Building strong comedic characters is no small feat, and Timothy Simons reflects on the craft, curiosity and commitment behind creating some of television’s most memorable performances. From discovering acting after college to becoming a standout performer in Veep and Nobody Wants This, Timothy shares how specificity, collaboration and preparation have shaped his approach to every role. He dives into the process of finding the truth within comedy, building fully realized characters and navigating the unpredictable path of a career in Hollywood. Timothy also offers behind-the-scenes stories, practical audition advice and thoughtful insights into what it takes to create performances that connect with audiences and stand the test of time. 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.

Carrie Preston reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, versatility and a deep love of storytelling. From growing up in a small town and building her own theater company to studying at Juilliard and finding success across television, film and theater, she shares the experiences that helped define her approach to acting. Carrie discusses the importance of embracing individuality, finding the humanity in every character and trusting her instincts throughout the creative process. She also looks back on pivotal moments from projects like Elsbeth, The Good Wife and True Blood, offering insight into the preparation, collaboration and sense of play that continue to fuel her work decades into her career. 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.

In this conversation, Michael Peña reflects on a career defined by curiosity, observation and fully committing to every character, no matter the size of the role. He shares how he approaches acting as a practice of listening and presence, and why staying grounded in truth is what makes performances resonate. Michael looks back on the early days of auditioning and learning on set, the importance of instinct in his process and how he continues to refine his craft through collaboration and preparation. He also discusses working across a wide range of projects, including his role in Ant-Man, and how finding specificity and humanity in each character, especially in unexpected or comedic ones, has been central to his 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.

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.

From self-tapes during the pandemic to starring in some of Hollywood’s most anticipated projects, Chase Infiniti reflects on the mindset, resilience and self-belief that have guided her rapid rise in the industry. She shares how growing up in Indianapolis and falling in love with performance at a young age led her to pursue acting, the lessons she learned navigating auditions during the pandemic and why letting go of perfection changed everything. Chase opens up about landing her breakout role in Presumed Innocent, training for One Battle After Another and stepping into the world of The Testaments. Along the way, she discusses staying curious, finding joy in the work, learning from seasoned collaborators and the importance of paying it forward for the next generation of actors. 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.

Katherine LaNasa reflects on the unexpected journey that took her from ballet dancer to acclaimed actor, sharing how a documentary about Sanford Meisner first inspired her to pursue acting and how stepping away from the industry at times helped her rediscover her love for the craft. She opens up about overcoming burnout, embracing her identity as a “pretty weirdo” and finding truth through empathy, grief and deep character work. Along the way, Katherine discusses studying with Meisner, working alongside legends like Robert Duvall and Billy Bob Thornton, and memorable roles throughout her career, closing on why her recent work has reminded her that authenticity will always matter more than perfection. 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.