In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast

Corey Hawkins’ training at the Juilliard School of Drama, and background in singing in church, set him on the path toward becoming what he calls “a well-rounded artist”—and he has a Tony, Emmy, and two SAG Award nominations to show for it! Speaking to Backstage, his go-to resource during post-grad years in New York City, Corey offers fellow actors plenty of valuable advice, particularly when it comes to auditions. “To go into a room and literally just have an opportunity to act, or sing, or dance, or do whatever you do, you get to showcase that and share it with somebody for that little bit of time. And that’s a joy.” Born in Washington, D.C., Corey made his Broadway debut in “Romeo and Juliet,” which was followed by an award-winning revival of “Six Degrees of Separation.” After a Hollywood breakthrough in “Non-Stop,” he appeared on “The Walking Dead,” “24: Legacy,” and “Survive,” plus in “BlacKkKlansman,” “Kong: Skull Island,” and as Dr. Dre in “Straight Outta Compton.” This year is Corey’s most impressive yet, starring on the big screen as Benny in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s movie musical “In the Heights” and as Lord Macduff in Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” opposite Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. For resources and advice on performing Shakespeare, check out backstage.com: https://bit.ly/2Z5bEC7 Read about the newly formed Juilliard Black Alumni Association, of which Corey is a founder, here: https://bit.ly/3AXHaza --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Rebecca Ferguson has combined backgrounds in music, dance, short films, and soap operas in her native Sweden to become one of today’s most versatile and compelling screen stars. From life advice (“Lay your own path and have other people follow you!”) to technical secrets (she gets into character by creating a silhouette), her “In the Envelope” interview has endless value for artists at any level. “It’s a really, really difficult job and it takes a lot of time,” she says of an acting career. “The more you get to know yourself, the more grounded you can be in this world of scrutiny.” After dabbling in various performing arts, Rebecca earned a Golden Globe nod for playing Elizabeth Woodville in the BBC’s “The White Queen,” which launched her into a screen career on both sides of the Atlantic. Tom Cruise cast her in the “Mission Impossible” films as Ilsa Faust, and then came “Despite the Falling Snow,” “Florence Foster Jenkins,” “The Girl on the Train,” “Life,” “The Greatest Showman,” the award-winning “Doctor Sleep,” and this year’s “Reminiscence.” She now stars in Denis Villeneuve’s big-screen adaptation of sci-fi epic “Dune,” from Warner Bros., as the powerful Lady Jessica. Rebecca will next appear in “Mission: Impossible 7” and produce and star on the AppleTV+ series “Wool.” As Backstage gears up for Screen Actors Guild Awards season, brush up on the best and buzziest films to come: https://bit.ly/3FIzHrn --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Alessandro Nivola’s career trajectory is proof that artists, especially actors, must continue to adjust ambitions and dream big. On first the stage and then the screen, Alessandro carved out a character actor niche, morphing into roles “very unlike” himself, as he tells Backstage. “It’s part of staying alive, always having new cravings and goals and longings.... One has to battle those feelings on some level and try and feel grateful for what you have.” A Boston native who studied acting at regional theaters and as an undergrad at Yale University, Alessandro fulfilled his dreams of a stage career as a young adult, award-nominated for his Broadway debut opposite Helen Mirren in “A Month in the Country.” After watching his theater peers cross over to Hollywood, he did the same with “Face/Off,” and appeared in “Laurel Canyon,” “Junebug,” “Selma,” “A Most Violent Year,” “The Wizard of Lies,” “Disobedience,” and in many more character roles. Tony-nominated for “The Elephant Man” and a SAG Award winner for “American Hustle,” he also runs the company behind “Doll & Em” and “To Dust,” King Bee Productions, with his wife, actor Emily Mortimer. Alessandro now stars as Dickie Moltisanti, one of his first leading roles, in Warner Brothers’ new prequel to “The Sopranos” from David Chase, “The Many Saints of Newark.” Read more about the buzzy film at backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3a3CbSo --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

In an extra-special (and long-overdue) discussion episode, Backstage’s senior staff writer Casey Mink and industry news writer Diep Tran join Jack to discuss the state of the theater industry in 2021. On the heels of the 74th Tony Awards finally presented Sept. 26 after almost two years of uncertainty on Broadway and beyond, this team of experts is asking and answering many of the questions on the minds of thespians everywhere: How exactly did COVID-19 affect the live performing arts, and what role do vaccinations play going forward? How has the state of New York City theater changed, from the pandemic’s disruption to now? What are the facts and resources that casual listeners and diehard Broadway fans alike need to know? Many such resources are being covered by our editorial team, so for up-to-date reporting on the theater industry’s gradual reopening, head to backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3zXx2ps To read about the 2021 Tony Awards honoring the Broadway of 2019–20, including top winners “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Inheritance,” click here: https://bit.ly/3zTYMLB --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Actors and comedians at any level can study Ken Jeong’s trajectory through the entertainment industry—particularly those breaking into it later in life, as he did at age 37. The fact that he’s also a licensed physician who left a career in medicine to pursue the arts makes him truly one of a kind. Naturally, Dr. Ken is something of an expert on balancing work and life, approaching any venture with a student’s mentality, and infusing personal experience into scripted and unscripted projects alike. “It really boils down to passion,” he tells his fellow performers. “A career, like your life, is a series of moments.” After growing up and studying medicine in North Carolina, while also dabbling in improv and stand-up, Ken committed to acting full-time upon his breakout role—as a doctor—in “Knocked Up.” More Judd Apatow films followed, and Ken stole the show in the “Hangover” trilogy, the comedy “Community,” his writing and producing debut “Dr. Ken,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” multiple voiceover projects, a comedy special, and much more. He’s now known as a panelist on Fox’s award-winning “The Masked Singer” and host of “I Can See Your Voice.” Read more about the unscripted competition hit on backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3nXRSCJ In this episode, Jack also recaps the notable highlights from the recently aired 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards, a ceremony like no other: https://bit.ly/2XPY459 --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

How many actors can claim they launched a thriving screen career by playing a washed-up, unemployed actor? That distinction belongs to Richard E. Grant, whose road from cult classic “Withnail and I” to an award-winning oeuvre began with what he calls a “fuck you” attitude. From tips on playing drunk to his instinctive acting techniques (hint: they involve a character’s sex life), Richard has plenty of advice for his fellow performers. His thoughts on forging a career in the arts are evergreen: “Never give up. If you feel that it is something that you’re compelled to do, you will know that. And if it’s not, then don’t waste your time and energy because there are too many people that want it more than you do.” Born in the Protectorate of Swaziland, now Eswatini, Richard performed onstage as a child and studied at the University of Cape Town. After landing the titular role in Bruce Robinson’s “Withnail and I” thanks to casting director Mary Selway, he amassed onscreen credits in the UK and Hollywood, collaborating with Steve Martin, Robert Altman, Winona Ryder, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Julian Fellowes, and more. He wrote and directed the semi-autobiographical film “Wah-Wah,” starred in “Spice World,” “Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Star Wars,” and earned an Academy Award nomination for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” Richard has recently lent his talents to the Disney+ series “Loki” and Amazon Studios’ musical “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.” Check out his conversation with co-star Max Harwood on backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3nCUmX4 --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Michael Shannon can give a quietly nuanced supporting turn—or flat-out steal the show—all in service of whatever story he’s helping tell. What are the secrets to his endlessly compelling performances? “Usually if you want to have a career in this business, it’s gonna involve doing a lot of things that scare you, and at first may seem unwise,” he tells Backstage. “But you just have to be willing to take those risks, I guess.” Although wary of putting a name to his techniques or giving ironclad, how-to advice to up-and-coming artists, Michael does so with clarity and generosity. With roots in Kentucky and Illinois, Michael got his start on Chicago stages, collaborating with Tracy Letts and founding A Red Orchid Theatre. His theater work eventually led to a Broadway career, including a Tony nomination for “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” while his on-camera work went from appearances in “Groundhog Day” and “8 Mile” to star turns in “Kangaroo Jack,” “99 Homes,” “Take Shelter,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Man of Steel,” “Midnight Special,” “Elvis & Nixon,” “The Shape of Water,” “Knives Out,” and Academy Award nominations for supporting roles in “Revolutionary Road” and “Nocturnal Animals.” The actor-producer-musician can now be seen as grieving family man Napoleon Marconi on Hulu’s TV adaptation of “Nine Perfect Strangers” from David E. Kelley and Nicole Kidman. Also in today’s episode: Kasey Howe once again joins Jack to preview the year’s upcoming film festivals and awards. Get ready for an exciting season over at backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3ndnQdT --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Talent agents: What do they do? What do performers at all career levels need to know about their central function in the entertainment industry ecosystem? And, of course, how does one reach representation, and therefore opportunity? “In the Envelope’s” latest deep-dive on a particular aspect of the biz features interviews with first Shauna Perlman of Creative Artists Agency, then both Jason Rodriguez and Ricardo Sebastián of the recently launched Arraygency. CAA is one of Hollywood’s oldest and biggest agencies, managing A-list actors along with writers, directors, hosts, sports and music stars, and other creatives. Shauna Perlman got her start at United Talent Agency before eventually coming to CAA and representing the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Anthony Ramos, Teyonah Parris, Sebastian Stan, and Henry Winkler. One of her many points to talent looking for representation? Representation is on the lookout for talent. “Putting out the work is everything, keep staying focused on that,” she advises. “And you will find the team that is meant to be helping you on your journey.” For more on CAA, visit our Call Sheet: https://bit.ly/3DDjy5u Arraygency, a talent agency founded by actor-dancer Jason Rodriguez (star of FX’s “Pose”) and manager-entrepreneur Ricardo Sebastián, is an initiative focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion “to better meet the needs of BIPOC, Queer and Trans creatives in the entertainment industry,” per www.arraygency.com. “There’s space for all of us to be successful and to create a life that’s meaningful,” Ricardo tells Backstage. “That’s why we’re focusing on creating a community.” Jason’s advice for his fellow performers is to define artistic goals, remember that success is subjective, and optimize your work for an industry newly focused on hearing from minority voices: “We want to do things differently, where we’re preparing our talent for when they walk into work, but also preparing the work for our talent.” For resources and reading on acting agents, Backstage has you covered: https://bit.ly/3kNcwlJ --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Julianne Nicholson’s impressive Hollywood career is the result of both magnetic on-camera charisma and a commitment to only playing roles that speak to her on a deeper level. In this insightful interview, Julianne reminisces about early auditions, pulls back the curtain on the many acting techniques she puts to use, and walks the line between optimism and realism that being a working actor requires. “Experience goes a long way,” she tells Backstage. “And life! Life gives you more things to draw from. And I expect that will keep happening as I go.” Hailing from Massachusetts, Julianne spent her young adult years modeling and waitressing in New York City, eventually finding the right acting class and committing to a life in the arts. A feature film debut in “Curtain Call” led to TV characters on “Ally McBeal,” “Masters of Sex,” “Boardwalk Empire,” and a lead role on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” On the big screen, she’s starred in “Kinsey,” “Tully,” “Black Mass,” “Novitiate,” “I, Tonya,” “Togo,” and “August: Osage County,” for which she earned awards recognition. Julianne is currently nominated at the 2021 Emmy Awards for her work on HBO’s limited series from Brad Ingelsby and Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown.” To read more about that show, click here: https://bit.ly/3DcUjqg --- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis

Giancarlo Esposito can speak at length about his strategy for navigating a career in the arts, but what it all boils down to is quite simple: “Do what means something, and then don’t be exclusive.” As first a child actor doing musical theater, then a voiceover and radio artist (Backstage magazine in hand), then as an award-winning scene-stealer onscreen, Giancarlo has pursued every role with the kind of passion required to persevere in such a fickle industry. “Your intention is proved out over time,” he tells his fellow artists. “If you feel like you’re connected to that gift, then pursue that, whatever that is.” Born in Copenhagen and raised in Manhattan, Giancarlo spent his teenage years in Broadway musicals, then turned a radio and television communications degree at Elizabeth Seton College into a screen career. His Hollywood breakout came courtesy of Spike Lee in “School Daze,” then “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” and “Malcolm X,” as well as “Taps,” “The Usual Suspects,” “Ali,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Revolution,” “Okja,” and last year’s “Unpregnant” and “Star Girl.” He’s recently dominated prestige TV, earning five Emmy Award nominations—including this year as Moff Gideon on Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” and, most famously, as Gus Fring on AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul”—and has appeared on Netflix’s “Dear White People,” Epix’s “Godfather of Harlem,” and Amazon’s “The Boys.” To read more of Giancarlo’s wisdom, head over to backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3m7FL5f -- Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0 Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5 Special thanks to... - Host: Jack Smart - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli - Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins - Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis