I AM AN ACTOR

From a breakout role on Riverdale to acclaimed performances in May December and Beef, Charles Melton has transformed the way audiences see him — and himself as an actor. Charles reflects on the craft, preparation and personal experiences that have shaped his approach to acting, opening up about finding his process, doing the work behind each character and learning to trust himself on set. He dives into the importance of research, physicality and body language, revealing how he builds characters from the inside out and prepares himself to let go once the cameras roll. Charles also shares insights into working with acclaimed actors, adapting from role to role and staying grounded while navigating the highs and pressures of a career in Hollywood. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.  I AM AN ACTOR  is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Justin Hartley reflects on a career built through resilience, hard work and a genuine love of storytelling. From an unexpected start in acting after college to starring in more than 500 soap opera episodes before becoming a household name on This Is Us and Tracker, he shares the experiences that shaped his approach to the craft. Justin discusses the importance of preparation, building rich inner lives for his characters and collaborating with directors and fellow actors to create authentic performances. He also looks back on pivotal moments throughout his career, offering behind-the-scenes stories, practical audition advice and thoughtful insights into what it takes to build a lasting career in Hollywood. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.  I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Jackie Tohn reflects on a career shaped by persistence, resilience and an unwavering belief in herself. From booking sitcoms as a child actor to navigating development deals, near-misses and years of auditions, she shares the realities of building a life in Hollywood and what it takes to keep going when success feels just out of reach. Jackie opens up about the lessons she learned from rejection, the pressure she put on herself to succeed and how comedy, creativity and a relentless work ethic helped her push through the industry's toughest moments. She also looks back on pivotal chapters of her career, including GLOW and Nobody Wants This, and explains why taking risks, creating your own opportunities and betting on yourself have been the keys to her longevity. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X. I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Phil Dunster explores the craft of acting, reflecting on early drama school training through to breakout success in Ted Lasso and what it takes to build complex, compelling characters that feel deeply human. He shares how physicality, clowning, and stage work shaped his approach to performance, and why leaning into flawed or difficult characters often leads to the most honest storytelling. He also discusses stepping into roles that balance comedy and vulnerability, learning to trust instinct over perfection, and the importance of ensemble work on set. Along the way, he breaks down what it means to find humanity in characters who don’t always get it right, and why those roles tend to resonate most with audiences. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X. I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Mariska Hargitay reflects on the unexpected path that led her from ballet training to a lifelong career in acting, sharing how an early documentary on Sanford Meisner sparked her commitment to the craft and how formative early roles, including on ER, helped shape her voice on screen. She opens up about the deep preparation behind her work, the importance of empathy and emotional truth and what it means to sustain a 27-year legacy on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a role she says she “manifested” and continues to find meaning in every day. Mariska also speaks about the profound love she has for her SVU cast and crew, and the gift of working alongside both longtime collaborators and new generations of actors. She closes on her recent documentary about her mother, My Mom Jayne, and how telling that story deepened her understanding of legacy, grief and authenticity in her own life and work. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X. I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Kerry Washington kicks off her heels for a conversation on the experiences, training and relationships that shaped her journey as an actor, from discovering a lifelong love of performance in New York City's theater community to building a career defined by curiosity, discipline and collaboration. She shares how studying voice, movement and character research helped her develop a process rooted in specificity, why accent work and portraying real people offer unique pathways into a role and how formative experiences in theater, conservatory training and international study expanded her understanding of storytelling. Along the way, she discusses her work on Scandal, Django Unchained and Imperfect Women, the evolution of Olivia Pope over seven seasons and how producing has allowed her to create opportunities for more complex, nuanced stories both on screen and behind the scenes. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X. I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Quinta Brunson sits down for a heartfelt conversation about building Abbott Elementary from the ground up, tracing her path from childhood impressions in the back of a minivan to discovering improv in college, studying at Second City and breaking into the industry through BuzzFeed and viral digital sketches. She reflects on how those early experiences shaped her voice as a performer and writer, and how she eventually translated that into creating a hit network sitcom. Quinta also opens up about developing Janine Teagues, balancing writing and acting at the same time and why she’s intentional about making flawed, funny women feel deeply human on screen. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X. I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Sofia Carson reflects on her journey from flamenco dancing at age five to Hollywood leading lady, opening up about discovering her love for acting, music and storytelling at a young age and the discipline that shaped her career long before her breakout roles. She looks back on the success of Descendants, balancing music and acting, and the pressure and gratitude that came with becoming a role model for young audiences. Sofia also shares how projects like Purple Hearts, My Oxford Year and Feel The Beat pushed her creatively, why storytelling continues to guide every career decision she makes and how she’s stepping into a new chapter as both an actor and producer. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.  I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Kate Hudson reveals what it was really like growing up in Hollywood, stepping onto sets as a kid and working to earn her own name in the industry. She reflects on getting her SAG card at 16, turning down early opportunities tied to her family and the intention behind building a career on her own terms. Kate also looks back on her iconic roles that defined generations and shares why she’s always been drawn to reinvention, from acting to producing and her growing interest in directing, writing and teaching. Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of I AM AN ACTOR. Keep up with us on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.  I AM AN ACTOR is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.