Awards Chatter

The British actor of Nigerian descent reflects on a childhood caught between two worlds, why he owes so much to George Lucas (and repeat-collaborators Lee Daniels and Ava DuVernay), the 'Selma' "snub" ("The films I do very quickly get politicized") and his latest project: Disney’s first live-action film made with an all-black cast and/or set and shot in Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The single most influential person in the history of doc filmmaking reflects on how a gig that was to last 13 weeks has gone on for more than 30 years, how the arrival of Vice at HBO and the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon has impacted her division and what she thinks the future holds — for her, her division and doc filmmaking in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of Hollywood's most bankable young stars reflects on his early pretty-boy roles ("I had no fucking interest in all these"), his failed audition for 'Avatar' ("I was just awful"), almost turning down 'Star Trek' ("I was scared") and finding his best part yet in a modern-day Western ("the only experience I've had where I knew I had to do it"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 65-year-old rock star reflects on how he got his nickname ("It was derisory"), why he disbanded The Police ("My intuition was telling me that that was the thing to do") and how, over Thanksgiving dinner, he came up with the song that could bring him his fourth Oscar nom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 33-year-old discusses why he joined the Marines after 9/11, how he wound up at Juilliard, why he almost passed on 'Girls' and 'Star Wars,' and what drew him to the indie 'Paterson,' for which he has been voted best actor of 2016 by the LA Film Critics Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the finest actresses of her generation looks back on child stardom, her decision to attend college and refusal to attend graduate school and the two films she's made with Darren Aronofsky, 'Black Swan' ("It was very lucky it happened exactly when it happened") and 'Jackie' ("one of the most incredible creative experiences — if not the most incredible creative experience — of my life"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legend on his greatest roles, how he's different than he was when he broke through ("I don't feel that I need to put that much time and effort in"), Marty and Leo ("I'd love for the three of us to do something"), directing again ("It's a real uphill battle") and Trump ("I feel like I did after 9/11"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved actress reflects on her 53 years in the business, including the sitcoms that made her a star ('Gidget' and 'The Flying Nun'), her odds-defying jump to the big screen (via 'Sybil'), her two Oscars in six years (for 'Norma Rae' and 'Places in the Heart'), that infamous acceptance speech and her struggle to keep finding great roles as she gets older. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved Oscar winner reflects on growing up in the business, overcoming his 'anxiety' about acting, playing 'The Dude' and garnering some of the best reviews of his career for his portrayal of a retiring sheriff in one of 2016's most acclaimed indies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two-time Oscar nominee opens up about being discovered by Al Pacino and starring in six 2011 films ("I was like, 'What is happening in my life?!'"), the 'Zero Dark Thirty' "take-down" ("I wanted to just murder everyone") and plans for the future ("I'm probably going to act less... I'm more interesting in producing and maybe even directing"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of Hollywood's few leading men under the age of 30 discusses the near-death experience that changed his life (and face), why he owes his career to Nicole Kidman, the reason he almost turned down 'Whiplash,' his thoughts on 'Fantastic Four' and finally landing his first come-of-age role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 79-year-old legend, during his first podcast interview, reflects on his 55 years in the business, how he became "a control freak," the impact of 'Bonnie and Clyde,' the "agenda" that took down 'Ishtar' and his latest film, which centers around Howard Hughes and "America's sexual puritanism." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The revered Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner discusses a long-ago visit to a prophetic palm reader, her experiences of sexual harassment, what she wrote in a letter to Queen Elizabeth II and the one award she hasn't yet won but really wants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most commercially successful black filmmaker in history discusses his abusive upbringing ("What kept me going was my faith"), harsh critics ("We all have the right to tell our stories") and future 'Madea' subject matter (he'd like to "find a way to talk about police brutality, and all of these people being shot by police officers, through this character"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 40-year-old Brit reflects on unexpected roles in blockbusters (two 'Pirates' and Bond films), high compliments (Winnie Mandela "said no one had ever depicted her better") and why she almost turned down the role for which she's now an Oscar favorite ("I'd always drawn a line at playing a crack addict"). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 42-year-old, best known as Remy Danton on 'House of Cards,' reflects on his journey from athletic prodigy to poet to actor, his disastrous 'Game of Thrones' audition, the social significance of 'Luke Cage' and generating Oscar buzz for helping to bring to life "the most beautiful script I'd ever read." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 43-year-old opens up about young motherhood, Hollywood sexism, the upsides and downsides of 'Underworld' stardom and reuniting with Whit Stillman and Chloe Sevigny, 18 years after 'Last Days of Disco,' on a project that's brought her career-best reviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The youthful 41-year-old reflects on his early years with Ben and Matt, following an Oscar-nominated perf with a controversial mockumentary, falling in love with acting again thanks to Christian Bale and doing his best work for old pal Kenneth Lonergan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 28-year-old, coming off an Emmy nom, dishes on his breakthrough roles on 'Friday Night Lights' and 'Breaking Bad,' 'Fargo' co-star Kirsten Dunst, auditioning for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' his controversial sex scene with Zach Woods and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 83-year-old Oscar nominee and Emmy winner on Natalie Wood and Paul Newman's influence on his career, the unexpected success of the original 'The Magnificent Seven' ("We thought, 'This picture's gonna be the bomb of all-time'"), his pursuit of a Ph.D while starring on 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and returning to the big screen in Victoria Negri's feature debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices