072: Amy Landecker — You Are the Exception: Ageless in Artistry

Today we have a really special conversation with an actress who has defied what we’re often told is possible in a Hollywood career. She started on stage with the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, but didn’t make it to Los Angeles till she was nearly 40. She is an example of what can happen when an artist decides to be the exception, embrace fear, and relinquish over-thinking.  

We also get to chat about failure, how it is a vital part of success as an actor, and how she’s been able to take professional and personal challenges, and turn them into opportunities to tell stories with some of Hollywood’s most innovative artists. 

She’s developed an incredible body of work that includes working with the Cohen Brothers, booking 9 (count them!) 9 guest stars in one year, and most notably her role on Amazon’s Transparent.

Amy Landecker started her career as a theatre actor in Chicago IL, where she worked with the Steppenwolf and Goodman theaters. A transfer production from Chicago brought her to NYC and the Public Theatre. While in New York, she worked at the Barrow St Theater and Second Stage. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she was tapped to play "Mrs. Samsky" in the Coen brothers' Oscar-nominated A Serious Man (2009). After a long series of guest star and recurring roles in shows like Mad Men, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Louie, and The Paul Reiser Show, she landed her current starring role as "Sarah Pfefferman" in the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning series, Transparent (2014). Amy has also written pilots for FX and Amazon and is a top VO talent in animation and commercials.

Instagram: @amylandecker