Mariska Hargitay: The Banana in the Bag

Chase Infiniti: One Audition After Another

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 [https://www.instagram.com/iamanactorpod], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamanactorpod], Threads [https://www.threads.com/@iamanactorpod], and X [https://x.com/iamanactorpod].  I AM AN ACTOR  is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Mariska Hargitay: The Banana in the Bag

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 [https://www.instagram.com/iamanactorpod], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamanactorpod], Threads [https://www.threads.com/@iamanactorpod], and X [https://x.com/iamanactorpod].  I AM AN ACTOR  is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Katherine LaNasa: Performance and The Pitt

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 [https://www.instagram.com/iamanactorpod], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamanactorpod], Threads [https://www.threads.com/@iamanactorpod], and X [https://x.com/iamanactorpod].  I AM AN ACTOR  is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Kerry Washington: Imperfect Icon

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 [https://www.instagram.com/iamanactorpod], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamanactorpod], Threads [https://www.threads.com/@iamanactorpod], and X [https://x.com/iamanactorpod].  I AM AN ACTOR  is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.

Rhea Seehorn: Better Call Carol

Rhea Seehorn takes us inside the discipline and instinct behind her acting process, tracing how her foundation in theater, script analysis and on-camera work shaped the way she builds character moment to moment. She reflects on her performance as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul, exploring how ambiguity, specificity and listening often lead to the most truthful choices on screen, and how working alongside creators like Vince Gilligan and Bob Odenkirk pushed her to embrace uncertainty rather than over-define her approach. She also breaks down the balance between preparation and instinct, learning when to advocate for creative ideas without ego and how letting go of control in performance can unlock deeper collaboration, emotional precision and more unexpected, alive moments across both stage and 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 [https://www.instagram.com/iamanactorpod], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@iamanactorpod], Threads [https://www.threads.com/@iamanactorpod], and X [https://x.com/iamanactorpod].  I AM AN ACTOR  is produced in partnership with SAG-AFTRA and SickBird Productions.