The Modern Buddhism Podcast Meditation in Hollywood
Apr 4, 2026
Cameron Mathison, actor known for long-running soap and TV roles, shares how playing a hated character mirrored his own mind. He talks about facing online hate and real-life confrontations. He describes using lojong and meditation to transform adversity into resilience. He also reflects on how role work revealed delusions and the value of spiritual friends.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Playing Drew Revealed A Selfish “Me Against The World” Mindset
- Cameron Mathison describes how he discovered his character Drew evolved into a deeply selfish, unlikable congressman driven by self-cherishing.
- He traces Drew's actions (affairs, corruption, manipulation) to a “me against the world” mindset that made the role easy and believable for him.
Public Hate Followed From Playing A Detestable Character
- Mathison recounts receiving intense public hate and even physical annoyances while grocery shopping because viewers conflate him with Drew.
- He deliberately reads comments, sometimes deletes abusive ones, and posts family photos to respond with calm authenticity.
Hardship Expanded Perspective Making Insults Less Painful
- Cameron reframed audience hostility and on-set abuse as a practice opportunity to build resilience and reduce need for external validation.
- Surviving his house fire and other trials expanded his perspective so insults became less triggering.
