The Commercial Break – TCB Infomercial: Malin Akerman

Date: July 29, 2025
Hosts: Brian Green & Chris Joy Hoadley
Guest: Malin Akerman – Actress (Watchmen, Billions, The Comeback, Couples Retreat, The Hunting Wives)

Episode Overview

This lively, off-the-cuff episode is part of TCB's "Infomercial" Tuesday series, featuring Swedish-Canadian actress Malin Akerman. Known for her versatile career in both comedy and drama, Malin joins Brian and Chris to riff on her unconventional route to Hollywood, tackle imposter syndrome, reminisce about iconic roles, and dive deep into her new Netflix series The Hunting Wives. Expect a blend of industry insight, wild anecdotes, and the show’s trademark chaos and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing Malin Akerman and “The Hunting Wives”

• Malin's Notable Roles: The hosts playfully recall Malin’s extensive credits, highlighting blockbusters (Watchmen), comedy TV (Children’s Hospital), dramas (Billions), and rom-coms (27 Dresses, Couples Retreat).
• New Netflix Show: Malin promotes The Hunting Wives, a binge-worthy “strama” (streaming drama), set in small-town Texas, which she describes as a mix of Big Little Lies, Yellowstone, and Desperate Housewives.
  • [02:55] Chris: “I watched the trailer, it looks really good.”
  • [34:53] Malin: “It is everything, a little bit of everything for everyone... as I got the scripts on this one... it’s nuts, and I love my character.”

Early Career: From Modeling to Acting

• Leaving Home at 16: Malin left her Canadian home to pursue modeling, using it as a way to travel and gain independence.
  • [12:14] Malin: “I went to university. I only completed one year of psychology. I thought I was going to become a child psychologist... but I was a bit burnt out on school...”
• First Breaks: Juggled school and side gigs, made the jump to acting after a near-miss with The Hot Chick (role went to Rachel McAdams).
  • [15:22] Malin: “I was doing some really bad roles on bad Canadian television shows... then somewhere around 21 I got a callback for a screen test, flown out by Disney. Didn’t get it, but that led to my first manager in LA.”

Comedy vs. Drama: Navigating Hollywood

• Typecast in Comedy: Malin reflects on how early comedic successes pigeonholed her as a “funny actress” in Hollywood, making the leap to roles like Watchmen a challenge.
• Natural Clown: Credits her comedic instincts to childhood efforts cheering up her mother, rather than formal training.
  • [19:31] Malin: “My mother went through bouts of depression... so I think trying to get her to laugh and... be a clown was sort of my role in the family.”
• Improv with Ben Stiller: Recounts a nerve-wracking, unscripted audition for The Heartbreak Kid as a career-defining moment of “universal magic.”
  • [20:34] Malin: “Ben Stiller throws the script away and says, we’re not really—let’s just improv. My heart went up in my throat... I just had to go with it.”

Watchmen: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Challenge

• Epic Undertaking: Filming spanned 9 months – 3 months’ Navy SEAL training, six more of grueling production.
  • [08:45] Malin: “It was nine months of my life. Three months of training... latex suit out in the cold... you’re better off naked because it just kind of stays on.”
  • [10:10] “So there was a lot going on... a learning curve... and the challenges of shooting... it was winter in British Columbia.”

The Comeback, Audition Horror Stories & Industry Realities

• Studio Audition Stress: The hosts and Malin swap horror stories about network auditions, signing contracts before chemistry tests, and sitting next to your competition.
  • [24:49] Malin: “Before you step in to do your chemistry read, you have to sign your contract... you’re looking at this contract going, oh my god, I might make money or I might not.”
  • [27:21] “By the way, you’re going to sit in the room with the other girl you’re up against, and you guys are just going to sit there and stare each other down until you go in.”

Billions and “The Well of Emotion”

• Landing Billions: Malin campaigned for the role, feeling ready to channel new depths of emotion after becoming a parent.
  • [29:01] Malin: “I had just recently become a mom, and I just thought, I have this whole new well of emotions that I want to play with now... and this woman is a mom... and I just thought, yeah, I think I can play that now.”
• Personal Life & Authenticity: Shares that real-life events—like early motherhood and divorce—opened emotional reserves she poured into her character.

Returning to The Hunting Wives

• Character Details: Margo Banks is described as a “charming, seductive, dangerous... Kool-Aid pusher” and queen bee of her Texas town’s “hunting wives.”
• Production Notes: Filming was in Charlotte, NC, with location stories about lake life and the hope for a season two.
  • [37:12] “We ended up shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina... Lake Norman... just beautiful.”
• Show Trailer & Tone: Hosts describe the show as “salacious,” “binge-worthy,” and “sexy.”
  • [36:28] Malin: “It’s sexy... don’t let your kids watch. But yeah, definitely, you’ve gotta have that fun part.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Imposter Syndrome:
  • [09:31] Malin: “That was the first sort of film where I felt really green and out of my depths... not only [was I battling] my imposter syndrome... but it was also just a learning curve.”
• On Comedy vs. Improv Training:
  • [22:20] Malin: “I could never do that [Upright Citizens Brigade]. I’d be terrified to get on that stage and just hope something comes to mind. There are so many rules... it really is a true talent.”
• On Parenthood as Creative Fuel:
  • [32:21] Malin: “There’s so much... I love comedy and that’s always my safe place, but... when I came home with my son, the first time he cried, I went, ‘Oh my God, why did they give me a human?!’”
• Brian’s Summary
  • [39:25] “You have been in some of my favorite movies, comedic and otherwise. Here’s to many more years of using that well of emotion to dazzle us on the screen.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Malin’s Early Career & Modeling – [11:28]
• Audition Stories & Breaking into Comedy – [18:55], [20:34]
• Watchmen Deep Dive – [08:45]-[10:33]
• Getting ‘The Comeback’ – [17:24], [24:11]
• Improv, Standup, and Industry Respect – [22:03]
• Landing Billions, Motherhood’s Impact – [29:01], [32:21]
• The Hunting Wives Preview – [34:53], [36:16], [37:12]
• Closing and Shout-outs to Coen Brothers & Taylor Sheridan – [39:48]

Episode Highlights & Tone

• Unvarnished industry insight mixed with plenty of improv and laughter.
• Infectious banter and mutual admiration between hosts and guest.
• Emphasis on embracing career pivots, “riding the wave,” and showing up for both small breaks and serendipitous luck.
• Candid moments about personal struggle, resilience, and family.

For New Listeners

Whether a die-hard Malin Akerman fan, a pop culture junkie, or someone who loves spirited, unfiltered interviews, this episode offers:

• The career story behind the star of Watchmen and Billions.
• Hard-won lessons from the trenches of Hollywood auditions.
• Laugh-out-loud tales of weird jobs, failed pilots, and impromptu improv.
• An in-depth tease for her latest Netflix “strama,” The Hunting Wives.

Listen For...

• Behind-the-scenes scoop on showbiz and auditions
• Malin’s authentic, sunny irreverence
• The hosts’ chaotic, self-deprecating wit (“I moved in with two dancers...My dad loved it.” – Brian, [14:03])
• A “binge alert” for Netflix’s next big drama

Go watch The Hunting Wives and catch Malin’s charisma in action!