Not Skinny But Not Fat - TELL ME LIES: GRACE VAN PATTEN

Episode Date: September 10, 2024

Hulu’s steamy & toxic Tell Me Lies took us by storm a couple years ago, and now it’s back with a second season! We can’t stop watching Lucy & Stephen’s tumultuous relationship play out in the ever so nostalgic college dorm rooms. Grace Van Patten aka GVP is here to discuss all things season 2 & dating Stephen aka Jackson White IRL !Produced by Dear MediaThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The following podcast is a dear media production. Welcome back to the not skinny but not fat podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Hirsch, and I still can't believe that I get to chat with some of my favorite stars from my very own podcast where you'll feel like you're just talking shit with your best friends in your living room. You can't get that comfortable in that dress. I can't. You can't.

I can't. It's impossible. All right, you guys. All right. GVP is in the house. How are you? Am I the only one? Like, do people call you GVP?

People do. Okay. People have been calling me that since, like, middle school. Really? Yeah. I feel like the press hasn't leaned into it. No, they haven't. Like media, get on it.

It's everyone in my family, too, because they're all VP. So it's, Whatever, the first, first letter. My sister's a VP. Oh, GVP might be the viviest. Yeah, I like it. Yeah, but now that I'm thinking of like just headlines-wise, like, media hasn't leaned in. No, no, I've never been, you were the first person.

Yeah, I was GVPing at the fuck. I wouldn't shut the fuck up. The pioneer. I was so, that's why I'm so excited you're on. So excited you're on because when I get obsessed with a show, it's just not. Not normal. Can't shake it. Can't shake it.

Season one came out of Tell Me Lies, obviously, you guys, in 2022. Yeah. Yeah, two years ago. Tell me about getting that role. Tell me about reading the script for Lucy. Did you feel like you were a Lucy? I hope not. I hope I wasn't like, that's, like, that's me.

Yeah. This is me. I only got the pilot and I was obsessed with it. I was like, it was my dream. I had always wanted to do something. that involves a toxic, fucked-up romance because those were my favorite movies growing up. I loved Blue Valentine and Urban Cowboy

and everything that was just... Blue Valentine is good, you guys, by the way, if you haven't seen it. It's so good. And just, yeah, just sexy, love, fighting, emotional, passion. I just loved those movies. And so I thought this was such a cool story to tell

set in college because I haven't seen that before. I mean, you see it in, like, rom-coms, they'll be mean to each other, but this is dark. Yeah. And it's these young people having real feelings and paying attention to them. And I thought that was really different and unique.

You know what's so crazy I was telling her on the way here that like even if obviously Stephen and Lucy are fucking crazy and it's an extreme, right? You still can like see yourself. Even if you've had a little toxicness. Mm-hmm. Like, you know, in season one, she doesn't go to India. Yeah.

To me, that's sung. And I don't remember what exactly I gave up in life for, like, somebody that was, you know, a dude. But I know that I did. It's so true. You know, like, everybody has done something where they, like, want to make sure they're around because he's around. So they cancel shit. And they end up not even seeing him. And they sit home.

Like, I just know that every girl has experienced that feeling. 100%. And when you just say, like, yeah, canceled India. And then when he fucking bites you back with him, he knows, he's waiting for me. Fuck. And he know. I know. So disgusting.

So painful. It's so tragic watching Lucy go through that and thinking she's subtle about it. Yeah. And she's like, no, I just don't want to go. Yeah, I want to say home with my mom. But then she's like, but we're going to see each other. We're going to see each other, right? And then it's just so obvious.

But the thing is, like, she's not pathetic, you know? You're not looking at Lucy. Really? I don't think she's pathetic. I think she's in love. Yeah. You know? Yeah.

She's just lost herself, I think. But what's so wild to me is like, and also reminds you so much of like those college years and everything, is like, on one hand, she's so in love. On the other hand, she's in such a flaky relationship that the dude could literally break up with her without her even knowing. Like, on one hand, you're in love. You're in this like Romeo and Juliet shit, like murder suicide.

But then in a minute, he could just dump you at a party and walk out with a different girl. And it's like you're shot, like full body. chills, but also it's like, oh, yeah, that makes sense that he would do that, even though... Right. Like, it's expected. Yeah. And she's probably expecting that. And I think that's part of the addiction. Yeah. It's like constantly wanting validation and trying to prove... She's trying to prove to herself that she, like, has him constantly. Yeah. Knowing that she could lose him at any second, I think. Yeah. She was just happy to have him. Like, even if she's miserable,

completely. Going to die. She's like, he's mine. Completely. Yeah. By the way, I won't give spoilers for season two in this episode. I will say I've started watching it and I'm like, I just want more and that's why I'm spreading it out. But I fucking love when Lucy is trying to like act like she's over it. Again, so relatable.

So in denial. Yeah. I know. I know. But I thought you were really good at it. And she was really good at it. I don't know who's good at you or Lucy, but. Jackson was saying, she's like, Lucy's a really good actor.

Lucy's so good. Maybe that's season three present day. Lucy just starts auditioning. Yeah, like, bringing the floor of all. Yeah. No, but so, like, pretending that you don't care when you're dying inside. Yeah. I thought that was really smart writing on Megan's part because it's, she has a summer and she's really trying to convince herself that she's okay. And I do, I do think that she believes it. I really believe that she's going into her next year and her sophomore year being like,

I got this. I'm okay. That was messed up. I was delusional last year. Let's go. I'm ready. And I'm just going to be a good friend. And I'm just going to, like, just get through it. And then instantly, it's like, oh, no, no, I'm not okay. No, I'm not okay. He has the effect. Yeah. And you kind of see it just slowly fade, like the wall slowly breaks down. Yeah. But so let's go back. So you said you only got the pilot. You read it. Oh, yeah. You wanted to play it. Really, really loved it. Met with Megan, the showrunner and Kara Price, one of the producers. And just loved their, their, their vision for it and, and their experience that they had. It was all so, it was so personal to everyone involved.

So was a meeting? It wasn't like an audition. It was a meeting first. Oh, meeting first. Yeah. Huh. And so we like spoke about it. And then I did a Zoom audition with Megan and the casting director and found out

pretty shortly after. It was you. Yes, which I, it's never right away. It's like, I'm waiting and like, like, is it going to happen? it's like six months. I'm like, okay, it's gone. Yeah. But it was pretty quick. And which made, I just could not.

I could not believe it. I could not believe it. Did you have feeling like this was going to be big? Like, did you know at that point that it was like Hulu? That it was big. I knew that it was Hulu. I knew Emma Roberts was producing it. And it was a book.

But no, no, I had no idea. I was just excited for the concept of it. Did the sex scenes and stuff scare you a little bit? There weren't any in the first episode. I'm like, this is tame. Oh, you're like, oh, chill. Yeah, that was, but they probably prepared you, like, yeah, they definitely were like, yeah, actor has to be okay with us. Which the first season was so much more than the second season.

Saucy. Really? I think, yeah. Okay. Yeah. I feel like there's less sex. I know. I felt like a little bit, like, people were like, you should have warned us.

It was like, porno, you know? It is. I just, my friend, I know you're like in the beginning of your hot relationship, but I have like a married friend that was like my husband watching. with me and, like, I can't have him watch with me because he gets too horny after. And, like, then I have to have sex with him. Yeah. So not a show, not a show to watch with your husband if you don't want to have sex with them. No, no. But I've had, I've had women. Jackson has had this too, where they'll be like, you save my marriage. Oh. And it is so uncomfortable, but also like, hell yeah. So it works the other way too, you guys. No, it's, yeah. If you're down, then it's a

sex show. We've had like three people be like, this has helped us. Wow. We're 19. I know. I know. That was kind of, that was interesting. That was an interesting comment we got a few times. Wait, so when did you meet Jackson in the process? Like you do like a chemistry. I did. So I had the part and then it was about finding the Stephen. So I did a bunch of chemistry reads. And I met Jackson on a Zoom doing the chemistry read. And it was like instantly like, that's Steven. That's Stephen. No, there weren't vibes in the beginning. They were on the Zoom. We were just talking about that.

I was just like, I honestly, I was like, this is, this is a serious actor. And I'm like, oh, he came in seriously? Came in really serious. Oh, he didn't have like a cigarette behind his ear? No, no. Not that. Because we were talking about it. Like, my first impression of him was wrong.

I was wrong. But it was Zoom. It's like those, those things are so weird and it's so hard to connect. And it's so hard to act. Wait, why was it Zoom? Was it COVID-y? It was still COVID-y. Oh, probably like 2021.

Yeah. And nothing was in person. But you still, even though no vibes like that, you still also felt like, like, like, so talented. He's Stephen. 100%. And so then everyone loved him so much. And then I met him in real life doing a second chemistry read. And that's when I was like, this guy's amazing.

Yeah. He's amazing. And then he didn't find out for months and months and months until he got it. Because here's something wild that I just found out. What? Because, first of all, Jackson was on my podcast after the first season aired. He was being coy about it. Oh, my God.

So coy. He's so coy. I have a crush on her. Like, she's amazing. And now, you guys, I mean, since then you've been open about your relationship. Because you posted photos. You went in the red carpets. Yes.

You did campaigns together. But a fact that I feel like we just found out is you went on, I think it was GMA. And they were like, you found out in the shower. And then he threw you under the bus because he was like, yep, Grace came busting in the shower. And I feel like GMA wouldn't be like, wait, what? I know. They're not going to devote. Yeah, they're not going to, like, ask more questions about that.

They're going to be like, fill the tea. All right. But I was like, rewind, what? She walked in. So you, we were, like, dating before he got the part. Yeah. We started, like, seeing each other. And we were like, this is probably the worst idea ever.

Or, like, amazing. Or amazing. Yeah. We don't know. And it was months. So were you hoping he would get it or not? I think we didn't know. We were like, is it better if you do or better if you don't?

Right. This is like, we have no idea. Did you update Megan, the showrunner, that... No. Megan found out a funny way, too. Oh, not the post. No, everyone knew when we were filming the first season. But, yeah, he was like, we did another chemistry read,

and we had to pretend that we weren't dating, which was really funny. You decided this. We decided this. We're like, because we didn't want to mess anything out. Yeah, influence anything. And so, like, we met. I was like, hey, Jackson was like,

hey, how was your flight? And it was so funny. trying to act casual in that chemistry read. And he was like, hey, I still make fun of him for that. Hey, how was your flight? Yeah. But we found out, I think I, yeah, he woke up and, like, got in the shower and I was still in bed and I got a text that he got approved.

Oh. And I ran into the shower. I was like, you got the part? Yeah. Freaked out. And it was so funny. And then he called Meg, because Megan really wanted to tell him. And you ruined it for her.

I ruined it for her. And she called him and she was like, you got the part. And he was like, I know. And she was like, how the fuck do you know? And then I was like, hey. And she was like, you're kidding me. Oh my God. That is classic.

But we just didn't want to scare anyway. I'd be like, that's probably so scary as producers or directors just being like, this is a time. This is a taking time. This could go. Or they could be like, this is amazing. Yeah. That's true. Almost like, you know there are people.

I don't think, I actually haven't heard this about you guys, but there would be people being like, it's PR, you know? Totally. Yeah, totally. Because so many times we do think that like the two love interests or, you know, maybe they're dating, maybe they're not, and it always hypes it up. But I don't know if you know, but when Jackson was being coy and maybe you weren't, you were like a posting together a little bit, but not fully confirmed.

Like overt. Yeah. I would get thousands of messages a day being like, but are they together? IRL, but are they together IRL? And it became a joke to this day that I can't post anything about telling me lies or are you both without people like, you know, when you capitalize like different letters. It's kind of like, but are they together? IRL. Like that's the joke now. And Jackson not know what IRL meant. Didn't you have to like teach him? What it meant? You were like, are you saying me? Let's, I save this because I thought this was so cute.

But let's, I want to play you what Jackson said on my pot about you because it was so cute. And yeah, he was a little, he was using IRL a little bit weirdly. Yeah. Like he was. He like didn't quite know. No, because after I said it a couple of times, he started saying it. But it was like unnatural. Yeah.

Like he was like, IRL. Oh, it was so cute, though. Wait. Hold on, guys. That was sweet. I saved it. Here, guys, listen. He'd be fucking P.

I'm sorry, but can we just talk about that for a second? No, it's not fair. Even the initials aren't fair. I have such a crush on her. You have so much chemistry on screen that it's legit uncomfortable. And she's the fucking coolest, most grounded, amazing person, IRL. IRL. That you'll ever mean.

IRL. That is so sweet. Were you there? No. Okay. I was not there. You were not there. And he was so nervous because we weren't being public about it.

We were like, let's not. Yeah. So that was a decision you made and then. We were just like, if it happens. naturally, like, we're not going to hide it, but we're not going to, like, throw it out there. And it's been now two years. Yeah. Yeah. And his mom is Katie Segal, if you guys don't know, who's also in the show, amazing. So amazing. So amazing. Do you get to act with her this season? No. Okay. No, I didn't get to. Oh, damn. I know. She was so good last season.

She was so good last season. Poor Jackson. He's getting everything twisted. He's got his girlfriend. He's got his mom. He's like, where are the lines? Where can I get away? And you guys even, I saw I had like an outing with her so you like hang out with her. Yeah. Yeah.

She's so cute. They're super close and she's just the coolest. And she also, by the way, went on a pot. I don't know if you know. And she spilled something. She did. Yeah.

She like in a full expose. I know. She did. She was like, their boyfriend and girlfriend. It was just so cute because it's typical mom. I know. I know.

It's so funny. She's his girlfriend now for two years. And I think they are good for each other. I think so. I mean, that's nice to hear. It was really sweet. It was really sweet.

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Don't wait. Go now to get 20% off with promo code not skinny at first aid beauty. com slash not skinny. And we're back. So, okay, you guys, back to tell me lies. Season one, we just did a rewatch by me. Yeah, I did a rewatch. I highly recommended if you guys are listening right now, highly.

I don't usually do this, by the way. I think that's smart. I think that's smart because there's so much to keep track of. Yeah. And there's so many things that come back up that are explained. Exactly. So it would be good to refresh your men. Would you say that season two divulges more about other couples and not just you?

Yeah. Yeah. It's great. I actually love that about this season. Yeah. Almost a little more because it gives, I think it's going to give the audience. more opportunity to connect with other people and kind of know them a little bit more. Yeah.

And they're all going through such separate journeys and dealing with such separate issues that it's, I think it's just people are going to relate to more people. Yeah. As opposed to us, which is fun. Jackson said about you that you're really good about compartmentalizing, compartmentalizing your character. I think it sounds like the opposite of method. Yeah.

Honestly, I think I'm just in denial. I think I'm telling myself, I'm, like, putting it here, like, show up, do it. But then after, I'm, I'm always a mess. You're like, raising your eyebrows all of a sudden. You're like, I'm fine. This isn't affecting me. And then after I'm like, really? Like, I went through war and, like, can't.

Yeah. After the first season was weirdly hard. Really? Yeah, because I think I didn't understand, like, it's what I've realized about acting recently. It's like, I'm saying the words, but, like, your body doesn't know you're acting. Like, your body is still going through that pain that you're trying to push and feel and, like, I don't know. There's something that body, this whole sense. The mind is separate from the body, I think.

Wait, do you know why that makes total sense? Because you know when you have anxiety? Have you ever had, like, anxiety? Yes. So, like, that's like a, you're like. Yeah? A few times. So that's like a mind-body thing, right?

And sometimes you have to, they tell you to breathe so you can, so you can lie to your body that you're okay, right? Totally. So that's so true what you're saying. Yeah. They're like if you're acting like how Lucy is, like maybe your body is like she's going through this right now. Totally. Damn.

I think so. But second season was better for me, I think, because I think first season I was still trying to figure out who Lucy was and what this relationship was and like finding it within myself and going dark places within myself to like bring those out. And second season, it was more just about igniting that feeling that I've already kind of established and being like, all right, this is it. I don't have to dig as deep to like expose those things. But did you, were you ever in like a toxic relationship? No, no, not as toxic as that. Not. I mean, I've been young in relationships and immature. Right. But, but no,

I haven't experienced anything like that. Thank God. But I definitely have friends who have been in situations like that. Are they coming to you now? Like, oh my God, I'm Lucy. None of my close friends, but random people. Random people were like, I know, I did too. When I post about Tell Me Lies, I'll get crazy messages. I'm like, glad you're better now. Yeah. It's so true.

People like, yeah. But like I said before, I think that it's finding those moments that we did all have. Like giving up a lot for a guy, not getting the hint, believing a liar. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like those sorts of things. Totally. But how was it acting with Jackson when you were.

couple. And you had those moments where you hated him or really loved him. I was so nervous about it. I was so nervous because he knows me better than anyone. I was so afraid he was just going to know when I was acting. And I was like, oh my God, he's going to think I'm a bad act. He's going to know how I'm sad. And then I'm not going to be sad that way. I was like so in my head that I was going to be self-conscious because he knew that I was acting. Honestly, with the whole cast because we're all so close. Oh, you are? You all hang out? Yeah, we all hang out and we're all still hang out. But then it was, I was so wrong. It was, it was a complete opposite. We were so vulnerable and we were able to be so vulnerable and because we felt so safe with each other. Was he nervous about it or

just you? No. He wasn't. He wasn't. He wasn't. Did you practice at home? Did you role play? Lucy and Stephen at home? All the time. Yeah. All the time. We're like, let's fight about this. Let's fight. Let's fight. No, honestly, the fighting is great on camera. We had our first fight on camera. It's like couples therapy. Yeah. We get all the bad shit out on camera. Like when he threw his phone. Yeah.

Great. Great. Any repressed feeling I just get out. Right. No, but his, like his, I'm assuming, and also he was on the podcast, but like he's not Steven in real life. Literally opposite. So he, to you, when he's doing Stephen, that must.

It's honestly a little freaky. Because I'm like, you're really good at that, Jackson. Yeah. Oh, my God. You're a little bit too. good at this character. And why is that? And we need to talk about this. Why is that? He's like really good at playing that. Yeah. Like made more really still like, he doesn't move as Stephen. Right. There are moments where you're like, he seems nice. Like also like there are moments where. Yeah. That's what's so great.

Yeah. That's what's great. You're like, oh, you actually do have feelings and you do care, but you're also capable of all this other shit. Totally. But same with Lucy. Like, yeah. There are like moments where you do understand them. That's why I loved episode five of the first season so much when they both go home for Christmas. Yeah. And you see Stephen with his mom and Lucy with his mom be like, oh, no wonder these people are fucked up. Your mom, Arizona from Grace Anatomy. Yes. Did you let's. Jessica Capshaw. Yeah. Amazing. So good. So fun. Yeah. So great. I know there's some iconic moms. Ironic moms in that show. That was fun. But yeah, you like get, you gain empathy for them because you're like, It doesn't justify it, but you understand them a little bit more.

And I think after hating Stephen and Lucy, honestly, for the first four episodes and being like, oh, this is why he is that way. You know, it's another interesting thing that I only kind of realize in the rewatch is, like, as much as Stephen and Lucy are a couple and, you know, and he broke up, he wasn't with Diana for a little bit, he won't let Lucy see the real him where he did let Diana see the real him. Like, why? You know what I mean? Do you think he let Diana see the real him?

Well, like the real him, like family life. Oh, that's true. Not getting the job. That is true. Which I do help me. Yeah. We're like with Lucy, he's like always in power. He's never like a loser, you know?

I think this season. Oh, it'll shift a little bit. Yeah. Oh, I think not necessarily power dynamic. I mean, they both have these things on each other. Yeah. Which I think is what makes it so. powerful and toxic because, like, they know that they could each ruin each other's life.

But the second season, it's a lot of realization that they have about why they're drawn to each other. And it's honestly the only weirdly beautiful part about them. Like, by no means are people going to think they should be together? But, like, there's some aspect that they both see each other in this way, that they accept their faults and kind of realize, like, who else are they going to be with. Yeah. Like, who else would go through this? And, yeah, completely.

So we also have been talking a lot about the college thing, how it's so relatable. Like, the show did it so well. Like, you feel like you're back in your dorm with the solo cups, with the bad vodka. Sprint off ice. Spaned off ice. That's Lucy's D.O.C. That's her. She is always, always.

Like the bad jungle juice, like everything. You guys, like, nailed it. for real. You, did you go to college? I did not. You did not. No, this was my college experience. So you're like, oh, this is what, this is like, yeah. Also, you have you visited friends? Yes. Yes. Okay. And it felt accurate. Yeah. It was a very. Especially like the frat houses that they built and yeah. So good. And where were you, this takes place like 2007, 2008, 2008. 2007, the first season in 2008. Right. Yeah. Because like the fashion too. I know. So good. The low-rise.

Well, like, you can wear them, but, like, oh, my God. It's traumatizing. They're terrifying to me. Really? Yeah, they're terrifying to me. Like, when you had to put them on, what was it like? My first fitting, the first season, I was in shock. I was like, this is so embarrassing.

This is so embarrassing. And by the end of the first season, it was in my whole wardrobe. I was like going to thrift shops, like, low rise, low-rise, low-right. I did not have a high-waist in sight. And I was obsessed. Like the halters. The haltered hops. But those are also like it is all coming back.

It's kind of all back. Yeah. Which is so weird to me. Is it? It's really odd. Yeah. The whole Y2K coming back. I mean, it wasn't that long.

I guess it was long. Yeah, it was. It doesn't feel like long ago. But those low rises. The low rise. It's the low rise. The ugs. Your ugs.

Right. I noted that in the first. And the ballet flats are back. And she wears ballet flats all the time. With the skinny, skinny jeans and the belly flats. Wait, did you dye your hair blonde for Lucy? Because it was black for a minute after it wrapped. Yes, I got rid of Lucy after the first season.

That's why you did it? I was like, get off me. Really? Yeah. I honestly love changing my hair after every role because I think it's the knowing that I can. Like, for so long, you're like, you have to have this hair color. You have to look this way.

You have to be this. Yeah. So by the end of it, I'm like, I want piercing. I want bangs. I love changing it up. You went like jet black. I went jet black. And like, was it bangs, too, or no?

I think at some point I cut bangs. Yeah. Not ever, like. Yeah. And then you had to go back to your loose suit look. Yes. Yeah. So we were talking about like press wise.

So press wise for season one, you didn't do much because it was like the first. No, I did. Yeah. Definitely not stuff like that like podcasts. Yeah. I think I was afraid of exposing too much. Yeah. I think so.

I think I was like, I never wanted to like lie on. It just felt weird. I'm like, my mother going to go on this and tell the truth, or, like, wait. Right. And, but we did, we did, like, some fun shoots together, which is really fun. So you did shoots together and then you started doing a lot of cool, like, red carpets, too. Do you get nervous in those, like, doing stuff like that? I get way more nervous doing, like, live.

Oh, talking. Talking. Oh, yeah, yeah. Like, you're like, I can look hot. That's fine. Like, take pictures of me and down. Well, I'm like that last two seconds. And I can, I black out.

I don't know what happens. Yeah. But speaking, it's like, it's terrifying. Well, you're amazing at speaking and you don't seem nervous at all. I get, I get so... What, like, hives, like Lucy? Nervous. No.

Actually, I do get really red. Oh, you do? I get so red. But honestly, this round of press has been so nice because I've been doing so much with Jackson. Yeah. Which is like... It gives you, like, some security. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Where he can answer if you don't. Switch off. Oh, that's fun. Come in and save each other. Yeah. Yeah. It's been nice. That is so nice to do it with somebody that you're close with.

Yeah. It's so great. It's so much better. Are you guys realizing this time around, like, how big the show is? I think we, honestly, yesterday, we started to be like, whoa. Because we were just walking around the street. Oh, and being recognized a lot? Yeah.

And, like, it's not like the fans of the show are, they're, like, this world about it. It feels like we're on a reality show or something. And they're like... Because I'm telling you, it's personal. You know what I mean? Maybe that's why. I think it's personal. It's like you're in it.

It's not just like a show, like a story that you're watching totally from the outside. And here you're like, you're there because of the multitude of stuff. Like the college where I got messages being like, we went to school at the same time as them. And I'm like, oh my God, I did. I was in college in those years. And that's why it's so... And I got married in 2015. And that's when that's when.

they got married, right? Or they're engaged, like, Breed and Evan. Which, by the way, that's another, like, if you don't rewatch season one, and I'll spoil season one, you'll forget that Lucy had sex with Evan. Like, that's just like a, by the way, kind of thing. I know. And that's, like, just in the last episode and such a quick. Yeah.

Yeah. No, you guys are going to die. Episode one of season two, the plot twists are in same. Oh, my God. You'll never be able to expect it. I know. Ever. Yeah, there are some shocking, shocking things.

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recipes at home. Visit creamchease.com. And we're back. Let's go back, back, back. Because you grew up in New York. I did. Did you? Yeah. So I went to, you went to LaGuardia. I saw. I went to Beacon. I don't know if Beacon was there. We're neighbors. Right. Beacon moved since. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. We were like LaGuardia and Beacon kids hung out all the time. I know. I know. Isn't that great? I mean, you're younger. You're 27 now. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm like, nine years older than you know. But LaGuardia, that's cool. We just miss each other. We just missed each other. We just miss each other. We just miss each other. But LaGuardia is a performing arts school. Yes. So you went for. I went for acting for, yeah, it's just high school. So just four years. It was intense. It was so much fun. Yeah. I'm so, I can't imagine going to a normal high school after that. I remember thinking that when I was there, like, just doing math and science. Wait, so where did you grow up on the Upper West Side or? No, I grew up in Tribeca. Oh, so you, you, you subwayed every day.

It was just the one train, uptown, a couple stops. Yeah. Not that bad. And then moved to Brooklyn. My family I moved to Brooklyn when I was 16. Oh. And they're still there. Oh, they are. Yeah. Are you now in L.A. mostly? Trader.

Such a traitor. I know. I still feel like it. I'm really happy, but I still feel guilty. Oh, yeah? I'm like... But when you come back to New York, aren't you, like, it's cooler here? Yeah, of course.

Yeah. Of course. It's like... Well, you were saying, sorry, you were saying you were walking around last night and people... Oh. It was crazy. Yeah, it was just they were...

It happens in New York more. And I feel like because New Yorkers maybe are just more upfront. Whereas in L.A., they're just, like, you know, hiding that they're taking photos of you or like, or like, Dumoising it instead. In New York, they're like, holy shit, I love your show. Wait, speaking of Dumois. Yeah.

So, like, a thing came out on Des Mois. You, Jackson, and Adam Sandler were hanging out. I've been texting that so much. What? We ran into him. He played my dad in a movie called The Myerwitt Stories. The Myrwit Stories. And he's just the, he's the best person ever. And when we were staying at the same hotel.

Stop. And we ran into each other. and just hung out on the sidewalk. Did you see people taking photos? I did not see that. You didn't notice. People, when we said by to him, I mean, he got, like, sworn. Oh.

But before that. So you introduced him to Jackson. Yes. Yes. That was exciting. I mean, Adam Sandler is so cool. It was, he's the best. So, wait, when did you do the Meyerwitz?

I did that. I think I was, I think I was 18. Wow. So right out of high school. Yeah. Yeah. And you played, like, a sexual character there, too. It was.

Just sexing it up everywhere. Yeah, I tell me, I was like, she'll do it. She'll do it. She'll do it. She'll take it off. Yeah. That actually, I didn't know. I was like, because no bomb back directed it.

First of all, that's a very cool director to work with. He's amazing. He's a genius. And I got the part. It was so confidential. Like, even when I was auditioning for it, I didn't get to read the script. I just got the sides that I auditioned with. And then after I got it, I then got the script.

and I think my mom was printing it out and printing it out for me and she was like, page 30? And I'm like, what? She's like, maybe you should read this? And then I read it. And I honestly loved it. I thought it was so funny.

And like, it didn't bother me at all. It was about this like young girl who is from New York and went to college at Bard, who so many of, so many people I knew went to Bard and know that type, like going for film, doing this experimental weird film and like, That was her, that was that character. She goes and she starts making these weird, like,

slightly pornographic, artsy films. Do you think that's, like, part of the reason that you got the audition for Tell Me wise? Megan was like, that's her. No. She'll take her sound. No, that, like, that, like, that you have that side of you. That's, like, maybe.

But that was so not sexual to me. Oh, it wasn't. It was, like, funny and silly. And, like, like, the movie that she made in the movie was, like, called Pagina Man and it was like her like they were really silly oh it's so they weren't like sex which is why I liked it's like I see it was because it is it is like I'm a very like when I watch sex scenes or kissing scenes on like TV or even reality TV like yeah I want it to be hot like I'm not gonna believe it if it's like you're you're if it's kissing with no chemistry it could

really piss me off yeah and you and Jackson like your chemistry is insane and Lucy comes in kind of never had an orgasm, hasn't, right? Totally sexually awakened. So, yeah. So that's, like, another part that's probably the reason why she's so attached. Yes, he did it for her. I think it was, like, the first of everything for her. Yeah.

Lucy was so bottled up and so repressed. Yeah. And I think, like, spent years just building up this wall, this, like, front. And she meets Stephen. He just, like, chips away at it. And all by piece. you have some lines the first season that, again, are relatable. And I feel like a lot of girls can identify with.

Like, you're talking about him and you sound kind of like obsessive and really into him. Yeah. But then you're like, no, I think I hate him. Yeah. Like that's it. I think I hate him. Because there's such a fine line between the love and the hate. Yeah.

Like being off foot, but being intrigued. Yeah. But being like, ew, but then being like hot. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's completely convoluted. Yeah. Which is like that confusion enhances that.

that. It's like, so confused by this person. Who is he? Like, the mystery is kind of like, I don't know, enticing. Yeah. Maybe. I'm not sure. Oh, it's just so freaking good. Okay. And your mom, you said, print out the pages for you. Is she in the industry as well? She's not. No. My dad is, she was a model and then now works in the family business, which is Harley Davis motorcycle. Stop. She's a biker chick. That's so cool. So your dad is a director. You're, your, aunt is, cousin is, an actress. Cousin is an actress. No? Cousin? Honestly, yes. Like, my whole dad's side is... Everybody is in the industry. So did you grow up around it? Yeah. Yeah. Totally. I was not much... Because my dad's the only one in New York. He grew up

in New York from there and he has, he's a sister here, but most of his families in L.A. Yeah. And they're all actors. Wow. And so I totally grew up around actors and visiting my dad on set. And it was always something that was so fascinating to me and so exciting to me. But I still never saw it as a career. You didn't. Until I started working. Like, I was like, this is fun.

You knew you wanted to do it, though, even if it was just for fun? Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah, I knew I loved it. I always wanted to do the school plays. And I always, I wanted to go to LaGuardia. But I wasn't like, I want to be an actress. Yeah.

I wasn't like, but I think it was just because I didn't have. I didn't see it. Maybe because I had maybe more of an insight into the business of like it's really hard. It's hard. Yeah. I love reminding listeners of it because it is. That's why I like knowing a little bit about the behind the scenes because it looks so glam, you know, because we end up seeing you getting famous and being on carpets and styling.

But like the day to day is like how many hours did you shoot a day? Oh, my, sometimes like 15, 16. insane. I mean, yeah. Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah. It's crazy. And even just then you're, you're busy doing a show and then you're, and then it's silence. And it's like, it's, it's so unpredictable and there's no way to have the industry. Yeah. Yeah. Do you, you've done a bunch of stuff before Tell Me Lies, but did you feel like this was your kind of big break? I think so. Yeah. I think so. It was like the biggest role I've had in a big show. It was my first, like, yeah. And it was really excited. to me. It was really exciting to me. Yeah. It still is. It still is. It still is. It's exciting. Yeah. I was, by the way, you guys, I was supposed to come visit you guys on set. You were? For season two. I was pregnant. I was very pregnant. And I was like, I need to be, like, smoking six with them and not, like, come with my, like, eight-month belly. Like, it's just not the vibe. So did you just have a baby? I just had a baby. Yeah. Thank you. I just had a baby. A boy.

But I was like, picture. myself there in this like college set environment. Oh, we would have had the best time. I know, but it's like, I'm like, Megan, do a season three. And come. So I can come not pregnant. You know what I mean? Yes. Done. That's smart. You know what I mean? Like you just see we, I saw the behind the scenes. You guys get featured a lot in what's that account called Sigfluencers. Oh yeah. Yeah. We're viral and we're viral and I love that account by that. You're viral on influencers. And I was like, I need to, like, rip some darts. There's something I've posted about this being pregnant before, but like, you just feel a little uncool when you're pregnant. It's such a

cool thing bringing a baby into this world. Don't get me wrong. But not like the telling me lie is cool vibes, you know? Like, I wanted to live it. The trick is, I mean, the joke is, is that the trick. The trick is we're not cool. Like, we are, we literally have like game nights and, and like, go to escape rooms and play Caton. Like, we, all of them. All of. We do. All of us. We look like we'll have some, we'll like get onesies and watch Anaconda or something. Like, we're really weird, which is the best. Which is the best. It's like everyone, there's, there's no, no ego. And, like, everyone is just so great and talented and down to earth. And they're just the, it's the best group of people. Oh, I love that. Yeah. It's so fun. Okay. So you did before you graduated high school. You were already in things. at like eight years old. You did an episode of the Sopranos. That is true. That is true. And I did an episode of Law and Order, SvU, which was like my dream. Honestly, still my proudest. No, I was, I was 16. I was sexting the mayor. It was, it was like an

episode based on the Anthony Wiener. Grace, you're literally. Oh, my God, that's true. I've set myself up. You're like, I'm being pigeonholed into the sex goddess, you guys. I'm choosing. I'm creating this. I'm creating my own reality. the mayor. That's so funny. Oh my gosh. Yeah. I was like a klepto and I'm like, you know, I think it's in the eyes. Really? You have like very sexy eyes. Thank you. You're welcome. Thanks. Yeah. And sometimes like when you're like, when you're like in the zone, Lucy. I know. You're like zone. I know. It's so silly. It's weird for you to think about it. It's so silly doing it with Jackson too. Like you think it'd be sexy, but it's it's the most unsexy. Honestly, it's like shooting those sex scenes are the most

choreographed, most like technical. Are you ever around? Everyone's around. Not the other cast. No, no, no, no. Yeah, yeah. But like, there's a million people in a little dorm room and you're like, it's weird. It's weird. It's so weird. You know, I can't get on my head again the fashion because I'm thinking of those low rise one time you wore. Not only were they low rise, but they were laced. Oh, I know what you're talking. Lays at the fair.

And, yes, when you were fucked up at that fair. That was so fun. Yeah. I was like, I wish I could do this in real life. Yeah, just like do. Like, I wish I had the balls to do something like that. Yeah, you're like living out a lot of girls' fantasies. Yeah.

You know, just like having something on someone that can destroy their lives. A lot of girls would want that. You know what I mean? That's true. That's true. But, oh my God. Okay. Lucy's like acting on all of it.

Yeah. Very impulsive. And you have other exciting news coming up, not only Tell Me Lies Season 2, which is now out. There should be two episodes out, another one dropping. By the way, how do you feel about when shows come out not bingeable, like that they're spread out? Are you more of a bingy girl? Or do you like when they're spread out? Because I'm sure there are going to be people mad.

They're going to be like, I want it all. I want it all now. I know, I know. It's like there's two people in the world. Yeah, there's two people. I like, I fall somewhere in the middle. Yeah. I will, if a show is already all out, I'll.

I would love to binge it. But if it's like I was just watching Presumed Innocent. Oh, I just started to. And it was weekly. And I was so into, like we were so into like, you get that Sunday night, let's go or whatever night it was. And you get that thing where you're waiting for something. And it's fun. I'm into it. You have a plan? You have a plan? Because I never have plans. I want to know. I love being like this time, this place. We're like, I can't. I can't come on Wednesday. My show is on. Yeah. It's so fun. And you got a new big role coming up, playing a amazing. Amanda Knox.

Yes. Kera's going to go dark again for that. Harris is going to go short. And dark. Yeah. I'm really excited. That's a cool one. Yeah.

I'm, it's crazy because I followed that story. Yeah. I followed that story and watched documentary. And I remember like, I had just started really acting. And it was like 2015, I think the documentary had come out. And I remember calling my agents at the time being like, the story's crazy. Is like, is there anything? Is there any movie?

being made about her or like, like, do people have the right? Like, does she want to do a movie? And, like, inquiring about that. Because I was like, this would be my dream part. Stop. And then then being like, I don't think so. I don't think she's opened it. I don't really remember what they said. So that's why when it came around, I was like, you manifested it. Yeah. Yeah. It was crazy. I still can't. I honestly still can't believe it. I really can't. That's insane. Terrified. Did you start production yet? No, not. Not yet. Not yet. We start in a little bit, a month or something. Grace, that's so cool. Thanks. Like, again, this is a story because this, when did this happen? When we were... Like 2008, I think. Yeah? Early 2000. So, like, I remember following this story and it being, again, so freaky because it's like your roommate and it's against something so can hit so close to home. And I've watched, like, again, like you, every documentary about it. Yes. It's going to be wild watching you play this. And so exciting. I'm, yeah, I'm really, I'm really excited.

We know you have it in you. Yeah. Right? You guys, Grace Van Penn, GVP, go watch, tell me lies. Not that I have to tell you twice. You're all freaking obsessed. And thank you so much for coming on. Thank you so much for having me.

Of course. Can't wait to see you on set for season three. Oh, my God. Did you imagine? Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Not Skinny but Not Fat. Follow me on Instagram at Not Skinny but Not Fat. to the podcast so you don't miss any episodes. Rate the podcast

that you love so much on Apple Podcast and write a little review. If you tell me you did, I'll give you a big virtual smoo-a-roo. Thank you guys so much for listening and I'll see you next Tuesday. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services.

Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.