead. Steve, we'll, we'll do therapy
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afterwards. So, yeah, we, I came for this
series, Mr. and Missus Smith andI, I came expecting an action
series, you know, knowing the, the, the film.
And then, you know, you get involved and you stay for this
kind of layered, complex love story and this this complex look
at relationships. And then you throw in guns and
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bombs and killing. I was wondering what it was
about the series that made you feel that you had to be part of
it. It was multiple things.
I mean, one was that it was Donald and Hero and Francesca,
like the, the, the, those three people were involved.
I was like, well, I know it's going to be interesting.
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I know it's going to be good. Like I respect them so much and
I think and after pen 15, I was looking for whatever the next
project was. I didn't actually know what my
involvement would be initially. I thought that I did think I
would be a tree. Like I really thought I would be
like just a background. I had no idea what my like if
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they were asking me to be Jane or something else.
So I was kind of game already from just them as artists.
And then when they pitched me the way into this show and their
take on it, I was like, yeah, that just sounds like a great
show. And that sounds like something I
want to dig my feet. And I think I was looking for a
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role where I could just sink my teeth into and it could be a
woman that was different from Maya's, a 13 year old I I really
wanted. And I also just wanted to act
like I didn't want to focus on three different elements.
But what was great is that they're so collaborative that
they're like, you don't have to write, but like, we'll treat,
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you know, we'll treat you like awriter, like if you have
opinions, if you have thoughts. So it was very collaborative.
And yet no pressure on me to have to go off and write.
So I I, I loved it. Yeah.
So that actually sets up this next question really perfectly.
You know, you, you Jane, there was already a concept of her
when you came into the project, but she wasn't like 100% set,
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fully formed. So what did you want to bring to
Jane versus, you know, what was kind of already on the page?
Anything from your own personality or your history?
Yeah, I mean, there was like some, I loved how she was
written already. But they did ask for, like me to
send some pages of, you know, just any anecdotes of
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relationships or insecurities orthings that you discover about
yourself in relationships, what comes up.
So I sent like lots of embarrassing stories and, and
pages upon pages of anecdotes. And I'm not, I, I can't like
remember exactly what made its way in, but I feel like with
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Jane, I just was attaching to the idea of her being a reject.
Like I really am drawn to the idea of I didn't want them to be
perfect spies. And I don't think they wanted
them to be perfect spies or perfect humans.
They're far from it. And so, so I was, that was more
my way in of like, how can we push this further of like, why
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is she not a good spy and like at first, and how does she get
better? And why is she not good at
relationships? And, and really just filling
that out as much as possible, which they did such a good job
already on their own. But I, I loved the idea of her
not having really a family and not having, you know, a, a good
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history of relationships and notable to, to express her
vulnerability. And, and, and what I guess we
discovered as we were filming and as they were writing were
like the different ways in whichshe would have masks and then
when she would unveil them and when she would reveal things and
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when she wouldn't. And that was just so fun to play
because it felt like this cat and mouse game for like the
first couple months when we wereshooting.
Yeah. And that that's really
interesting because I like the way that the series also like
showed that she had these vulnerabilities.
And like there's like she has secrets, she has a life.
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And even though there's a lot revealed about her, there's
still so much that's like unsaid.
Could be a season 2. I don't know.
But but you know, if they were, they reveal a lot, but not so
much that it feels like an exposition dump.
Yes, yes. And I they actually had
everything written like of what I would reveal in the truth
serum sequence, that whole scenefrom the beginning, like they
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were like, here are some facts that we already know about
Jane's family and, and things that she's insecure about and
you know, all of that. Yeah, I love how it starts off
and you, you know so little about them.
You're only, you're only learning what they're answering
on that prompt. And then you, you know, as you
go further, you start as a relationship grows.
And, and, and also the tone, theshifting in the tone of the of
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the series. Like even by the end of the
first episode, you're like, oh, wait, this shit is real.
This is not like, you know, somelittle spy game.
This is life and death, but you get to explore so much about
them and and it's kind of you'refollowing the path.
There's not any details they don't know about each other.
They don't reveal. So it's like really cool.
Even a phone call with with Johnand his mother.
You're like, oh, wait, you say he's a, you know, he's a mama's
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boy. There's there's something there.
So it's really great series to explore and to kind of, you
know, just get lost in. Yeah, and I also just love like,
how smart it was of them of pairing.
You know, they called it a spy sandwich all the time.
But a pairing like these relationship tropes or these
things that happen in relationships and how you learn
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about some of the relationships set against a spy backdrop.
So it's sort of like you can useyour insecurity about the fact
that your husband is, you know, or your boyfriend is talking to
his mom a lot by being like, well, this is dangerous for us,
you know, And so that can be sort of the mask of like, well,
and it's not really mask, it is dangerous, but it's also like it
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feels like a betrayal of trust and and all these other things
that it just it marries the two worlds so well as like
relationship drama and and spy stakes that I those that's when
to me, the show really sings, you know, when it's able to like
hit that. And I think you can watch it
for, you know, I think it's a good kind of date night with,
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you know, with you were with your husband, wife or boyfriend,
girlfriend, because you can bothwatch it in different ways.
And plus there's the comedy thatgets thrown in.
You know, it's really dark and and sometimes, you know,
supremely, you know, extremely dark as you're sitting there
with blood across your face and massacres have occurred.
But it works. And you're like, you know, I can
take this, you can take that. It's kind of like a smorgasbord
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of of excellent entertainment. Totally.
Thank you. Yeah, I, I, I agree.
I thought they did such a great job with that.
And, and it's, it's cool becauseI like the idea of an arranged
marriage. Like I like seeing what that
develops into. And it's sort of it's, it's
pretty romantic, you know, like you're putting these two
strangers together. That might not be a good match
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necessarily. And they probably wouldn't date
if they had just met each other on the street.
But then just see that you're kind of forced to be together.
You're forced to be partners. So how do you how do you make
the most of it? And then how do you learn to to
like someone that's there? Like you see these things
develop as you go on. And that's kind of, I thought
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that was a romantic view of likefalling in love with someone.
It's not just about the like, first, you know, meet cute.
It's like, no, I'm not sure how I feel about you.
But as I grow to get to know you, I am depending on you so
much and I'm trusting you and I'm, you know, falling in love
with you. Yeah, it feels like there's a
slight meta to that too, and in some ways.
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But, you know, Speaking of the humor and the relationship
between John and Jane and, you know, you yourself and Donald
Glover are famously very hilarious people, you know, made
a living off of being comedians.And then there's that instant
chemistry that you get between your characters.
So I'm curious, you know, how did humor factor into their
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dynamic and and what was the goal between you and Donald?
There's a loud playing, so I'm just.
But I don't know, you probably can't hear, which is so
interesting. Yeah.
The humor I feel like developed as we filmed because I think the
more comfortable Donald and I got with each other as friends,
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then the more the humor came outand they picked up on that and
liked that and wanted to use that as part of our way of
dealing with each other. Like Donald would make fun of me
and then that would sort of makeits way as John making fun of
Jane And and that was very much of us, I would say.
So that kind of made its way through like at the end of, you
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know, episode 3 when he's like just that we filmed like hours
of him just like ripping me a new one of like how my fart
smelled and how he was dying from it.
And it would just make me laugh and and it made everyone laugh.
And so that was a really fun part of our relationship to like
put into the series 'cause it just added, I think a real
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flavor to to John and Jane. And this is such a different
take or a different type of character than than obviously
than Maya and and a lot of otherthings you played.
It's a, a very physical role. There's there's gun play,
there's stunts in fighting. I was wondering how much fun it
was being a badass and how much work was it being a badass?
I loved it actually. I mean, I, I was very afraid of
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guns at first. Like I really didn't want to
even hold one. I didn't want to go near it.
And by the end I was like, you know, in Italy they have
different kinds of guns where it's airsoft.
So there's no blank, there's nothing, there's no quarter
loads. It's not, you know, so you can
kind of shoot it as my. I just started like shooting the
ground constantly because I was loving the feeling of shooting
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the gun. So by the end, I unfortunately
got very enamored with like justthe empowerment of like having
this weapon that I would use as this character to like kill bad
guys and and things like that. But yeah, the stunt training,
the, the getting physically fit was such a big part of getting
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ready and preparing for this role 'cause I just had a baby.
So my body was totally wrecked. And I I had to get strong again
and I had to get healthy and I had to get to a place where I
could physically believably be this person.
And that was really a huge challenge for me.
But once I got there and startedtraining with them and started
(23:08):
learning how to hold a gun properly, I mean, it changes how
you feel inside. Like you start to believe that
you can be this person who's able to be a bad ass or
whatever. You know, it's that for me, I'm
like, so the opposite of that. I'm like, no, sorry, you know,
constantly apologizing. So to like be empowered in this
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role as Jane, it was, it was very freeing and, and hard to
get to. But then once I was there, I I
loved it. And you really pull it off too.
Oh, thank you. Yeah.
I I can watch him be like, oh God.
Oh, that's not right. It's so great.
Oh, it's yeah, that's fantastic.Do you do a lot of your own
(23:50):
stunts? Well, they had us do everything
and then they would do that tape.
So we would do, they would do the first take the our stunt
temples. Then we would do a take like
they would teach us everything. So all the, you know, physical
fights, but I'm pretty sure theywould edit in and out.
So like I can tell in episode 8 because I there was like some
(24:13):
kicks that I couldn't do as wellas the stunt temples.
So like when she kicks him, I probably shouldn't even reveal
this, but Tara Mackin, she's incredible when she kicks, when
Jane kicks Donald like in the chest after like all the the
punching, all that stuff, that'sme.
And then the kick is her. And then when he hits her with
(24:34):
the flowerpot, I think that was Tara too.
But yeah, so it's like a mix andmatch.
But I, we, I ran through everything pretty much.
That's. A That's a lot of work.
Yeah, 'cause like the the fightsare so especially episode 8, I
was like, I was tired just watching.
Well, I love that because well, that's what I loved about Donald
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is he was really wanting to capture the essence of like,
imagine if you're running all day and then fighting like
you're you want to see them get really tired by the end.
So that was like really worked into the choreography of like
you're exhausted by the end 'cause you're just like fighting
non-stop. I mean, you don't see that all
the time. It feels like people have
(25:16):
endless energy when they're fighting in in these movies.
And it's like, no, you'd be, you'd be out.
Like this would be very hard. Yeah, when you look back on your
early days of your career, did you ever envision a role like
this? Because obviously where your
career started and and and Mr. and Missus Smith is, is quite a
leap. Was that kind of in the back of
(25:37):
your mind and your your wish was, you know.
Not at all. Like I just, I, I couldn't even
imagine myself in this kind of arole.
I mean, I think in my mind I wasalways playing like different
types of characters. Like that's what I always
wanted. So but I just didn't yeah.
I didn't think I'd be like in action and I didn't think I
(25:58):
would like it as much. Like I actually really liked the
action elements of it where I was like, oh, this could be fun
to do one big movie like this. Like, I think that could be
really just a fun ride, you know?
So I, I fell in love with that part of it, that tone and that,
that the physical aspect of it. But yeah, I didn't, I didn't
(26:19):
like picture myself being a James fan at all.
It's just amazing how you know where life takes you and you
don't know what what relationship, what decision you
make that is going to take you to this next new adventure.
But you know, this is quite the adventure.
It was a pretty surprising call,I have to admit.
Like it was a text from the casting director being like, can
(26:42):
I give can I give your number toDonald?
And I'm like, sure. But I had, you never know what
it's going to be. It could be like, oh, do you
want to be part of this music video?
Or do you want to do that? You know?
And so it really was a surprise.Well, we're we're glad.
And then perhaps the most important question for this
(27:02):
series, John and Jane are, are John and Jane the main
characters? Do you?
Do you ship them? Is it, is it working for you?
I wanna. I mean, I I so I hate like
watching things I'm in, but I I was like, no, I have to watch
this. Like, it's just because out of
(27:24):
my love and respect for like thepeople who made it that I was
like, put your dumb ego aside and just like watch it as a
spectator. And I was able to, and I fell in
love with it and I fell in love with the characters.
Like the couple. I really did actually ship them.
Do I think that they're right for each other or not always.
I don't think they're like the healthiest couple, but there's
(27:45):
something really romantic about them together.
So I I I do ship them I guess. I had, I had to have that one
explained to me. I asked my daughter and she's
like oh and like I'm so old. I'm old too.
I didn't know till like I think when I was on PEN 15, I had to
have like the younger actors explain a lot of things to me.
(28:09):
Unfortunately, when I learned these new terms, my daughter has
forbidden me to use them ever. Like, I can't say banger.
I can't say anything. Yeah, just be yeah, just say
cool a lot and dude and move on.So Speaking of pen 15, your your
role was incredibly personal andyou know, the series is based on
you and and his lives and and growing up, and it's so
(28:31):
different from this. I'm wondering what like the two
experiences, what you learned from this after you did three
years of putting out this kind of from the heart, from the
memory. What did you learn after playing
Jane? I learned a lot of lessons.
I mean, you know, we were so green when we started 10/15.
We didn't know what we were doing like in in the
(28:54):
professional sense, you know, itwas just like a bunch of kids
coming together and making our show.
But we didn't, we didn't know how to run a room.
We didn't know how to run, you know, show, run a show.
We didn't know how to do any of that and be bosses.
And so that there was a lot of learning on the way and working
with your best friends and how to be a boss with people that
(29:16):
are like also your age, but you're playing a 13 year old.
So like having, you know, telling people what you want,
but you're wearing a bowl cut wig and like, braces is just a
really odd thing for everyone and uncomfortable.
But yeah, like learning how to speak up for yourself.
Like, that was my biggest lessonwas when I was directing an
(29:39):
episode. And I'm such a people pleaser
and I, I never want anyone to feel upset or like they're doing
something wrong. But there was a day that we were
really behind and we missed a scene.
And I realized I was like, oh, Ihave to, I have to step into a
leadership role right now. Like, I have to kind of have a
big talk with everyone. And I did it and it was really
(30:01):
scary. And I said this can happen again
and this is my episode and we really need to work together.
And I don't care what it what needs to happen.
But when the camera's up, we're shooting like I don't care if
the lighting doesn't look good. Like we need to shoot within an
hour. And whatever it was, I felt like
very firm. And I was like, oh, they all
hate me now. And the next day it's like
(30:22):
everyone showed up and we all just like killed it.
Like it was like every day afterthat was smooth.
And I'm not saying it was because of of the speech, but I
do think there was something important of like them needing a
leader in that moment to say, Hey, let's get our shit together
and, and move fast and do whatever we need to without it
being a blame game or anything. And that was a big lesson for
(30:44):
me. So I feel like it moving
forward, just just being able tospeak, speak up without being
disrespectful. It's it's like using your voice
to make sure you get across whatyou want and and also be
collaborative with people. But but yeah, like as someone
who's a people pleasure, that was really important for me.
(31:05):
And then with with Mr. and Missus Smith, I think one of the
things, you know, watching thesefriends work together and
becoming friends with them, it was so smooth, like so easy.
They're all so talented and yet like so generous and so easy at
(31:26):
collaborating with each other. It was just so fun to to be
around that and to to be part ofit.
And I think what I felt was sortof like, how can we do this in a
way that's sustainable? Because I'm getting older and I
get tired really. I don't know how people fell in
like 1416 hours a day. You know, it's, it's a lot.
(31:46):
And so I, I'm one of my lessons,I guess I don't know, is just
trying to think of like alternate ways of, of
maintaining like a healthy life while shooting.
Like there's got to be a way that we can like live life and
also like give it our all. But then end at 4:00 PM or 5:00
PM. That's my dream.
(32:07):
I don't know how how to do it, but yeah.
I think that's a noble effort because like, you know, and then
every other job, roller industry, there's a, there's a
concept of work life balance that people generally like.
Why couldn't it be applied to the arts?
Yeah, 'cause I think the arts isso like, OK, we gotta go now.
And it's like it doesn't matter if we go till 3:00 AM because we
(32:28):
just have this one shot to make it.
And I think there's probably better ways to go about it.
And I'm not saying that Mister and Misses Smith didn't do that.
It's more just in general. I was, I think because we were
acting in every scene and I'm, Ihave a family now.
I was like, oh, this is, this isa hard balance, but it's, it's
still great. It's such a privilege.
(32:49):
It's just trying to find it. And I don't know how you how you
make it happen, but. Now I, I know we, we were
talking a bit about 10:15 that that's actually what I know you
from first and I think as as many do and I know that it's,
that it's over. Now I sometimes pretend it's
(33:10):
not, but I know it's over now, you know?
Not sure if you can fully answerthis question, but do you ever
hope to revisit that show in some shape or form in the
future? I mean, I definitely miss it.
I miss playing those characters and I'm still best friends with
every, you know, Anna and Sam. And so it's, it's, I feel like I
(33:31):
still get to like live it out ina way because I'm still, we're
just friends hanging out and we're just not doing the work
part about it. But I, I think there's a part of
me that maybe would go back and do a movie.
I think The thing is that I always saw it as a, a limited
run. Like, I never thought of it as
(33:51):
something that goes on forever and ever because it's 7th grade
and they're perpetually in 7th grade.
And, you know, I think eventually you need to keep
seeing your characters evolve. And I think it, it's sort of
would reach a limit. Like I didn't want to ever jump
the shark. I just, I, I felt like this is
elegantly told in like 3 parts and that's how I always wanted
(34:13):
to see it. But I, I, yeah, I mean, there's
still ideas that, like, sometimes Anna will text me and
be like, oh, we should have donethis or, you know, and there's
like, fun ideas that we're like,Oh, yeah, we missed out on that
one. But I don't know.
Maybe in a movie it'd be weird, though.
Like, what if we're in our, like, 50s playing them?
(34:34):
I mean, Oh. My God, I for one had took away
a lot from that because it kind of was like a CHEAT SHEET for
raising girls who are approaching that age.
And there's like, I, you know, you don't, you know, it's, it's
difficult to understand what girls are facing, you know, and,
and, and on so many different levels, not just as their bodies
(34:57):
change and they, you know, start, you know, romance and
things like that, but friendshipand, you know, being bullied
and, and all the things that youface in there, that awkwardness.
It's really, it's quite amazing.I'm like, I, I know, I, you
know, it, it did a lot for me. I'm sure there's a lot of people
who must have come to you and said, Hey, you know what?
Thank you. Yeah, Thank you for saying that.
It, it really it, it's so like the best part of it or one of
(35:21):
the best parts is just like hearing from people like, oh,
that exact same thing happened to me or it happened to my
daughter, or I watch it with my daughter so that we can have
these like conversations about it.
And I just really didn't expect that.
And it's like, it's such a gift to us 'cause it makes us feel so
not alone. Like it felt so lonely that
time. And so it's really just been
(35:43):
more a gift for us to like learnof all these people that feel
the same way. It's like, oh, amazing.
OK, we have a community here and, and yeah, so I missed that
part of it. And, and honestly, it also like
was eye opening for my parents when they watch it, they're
like, oh, I had no idea that youwere going through that.
(36:06):
Like I just had no idea, you know.
And so it's, it's, yeah, it's interesting that it, it is
bringing up these memories for other people or it, it's just so
common for that age to be like, yeah, it's, it's like the
solitary experience that you feel like you're the only one
(36:27):
going through it and you don't share, you know?
It's amazing how great art can do that with an open mind, with
open heart, you can really connect and start to see you
know yourself in the work if youare willing to do that and learn
about yourself and others at thesame time.
So nice. So 3 words, that's all.
I'm sorry, my last question about TV and then it's just a
(36:50):
couple TV topics questions and we'll wrap things up. 3 words to
describe Jane Lonely. Hardened.
Scared. Those are all negative words I
should say. But those, those are the three
(37:13):
coming to my mind right now. Yeah, that works.
All right, we'll wrap up with some TV topics questions.
First one, what TV show would you like one more season of?
It could be any show. So you get magic powers you can
bring back, you know, the real cast.
It's not like a redo. It's just you get an option to
(37:34):
say, hey, you know, when you, you go to when you go on to your
TV, there's an extra season at the beginning, at the end, in
the middle, is there ATV show and, and where would that be?
Sopranos And it would be, yeah, I don't.
I mean, but it like it ends whenit needs to end.
But I just want more. I just want more.
But it can't be filmed now. It can't be filmed then and you
(37:55):
know. Well, yeah, it's it's like kind
of a magic opportunity. So would you want end of the
season, end of of the series? I'm sorry, another season added
on, Yes. Yes.
Warning warning Soprano spoiler ahead if you have not watched
the series. Fast forward one minute.
(38:17):
I I have my feeling where it ended and I'm like kind of happy
it did. But some people disagree.
There's a lot of debate. You think you should have ended
sooner? No, no.
I mean, the where it ended was perfect and I don't think you
can make a series because I think Tony is no longer with us.
Yeah, I, I know. So I, I it's more my wishful
(38:37):
thinking of like, oh, just one more season to he didn't die, so
let's see what. Happened, you know, Gotcha.
Gotcha. OK, so, and yeah, I've, I've
been to Holsten's where they shot the last scene several
times. And I always like, look around
the room. I sit where he sat and like, you
know, he's dead because he walked by him and the, the, the
bathroom's here. He I worked it all out.
(39:00):
He's dead. Yeah.
Oh, yeah, he's dead. But hey, you know what?
Magic. Magic.
Remote control, logic. Do anything.
Yeah. And here's another one.
How would Maya and Anna do his spies?
Horribly because they just started laughing the whole time
and they couldn't they I just I think it would be a nightmare.
(39:20):
It would be not good, but you know, they could play at it.
They can have fun playing in their room by themselves.
I don't think they're going to make real spies though.
Is this the cost and that we need?
To crossover. And and one last question, if
you live in one TV show, you canpop in whenever you want.
(39:44):
So it's you don't have to give up your real life.
That all exists. You have like a door, you can
enter it in, walk around, say The Sopranos or whatever it is,
which which show would you do just to go hang out and whenever
you choose? That you can just walk in at any
time? What are your guys's answers?
Just so I can. I mean, there's a lot of places
(40:06):
that I would want to visit, but they're so terrible.
I wouldn't want to go over theretoo often.
Like people have said, succession, I'm like, you know,
I don't think I want to be hanging out with those people.
I'd like to do something, people.
Somebody said succession. I want to hang out with those.
People, Several people have saidsuccession.
I was like weird, but I try not to judge you.
I would say the old Sex in the City because I love that time in
New York. Like I feel like that was like a
(40:28):
really fun time in New York. And I know that's a boring
answer, but I feel like I, I have such a love for New York
and, and the way they depicted it.
So I, I would probably do that 'cause it feels so like
carefree. So yeah, that time.
(40:50):
I like that and it goes all the way back to the beginning.
You know, it's like it's yes, itdoes.
Full circle. Full circle.
Perfect. I would choose it.
Thank you world. Oh sorry animated world would be
fun. Ronma.
I would do Ronma. Do you guys remember Ronma 1/2?
It was like this 8 Japanese manga and that.
I did not see that one. OK, I would jump into that one.
(41:11):
I'll look it up and we'll, we'lllink to it in the in the
article. But thank you so much for your
time and, and for your work on on both these series.
You know, enjoyed watching it and looking forward to seeing
what you do next. I know Blue eyed Samurai is out
there which I I need to watch and I've been told that many
times but thank you. No thank you.
Thanks for having me, this is really fun.
(41:33):
To all our listeners, I hope youenjoyed this episode.
Be sure to watch Maya's work on Prime Videos, Mr. and Misses
Smith. You can also hear her in Blue
Eyes Samurai on Netflix and if you have not done so already,
check out Pen 15 on Hulu. It's a must watch.
A shout out to Emily A you for being my Co host today and also
for our funky theme song. Also to our announcer Kari Loya.
(41:56):
You can find him at kariloyavo.com.
It's in our profile and you can follow me directly on Twitter
and Letterbox and Instagram all at film store.
Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more TV Topics.
TV Topics is produced by Steven Bruzakowski.
ZAP.
Hey, where's the remote? It's time for TV Topics, where
those who love television discuss the series and
performances that should be on your radar.
Welcome back to TV Topics. I'm your host Stephen
Krasikowski. Hanging out today on the TV
Topics couch is an actress who revisited all the awkwardness of
(00:24):
growing up as a 13 year old version of herself, and Hulu's
10/15 was a very animated sword master in Netflix's Blue Eye
Samurai. Most recently, she's been
dealing with everything that being a spy and being in a
relationship can throw at you inPrime Videos Mr. And Misses
Smith. Of course.
(00:44):
I'm talking about the great MayaErskine.
Hi, I'm Maya Erskine and today I'm hanging out with Steven
Prusikowski on TV Topics. Welcome to the show, Maya, and
we're going to get into your work about Mr. and Missus Smith
in a few minutes. But first we'll talk some TV
topics. There's no pressure here, no
right or wrong answers. It's just just a bit of fun.
OK, So my first question, what has your relationship with TV
(01:08):
been looking back over the yearswhere you're ATV junkie who
watches everything, where you'revery selective?
I was ATV junkie a bit because Iremember I wasn't really allowed
to watch that much. So I would like run into my
parents bedroom and sit right under the TV with my finger like
ready to turn it off as soon as they walked in.
So I I would watch snippets of things, but as a family we would
(01:30):
watch The Simpsons. Like that was our treat after
dinner together. And I got into like sex and the
city at a really young age because my mom's friend worked.
She was part of the foreign press for Golden Globes, so she
had all these videotapes of likeHBO shows and things like that.
(01:52):
So I would get those old tapes and I just started watching them
and and kind of started binging from an early age.
Maybe a little bit of early education, I guess.
What age were you when you did watch this I.
Think I was young. I mean, I think 'cause what, it
was 1999 or I'm not sure when itcame out, but I, I definitely
(02:12):
got in trouble with other friends parents because I would
bring the tapes and we'd watch it and, you know, and I was such
an innocent prude and like, sometimes the friends would be
doing other things, but I got introuble for showing, you know,
Sex and the City to my friends. Yeah, with my daughters, you
know, we have things playing andnow they're, you know, they're
getting older, but we'd always have things playing.
(02:34):
And you wonder what do they grasp?
And my wife's like, we gotta turn this off.
I'm like, they don't understand any of these words.
It's all, you know, it's all make, you know, made-up
language. And then there's a few dozen
between. So I think we get get away with
it, but always curious like fromthe other perspective.
My brother said, 'cause he was introduced to, like, movies at a
young age, and sometimes, you know, classrooms would show you
(02:55):
movies that were probably, like,very mature for that age or
pretty violent. And I think he had watched, I
don't know, my dad got really mad, but I think he had watched
Platoon or, I don't know, something.
But yeah, he was like 8 or or seven.
My my father would, we would be watching things like Friday the
(03:17):
13th and it's still kind of likeit's still I, I need therapy for
it today. It's still like one of those
things, like I shouldn't have been watching that.
I should have been watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, you
know, things like that. But.
Right, but it got you into movies and TV.
It's what probably heard you into a cinephile.
Yeah, so I I too was ATV junkie growing up and I too watched
(03:40):
probably some things that I shouldn't have watched.
And I think that, like with my parents, occasionally we would
accidentally watch something that I shouldn't have watched
because of the whole immigrant parents situation.
So. So that makes me laugh looking
back. But this is gonna be a hell of a
(04:00):
transition. But Speaking of laughter, do you
personally have a show that makes you laugh a lot?
It's like a comfort show. It's something you always go
back to, something you put on ifyou need to pick me up.
Yeah, I mean, there's a couple if I need to feel comforted,
like the office is something that I'll go back to just
(04:21):
because it can feel like very familial and familiar, and it
feels like, yeah, just old friends that I can come back to.
I would also watch Getting On, which is like, you know, I think
it was only two seasons, but it's brilliant.
And that just is so good. What else do I watch?
I mean, I guess that for laughter.
(04:44):
I'm sure more will come up sometimes Seinfeld, but I'm not
like a like, I never saw all of them.
So I'm just getting more into it.
Yeah, there may be more that popup in my head.
That's a good choice. Yeah.
It's great when you have those classics that you can go to that
are new to you. You know, everyone else is like
(05:05):
run through the whole list and you're like, oh wait, I've never
seen this one so. Yeah, it's great.
And I want to like get into Frasier.
Like they're just some sitcoms that I, I didn't watch but I
know are supposed to be the best.
So I gotta I gotta get into those.
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, what's the last show
that made you cry? Or one that touched you the
(05:25):
most, if you recall. I mean, I'm more in the I've
been watching more movies latelyand less TV actually, because
there's just been so much TV. But the last TV show that made
me cry, I rewatched The Sopranos, but I don't know if I
cried watching that. It might have been like Terrace
(05:51):
House make an emotional scene. I'm also pregnant so I'm
hormonal so like random things will make me cry.
I don't. I wouldn't say it was because of
like something very poignant. Congratulations.
Thank you. Is this is this your second
child or? Second, yeah.
Yes, fantastic. I, I, I'm a father of two, two
(06:13):
daughters, two wonderful daughters.
So Two's a good number. Are they?
About 2 1/2. Oh, perfect.
Yeah. Which seems to be like the age
when you like, forget that diapers were terrible and this
was terrible and this was terrible.
But then as soon as that, that new, you know, child is in your
house and that bonding starts happening.
And like, they are, I say to my wife all the time, my gosh, they
(06:36):
are, they are like attached, like spiritually, there's
something there. They'll be giggling about things
and everything that I didn't expect.
And it's like, it's the most wonderful thing.
And I'm like, I, I'm so happy that we decided to extend the
family and do it. And I'm glad I forgot about
diapers because it might not have happened.
Well, yeah, that's that's a, that's a real thing.
You black it out that whole timeperiod.
(06:57):
Otherwise you probably wouldn't have more kids.
So human the human race would end.
Yeah, I would. Oh, that's really sweet.
And over the years, has there been a character that you most
connect with or one that you remember that like early on that
was like, this is me or I am I kind of get this character?
(07:18):
I mean, I loved from My So-called Life, like Daria, I
really identified with, even though I'm nothing like Daria,
but I just like I felt like I identified with her when I was
younger and let me think. It doesn't have to be a good
(07:43):
person. Like I have some that I'm like,
I shouldn't, like you've mentioned The Sopranos.
I'm like, I kind of identify with some of those characters,
which you're like, yeah, you don't really want to, but.
You don't want to, but no, I definitely identified with
moments and I I this was crazy, but when I was young and
watching Sopranos, I like fantasize of like, oh, that's
what I want in my life to be like.
I want to marry a mafia guy. Like I just thought it just
(08:06):
'cause it felt so glamorized. And then as I watch it older,
I'm like, Oh yeah, no, but but yeah.
So I, I guess I identified with wanting that as you know, a
romance and more. For me, it was movies.
Like when I was a kid, I would, I would watch.
I had this great video store called Galaxy and it was like
really close to us 5 minutes. And what I loved about it was it
(08:28):
wasn't like Blockbuster because it just had like so many random
foreign films and really weird like coming of age foreign films
that for whatever reason, you know, at 13 or I know why.
But at 13 I would go and I wouldjust pick out all of the movies
that were like 13 year old girlscoming of age and having these
(08:50):
romances that, you know, they wouldn't make those kinds of
movies in the States and like Pauline at the beach.
And I wanted to be those girls so badly, but no one was
attracted to me in those ways atthat age.
So I lived vicariously through these characters.
I think one was called like French Kiss about like this in
France. It's very hard to find now, but
(09:13):
yeah, so I, I had, those were the ones that I, I held on to as
like, I can see myself becoming this person maybe next year, but
it didn't happen. Let's move on to Missus, Missus
Smith. And just before we do though, I,
I do want to kind of go back in time a little bit.
I'm curious what made you pursueacting and entertainment?
(09:36):
So I think from a young age I was, you know, I have these home
videos that my mom has shown me where I'm like talking to the
flowers and the plants and like I'm done doing a whole thing and
she's like secretly recording me.
And when I see that she's recording me, I get very angry.
Like don't do that because I don't want to be like it's my
(09:57):
special world of make believe. And I think from a young age, I
just was drawn to it. I loved playing.
I loved make believe. I loved pretending I was a mom
that was running errands. And so I would play all these
different characters. And then I think when I fell in
love with it was in middle school and the popular girls
went to this after school performing arts program and
(10:18):
they're like, we're gonna do musicals.
And I was like, OK, me too. And when I, when I did it, I
just fell in love with it. Like I was background, you know,
I was in the ensemble 42nd Street, just like tapping my
shoes. And I'm like smiling from ear to
ear, just like in heaven. And so I, I was probably 12 and,
(10:41):
and then it turned into a great haven for me of like, oh, the
theater is, is where I'm accepted, where I, you know,
'cause I struggled a lot with social world and, and that time
and puberty and, and feeling like ditched by friends.
And so that was my safe space. And I just, yeah, kept pursuing
(11:01):
it. So I was like doing theater and,
and I went to a performing arts high school and I went to
college for theater and just like kind of kept going.
With it, it's amazing how many, you know, people I've spoken
with you say that, you know, they played a tree or something
and then like they got it and they're like, this is, this is
part of me, Like I can be something else.
I can, I can kind of latch onto this and and and suddenly
(11:24):
somehow it leads to where they are now and I'm talking to them.
Yeah, yeah. It's just, it's like the idea of
being able to like jump into another mask or another person
and feel another person's feelings when, when you're going
through something that isn't great in your own personal life,
It that that seems to be like the impetus for a lot of
people's like, oh, I can feel like anything through this other
(11:48):
needs and and it's community too.
It's like it's finding your people.
Yeah, I tune the musical theaterkid in recovery.
Welcome. My name is Emily.
Go ahead. Steve, we'll, we'll do therapy
(12:08):
afterwards. So, yeah, we, I came for this
series, Mr. and Missus Smith andI, I came expecting an action
series, you know, knowing the, the, the film.
And then, you know, you get involved and you stay for this
kind of layered, complex love story and this this complex look
at relationships. And then you throw in guns and
(12:30):
bombs and killing. I was wondering what it was
about the series that made you feel that you had to be part of
it. It was multiple things.
I mean, one was that it was Donald and Hero and Francesca,
like the, the, the, those three people were involved.
I was like, well, I know it's going to be interesting.
(12:50):
I know it's going to be good. Like I respect them so much and
I think and after pen 15, I was looking for whatever the next
project was. I didn't actually know what my
involvement would be initially. I thought that I did think I
would be a tree. Like I really thought I would be
like just a background. I had no idea what my like if
(13:11):
they were asking me to be Jane or something else.
So I was kind of game already from just them as artists.
And then when they pitched me the way into this show and their
take on it, I was like, yeah, that just sounds like a great
show. And that sounds like something I
want to dig my feet. And I think I was looking for a
(13:33):
role where I could just sink my teeth into and it could be a
woman that was different from Maya's, a 13 year old I I really
wanted. And I also just wanted to act
like I didn't want to focus on three different elements.
But what was great is that they're so collaborative that
they're like, you don't have to write, but like, we'll treat,
(13:53):
you know, we'll treat you like awriter, like if you have
opinions, if you have thoughts. So it was very collaborative.
And yet no pressure on me to have to go off and write.
So I I, I loved it. Yeah.
So that actually sets up this next question really perfectly.
You know, you, you Jane, there was already a concept of her
when you came into the project, but she wasn't like 100% set,
(14:17):
fully formed. So what did you want to bring to
Jane versus, you know, what was kind of already on the page?
Anything from your own personality or your history?
Yeah, I mean, there was like some, I loved how she was
written already. But they did ask for, like me to
send some pages of, you know, just any anecdotes of
(14:38):
relationships or insecurities orthings that you discover about
yourself in relationships, what comes up.
So I sent like lots of embarrassing stories and, and
pages upon pages of anecdotes. And I'm not, I, I can't like
remember exactly what made its way in, but I feel like with
(14:59):
Jane, I just was attaching to the idea of her being a reject.
Like I really am drawn to the idea of I didn't want them to be
perfect spies. And I don't think they wanted
them to be perfect spies or perfect humans.
They're far from it. And so, so I was, that was more
my way in of like, how can we push this further of like, why
(15:21):
is she not a good spy and like at first, and how does she get
better? And why is she not good at
relationships? And, and really just filling
that out as much as possible, which they did such a good job
already on their own. But I, I loved the idea of her
not having really a family and not having, you know, a, a good
(15:44):
history of relationships and notable to, to express her
vulnerability. And, and, and what I guess we
discovered as we were filming and as they were writing were
like the different ways in whichshe would have masks and then
when she would unveil them and when she would reveal things and
(16:05):
when she wouldn't. And that was just so fun to play
because it felt like this cat and mouse game for like the
first couple months when we wereshooting.
Yeah. And that that's really
interesting because I like the way that the series also like
showed that she had these vulnerabilities.
And like there's like she has secrets, she has a life.
(16:25):
And even though there's a lot revealed about her, there's
still so much that's like unsaid.
Could be a season 2. I don't know.
But but you know, if they were, they reveal a lot, but not so
much that it feels like an exposition dump.
Yes, yes. And I they actually had
everything written like of what I would reveal in the truth
serum sequence, that whole scenefrom the beginning, like they
(16:49):
were like, here are some facts that we already know about
Jane's family and, and things that she's insecure about and
you know, all of that. Yeah, I love how it starts off
and you, you know so little about them.
You're only, you're only learning what they're answering
on that prompt. And then you, you know, as you
go further, you start as a relationship grows.
And, and, and also the tone, theshifting in the tone of the of
(17:12):
the series. Like even by the end of the
first episode, you're like, oh, wait, this shit is real.
This is not like, you know, somelittle spy game.
This is life and death, but you get to explore so much about
them and and it's kind of you'refollowing the path.
There's not any details they don't know about each other.
They don't reveal. So it's like really cool.
Even a phone call with with Johnand his mother.
You're like, oh, wait, you say he's a, you know, he's a mama's
(17:33):
boy. There's there's something there.
So it's really great series to explore and to kind of, you
know, just get lost in. Yeah, and I also just love like,
how smart it was of them of pairing.
You know, they called it a spy sandwich all the time.
But a pairing like these relationship tropes or these
things that happen in relationships and how you learn
(17:53):
about some of the relationships set against a spy backdrop.
So it's sort of like you can useyour insecurity about the fact
that your husband is, you know, or your boyfriend is talking to
his mom a lot by being like, well, this is dangerous for us,
you know, And so that can be sort of the mask of like, well,
and it's not really mask, it is dangerous, but it's also like it
(18:16):
feels like a betrayal of trust and and all these other things
that it just it marries the two worlds so well as like
relationship drama and and spy stakes that I those that's when
to me, the show really sings, you know, when it's able to like
hit that. And I think you can watch it
for, you know, I think it's a good kind of date night with,
(18:38):
you know, with you were with your husband, wife or boyfriend,
girlfriend, because you can bothwatch it in different ways.
And plus there's the comedy thatgets thrown in.
You know, it's really dark and and sometimes, you know,
supremely, you know, extremely dark as you're sitting there
with blood across your face and massacres have occurred.
But it works. And you're like, you know, I can
take this, you can take that. It's kind of like a smorgasbord
(19:00):
of of excellent entertainment. Totally.
Thank you. Yeah, I, I, I agree.
I thought they did such a great job with that.
And, and it's, it's cool becauseI like the idea of an arranged
marriage. Like I like seeing what that
develops into. And it's sort of it's, it's
pretty romantic, you know, like you're putting these two
strangers together. That might not be a good match
(19:23):
necessarily. And they probably wouldn't date
if they had just met each other on the street.
But then just see that you're kind of forced to be together.
You're forced to be partners. So how do you how do you make
the most of it? And then how do you learn to to
like someone that's there? Like you see these things
develop as you go on. And that's kind of, I thought
(19:44):
that was a romantic view of likefalling in love with someone.
It's not just about the like, first, you know, meet cute.
It's like, no, I'm not sure how I feel about you.
But as I grow to get to know you, I am depending on you so
much and I'm trusting you and I'm, you know, falling in love
with you. Yeah, it feels like there's a
slight meta to that too, and in some ways.
(20:07):
But, you know, Speaking of the humor and the relationship
between John and Jane and, you know, you yourself and Donald
Glover are famously very hilarious people, you know, made
a living off of being comedians.And then there's that instant
chemistry that you get between your characters.
So I'm curious, you know, how did humor factor into their
(20:29):
dynamic and and what was the goal between you and Donald?
There's a loud playing, so I'm just.
But I don't know, you probably can't hear, which is so
interesting. Yeah.
The humor I feel like developed as we filmed because I think the
more comfortable Donald and I got with each other as friends,
(20:50):
then the more the humor came outand they picked up on that and
liked that and wanted to use that as part of our way of
dealing with each other. Like Donald would make fun of me
and then that would sort of makeits way as John making fun of
Jane And and that was very much of us, I would say.
So that kind of made its way through like at the end of, you
(21:12):
know, episode 3 when he's like just that we filmed like hours
of him just like ripping me a new one of like how my fart
smelled and how he was dying from it.
And it would just make me laugh and and it made everyone laugh.
And so that was a really fun part of our relationship to like
put into the series 'cause it just added, I think a real
(21:36):
flavor to to John and Jane. And this is such a different
take or a different type of character than than obviously
than Maya and and a lot of otherthings you played.
It's a, a very physical role. There's there's gun play,
there's stunts in fighting. I was wondering how much fun it
was being a badass and how much work was it being a badass?
I loved it actually. I mean, I, I was very afraid of
(22:01):
guns at first. Like I really didn't want to
even hold one. I didn't want to go near it.
And by the end I was like, you know, in Italy they have
different kinds of guns where it's airsoft.
So there's no blank, there's nothing, there's no quarter
loads. It's not, you know, so you can
kind of shoot it as my. I just started like shooting the
ground constantly because I was loving the feeling of shooting
(22:24):
the gun. So by the end, I unfortunately
got very enamored with like justthe empowerment of like having
this weapon that I would use as this character to like kill bad
guys and and things like that. But yeah, the stunt training,
the, the getting physically fit was such a big part of getting
(22:46):
ready and preparing for this role 'cause I just had a baby.
So my body was totally wrecked. And I I had to get strong again
and I had to get healthy and I had to get to a place where I
could physically believably be this person.
And that was really a huge challenge for me.
But once I got there and startedtraining with them and started
(23:08):
learning how to hold a gun properly, I mean, it changes how
you feel inside. Like you start to believe that
you can be this person who's able to be a bad ass or
whatever. You know, it's that for me, I'm
like, so the opposite of that. I'm like, no, sorry, you know,
constantly apologizing. So to like be empowered in this
(23:28):
role as Jane, it was, it was very freeing and, and hard to
get to. But then once I was there, I I
loved it. And you really pull it off too.
Oh, thank you. Yeah.
I I can watch him be like, oh God.
Oh, that's not right. It's so great.
Oh, it's yeah, that's fantastic.Do you do a lot of your own
(23:50):
stunts? Well, they had us do everything
and then they would do that tape.
So we would do, they would do the first take the our stunt
temples. Then we would do a take like
they would teach us everything. So all the, you know, physical
fights, but I'm pretty sure theywould edit in and out.
So like I can tell in episode 8 because I there was like some
(24:13):
kicks that I couldn't do as wellas the stunt temples.
So like when she kicks him, I probably shouldn't even reveal
this, but Tara Mackin, she's incredible when she kicks, when
Jane kicks Donald like in the chest after like all the the
punching, all that stuff, that'sme.
And then the kick is her. And then when he hits her with
(24:34):
the flowerpot, I think that was Tara too.
But yeah, so it's like a mix andmatch.
But I, we, I ran through everything pretty much.
That's. A That's a lot of work.
Yeah, 'cause like the the fightsare so especially episode 8, I
was like, I was tired just watching.
Well, I love that because well, that's what I loved about Donald
(24:55):
is he was really wanting to capture the essence of like,
imagine if you're running all day and then fighting like
you're you want to see them get really tired by the end.
So that was like really worked into the choreography of like
you're exhausted by the end 'cause you're just like fighting
non-stop. I mean, you don't see that all
the time. It feels like people have
(25:16):
endless energy when they're fighting in in these movies.
And it's like, no, you'd be, you'd be out.
Like this would be very hard. Yeah, when you look back on your
early days of your career, did you ever envision a role like
this? Because obviously where your
career started and and and Mr. and Missus Smith is, is quite a
leap. Was that kind of in the back of
(25:37):
your mind and your your wish was, you know.
Not at all. Like I just, I, I couldn't even
imagine myself in this kind of arole.
I mean, I think in my mind I wasalways playing like different
types of characters. Like that's what I always
wanted. So but I just didn't yeah.
I didn't think I'd be like in action and I didn't think I
(25:58):
would like it as much. Like I actually really liked the
action elements of it where I was like, oh, this could be fun
to do one big movie like this. Like, I think that could be
really just a fun ride, you know?
So I, I fell in love with that part of it, that tone and that,
that the physical aspect of it. But yeah, I didn't, I didn't
(26:19):
like picture myself being a James fan at all.
It's just amazing how you know where life takes you and you
don't know what what relationship, what decision you
make that is going to take you to this next new adventure.
But you know, this is quite the adventure.
It was a pretty surprising call,I have to admit.
Like it was a text from the casting director being like, can
(26:42):
I give can I give your number toDonald?
And I'm like, sure. But I had, you never know what
it's going to be. It could be like, oh, do you
want to be part of this music video?
Or do you want to do that? You know?
And so it really was a surprise.Well, we're we're glad.
And then perhaps the most important question for this
(27:02):
series, John and Jane are, are John and Jane the main
characters? Do you?
Do you ship them? Is it, is it working for you?
I wanna. I mean, I I so I hate like
watching things I'm in, but I I was like, no, I have to watch
this. Like, it's just because out of
(27:24):
my love and respect for like thepeople who made it that I was
like, put your dumb ego aside and just like watch it as a
spectator. And I was able to, and I fell in
love with it and I fell in love with the characters.
Like the couple. I really did actually ship them.
Do I think that they're right for each other or not always.
I don't think they're like the healthiest couple, but there's
(27:45):
something really romantic about them together.
So I I I do ship them I guess. I had, I had to have that one
explained to me. I asked my daughter and she's
like oh and like I'm so old. I'm old too.
I didn't know till like I think when I was on PEN 15, I had to
have like the younger actors explain a lot of things to me.
(28:09):
Unfortunately, when I learned these new terms, my daughter has
forbidden me to use them ever. Like, I can't say banger.
I can't say anything. Yeah, just be yeah, just say
cool a lot and dude and move on.So Speaking of pen 15, your your
role was incredibly personal andyou know, the series is based on
you and and his lives and and growing up, and it's so
(28:31):
different from this. I'm wondering what like the two
experiences, what you learned from this after you did three
years of putting out this kind of from the heart, from the
memory. What did you learn after playing
Jane? I learned a lot of lessons.
I mean, you know, we were so green when we started 10/15.
We didn't know what we were doing like in in the
(28:54):
professional sense, you know, itwas just like a bunch of kids
coming together and making our show.
But we didn't, we didn't know how to run a room.
We didn't know how to run, you know, show, run a show.
We didn't know how to do any of that and be bosses.
And so that there was a lot of learning on the way and working
with your best friends and how to be a boss with people that
(29:16):
are like also your age, but you're playing a 13 year old.
So like having, you know, telling people what you want,
but you're wearing a bowl cut wig and like, braces is just a
really odd thing for everyone and uncomfortable.
But yeah, like learning how to speak up for yourself.
Like, that was my biggest lessonwas when I was directing an
(29:39):
episode. And I'm such a people pleaser
and I, I never want anyone to feel upset or like they're doing
something wrong. But there was a day that we were
really behind and we missed a scene.
And I realized I was like, oh, Ihave to, I have to step into a
leadership role right now. Like, I have to kind of have a
big talk with everyone. And I did it and it was really
(30:01):
scary. And I said this can happen again
and this is my episode and we really need to work together.
And I don't care what it what needs to happen.
But when the camera's up, we're shooting like I don't care if
the lighting doesn't look good. Like we need to shoot within an
hour. And whatever it was, I felt like
very firm. And I was like, oh, they all
hate me now. And the next day it's like
(30:22):
everyone showed up and we all just like killed it.
Like it was like every day afterthat was smooth.
And I'm not saying it was because of of the speech, but I
do think there was something important of like them needing a
leader in that moment to say, Hey, let's get our shit together
and, and move fast and do whatever we need to without it
being a blame game or anything. And that was a big lesson for
(30:44):
me. So I feel like it moving
forward, just just being able tospeak, speak up without being
disrespectful. It's it's like using your voice
to make sure you get across whatyou want and and also be
collaborative with people. But but yeah, like as someone
who's a people pleasure, that was really important for me.
(31:05):
And then with with Mr. and Missus Smith, I think one of the
things, you know, watching thesefriends work together and
becoming friends with them, it was so smooth, like so easy.
They're all so talented and yet like so generous and so easy at
(31:26):
collaborating with each other. It was just so fun to to be
around that and to to be part ofit.
And I think what I felt was sortof like, how can we do this in a
way that's sustainable? Because I'm getting older and I
get tired really. I don't know how people fell in
like 1416 hours a day. You know, it's, it's a lot.
(31:46):
And so I, I'm one of my lessons,I guess I don't know, is just
trying to think of like alternate ways of, of
maintaining like a healthy life while shooting.
Like there's got to be a way that we can like live life and
also like give it our all. But then end at 4:00 PM or 5:00
PM. That's my dream.
(32:07):
I don't know how how to do it, but yeah.
I think that's a noble effort because like, you know, and then
every other job, roller industry, there's a, there's a
concept of work life balance that people generally like.
Why couldn't it be applied to the arts?
Yeah, 'cause I think the arts isso like, OK, we gotta go now.
And it's like it doesn't matter if we go till 3:00 AM because we
(32:28):
just have this one shot to make it.
And I think there's probably better ways to go about it.
And I'm not saying that Mister and Misses Smith didn't do that.
It's more just in general. I was, I think because we were
acting in every scene and I'm, Ihave a family now.
I was like, oh, this is, this isa hard balance, but it's, it's
still great. It's such a privilege.
(32:49):
It's just trying to find it. And I don't know how you how you
make it happen, but. Now I, I know we, we were
talking a bit about 10:15 that that's actually what I know you
from first and I think as as many do and I know that it's,
that it's over. Now I sometimes pretend it's
(33:10):
not, but I know it's over now, you know?
Not sure if you can fully answerthis question, but do you ever
hope to revisit that show in some shape or form in the
future? I mean, I definitely miss it.
I miss playing those characters and I'm still best friends with
every, you know, Anna and Sam. And so it's, it's, I feel like I
(33:31):
still get to like live it out ina way because I'm still, we're
just friends hanging out and we're just not doing the work
part about it. But I, I think there's a part of
me that maybe would go back and do a movie.
I think The thing is that I always saw it as a, a limited
run. Like, I never thought of it as
(33:51):
something that goes on forever and ever because it's 7th grade
and they're perpetually in 7th grade.
And, you know, I think eventually you need to keep
seeing your characters evolve. And I think it, it's sort of
would reach a limit. Like I didn't want to ever jump
the shark. I just, I, I felt like this is
elegantly told in like 3 parts and that's how I always wanted
(34:13):
to see it. But I, I, yeah, I mean, there's
still ideas that, like, sometimes Anna will text me and
be like, oh, we should have donethis or, you know, and there's
like, fun ideas that we're like,Oh, yeah, we missed out on that
one. But I don't know.
Maybe in a movie it'd be weird, though.
Like, what if we're in our, like, 50s playing them?
(34:34):
I mean, Oh. My God, I for one had took away
a lot from that because it kind of was like a CHEAT SHEET for
raising girls who are approaching that age.
And there's like, I, you know, you don't, you know, it's, it's
difficult to understand what girls are facing, you know, and,
and, and on so many different levels, not just as their bodies
(34:57):
change and they, you know, start, you know, romance and
things like that, but friendshipand, you know, being bullied
and, and all the things that youface in there, that awkwardness.
It's really, it's quite amazing.I'm like, I, I know, I, you
know, it, it did a lot for me. I'm sure there's a lot of people
who must have come to you and said, Hey, you know what?
Thank you. Yeah, Thank you for saying that.
It, it really it, it's so like the best part of it or one of
(35:21):
the best parts is just like hearing from people like, oh,
that exact same thing happened to me or it happened to my
daughter, or I watch it with my daughter so that we can have
these like conversations about it.
And I just really didn't expect that.
And it's like, it's such a gift to us 'cause it makes us feel so
not alone. Like it felt so lonely that
time. And so it's really just been
(35:43):
more a gift for us to like learnof all these people that feel
the same way. It's like, oh, amazing.
OK, we have a community here and, and yeah, so I missed that
part of it. And, and honestly, it also like
was eye opening for my parents when they watch it, they're
like, oh, I had no idea that youwere going through that.
(36:06):
Like I just had no idea, you know.
And so it's, it's, yeah, it's interesting that it, it is
bringing up these memories for other people or it, it's just so
common for that age to be like, yeah, it's, it's like the
solitary experience that you feel like you're the only one
(36:27):
going through it and you don't share, you know?
It's amazing how great art can do that with an open mind, with
open heart, you can really connect and start to see you
know yourself in the work if youare willing to do that and learn
about yourself and others at thesame time.
So nice. So 3 words, that's all.
I'm sorry, my last question about TV and then it's just a
(36:50):
couple TV topics questions and we'll wrap things up. 3 words to
describe Jane Lonely. Hardened.
Scared. Those are all negative words I
should say. But those, those are the three
(37:13):
coming to my mind right now. Yeah, that works.
All right, we'll wrap up with some TV topics questions.
First one, what TV show would you like one more season of?
It could be any show. So you get magic powers you can
bring back, you know, the real cast.
It's not like a redo. It's just you get an option to
(37:34):
say, hey, you know, when you, you go to when you go on to your
TV, there's an extra season at the beginning, at the end, in
the middle, is there ATV show and, and where would that be?
Sopranos And it would be, yeah, I don't.
I mean, but it like it ends whenit needs to end.
But I just want more. I just want more.
But it can't be filmed now. It can't be filmed then and you
(37:55):
know. Well, yeah, it's it's like kind
of a magic opportunity. So would you want end of the
season, end of of the series? I'm sorry, another season added
on, Yes. Yes.
Warning warning Soprano spoiler ahead if you have not watched
the series. Fast forward one minute.
(38:17):
I I have my feeling where it ended and I'm like kind of happy
it did. But some people disagree.
There's a lot of debate. You think you should have ended
sooner? No, no.
I mean, the where it ended was perfect and I don't think you
can make a series because I think Tony is no longer with us.
Yeah, I, I know. So I, I it's more my wishful
(38:37):
thinking of like, oh, just one more season to he didn't die, so
let's see what. Happened, you know, Gotcha.
Gotcha. OK, so, and yeah, I've, I've
been to Holsten's where they shot the last scene several
times. And I always like, look around
the room. I sit where he sat and like, you
know, he's dead because he walked by him and the, the, the
bathroom's here. He I worked it all out.
(39:00):
He's dead. Yeah.
Oh, yeah, he's dead. But hey, you know what?
Magic. Magic.
Remote control, logic. Do anything.
Yeah. And here's another one.
How would Maya and Anna do his spies?
Horribly because they just started laughing the whole time
and they couldn't they I just I think it would be a nightmare.
(39:20):
It would be not good, but you know, they could play at it.
They can have fun playing in their room by themselves.
I don't think they're going to make real spies though.
Is this the cost and that we need?
To crossover. And and one last question, if
you live in one TV show, you canpop in whenever you want.
(39:44):
So it's you don't have to give up your real life.
That all exists. You have like a door, you can
enter it in, walk around, say The Sopranos or whatever it is,
which which show would you do just to go hang out and whenever
you choose? That you can just walk in at any
time? What are your guys's answers?
Just so I can. I mean, there's a lot of places
(40:06):
that I would want to visit, but they're so terrible.
I wouldn't want to go over theretoo often.
Like people have said, succession, I'm like, you know,
I don't think I want to be hanging out with those people.
I'd like to do something, people.
Somebody said succession. I want to hang out with those.
People, Several people have saidsuccession.
I was like weird, but I try not to judge you.
I would say the old Sex in the City because I love that time in
New York. Like I feel like that was like a
(40:28):
really fun time in New York. And I know that's a boring
answer, but I feel like I, I have such a love for New York
and, and the way they depicted it.
So I, I would probably do that 'cause it feels so like
carefree. So yeah, that time.
(40:50):
I like that and it goes all the way back to the beginning.
You know, it's like it's yes, itdoes.
Full circle. Full circle.
Perfect. I would choose it.
Thank you world. Oh sorry animated world would be
fun. Ronma.
I would do Ronma. Do you guys remember Ronma 1/2?
It was like this 8 Japanese manga and that.
I did not see that one. OK, I would jump into that one.
(41:11):
I'll look it up and we'll, we'lllink to it in the in the
article. But thank you so much for your
time and, and for your work on on both these series.
You know, enjoyed watching it and looking forward to seeing
what you do next. I know Blue eyed Samurai is out
there which I I need to watch and I've been told that many
times but thank you. No thank you.
Thanks for having me, this is really fun.
(41:33):
To all our listeners, I hope youenjoyed this episode.
Be sure to watch Maya's work on Prime Videos, Mr. and Misses
Smith. You can also hear her in Blue
Eyes Samurai on Netflix and if you have not done so already,
check out Pen 15 on Hulu. It's a must watch.
A shout out to Emily A you for being my Co host today and also
for our funky theme song. Also to our announcer Kari Loya.
(41:56):
You can find him at kariloyavo.com.
It's in our profile and you can follow me directly on Twitter
and Letterbox and Instagram all at film store.
Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more TV Topics.
TV Topics is produced by Steven Bruzakowski.
ZAP.
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Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides.  Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer  Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.