Interviews, Monologues, Acting Tips and Advice

In this interview, actress Cindy Busby dives into her role as Nora Anderson in Season 2 of When Hope Calls. From learning how to drive a real horse-drawn wagon to portraying a groundbreaking female lawyer in 1920, Cindy shares the behind-the-scenes challenges and joys of stepping into a period drama. She opens up about the importance of character evolution, her journey to landing the lead role, and even reflects on returning to Heartland after more than a decade.

Here's a bit more of what we talked about:
• 00:02 – Immersing into Period Acting: Cindy shares how the period costumes, makeup, and standing sets on When Hope Calls help her fully transform into her character and feel transported to another era.
• 01:54 – Learning to Drive a Horse-Drawn Wagon: She learned to drive a real horse-drawn wagon for the role, including practicing figure eights and slow turns—only learning after that it could tip over!
• 03:01 – Working with Horses: Cindy talks about the challenges of working with horses on set, joking that they have strong personalities and sometimes try to "test" her authority.
• 04:23 – Odd Skills Learned for Acting: Throughout her career, Cindy has had to learn many unusual skills like archery, ballroom dancing, fake skiing, and how to handle a dog show—each adding to her actor toolkit.
• 05:49 – Playing a Female Lawyer in 1920: She discusses the significance of playing Nora, a rare female lawyer in 1920, when only 0.01% of lawyers were women—something that deeply shapes her character.
• 07:42 – Joining an Established Cast: Cindy reflects on joining the cast in season 2, sharing that while she felt some nerves, the returning cast was welcoming, and she quickly felt at home.
• 09:26 – From Audition to Leading Role: She originally auditioned for season one (a different role) and later for a part in season 2, which didn't work out. Eventually, she landed the role of Nora—a journey she’s grateful for.
• 11:16 – The Joy of Character Evolution: Cindy talks about the unique experience of evolving a character over time in a series, as opposed to the condensed arc of a film, allowing her to grow alongside her roles.
• 12:58 – Returning to ‘Heartland’: Returning to play Ashley in Heartland after 11 years was emotional and special. Cindy describes reconnecting with the role and her co-stars as a surreal but fulfilling experience.
• 14:16 – How Characters Live Within You: She reflects on how characters never truly leave—how stepping back into an old role can feel like slipping on a familiar pair of cowboy boots.

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Josh McDermitt interview, one of the stars of NBC's Suits LA, talks about his role as Stuart Lane, and how acting choices—from wardrobe to improv—shaped his performance. From costume choices to creating strong on-set chemistry with the cast, Josh shares his behind-the-scenes experience on Suits LA and how he transforms for every role.

📌 Chapters included – jump to your favorite moment using the timestamps below!

Here's more of what we talked about:
00:00 – Intro and Talk About Growing His Beard and Why He Kept it for Suits LA
01:41 – Actors Having Fun on Set: Josh reflects on the cast chemistry and why it’s crucial for strong acting performances.
03:11 –Character Entrance Scenes: He explains preparing for his confident elevator entrance in Suits LA’s pilot.
04:21 – Feeling the Character Through Suits: Josh dives into how tailored suits and wardrobe help him embody his role.
05:59 – Actor Transformation Through Looks: He talks about how changing his appearance helps him fully commit to each character.
08:23 – Improvising with the Cast: He details how they are allowed to improvise funny scene endings on Suits LA.

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The stars of The Handmaids Tale, Samira Wiley and Sam Jaeger, reflect on their journey through Gilead, from unexpected character arcs to working with Elizabeth Moss as both a co-star and director.

Timestamps:
(00:50) Samira Wiley reflects that she never imagined the show would last six seasons, especially since season 1 covered the book in full.
(01:27) She explains how the actors and writers developed a collaborative rhythm over time, with writers adapting to the actors' cadences and performances.
(02:04) Sam Jaeger shares he originally joined as a guest star and didn’t expect to return—his role expanded as a way to express Gilead's larger political themes.
(02:33) Jaeger notes that his character Mark was used to convey context, replacing the need for exposition.
(03:11) He recalls a pivotal episode where Mark tricks Fred into being arrested, reflecting on the production's attention to detail and purposeful direction.
(03:41) A drone shot discussion led Jaeger to realize the show's visual and narrative intentionality, deepening his respect for the team’s precision.
(04:12) Both actors discuss how Elizabeth Moss, who also directs, brings unique efficiency and collaboration thanks to her acting background.
(04:56) Wiley highlights Moss’s consuming passion and respect for fellow actors, making the on-set experience more trusting and collaborative.

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Ever wonder how The Handmaid’s Tale stars handle those intense scenes? Amanda Brugel and Madeline Brewer spill behind-the-scenes secrets—from why Madeline doesn't read full scripts to the one song they both use to get ready for emotional scenes.

They talk acting, ego, dark scenes, and what really happens between takes.

Here's a bit more of what was talked about:
00:42 – Amanda vs Madeline on Script Reading: Brewer admits she doesn’t read the full scripts, only her parts, so she can experience the show as a fan too. Brugel confirms that she does read all the scripts.
01:14 – Watching Themselves as Actors: Brugel says she avoids it during filming to prevent herself from performance choices.
02:19 – Handling Dark Acting Scenes: Brewer and Brugel discuss how they emotionally manage darker scenes. Brewer says some scenes are easy to shake off, but others linger.
03:20 – Using Music for Acting Emotion: They discuss how the body can’t differentiate between real and acted emotions, which makes intense scenes physically and emotionally impactful.
04:07 – Favorite Song for Actor Prep: They reveal the song they use for emotional scenes.

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