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Brian Greene
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Chris Joy Hoadley
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Malin Akerman
It's not my fault, you stupid Mexican ozone.
Brian Greene
No, the Mexican ozone isn't stupid, Lila. You just need it to wear some sunscreen.
Malin Akerman
Was trying to get a tan.
Brian Greene
No, you were trying to get savage.
Malin Akerman
Whose side are you on, Eddie?
Brian Greene
What? What sides are there? Mine are the ozone.
Malin Akerman
Choose one.
Brian Greene
On this episode of the Commercial Break.
Malin Akerman
I went to university. I only completed one year of psychology. I thought I was going to become a child psychologist. So this was like, yeah, quite a. Like sort of go to the left instead of the right.
Brian Greene
You took a left at Albuquerque. Yeah, yeah, total.
Malin Akerman
But you know, it's one of those things as well. You hear like, all right, well, ride the wave. This might. I was young, I was early 20s, and I was like, well, opportunities are presenting themselves. Let me just see what could happen. And, and it, by the way, it wasn't that easy. It took years before things really started to happen. But of course, but decided to kind of go, yeah, let's. I was a bit burnt out on school and, and working and going to school at the same time. And I just thought, let's just do one thing for a year and see what happens. So I've never gone back to university since.
Brian Greene
Yeah, well, keep that in your back pocket, Marlene. Maybe someday you'll need to go back to university. Get yourself.
Malin Akerman
Maybe I will.
Brian Greene
The next episode of the Commercial break starts now. 5:30. Oh, yeah. Cats and kittens. Welcome back to the commercial break. I'm Brian Greene. This is my dear friend and the co host of this show, Chris Joy Hoadley. Best to you, Chris.
Eddie
Best to you, Brian.
Brian Greene
Best to you out there in the podcast universe. Thanks for joining us on yet another episode of the Commercial Break. It's a TCB infomercial Tuesday and a good one at that. Malin Aukerman is here. Joining us today, a very famous actress Indeed.
Eddie
Oh my gosh.
Brian Greene
Have we upped our game?
Eddie
We have. She's been in so many things.
Brian Greene
Have we upped our game? That's all I gotta say.
Eddie
Yes, we left our game.
Brian Greene
I like it. Malin has been in more things than I. Then we could. We could go on forever and ever. About all the TV and movies that she's been in. But she's probably most noted for a couple of things. I will say Watchmen.
Eddie
Watchmen.
Brian Greene
I will say the Comeback. Y. I will say Billions.
Eddie
Y.
Brian Greene
Yes. Couples retreat.
Eddie
Couples retreat.
Brian Greene
Yeah. What other funny movies has she. I mean, a million of funny movies she's been in. Television shows, Children's hospital, the proposal, 27 dates, 27 dresses.
Eddie
Y.
Brian Greene
She's been in. The list goes on and on. She's a Swedish born actress, raised in Canada and moved to Los Angeles where she found some luck. She was a model and then she.
Eddie
Found start off as a model and.
Brian Greene
Then she some luck as an actress taking some small parts and then eventually becoming a big name actress. She's got a brand new television show on Netflix. Streaming. It's available now. The Hunting Wives.
Eddie
The Hunting Wives.
Brian Greene
The Hunting Wives. How very exciting for her and very excited.
Eddie
I watched the trailer. It looks really good.
Brian Greene
Yeah, I did not watch the trailer, but I trust you. Set in Texas.
Eddie
Oh, little drama in Texas.
Brian Greene
I. I heard it's new girl moves into town.
Eddie
Yeah, A new girl moves into town.
Brian Greene
And Marlon takes her under the wing.
Eddie
Huh? Yeah.
Brian Greene
She's. The lies and videotape follow.
Eddie
Yeah, it's like Yellowstone. Pretty lies and another one. But it's. It looks interesting and bingeable.
Brian Greene
It's a drama. It's a streaming drama. It's a strama and you must watch it. Those things do very well on that Netflix. Yeah. And I imagine that Malin would not be involving herself unless there were some fine people behind this. This particular television production. And I'm very excited to have her too. Watchmen is really probably one of the first. I know it's not like comic book material, but like in that same vein, Watchmen was one of the first. Besides the original Batman movies and the Superman movies. It's something that got me very interested in. Like the graphic novel.
Eddie
The graphic novel.
Brian Greene
I remember buying the book after I saw the movie because I was so fascinated by it. And then of course, everyone was wearing those buttons. The smiley face with the bolt, you know, the. The bleed, the bullet.
Eddie
Oh, that's right.
Brian Greene
Yeah. Remember, everyone was wearing those. I was victim to that too. I think I wore a button around for a while, but just such a beautiful young lady and such a great part in the Watchmen is a complicated and layered movie and a very long one at that, nonetheless. And then have watched her in so many other comedic roles that she's taken on sitcoms and television shows. Children's Hospital, I think she was in like 40 episodes of children's. Do you know, have you ever watched Children's Hospital?
Eddie
Watch it. But I saw that that was on Adult Swim.
Brian Greene
It was so. That show was so good. It was on for a long time. I think it was on for a very long time on Adult Swim. And if I'm not mistaken, another one of our guests, Paul Scheer, was in Children's Hospital also.
Eddie
I think so.
Brian Greene
I think I might be right about that. Okay, Malin Akerman, we're going to put a link to our brand new Netflix series. We wish that you would go watch it because these people don't come here for their health. They come here because they love Brian and Chrissy. Then secondarily, they're promoting something. And today we're promoting the Netflix show, the Hunting Wives. So go watch it. Click on the link. Watch it on your own Netflix subscription. If you need my login, let me know and I'll send it to you.
Eddie
And then they're cracking down on that.
Brian Greene
They are cracking down on that. We know that here in this family because we have a few stragglers.
Eddie
Yeah.
Brian Greene
Who were out there in the wind using our Netflix account. We didn't know that until they said, did you change your password? And I said, you're still using my Netflix account. Yes, but they couldn't get in even using our password. It said too many people are logged in from different locations. Sorry, Charlie. And then sometimes early on in this old Netflix process, we were getting kicked off our Netflix accounts. We wouldn't be able to log in. It'd be like, who? What the fuck is going. There's only one person in the house to find out other people were using our Netflix accounts. Everybody was doing it. No more. Disney plus has done the same thing. Yeah, it's all Hulu. Yeah, the game's over now, kids. We all got to pay 1995amonth. But in this case, maybe worth it. As the hunting wise, the new strama from Netflix. We're all going to watch it. Okay, let's do this. Let's take a break. And when we get back, through the magic of telepodcasting, wherever in the world she happens to be, we'll find out. And we'll talk to her right here on the screen. What do you think, Chrissy?
Eddie
I think we should do it.
Brian Greene
Okay, we'll do it after this break.
Rachel
Why don't you text us and we can text back and then you can text us in reply, then so on. It's a fun little game I've been playing and I think you'll be great at it. 212-4333, TCB. That's 212-433-3822. You could leave a message too. If you do, maybe you'll end up being the voice of the show. But be warned, the pay is not great. You could go to the website and drop us an email. Also tcbpodcast.com and while you're there, you can get a free sticker. Who doesn't want a free sticker? Just go to the contact us button and ask for one. Follow us on Insta at the commercial break and watch the episodes at YouTube.com/the commercial break. Now I'm gonna go back to that texting game you wanna play. Come on.
Malin Akerman
Bye.
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Brian Greene
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Brian Greene
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Brian Greene
Cart for an exclusive free gift with 65 purchase. Hey, what's up flies? This is David Spade. Dana Carvey. Look at. I know we never actually left, but I'll just say it. We are back with another season of Fly on the Wall. Every episode, including ones with guests, will now be on video. Every Thursday, you'll hear us and see us chatting with big name celebrities. And every Monday, you're stuck with just me and Dana. We react to news, what's trending, viral clips follow and listen to Fly on the Wall. Everywhere you get your podcasts, you buy.
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Malin Akerman
That's B O-M B-S.com and use code audio at checkout.
Brian Greene
And Malin is here with us now. Thank you so much for joining us. I was very excited to learn that you were going to come on the show.
Eddie
Yes. Welcome.
Malin Akerman
Thank you.
Brian Greene
Because you just take one look at your now very long laundry list of TV shows and movies that you've been in, and you're so recognizable from so many things that we love. But I would imagine that the thing you get the most love for in your career or the thing that most people fawn over you about is Watchmen. Am I right about that?
Malin Akerman
If you go to a Comic Con, then. Yes, yes.
Brian Greene
That's the kind of people I'm talking about. Molly.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, yeah. The cool ones.
Brian Greene
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
My people. Yeah, that's a big one. But, you know, if you talk to the ladies, it's usually 27 dresses.
Brian Greene
That is a good movie.
Eddie
Also, our couples retreat or couples retreat.
Malin Akerman
I love that. I know that. So there's a few of those. Like, it's a. It's. It's a real mixed bag, to be honest with you. But Watchmen was the biggest undertaking for sure for me and my career, and really just an incredible once in a lifetime kind of thing.
Brian Greene
I am not one of those people. Now, God bless our Comic Con fans, and we have, I'm sure we have a lot of them that listen to the show, but that's. That's not me. But I did. I'm not like a super superhero type, you know, comic book type of fan, but the Watchmen, I went and saw it in the theaters with some friends and I was fascinated by the movie. I loved it. I thought it was so good. Why is it the biggest undertaking of your career?
Malin Akerman
Well, first of all, yeah, I think that it was really. Because it's not quite a superhero film.
Brian Greene
Yes.
Malin Akerman
More like a real. That's what I loved about the graphic novel. I'm also not like a huge superhero moviegoer.
Brian Greene
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
But I was brilliant. It's more like humanity, existentialism. It's all wrapped into, you know, these vigilantes who don't have superpowers. But I, I guess it was a huge undertaking because it was nine months of my life. It was three months of training as you, as you recognized, you were in the movie theater for double length feature. But it. So that took six months to shoot. And, you know, for the first three months before shooting, I was Training with a former Navy seal. And I thought I was going to.
Brian Greene
Wow.
Malin Akerman
Ok. And then learn some. Oh, man. And then learn some really great fight moves and, you know, fight choreography. And it was really amazing and so incredibly challenging and fun. And also that was the first sort of film where I felt really green and out of my depths. I'd been doing comedy up until then and then I was thrown in with all of these, for me, these incredible actors who, you know, theater trained, well versed in this in drama, and I just felt like a fish out of water. So I. It was not only my imposter syndrome that I had to fight, but it was also just a learning curve, you know, and a beautiful one. And I felt so lucky to be there. So there was a lot going on and then just the challenges of shooting. You know, it was winter in British Columbia and let me tell you, a latex suit out in the cold is. You're better off naked because that outfit, the latex, like, it takes on the cold and it just kind of stays on. So, yeah, there are a few little like bits and pieces.
Brian Greene
Yeah. I think this is the first movie where I. Maybe not the. Probably the first movie because I don't read many books, let's be honest about it. I listen to a lot of them, but I don't read them. Yes, I read Ram Dass. This is the first movie where I, I watched the movie knowing nothing about it and ran out and grabbed the graphic novel because it was so fascinating to me. Because it was. There was so much, there's so much to it. There's so many layers and depths to the movie. And to convey that all even in a short period of time was really difficult. I think he did a wonderful job. Still one of my favorite, I mean, of those type of movies. It's. It's one of my favorite. Certainly you've been doing this. You've been in the entertainment business for a long time. I read that at 16 years old you were cast to the Ford Modeling agency. And then a couple of years later you started taking on small roles. Am I right? Is Google right about that?
Eddie
Yeah, we don't know.
Malin Akerman
Google is right. Google got it right this time. Yeah, yeah, it started. It started small and really wasn't. I was, I was out of the house at 16 and went to Toronto. We were living in a small town outside Toronto, Navarro Lake, and went to Toronto and. And sort of decided to do modeling as a side hustle and spend my summers traveling the world and doing that since.
Rachel
Right.
Malin Akerman
And an option of course. So that was a great way to see bits and pieces of the world. And then never thought that this would be the course of my life. I thought. I went to university. I only completed one year of psychology. I thought I was going to become a child psychologist. So this was like, yeah, quite as. Like, sort of go to the left instead of the right.
Brian Greene
You took a left in Albuquerque. Yeah, totally.
Malin Akerman
But, you know, it's one of those things as well, you hear, like, all right, well, ride the wave. I was young. I was early 20s, and I was like, well, opportunities are presenting themselves. Let me just see what could happen. And by the way, it wasn't that easy. It took years before things really started to happen, of course, but decided to kind of go, yeah, I was a bit burnt down on school and working and going to school at the same time. And I just thought, let's just do one thing for a year and see what happens. And never gone back to university since.
Brian Greene
Yeah, well, keep that in your back pocket, Malin. Maybe someday you'll need to go back to university, get yourself.
Malin Akerman
Maybe I will.
Brian Greene
Yeah. I think. I think things turned out well. Who in their right mind lets you out of the house at 16 years old? Like, I mean, by the way, I was also out of the house at 16 years old, so. I know.
Malin Akerman
There you go.
Brian Greene
Yes, I know.
Malin Akerman
Yeah. But different times.
Brian Greene
My. My dad was glad to let me. I mean, my dad was happy to let me go. He didn't want me to take the furniture. He asked me to bring back the furniture. That's. That's young to be out of the house or you're in. You said Toronto at the time, in Toronto.
Malin Akerman
I was pretty responsible at that. I mean, I say that, like, I was grown up enough to live on my own and take that step. And I had roommates who were much older. Some of them were actually makeup artists in the business. And, you know, so it was. I had great mentors all the time as I was out in the world. But, yeah, I think that. And I. When I say responsible, I still was doing all this stupid stuff, of course, but to a certain degree, because I only had a certain amount of money to spend and a certain amount of, you know, I had to get up in the morning, go to work or whatever it was. So. So I guess I learned at an early age just a bit of responsibility, and I liked it, so I didn't take advantage of it.
Brian Greene
That is where our stories veer. Malin, you were somewhat responsible. I was absolutely irresponsible. Yeah, I Moved in with two dancers. Ladies of the night, if you will. I moved. My dad loved it. Those kinds of dancers. But this isn't. This isn't about me. This is about you.
Malin Akerman
I would like to hear that story one day.
Brian Greene
Yeah, well, I mean, it's a pretty easy one. Guy works at gas station because, you know, why not work at a gas station? 16, dancer walks in, and guy moves in with dancer at 16 years old. It was crazy. My dad was. I think he was happy to see me go, if I'm being honest. He thought, get this trouble out of the house.
Eddie
Right? Go figure it out.
Malin Akerman
Oh, my God.
Brian Greene
So move out at 16. Then you turn 18. When do you start getting, like, substantial roles? Enough roles that you're supporting yourself? I mean, you're obviously supporting yourself. You're paying rent, you have roommates. But when does it start to click that maybe this is something I can do?
Malin Akerman
Not. Not for a long time. Yeah, it still was. I was still going to school up until I was 20 years old.
Brian Greene
Okay.
Malin Akerman
And. And then I was. And then I. That's when I kind of. Things started to pick up, and I was doing some really bad roles on bad Canadian television shows. Not.
Brian Greene
What do you mean?
Malin Akerman
Not that all Canadian television shows aren't great. There are some really good ones, but I got the bad ones. And then, you know, I guess it was somewhere around when I was 21 that I got. I got an audition that I got a call back, and they flew me out for a screen test, which is when you go in and you kind of do a chemistry read with somebody with the lead actor, which happened to be Rob Schneider at that point. It was for a movie called the Hot Chick.
Brian Greene
Oh, my God.
Malin Akerman
Rachel McAdams ultimately got. But it was a wild experience. Got flown out, got put up in a hotel, went to Disney Studios to do the audition. It was really surreal. Didn't get the role, which was fine, but I got a call from a manager who called my agent in Canada, said, you know, really like to represent her, and I think she should come out for pilot season, give it a try. So I did. I convinced my best friend, the one who lives here in Martha's Vineyard now, and she was also kind of doing the same thing I was doing, going to school and working, and said, you know what? There's nothing holding us back. Let's just go. Give it.
Eddie
Go try it.
Malin Akerman
So we did. Got nothing, you guys, for a good year and a half, started a band, did that whole thing, married the drummer.
Eddie
Oh, that's right.
Malin Akerman
I Read that. Yeah.
Brian Greene
Married the drummer. I love it.
Eddie
I like the drummer.
Malin Akerman
Probably shouldn't marry the drummer right now.
Brian Greene
No. Have you ever seen Spinal Tap? No. You stay away from the drummers. Yeah. You marry the bassist. The bassist is always the stable one in the group.
Malin Akerman
I don't know if you marry any musician.
Brian Greene
Well, fair enough.
Malin Akerman
I don't know if musicians are stable. No. We had a blast. We had a blast. And then. And then after, you know, a year and a half, I just thought, what am I doing? Like, I'm just wasting time here. I can't. I'm not the singer. I'm not going to be in a band for my whole life. So I gave my manager a three month rule and I said, I'm out in three months if I don't get anything. It was another pilot season and he's like, all right, I'm gonna send you out. And within three weeks of that pilot season, I got the comeback.
Brian Greene
That's right.
Eddie
Oh, I love that show.
Brian Greene
Which was a great show.
Malin Akerman
That was. That was my little big break.
Brian Greene
That was your little big break on hbo?
Malin Akerman
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Brian Greene
That is. That is an amazing story. You get flown in, you're relatively unknown, certainly to the United States, to the US market, but you're doing Canada show, Canadian shows. What? These are comedy shows, like sitcoms that you're just.
Malin Akerman
No. Oh, no. Funnily enough, in Canada, it was like little. Like drama. Like little. Again, soap operas. Small parts.
Brian Greene
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
Not even soap operas, just like dramas, like TV drama.
Eddie
Okay.
Malin Akerman
And it was more serious roles, but. But again, for like five minutes on screen. When I say serious roles, you know, but then once you break in somewhere, like in Hollywood, if you. You kind of get pigeonholed into. When you've broken into it and people are like, oh, that person for comedy only. So that's why Watchmen was such a big step, a big jump to even be seen for that.
Brian Greene
That was going to be. My next question is that I think you have this run of comedic roles and then the Watchmen comes along and that's obviously a less comedic role. It's very serious role. And the movie can be dark in places. And so did you have any comedic training? Did you go to, like, improv class? I mean, was there anything in your background that would have indicated you would have been a good comedic actress? Which you are. There's. You have great roles and some great comedy movies and television shows.
Malin Akerman
I honestly don't. It wasn't. No, I did not do any of that stuff. I. I've had an acting coach here and there to help out with some auditions. I tried a Meisner technique class for a couple weeks, which is interesting.
Brian Greene
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
But I don't know. I do not have training as an. As a comedic actor. I think growing up and my mother went through bouts of depression as I. When I was young. And so I think trying to get her to laugh and. And be silly and be a clown was sort of my role in the family.
Eddie
Same with us.
Malin Akerman
And having. Being the clowns of the family.
Eddie
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
And I just think that was like, I. I was happy to embarrass myself and had no reservations, and I think that just helped out with the comedy. But I'll tell you this much, that when. So the comeback is comedy, but it also was so true to life. Like, it's like, here, play this character who adores this other character who they've been watching their whole lives. I'm like, well, it's true to life. I mean, watching Lisa Kudrow and Friends, so that's not far from reality. So that wasn't a huge undertaking. But then when I went in and did, the next role that I got was the Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller. And that audition process was wild, because then all of a sudden, it was like, oh, you're in the comedy world. Like, this is. The Farrelly brothers are watching you. You're doing a chemistry read with Ben Stiller. This was like the second round I brought in with Ben Stiller, and he throws the script away and says, we're not really. This isn't gonna be. What? It's not finished. It's not the writing. This isn't. These aren't gonna be the scenes, so let's just improv.
Brian Greene
No way.
Malin Akerman
So my heart went up in my throat, and I was like, oh, my God, I'm about to improv again. Stiller. I have no idea how to do improv. I have no idea what I was supposed to say. But it was almost like. I don't know if you ever have those days where you just feel like you're on and the focus and everything, like, falls into place and everything works, and then you have your off days where nothing is working.
Brian Greene
99% of these episodes.
Malin Akerman
Yeah. So you.
Brian Greene
Can we relate. Yeah, we relate.
Malin Akerman
But that was just one of those. One of those on days, and it worked out great. We just kind of flowed and. And I guess, again, it's that freedom of not really caring. You know, my. My physical comedy, I'm happy to give any of that and, like, anything to make People laugh and, and so I think it's just a life skill maybe.
Brian Greene
Yeah, I think you have a natural thing. You have a sense of timing and a sense of humor. Right. And I think that sense of timing is often what comedy is all about. Not only is it the right thing to say, the right word to place, but it's the emphasis and the timing. And you're very funny in some of these roles. And to know you have zero. Like, you know, you didn't do any stand up. You went to no improv classes. You did Meisner. Okay. You had a week of Meisner training, but then you get thrown in with Ben Stiller and you're doing improv all of a sudden. I can only imagine how terrifying that is. And that must have been just some kind of like universal magic moving through you in that moment, because that's.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, that sure was.
Brian Greene
Yeah, that's really interesting.
Malin Akerman
Listen, you asked me to go and do. My husband is the. On the other hand, he's. He's more of a writer now, but he came up as an actor and he had his own improv group in England called Chuckle Dusters.
Eddie
Oh wow.
Malin Akerman
It's on YouTube. It's on YouTube. And it's like great. It's like kind of like whose line is. Was great. And then he came over to America and he started writing and then he did the UCB courses, which is, you know, Upright citizens degree, which is all improv stuff. And man, I went to watch those shows and I just thought to myself, I could never do that. I'd be terrified to get on that stage and just hope that something comes to mind. And then there are all these rules of like. Yes, and is just the beginning, by the way. There are so many rules and how you, you know, make a scene work. So it really is a true talent. Stand up comedy and, and, and improv and all that stuff is. I really bow down to those, those.
Brian Greene
Actors we have the utmost respect for. Stand up comedians do something that I think is, is quite amazing. They capture your attention and they have a way to deliver a message. It's a Trojan horse. It's wrapped in a package. And the good ones do it so brilliantly. And you're right about improv. I had friends that worked at a place called Whole World Improv Theater, which is famous here in Atlanta, and they did some work with Turner and stuff like that. But he was there for five, six years. And I always was a little jealous. I wanted to be a part of Whole World Theater, but I was never brave Enough to take that step because it seems so scary. And when you dig into it for being improv, quote unquote, there are. It's so structured. Like, there's so much structure to improv that you. That you need to learn. I mean, it becomes a muscle. I imagine that you can work, but. But it is. There is a very. There's a very, like, fine art to being a good improv comedian, especially the way that they do it on stage. And, you know, you've worked with some of the best. I have to, like, step back one second. On the Comeback. What is it like to walk on set? Did you audition for the Comeback with Lisa?
Malin Akerman
Yeah. So it was. I can't remember if I had to do one or two sort of regular auditions, but the. The ultimate was a, Like, a chemistry read with Lisa, and it's called, like, a. A test, a studio test. And so you go into the studio and it literally looks like a movie theater, and you have the studio execs.
Brian Greene
That's crazy.
Eddie
I know.
Malin Akerman
And Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King. But before you step into that to do your, like, chemistry read, you have to sign your contract. That may or may not happen for you. So you're looking at this contract going, oh, my God, I might make money or I might not.
Eddie
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
And then you go in and you do the audition. You chemistry read with Lisa. I mean, it was wild. My heart was pounding through my chest. But she was so lovely and so calming and, you know, she's obviously been through a few of those herself.
Brian Greene
Yeah, she's a pro.
Malin Akerman
Exactly what we were all going through.
Brian Greene
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, she's a pro.
Brian Greene
When you go into a.
Malin Akerman
It was crazy. And then I called my friend and. And went out and drank margaritas right now.
Brian Greene
Good for you.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, exactly. And see what happens when you go.
Brian Greene
In and you're doing this studio test, like this chemistry test. What are these? Do these. Do they do these on purpose just to torture people? I mean, why do they have to be in the room for the chemistry test? Why do they have to be in the room?
Malin Akerman
I don't know. It feels terrifying and terrible. I don't know why they do it. And there is. I think there's a lot of, like, industry articles and. And stuff about, you know, the audition process, which is so different than actually being on a set and doing your job.
Brian Greene
Sure.
Malin Akerman
The audition process is, like. Is highly stressful and a completely different, unique animal to what acting actually is. So I don't know why they do it. It's not a Fun experience.
Brian Greene
It seems unorthodox so easily, but, yeah.
Malin Akerman
That'S the way it's done, guys.
Brian Greene
Well, listen, I would imagine that the studio. Muckety mucks, right. Who sometimes are creative types and most of the time are not, they just want to be in on the big decisions. They want to feel like they're doing something when I would imagine, at the end of the day, it really does have to do with the chemistry between the two who are playing those parts that Lisa would have some say and say, hey, listen, I like this person for this role because it feels right for me, but I, you know, they got to earn those big paychecks they're making, so. And to sign a contract. Sign a contract before you even walk in the room is insane.
Malin Akerman
Isn't that brutal?
Brian Greene
Yes.
Malin Akerman
Insane. And I literally was. I think I was living in a motel at that point and working under the table at some restaurant and making 20 bucks a day. So, I mean, it was really like seeing those numbers on the page, which in hindsight weren't big numbers.
Brian Greene
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
Because I'm a newbie, you know, but for me, it was huge difference of, oh, maybe I can move into an apartment now, versus living in a cheap, shitty motel with a microwave.
Brian Greene
Yes.
Malin Akerman
So definitely was. Is a great.
Brian Greene
Malin's like $300 an episode. But you gotta sign before you even meet anybody. Yeah. And by the way, you. There's a 50 chance you're not gonna get the part. So congratulations. You sign your life away.
Malin Akerman
And by the way, you're gonna sit in the room with the other girl who you're up against, and you guys are just gonna sit there and stare each other down until you go in.
Eddie
Yeah. God, Nerve wracking.
Malin Akerman
Yeah.
Eddie
Well, you were in another one of. You were in another one of my favorite shows, which is Billions of. So talk a little bit about how you got that role. And, I mean, did you get to work much with Paul Giamatti? He's just one of my favorites.
Malin Akerman
Paul Giamatti and I actually worked together on Rock of Ages.
Eddie
Oh, that's right.
Malin Akerman
We didn't have many scenes together, but we were living in the same hotel and we were kind of like roommate buddies across the hall. So we would go out for dinners, and I love that man so much. Then when we. When I got Billions, I obviously called him up right away and I was like, we're gonna be in the same show together. Cut to the fact that we're never in any scene. Well, right.
Eddie
Yes.
Malin Akerman
But we got to see each other at the table reads. And of course, we hung out and all that. But I loved Paul. He's an incredible actor and just such a lovely person, such a brilliant mind. But that was really. I was chasing just a different kind of role. And then this came about, and I really fought for it again, because even though Watchmen had happened, a lot of my stuff has been comedic. So, you know, did a lot of auditions for it. I flew out to New York to meet the. The show runners, the creators, to really sit down and try to convince them and have a chat. And I. I had just recently become a mom, and I just thought, you know, I have this whole new well of emotions that I want to play with now that I never had before becoming a mom.
Brian Greene
Interesting.
Malin Akerman
And this woman is, you know, a mama in the show and really family strong and not to be messed with. And I just thought, yeah, I think I can play that now. I understand that now.
Brian Greene
Yeah. Yeah.
Malin Akerman
So it was really neat, and I felt really excited to land that role because it was something. And all I got for that was.
Brian Greene
So.
Malin Akerman
I didn't know what her trajectory was, like, what the arc was, where she was going. But I love in the pilot, she's just cutthroat. So that's why I flew to New York and had a chat with the show creators and was like, listen, there's not much in the pilot, but where does this go? And who is she? And tell me all about her, because I love what she is in the pilot. And sure enough, they definitely told me a great story about where she was going, her character, and I loved it.
Eddie
Ah, you did a fantastic job. And just that whole. That whole team, I just. My husband and I were just watched that every week up until the end. It is a great cast and a great story that's really pertinent to the times that, you know.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, I mean, you know, it. Yeah, it fluctuates up and down all the time. It's always been there. But it's really funny too, because my. I always say my now husband. My husband.
Eddie
Yes.
Brian Greene
Not your drummer husband, Your non drummer husband.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, my non drummer little British husband. He and his dad were avid watchers of Billions as well, before we even met.
Eddie
Oh, wow.
Malin Akerman
I think we met like, after I. After I had done the second season, I had met my husband, so he was with me in New York while I was shooting the third season. But I remember he was telling the story how he called his dad, finally was like, dad, I'm dating a woman out here in Hollywood. And his dad Was like, oh, who is it? And he goes, remember that girl, that woman from Billions?
Eddie
The wife?
Malin Akerman
Yes, the wife. His dad was like, oh, be careful with that one. Like, she's nothing like her character. Really funny. I loved it. So they were. They had like a father, son watch party whenever Billions came up.
Eddie
Oh, that's great.
Brian Greene
You married the fanboy. I think that's really interesting that you find this like. Like you say a new well of emotions, a new resource creatively. And you say, I'd like to find an outlet there because I'm feeling things that I haven't before. And I think I can express those through my art. I just need to find the right vehicle to do so. That feels. That's a very interesting way that you just described that. And I like that. I like the thought that you would tune into something that was going on and say, I could put this to good use. I could find a way to express myself on celluloid or wherever if I could just find the right part that is different from what I've done before. Because I'm feeling things that I have never felt before. And as a parent myself, you certainly go through this huge range of emotions that first year or two that you have a child. It's crazy things you thought you would never feel. The depths of love and fear and anxiety and trepidation and stress. And you never knew that you could exist on so little sleep. And I'm not even a mother. I'm just the father. I'm just the dude that gets up half the time. Right. So you really did. You really felt this urge to go, like, express this creatively?
Malin Akerman
I just felt like there was so much. And I love comedy, and that's always my safe house, my safe place. But I also think, like you said, like, when I came home with my son, I, like the first time he cried, I went, oh, my God. What? Why did they give me a human?
Eddie
Yes.
Malin Akerman
You know, and then you figured out. But it's. It's a shock, man. And there's a lot that goes into it. And unfortunately, my first husband and I, we split up when he was only four months old. So that was like. That was another thing I layer on top to contend with. And like, all of a sudden of becoming a single mom and like, you know, all the things you didn't think that you can't prepare for. And it just, again, just. Just brought new levels to the person that I am, which could have been parenthood. And it can also just be growing up, you know, and moving through different scenarios. It doesn't necessarily. But for me, it was in the shape of parenthood. And so I was lucky enough that I got the role in Billions because that doesn't always happen. You can look and you can search and there's always things that we want to be doing. Like, I'm still wanting that day, my day in court where I get to work with the Coen brothers on it.
Brian Greene
Yes.
Malin Akerman
So if they're listening right now.
Brian Greene
Yes, Me too, Joel. Me too. Yes. I could play a podcaster. Yeah. I mean, that's like apex predator. Yeah, that's apex predator type stuff. The Coen brothers. I've certainly.
Eddie
Brilliant.
Brian Greene
Some of my favorite films.
Malin Akerman
Dreams don't always come. I know you can chase things, but.
Eddie
Keep putting it out there.
Brian Greene
I think one of them. I think one of the brothers is coming out with a new movie, but they. That they did not do together, if I'm not mistaken. So tell us about your new television show that's coming out on Netflix that it's very excited.
Eddie
The Hunter's Wife.
Malin Akerman
Oh, my God. Gosh. The Hunting Wives.
Eddie
The Hunting Wives.
Malin Akerman
The Hunting Wives, yeah. And it is. Oh, my gosh, you guys talk about billions and. And powerful women. I play. So just to set it up for you, it's in a small town in East Texas, deep Texas, and you've got this young woman played by Britney Snow named Sophie, who moves into town with her husband. And she gets introduced to Margo Banks, which is my character, who is the queen bee of not only the Hunting Wives group, this group of wives, but also pretty much of the town.
Eddie
Yeah.
Malin Akerman
And is charming and seductive and dangerous. And Britney gets wrapped up in. Or Sophie gets wrapped up in Margo's world. She invites her in and it's very much like Big Little Lies meets Yellowstone meets Desperate Housewives. It is everything, a little bit of everything for everyone. It's one of those binge worthy shows that I just as I got the scripts on this one, I got all eight episodes and I got to read it all and see the arcs and the twists and the turns and where it all goes and it's nuts. And I love my character. She's also very strong, very interesting, very manipulative. I kind of liken her to a cult leader because they're always very charming. They make you drink the Kool Aid.
Eddie
Y.
Malin Akerman
That's Margo Banks. She is a Kool Aid pusher.
Eddie
I watched the trailer and it looks exactly like you said, all a mix of all of those different types of shows. I can't Wait to.
Brian Greene
Yeah, these types of shows, these kind of. These mystery drama, new. These type of shows are doing so well right now because it's really good peak television. Right. And especially if you get something creatively that's got a good script and it's got a good. And good performances, which I imagine you're giving in this television show.
Eddie
It looks like it.
Chris Joy Hoadley
From the.
Malin Akerman
Give it my best. We'll see.
Brian Greene
Where did you film?
Malin Akerman
But it's very salacious and very crazy. So cover your eyes sometimes.
Brian Greene
But is there a lot of sex in this? Are we going? Is it a sexy show that we can watch as adults?
Malin Akerman
It's sexy. It's sexy.
Brian Greene
I love it.
Malin Akerman
There's a few episodes. Yeah. Don't let your kids watch. But yeah, definitely. You gotta have that fun part.
Eddie
Yeah, you have to.
Brian Greene
Where did you film?
Malin Akerman
And we were maybe gonna shoot in Austin, but then we ended up. I think Yellowstone took up all the crew over there.
Eddie
Oh, yeah.
Malin Akerman
In. Or Taylor Sheridan did. I think Yellowstone was in Montana.
Eddie
Well, he's only got like 10 shows. I mean, every time I see a new show, it's Taylor Sheridan.
Malin Akerman
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Brian Greene
When are you gonna get your own Taylor Sheridan show? Yeah, when are you gonna get your own Taylor Sheridan show?
Malin Akerman
Listen, I've auditioned for him a couple times. I'm still waiting for him to.
Brian Greene
Okay. All right.
Malin Akerman
Spin off of the hunting ones.
Eddie
There you go.
Malin Akerman
We ended up shooting in Charlotte. Charlotte, North Carolina.
Brian Greene
Oh, very interesting.
Eddie
Far from us.
Malin Akerman
Really great city.
Brian Greene
Yeah, Charlotte is beautiful. It is.
Eddie
It's a great city.
Brian Greene
It's a lovely, lovely city.
Malin Akerman
So the Netflix show, like the lake life out there?
Brian Greene
Oh, yeah.
Eddie
Oh, yeah.
Malin Akerman
Just in the summertime. Just, you know, we shot Margo Banks and her husband, played by Dermot Mulroney, our little heartthrob from My best Friend's Wedding. He. We had our. Our character doctor's cabin was out on Lake Norman.
Eddie
Yeah, Lake Norman. Very familiar.
Malin Akerman
Just beautiful. So we would spend days there shooting and. And going out on boats and having a blast. It was really. I'm. I'm excited to hopefully go back for a season too.
Brian Greene
Yeah, Lake Norman up there is beautiful. And Atlanta is lake light. There's a lot of lake life going on here too, really. All throughout the, like the Piedmont area, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia. We. It's a little bit too far to drive to the coast, so we stay with our lake. So we have lake. So we put huge boats on small lake and go and drive in circles. But the lakes are beautiful.
Malin Akerman
Sounds great.
Brian Greene
Yeah, the lakes are Beautiful and largely man made. So I think even Lake Norman is like a Duke Energy lake, which they then keep clean. And a lot of times there's a lake here called Lake Burton here in Georgia.
Eddie
And it's a gorgeous.
Brian Greene
It's a Georgia Power lake. And so you can actually buy the land. You can lease the land. And they had have, you know, houses that are 10, $15 million up there. They're amazing. It's a tiny little lake. The entire lake is stonewalled. It's a stonewalled lake and you can see the bottom of the, of the lake as if you're in the Caribbean. It's amazing. Yeah. And so I'll have to get out there. Yes, you belong in Lake Burton. Tell your. Tell the Netflix folks to send you to Burton. Yes, no more Normans. Send you to Burton.
Malin Akerman
Okay, I'm in.
Brian Greene
Malin Ackerman stars in this the Hunting Wives. The Hunting Wives, available on on Netflix. When is it coming out? I'm sorry, I don't know the date.
Malin Akerman
July 21st.
Brian Greene
Oh, this will be out? Yeah, this will be out. When you listening to this?
Malin Akerman
Soon, you guys.
Brian Greene
Oh, okay.
Eddie
So exciting.
Brian Greene
We are very excited to watch this. Malin, we can't thank you enough for being here. Thanks for your time on the commercial break. You have been in some of my favorite movies, comedic and other otherwise. And here's to many more years of using that well of emotion to dazzle us on the screen. And Coen Brothers, if you're.
Eddie
Yes, that's up next.
Malin Akerman
Yes.
Brian Greene
Three things if you're tuning in.
Malin Akerman
Coen Brothers.
Brian Greene
Three things, Cohen. But first of all, Coen Brothers, get to it. Malin is ready to be in what your next film, whenever that may be, whenever the two of you get back together to make a film. Number two, can we please get a Taylor Sheridan show for Malin? We understand Taylor, she's already in your video file, so get on that. And number three, let's move from Lake Norman to Lake Burton.
Eddie
Yep, those three things so that I.
Malin Akerman
Like this plan, guys.
Brian Greene
Yes. Can be on a stonewalled lake. Malin Akerman Ackerman is on Netflix right now. Go check out the Hunting Wise. Thank you, Marlin. We appreciate it.
Malin Akerman
Thank you so much for having me, guys. Been a pleasure.
Rachel
Okay, you're probably wondering why I, Rachel, have taken over the voice duties at tcb. It's pretty simple. Astrid asked me to shut Brian up, even for a minute. Well, lovely Astrid, your wish is my command. Do you want to help Astrid too? You know you do. Leave a message for her or me or Chrissy at 212-4333 TCB. That's 212-433-3822. You can be on the show too. Just call and say something, anything. Or text us and we'll text you right back. Promise. Then head over to tcbpodcast.com and get your free sticker. It's your constitutional right to a sticker and we must abide. You get the point? Follow us on Instagram at the commercial break and watch all the episodes on video@YouTube.com TheCommercialBreak Best to you and Astrid. Especially Astrid.
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Malin Akerman
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Brian Greene
Ma Lin Ackerman wow.
Eddie
Yes. What a sweetheart.
Brian Greene
She was very, very nice. H and and beautiful. That goes without saying. If you've ever seen Ma Lin Ackerman and you have because she's been in so many things, there's something you've watched.
Eddie
I don't think she's aged at all.
Brian Greene
No, not a bit.
Eddie
Like not at all.
Brian Greene
I think she's like my age. Your age. And I'm not looking that good. You might be, but I'm not. I'm not looking that good. Yeah, Malin looking that good. But you know, it's all that. It's all that Swedish. She probably eats very healthy and you know, doesn't go in the sun like I do. Like I purposefully. She probably doesn't do any of that stuff. All that bad shit for you. She probably never smoked a cigarette in her Life. You know, Marlon's probably on the good side of the tracks when it comes to health and she was a model, let's remember that. So, you know.
Eddie
But anyway, I'm excited for the show.
Brian Greene
I'm excited for the show. That's the most important thing. She gets to use all of that mom energy and put it toward good use on her brand new strama on Netflix. I just made up a word. Now I'm going to use it all the time. Or astromedy. A drama. Comedy. Aomedy think.
Eddie
A dramedy.
Brian Greene
Dramedy. Yes, a dramedy. But it's a stradromedy. Stradromedy. She was good in couples retreat. Yeah.
Eddie
Oh, yeah.
Brian Greene
I. I'm now remembering that role. She was good in that. And the Comeback, which I liked when it was on.
Eddie
I know. I can't believe it was only for one season.
Brian Greene
I've done was for two seasons. I did too, but it was only one. I. I don't. I thought it was for two, but I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. It was long ago. Yeah, it was a great show on hbo. I think you can get it on Max still because I think it popped up a couple months ago for me.
Eddie
As something I should go back to HBO Max, you know?
Brian Greene
Yes, I did see that. Unbelievable. It's like, update your app now to HBO Max. And I'm like, I had HBO Max. Why am I not. Yeah, now you told me to get Max. Now you're back to HBO Max. Makes no sense whatsoever. I don't know what's going on. Who knows? Not if it was up to me, I would do things differently. But it's not up to me. I just would have kept it HBO the entire time. Just HBO that you can also get Cinemax shows on and all of those other.
Eddie
And your favorite TLC.
Brian Greene
TLC's on HBO Max. So I do find myself popping on there. Virgins is the show I just finished watching and let me tell you something, that is a hot train wreck of a show. And I loved it. But there were only six episodes. And then I guess it didn't get great ratings because six episodes done.
Eddie
I didn't see it.
Brian Greene
Yeah, I wish they had. I know there was a lot of dates that they went on and stuff that they did that they kind of wrapped into the last five minutes of the show so you could tell they had more content. They just wrapped it up early, which sucked because I think that deserved a Season 2 anyway. Not that go watch the Hunting wives link below in the show notes. Thanks Violin for coming in. We certainly appreciate it. Welcome back anytime. 212-4333 tcb212 4333822 questions, comments, concerns, Content, Ideas? We take them all at the commercial break on Instagram tcbpodcast.com for the audio, the video and your free sticker and YouTube.com the commercial break for all the video including this interview. Out now. Okay Chrissy, that's all I can do for today.
Eddie
I think so.
Brian Greene
I'll say that I love you and I love you. Best to you and best you in the podcast universe. Until next time Chrissy and I will say we do say and we must.
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Malin Akerman
Thanks for selling your car to Carvana. Here's your check.
Brian Greene
Whoa. When did I get here?
Malin Akerman
What do you mean?
Brian Greene
I swear it was just moments ago that I accepted a great offer from Carvana online. I must have time traveled to the future.
Malin Akerman
It was just moments ago. We do same day pickup. Here's your check for that great offer.
Brian Greene
It is the future. It's.
Malin Akerman
It's the present and just the convenience of Carvana. Sorry to blow your mind.
Brian Greene
It's all good. Happens all the time.
Malin Akerman
Sell your car the convenient way to Carvana.
Eddie
Pick up.
Malin Akerman
Times may vary and fees may apply.
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Sam.
The Commercial Break Podcast
Episode Summary: TCB Infomercial – Malin Akerman
Release Date: July 29, 2025
Episode Overview
In this engaging episode of The Commercial Break titled "TCB Infomercial: Malin Ackerman," hosts Bryan Greene and Krissy Hoadley (referred to as Eddie) welcome acclaimed actress Malin Akerman for an in-depth conversation about her illustrious career, personal journey, and latest projects. The episode seamlessly blends humor, insightful discussions, and personal anecdotes, providing listeners with a comprehensive look into Malin's experiences in the entertainment industry.
Guest Introduction: Malin Akerman (02:22 – 09:31)
Bryan Greene kicks off the episode by enthusiastically introducing Malin Akerman, highlighting her extensive body of work in both comedic and dramatic roles. He mentions her notable performances in projects like Watchmen, The Comeback, Billions, and Couples Retreat. Malin is praised for her versatility and recognizable presence across various media platforms.
Notable Quote:
Bryan Greene [02:22]: "Malin Ackerman has been in more things than I can mention, from Watchmen to Couples Retreat and beyond."
Career Journey: From Modeling to Acting (09:31 – 15:09)
Malin Akerman shares her early beginnings, detailing her move from Canada to Toronto at 16 to pursue modeling. Despite her initial intent to study psychology, Malin recounts how she pivoted to acting after feeling burnt out from balancing school and work.
Notable Quotes:
Malin Akerman [14:10]: "I went to university. I only completed one year of psychology. I thought I was going to become a child psychologist."
Bryan Greene [14:34]: "You took a left in Albuquerque. Yeah, totally."
She discusses the challenges of transitioning from modeling to acting, emphasizing the perseverance required to succeed in the competitive entertainment industry.
Notable Roles and Breakthroughs (15:09 – 21:11)
Malin delves into her early acting roles in Canadian television, often landing small parts in drama series. Her breakthrough came with The Comeback, which Bryan Greene identifies as her "little big break." Malin also touches on her experiences working alongside prominent actors like Rob Schneider and her involvement in projects such as Billions.
Notable Quotes:
Bryan Greene [10:02]: "If you go to a Comic Con, then yes, yes, yes."
Malin Akerman [19:11]: "That was my little big break on HBO."
Malin reflects on being typecast and how roles like those in Watchmen allowed her to showcase her range beyond comedy.
Upcoming Project: The Hunting Wives (32:19 – 41:33)
The conversation shifts to Malin's latest project, The Hunting Wives, a Netflix original series set to release on July 21st. She describes her character, Margo Banks, as the "queen bee" of the Hunting Wives group in a small East Texas town. Malin compares the show to a mix of Big Little Lies, Yellowstone, and Desperate Housewives, highlighting its dramatic and seductive elements.
Notable Quotes:
Malin Akerman [36:31]: "It's like Big Little Lies meets Yellowstone meets Desperate Housewives."
Bryan Greene [38:32]: "But is there a lot of sex in this? Are we going? Is it a sexy show that we can watch as adults?"
Malin Akerman [38:45]: "It's sexy. It's sexy."
She elaborates on the filming locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, and shares anecdotes about shooting scenes on Lake Norman with co-star Dermot Mulroney.
Personal Insights and Anecdotes (21:11 – 35:49)
Malin opens up about her personal life, including becoming a mother and the impact it had on her acting. She discusses the emotional depth motherhood brought to her roles, particularly in Billions, where she plays a strong, manipulative character inspired by her new-found maternal instincts.
Notable Quotes:
Malin Akerman [34:37]: "When I came home with my son, I felt like I had this whole new well of emotions."
Bryan Greene [34:37]: "You really felt this urge to go, like, express this creatively?"
Malin also shares her experiences with demanding audition processes, including her nerve-wracking chemistry reads with Lisa Kudrow and Ben Stiller, highlighting the stress and unpredictability of securing substantial acting roles.
Notable Quote:
Malin Akerman [27:05]: "I was living in a motel at that point and working under the table at some restaurant."
Host and Guest Interactions: Humor and Banter (Throughout the Episode)
The dynamic between Bryan and Eddie adds a layer of humor and relatability to the episode. They share laughs over shared experiences, such as moving out at a young age and dealing with the unpredictability of the acting industry. Their playful interactions create a comfortable atmosphere, making Malin's stories even more engaging.
Notable Quotes:
Bryan Greene [15:19]: "Who in their right mind lets you out of the house at 16 years old?"
Malin Akerman [16:40]: "I would like to hear that story one day."
Conclusion: Final Thoughts and Encouragement (41:33 – 48:09)
As the episode draws to a close, Bryan and Eddie express their excitement for Malin's new series and commend her for her resilience and talent. They encourage listeners to watch The Hunting Wives and look forward to Malin's future projects.
Notable Quotes:
Brian Greene [42:28]: "Can we please get a Taylor Sheridan show for Malin?"
Eddie [46:05]: "I've done was for two seasons. I did too, but it was only one."
Malin thanks the hosts for having her on the show, reinforcing the friendly and supportive tone of the episode.
Key Takeaways
Malin's Career Path: From modeling at 16 to pursuing acting, Malin's journey underscores the importance of adaptability and perseverance in the entertainment industry.
Versatility: Her ability to excel in both comedic and dramatic roles, particularly highlighted by her performances in Watchmen and Billions, showcases her range as an actress.
Upcoming Projects: The Hunting Wives marks an exciting new chapter for Malin, blending drama with complex character dynamics.
Personal Growth: Becoming a mother has profoundly influenced Malin's approach to her craft, adding depth and authenticity to her performances.
Industry Insights: The episode provides a candid look at the challenges of auditions, typecasting, and the demands of maintaining a career in acting.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
Bryan Greene [02:22]: "Malin Ackerman has been in more things than I can mention, from Watchmen to Couples Retreat and beyond."
Malin Akerman [14:10]: "I went to university. I only completed one year of psychology. I thought I was going to become a child psychologist."
Bryan Greene [10:02]: "If you go to a Comic Con, then yes, yes, yes."
Malin Akerman [19:11]: "That was my little big break on HBO."
Malin Akerman [36:31]: "It's like Big Little Lies meets Yellowstone meets Desperate Housewives."
Malin Akerman [38:45]: "It's sexy. It's sexy."
Malin Akerman [34:37]: "When I came home with my son, I felt like I had this whole new well of emotions."
Bryan Greene [42:28]: "Can we please get a Taylor Sheridan show for Malin?"
Final Remarks
This episode of The Commercial Break offers listeners an intimate glimpse into Malin Akerman's professional and personal life, enriched by the hosts' humor and genuine interest. From her early days in modeling to her latest ventures in television, Malin's story is both inspiring and entertaining, making this episode a must-listen for fans and aspiring actors alike.