Mark Ruffalo discusses his dual identity, fear of SNL, health scare, and recent testimony to Congress. The episode also delves into his family history, struggles with dyslexia, and dreams for creative inspiration.
Mark Ruffalo used his duality to enhance his acting roles.
Compassion and empathy are crucial in Ruffalo's acting approach.
Ruffalo reflects on aging and letting go of illusions.
Storytelling can create awareness and provoke change.
Deep dives
Growing up in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Mark Ruffalo discusses his childhood in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he had a carefree upbringing and spent his days exploring the forest and getting into mischief.
The struggles of dyslexia and memorization
Ruffalo opens up about his dyslexia and the challenges he faced with memorizing scripts, often needing to start early and visualize every scene to fully understand the story.
Finding empathy and humanity in his roles
Ruffalo emphasizes the importance of compassion and empathy in his acting approach, often drawing from personal experiences and feelings to connect with his characters on a deeper level.
Reflections on aging and letting go of delusions
Ruffalo shares his thoughts on getting older and learning to let go of certain delusions or fantasy versions of himself. He reflects on his career, his contributions as both an actor and a podcaster, and finding gratitude for his journey so far.
Mark Ruffalo's journey from adversity to success
Mark Ruffalo shares his personal journey from experiencing a brain tumor and facial paralysis to finding success in the acting industry. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Ruffalo perseveres and finds ways to adapt and continue pursuing his dreams.
The transformative power of storytelling
Ruffalo emphasizes the importance of storytelling and how it can create awareness, spark change, and bring people together. He highlights the impact of his role in the movie Dark Waters, which shed light on the environmental pollution crisis and prompted regulatory action.
Balancing personal and professional life
Ruffalo discusses the challenges of balancing his personal life, including marriage and fatherhood, with his professional career. He talks about the support and grounding he receives from his wife and children, as well as the importance of making choices and setting priorities.
Before Mark Ruffalo became the Hulk, he deeply understood what it felt like to be two people in the same skin. A high school wrestler and a member of the drama club, a surfer and a punk rocker, a person with a family history of bipolarity. Mark and Marc talk about how he used this duality in many of his roles, including his Oscar-nominated turn in Poor Things. They also talk about his recent testimony to Congress, his fear of doing SNL, and the terrifying health scare that turned his life upside down just as his career was taking off.
