Few icons are as globally memorialized as Elvis Presley, but for ?Elvis" filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, the biopic felt like "a blank sheet to explore? American history, commercialization and the true origin of rock 'n' roll: Black music. In this episode of ?The Envelope,? Luhrmann shares his unique take on Presley?s tragic story, how Austin Butler was able to ?meld his soul with Elvis' soul? and how a pair of socks connected a young Baz to the King.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Fresh off the ?Better Call Saul? series finale, Rhea Seehorn joins us to delve into the show?s last twists and turns and to give insight into her Emmy-nominated portrayal of ethically flexible attorney Kim Wexler.

If Kim and Bob Odenkirk?s Jimmy McGill character were to get a do-over, how far back in time would they have to travel to put themselves on track for a happily-ever-after? Probably all the way back to the beginning of the series, when they worked together in the mailroom, Seehorn muses. ?They would go out with each other, fall in love and then get really, really great therapists.?

In this episode of ?The Envelope,? she also discusses her efforts to balance gratitude with confidence in her skills, how her father?s alcoholism shaped her as an actor and the scariest day on the ?Better Call Saul? set: when Odenkirk suffered a heart attack right in front of her.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Around 2015, actor-writer-director Colman Domingo was planning to quit it all and find a new career. But instead of giving up, he revamped his approach ? and found new happiness.

In this episode of ?The Envelope,? the Emmy nominee discusses modeling his ?Euphoria? character, Ali, after someone dear to his heart as he reflects on the nature of redemption and forgiveness. ?Everyone has faults,? he says. ?Everyone is suffering and struggling. But everyone, when they have accountability, there ? should be inroads for them to come back into good grace.? He also dishes on why he calls himself a nerd, the adorable way he first met Zendaya, and why being ?a shapeshifter? means his real-life looks take people by surprise.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Since her 1994 debut in ?Heavenly Creatures,? Melanie Lynskey has been acting steadily while ?flying comfortably right under the radar.? Now, for her electric role on ?Yellowjackets,? Lynskey has earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series ? and a whole new level of fame. In this episode of ?The Envelope? podcast, she dishes on how this year has helped her feel more empowered and less underestimated, arriving at a place of self-love after struggling with an eating disorder, and why roles of women who take up a lot of space appeal to her. Oh, and there?s also a delightful story about a Nick Cave concert, a charming Drew Barrymore impression and a brief visit from a very special guest.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Bill Hader and his dark comedy ?Barry? have again raked in a slew of Emmy nominations. In this episode of ?The Envelope? podcast, Hader dishes on what it?s like to simultaneously star in, write for, direct and executive produce a high-profile TV series of his own creation. (While doing some high-emotion acting, he recalls, ?I kind of induced a panic attack ? which I do not recommend if you're also directing.?) He also delves into how he transitioned from performing on ?Saturday Night Live? to what he calls ?real acting,? how it feels to shut down a freeway and why he laughs at the darkest moments.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Gillian Anderson, who plays Eleanor Roosevelt on the Showtime series ?The First Lady,? Joanna on ?The Great? and Dr. Jean Milburn on ?Sex Education,? really vibes with female characters who forge their own paths ? and there?s good reason for that: Even when she was a small child, ?telling Gillian what she could and couldn?t do? was impossible, she recalls her mother saying. In this episode of ?The Envelope,? Anderson dishes on the importance of Roosevelt?s loving relationship with journalist Lorena Hickok, why ?Sex Education? initially didn?t click with her, and the long legacy of ?The X-Files.?

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Simone Ashley has always been a fan of the romance genre, but before being cast as Kate Sharma in ?Bridgerton,? playing the lead in a period drama seemed improbable to her. ?I never imagined that a woman who looked like me could be a part of one,? she says. In this episode of "The Envelope" podcast, Ashley discusses embracing the political aspects of her career, how acting on ?Sex Education? prepared her for "Bridgerton" and how her upbringing taught her to dream big.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Jennifer Coolidge opens up about shifting from drama to comedy (and back again), overcoming cocaine addiction in her 20s and channeling the death of her mother to play the grieving Tanya McQuoid in ?White Lotus.?

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

A previous version of this episode was published Dec. 7, 2021. 

Jessica Biel?s latest series, ?Candy,? is based on the true story of Candace Montgomery ? a do-it-all mom who snaps after years of repressing her anger and kills her lover?s wife with an ax. ?I understand her rage,? says Biel, relating to the stresses of projecting a perfect image in public. In this episode, she discusses why she?s drawn to playing antiheroes, how scrutiny of celebrities has changed since she was starring in ?7th Heaven,? and the heated debates that she and husband Justin Timberlake ? who makes a cameo in ?Candy? ? had about the murder mystery.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

?Stranger Things? has brought Hopper back for Season 4, and nobody?s gladder than David Harbour, who wants to peel back the layers of the character and reveal ?the hero that you've always wanted him to be? (as long as he survives this season, that is). In this episode of ?The Envelope,? Harbour shares his thoughts on portraying a cop in the midst of national police brutality conversations, the upsides of finding fame later in his career, and how acting has helped him manage his mental health.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

We're back for Emmys season and kicking things off with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, who recently wrapped up their much-beloved Netflix series, ?Grace and Frankie.? In this episode, the duo laugh and cry with us while reflecting on their decades-long friendship, their mutual admiration for their ?9 to 5? co-star Dolly Parton, who reunited with them for the final episode, and the lies people tell about aging and death.

 To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Ahead of this weekend's Oscars ceremony, L.A. Times critics Justin Chang, Mary McNamara and Glenn Whipp join "The Envelope" co-host Mark Olsen to discuss the the ins and outs of this year's awards season, what to expect on the big night, and the future of the Academy Awards.

Mandy Moore reflects on the shocking Pearson family conversation in the latest "This is Us" episode, "Taboo," and teases what's coming up as the series finale nears. (Hint: Big Three trilogy episodes, Kate and Toby's relationship, Rebecca's final goodbye, and a pastrami sandwich.) Plus, what you can expect from her directorial debut, her parting words for Rebecca Pearson, and a blast from her past pop star life.  To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

In her first audition for the role of Anita in Steven Spielberg?s ?West Side Story,? Ariana DeBose stressed the importance of having her identity represented. ?If you aren?t interested in reflecting that in the context of your script,? she told the acclaimed director, ?I don?t think that you should hire me.? The result is a far cry from the ?ethnically ambiguous? characters DeBose has portrayed in the past, and she is now the first Afro Latina and the first queer woman of color to be nominated for an acting Oscar. In this interview, DeBose details the most joyful (and harrowing) moments of shooting ?West Side Story,? her experience of being typecast in Hollywood, and why ? despite initial hesitance ? she ultimately decided to follow in Rita Moreno?s footsteps by starring in the remake.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Though she's had a long career, Aunjanue Ellis has only recently broken through to widespread acclaim. Now, she  is  nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in "King Richard" as Oracene Price, the mother of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. In this ?The Envelope? podcast interview, she opens up  about fighting for her character to receive her due  as a coach of the Williams sisters, the practical perks of being nominated for an Oscar, and her approach to playing nonfictional characters.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Kieran Culkin, who plays Roman Roy on "Succession," helps us dissect the moments from the Season 3 finale that we still can't stop thinking about: the  Roy sibling alliance,  Gerri's betrayal, and the surprising ending.  Plus, we discuss his upbringing as a child actor, why conjuring up his family's past doesn't actually help him in scenes and THAT Jeremy Strong New Yorker article. Fair warning: This conversation contains profanity. To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.

Ahmir ?Questlove? Thompson on how sifting through 40 hours of archival footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival ? where legends like Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder performed in the same summer as Woodstock ? led to his debut documentary, ?"Summer of Soul.? Plus, how the parallel protests of 2020 and 1969, as well as a focus on Black joy, helped to shape the film, and why he still considers "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon his creative epicenter.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com

"Spencer" director  Pablo Larraín details the historical truths in his Princess Diana fable, explains the film?s handling of sensitive elements ? such as Diana?s eating disorder and relationship with her sons ? and shares the moment on set when Kristen Stewart ?lost it? in a good way. To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com.  

Beanie Feldstein takes us behind the scenes of her performance on ?Impeachment: American Crime Story? and shares why playing Monica Lewinsky forced her to 'disassociate' from herself. Plus, she opens up about the sudden death of her brother Jordan and gushes over the Jewish women (Bette and Barbra) who paved the way for her role as Fanny Brice in the upcoming Broadway revival of ?Funny Girl.?

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com

Maggie Gyllenhaal discusses the ?electrifying? experience that led to her adaptation of ?The Lost Daughter.? Plus, she details her correspondence with anonymous author Elena Ferrante, her attempts to truthfully portray motherhood on screen and her hopes for future collaborations with her brother, Jake Gyllenhaal.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com

Daniel Dae Kim recounts how an attack on his sister catalyzed his fight against AAPI hate crimes, his greatest fear when it came to ?Lost,? and why having a seat at the table as a producer is both ?liberating? and ?soul-destroying.? Plus, he discusses his first lead role: an FBI agent on National Geographic?s ?The Hot Zone: Anthrax.?

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

Live from AFI Fest, "Swan Song" director Benjamin Cleary and actor Mahershala Ali discuss the heartbreaking inspiration for the film, the challenges of shooting during a pandemic, and improvising scenes with Naomie Harris. Plus, Ali shares why every role ? from a commercial to "Blade" ? is equally important to him.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

Issa Rae breaks down the "Insecure" finale, including Molly and Issa?s heart to heart and why ? after considering alternate endings ? she decided to let her character choose happiness. Plus, Rae details her regrets about turning South L.A. into a Hollywood landmark, when she learned what not to share publicly, and how the success of "Insecure" has changed her meetings with studio execs.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

Halle Berry details how she channeled her childhood trauma in her directorial debut, ?Bruised?; why she has ?great compassion? for people struggling to get it right; and how she had to fight for roles even after becoming the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for best actress nearly 20 years ago.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

Director Adam McKay takes us behind the scenes of ?Don?t Look Up? to reveal the real-life events that inspired his new film. Plus, why his collaboration with Will Ferrell had to end and the rule he enforces about discussing potential awards on set.

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

Jennifer Coolidge opens up about shifting from drama to comedy (and back again), overcoming cocaine addiction in her 20s and channeling the death of her mother to play the grieving Tanya McQuoid in ?White Lotus.?

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

Kirsten Dunst shares stories about growing up in Hollywood, why she decided to publicly address her mental health break, and the joyful ? though sometimes awkward ? moments of acting opposite her real-life partner, Jesse Plemons, in ?The Power of the Dog.?

To read a full transcript of this interview, please visit the episode page at latimes.com. 

The Envelope podcast will return November 30 with brand new episodes that pull back the curtain on this award season?s top contenders. Each week, A-list actors, directors and showrunners join Los Angeles Times entertainment reporters Yvonne Villarreal and Mark Olsen for intimate conversations about their personal lives and creative processes ? and how that all fuels their art. New episodes featuring stars such as Kirsten Dunst, Halle Berry, Jennifer Coolidge and Adam McKay will drop every Tuesday.

Follow wherever you get your podcasts.

Mj Rodriguez has busted through a tough barrier as the first transgender performer nominated for an Emmy in a lead acting category. Now that she?s wrapped up her successful run in the hit FX show ?Pose,? will there be more great mainstream opportunities for trans performers in the future?

?Pose? took us into New York?s LGBTQ ballroom scene amid the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and early ?90s, and Rodriguez brought it all together as Blanca, the mother of the House of Evangelista. Regardless of whether she wins the Emmy next month for outstanding lead actress in a drama series, she?s already made history.

Today, Rodriguez talks about her background as a musical theater performer and Berklee-educated songwriter, the night she learned that the part of Blanca was hers and how she feels the doors are opening up for trans performers. Plus we?ve got a clip of her new single.

More reading:

How Mj Rodriguez and Billy Porter are saying goodbye to ?Pose?

?Pose? cast celebrates Mj Rodriguez?s historic Emmy nomination: ?About mf?n time?

Queer actors are finally playing queer roles. Next up? More chances to play it straight

Hannah Waddingham discusses her Emmy-nominated performance in ?Ted Lasso,? the feel-good Apple TV+ comedy series that centers on the upbeat American coach of an English soccer team. Waddingham plays the coach?s initially vindictive and cynical boss, Rebecca. 

She also talks about her turn as the ?Game of Thrones? nun who infamously yelled ?Shame! Shame!? at Cersei Lannister, recounts how doors have opened for her during her career and reflects on her childhood as the daughter and granddaughter of opera singers.

More reading:

Those biscuits in ?Ted Lasso? look delish. Not so much, says Hannah Waddingham

?Ted Lasso?s? Christmas episode wasn?t part of the plan. Here?s how they pulled it off

?Ted Lasso? isn?t just a TV show. It?s a vibe

Photo courtesy of Apple TV+

Chances are, you already know the names of Emmy favorites like ?Ted Lasso? and ?The Crown,? which are expected to rack up the statuettes when the TV academy hands out its annual awards next month. But you may not have had time to catch up on all of this year?s Emmy nominees just yet ? and on this latest crossover between ?The Envelope? and ?The Times? podcasts, TV editor Matt Brennan and awards columnist Glenn Whipp reveal their favorite Emmy underdogs.

Photo courtesy of Des Willie/Netflix

He was a legendary lawyer. She?s a Real Housewife. Together, Tom and Erika Girardi made a striking couple. He funded their lavish lifestyle with multimillion-dollar settlements. She used that money to create a career as a pop singer named Erika Jayne. But did they break the law to build their dream life?In this crossover episode with our sister podcast ?The Times,? we get into a story straight out of a reality TV plotline. (The couple?s unraveling and legal travails are, in fact, included in this season of Bravo TV?s ?The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.?)

It?s way more than fluff: Tom Girardi was a big-deal attorney ? one of his cases served as the basis for the Julia Roberts film ?Erin Brockovich? ? and he wielded substantial political clout. But a troubling side recently emerged: Clients, including widows and orphans, say they never received tens of millions of dollars his firm was supposed to pass along to them.We speak to the Los Angeles Times investigative reporters who are covering the Girardis? downfall. And we talk to the Los Angeles Times television reporter about why the public just can?t turn away from this story.

More reading:
Vegas parties, celebrities and boozy lunches: How legal titan Tom Girardi seduced the State Bar
The legal titan and the ?Real Housewife?: The rise and fall of Tom Girardi and Erika Jayne
?Real Housewives? attorney Tom Girardi used cash and clout to forge powerful political connections

Our guest is Janicza Bravo, director and co-writer of the new film ?Zola.? Bravo talks about adapting the screenplay from a viral Twitter thread, trusting her instincts about casting, combining comedy and anxiety to push audience reactions, and how she became a go-to director for prestige TV series wanting to change-up their style.

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo courtesy of Nastassia Brückin.

Our guest is actor John Boyega, who recently played police officer Leroy Logan in ?Red, White and Blue,? which is part of Steve McQueen?s ?Small Axe? anthology series. Boyega talks about his relationship with his dad, moving on from the "Star Wars" trilogy, using his platform to highlight social injustice and working in Hollywood. For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo courtesy of Getty.

Our guest is actor Phoebe Dynevor, who plays Daphne Bridgerton in the steamy Netflix Regency drama ?Bridgerton.? Dynevor talks about the passionate fanbase behind the show, tips the intimacy coordinator shared on set and shooting kissing scenes in the rain with costar Regé-Jean Page. For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo courtesy of Netflix.

Our guest is Barry Jenkins, the director and showrunner for "The Underground Railroad," which is based on Colson Whitehead?s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Jenkins talks about his artistic vision for the show, why he chose a television format over film, and what he learned from making "Moonlight" and "If Beale Street Could Talk." For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo courtesy of GL Askew II.

Our guest is actor Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Wanda Maximoff in "WandaVision." Olsen talks about the television sitcoms she watched while researching for the role and her approach to acting in the Marvel series. For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter.

With the Oscars behind us, the 2021 Emmys season is kicking into gear. And we?re looking back at our favorite conversations with TV stars and directors this season, including Steve McQueen, Kaley Cuoco, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Anya Taylor-Joy and Josh O?Connor. For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter.

Our guest is Steven Canals, co-creator of FX?s groundbreaking drama ?Pose.? Canals talks about directing the series finale while grieving the loss of his grandmother, striking balance in the show between joy and trauma, and why he feels ?ultra privileged? to be working in TV and entertainment right now.

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo courtesy of ID PR.

Our guest is actor Kate Winslet, who plays a Pennsylvania police detective in the new HBO series ?Mare of Easttown.? Winslet talks about how she got the Delaware County accent down for the series, sharing a house with fellow actors Guy Pearce and Jean Smart and how she was able to hold her breath for more than 7 minutes for "Avatar 2."

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo by Frederic Auerbach.

Our guest is actor Cynthia Erivo, who plays Aretha Franklin in ?Genius: Aretha? in National Geographic?s biographical anthology series. Erivo talks about how she landed the role, using her platform to advocate for change and the way scent has helped her find characters. Plus: Reaction to the 2021 Academy Awards from L.A. Times columnists Glenn Whipp and Mary McNamara.

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo by Terrell Mullin.

Our guest is Emerald Fennell, who wrote, directed and produced ?Promising Young Woman.? Her debut feature film got five Oscar nominations. Fennell talks about the strong responses to ?Promising Young Woman? since its release, the importance of casting actor Carey Mulligan in the starring role and writing a new screenplay about the DC Comics superhero Zatanna Zatara.

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo by Faye Thomas.

Our guest is actor Amanda Seyfried, who earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Marion Davies in ?Mank.? Seyfried talks about why this performance is her favorite to date, what it was like to meet the film?s director, David Fincher, for the first time, and the prep she?s doing for her next role playing disgraced Silicon Valley executive Elizabeth Holmes.

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo by Michael Nagle.

Our guest is actor and producer Kate Mara, who plays a high school teacher who gets involved with her teenage student on the FX on Hulu series ?A Teacher.? Mara talks about the importance of having discussions about sexual assault, what it was like to produce her first TV series, and the happy accident of not being cast in ?Lost.?

For more exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for our Envelope newsletter. Guest photo by Diego Uchitel.

Our guests are actor Mads Mikkelsen and director Thomas Vinterberg. Their latest collaboration is the Oscar-nominated ?Another Round.? Mikkelsen and Vinterberg talk about why they set their film among high school teachers, whether there really was any drinking on set and how they created that already iconic dance number at the end of the movie.

Photo by Henrik Ohsten. For more Envelope exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for the Envelope newsletter.

Our guest is artist and filmmaker Garrett Bradley, who earned a documentary feature Oscar nomination for ?Time,? about subject Fox Rich?s 21-year fight to free her husband from prison. Bradley talks about weaving together archival and contemporary footage, why she's obsessed with shooting close-ups of her characters, and how vintage piano jazz composed by an Ethiopian nun became the emotional score for the film. Photo courtesy of Garrett Bradley.

For more Envelope exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for the Envelope newsletter.

Our guest is Sacha Baron Cohen, who has received Golden Globe awards and Oscar, SAG, PGA and WGA nominations for ?Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,? and for his portrayal of activist Abbie Hoffman in ?The Trial of The Chicago 7.? Plus: Reaction to the 2021 Oscar nominations from our columnist Glenn Whipp. Photo credit: Russell James.

For more Envelope exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for the Envelope newsletter.

Our guest is Shaka King, the director, co-writer and producer of ?Judas and the Black Messiah.? The film tells the story of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and FBI informant William O?Neal, whose intel led to Hampton?s killing by law enforcement in 1969. King talks about why he felt a responsibility to make the movie, how one day of shooting felt like stepping into a time warp, and making the jump from indie filmmaking to big studio production. Photo credit: Parris Whittingham.

For more Envelope exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for the Envelope newsletter.

Our guest is Steve McQueen, the director, co-writer and executive producer of ?Small Axe.? McQueen talks about the ethos behind this anthology of five films set in London?s West Indian community in the 1960s, ?70s and ?80s, and the steps he's taking to get more young people of color into the entertainment industry. Plus: Reaction to the 2021 Golden Globes Awards from our writer Glenn Whipp. Photo credit: BBC Studios.

For more Envelope exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for the Envelope newsletter.

Sponsors include:

Hulu, presenting ?The United States vs. Billie Holiday,? the Golden Globe award-winning film, and ?Palm Springs,? the twice Golden Globe award-nominated film. Now streaming, only on Hulu.

Our guest is Kaley Cuoco, who was nominated for Golden Globe and SAG awards for her role in ?The Flight Attendant? on HBO Max. Cuoco talks about needing some convincing to play certain scenes, what it was like to work with co-star Rosie Perez and what she?ll be wearing for the Globe awards on Sunday. Photo credit: Nino Munoz.

For more Envelope exclusive awards season coverage, visit latimes.com/envelope and sign up for the Envelope newsletter.

Sponsors include:

HBO, presenting ?The Undoing? and ?Lovecraft Country,? two Golden Globe-nominated and SAG Awards-nominated critically acclaimed HBO original TV series. Now streaming on HBO Max.