Happy Sad Confused - Isabela Merced

Episode Date: August 15, 2024

Isabela Merced is about to be in every cool franchise so get used to this talent now! Here she joins Josh to chat about everything from ALIEN:ROMULUS to SUPERMAN to THE LAST OF US! Subscribe here⁠ to the new Happy Sad Confused clips channel so you don't miss any of the best bits of Josh's conversations! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Visit BetterHelp.com/HSC today to get 10% off your first month. Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Okay, it's official. We are very much in the final sprint to election day. And face it, between debates, polling releases, even court appearances. It can feel exhausting, even impossible to keep up with. I'm Brad Nilke. I'm the host of Start Here, the Daily Podcast from ABC News. And every morning, my team and I get you caught up on the day's news in a quick, straightforward way that's easy to understand, with just enough context so you can listen, get it, and go on with your day. So, kickstart your morning. Start Smart with Start Here and ABC News because staying informed shouldn't feel overwhelming. Fere wanted me to be a little bit more scared when the Xenomorph lands over me. So he told somebody to simultaneously pour a whole bucket of cold water

on me while the Xenomorph lands. I think they kept it in the movie because you can hear me go, because I'm like so cold my body was trying to gas for air and then you'll see me shaking too so that's from how cold I was it wasn't even out of like fear

it was like half maybe half fear half cold prepare your ears humans happy sad confused begins now I'm Josh Horowitz and today on Happy Say I Confused Isabella Mercedes here I ran into Isabella recently at Comic-Con

and I took a moment to realize just how busy she's been and how much exciting stuff is coming up for her. So I knew it was finally time for her to be on the podcast. She's done Dora, Marvel, Transformers. In the future, she's in Superman, The Last of Us. And at this very moment, she's starring in the newest alien film, Alien Romulus. There is a ton to talk about. Isabella, welcome to Happy Second Fused at last.

How's it going? Thank you. I love this title. It's very fun. We try to hit all the bases on Happy Second Fused. We'll hit every emotion. in our conversation today. My gosh.

Okay, I haven't had a cry yet today. I'm open to it. We'll see what happens. First of all, Comic Con's always crazy. I got a chance to see you briefly over there. Did you have a good one in San Diego? Yeah, I mean, it was technically, okay.

I had done, I'd been at CommonCon before, but this is my first time sort of having the honor of being in Hall H and promoting something this large. It was awesome. I mean, I love nerds.

That's my people. All my friends are nerds or they have ADHD. So like, or their actors and just are just kind of weird. So I was like, I felt really at home. I was recognizing all the characters on the street that I would see walking around. Yeah, it was truly so much fun to be there. And seeing a familiar face such as yours was also very, very comforting as well. I appreciate that same.

I mean, I have to say, yeah, I mean, I knew you were busy and we've talked in recent years. But like, when I listed all out like that, What runs through your brain when you hear those ginormous beloved film properties that you've had a chance to take part in? You've been a very busy lady, especially the last few years, it seems. It's wild. It's like, I guess, yeah, it's hard to believe that it's not a simulation, you know, when you think about it like that.

Like, why is everything so lovely right now? I'm having a wonderful time and as somebody who's only ever wanted to do acting, it's extremely fulfilling. I've never wanted to be a part of any other profession, maybe a singer, but even then it's because I liked the fact that you could perform songs and tell a story.

So yeah, I'm freaking out. Inside, I'm just a musical theater kid though, so like I still have things to be excited about and like every day is exciting, you know? and I don't know I'm sci-fi I love sci-fi I love horror it's my first horror movie actually so that's cool like I'm still experiencing a lot of shock

and sort of learning processes throughout all of this and I still feel new here honestly so I feel like I'm very well yeah it's funny I mean we talk about all these kind of different high-profile projects but they are all actually very unique even if they all have a space in the genre world we're here first and foremost to promote aliens So let's talk about it. Alien Romulus. This is a franchise that, I mean, is in my bones. It's in the bones of anybody that loves sci-fi horror. I mean, continuing back to Ridley Scott. This predates you by a long while, the alien movies. So how much was it in your own upbringing knowledge base when this one came around?

Yeah, so I had always known about alien movies. And maybe I'd seen them in passing or playing in the background somewhere. But it wasn't until a few. years ago, maybe four years ago I was at a friend's house and I actually sat down and was like, I'm going to watch Alien and I'm going to watch it. Yeah. And it wasn't because of this film or anything. It wasn't even, the thought wasn't even around yet of making it.

I enjoyed it so much. I loved how conversational it was. I loved how the actors just seemed so real. The style was very prevalent in the film you could tell it was gritty and dirty and you could tell that there were just long days on set and I really appreciated watching it later in life because well it's like

watching the Matrix later in life you know you're experiencing everything for the first time and it's that much cooler because you understand the nuance and the complexities of society or or even filmmaking for example yeah well yeah you talk about alien and you strip it all down it's kind of like like a Agatha Christie mystery it's a sort of really kind of like an intense drama and if you look back at that original cast it's like just Sigourney was kind of like the unlikely star like you didn't know who the lead was who was going to last to the end and had so much about it that was special and I love how Fedé your filmmaker here Feddy Alvarez for those who don't know has made some really standout movies in recent years

evil dead don't breathe um he's kind of casted in that tradition a bit it's a young cast and it's kind of like you're all kind of around the same kind of profile and it's like okay Okay, who's going to last in a way? I think he was a lovely choice. I think it makes perfect sense. And I also think all of us for some miracle and strange reason, we all really do get along and support each other and want to see each other thrive and do great things.

And on top of that, I think he knows how to write these characters and their dynamics in a way, more than anything, less about the individual characters. I really admire the relationships that he focuses on. He's very into the relationships between the characters. So initially you'll see that we have the sibling dynamics, but you'll see smaller sort of dynamics in that that really solidify the way that you feel about a character.

And I think it seems like it's a basic writing practice in screenwriting, but I think it's, It's hard to nail, and I think he does a really, really good job of it. I did get a chance to talk to you guys at Comic-Con then and see you guys just even at a, you know, the Comic-Con, the weekly party. And I can attest to the fact that you guys clearly do get along. You were actually hanging out when you don't need to hang out with each other. And I would imagine part of that is, again, kind of being in similar places in your lives. And also, you know, you're shooting like on contained sets, Budapest, I believe.

like did it what how did it kind of like create a uh i don't know how what kind of atmosphere was created by virtue of the way you shot this uh well we shot it chronologically which was really cool um we shot it in budapest uh so none of us were very familiar with it except for maybe archie who shot shadow and bone there right um and we were there in these dark places and the sort of the winter and kind of going into the spring and summer, but for months at a time, I mean, it was just us. And because it was shot chronologically, you know, when someone would pass, we'd have to see them go, and it was really sad. And the farewell process wasn't easy, but I think the fact that everything was practical as well was also contributing to that. I mean, this scene in the trailer

where I'm crawling on the crates and something big and large jumps over me on the walkway above me normally that would probably just be a crew member and then they would play with the shadows and allow it to be changed in post-production, right? And enhanced in post-production. But I mean, a lot of these scenes in the movie

you'll see those monsters are really there and they're really real. And as an actor, that was a lovely treat and that constant need to access fear for all those months and in different stages of development too because it's chronological

so I was able to actually like build it the fear throughout the movie and explore different kinds of fear and exhaustion at one point that allowed us to sort of bond in a way as well

like fear is a chemical right it produces chemicals at least and therefore you know you're going to become close to whoever you experience that with you know I didn't realize you guys shot chronologically.

I mean, those that listen to this podcast probably know, but for those that don't, that's not the norm. That is exceedingly rare to shoot anywhere close to chronologically, and that's a huge asset for an actor. Yeah, I mean, at times it kind of felt like theater in a way. I mean, with how big these sets were and how detailed and how lengthy some of these scenes can be with no dialogue sometimes. I think I had very minimal lines in his movie, but I do so.

much. And so I kind of forgot that I was sometimes in a movie at times it felt like a stage production in a way with all the practical effects too. It was really, really cool. And then watching it was a different experience because there's some of the movie I'm not in because my character takes a nap.

So I got to watch scenes that I had been a part of and I even asked, I had to ask Federe, I was like, dude, was this real? Was this real? Was this real? Amazing. Literally yes. like all of it. I mean, there was not one question I had about reality

that they were like, yeah, that happened actually in the scene. And you're going to see this last sequence in the movie. And I just want to tell people, you know, if they end up finding this and looking it up later, that all of that feels real. And it's cool. Yeah, I'm excited. You talk about playing fear.

I mean, yeah, as an actor, you know, you have to play every emotion, obviously, happy, said, et cetera. But fear is, that takes a lot out of you. And even the limited clips, I haven't been able to see the movie. they've been holding it back, but what I've seen, it's pretty intense. Like, and you have to, like, modulate that and build that. And as you said, it kind of like, it's acting, but it's, it's a actual, you know, chemical

response in your body. Like, that's actually happening in a way when you work yourself up like that. Yeah, I think the only way for the audience to truly believe you is if you truly feel it. And so to an extent, I guess I did accidentally on purpose go into method acting. And I think that's what Fennett. wanted, honestly. I think he wanted us to be as involved in for it to be as rough and tough as possible. And I mean, we're so pampered for the majority of our careers if we're lucky enough to have one. So I was willing to send it and get into Kay's head fully and really learn everything

I could about this. And it was totally worth it. I hope people at least feel what I felt. Right. What's a typical unusual direction on an alien set? typical unusual? Yeah, like something you wouldn't necessarily hear on most other sets, perhaps. Well, Fere had this remote control, like, thing on his iPad where he would press certain buttons, and they were pre-recorded, and they would play on the loudspeakers of, like, the xenomorph cry or the shower, like, you know, different things, the alarm even. You know, he played that for us to kind of scare us.

And there would be a lot of jump scares on set that he would like to incorporate naturally. in ways that weren't too preposterous. I think there was one where I laughed, but most of them worked. One of them included a bucket of cold water on me, like bucket of, yeah. Wait, wait, the actual, that, what happened? Yeah, yeah.

So I, this seems like borderline abuse, but you were a willing participant. Yeah, I mean, the things we do for, the things we love. It was, it was me crawling through. And then the, again, I said in the trailer, the xenomorph lands over me, one of those takes, you know, it had been dry the whole time. Like, I get out of the rain and then I'm wet, but I'm like dry under the cover. You know, I get out of that.

However, Fere wanted me to be a little bit more scared when the xenomorph lands over me. So he told somebody to simultaneously pour a whole bucket of cold water on me while the xenomorph lands. How did you respond to it? Did you know it was coming? No. No, not at all. I just, I think, I think they kept it in the movie because you can, you can hear me go, because I'm like so cold.

My body was trying to gas for air. And then you'll see me shaking too. So that's from how cold I was. It wasn't even out of like fear. It was like half, maybe half fear, half cold, but it was quite. Did you have to do it again? Or like, did we get it guys? I think we don't have to do that one again.

We probably did it like 14 more times, honestly. Yeah. Again, Ferre is one of those directors. You work with so many different people. Again, if you're lucky enough, you get to work with a large variety and see what works for you and what doesn't. And for him, I think he really appreciated and the technique of you get the perfect take. You know, you get enough takes to get to the perfect take. And then you do twice as many more as it took to get to the perfect take. Because then it evolved. into something else. And like, it sucks being in it. You're like, oh, my God, I'm exhausted. I'm so tired. And I think I don't want to be an actor anymore. And then you finish and you have that adrenaline.

And then it's like, oh, that was awesome. We did that. And then time flies and you forget how it felt. And then you do it again. That's why I've had this conversation with so many actors like about David Fincher, right? It's like, and in the moment, they're all like, this is fucking nightmare. I'm never going to work with this guy again. And then you see and then you see the finished product.

And it is just like pure. amazing art, and you're like, I guess it was worth it. And I'm going to do it again and again and again. Oh, this is it, the day you finally ask for that big promotion. You're in front of your mirror with your Starbucks coffee. Be confident, assertive, remember eye contact, but also remember to blink. Smile, but not too much. That's weird. What if you aren't any good at your job?

What if they dim out you instead? Okay, don't be silly. You're smart, you're driven, you're going to be late if you keep talking to the mirror. This promotion is yours. Go get them. Starbucks. It's never just coffee. Oh, hi, buddy.

Who's the best? You are. I wish I could spend all day with you instead. Uh, Dave, you're off mute. Hey, happens to the best of us. Enjoy some goldfish cheddar crackers. Goldfish have short memories. Be like goldfish.

I will say Fed is very unique in the sense that he knows what he wants and he will stop nothing to get it and that is something when yeah sure the day the day you slept

six hours or five hours sorry might suck but when you see that sort of passion it was hard for me to be like I don't really want to do it or like this sucks because that passion is very infectious right starts at the top so if they're putting it all on the line

the least you can do is go to those right yeah you don't want to disappoint somebody that you respect to that extent what do you think what do you think you've worn like at this point having been a part of like all of these films and TV shows have such strong fan bases like kind of like the responsibility that always comes up right it's like probably in every interview. Do you feel responsibility to Dora, to Superman, to Last of Us, et cetera, right? Like, have you come to learn anything about how you negotiate that

and whether to think of fandoms or worry about that or is that part of not part of your job? I don't think it's part of my job. I think, yeah, I think my job is to just be prepared and know things and more than anything know about my own character. So even when I'm on set, like, I'm not thinking about the rest of the episode as much as I'm thinking about what I have to film, you know? Personally, obviously it's different for everybody, but you're not going to make everyone happy either. I think that's a very common thing in art is that we have to accept is not everyone's going to enjoy it.

But I'm also very, like, when I am into something, I throw myself into it fully. I want to know everything about it and I get obsessed with it. So, and then it passes and then I find something else to obsess over, right? However, that works to my advantage when it comes to this profession because I get as obsessed as the nerds do, right? I become one of them in the sense that I want to know everything. Maybe it's a control thing, but I do, I do approach it that way at times. So about a year from now, we're going to be talking about Superman, which is crazy to think. you've, I believe it's shot. It's like all done, essentially, barring reshoots additional

photography. Yeah. Do you know Nathan Fillion? I mean, I've met him a couple times, sure. Yeah. I'm so excited. I'm so excited for everyone to see him. I think he's fantastic. Green Lantern. This is meant to be. Come on. This is going to be Guy Gardner. It's like Green Lantern. It's like the whole movie is very loyal to comic books, but with the James Gun Twist, you know? So I really think it's funny, it's clever, but it's heartwarming, but it's, at least that was my experience on set. You know, obviously things can change in the editing room, but, God, I loved, I loved, James is so prepared.

I could exhale on set, actually. I don't even, I don't even need to worry about exhaling after because James is one of those people who knows, again, exactly what he wants, will stop at, nothing to get it, has a shot list, communicates with his team. They all are prepared before they get there because they've worked with them for, like, what, 20 plus years? Right. And so when somebody's that in charge and on it, like, you really have room to get excited

and have faith in it and relax into the role. I think that was what was the loveliest part about that experience. Can you talk at all about the audition process? Like, did you know it was Hawk Girl or are you kind of like going in blind? Like, this is Superman who knows what they want me for, but I'm obviously coming to play. Yeah, now that I'm thinking about it, they had a funny name for her that I can't remember. I'm sure if I pulled it besides it, it would show up. It was a fake, it was a fake superhero name.

I was aware that it was a superhero and the themes and the, the, the, the conversations were quite similar to what ended up being in the end product, but I had no idea. And then I ended up meeting James and I was like, well, he seemed like such an entity as opposed to a person. So I was kind of nervous meeting him. But he kind of read me right away, I guess, and kind of knew who I was immediately and what I rang to the table I guess and um he had yeah I did a self tape chemistry read and then sorry zoom tape zoom read and then I went to LA and they told me I was going to be testing and I

you never know what that's going to be you never know there's going to be six other girls there that look like you three other girls there that don't look like you and then you're like oh I'm the odd one out and they're probably not you go with me but I'm a personality hire whatever So then you, you know, you get there and I was super nervous. It was literally just me, Eddie, and Nathan. Yeah, Nathan already been cast. Jen, James' wife was reading for the role of Lois at the time, which was really cool. I love her and peacemaker.

And yeah, it was super sooth really, it was cool. At that point, I was like, oh, God, it's my job to mess it up now. Mind to lose. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's fine to lose. And I don't know. He told me that day, though, later, we did hair, makeup, wardrobe. And he told me later that same day that I got it.

And I started crying, I think. It was so embarrassing. But I was crying because, well, okay, at first I was fine. At first I was fine. I was like, oh, this amazing, very exciting. My heart was racing. But then I was thought about telling my mom, and I started to cry. I was like, oh, I can't wait to tell my mom.

I kind of. I mean, I'm excited for a thousand. reasons in that film. I mean, James, I mean, look, James doing Superman is exciting enough. But also, you know, we see it's a giant ensemble, too. It's obviously a Superman story. It has to be a Superman story, but like he cast the hell out of Guardians' suicide squad. He knows how to serve the smaller role. So do you feel like, obviously, like, these aren't origin stories for Guy Gardner and Hawk Girl, etc. But do you feel like each of them is served in the story that you read? Yeah. And I, yes, yes.

I think at least we know our place in this new universe that James is creating. I think I learned more about my character each day, you know. I think one of the days that was the most eye-opening was the bed, like seeing her room. I think the room was super revealing as to who she was. And that was something that I didn't even know how it was going to look. You know, you have the comics to reference, but you don't. And then maybe that in the script it says interior, hot girl's room, you know. That's it. So then you see it and it's super informative. And, yeah, I think, again, James is trying

to stay really loyal to the comics, but also add his own twist to an extent. What do you think of David as Superman? Are we going to see a different kind of interpretation? David Cullen Sweat? I think David himself is a very, in my opinion, like a very Superman-like person and has the patience of a Buddhist and he is super kind and talks to everyone and babies love him and kids love him

so I think he will be a wonderful Superman. Now, I think if I'm wrong, were you up for another hero way back one? You were up for Batgirl, as I recall. So you have some... He read with me for that. His buddy was actually...

I forgot that he had read with me. I felt like a dick. But he had read, he was the opposite reader for that. Wait, David was? David Corence? Yes. Yes. He was like the male reader for that.

Yeah. It was crazy. It was so wild and I forgot. I felt so bad, but he was so kind about it. He was like, I really loved it and I thought you did a great job. But it was, yeah, super random. That's crazy. Small world, to say the least.

Is it also refreshing? I mean, look, I've had the opportunity to talk to Cindy Sweeney and Dakota since Madam Webb. Needless to say, this is a different experience, probably. It's a nice pallet cleanse. or did you Superman, perhaps, after Madam Webb, which you all went and see with the best of intentions, but probably feel like, oh, it just didn't connect. It didn't work.

I mean, is there a little bit of a, I don't know. What's the taste in the mouth after Madam Webb? What's the learning for you? I'd say, it's really interesting. I feel like every actor that I know that I admire has that one movie that I'm like, so camp. It's so camp. You guys are going to get this movie one day.

You guys are going to rediscover, Madam Webb. Yes. They're going to be sequel like 20 years later. But yeah, no, that was I think all like the group chat was fun after like with all the tweets I would come out and the memes we would see. Group chat was very fun. But at the same time, it does have a sad taste in my mouth because there were people that worked on it that worked really hard. And like maybe this was their opportunity to have a big break. And I just, I can't help but think about those people that put in work. I'm lucky enough to have other opportunities right now. That's what I feel really blessed about. But I do like feel bad for the other people that put their all into this and

that somebody cooks in the kitchen. So you can't ever, even though you might mean well, somebody else might not understand the assignment, you know? No. And having done this a while, it's why I make a point of never crapping on any movie. I know well enough how with the best of intentions, how hard it is. It's a miracle to make any movie, period. Yeah. one, great one. Exactly. I do, I do have a soft spot in my heart for any. And also, I love a camping movie. Honestly, like, I love the room. I love it. I love flubber. I love cat woman. Like, those are my favorite. I'm, I'm sad. So maybe, maybe I, I'm a little bit proud of it in that sense. That's hysterical. I do love that there was a group chat in the wake of everything. I mean,

I guess you guys had to lean on each other what, like the reception was what it was. You have to laugh about it. it, right? Yeah, yeah, exactly. I'm really glad we had each other. Correct me if I'm wrong. Are you in the middle of Last of Us right now? Are you basically taking a break for press right now? We're on the tail end of it. I think we're about to be done soon. I already saw the teaser. Craig Mazen showed it to me. It was phenomenal and I'm really excited for the world, for the world to see it. I got a chance to do the podcast with Craig after last season. I know you must now be an amazing fan that guy is a genius he's amazing and such a sweet guy um did you go hard after this one were you a fan of the game yeah yeah i was i would never played the first one i saw i probably will after

this um but the second one i played and i loved i loved it and and it was really cool to see how the sets look exactly the same it's so neat um and i found myself like just every day all mindset is challenging, I will say. It's a show about fungus. So it's not glamorous by any means. And it's hard topics and conversations. Fear is one of the main emotions that we do experience throughout. And I'm really proud of Bella. I think if I were to close this out, like if this was the last interview I did about The Last of Us before we rapped, I would say, you know, I think I really hope Bella gets their flowers. They're working really, really, really. really hard um physically and emotionally mentally and yeah it one thing i've learned throughout

this is like wow you can really admire people who are younger than you you can really look up to them absolutely yeah no bella is a special one i also spoke to them uh after the birth season and um just the intense scrutiny too and like the folks you know there's toxicity out there and the stuff that you guys have to deal with it's crazy uh and just let the great actors act and Bella is a great one. Well, what confuses me is like the showrunner and the creator of the video game, they work, they work together to make this. So if you like the guy made and he's making more of it, why are you mad? You know what I mean? I don't know. I'm too opinionated to be on Twitter.

Like I really need to stop because I see this stuff and it makes me, it makes me just, it makes me want to go Cardi B on him. You know what I mean? I'm worried about your buddy Caitlin, Caitlin Dever, that one of the great actors of our time. Abby, no spoilers, does some things that people don't necessarily approve of. Caitlin's going to get some hate through proxy of just being Abby. There's so many strange people in this world because there are people that actually genuinely hate like Abby, who is not a real person. Right.

Just a reminder, not a real person. And so, you know, Caitlin had to be extra secured. by security when it came to the filming of this. And I hope, I don't know, Kayla, it's such a cool person who just does not get faced by things, really has her head in the right place. And also is going through a lot right now personally. I know she lost her mom.

Yeah, totally. Yeah. Yeah. It's devastating to see. But also, give her the damn Emmy, honestly. Like, I'm so excited for people to see how incredible. incredibly well, Bella and Caitlin did on this. I'm so excited. And obviously the relationship, you know, between Ellie and Dina is important.

I assume you guys screen tested as well, you and Bella? Oh, no, no, actually. Really? I guess, yeah. I mean, Craig and Neil came to me for a generic meeting, as they say. And I was like, okay, then they kind of mentioned the show and how there's a character there that may be. And I thought, oh, even if the meeting goes well, I'll stuff to audition and I'll do my research and whatever. And I guess, I guess they decided there and then that they wanted me.

So that's wild. This is a good thing. Yeah. I don't even think I believe in myself that much. So I'm like, okay, I'll be sure. I'll accept it. Is there something that you've shot that you're most excited for fans to see? I know we have a long way to go before we see it,

but something that you took part in that you can't wait for the fandom to see. Ooh, um, I... Hey, Michael. Hey, Tom. Well, big news to share it, right? Yes, huge, monumental, earth-shaking. Heartbeat sound effect, big. Mink is back.

That's right. After a brief snack nap. We're coming back. We're picking snack. We're eating snacks. We're raiding snacks. Like the snackologist we were born to be. Mates is back.

Mike and Tom, eat snacks. Wherever you get your podcast. Unless you get them from a snack machine, in which case, call us. We call us. Goodbye, summer movies, hello fall. I'm Anthony Devaney. And I'm his twin brother, James. We host Raiders of the Lost Podcast, the Ultimate Movie Podcast, and we are ecstatic to

breakdown late summer and early fall releases. We have Leonardo DiCaprio leading a revolution in one battle after another, Timothy Salome playing power ping pong in Marty Supreme. Let's not forget Emma Stone and Jorgos Lanthamos' Bougonia. Dwayne Johnson, he's coming for that Oscar in The Smashing Machine, Spike Lee and Denzel teaming up again, plus Daniel DeLuis's return from retirement. There will be plenty of blockbusters to chat about, too. Tron Aries looks exceptional, plus Mortal Kombat 2, and Edgar writes, Running Man starring Glenn Powell. Search for Raiders of the Lost podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

I mean, I think it's the romance for me. I think it's the romance between the two of us that really, ah, it brings it to my eyes. I have a whole playlist for Dina and, and Ellie. I, it's beautiful. It's full of like, there's this one song that we would play on set, that I would play on set and Bella really loved by Adrienne Lanker that really, I feel like, set the tone for us. And yeah, it's beautiful.

I think they did a really good job. I can't wait. Okay, it's official. We are very much in the final sprint to election day. And face it, between debates, polling releases, even court appearances, it can feel exhausting. even impossible to keep up with. I'm Brad Nilke. I'm the host of Start Here, the daily podcast from ABC News,

and every morning my team and I get you caught up on the day's news in a quick, straightforward way that's easy to understand with just enough context so you can listen, get it, and go on with your day. So, kickstart your morning. Start Smart with Start Here and ABC News because staying informed shouldn't feel overwhelming. So backtracking a little bit. We've only been talking about current products,

but I want to just give some context. You mentioned growing up as a musical theater kid. Where's your cats? Where's your Mamma Mia? What the hell? What's going on? Wait, my cat, like you want me to be in cats? I mean, they did it.

I don't think we need another cats. Listen, I did a community theater production of cats. Okay, I did Schemble Shanks, the railway cat. And I did a phenomenal job. I have no doubt. Have you gone up for big movie musicals? Is that something on the list? Yeah, I was, I was one of the, I auditioned for West Side Story, actually.

I was going to say, of course, you had to. Why not? I was in the callbacks for that. Yeah. And I, um, they ended up having way more after me. They were like, she is not it. We do not want her, but, but, but it's okay. Craig Mason was there for you years later.

He was there. He was here to your lawyer. There's always somebody who will believe in you. You. And I don't know. I'm always going to be a musical theater kid. Like, I'm very obsessed with the thought of ever being back on Broadway. I think it would just have to make sense, I guess.

I mean, all me conceded, but I would love to do an original musical. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah. That would be cool. That would be cool, like a Hades Town. Oh, Hades Town was brilliant. Oh, I welcome to Hades Town. Yeah, yeah, good one.

Yeah. Are you a musical theater? Yeah, I mean, New York. You got to take advantage of theater here, of course. Yeah. Yeah. I've seen some really beautiful shows out here in L.A. too. But I really want to go back to New York and just see a bunch of shows. I'm so excited. I mean, for those I don't know, this is the crazy backstory. It's a long backstory. But the first big giant thing was Broadway, of all things, Ricky Martin, Evita, 10 years old.

I mean, I don't, did you even know what to make of like, I would imagine the audience received Ricky like he's Ricky Martin? and you as a 10-year-old probably didn't even know what was going on, or did you? No, I knew. Like, being Hispanic, like, we all knew who Ricki-Mari was. But a lot of my peers didn't. So to them, it was like, why are you? Who is that?

And then it was, it was really interesting. I think I always just, I always loved acting in theater and everything. So for me, it was very fun. I don't think it ever felt like a job. Like, it was truly very cool. I never felt like, I was doing child labor, even though technically I was. Well, yeah, those early jobs between that and then obviously like the work in TV, like,

you know, fronting a Nick show, that's like you get the chops. Like you get like that ingrained in you, I would imagine. It's sort of just like how to be a professional at a very, very young age. Has that served you well, you think, as you proceed in your life? Maybe. Yeah, I think more than anything, though, I was I was not around any creeps. I think that was really important. That's the key.

Avoid the crux. Yeah, my mom was super protective. My mom's super vigilant. Like, she actually genuinely cared about my well-being. She wasn't trying to punt me with, like, Red Bull and get me on stage as she was possible. Like, she was just a really cool mom who didn't, wasn't in the industry at all. Like, didn't know anything about it. Just wanted to protect me.

And I think that served me really well. She still lives with me. My little brother still lives with me. When I bought a house in L.A., I had them come be with me. I met him my whole family, but some of them didn't want to come because it was like, yeah, because L.A. sucks. I don't know. I like it's, but anyways, that's what I mainly attribute. And I think it's, it, I've been okay because of, because of my family. Do you feel like, I mean, as you progress through the film career, and I think probably one of the first time I talked to was for Dora, Transformers, and you're working with like, you know, Michael Bay. You're working with Benicio and Sicario. Like, has that, I mean, I don't know, you must not let that. get into you clearly you have a capacity to switch off while you appreciate movie stars and charisma you're able to like kind of like zero in on the work fair to say yeah i don't think i've ever gotten starstruck ever i was never into like uh my all my friends were into justin bieber

in one direction then again it could have been just because i don't really anyways um maybe Maybe it's because I don't really like men that much, but you know what I mean? Like I wasn't like very into that boy crazy. But it was it was very much so, I think, for me, the women that I admired growing up that were really cool. And meeting cool people would sometimes bring a tear to my eye. But I wasn't ever like obsessive, even when I was a kid before I got into all of this, you know? Yeah. I read a relatively recent conversation you had with Lily Reinhart. And I always love it when, you know, folks talk very openly about dealing with anxiety and mental health because we all deal with this shit to different degrees. And certainly you guys being young women in this kind of position, it can contribute to issues we all face. And I think talking about it makes a real difference, right, for hopefully your fans. Is that something you're very much aware of, of kind of like destigmatizing? that kind of thing as you proceed through your life and career?

I think that's a good question. I think my main objective is to always come across as authentic as possible. I think this industry encourages you not to be. I think there's a sort of a filter that's sort of secretly handed to you when you are given a mic and a platform. But I just want to be as real as possible and come out with products. The two movies that I'm most proud of are probably instant family and turtles all the way down because making those movies and seeing the end product, you could tell that it was going to change people's lives.

And it definitely changed mine. So, you know, why not? I was really rooting for those films. And I'm really happy that they've potentially found their place in the zeitgeist. But yeah, I think it's hard. want to help younger actors for sure more than anything. I think women around my age in this position or looking to be in this position, I think it's hard because this industry will mess you up, I think, mainly due to lack of boundaries. I think no one's taught the boundaries that you're

allowed to have or even how to set them, especially when it comes to like someone would, for example, I was having a really, really sad, intimate conversation with my mom at dinner and someone came up to me in the middle of it and asked for photo, I didn't know how to say, hey, by the way, I'm about to cry. And so I think the more time I spend here, the more I'm interested in creating communities that will benefit other people that are in similar circumstances. Well, it's such a people-pleasing industry. It's kind of like in your bones. And I know, you know, not to make it about gender, but for women, too, they're often taught to kind of like it's about making someone happy and saying yes.

And it's it's kind of contrary to our DNA to say, I need space for myself, actually. Yeah. And even the nature of the audition process, it's sort of like dating someone. Isn't that strange? You sort of have to charm them, seduce them in a way, let them know that they need you.

You know, it's like so weird. It's so there's, in a way, it's kind of integrated into the industry. so you have to sort of create a healthy relationship with it and know your boundaries before you even enter a space. Like I always say we should talk about boundaries as much as we talk about horoscopes. I think it would be really beneficial to us as a society and yeah, just honesty, I think.

We're going to end on a much trivial note, a more trivial note with the happy say, confused profoundly random questions. Isabella, are you ready? Here we go. Yeah. Are you a dog or cat, person.

Dog. Yeah, we went over this earlier. This is the correct answer. And dogs are important to well-be. I'm allergic to cats. You're allergic to cats, but you said you were allergic to your dogs before. I'm, like, deathly allergic to cats. Oh, I see.

On the spectrum. Yeah, this spectrum is like way worse for cats. I can't even really be in the room, same room for that long. Fair enough. Do you collect anything? What do you collect? Yeah. Oh, a lot.

Legos. Shoes, stickers, hotel key cards sometimes, keychains. I collect a lot, honestly. Yeah. Yeah, you're a hoarder. You're a secret hoarder. Maybe secretly, but that's, yeah, it's a whole other story. What's the wallpaper on your phone?

I think the night sky. I'm generic and basic. comment. Who's the last actor you were mistaken for? Thank you, G. What's the worst noted director has ever given you?

Oh, man. Oh, I got it. I think when their note contradicted itself, I think what it was like, they go on a tangent about how it should be faster, but then they go, but deliver it slower.

And I'm like, Oh, okay. Faster, energy, slower delivery. Got it. And one or you're at the other. Yeah, I'm just going to do the exact same thing. How about that? And in the spirit of happy, say, I can't fuse. An actor that makes you happy. You see them on screen, you're happy. An actor on screen, I see him happy. Robin Williams. Comes up a lot. You mentioned flubber before. Is that your go-to? I kind of, maybe that's, maybe I do get star-struck, but I wouldn't, I didn't have. the opportunity to be right

a movie that makes you sad probably any movie with robin william no longer around dead poet society that's a good one yeah that's a good one and a food that makes you confused what food confuses you

what food confuses me I'll eat anything honestly nothing off the list nothing that you're at the restaurant before it was picklebacks like the shots you know right yeah the jameson and the thing but then i tried it lovely honestly i'll try anything well you put jameson with anything it'll numb it'll numb it all out it's fine i don't even like pickles and i was like all right cool yeah the pickle juice that's a that's a non-starter i like pickles but the juice it infects things it's too strong it's too powerful but we can agree to disagree yeah have you

try to pickle back. I actually haven't. It nauseates me to even think about it. No, dude. You don't even start to pickle back. All right, all right, all right, I'll get back to you. I'm going to try and get back to you. Maybe we'll pickle back together someday.

Okay, one day, back at Comic-Con next year. Alien Romulus is the film. I can't wait to check it out. And we have a lot to talk about in the future. Last of Us, Superman, a thousand other things, I'm sure, down the pipe. Congratulations on everything. You're far too well adjusted for your age. I'm just going to say that.

It almost annoys me. But congrats on all the success. This was a lot of fun. Thank you. Thank you. I'm always having a good time talking to you. So thanks. And so ends another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused.

Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pressured to do this by Josh. The Old West is an iconic period. of American history and full of legendary figures whose names still resonate today. Like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Butch and Sundance, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo, Wyatt Earp, Batmasterson, and Bass Reeves, Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, the Texas Rangers, and many more. Hear all their stories on the Legends of the Old West podcast.

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