‘I didn’t think I had that confidence, so I turned those roles down.’
Robin Wright is the legendary star of The Princess Bride, Forrest Gump, House of Cards, and Amazon’s gripping new thriller The Girlfriend. An Emmy-nominated actress, Golden Globe winner and now an acclaimed director, Wright joins How To Fail to talk about fear, self-worth, womanhood, motherhood - and what it means to start over later in life.
She reflects on missed chances in her 20s, turning down roles due to self-doubt, and how playing Claire Underwood helped her channel her inner strength. We discuss ageing, perfectionism, directing while acting and the inequality still embedded in Hollywood. A masterclass in how to fail, get back up, and do it your own way.
Plus: her honest thoughts on working with Tom Hanks and the *worst* experience she’s had with a director.
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
11.20 Overcoming fear and self-doubt
11.30 Reuniting with former co-stars - Tom Hanks!
21.31 Why she turned down roles in her 20s due to fear of failing
25.30 Self-love and personal growth
26.15 The journey to directing
35.20 Embracing new challenges later in life
39.45 Difficult experiences in the industry with a bullying director
43.00 Dealing with power imbalances
43.30 Her biggest wish for the youth of today (and how not to be controlled by social media)
💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:
"You take care of your babies and if something you see is perilous for your offspring, you will lie under an 18-wheeler truck before the baby's going to, you know what I mean?"
"I wasn't ready. And so I feel that it just takes time, experience... I learned from that by finally failing. Having the confidence to fail."
“You have to learn to fail in front of the camera. And then put your head up and try again.”
“Too old to do what? If you’ve got the energy and the want, do it.”
“I’d feel like a failure if I didn’t help the youth grow up in this chaotic world.”
“I didn’t feel confident enough to take those roles. Now I know - that was the lesson.”
“It was 116 degrees in the desert and I just ran. I had to get away.”
🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:
Robin Wright stars in The Girlfriend, available exclusively on Prime Video
Elizabeth’s upcoming one-off show at Cadogan Hall on 21 Sep for her new novel One of Us: https://www.fane.co.uk/elizabeth-day
Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/
Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content
📚 WANT MORE?
Kate Winslet on womanhood, body image and failing to direct (yet) https://link.chtbl.com/ue94wtL4
Vanessa Williams on playing ice queens https://link.chtbl.com/XuGATIoZ
Sharon Horgan on creativity, motherhood and control https://link.chtbl.com/lMHAaa-w
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👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth:
Instagram: @elizabday
TikTok: @howtofailpod
Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod
Website: www.elizabethday.org
Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/
Elizabeth and Robin answer YOUR questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: howtofailpod.com
Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com
Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan
Sound Engineer: Matias Torres
Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali
Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot
Executive Producer: Carly Maile
How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.
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