Skeet Ulrich Played Elizabeth Smart’s Captor, Then Met Her Face to Face

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present: "Skeet Ulrich Played Elizabeth Smart’s Captor, Then Met Her Face to Face"

Date: March 22, 2026
Host: Elisa Donovan
Guest: Skeet Ulrich

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Overview

This episode of "Killer Thriller" dives deep into the harrowing true story of Elizabeth Smart’s abduction and the Lifetime film "I Am Elizabeth Smart." Host Elisa Donovan interviews Skeet Ulrich, who portrayed Elizabeth’s captor, Brian David Mitchell. The conversation explores the emotional, psychological, and artistic challenges of embodying such a dark role, with Ulrich reflecting on personal and professional complexities, his encounter with Elizabeth Smart herself, and the importance of storytelling in processing trauma.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case and Initial Reaction

[03:18-04:34]

• Elizabeth Smart’s 2002 abduction shocked the nation: she was 14, taken at knifepoint, and endured 9 months of captivity and abuse.
• Ulrich discusses his initial reaction: “it just was so audacious. I couldn't…fathom so much of what was going on that would lead somebody to do such a thing.” (Skeet Ulrich, [05:17])
• He hesitated to take the role, fearing to humanize or grant attention to such a "heinous human being." What convinced him was the script’s nuanced depiction of religion’s duality—how it can inspire both good and evil.

2. Preparing for the Role of Brian David Mitchell

[06:53-12:02]

• Ulrich delved into legal documents, notably a 500-page psychiatric evaluation, to understand Mitchell’s motivations and psychological state.
• He chose not to visually mimic Mitchell out of concern for inflating the man’s ego, focusing instead on capturing the "energy of what it was, this narcissist to the nth degree." (Skeet Ulrich, [10:41])
• On performance style: "I decided on this sort of Mick Jagger rock star physicality that gave him this narcissistic air, that he, in his mind, was…a rock star." (Skeet Ulrich, [11:06])

3. On Meeting Elizabeth Smart

[07:09-08:49]

• Ulrich met Elizabeth Smart for the first time in costume, which was unexpectedly intense:
  “It was almost like her heart stopped...She came down to set that day…and she picked up the bucket and put it down and sat on [it]. Like, I just, to this…I mean, I just was awash with tears. Like, I, you know, it just made it so real.” (Skeet Ulrich, [07:55])

4. Depicting Trauma Responsibly

[12:02-14:33]

• Great care was taken in depicting violence, especially scenes of abuse and rape, given both subject matter and the responsibilities toward survivors and viewers.
• The production's lifetime movie constraints prevented scenes from being too graphic, which Ulrich said actually “saved a lot, but it was hard to do.”
• Ulrich discussed his personal techniques to disconnect from the psychological darkness, using substitution methods from his own life rather than placing himself in Mitchell’s mindset.

5. Lingering Psychological Effects

[14:38-16:14]

• The role left more of a mark than most. Ulrich recounts a symbolic dream:
  “I had this dream that...it was that rope necklace that he held…at the bottom was this pulsing black heart…I was terrified. But then I also sort of came to the conclusion that that was me releasing him.” (Skeet Ulrich, [15:43])

6. The Power of Storytelling for Change

[16:43-17:48]

• Both Donovan and Ulrich agree that narrative storytelling is far more impactful for inciting change than statistics:
  “Affecting change…is easier to do and more powerful through stories than it is just giving statistics.” (Elisa Donovan, [16:43])
• Ulrich: "That's...the crux of what we do…to show human behavior in a way that can illuminate for somebody that isn't even expecting to be illuminated." ([17:14])

7. Missed Opportunities for Rescue & Elizabeth’s Silence

[21:56-23:36]

• The story is riddled with “close calls” where Elizabeth could have been saved in public, including a police encounter at a library.
• Skeet’s reflection:
  “They said they would kill her family if she spoke out…and also, this is a 14-year-old girl…It was impossible to reconcile.” ([22:32])

8. Parallels with Ulrich’s Personal History

[23:39-26:35]

• Ulrich shared that his own father abducted him and his brother for years as children, fostering a lifelong struggle with abandonment.
• On the impact for his role:
  “I never wanted [my kids] to feel unwanted for a second…It’s inside me and it’s a part of me…I think it lends to some vulnerability.” ([24:21-26:07])

9. Elizabeth Smart’s Participation and Impact

[26:44-28:55]

• The film’s power is amplified by Elizabeth herself narrating:
  “It’s so powerful that she’s directly addressing the audience…as an audience member, you don’t want to see it. And then she comes on and is like, you don’t want to see that, right?” (Elisa Donovan, [26:44])

10. The Role of Elizabeth’s Sister and the Trial

[30:34-31:51]

• Elizabeth’s younger sister’s vivid memory of the captor’s voice proved pivotal in catching Mitchell.
• Ulrich: “She… remembered, oh, it was the guy who came to work at the house...That’s when he started making plans.” ([30:54])

11. Creative Choices and Memorable Moments During Filming

[36:09-39:02]

• Skeet recalled ad-libbing the chilling line:
  “I am a lightning bolt sent from the Lord. I am the rain, I am the thunder.” (Skeet Ulrich, [38:58])
• He and the team were relieved that older actors played the leads, noting the added trauma risk if a real 14-year-old portrayed the part.

12. Reflections on the Role and Its Broader Importance

[40:35-41:28]

• Ulrich notes he rarely does podcasts, but participated here given the story’s importance and Elizabeth’s bravery:
  “It’s so important to illuminate her as much as we possibly can. So…somebody going through something, they can feel the bravery to step up and say something to somebody that may help prevent it from happening.” ([40:35])

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “It just was so audacious. I couldn’t…fathom so much of what was going on that would lead somebody to do such a thing.” – Skeet Ulrich [05:17]
• “It was almost like her heart stopped...I just was awash with tears. Like, it just made it so real.” – Skeet Ulrich, on meeting Elizabeth Smart in costume [07:55]
• “I decided on this sort of Mick Jagger rock star physicality that, like, gave him this narcissistic air…” – Skeet Ulrich [11:06]
• “Affecting change…is easier to do and more powerful through stories than statistics.” – Elisa Donovan [16:43]
• “They said they would kill her family if she spoke out...this is a 14-year-old girl.” – Skeet Ulrich [22:32]
• “I am a lightning bolt sent from the Lord. I am the rain, I am the thunder.” – Skeet Ulrich, improvised line [38:58]
• “It’s so important to illuminate her as much as we possibly can. So…somebody is going through something, they can feel the bravery to step up and say something…” – Skeet Ulrich [40:35]

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Final Thoughts

The episode stands out not just for the chilling real-life story and its sensitive retelling, but for the powerful and vulnerable examination of trauma, responsibility, and the vital role of survivor-led narratives. Ulrich’s candid discussion of the personal and creative challenges in portraying evil, as well as his openness about his own history, add a rare depth. The episode honors Elizabeth Smart’s strength and resilience while exploring the humanity and horror on both sides of the story.

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"I Am Elizabeth Smart" is available to stream now.

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Transcript

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[Skeet Ulrich]

Thriller with your host, Alisa Donovan.

[Elisa Donovan]

Hey everybody. Elisa Donovan here and welcome to Killer Thriller. Today we are talking about one of the most horrifying abduction cases in modern American history, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. In June of 2002, Elizabeth was just 14 years old when she was taken at knife point from her bedroom in Salt Lake City in the middle of the night. What followed was a nine month nightmare of captivity abuse, public sightings, missed clues, and a country desperately hoping she would be found alive. Then In March of 2003, Elizabeth was finally rescued on a street in Utah with the people who had abducted her. The Lifetime film I Am Elizabeth Smart tells that story in a deeply personal way with Elizabeth herself serving as narrator, refusing to let the audience look away or distance themselves from what she endured. And my guest today is Skeet Ulrich, who plays her captor Brian David Mitchell, a role that is chilling, unsettling and incredibly hard to shake. Skeet, welcome to Killer Thriller. Thank you so much for being here.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Thanks for having me. I appreciate it.

[Elisa Donovan]

I am so overwhelmed by this movie. I, I had not seen it before and I obviously was familiar with Elizabeth Smart's case and it's, first of all, it's really stunning and your work in it is phenomenal. And you know, this case is so horrifying from the start that it's a 14 year old girl taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night and you know, this, her sister witnessing it. What for you, what was the first facts of the crime that really just stunned you or sat with you?

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, I mean, I mean, you know, years ago when it happened, I remember being pretty riveted by it. It's, you know, and as I got more familiar with it and started, you know, preparing for it, I, it just was so audacious. I couldn't, couldn't believe it and couldn't fathom so much of what was going on that would lead somebody to do such a thing. So, you know, it was something, a puzzle that I needed to unlock, obviously, to play him. But it took about two weeks for me to agree to do the. To do the movie because I couldn't. I couldn't find why I should play such a heinous human being. But then it sort of came to me as I was mulling it over that, you know, I think it does a really good job not, you know, not to remove her story from a, you know, a retelling of it, but I thought it did a really good job at showing the two sides of religion, you know, that, yes, he used it for salvation and it worked. And he maligned it to use it for his pedophilia. And I thought the evil and the good side of religion were right there butting heads with each other and that. That I could get behind playing the negative aspect of that for a more, you know, for a bigger picture.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

So, you know, I. But yeah, the, you know, the initial mindset behind it was really daunting. You know, it's. It's a disgusting case. Easy, disgusting person. Obviously, you know, she came to set.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. So tell me about that. Did you. So had you spoken to her before that you met her on set the first time?

[Skeet Ulrich]

I had not spoken to her before and we were, I want to say, a couple of weeks into filming when she came. And the plan was, because I was, you know, I was wearing the beard and the wig and all that stuff was to meet her before I got into. Into hair and makeup, which didn't happen. And then all of a sudden she walked in the hair and makeup trailer and I was in there as Brian, and I was like, you know, and she just like. It was almost like her heart stopped. And, you know, and then we had a. A very nice conversation, you know, about, you know, not really details or anything, but just about like, you know, how I really hoped to represent, you know, something that. That felt right to her. And, you know, she came down to set that day and we were shooting some of the encampment scenes, you know, where he's got her chained up and he's, you know, used a five gallon bucket as her seat and would force her to sit there. And she came on and was like, you know, and the director asked her like, you know, so is this pretty accurate to that day? And what happened? And she was like, well, I sat over here and she picked up the bucket and put it down and sat on. Like, I just, to this. I mean, I just was awash with tears. Like, I, you know, it just made it so real.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, she's an extraordinary human being.

[Skeet Ulrich]

She really is. I watched her the Netflix documentary recently and.

[Elisa Donovan]

Me too. Me too.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, she's. She's pretty incredible to say the least. But. But, yeah, it was. It was quite the journey and, you know, it was. There was a lot to it. I mean, I. Yeah. Had his 500 page psych eval for the 5 years that he was incarcerated before they brought him to trial when they were trying to decide whether he was sane or insane and how to try him. And ultimately they decided he was sane, which was, you know, based on the. The psych eval. He, like, the moment he got incarcerated, he dropped the religious act.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Like, instantly. And like, people would ask him, he's like, I don't know, like, you know, and I mean, it was diabolical. A costume he put on to live his pedophilia, and it was so dark and unpalatable. Yeah. And so, you know, in preparing to play him, I, you know, obviously when you play somebody real, you start to analyze, you know, sounding like them, looking like them, but I, I really, you know, felt like he wasn't someone who was in the zeitgeist, that I didn't need to match his voice or his physicality per se, which was unknown. And I also didn't want to. To make his ego grow because somebody like, you know, so I really like, look, I'm. It took a few days, but I was like, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna mimic him. You know, I, I will find the energy of what it was, which was, you know, this narcissist.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

The nth degree, and play with that. And I, you know, it was a challenge because I don't know what they, you know, but I carried about 80% of the dialogue. And to play a bad guy, having to carry most of the dialogue, you know, there needs to be not something that sort of an audience can go, oh, I, I relate to that. I know that. But like something entertaining.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

So I decided on this sort of Mick Jagger rock star sort of physicality that, like, gave him this narcissistic air that he, in his mind was. Was Mick Jagger. He was a rock star known by the world. And. Yes, and he acted that way.

[Elisa Donovan]

And Elizabeth talked about. I, I've heard her speaking. Maybe she says this in the documentary. I'm not sure that she couldn decide whether it was worse. The, the physical abuse and the consistent constant rape or having to listen to him talk that he Was so inflated and had this sense of himself that was just like, relentless, you know, like a different sort of torture.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, that's. That's a.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Skeet Ulrich]

So, I mean, both sides were just so ugly.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. Was there a. A lot of conversation on set about how to depict the violence responsibly, especially knowing that. That Elizabeth was only 14 when this happened? That's complicated.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, I mean. Yeah, there was. And, you know, we shot the. When he first. The night he kidnaps her, he go. Takes her into the tent to wed her so he can start, you know, his. Yeah. And so we got to that scene, which we shot on a sound stage, and crew members were leaving, you know, after. Like, they were just, like, torn up and like. And so, yeah, there was a lot of discussion about how to. Obviously, it was, you know, it was a Lifetime movie. It was something that fortunately couldn't get too graphic or explicit. And, you know, we had that parameter which. Which saved a lot, but it was. It was hard to. It was hard to. To do. And my daughter at the time, I believe, was like 14 or 15. Like, she was young and she came to set. She came up to Vancouver. Well, we were outside of Vancouver, in Alberta, but she, you know, she. Or not. Not Alberta, but anyway, in bc.

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Yeah.

[Skeet Ulrich]

And she came up. It was during the summer, and. And spent like a week with me and. But, you know, there's a way to. That. There's a way that I work and approach things that, like, I didn't. I didn't have to experience what his mind was like. I just had to understand the actions behind it and relate those personally to me. So, you know, when that. Let's take that for example. That first instance of. Of in the tent when he's wedding her and then instructing her sexually. You know, to me, it was like teaching a child a lesson. And, you know, at the time, my son was not doing so well in school. So to me, that scene, like, telling him you have to get good grades, like, you can't just keep doing this. And then I just replaced the dialogue with get on your knees.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

You know, and that was sort of.

[Elisa Donovan]

I just got like.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, but I didn't have to think like, oh, you know, what is it like to like.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

You know, otherwise, I think I would have gone freaking crazy.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, I mean, that's. I was going to ask later, like, what was the. Was the. Was it harder actually shooting it or. Or having, like. Did things stay with you afterwards?

[Skeet Ulrich]

You know, it's. It's Rare in a. In. In a. In my career anyway, for things to stay with me just from the approach. But in that instance, there was a. We had done all the like, encampment stuff and then we had a little break and I got to come home for a couple days and I had this dream that I had a hair in my mouth. And I started pulling the hair out, which became two hairs, which became five, which became 10, which became, you know, this band of hair. And it stopped at the end and I yanked it out and. And it was that rope necklace that he held that he wore that had the key on it. And at the bottom was this pulsing black heart.

[Elisa Donovan]

Holy shit.

[Skeet Ulrich]

I was terrified. But then I also sort of came to the conclusion that that was me releasing him, you know.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Out of that constant sort of evaluation of this monster.

[Elisa Donovan]

I use dreams in my work all the time and Carl Jung and just so it' really verdant. It's a very rich way to, you know, to work to in.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah. It wasn't intentional. It just sort of happened. So I mean, I guess to your question, like. Yeah, I mean, I guess it did affect me in a deeper way than other things had. And, and you know, it was kind of odd to say it's something that, you know, we all wound up very proud of. But, you know. Yeah, we're just living up to telling her story and hoping that in some way that can illuminate something in the future that people would, you know, be able to avoid.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes, I, She. I've also heard her say that, you know, the reason she's done these things is that affecting change and impacting what happens going forward is. Is easier to do and more powerful through stories than it is just giving statistics, you know, like giving numbers or this type of person has this sort of behavior, you know, like actually through story is a really powerful way for people to understand things.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, I mean, I think that's. That's, you know, the crux of what we do, you know, is to. Is to not stand on a soapbox, but to. But to show human behavior in a way that can illuminate for somebody that isn't even expecting to be illuminated by this, you know, a movie or whatever it is, a song, you know. So. Yeah, I'm right there with you.

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[Elisa Donovan]

So one of the, I mean there are so many levels to this that are chilling and disturbing. But one of the things that I was so struck by, what is so frustrating is that there were so many things along the way where she could have been caught and saved that they had, you know, that she was seen in public more than once with them, that that homicide detective approaching her in the library, I mean, did all those details. So that is a scene that is in the film as well. Did that detail haunt you? Like, I'm like, how?

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, I mean, even watching the documentary with my girlfriend, she was like, why didn't she say something? Why didn't she say something? You know, and I think that's a question that she probably gets asked ad nauseam. But I understand, you know, from what I've heard her say and I think she even mentioned it in the documentary. Like, you know, they said they would kill her family if she spoke out. And so whether she got away or not, she was worried about, you know, her sister, mom or dad. And so, you know, and also this is a 14 year old girl, right? So, you know, this isn't a 24 or a 34 year old. This is a very, very young girl. And yeah, you know, it was, it was frustrating to watch in the documentary and the, in the making of Our store, our part of it, like, you know, it was. It was odd to reconcile, impossible to reconcile. But. Yeah, there were so many close calls and so many times that, you know, you just thought, this is it. This is it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

She's. She's free. But, yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, yeah, you know, I am. I. I didn't know about your personal history with your father, and. But when I knew we were going to talk, I read things and did my research, and I was really obviously moved and struck by that. If you don't mind, can we discuss that for a minute? Just in terms of how your father, when six kidnapped you and your brother for several years and traveled around and how. What impact did that have on your decision to take this role and how did that work for you while you were actually shooting it?

[Skeet Ulrich]

I mean, I think it's always something that's just, you know, that I'm always really trying to work through and get over because of the sense, you know, yeah, he took us, but he was never around us. You know, he. They would. He was married, and we'd either be with her and, you know, and he was gone to work before we got up and back after we went to sleep most nights of the week. And she hated us, and, you know, and. And there were times we were left with other families. And, you know, it was. It certainly caused a lot of abandonment issues that I, you know, continued to work through. Sure. But in terms of this work, I mean, I, you know, in a way, like, I wound up raising my kids pretty much on my own and fully on my own at a certain point, and I never wanted them to feel unwanted for a second. And so was, you know, something that I just, you know, it. I don't even have to think about it, per se. It's just. It's inside me and it's a part of me, and I, you know, I think it, you know, lends to some vulnerability and some, you know, some difficult things, but in. In reverse, in this situation, you know, it. It's. I had to sort of switch to being his side of the story and. And my. By his, I mean my dad's side of the story. I had to, you know, sort of internalize that a little more. So, yeah, it definitely, you know, it definitely is. Is sort of built into everything, whether I want to be or not.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

I mean, it probably gives you a deeper. In this particular case, like, a deeper understanding of what that is like to be, you know, your sense of safety to be shattered and that kind of. That kind of Thing.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's. It. It made her side of the story very relatable, but not nearly as dark, obviously.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes. Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

I wasn't going through anything like she went through other than I was with strangers for a while.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, yeah. One of. One of the most extraordinary things about this movie is how she. Elizabeth, narrates it. And there is. It's. It's. It's very. I don't even know what word I'm looking for, but it's. It's so powerful that she is directly addressing the audience. And particularly at moments when something is. You don't. As an audience member, you don't want to see it. And then she comes on and is like, you don't want to see that. Right. And they're. I just, like, I get chills thinking about it. Did. Did. Did that change how you approached the. The role or anything? Like, did. Did that impact you while you were shooting at all or.

[Skeet Ulrich]

No. I mean, it was something they shot at the very end. And so it wasn't, you know, there weren't, you know, spots of days carved out to do, you know, this or that with her. So, you know, I was pretty focused on. On my part of it. And it is a very jarring, you know, part of the story when suddenly she's right there and you're right. Looking right in your eyes and telling, you know, her story a bit. But, you know, that was something that was scripted and I, you know, I knew it existed. Just. I think, if anything, you start to think of it like, how do. How is the moment before she speaks? How can I tee her up to her for that, to be more impactful with her without her having to do anything, you know.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

So you kind of view it as almost like the cliffhangers before commercial breaks or something like that. Right. Negate any of her experience by that rather arbitrary statement. But, like, you know, but yeah, you sort of are looking to. To set her up for that work. Yeah, that was really the only consideration I had about that segment, but in watching it, yeah, it's really heartbreaking.

[Elisa Donovan]

Again, she's extraordinary. I mean, we wind up talking a lot on this, or I do guest about how, you know, when you're called to sort of answer the call of your life, whether it's what you're looking for or not, or what you had hoped it to be or not. And so many of these stories are situations that are utterly unimaginable and one would never choose. But I'm so moved by these people. Women Many of them, most of them who decide this happened to me, and I'm not going to sleep about it, like, really actually choosing to. To. To bring some good. To have it, make it have meaning, you know, it's an incredible. It's. It's really.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

Something.

[Skeet Ulrich]

She's a remarkable human being who, you know, likely would have been remarkable regardless of this happening, you know.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

So, you know, I. I think to know what she went through and still see this vibrancy and this presence that, you know, and this, this, you know, consideration she has for others who may wind up in her situation or, you know, who've been harmed and even the. A tenth of what she's gone through. Right. Just as a. I see you. I feel you, you know, you will get through this. It's remarkable. She's an incredible human being.

[Elisa Donovan]

So one of the other aspects of this is that they credit Elizabeth's sister and her memory of the recognition of the voice as a. As a key component in starting the process of actually finding this man.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, she, if I remember correctly, had. Had recognized the voice and remembered, oh, it was the guy who came to work at the house.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

You know, they had. Her mom had hired him to come work on the roof, and obviously that's when he sort of started making plans. But. Yeah. Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

And that also just shows the premeditated. You know, I, I'm. I can't imagine what that would be like. Going through the years that she was waiting for this, for the trial to come like that. The amount of years that that went on is just like, I can't even.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Pretty remarkable. I mean, they. They ultimately found that he was sane and, you know, and. And that's great. You know, I, I hope he got his comeuppance in prison like most pedophiles I hear, do. So

[Elisa Donovan]

I hope so, too.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah. Yeah.

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[Elisa Donovan]

Looking back on it now, what do you think stays with you the most about the case itself, but. And also your shooting of the movie?

[Skeet Ulrich]

The case I think is, you know, sort of something that should be revisited on a yearly basis in terms of helping young girls overcome some of the, you know, the atrocities that, that they, that are put upon them. Wouldn't say it's a cautionary tale. I think it's more a, you know, because there's no way to sort of know if it's going to happen to somebody and, and you know, I. Surely there are people who are in situations where there's more of a risk than others. But when you look at her, like you would have thought there's no way this girl was at risk, you know.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. You and the fact that they, because they were loving, kind people.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

Trying to help this man and give him some work. It's just like, it's devastating on so many levels.

[Skeet Ulrich]

It really is. I mean, I, you know, the filming side of it, like, you know, I remember things like, you know, my daughter and I listening to music in my trailer and you know, me dancing to like you know, some sublime or something to just get loose, you know, going to play him. And, and somebody got a picture of my daughter and I holding hands, walking to set. You know, I remember that. I remember, you know, there was. He used to sing as he would come back to the encampment. And as it was written in the script, they had selected one piece of a psalm that just got repeated and repeated. It was just the same thing. So every time he came back, he was. And I was. And I said to our team, our director and everything, like, you know, I want to mix it up, like, you know, but they were like, well, that's the only one we have rights to. And I was like, what if I just ad lib something, something, you know, instead? Because really what he's doing is announcing his presence, you know, as he's. As he's coming closer to the camp. And I didn't really pre think that much, but it's. When they agreed to it, when she agreed to it, the director, I was like, oh, what am I gonna say? And because I was sort of so caught up in all of it, I came up with what is in there, which is, I am a lightning bolt sent from the Lord. I am the rain, I am the thunder. And I don't know why it came to me.

[Elisa Donovan]

You. So you. That was an ad lib.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

Bravo.

[Skeet Ulrich]

So I remember that. I remember, you know, that being sort of like, oh, yeah, that was really. That worked. Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

Wow. Well, it is very chilling, the movie. Your work is wonderful in it, as is everyone else. The young actress who plays Elizabeth is spectacular, as is your wife in the movie.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, yeah. It was difficult. I mean, you know, the fortunate side is, I believe ilana was like 19 or 20 at the time, or 21. She was, you know, and I think they had toyed with the idea of, you know, it being someone underage. But I'm, you know, I, I think that would have been really, really difficult.

[Elisa Donovan]

I think it's very wise they did not do that.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, I think that would have really.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Hit too close to home for two for everybody.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. So, yeah, for sure.

[Skeet Ulrich]

To go, oh, okay. He's not 14, thank God. You know, and to be able.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. They can. We can write story.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

And just for the actress herself to not. If you're that young, you can't process what's really happening at that age. So.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well, I. You're a dream. You're so lovely and I really appreciate your. Your time and your heart and being so open about everything.

[Skeet Ulrich]

I appreciate you. I don't. I rarely do podcasts because I came through this business at an age when you would turn down talk shows because you didn't the audience know anything about you. And to go in and experience the movie or the character or whatever and not have these decisions made ahead of time about, oh, actually is like this or that or whatever. And podcast is sort of a very long, like you mentioned earlier, a long form version of that that I'm always hesitant to, like, dive into. But this was such a, you know, important subject matter and, and, you know, I think so important to illuminate her as much as we possibly can. Just. So, yes, somebody is going through something, they can feel the bravery to step up and say something to somebody that may help prevent it from happening.

[Elisa Donovan]

I agree. So thank you.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Yeah, thank you for doing that. And thanks for, you know, looking at this one. Obviously I've done other Killers and other thrillers, but I think.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Skeet Ulrich]

You know, very important and continues to be important. Yeah, I agree. Thank you.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well, I am Elizabeth Smart is available to stream now. And thank you again so much, Skeet. It was really a pleasure.

[Skeet Ulrich]

Thank you.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Research with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar, and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life. 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions. It's just for life. With the wide variety of flavors, from cafe latte to cake batter, it never feels boring. There's a flavor for everyone. I personally love the peaches and cream, but maybe you're a root beer floater, cinnamon roll kind of person. Premier Protein empowers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite [e-mail] that's P R E M I E R protein.com or at Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers.

[Sophia Bush]

This is Sophia Bush from Work in Progress with Sophia Bush. Bring the good with Avocados from Mexico. Upgrade your meals, your get togethers, even your everyday life. Give your moments a little. Glow up. Be the one everyone's glad showed up. Because avocados from Mexico spark the joy with every bite. And by the way, they're good for you too. So elevate your everyday. Bring the good flavor. So rich and craveable.

[Bowen Yang]

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[Skeet Ulrich]

Always good.

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[Skeet Ulrich]

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[Elisa Donovan]

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