Supporting Actresses
Dane McDonald and Louis Peitzman
A movie-by-movie breakdown of the careers of our favorite actresses, from their first brushes with fame to their newest releases. Co-hosts Dane McDonald and Louis Peitzman are charting the ups, downs, obstacles, and triumphs in this chronological deep dive into actress filmographies.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 4, 2026 • 2h 3min
Klara and the Sun with Katie Walsh (Chasing Amy Adams: Episode 52)
Amy Adams has gotten some of her least favorable reviews for the 2026 sci-fi drama Klara and the Sun, where she plays Chrissie, a grieving mother who bonds with Jenna Ortega's title robot. We're joined by film critic Katie Walsh to talk about Amy being failed by Taika Waititi's script and direction, and why this movie feels like A.I. Artificial Intelligence for dummies. Plus: nefarious emoji choices, knowing we're obsolete, and Rita Ora's impact. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Katie on social: @katiewalshstx
Oct 28, 2026 • 1h 54min
The Anniversary Party with Natalie Walker (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 20)
Gwyneth Paltrow reunited with her Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh for the 2001 dramedy The Anniversary Party, where she plays movie star Skye Davidson. We're joined by writer and performer Natalie Walker to talk about Gwyneth's indie actress aspirations, and how this movie was heavily inspired by Cabaret. Plus: dropping acid at the Oscars, having senator hair, and Marisa Tomei's Purple Heart. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Natalie on social: @nwalks
Oct 21, 2026 • 1h 51min
Bounce with Hannah Aaron Brown (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 19)
Gwyneth Paltrow went brunette to play grieving widow Abby Janello in the 2000 romantic drama Bounce, starring alongside her recent ex Ben Affleck. We're joined by Not Aspirational host Hannah Aaron Brown to talk about Gwyneth's dogged commitment to playing a normal person, and why this movie represents the last gasp of pre-9/11 cinema. Plus: embracing your inner hoi polloi, making friends on benzos, and Toy Story fever. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Hannah on social: @hannahaaronbrown
Oct 14, 2026 • 1h 52min
Duets with Griffin Newman (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 18)
Gwyneth Paltrow was supposed to star alongside Brad Pitt in the 2000 musical dramedy Duets, but after they broke up, she was forced to go it alone as Liv Dean, a woman who reunites—and then duets—with her estranged father. We're joined by Blank Check co-host Griffin Newman to talk about Gwyneth giving the worst performance of her career, and how Bruce Paltrow's illness may have made a bad movie even worse. Plus: Robert Altman Mad Libs, Aaron Sorkin's spray tan, and defending The Suicide Squad's Oscar. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Griffin on social: @grifflightning Follow Blank Check on social: @blankcheckpod
Oct 7, 2026 • 2h 34min
The Talented Mr. Ripley with Clay Keller (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 17)
Gwyneth Paltrow's first film after winning the Oscar was the 1999 thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley, where she plays Marge Sherwood, who grows increasingly suspicious of Matt Damon's titular con artist. We're joined by Screen Drafts co-host Clay Keller to talk about Gwyneth's miserable six months in Italy, and why this may just be the best movie in her filmography. Plus: spoiling Argylle, MTV Movie Awards category fraud, and how to pronounce Cate Blanchett. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Clay on social: @claykeller Follow Screen Drafts on social: @screendrafts
Sep 30, 2026 • 2h 13min
Shakespeare in Love with Izzy Custodio (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 16)
Gwyneth Paltrow completed her 1998 five-film run with the period romantic dramedy Shakespeare in Love. She plays aspiring actress and Shakespeare muse Viola de Lesseps, a role which earned her her first (and, to date, only) Academy Award for Best Actress. We're joined by Be Kind Rewind host Izzy Custodio to talk about Gwyneth's most celebrated cinematic achievement, and the way this movie's aggressive Oscar campaign and Best Picture win may have unfairly tarnished it. Plus: Grace Kelly's Iron Man, Hamnet psychosis, and Billy Crystal making movie stars. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Izzy on social: @bk_rewind
Sep 23, 2026 • 1h 51min
A Perfect Murder with Bobby Finger (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 15)
Gwyneth Paltrow's fourth 1998 movie was the thriller A Perfect Murder, a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder. She plays Emily, a U.N. translator who survives her husband's attempt to kill her and then works to uncover his plot. We're joined by writer and Who? Weekly co-host Bobby Finger to talk about Gwyneth taking on a more active role than Grace Kelly's, and how this movie may mark the moment Michael Douglas stopped being charming. Plus: accidental fetish content, the Operation Dumbo Drop soundtrack, and Roger Ebert's bugaboos. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Bobby on social: @bobbyfinger Follow Who? Weekly on social: @whoweekly
Sep 16, 2026 • 2h 2min
Sliding Doors with Marya E. Gates (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 14)
Gwyneth Paltrow went British again for the 1998 romantic dramedy Sliding Doors, where she plays a woman named Helen who is living two different timelines after missing (or not missing) her train. We're joined by writer and film historian Marya E. Gates to talk about Gwyneth embracing dual roles, and why this movie continues to linger in the cultural consciousness. Plus: the invention of stan culture, clashing with Carolyn Bessette, and explaining the musical If/Then. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Marya on social: @oldfilmsflicker
Sep 9, 2026 • 2h 15min
Hush with Phil Iscove (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 13)
Gwyneth Paltrow's 1998 continued with the Jessica Lange-led thriller Hush, where she plays the terrorized pregnant daughter-in-law Helen. We're joined by writer and Podcast Like It's… co-host Phil Iscove to talk about Gwyneth pretending this movie doesn't exist, and how reshoots deprived us of the over-the-top ending we deserve. Plus: the ugliest house in America, death by bees, and Dakota Johnson's affability. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Phil on social: @pmiscove Follow Podcast Like It's… on social: @podcastlikeits
Sep 2, 2026 • 1h 34min
Great Expectations with Julieanne Smolinski (Chasing Gwyneth Paltrow: Episode 12)
Gwyneth Paltrow began her jam-packed 1998 with the romantic drama Great Expectations, playing Estella in Alfonso Cuarón's modern-day adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic. We're joined by writer Julieanne Smolinski to talk about Gwyneth leaning into her coldness to play an icy female lead, and why this movie's failure can't really be blamed on Titanic. Plus: horny green dresses, non-committal Letterboxd reviews, and Bob Odenkirk's little women. Join the Patreon: patreon.com/supportingactresses Follow Supporting Actresses on social: @actressespod Follow Dane on social: @thedanemcdonald Follow Louis on social: @louispeitzman Follow Julieanne on social: @julieanne.smolinski


