The Envelope

Emmy-nominated for his roles as put-upon Mayor Tom Loftis in "Widow's Bay" and sociopathic developer Nile Jarvis in "The Beast in Me," Matthew Rhys recently stopped by The Envelope podcast to discuss why the performances are not as different as they may appear, his 20 years on American TV and the "mad circus life" of a performer. (edited) 

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, Chase Infiniti discusses her meteroic rise, her Emmy nomination for "The Testaments" and nurturing the ambition to become an actor since age 10.   

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, "The Pitt's" Noah Wyle reflects on 25 Emmy nominations for the series, responds to criticism of casting decisions, and previews Season 3 of the HBO Max medical drama, now in production.

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, Rachel Sennott discusses finding the voice of “I Love L.A.” — and finding her footing as series creator — during a tumultuous time in her life.

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, Riz Ahmed talks about drawing on his own experience for “Bait,” his Prime Video series about a British Muslim actor whose life is upended when he’s rumored to be the next James Bond.   

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, “Love Story” stars Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon open up about inhabiting John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette — and creating a cultural moment of their own.

The Envelope kicks off Emmy season with Carrie Preston, tracing Elsbeth Tascioni’s 15-year journey from quirky “Good Wife” guest to leading CBS’ “Columbo”-style procedural — and what it means to helm a broadcast hit. Preston breaks down Elsbeth’s off-kilter physicality — the leaning entrances, overstuffed totes and circus-bright wardrobe — and how theatrical training, empathy and on-set collaboration shape a character balancing slapstick comedy with genuine vulnerability. From sending a “stalker-level” fan email to Dianne Wiest to fielding dream guest wishes like Meryl Streep, Preston revels in Elsbeth’s murderer-of-the-week playground and teases deeper origin-story possibilities in Season 4.

The partners behind Under the Influence Productions discuss their approach to making indie film and TV in an evolving environment, including FX series "The Lowdown," 2026 Sundance premiere "The Weight," and recent Oscar nominee "Blue Moon."

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, the “Sentimental Value” star reflects on growing up onscreen and following in big sister Dakota Fanning’s footsteps.

In this week’s episode of The Envelope podcast, the “Weapons” star discusses finding viral fame with her Oscar-nominated role as Aunt Gladys after years of ups and downs.  

In this episode of The Envelope video podcast, Teyana Taylor describes the "slingshot" of success that's come with "One Battle After Another" and shares her insights as to why fictional revolutionary Perfidia Beverly Hills does what she does in the film. 

In the last episode of The Envelope video podcast before the 2026 Oscar nominations, Joel Edgerton describes the transformative experience of making "Train Dreams." Plus, our hosts share the names they'd like to hear called on nominations morning.

In the latest episode of The Envelope video podcast, Oscar Isaac opens up about the connection he forged with director Guillermo del Toro for “Frankenstein” and Wunmi Mosaku reflects on the way her own heritage informed her work in “Sinners.”

In the latest episode of The Envelope video podcast, Tonatiuh discusses the grassroots efforts he spearheaded to get "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in front of communities Hollywood may not always reach, and "Song Sung Blue's" Kate Hudson explains what makes a good music movie.

In the season premiere of The Envelope video podcast, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen discuss their Netflix comedy and Nina Hoss breaks down the ins and outs of 'Hedda.'

In the Emmy-season finale of The Envelope video podcast, Tramell Tillman opens up about the jobs that made him “miserable” before acting — and how they informed his performance as Mr. Milchick in “Severance.” Then, Katherine LaNasa explains what her Emmy nomination for “The Pitt” means to her as a self-described “character actress.”

In the latest episode of The Envelope video podcast, Kathy Bates discusses starring in a hit TV series at 77 with "Matlock," and Jason Segel explains why he finds the emotional vulnerability of "Shrinking" so creatively fulfilling.

In the latest episode of "The Envelope" video podcast, we sit down with "Paradise" creator Dan Fogelman in front of a live audience at the Newport Beach TV Festival to hear what he has planned for Season 2 of Hulu's buzzy dystopian drama and much more.  

In the latest episode of "The Envelope" video podcast, Janelle James discusses her character's arc on "Abbott Elementary," and Aaron Pierre details the training required to master the "seamless" action of "Rebel Ridge." 

In the latest episode of "The Envelope" video podcast, Kathryn Hahn explains how she brought her inner "class clown" to "Agatha All Along" and "The Studio," and Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino discuss the making of their transatlantic dance comedy "Étoile."

On this episode of The Envelope, Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez open up about playing the Menendez brothers and 'Andor's' Diego Luna reflects on 10 years as a 'Star Wars' revolutionary.  

In the Oscar-season finale of The Envelope video podcast, we sit down with Colman Domingo, lead actor nominee for 'Sing Sing.'  

In the latest episode of "The Envelope" video podcast, director Coralie Fargeat explains how she prepared star Demi Moore to film "The Substance" and "The Brutalist" filmmaker Brady Corbet discusses his desire to make films that viewers can never quite pin down.  

In our first episode back after the Oscar nominations, we chat with 'Nickel Boys' filmmaker RaMell Ross and costume designer Arianne Phillips of 'A Complete Unknown.'

In this episode of The Envelope, 'The Last Showgirl' star Pamela Anderson reflects on her life in the spotlight and John Magaro delves into the making 'September 5.' 

This week, Malcolm and John David Washington talk about collaborating on a new August Wilson adaptation and screenwriter Justin Kurtizkes discusses his breakout year. 

In the latest episode of The Envelope video podcast, Ryan Destiny describes the challenges of making boxing movie "The Fire Inside" and Sean Baker and Mikey Madison explain how they fine-tuned the action, comedy and drama of "Anora."  

In this week's episode of The Envelope, the pair discusses their inspirational new film, plus filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof recounts the harrowing experience making 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig.'  

In the season premiere of The Envelope, 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo on becoming Elphaba and Saoirse Ronan on her pair of awards contenders 'The Outrun' and 'Blitz.'

In this week’s episode of The Envelope video podcast, "Baby Reindeer" breakout Nava Mau opens up about drawing courage from Netflix's viral hit and "Shōgun's" Hiroyuki Sanada describes how becoming a producer remade him as an actor. 

In this week’s episode of The Envelope video podcast, Tyler James Williams reveals that the team behind "Abbott Elementary" actually loves frustrating viewers, and "Hacks" star Paul W. Downs weighs in on the debate over which shows in the Emmy race deserve to be described as a comedy.  

This week, we sit down with Naomi Watts to discuss 'Feud: Capote vs. the Swans' and talk to showrunner Issa López about 'True Detective: Night Country.'

This week, Cynthia Nixon stops by to discuss her roles in 'And Just Like That ...' and 'The Gilded Age,' then Lulu Wang joins us to talk about making the leap to TV with 'Expats.'  

In this week's episode of The Envelope video podcast, "Lessons in Chemistry" star Aja Naomi King opens up about overcoming her fears about launching a career as an actor and Michelle King and Jonathan Tolins take us inside their popular new procedural, "Elsbeth." 

In the Emmy-season premiere of The Envelope video podcast, we sit down with Maya Erskine, star of Amazon Prime Video's acclaimed reimagination of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," and Viet Thanh Nguyen and Don McKellar, who brought Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Sympathizer" to life on HBO. 

Oscar-nominated songwriters Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell sat with Mark Olsen to talk about 'What Was I Made For?' from 'Barbie' and how they approach writing songs.

The Oscar-nominated America Ferrara talks to Yvonne Villarreal about how "Barbie" has changed her life and what it's like experiencing all the accolades at this stage of her career. And Mark Olsen sits down with Nadia Stacey, Oscar-nominated for hair and makeup for "Poor Things," to talk about working with Emma Stone for a third time.

Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto talks about working with Martin Scorsese on "Killers of the Flower Moon" and  going from that project right to "Barbie." Songwriter Diane Warren chats about her Oscar-nominated song "The Fire Inside" and what it means to her to receive a 15th nomination. Finally, writer-director Justine Triet discusses her film "Anatomy of a Fall."

The writer/director talks to Shawn Finnie about the making of her epic film. Also, Yvonne Villarreal gets intimate with 'The Holdovers' Da'Vine Joy Randolph.

The actress discusses her leap to a leading role with Mark Olsen: Also, costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck talks to Shawn Finnie about her long "Color Purple" journey.

Director Kemp Powers and actor Jeffrey Wright talk superheroes and satire with our Envelope hosts Shawn Finnie and Yvonne Villarreal.

A new season of the Envelope kicks off at the cusp of awards season, as hosts Mark Olson, Yvonne Villarreal and Shawn Finnie reveal their favorite 2023 actors, writers, directors and films.

‘Succession,’ which earned a whopping 27 Emmy nominations for its final season, has captivated audiences with its complex, uber-wealthy characters. For director Mark Mylod, telling stories about family and social class is a reccuring theme — His credits include ‘Shameless’ and ‘The Menu’ — with surprisingly personal roots.In this episode of The Envelope podcast, Mylod opens up about his fascination with this topic, takes us behind the scenes of the pivotal ‘Connor’s Wedding’ episode, and shares how he pushed through his comfort zone to take on more creative risks.

Bravo producer Alex Baskin and star-turned-producer Lisa Vanderpump. They candidly delve into the juicy details behind the show’s scandals, a forthcoming spinoff featuring familiar personas and their perspective on the burgeoning calls for reality show residuals. Plus, their response to awards recognition — and whether any “Housewives” counterparts had anything to say. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

As today’s screenwriters and actors grapple with financial challenges in a rapidly changing showbiz landscape, combined strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA have brought Hollywood to a standstill. Productions are stalled, press tours canceled, and the 2023 Emmys postponed. The economic impact is expected to far surpass that of the last writers’ strike, which cost the L.A. economy more than 2 billion dollars. On this episode of “The Envelope,” hosts Yvonne Villarreal and Mark Olsen discuss the issues underlying this historic strike, pay disparities in streaming, and concerns over the rise of AI with L.A. Times film reporter Josh Rottenberg and actor Sarah Ramos — a member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

On the occasion of scoring double Emmy nominations this year for her performances in "Yellowjackets" and "The Last of Us," Mark and Yvonne revisit a favorite conversation with Melanie Lynskey. Since her 1994 debut in “Heavenly Creatures,” Melanie Lynskey has been acting steadily while “flying comfortably right under the radar.” Now, for her electric role on “Yellowjackets,” Lynskey has earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series — and a whole new level of fame. In this episode of “The Envelope” podcast, she dishes on feeling more empowered and less underestimated as of late, arriving at a place of self-love after struggling with an eating disorder, and why roles of women who take up a lot of space appeal to her. Oh, and there’s also a delightful story about a Nick Cave concert, a charming Drew Barrymore impression, and a brief visit from a very special guest. To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Jessica Williams is no stranger to tackling complicated issues with humor. From being the youngest and first Black woman correspondent on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” to now starring opposite Jason Segel and Harrison Ford on the AppleTV+ show “Shrinking,” Williams uses her improv skills and authenticity not only to entertain but also to hit on deep truths. “Grief settles in and it just changes you,” she says. “It doesn’t leave. It just makes a home in your body.”In this episode of “The Envelope,” Williams reflects on how personal experiences, including her years of therapy and the death of her partner, have shaped her performance. She also gets into her view of the “Black lady therapist” trope, the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling and transgender rights, and what she learned while making the “Fantastic Beasts” films. Plus, Williams offers tips on “decolonizing” your garden. To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

It’s rare to find a televised female friendship that can deal with dead husbands, car crashes and other wild plot twists the way Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini’s “Dead to Me” characters do. Through years of filming the tragicomedy, the two actors learned to deeply trust each other. When Applegate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while filming the last season, their bond only intensified.In this episode of “The Envelope,” Applegate and Cardellini laugh, sob, describe why they love each other and ponder the possibility of working together again. They also discuss the importance of flawed-mom characters and recall how they were allowed to improvise lines until things got way too weird.To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Christina Ricci wouldn’t want to know Misty Quigley in real life, but she has a protective soft spot for her “Yellowjackets” character. In this episode of “The Envelope,” Ricci delves into why she enjoys playing the impulsive outcast and what she values about the series’ unconventional exploration of trauma.Ricci also reflects on her enduring connection to Wednesday Addams, recalls the two auditions that changed her life even though she didn’t land either part, and talks about how her acting career began as an escape from her unhappy childhood. Plus, if you want reading recommendations? She’s got you covered.  To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

The premise of “Jury Duty” — placing a non-actor in the middle of an entirely staged trial — could have easily led the show to mean-spirited-prank territory. Instead, the cast manages to land laughs while making the person who thinks it’s all real, Ronald Gladden, into a hero. For James Marsden, who plays a Hollywood jerk version of himself on the show, that was the most important thing. “I’ll make an ass of myself and have fun doing it, but I never want him to be the butt of the joke,” he shares.In this episode of “The Envelope” podcast, Marsden discusses how the cast and crew managed to pull it all off, why the role interested him, and how — despite his very believable performance on ”Jury Duty” — he strives to keep his ego from ruining his reputation in real life. To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.