In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

John Krasinski is best known for his Jim Halpert on the award-winning “The Office,” but as this in-depth interview suggests, he’s as much a writer-director-producer as a comedic star. Inspired by his arts education at Brown University and the National Theater Institute, he’s starred in “Leatherheads,” “Away We Go,” “13 Hours,” collaborated on “Promised Land” and “Manchester by the Sea,” and helmed “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men,” “The Hollars,” and now, the Paramount Pictures horror hit “A Quiet Place,” co-starring his wife, Emily Blunt. John also currently produces and leads the Amazon thriller series “Jack Ryan,” which means he is having quite the year. Brought to you by Universal Pictures. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

Triple threat MJ Rodriguez, born and raised in New Jersey where she got her big break in an Off-Broadway production of “Rent,” got an even bigger break last year when she was cast as Blanca, mother of the House of Evangelista, in FX’s drama “Pose” from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals. She leads the largest cast of transgender actors in the history of scripted TV, recreating the world of queer culture in 1980s New York City. MJ joins the podcast with advice on practicing patience and blazing trails in the biz. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

You may know Zoe Kazan from the feature film she wrote and starred in, “Ruby Sparks,” or for her performances on and Off-Broadway, in last year’s “The Big Sick,” and on the miniseries “Olive Kitteridge,” which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination. This year she’s both the writer and producer behind IFC Film’s “Wildlife,” directed by her partner Paul Dano, and one of the stars of the Coen brothers’ Netflix western, “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” And she’s got never-before-heard advice from both sides of the audition room table. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

In 2018 Lucas Hedges stars in three buzzy films—“Boy Erased,” Joel Edgerton’s retelling of Garrard Conley’s gay conversion therapy memoir; “Mid90s,” Jonah Hill’s skateboarding indie; and “Ben Is Back,” an addiction drama written and directed by his father Peter Hedges—plus on Broadway in “The Waverly Gallery” by Kenneth Lonergan, who penned his Oscar-nominated “Manchester by the Sea” role. Earning an ensemble SAG Award ensemble for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” and the distinction of counting Frances McDormand, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Julia Roberts among his on-screen parents, the 21-year-old actor joins us to reflect on his whirlwind of a career breakthrough. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast

Actor and activist Maggie Gyllenhaal has turned in striking and thought-provoking work in her every film role, from “Donnie Darko” and “Secretary” to “Sherrybaby” and “The Dark Knight.” She earned a Primetime Emmy nomination and won a Golden Globe for the miniseries “The Honourable Woman,” and has an Oscar nod for her supporting role in “Crazy Heart.” This year she’s both producer and star of HBO’s “The Deuce” and the new Netflix film “The Kindergarten Teacher,” excellent examples of Maggie’s fascinating “tightrope walk” of an artistic process. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

First a viral hit in a college “Harry Potter” parody musical, then a breakout triple threat on “Glee” and Broadway, and now Emmy-nominated for playing an assassin, Darren Criss is one of today’s most charismatic and versatile storytellers. Playing the lead role of 1990s spree killer Andrew Cunanan in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” the second season of Ryan Murphy’s anthologized FX hit “American Crime Story,” Darren dug deep into the darkest parts of his own psyche—and managed to find, as he always does, a common humanity. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

Ron Cephas Jones is proof that success in the entertainment biz, with patience, perseverance, and passion, can be achieved at age 60. After years of studying acting and jazz, scraping by with odd jobs in New York and Los Angeles, and balancing both fatherhood and downtown theater artistry, Ron is now Emmy-nominated a second time for NBC’s Dan Fogelman drama “This Is Us,” where he is beloved by fans as the poetic William Hill. The acting guru is looking back on an impressive career on both stage and screen—and is also clearly just getting started. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

Raised by actors and inspired by theater of the absurd at Fordham University in New York, Betty Gilpin is a performer full of surprises on both stage and screen. Her self-professed “gravitas Barbie clown” instincts are on full display in Debbie Eagan aka Liberty Belle, her character on Netflix’s 1980s female wrestling hit “GLOW,” a role that has earned Betty her first Emmy nomination for supporting actress in a comedy. For advice on how to manage expectations when a dream role is within reach, don’t miss this interview. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

Tracee Ellis Ross is a vocal advocate for equality and representation in Hollywood, a three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee for leading actress in a comedy series, and a role model who positively radiates inspiration. All combined, she makes an ideal guest on a podcast featuring awards contenders giving both life and career advice. She joins us to talk about Kenya Barris’ ABC family sitcom “Black-ish,” the importance of sending thank you notes, and the best advice she could give: work toward finding your own, truest self. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting

Chances are you know the final guest of this season of the podcast as the hilarious Jack McFarland on NBC’s hit sitcom “Will & Grace.” The beloved character not only earned Sean Hayes an Emmy and four SAG Awards, it put an out gay man on network TV, making inroads for LGBT media representation. After almost a decade off the air, “Will & Grace” has returned as funny and outrageous as ever, and Sean must rely on instincts homed in his native Chicago as a music director and comedian, during his Tony-nominated “Promises, Promises” run, and in countless other roles. Sean also develops entertainment as part of his company Hazy Mills Productions, meaning he has plenty of advice from both sides of the audition table. For over 50 years, Backstage has been the most trusted place for actors to find jobs and career advice, and for casting professionals to find the right performers for their projects. “In the Envelope: An Awards Podcast” features intimate, inspirational interviews with some of the most exciting actors and awards contenders working today. Check out more here: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ In the Envelope Twitter: twitter.com/InTheEnvelope Backstage Twitter: twitter.com/backstage Facebook: facebook.com/backstage Instagram: instagram.com/backstagecast YouTube: youtube.com/user/backstagecasting