All Of It (WNYC) — Emmy-Nominated Star Julianne Nicholson Plays a Billionaire in 'Paradise'

Date: September 12, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Julianne Nicholson (star of "Paradise")
Theme: Exploring Nicholson’s Emmy-nominated portrayal of Sam “Sinatra” Redmond, a billionaire architect of an underground society in the acclaimed thriller series "Paradise", and how the show resonates with current socio-political and cultural anxieties.

Episode Overview

The episode centers on Alison Stewart’s conversation with Julianne Nicholson about her complex lead role in "Paradise," the Emmy-nominated drama set in a post-climate catastrophe world. The discussion delves into the intricacies of Nicholson’s character, the storytelling approach of creator Dan Fogelman, and the emotional themes fueling the series’ success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Unique Focus on Backstory

• Early Backstory for Character Depth
  • Nicholson highlights the rarity and excitement of dedicating an entire episode to a character’s backstory so early in the series.
  • Julianne Nicholson [03:46]:

    "I had never seen a single episode that delved so deeply into one character's life... it just allows the audience to know Sam a little more deeply and maybe understand the choices she's making, that they're led, you know, she's led by her grief, basically."

Portraying a Billionaire’s Emotional Journey

• Sam’s Early Ambitions and Wealth
  • The show depicts Sam as self-made, not from money, with initial scenes showing her on the cusp of immense wealth.
  • Nicholson notes the subtlety of “shrinking herself” in early scenes for the comfort of male counterparts, even when talking about billions.
  • Julianne Nicholson [05:44]:

    "It's being a woman in that world in particular, which would have been... 20 years ago, and making apologies, trying to, you know, make yourself... shrinking yourself to, I don't know, make the man feel good or something."

Grief as a Defining Motive

• Loss and its Aftermath

  • The loss of Sam’s son reshapes her, shattering her illusion of control and power that money once offered her.
  • Julianne Nicholson [06:41]:

    "The size of that loss is something that just shifts something in her DNA... she thought that she was smart enough, worked hard enough, had enough money that she was gonna... control everything... and this just knocks that idea on its... backside."

• Money and Illusions of Power

  • Nicholson describes her character as believing wealth can fix all problems—until confronted by tragedy.
  • Julianne Nicholson [07:52]:

    "She thinks she's untouchable... with enough money, you can fix anything... and she discovers that that's not the case. The thing that matters the most, she can't hold onto."

Playing a Villain Audiences Love to Hate

• Nicholson reflects on how audiences react to her role as an “antagonist” and finds the feedback both fun and unusual.
  • Julianne Nicholson [08:34]:

    "I can't tell you how many times people come up to me with huge smiles on their face telling me they hate me... so if I can still, you know, find characters unlike any that I've played before, like, that's the joy."

Power Structures Inside Paradise

• Why Sam Isn’t the Public Face
  • Sam prefers operating behind the scenes, believing she can accomplish more without direct attention.
  • Julianne Nicholson [09:41]:

    "With less attention, she can do more... flying under the radar as much as possible is a way to continue sort of pulling the strings as she wants them to go."

Trust, Vulnerability, and Relationships

• Role of Sam’s Psychiatrist
  • Nicholson shares why Sam maintains a deep trust with her psychiatrist Dr. Gabriella Turabi (Sarah Shahi), forged during her most vulnerable moments.
  • Julianne Nicholson [10:11]:

    "As she says in the... scene together, all she can think about is throwing herself off a building... yet she has another daughter that she needs to be okay for or at least be, as she says, be functioning for."

Ethics and Intentions Behind Building Paradise

• Good Intentions, Complicated Realities
  • Initially, Sam believes she’s doing the right thing by constructing Paradise, but acknowledges the project's moral complexity—a theme set to expand in Season 2.
  • Julianne Nicholson [11:00]:

    "I think she starts off with good intentions, and then things go south."

Working With Dan Fogelman and On-Set Dynamics

• Showrunner’s Vision
  • Nicholson praises Fogelman’s knack for balancing heavy themes with humor, making the darkness palatable for broad audiences.
  • Julianne Nicholson [12:01]:

    "He just has this knack for understanding what a large audience... what gets them in... I think his use of humor throughout... keeps people... if you're just being hit over the head again and again and again with the darkness, people have a tendency to tune out..."

Memorable Quotes & Notable Segments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Event | |-----------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:46 | Julianne Nicholson | "She’s led by her grief, basically... so there’s just a little more humanity there than someone being evil for evil’s sake." | | 05:44 | Julianne Nicholson | "...Shrinking yourself to, I don't know, make the man feel good or something. Luckily, she comes clean immediately." | | 06:41 | Julianne Nicholson | "The size of that loss is something that just shifts something in her DNA..." | | 07:52 | Julianne Nicholson | "She thinks she's untouchable... The thing that matters the most, she can't hold onto." | | 08:34 | Julianne Nicholson | "People come up to me with huge smiles on their face telling me they hate me." | | 09:41 | Julianne Nicholson | "With less attention, she can do more... flying under the radar..." | | 11:00 | Julianne Nicholson | "I think she starts off with good intentions, and then things go south." | | 12:01 | Julianne Nicholson | "He just has this knack for understanding what a large audience... what gets them in... his use of humor throughout…" | | 15:12 | Julianne Nicholson | "I also feel so lucky that I can do both... my family is number one and that I get to also continue acting..." |

Notable Moments

• Character Scene Excerpt (02:36):
  Excerpt of Sam (Sinatra) handling the community after the president’s death, showing both her steely resolve and ability to command a room with icy, strategic poise.

• Caller Jill Mann Segment (13:16 – 14:48):
  Personal, heartfelt call from actor Cameron Mann’s mother, highlighting Nicholson's mentorship and kindness offscreen, in contrast to her character’s ruthlessness.

Other Highlights

• Handling Fame and Role Choices (15:12):
  Nicholson shares how she balances her acting career with family life, focusing on grounding herself in routine and cherishing the ability to choose projects purposefully.

Conclusion

This episode provides a nuanced, behind-the-scenes exploration of "Paradise" through Julianne Nicholson’s lens. Listeners gain insight into her character's emotional core, the societal and personal questions raised by the series, and Nicholson’s thoughtful, grounded approach—both on and off screen. The conversation is a compelling blend of cultural analysis, personal reflection, and industry insight, making it valuable even for those unfamiliar with the show.