Variety

PBS SoCal and Variety revisit some of the most inspiring, entertaining, and candid Actors on Actors conversations from the past decade. With Viola Davis, Hugh Grant, Octavia Spencer, Zendaya, Martin Short, and more.

Jessica Chastain and Mark Ruffalo, Eddie Redmayne and Laura Dern, Josh Brolin and J.K. Simmons, Kevin Costner and James Corden.

Reese Witherspoon and Michael Keaton, Keira Knightley and Ethan Hawke, David Oyelowo and Jack O'Connell, Jenny Slate and Felicity Jones.

Conversations with actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jeffrey Tambor, Queen Latifah, Taraji P. Henson, Jessica Lange, Taylor Schilling, Liev Shrieber, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Sheen and Bob Odenkirk.

Featuring Claire Danes with Don Cheadle, Matt LeBlanc with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Clive Owen with Julianna Margulies, Viola Davis with Jane Fonda, and Gina Rodriguez with Uzo Aduba.

This episode features Cate Blanchett (Carol/Truth) with Ian McKellen (Mr. Holmes), Will Smith (Concussion) with Benicio Del Toro (Sicario), Brie Larson (Room) with Joel Edgerton (Black Mass), and Samuel L. Jackson (The Hateful Eight) with Michael Keaton (Spotlight).

This episode features Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs) with Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Carey Mulligan (Suffragette) with Elizabeth Banks (Love & Mercy), Steve Carell (The Big Short) with Rooney Mara (Carol), and Bryan Cranston (Trumbo) with Jason Segel (The End of the Tour).

This episode features Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs) with Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Amy Schumer (Trainwreck) with Lily Tomlin (Grandma), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Walk) with Paul Dano (Love & Mercy), and Isabella Rossellini (Joy) with Charlotte Rampling (45 Years).

This episode features Lady Gaga (American Horror Story) with Jamie Lee Curtis (Scream Queens), Courtney B. Vance (American Crime Story) with Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish), Jennifer Lopez (Shades of Blue) with Felicity Huffman (American Crime), Aaron Paul (The Path) with Tom Hiddleston (The Night Manager), Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) with Jay Duplass (Transparent).

This episode features Rob Lowe (The Grinder) with John Travolta (American Crime Story), Sarah Paulson (American Crime Story) with Bobby Cannavale (Vinyl), Kerry Washington (Confirmation) with Aziz Ansari (Master of None), Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) with Kirsten Dunst (Fargo), Patrick Stewart (Blunt Talk) with Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley).

This episode features Viola Davis (Fences) and Tom Hanks (Sully), Emma Stone (La La Land) and Molly Shannon (Other People), Nicole Kidman (Lion) and Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea), and Matthew McConaughey (Gold) with Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water).

This episode features Natalie Portman (Jackie) and Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea), Amy Adams (Arrival, Nocturnal Animals) and Andrew Garfield (Silence, Hacksaw Ridge), Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures) with Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), and Annette Bening (20th Century Women) with Naomie Harris (Moonlight).

This episode features Colin Farrell (The Lobster) with Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins), Dev Patel (Lion) with Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), Sally Field (Hello, My Name is Doris) with Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) with Greta Gerwig (20th Century Women) and Adam Driver (Paterson) with Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals).

This episode features Thandie Newton (Westworld) and Oprah Winfrey (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) and John Lithgow (The Crown), Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce) and Michelle Pfeiffer (The Wizard of Lies), Freida Pinto (Guerrilla) with Milo Ventimiglia (This is Us), and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) with Constance Zimmer (UnREAL).

Featuring Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) with Ewan McGregor (Fargo), Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld), Pamela Adlon (Better Things) and Sterling K. Brown (This is Us), Riz Ahmed (The Night Of) and Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale), Brit Marling (The OA) and Issa Rae (Insecure), and Anthony Anderson (Black- ish) with Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory).

Featuring Jennifer Lawrence (mother!) with Adam Sandler (The Meyerowitz Stories), Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) with Kate Winslet (Wonder Wheel), Jake Gyllenhaal (Stronger) with Margot Robbie (I, Tonya), Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird) with Kristen Wiig (Downsizing), and Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name) with Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out).

Featuring Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) with Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick), Hugh Jackman (Logan) with Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project), Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) with Salma Hayek (Beatriz at Dinner), Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) with Allison Janney (I, Tonya).

Featuring Jessica Chastain (Molly's Game) with Holly Hunter (The Big Sick), Diane Kruger (In The Fade) with Hong Chau (Downsizing), Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water) with Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird), and Robert Pattinson (Good Time) with Jamie Bell (Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool).

Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose) with Claire Foy (The Crown) Angela Bassett (9-1-1) with Laura Dern (The Tale) Darren Criss (American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) with Mandy Moore (This is Us) Jason Bateman (Ozark) with Bill Hader (Barry) Jessica Biel (The Sinner) with Alison Brie (GLOW).

Featuring Debra Messing (Will & Grace) with Sharon Stone (Mosaic), Michael B. Jordan (Fahrenheit 451) with Issa Rae (Insecure), Jeff Daniels (The Looming Tower) with Laura Linney (Ozark), Tiffany Haddish (The Last O.G.) with John Legend (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert), Edie Falco (Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Brothers) with J.K. Simmons (Counterpart).

Nicole Kidman (A Boy Erased/Destroyer) discusses her struggle with shyness, while Amy Adams (Vice) talks about her competition with co-star Christian Bale. Mahershala Ali (Green Book) discusses his unusual role with John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman) talks about working with director Spike Lee. Felicity Jones (On the Basis of Sex) and Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians) talk #MeToo and #TimesUp.

Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) differentiates between dramatic and comedic roles, while Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther) discusses the impact of international box office hits. Timothée Chalamet (Beautiful Boy) and Emma Stone (The Favourite) recall their earliest roles. Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns/A Quiet Place) and Hugh Jackman (The Front Runner) discuss singing in public.

John Krasinski (A Quiet Place) talks about how parenting influenced him. Rosamund Pike (A Private War) discusses playing a real-life American journalist. Michael B. Jordan (Creed II /Black Panther) and Charlize Theron (Tully) discuss how they prepare for roles. Finally, Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Kindergarten Teacher) and Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) reflect on feminine filmmaking.

This episode features Julia Roberts (Homecoming) in conversation with Patricia Arquette (Escape at Dannemora). Meanwhile, Amy Adams (Sharp Objects) and Richard Madden (Bodyguard) discuss how they handle the anxiety of playing difficult characters. Taraji P. Henson (Empire) with Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy) talk about how playing strong characters affected their careers and paychecks.

Watch veteran actors Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) and Benicio Del Toro (Escape at Dannemora) look back on their careers and choice of roles; Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) and Regina Hall (Black Monday) speak about how clothing and a character’s backstory; and Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon) joins Renée Zellweger (What/If) to discuss how the quality of television programs.

Robin Wright (House of Cards) and Chris Pine (I Am the Night) talk about playing morally ambiguous characters. Meanwhile, former co-stars Michelle Williams (Fosse/Verdon) and Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects) discuss why they made the jump from the big screen to television. Sacha Baron Cohen (Who is America?) and Don Cheadle (Black Monday) discuss how costumes can make or break a role.

Tom Hanks (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”) with Renée Zellweger (“Judy”); Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) with Adam Sandler (“Uncut Gems”); Awkwafina (“The Farewell”) with Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”).

Eddie Murphy (Dolemite is My Name) with Antonio Banderas (Pain & Glory), Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) with Chris Evans (Knives Out) and Mindy Kaling (Late Night) with Contance Wu (Hustlers).

Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”) with Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”); Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) with Alfre Woodard (“Clemency”); Shia LaBeouf (“Honey Boy”) with Kristen Stewart (“Seberg”).

Regina King (Watchmen) and Reese Witherspoon (Little Fires Everywhere) discuss how motherhood influences their acting choices. Anne Hathaway (Modern Love) and Hugh Jackman (Bad Education) talk about playing real life people. Kieran Culkin (Succession) and Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) swap notes on portraying wealthy families.

Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) and Kerry Washington (Little Fires Everywhere) discuss not choosing roles based on race. Tessa Thompson (Westworld) and Ramy Youssef (Ramy) speak about bringing more diverse storytelling to the screen. Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) and Russell Crowe (The Loudest Voice) talk about having time to explore their television characters.

Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) and Lisa Kudrow (Space Force) reminisce about the first meeting each other on the set of Friends. Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) and Anthony Mackie (Altered Carbon) compare notes on preparing for fight scenes in their new Sci-Fi series. Henry Cavill (The Witcher) and Patrick Stewart (Picard) reflect on the time they met at an audition.

Jodie Foster (“The Mauritanian”) with Anthony Hopkins (“The Father”) and Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”) in conversation with Steven Yeun (“Minari”).

George Clooney (“The Midnight Sky”) with Michelle Pfeiffer (“French Exit”); Zendaya (“Malcolm & Marie”) with Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) and Glenn Close (“Hillbilly Elegy”) with Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”).

Ben Affleck (“The Way Back”) with Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”); Andra Day (“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”) with Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami”) and Jared Leto (“The Little Things”) in conversation with John David Washington (“Malcolm & Marie”).

Nicole Kidman ("The Undoing") and Chris Rock ("Fargo") discuss acting in dramas, and Josh O'Connor ("The Crown") and Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Queen's Gambit") reflect on their movie "Emma".

Ewan McGregor ("Halston") and Pedro Pascal ("The Mandalorian") talk about their roles in the "Star Wars" universe, and Kathryn Hahn ("WandaVision") and Jason Sudeikis ("Ted Lasso") discuss acting together in "We're the Millers".

Kaley Cuoco ("The Flight Attendant") and Elizabeth Olsen ("WandaVision") discuss their new roles as producers, and Emma Corrin ("The Crown") and Regé-Jean Page ("Bridgerton") talk about their breakthrough roles.

Lady Gaga ("House of Gucci") and Jake Gyllenhaal ("The Guilty") discuss exploring the depths of characters. Jessica Chastain ("The Eyes of Tammy Faye") and Rita Moreno ("West Side Story") compare musical moments in their films. Javier Bardem ("Being the Ricardos") and Daniel Craig ("No Time to Die") catch up 10 years after starring together in "Skyfall."

Penélope Cruz ("Parallel Mothers") and Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Power of the Dog") compare their experiences working with experienced directors. Ariana DeBose ("West Side Story") and Simu Liu ("Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings") discuss their athletic performances. Oscar Isaac ("The Card Counter") and Jared Leto ("House of Gucci") talk about their transformational roles.

Andrew Garfield (tick, tick… BOOM!) and Rachel Zegler ("West Side Story") talk about starring in the biggest musicals of the year. Aunjanaue Ellis ("King Richard") and Regina King ("The Harder They Fall") reunite after sharing the screen twice before. Jamie Dornan ("Belfast") and Kirsten Dunst ("The Power of the Dog") discuss playing emotionally complex characters.

Viola Davis ("The First Lady") and Samuel L. Jackson ("The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey") share their advice for young actors; Jennifer Aniston ("The Morning Show") and Sebastian Stan ("Pam & Tommy") reveal how they spend their time in the makeup chair; and Jared Leto ("WeCrashed") and Amanda Seyfried ("The Dropout") discuss their responsibility in playing real people.

Zendaya ("Euphoria") and Andrew Garfield ("Under the Banner of Heaven") discuss carrying the emotional weight of dark stories. Cynthia Nixon ("And Just Like That") and Bowen Yang ("Saturday Night Live") share stories of writing and directing for television. Courteney Cox ("Shining Vale") and Faith Hill ("1883") compare their process for finding good roles.

Martin Short ("Only Murders in the Building") and Jean Smart ("Hacks") discuss the joys of generational humor. Jung Ho-yeon ("Squid Game") and Sandra Oh ("The Chair", "Killing Eve") compare experiences working as a native Korean and a Korean-American actor. Tom Hiddleston ("The Essex Serpent", "Loki") and Lily James ("Pam & Tommy) talk about using American accents both on, and off, the set.

Cate Blanchett ("Tár") and Michelle Yeoh ("Everything Everywhere All at Once") discuss portraying characters originally written for men; Kate Hudson ("Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery") and Glen Powell ("Top Gun: Maverick") share the importance of chemistry with co-stars; and Laura Dern ("The Son") and Michelle Williams ("The Fabelmans") exchange their thoughts on working with young co-stars.

Carey Mulligan ("She Said") and Margot Robbie ("Babylon") discuss the range of female portrayals in film; Austin Butler ("Elvis") and Janelle Monáe ("Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery") reveal how acting takes a toll on a personal life; and John Boyega ("The Woman King") and Letitia Wright ("Black Panther: Wakanda Forever") discuss the importance of black stories in Hollywood blockbusters.

Viola Davis ("The Woman King") and Jennifer Lawrence ("Causeway") get honest about female action heroes; Jamie Lee Curtis ("Everything Everywhere All at Once") and Colin Farrell ("The Banshees of Inisherin") discuss their recent complex roles; and Brendan Fraser ("The Whale") and Adam Sandler ("Hustle") share their movie history and special connection.

Emily Blunt ("The English") and Brian Cox ("Succession") bond over fascination with new characters; Taron Egerton ("Black Bird") and Rachel Weisz ("Dead Ringers") confess the enjoyment they found in harrowing roles; Elle Fanning ("The Great") and Jenna Ortega ("Wednesday") deliberate bringing old characters to life in new contexts.

Pedro Pascal ("The Last of Us") and Steven Yeun ("Beef") gush about each other- and their experiences acting in post-apocalyptic worlds; Melanie Lynskey ("Yellowjackets") and Natasha Lyonne ("Poker Face") reconnect to discuss the benchmarks in their careers; Kieran Culkin ("Succession") and Claire Danes ("Fleishman in Trouble") delve into embodying their characters' specific psychologies.

Jennifer Garner ("The Last Thing He Told Me") and Sheryl Lee Ralph ("Abbott Elementary") reflect on their approaches to characters and motivations; Theo James ("The White Lotus) and Brett Goldstein ("Ted Lasso") on what it's like to have multiple roles on a production; Katherine Heigl ("Firefly Lane") and Ellen Pompeo ("Grey's Anatomy") reunite to discuss their shared pasts and divergent futures.

Cillian Murphy ("Oppenheimer") with Margot Robbie ("Barbie"); Bradley Cooper ("Maestro") with Emma Stone ("Poor Things").

Robert Downey Jr. ("Oppenheimer") with Mark Ruffalo ("Poor Things"); Colman Domingo ("Rustin", "The Color Purple") with Jacob Elordi ("Priscilla", "Saltburn").

Michael Fassbender ("The Killer") with Carey Mulligan ("Maestro"); Greta Lee ("Past Lives") with Andrew Scott ("All of Us Strangers"); Halle Bailey ("The Little Mermaid", "The Color Purple") with Rachel Zegler ("The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes").