Awards Chatter

'Awards Chatter' is a podcast that features in-depth interviews with the most interesting and accomplished people in show business. Created and hosted by: Scott Feinberg

TV & Film
Film Interviews
501
Warren Beatty - 'Rules Don't Apply'
The 79-year-old legend, during his first podcast interview, reflects on his 55 years in the business, how he became "a control freak," the impact of 'Bonnie and Clyde,' the "agenda" that took down 'Ishtar' and his latest film, which centers around Howard Hughes and "America's sexual puritanism."
84 min
502
Helen Mirren - 'Eye in the Sky'
The revered Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner discusses a long-ago visit to a prophetic palm reader, her experiences of sexual harassment, what she wrote in a letter to Queen Elizabeth II and the one award she hasn't yet won but really wants.
43 min
503
Tyler Perry - 'Boo! A Madea Halloween'
The most commercially successful black filmmaker in history discusses his abusive upbringing ("What kept me going was my faith"), harsh critics ("We all have the right to tell our stories") and future 'Madea' subject matter (he'd like to "find a way to talk about police brutality, and all of these people being shot by police officers, through this character").
39 min
504
Naomie Harris - 'Moonlight'
The 40-year-old Brit reflects on unexpected roles in blockbusters (two 'Pirates' and Bond films), high compliments (Winnie Mandela "said no one had ever depicted her better") and why she almost turned down the role for which she's now an Oscar favorite ("I'd always drawn a line at playing a crack addict").
51 min
505
Mahershala Ali - 'Moonlight'
The 42-year-old, best known as Remy Danton on 'House of Cards,' reflects on his journey from athletic prodigy to poet to actor, his disastrous 'Game of Thrones' audition, the social significance of 'Luke Cage' and generating Oscar buzz for helping to bring to life "the most beautiful script I'd ever read."
65 min
506
Kate Beckinsale - 'Love & Friendship'
The 43-year-old opens up about young motherhood, Hollywood sexism, the upsides and downsides of 'Underworld' stardom and reuniting with Whit Stillman and Chloe Sevigny, 18 years after 'Last Days of Disco,' on a project that's brought her career-best reviews.
45 min
507
Casey Affleck - 'Manchester By The Sea'
The youthful 41-year-old reflects on his early years with Ben and Matt, following an Oscar-nominated perf with a controversial mockumentary, falling in love with acting again thanks to Christian Bale and doing his best work for old pal Kenneth Lonergan.
45 min
508
Jesse Plemons - 'Other People'
The 28-year-old, coming off an Emmy nom, dishes on his breakthrough roles on 'Friday Night Lights' and 'Breaking Bad,' 'Fargo' co-star Kirsten Dunst, auditioning for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' his controversial sex scene with Zach Woods and more.
44 min
509
Robert Vaughn - 'Gold Star'
The 83-year-old Oscar nominee and Emmy winner on Natalie Wood and Paul Newman's influence on his career, the unexpected success of the original 'The Magnificent Seven' ("We thought, 'This picture's gonna be the bomb of all-time'"), his pursuit of a Ph.D while starring on 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and returning to the big screen in Victoria Negri's feature debut.
57 min
510
Ruth Negga - 'Loving'
The best actress Oscar contender reflects on her biracial heritage, getting cut out of '12 Years a Slave' and tapping into 'the spirit' of one half of the couple at the center of the landmark 1967 inter-racial marriage Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia.
25 min
511
Rob Reiner - 'LBJ'
The 69-year-old reflects on growing up in his legendary father's shadow, shifting his focus after 'All in the Family' from acting to directing and the 2016 presidential election ("I'm rooting for the gal that Meathead would've voted for," not a "con man").
50 min
512
Gloria Steinem - 'Woman'
The most prominent feminist of the last 50 years, an Emmy nominee for her Viceland series ("I put the V in Vice"), sounds off on the mistreatment of women (its depiction in 'Mad Men' was "not as bad as it really was"), plus Hillary ("a miracle to me"), Trump ("a fraud"), Nate Parker ("he has taken this very seriously"), the Kardashians ("painful"), the Real Housewives ("a female minstrel show") and more.
54 min
513
Jerry Seinfeld - 'Comedians in Cars Getting Cof...
The 62-year-old comedy legend asserts 'Seinfeld' was never "a show about nothing" and was ripped off by 'Friends' ("our show with better-looking people"); Donald Trump would be welcome on his web series ("He is buffoonish enough"); he'd like to act in the next 'Star Wars' film (playing a character named "Areyouserious"); and much more.
53 min
514
Tracy Morgan - 'Saturday Night Live'
"Most people that suffer the injuries that I suffered aren't hosting no fucking TV show," the beloved TV comedian, a guest actor in a comedy series Emmy nominee for his October 2015 hosting of 'SNL,' says in reference to the car wreck that nearly claimed his life in June 2014. "They're in vegetative states."
37 min
515
Matt Walsh - 'Veep'
The co-founder of Upright Citizens Brigade and Emmy nominee for his portrayal of Selina Meyer's bumbling press secretary explains why he abandoned a career in psychology for comedy, why he's drawn to improv and what it's like working opposite perhaps the funniest TV actress alive today.
46 min
516
Hank Azaria - 'Ray Donovan'
The 27-year 'Simpsons' vet discusses getting his voice insured, the acting teacher who convinced him he could do more than just voices, the challenges and rewards of guest acting (which he's previously done on 'Friends' and 'Mad About You') and more.
41 min
517
Hugh Grant - 'Florence Foster Jenkins'
The king of the rom-com, who is now 55, discusses why he stopped making movies for several years ("terrible and embarrassing" stage-fright attacks) until he was coaxed out of retirement to star in a dramedy opposite Meryl Streep ("If you play tennis with Rafa Nadal, you play better tennis").
23 min
518
Eddie Murphy - 'Mr. Church'
29 min
519
RuPaul - 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
The 55-year-old icon, Emmy-nominated for the first time, recalls his discovery of drag ("Bugs Bunny was my first introduction"), clarifies misconceptions ("It was never about being a woman at all, it was always about f-you to society") and reveals why he today resists getting glammed up and won't for the Emmys ("You won't see in my drag if I'm not getting paid").
52 min
520
Taraji P. Henson - 'Empire'
The Oscar and Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner discusses her uphill climb to stardom (she's been a single mother since college), the first project she discussed with Lee Daniels ("I wanted to play Precious!"), why she refused to play Cookie unless her 'Hustle & Flow' costar played Lucious and more.
44 min
521
David Schwimmer - 'The People v. O.J. Simpson'
The beloved 'Friends' alum, who will turn 50 this year, talks about the dark side of celebrity, turning down Will Smith's part in 'Men in Black' and why he decided to return to TV to play Kim Kardashian's dad.
42 min
522
Meryl Streep - 'Florence Foster Jenkins'
The legendary actress, who's poised to add to a string of summer hits unprecedented for a woman over 60, sounds off on why its 'bad business' to bet against women, why Oscars matter, why 'the greatest' label gives her 'agita' and much more.
28 min
523
Bob Odenkirk - 'Better Call Saul'
The comedy vet explains why he should have been fired from 'SNL,' how 'Mr. Show' landed him 'Breaking Bad' and how 'How I Met Your Mother' almost cost him the gig that has netted him two consecutive best actor Emmy noms — for a drama.
51 min
524
Will Forte - 'The Last Man On Earth'
The quirky SNL vet-turned-Emmy nominee on why he initially turned down Lorne Michaels ("I was tortured"), the grind of writing and starring in a network series ("Nothing prepared me for this") and what's next (another 'MacGruber' and more).
68 min
525
Sophie Turner - 'Game of Thrones'
The 20-year-old rising star discusses landing her first pro gig, the part of Sansa Stark, at 13, growing up in the public eye ("It can really get you down") and Sansa's season-six evolution ("She really showed people what she could do").
37 min