Fresh Air Best Of: Kate Hudson / Stellan Skarsgård
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Feb 28, 2026 
Stellan Skarsgård, a Swedish actor with six decades of film work and a recovery story after a stroke; Kate Hudson, an Oscar-nominated American actress and recent singer who released a debut album. They talk about performing while overcoming memory challenges, using a prompter earpiece, pursuing singing later in life, prosthetics and inhabiting real people, and longtime careers in film and theater.
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How A TV Performance Landed Kate Hudson Her Role
- Kate Hudson describes how Hugh Jackman discovered her singing on CBS Sunday Morning and texted director Craig Brewer that he'd found Claire for Song Sung Blue.
- Hudson explains she was promoting her debut album Glorious and speaking about parenting and creative regret when Jackman reached out, leading to the role offer.
Trusting The Director's Adaptation Of A Real Life
- Hudson says she honored Claire's real-life story by delaying personal research until after filming to avoid distracting the director's adapted narrative.
- She met Claire on set only after developing the character to validate choices rather than shape the film's vision.
Making Almost Famous Felt Like Living In A Band
- Hudson recalls Almost Famous as a six-month shoot with rock school where the cast learned instruments and lived the band-aid life.
- She describes Cameron Crowe's intense, personal direction and the cast bonding through long days and method-like preparation.