Episode 5: Ann Dowd Behind The Scenes Interview

0:00 Hi, listeners, this is Nat Mundel, founder of Voyage. I am beyond excited to introduce you all to Anne Dowd, who stars in our allegedly episode My Forever Love I. Anne has been nominated for four Emmys in her storied career, and she won for her portrayal of aunt Lydia in The Handmaid Stale. You probably can really visualize and in that role. You may also know her from her Emmy nominated performance in The Leftovers and then countless other credits as well. So, Anne, it's my greatest honor. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me in my disheveled appearance. I'll be to see you. That's the beauty of podcasting right now. There you go.

0:46 That's that's it. So on that note, is this your first podcast voiceover? Is it is? Are you also a listener of podcasts? Well? Yes, occasionally if I drive a long distance then I have the pleasure of listening. So yes, not a huge amount. But this was very very interesting to be the first that I've looked at in a different way, so to speak. Yeah, and why take the role. What is interesting about it for you? Well, when I can't read something twice because it's so upsetting that I think, oh, this is very interesting. M Ah, that poor woman, because what can you say? Yeah to her? She was aware of all of it, and she was lonely. Yeah, and how life and how the connection and how familiar were you prior with this sort of online world of catfishing. I've certainly heard about it and read a little about it, and I oh god. And when you're from the outside, you think, Okay, couldn't be more obvious, like this is weird, don't get involved. But then that's judging, isn't it, particularly in this story, where at the heart of it is a loneliness for human contact of whatever kind that brings some joy to the heart, some sense of I'm alive for a reason. So as she was taking the money out, I think, oh, honey, what could you be thinking? Well, as I

2:16 read the you know, as I read it a few times, I realized, you can't make a judgment here. It's too personal, too yeah, too real. Yeah, And it's interesting. You know. I thought a little bit about this because it's so commonplace today and it and it exploits the most vulnerable, and it really appeals to the most sort of base and persuasive aspects of our psychology, and I in some respects I think that, you know, sort of, these professional cat fishers are the world's greatest marketers in that they really have a deep understanding, obviously of what drives people to make decisions. They can read, you know, reminded me a little of compliance.

3:06 Did you ever see compliance? I have not. It was based on a true story, but the character play is running a fast food restaurant on a Friday night. She gets a call from a detective and what it leads to is full blown sexual assault. But she doesn't even know she's complicit in all of this because she just believed him right away. And so it's once you get in that door and then starting to read people, what are the vulnerabilities this poor woman in this story? Profound loneliness? Yeah, yeah, And that word desire to connection, the desire for a companion to walk on or that word yeah, that word compliance. That's actually one of the most persuasive. You know, when you when you start with an authority and you get that first agreement to comply, then all of the other compliances that follow become that much more easy and insidious. You know, It's and that's a skill they possess, these scammers. Ah. I see The difference here, of course, is the woman tells us I know how how this sounds.

4:13 I know this. She completely outs herself in terms of awareness. That waits complete fake. And how are you finding m You know, what are you drawing on in in in you know, to get access and empathy with this character? Well, you know, I think it's very clear in the writing, and so I reminded myself and a few times I've rehearsed it, which is not even really the word. Remove all judgment, remove all skepticism, and just listen to the words, and just let her be who she is. Wow. I mean that's a rule for actors in the first place, because the minute judgment comes in the doors closed. Correct with her, because sometimes I literally pulled back, No, no, honey, come on, now, you know better than this. But then again you realize what well is it worth it? Did she get something from this? And then that last sentence that she gets another message got to be kiddy, Yeah exactly, very compelling. Yeah, well, we're so thrilled you've chosen to play with us in this in this universe. Um, but tell us what else is going on for you, Like, what's next? What do you want your fans to know? What are you working on? That's kind of you.

5:30 Well, I head back next week. We're in the middle of the sea. Well, we're into the last state third and I'll be there for the better part of five weeks just for all of us to you know, to the end. We are doing ten episodes, so that's always very exciting. And then the hope is to go to Europe to shoot a very interesting film called The Undertaker's Children, which takes place in the war Second War in East Germany. Very very story, so very fortunate, how exciting, and can't wait for season You got some work to do there, buddy, you got to catch up. Well, I know what what what you said? There's hopefully two more seasons coming of the Handmade season five and then season six, and then we go on to the Testaments. I was listeners. I was telling Anne earlier how much I I basically bought Hulu four that and then canceled it, not knowing there was another seasons more seasons coming. So now that I know, I have to go buy Hulu again to jump off, because I've watched all four start to finish. Oh you did all? Oh yeah, no, I mean that was like maybe five days of work for me.

6:42 That's it. And I mean it's hard to watch these, you know, one after another. You know, space is helpful, so yeah, well, um, you know I I have a tendency toward the dark, so um, you know it's a little unfortunately a little easy for me to getting crows. Well, here we are with open arms, so darkness comes to us. Well, thank you again so much for joining us and for joining us today. Listeners please tune in. You can find allegedly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, anywhere you listen to podcasts. And I want to thank our star and OWD for Voyage Media. I'm Nat Mundel. I'm signing off pleasure. Thank you,