“Every job I’ve had has taught me something. Every life experience I’ve gotten has inherently made me deeper as a person, deeper as an actor. Sean, who directed Anora, wanted to be collaborative—and that wasn’t an experience I’ve had before. He wanted me to be a big part of making this movie. I was watching him write the script, to the last day of editing.”
-Mikey Madison, episode 402 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Actor Mikey Madison has delivered the performance of the season with her star-making turn in Anora. She joins us this week on the heels of her recent Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
We begin by discussing the organic partnership she formed with writer/director Sean Baker (3:30), the ‘emotional preparation’ required to tell this vulnerable story (7:00), her San Fernando Valley upbringing (11:45), and her formative years working with Pamela Adlon on Better Things (22:38).
On the back-half, Mikey reflects on her breakout part in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (30:30), the sex professionals who helped inform her work in Anora (32:50), how she excavated her past to create in the present (43:10), and where she hopes to go on the other side of this towering achievement (49:50).
Feedback, future guest ideas, or thoughts on Anora? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.
Show-notes:
- Watch Anora in select theaters and on VOD.
- See more of Mikey’s work in Better Things, Scream, and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
- For more talks, hear our conversations with Pamela Adlon, Sebastian Stan, and Sean Baker.
- Order your Talk Easy mug in cream and navy or our vinyl record with Fran Lebowitz.
Illustrations by Krishna Shenoi.
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