"Benedict Cumberbatch"
Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes talk with Benedict Cumberbatch about fatherhood, his upbringing as the only child of two working actors, and how that shaped his path into acting. They cover his experiences at British boarding schools, a formative gap year teaching in a Tibetan community near Darjeeling, and his early TV and film work, before diving into his approach to roles, working with major directors and actors, and navigating fan expectations around iconic characters. Benedict also discusses learning to surf in his 40s, dealing with a serious shoulder injury, and his producing work on a new film adaptation of Max Porter's grief-focused novella "Grief is the Thing with Feathers," as well as his long-gestating adaptation of the novel "Rogue Male."
"Claire Danes"
The hosts open with light banter about facials, manicures, and self-care before welcoming actor Claire Danes, who talks about her relatively low-key beauty routine, life in a New York City brownstone, and becoming a mother of three after an unexpected pregnancy at 44. She describes growing up in an artist loft in Soho, starting acting as a child, the whirlwind of early fame from "My So-Called Life" and "Romeo + Juliet," and how therapy and family grounded her. Danes also shares how she researches roles-including observing brain surgery and visiting Langley-her experiences on "Homeland," working with directors like Baz Luhrmann and Francis Ford Coppola, her eccentric family history (including an ancestor hanged in the Salem witch trials), and her new psychological thriller series "The Beast in Me" with Matthew Rhys.
My identity is a superpower - not an obstacle | America Ferrera (re-release)
In this re-released 2019 TED Talk, actor and activist America Ferreira recounts her journey from a nine-year-old dreaming of being an actress to confronting the systemic stereotypes and limitations placed on her as a brown, poor, fat Latina in Hollywood. She explains how her breakout roles in Real Women Have Curves and Ugly Betty revealed the power of authentic representation, both for audiences and for her own sense of worth. Ferreira argues that her identity is not an obstacle but a superpower, and calls for individuals and systems to stop resisting what the world actually looks like and to align their values and actions with genuine inclusion.
"David Duchovny"
The hosts talk with David Duchovny about his path from top-tier academic studies in English literature at Princeton and Yale to a multifaceted creative career as an actor, novelist, screenwriter, musician, and director. Duchovny describes how his family's literary background shaped his love of reading and writing, his early acting experiences and commercial work, the rise of The X-Files and its global impact, and his later work in music and fiction. They also discuss the challenges of reading discipline, managing multiple creative pursuits, fandom around The X-Files, and Duchovny's thoughts on the likelihood of extraterrestrial life.
"Oscar Isaac"
The hosts talk with Oscar Isaac about his winding path from playing in Florida ska and hardcore bands to training at Juilliard and becoming one of Hollywood's most versatile actors. He shares stories about nearly joining the Marines, his immigrant family background, his deep collaboration with Guillermo del Toro on Frankenstein, and how grief, family, and theater intertwined during his Hamlet run. The conversation also covers his sci‑fi work in Ex Machina, Dune, and Star Wars, his views on acting craft and decision-making, and his life as a husband and father who still makes music at home.
"Julia Roberts"
The hosts catch up before welcoming Julia Roberts for a wide-ranging conversation about her early life, acting career, and personal life. Roberts shares stories about Martin Luther King Jr. paying her birth hospital bill, her parents' theater school, her path from would-be veterinarian and shoe-store worker to breakout film roles, and how she navigated sudden fame. She also discusses her long marriage to cinematographer Danny Moder, raising three children, becoming an empty nester, and her new film "After the Hunt" with director Luca Guadagnino.
"Kirsten Dunst"
Kirsten Dunst joins the SmartLess hosts for a wide-ranging conversation about her life as a former child actor, her evolving relationship to auditions and awards, and her current slate of films including "Roofman" and Ruben Östlund's "The Entertainment System is Down." She talks about balancing a dual-actor household with parenting two young sons, her preference for a low-key life in the Valley, and an acting process that includes "dream work" to deepen characters. The group also digresses into food, TV habits, SNL memories, and why she now craves doing a big, fun comedy next.
"Michelle Pfeiffer"
The hosts welcome Michelle Pfeiffer for a wide-ranging conversation about her long acting career, from early roles like Fantasy Island and Grease 2 to iconic films such as Scarface and The Fabulous Baker Boys. She discusses how her approach to acting has evolved, learning to let go of perfectionism, the changing landscape for women in film and television, and balancing a busy career with family life and becoming a grandmother. Pfeiffer also shares anecdotes about working with Will on a recent series, her intense experience on Scarface, and her first attempts at acting while working in a supermarket and studying court reporting.
EMMA WATSON EXCLUSIVE: The Story She Has Not Shared Until Now
Emma Watson joins Jay Shetty to have a long-form, personal conversation about stepping back from acting, disentangling her public persona from her private self, and learning to live more truthfully. She talks about growing up between two households, using acting as an escape, the emotional costs of fame and Hollywood, and the health and nervous-system burnout that forced her to pause her career. Emma also explores love and relationships, creative writing as therapy, friendship and interdependence, and how she holds nuanced positions on activism, including disagreements with J.K. Rowling and speaking about Palestine and Israel.
#2381 - Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch discusses bowhunting, life in Montana, and the craft and psychological toll of acting in intense, often real‑life roles. He describes deep preparation for projects like "Lone Survivor," "American Primeval," and "Waco," including working closely with Navy SEALs, Native communities, and survivors. Kitsch also opens up about helping his sister through years of severe fentanyl and heroin addiction, founding the Howler's Ridge nonprofit, his father's death and funeral, and broader reflections on veterans, cult dynamics, grief, and the importance of staying uncomfortable and fully committed to challenging work.