"Julia Garner"

23:13Like I never thought that this was, I always loved movies. I grew up like watching Turner classic movies and I always loved, loved films, but there was still something that felt very far, even though I grew up in New York and I grew up around actors and going to the theater, but there's something that felt very far because it wasn't, I didn't know it was like a real profession. Like, it didn't feel real. Right. So then even as sort of some momentum started to gain there, so you're 16, you're approaching the end of what would be the high school years and the possibility to maybe go to college and study another career.

23:52So since you weren't really committed to, you weren't allowing yourself to feel super positive about a career in the business, were you keeping your other irons hot as far as other occupations, other industries? No, because I was so bad at everything else. and I seem... You didn't, you were all in. You didn't even go to college? Yeah, well, I, no. And I was like, oh, well, I'm getting a good response with this, so I must be okay with it because I'm so bad at everything else. You know what's funny about that is that we, that's a common, that answer comes up for a lot and it goes for the three of us too, right?

24:29Yeah, we can't do that. And when I find, I'm sort of coming to the conclusion that actors are just a bunch of people who are bad at everything else. Yeah. Right. It's true. Let's pretend, let's get a job where we can pretend to be good at stuff. Yeah. It's kind of true. Yeah, that's so true. Yeah, and I also, I didn't do, I don't do well when I feel like there's like, has to be rules in a way. Like I don't, I, you know, I like. That there's a right way to do something and a wrong way to do something. Yeah, like I like running, I like the feeling of like running around and kind of being free as corny as that sounds.

25:02Right, right, right, right. It sounds like you're advocating for anarchy. Yeah, yeah. No, she is. She's a rule breaker. Yeah, I'm a rule breaker. I didn't know about this. I'm not against it. Tell me about, what is this David Chase thing that Wikipedia is talking about here? Oh, so there's actually, speaking of, so that was my second movie. This is Not Fade Away? Not Fade Away. And this is a crazy story. So my first time going to LA, I just turned 17. It was like a month after I turned 17. And I only remember this because it was like in March and all the purple, you know, trees. I'd never seen anything like that coming from New York.

25:45Jackarandas, yeah. Jackarandas. Jackarandas. Yeah, and I remember being... That's good. And were you alone at 17 or did you come out with mom? No, I came out with mom and my acting coach. Oh, yeah? You know, and... Did you stay at the Oakwoods? Yeah. You did? Did you really? Nearby, yeah. Oh, I did. And we didn't know where anything was. This was like GPS was new. So it was like recalculating. It was like all the time. It was so crazy. Sounds like mom was as gifted as you are behind the wheel. Yeah. Recalculating. Yes, recalculating. Exactly. But it was one of those things that I had crazy like callbacks, auditions like every single day while I was doing that one day of shoot for the David Chase project that he basically wrote that part for me because I auditioned for a different part.

26:39Okay. And I didn't get James Gadolfini's daughter, so he was like, I wrote a part for you, and it was in this dream sequence. Yeah. So that was my first time in L.A., and on the plane, I got the worst eye infection on my way there. I had green pus coming out of my eye, like green goo. It was terrible. And I had all these auditions booked, all these callbacks. Like these callbacks, I'm looking at it, I'm like, where are these meetings now? Like I'm like, these meetings were crazy. And I had— Oh, you poor thing. You must have been just a nervous wreck that you're going to show up with this pink eye.

27:19So this callback that I had, so there was all these callbacks and auditions and meetings with this like, and it wasn't contagious. So I went to a doctor and I'm like, yeah, you're fine, but it just looks, it's literally an eyesore. And I got this phone call. Well, I had a chemistry read with Claridane. So I had to like go in with an eye infection with Claridane and I had to like apologize, basically explain my I, which was horrific. Don't look at this one, look at this one. Yeah. My so-called I. Not Will, that is great. And then in the middle of all these meetings, going back and forth, didn't know where I was going, never been to LA.

28:06I got a call from my manager and like a few weeks before I went out, in New York, I went on this audition for an untitled Paul Thomas Anderson film. Is there a phone ringing? I can't. No, you made a phone ringing. Oh, yes. I don't know what's going on. I didn't see that one. Yeah. By the way, it would be a great title for a Paul Thomas Anderson. Is there a phone ringing? Is there a phone ringing? Exactly. No, so it was an untitled Paul Thomas Anderson film. I was 16 and they called in. They're like, he wants to meet with you. um so i had that and then i it turned out to be for the masters um oh wow i love yeah and but i had this eye infection like i had this crazy chemistry read and yeah but that was my first time in la and then also who i met that week was fred roos i was 17 years old it was like one of you know yeah sure producer of the godfather yeah um but then by then i met him it was like a friday in my eye, like, calm down.

29:14But during that time, I also did not fade away. Just to give you, you know, I'm giving you the bullet points. What were you meeting with Fred Roos about? Just a general meeting, I guess. I don't know. Did he make you an offer you couldn't refuse? Hell no. No, he just, I met, I just met with him. I just, okay, I just thought maybe, yeah. So jump from that to. Yeah, but that was my first time in LA. Like, crazy trip. Wow. So if you will, make a big, huge leap now from, you know, You're sort of nascent stage there. And now you've just won your first Emmy of three consecutive Emmys, by the way. Unbelievable.

29:50What did that feel? So you've just won an Emmy. What a streak! What a streak! Been beaten three years in a row!

30:01What was that like? Personally and professionally, was there a big sea change? Or was it sort of a gradual thing? Sorry, I'm recalling that. Here's the question. Did the next day after winning an Emmy feel like you thought it would when you allowed yourself to dream back to your little kid? Very good. Very good.

30:23Well, first of all, Jason, I just want to say, like, the, it's, you know, it was such a dream working with you this whole time, or that whole time of, just the, and what I mean is, is, like, the process. it really, the next day, it was not depressing. It was not depressing, but it made you look at how important the process is and the experience rather than the result in a way. Amen. And now what? It's a token in a way. It's like, it's a great, it's an amazing token and it's like an opportunity for things. But then after the opportunity, you're looking for a new process in a way. Because you kind of feel like there's nothing really changed.

31:10It's just the next day. Well, endorphin rush and all that stuff is all in the anticipation. It's not in the getting of the thing, which is true. Yeah, and also your problems. That's interesting. You'll have 30 seconds up there, and it's great. And then you get off the stage, and then you're like, the next day, personally, your problems are still following you. It doesn't change anything. That's why I've never won an Emmy. That's why. You just keep returning them. Yeah, no, I want to take myself out of the running. It's not going to change anything. But it's funny. I think what it resulted to was after that, it made me feel not confident in a complete different way, in a sense.

31:55Because what it does, well, when you have a win after win after win after win, you kind of put this pressure where you feel like people are having having this expectation on you. Right, right. But, you know, during the strike, you know, I went to clown school because I didn't know what else to do with my time. That's fine. And I went to France. And the thing that the teacher, Philippe Goulier, who's amazing, he kept on saying, you know, duh. Screw that son of a bitch. I'll show this guy a thing or two about being a clown. Oh, you like France? Come to Italy. Sorry, this is a running joke. He's got a real loud mouth.

32:38He's a handful in the back of the air. And he's got a real touchy and sensitive about other Europeans. Exactly. But he kept on saying the failure is the friend of the clown, which I love. Failure is the friend of the clown. Failure is the friend of the clown. I like that. And you can't have great art if you don't have some sort of like, you know, humility in a way. Yes. You're not going to. Yes, please tell me what goes on in clown school. Well, a lot of things. Face painting. But I mean, like you hear that. Are you guys kind of juggling a lot of different things? Yeah. Nice, Will, another nice one.

33:13Well, actually, I didn't, you know, I did get a clown certificate. So you are talking to a certified clown. Was it an oversized shoe? Or just a red nose. It was a red nose. And he assigned me, he took one look at me and he was like, you are the witch. He assigned me to be a witch. I don't know. I maybe give him like witch energy. The witch with one cigarette. Wait, but he was really brilliant. Do you do like, because I hear it and I'm an idiot. So I hear, I went to clown school and I do everything that Jason and Will are joking about. Like I think about like, oh, well you put the paint. Is it that?

33:49You paint your face and you put on? No, no. It's old school like European clown. Yeah, it's old school. Yeah. It's kind of depressing. Oh, really? Yeah. It's like he puts you on stage and then you go behind a curtain and then they cue the music and you walk around like in a clown circle and then you just, and then the music stops and you just have to do whatever comes to your mind and make people laugh. And if you don't make people laugh, he kicks you off the stage. Oh my God, wow. So you have to really kind of just completely almost humiliate yourself. Just basically pull your pants down metaphorically, right?

34:22And just like be a fool. Be a fool. So I also, I just felt this, the first, you know, two days I was like, what the fuck am I doing? Why did I do this? Like, what is wrong with me? I love you, dude. I'm like, I'm not even in Paris. Like, I'm in this town, which, by the way, the town that I was staying in, I was like, why is this energy so crazy? And there's like the biggest mental asylum in France in this town. It's not a coincidence. Slash clown school. But again, of course, I also love, that's just me. Sign me up for the weirdest experience and I'm all up for that. But yeah, no, it was an amazing, it was a 10 out of 10 experience.

35:09Genuinely, it was amazing. How about that? Yeah. That's awesome. So has it adjusted your acting at all? Yes, absolutely. Sort of incorporating this fearlessness of humiliation? Although you were always brave about, You never worried about making yourself look foolish or ugly or flawed or something like that? No, not—well, no. And I think for me, it was more that I just needed to— I have to constantly make myself feel uncomfortable. Yeah. And that's going to make me feel comfortable as an artist. Oh, that's cool. Like, if I feel any sort of comfortability, I don't—like, then something's deeply wrong.

35:47Yeah, I totally get it. And also, I don't like— I mean, you totally get it. You're comfortable being on me. Are you saying? No, no, I know the being uncomfortable. You walk around in casualty slippers starting at 10.30 a.m. You and one other person live in a 15 ,000 square foot house. Shut the hell up, Sean. Go ahead, guys. I'm uncomfortable. She's talking about discomfort as a fucking artist. Jesus Christ. I'm not talking. Listen, don't get me. I love my sweaters. But I just. There's our bumper sticker. will be right back.

36:24All right, back to the show. Julia, now, you're surrounded by musical instruments, and I've been wanting to ask since, are these yours? No, these are my husband's. We're setting up a studio here. She's married to a rock star, you stupid dick. Okay, how am I supposed to know? No, I can't play anything. You're supposed to study up. You're supposed to goop in our interview. I didn't know his... Is he a singer? I don't know who he is. Forgive me. He's Mark Foster, Foster the People. Oh, wonderful. I didn't know that. Now that's a band. This is a fantastic band. That's great. Wait, can I jump ahead?

37:04I mean, I'll let Jay drive it in a second. But please. Were you, I just remembered, were you supposed to play Madonna at some point? Is that going to still happen? Yeah. I mean, that's supposed to still happen. That's wild. Yeah. What do you think? I mean, how did that come about? And like, were you ever a fan and all that? Oh my God. I was such a fan of Madonna's. You know, I grew up listening to Madonna. It just came about, like I knew that they were doing a project, making a movie about it. And then I went out to audition. I kind of, that was also another thing that I kind of just wanted to see if I could do it.

37:45because, you know, I wasn't a trained dancer and I had to like learn how to dance and then dance in front of her and convince her that I can dance basically. Yeah, yeah. And sing and sing with her and... Wow. Stressful. Yeah. I mean, so then how was that? Did it go well? Did she give you a bunch of notes or was she just like, oh my God, you're amazing. Do this, do that. Well, you know, I kind of just like thought like, like, okay, what would Madonna do? Which is like convince you that she deserved, you know, to be in this room. Right. And, you know. You owned it. And I owned it. And I was kind of like, you can take it or leave it.

38:27But if you leave it, if I leave, then that's, you know, that's on you. Right. You know what I mean? And it's like, if you take it, great. You know, that kind of like mentality. Yeah, that's sexy and different. And work the room, literally work the room. So what happened with that? What happened with that? Still sort of brewing. Still brewing. It's a long gestating, you know, good meals take a long time. But I also feel like anything that's great also, too, I notice if you hear stories, like, I feel like it takes a long time. Or it's, you know, it's either long or short. But meanwhile, meanwhile, you've snuck in a couple of fantastic jobs.

39:01Fantastic Four, anyone? Oh, yes. July 25th. That's going to be huge. Yeah. I mean, what was that process like? I imagine it was a lot of effects. You had to work with that pain in the ass Pedro Pascal. gal. I don't know how you get through that. How do you get through something like that? He's real chatty. It's so... I love him. You know, it's so funny because I met Pedro when I was 18. Yeah. And everybody now is on this Pedro craze, which I'm so happy about. Not us. Not us. We're not fans. We're not fans. But I, you know, I've met him and I always thought, you know, he was just so talented and it was always a matter of time with him, I felt.

39:42Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And so, but what about, so like green screens and, you know, special effects and all that, like that's a big spicy meatball, that thing. You've got costumes and like future stuff. Well, no, I didn't have any costumes because they, I was just like. Because you're a silver surfer. Yeah. So I was just like. Oh, wait, you're a silver surfer? Yeah. So I was like. Take it easy, Sean. Yeah. So it was. Scotty's going to slide in on a chair like Weekend Update. Question. No, I used to love this. When I was a kid, I used to watch it all the time. Yeah. I love the Silver Circle. So just like I'm chrome and silver.

40:19Yeah, it's so cool. Right. So does that mean you had to wear like a green bodysuit with like little markers on it for visual effects? I had the helmet with the giant GoPro-type camera and like the wires. Yeah. And it was crazy. And the first day on set, my first day on set was wild because, well, I finished Weapons, like, which is another thing. He said, let's not jump to the Josh Brolin vehicle coming out August 8th called Weapons. Yeah, by the way. So I filmed that like, I want to say like three weeks before. So like, but my first day on Fantastic, I - That's Fantastic Four, yeah. Fantastic Four.

40:56I'm kidding. First step, yes. Or FF. Yes, that's Fantastic Four. I, you know, had to do this, like all these like lines in the middle of, it's supposed to be like Times Square and it was 30 feet in the air. JB, you did a bunch of lines in the middle of Times Square, right? Like 94? Sure did, yeah. The New Year's celebration is always classic. That's what it was. But it was crazy because I was doing, you know, it was my first day on set and I was doing a scene 30 feet in the air with an earpiece and a microphone, you know, talking to 500 extras. And number two from Marvel was like on set. So I was like, that was my first day.

41:39Yeah. But after that, I felt like, you know, I have no reason to be nervous, I think, if I can do a scene 33 in the air. You have a robust promotion schedule coming up? Are you going to travel the world for that? Yeah. So it's, I mean, I'm, you know, I feel like with that, they were so, the four, the Fantastic Four, the cast, they were so nice. And I kind of felt like a really nice dinner guest in a way. So they like were really great hosts. So I'll like come in and out to their dinners, but I'm not gonna, and I'll be like a good dinner guest, but I'm not gonna be like the dinner guest. You'll be number five over there.

42:19Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll pick your cities. Exactly, exactly. All right, so then that comes out July 25th and you got Weapons with Josh Brolin, August 8th. Jeez, man. What's Weapons about? First of all, Brolin. I mean, come on. Yeah, Brolin. Now, you think Pedro Pascal's a pain in the ass. This guy, Brolin. I know, I just, I work with all the best men. Jason, Pedro, Josh. Well, you know how to slay the dragons. Yeah. What is that one about? It's so crazy. It's kind of like a multi-story intertwined spider web, but it's like a horror Magnolia kind of vibe. Oh, really? I don't even know how to explain it.

43:04I'm going to explain it. with you. When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanished on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. Huh. Well, there it is. And I play a teacher. I'm in. I'm in. Yes. I like you and I like the Brolin fella. Yeah. I think he's going to go far. Julia, what do you do for fun? What do you do for fun? Yeah. Work, work, work, work. What do you do when you don't work? Yeah, what do you do when you don't work? You sound like you work a lot, which is great. Bravo. You know, it's great.

43:33Great work ethic! Yeah. But But what do you do when you're just chilling? You're not driving. So we know that. Are you... What are the hobbies? I'm going to sound so bad in this interview. Oh, my God. She just skateboards around L.A. What do you... What's the hobby? Yeah. I'm trying to figure that out. You have zero hobby right now. But when you're down, like you're in L.A., you're down, you've got downtime. Well, the problem is that when I'm not working, I love watching movies. But then even then, it still feels like I'm reminded that it's still work. Like, what are you going to do the rest of today?

44:07You're not going to set today. Well, I have an ADR after this today. And then I am leaving on Thursday to Vancouver for five and a half months. Oh, my God. So then you're going to pack. You'll pack tomorrow. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So I'm always working. That's great. What about, what are you watching right now on television? Aside from the movies. Like, will you just put on an old movie wherever it is? Yeah, well, and then, or I'll watch new stuff or I'll watch things that, you know, that I know that I should watch that I haven't watched yet. Like Below Deck Mediterranean? Yeah, by the way, I never got into that.

44:50I'm maybe one of the few. But now I just, I'm going to finish watching the Paul Rubin doc. It's really good. Oh yeah, I finished it. It's so good. It's interesting. It's so good. Did you see the Osama bin Laden doc? I started watching it and I wanted to binge watch it. That's great. So I stopped, but it looks, it's amazing. Now, what about, talk to me about fashion and modeling. I'm sure that's a passion for you, but also kind of fun. Well, I mean, I kind of - Sorry, not for you. Well, this is for our guest. This is for our guest, Julia. Yeah, yeah. Oh. Is that kind of a hobby? I mean, you don't look at it as, you're not doing that to make a living because you make plenty as an actor.

45:33I'd imagine that it's kind of fun to be asked to do these things. Well, I actually, like, there was a very long time where I actually made better money doing that than my acting. Really? Yeah, a lot of that came from that. Oh, yeah. Wow. So it's like a half, it's like a, I'm like, I'm, you know, I have two jobs, I guess. I don't know, but yeah. And so do you love all the dress up and the traveling and the... I don't love the traveling, but I, as you know, I do love, I've always loved fashion as a kid. Cause I always found it like a form of expression in a way. You've got a big billboard in New York.

46:10What was it for that I've just seen recently? There's. It was Gucci. Gucci. That was, that was, that was amazing. Cause I got to shoot with Steven Meisel again and he shot, you know, he shot my first cover when I was like 21. Wow. Yeah. That's cool. And I think it was like, yeah, a year before it did Ozark, the first season of Ozark. Oh, my God. So crazy. Oh, my God. So long ago. That's really fucking cool. Yeah. Very, very cool. Sean, you ever done a cover? Yeah, this year or no? I mean, I don't know. Sorry. Sorry, we need to be more specific. Yeah, just give me the year. I think you can do a cover.

46:49Yeah. I think you can do a cover. Yeah, why not? Yeah, GQ, whatever. Well, Julia, when you get back in five and a half months, maybe we can say hi again. I know, I know. And I get like, I always, you know, I miss working with you. That's the thing that I want to do the most is just, you know, work with you again. Boy, she closed her eyes when she said that. You know what I mean? It's a tell. No, I didn't. A little bit of a tell. Well, a little bit. Tell us one thing that we don't know about Jason that you experienced on. That was kind of fun, but also revealing and maybe embarrassing. She can't think of it.

47:21No, I can't. It's so not. Jason's probably the most he paid me to say all of this by the way no I'm kidding no Jason is the most like nurturing director I've ever worked with he's there's this like sense of safety that that's our time I think we just you know what though if I ever had the chance to direct Will or Sean I'd be a fucking monster with them yeah what do you you already have shut up over there Will you fucking and stuff like that. And we got in an argument the first time you directed Arrested Development. Yeah, because you were all, yeah, because he was all, he came in all fucking pouty because, who was it?

48:02Who lost the election? Kerry? Kerry, yeah. John Kerry lost the election and old Canadian Will walks on to set all pouty about, oh, our country. Hey, man, I was wearing yellow leotards and I was in a fucking banana suit. That's a true story. I had to pick you up. And Jason and I, and he picked me up with a crane and we got in an argument. Dropped you in the bay, yeah. And I'm in a fucking banana suit and we're arguing outside. He's like, just do the fucking scene. I'm like, hey, fuck you. Oh, I love it. Was that the last time you, was that the last time you worked with him? That was it. As a director.

48:35As an actor and Jason directing? He's pursued me so much. I just, I can't make this deal. I can't, yeah, I can't make this deal. Yeah, when was the last time we worked together as an actor? Was it the, it was the Smartless doc, right? But that wasn't really acting. No, that wasn't acting. That was the last time we did anything. Yeah. One of these days. I mean, I see you every goddamn day now doing this. I'm always acting like I like you. And then Sean. Wait, wait. This was so funny how this happened because I remember you were doing Ozark when you started this podcast. Yeah. And I remember you're like, yeah, you know, I'm just doing something silly.

49:08It's like I'm just doing it with my friends. We're just, you know, for shits and gigs. Yeah. Cut to. It's a monster. Yeah. Thank you, listeners. Yeah. Nice people. I get to meet my heroes like Julia Garner. You're everything I hoped you would be, Julia. They say don't meet your heroes. And you were just such a delight. Yes. Love to meet you in person one day. When you get back from your movie, please look me up. I'll try it. I'll find you. Yes, please do. Yes. Love you. Love to your mother. Love to Mark. Have a great shoot. And we're going to see Fantastic Four. We're going to see... July what?

49:47July what? July 25th. July 25th, August 8th. July 25th. August 8th, Weapons. Yeah, and then look for The Altruist. Is that what you're about to go do? Yes. Okay, that's going to be on Netflix. Sam Bankman-Fried, you're playing his wife, girlfriend? Caroline Ellison. Yeah, there you go. Very, very good. That's exciting. Impressive, impressive. You're an impressive person. Congrats on everything, Julia. Thank you guys so much. Very thrilled for you. Happy for you. Love you. Thank you, love you. Go kill it. Thank you, thank you. Hit me when you're back. Yes, I will. Thank you guys so much. Bye, Julia.

50:21Thank you. Bye, Julia. Bye. Oh, my God. Jason. Right? By the way, you must genuinely feel a sense of pride. Having watched her grow from being sort of a young actor, like a young kid. She was 22. Yeah, she starts on this show, a show that you helped create and brought to life and directed and were the star of. And then she was not only amazing in it, but was recognized and had all the success and has now had a huge career and in part by all the great work she did on a show that you were instrumental in. You must feel a great sense of pride in that. Yes, but just barely. I take nothing away from her.

51:03I mean, she was like... You're not taking credit. Yeah, no, but I mean, I remember very, very quickly we made a sort of a decision to really make that character really drive a lot of story because she was so, so good and the audience was going crazy for her. And yeah, it was a really credit to Chris Mundy and the whole writing staff that kind of changed a lot of storylines to really, you know, utilize what a great talent she was. Yeah, she's, yeah. And a delightful person. Like I never met her before. Oh my God, yeah. It's so, so sweet. My God. So sweet. Exact opposite of the monster, you know, Ruth.

51:43Although, you know, she did play the character with a lot of vulnerability, but like she was really capable of just being, you know, You love to hate her Yeah Yeah Love the character I mean But what a sweetheart I'm so glad she's doing really well And happy home life Happy work life Yeah Yeah How about she Yeah I always find it interesting When a lot of actors I know Are married to musicians You know Like it's a good combo You're married to one Yes I am married to one He makes music And Will you do some modeling I'm married to my work Yeah as a model Yeah is yeah what's your is your next your next campaign for Will my next campaign is for laxative and I've moved into a different category at this stage of my life so something for the seniors yeah which I think and now we live in this world and so anyway so it's like so those photo shoots gotta be shorter then no when the poster is just I give a shit a lot you know and it's going pretty well.

52:48Sounds like it's going smooth. I got new glasses. Oh, boy. So work in bifocal backwards. That's right. Oh, well, you ruined it. No, no, go ahead. I don't think I ruined it. I don't think you were ahead of anybody on that the second you said glasses, but go fucking ahead. Tell us a story about your new specs. They really are new. I just got them yesterday. Are they? Is it one prescription? No, it's two because the bottoms are. What are they? No, it's not the bottoms are. By having two, it makes them by vocals. Do you not get that? Well, you said the by is so angry. Because you just don't get what it is.

53:31Bye.

53:35Goodbye. Goodbye. Smart. Smart.

53:44Smart Less Smart Less is 100 % organic and artisanally handcrafted by Bennett Barbaco, Michael Grant Terry, and Rob Armjarf. Smart Less