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- [00:00]
T Mobile Advertiser
Go almost everywhere with the podcasts you love on T Mobile's network because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now. Keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service support in 90 plus days device, knowledgeable carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.
- [00:30]
Annaleigh Ashford
Imagine a toilet so striking it inspired a couture dress The Kohler Veil Smart Toilet in Honed Black actually inspired creative director and fashion designer Laura Kim to create a stunning black chiffon dress. The Veil Smart Toilet with its curved design, deep rich textural color, touchscreen, remote control and customizable cleansing features can can transform your routine into something extraordinary. And we all deserve extraordinary. Design changes everything. Valsmart Toilet in Honed Black only from Kohler Discover the Veil Smart Toilet and go behind the scenes of Kohler's partnership with Laura Kim@kohler.com it's true that some.
- [01:17]
Sophia
Things change as we get older. But if you're a woman over 40 and you're dealing with insomnia, brain fog, moodiness and weight gain, you don't have to accept it as just another part of aging. And with MITI health, you can get help and stop pushing through it alone. The experts at MITI understand that all these symptoms can be connected to the hormonal changes that happen around menopause, and MITI can help you feel more like yourself again. Many healthcare providers aren't trained to treat or even recognize menopause symptoms. MITI clinicians are menopause experts. They're dedicated to providing safe, effective, FDA approved solutions for dozens of hormonal symptoms, not just hot flashes. Most importantly, they're covered by insurance. 91% of MITI patients get relief from symptoms within just two months. You deserve to feel great. Book your virtual visit today@joinmidi.com that's join M I D I.com hi everyone, it's Sophia.
- [02:19]
Annaleigh Ashford
Welcome to Work in Progress. Hello Whip Smarties. Today we are joined by an actress that I absolutely adore. I think she is one of the most talented people in my generation. From Broadway to film to tv, she is an absolute legend. She earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her performance as Irene in the Hulu Limited series. Welcome to Chippendales she received her first Grammy nomination in the category best musical theater recording of Sweeney Todd and like I mentioned, won a Tony in 2015. She is so funny, so charming, and just so wise. And next up, she is starring in the new series Happy Face, now streaming on Paramount Plus. It is a true crime story inspired by the true life story of Melissa G. Moore, a young woman who discovered that her beloved father was actually the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she changed her name and guarded her secret, but eventually decided to start working in advocacy supporting victims who have experience with this kind of crime. She's absolutely incredible. And today I'm going to ask Annaleigh all about what it's like to do this show, what her favorite lessons are from Broadway, film and or television, and what Real Housewives series is her favorite. Let's dive in with Annalee Ashford. Hi. I'm so amped that you're here. And I'm also laughing because we've had the most ridiculous. I don't know how long we've been doing this. 10 minutes of trying to get our audio things to work. I don't know if you folks at home are going to get any of that treat, but we've had a nice giggle.
- [04:27]
Sophia
It was really good. I feel really good about how I look. My posture right now. My posture is not a result of me trying to have good posture or me trying to be good to my spine, but it's really just because my microphone setup is bizarre.
- [04:42]
Annaleigh Ashford
I was going to say, did you get one of those chairs that, like, you put your. You put your calves in and then it's supposed to make you sit up straight?
- [04:49]
Sophia
I don't know if you can see Mike. My chair has ears. Can you see his, like, bunny ears? No. But maybe I should get one of those. You put your calves in it. Is that the real thing?
- [04:59]
Annaleigh Ashford
I think it's like an ergonomic thing. Is that the right word?
- [05:03]
Sophia
Do you get it in the magazine that you get on when you go on the plane?
- [05:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
Probably Skymall. Yes. That feels like something you could get on sky.
- [05:11]
Sophia
Have you seen a sky mall lately? I have not.
- [05:14]
Annaleigh Ashford
I haven't. But honestly, I think they should bring them back in.
- [05:17]
Sophia
Paper, please.
- [05:19]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [05:19]
Sophia
That sounds like a very delightful treat when boarding an airplane.
- [05:23]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yes. I think we deserve more air traffic controllers and more Skywalker.
- [05:29]
Sophia
Hallelujah.
- [05:30]
Annaleigh Ashford
Right?
- [05:31]
Sophia
Amen to both.
- [05:32]
Annaleigh Ashford
As two people talking about our travel schedules, I'm like, just please, please keep the planes in the air. That's all I want.
- [05:38]
Sophia
I've Had a couple rough landings recently. And I have prayed in a way that was different. That will feel very uncomfortable.
- [05:46]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah. You're like, oh, this. This is what it means to strike terror into one's heart. It's happening to me. I understand that turn of phrase now.
- [05:54]
Sophia
Oh, my God. In so many ways.
- [05:56]
Annaleigh Ashford
Which is also a lot like people who do what we do who, you know, play in the circus for a living and try to pretend they're not anxious all the time to feel.
- [06:06]
Sophia
What are you talking about? What do you mean?
- [06:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
What are you talking about? To feel that kind of, like, gripping anxiety that's worse every once in a while when. When that happens to me, I'm like, oh, interesting. I didn't know it could go up from 10, but now we're at a 12. And that's what a 12 feels like.
- [06:19]
Sophia
Yeah. We live in, like, a low level, constant pulse of anxiety. And then, you know. Yeah. When it gets ramped up, you're like, oh, do I need a full Xanax right now or just a sensitive. Yeah, Would you like a ransom Pam, or would you just like a propanol? Oh, the fancy name for beta blocker.
- [06:39]
Annaleigh Ashford
Is that what that is?
- [06:40]
Sophia
Yeah, propanol. It's a beta blocker. Have you. Have you dived into beta blockers?
- [06:47]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah, I. I had, like, a weird Covid thing almost two years ago, which was deeply scary and also really humbling because when I was like, no, I'm a very healthy person, and I understand that, like, you know, a fourth COVID infection could probably be really bad for you, but also, my job requires me to be in large theaters full of people. What do you want from me? And then the doctor, after a few weeks was like, I don't think you're taking this as seriously as you should be. You do know that the number one horrible side effect of COVID for women between 40 and 50 is cardiac issues. And I literally, if I was like. It was like he'd smacked me, like, straight into Gone with the Wind. I was so offended. And I was like, I'm barely 40. I'm 40. Oh, no. And it was like, this very rude awakening because I was like, no, but I have, you know, that sort of, like, trauma that freezes you a little bit stunted. And I think I'm perpetually 26, and I'm saying I need to, like, go to the doctor regularly to see what's up with this. And they were kind of like, welcome to adulthood, lady. And I really didn't like it.
- [07:58]
Sophia
You said, where's my lorazepam.
- [07:59]
Annaleigh Ashford
I was like, I guess I'll take all this heart medication and go sit next to Morty at the cardiac center. No, it was like me and a bunch of old dudes all summer long. And actually, they were adorable. And I did have moments where my actor brain kicked in and I was like, this would be like such a cute little series of shorts. And then I was like, probably super inappropriate to ask all these people to violate their own HIPAA as well to be on camera with me. But if I could, it would just be so cute.
- [08:29]
Sophia
Yeah, and you could. I want to know their life stories already. I'm in.
- [08:33]
Annaleigh Ashford
It was like. It was me and the old guys.
- [08:35]
Sophia
You and Morty. Did Morty take Loranzepan?
- [08:38]
Annaleigh Ashford
I didn't ask him what he was taking, but he. He walked with his little cane like he was in a little dance routine a lot. And it really was adorable to me.
- [08:47]
Sophia
Marty sounds fantastic.
- [08:48]
Annaleigh Ashford
He had a great sense of humor.
- [08:49]
Sophia
Is he in showbiz? Showbiz adjacent.
- [08:53]
Annaleigh Ashford
I feel like probably going to, like, the nice hospital in the middle of la. I bet, like, most of those guys were.
- [09:01]
Sophia
You have. You had no idea. But he was the boom operator on Taxi, right?
- [09:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
He's like, I was the one who taught Robert De Niro how to act. It would have been amazing.
- [09:13]
Sophia
Did you take propanol? Was that.
- [09:15]
Annaleigh Ashford
I mean, I like, took all sorts of things. I had to get like. One of the worst things was the. The. They would do these like, contrast MRIs that I had to do, and those I really didn't like because at least once I did the first one, I knew it was coming. But, like, when I first, you know, got back from this stage play I was doing in London, they were basically like, well, we've gotta run all the tests again here to, like, go through the proper levels of insurance and whatever. And they were like, oh, and you haven't had a contrast mri. We're gonna give you this thing and we're just gonna push this dye. You're gonna get a little bit of.
- [09:50]
Sophia
A warm flush in your. In your pelvic region.
- [09:54]
Annaleigh Ashford
Uh huh.
- [09:55]
Sophia
I know.
- [09:55]
Annaleigh Ashford
And I was like a warm flush. I was like, I feel like someone just dumped a pot of almost boiling water, like, up my crotch. What are you talking about? A warm flush like this? I was like, I must be dying. And they were like, you're not dying. It'll pass in about 90 seconds.
- [10:15]
Sophia
It's such a weird feeling.
- [10:16]
Annaleigh Ashford
It's not great.
- [10:18]
Sophia
No. It's also like, why don't you just say you're gonna make. It's gonna feel like you peed your pants, but you didn't.
- [10:23]
Annaleigh Ashford
It's gonna feel like you peed your pants with BO water.
- [10:26]
Sophia
Yeah, I didn't feel like it felt as boiling.
- [10:30]
Annaleigh Ashford
I'm sorry you had that experience. I mean, I was very unwell at the time. The next time, I did it, like, three months later to get my official, like, you're in the clear. You can get on longer flights again. It wasn't as bad, but I also thought maybe that was just because I knew what was coming.
- [10:49]
Sophia
You know, it could have been a combo platter. It could have been a little. It could have been a left leftover Covid in your pelvic region.
- [10:55]
Annaleigh Ashford
It could have just been. The high inflammation was dealing with. It made, like, warm feel like fire.
- [11:01]
Sophia
Do you know what else does that to you is magnesium pushes. Have you ever gotten a magnesium push?
- [11:06]
Annaleigh Ashford
Wait, no. But I got an NAD one.
- [11:08]
Sophia
How do you feel? I. That's the one thing I haven't done. What it feel like? Will you tell me?
- [11:12]
Annaleigh Ashford
Felt like someone put from, like, tit to tit rib cage, like, in a vise, and went. And I was like, oh, my God. Oh, my God. The chest compression is so crazy. But also, I went down a little bit of, like, a nerdy rabbit hole that whole fall, like, post being told I wasn't gonna die because I was like, well, I. I have to figure out how to, like, not to be one of those crazy, like, guys who's changing out his blood with his kids blood. I'm not, like, that. Nuts.
- [11:41]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [11:41]
Annaleigh Ashford
But I was like, there are. There definitely have to be advances in versions of, like, biohacking or cell therapy or whatever, like, the cool stuff they're doing in Switzerland. I was like, what are the things I could do here that won't bankrupt me, but that might help me, like, recover from this? And I did a lot of research on NAD and was like, yeah, I'll give this thing a try. And then I was like, oh, this is why people say, if. If you feel like you're having a cardiac arrest, tell us, and we'll slow down the drip. And I was like, I just don't know if I'm made for this stuff, you guys. Like, I was like, now I'm 40. I don't want to do. I don't want to touch it. But it was surreal.
- [12:17]
Sophia
I've taken it orally.
- [12:18]
Annaleigh Ashford
That sounds okay.
- [12:19]
Sophia
I've taken it orally. Just the pills, you know, like, with.
- [12:25]
Annaleigh Ashford
The lorazepam or separately.
- [12:27]
Sophia
Not at the same time.
- [12:28]
Annaleigh Ashford
Okay.
- [12:29]
Sophia
You know, sometimes if nobody was around, I'd take them at the same time. My lorazepam is usually like a night before bed situation when I'm having, like, bad anxiety and I can't sleep. I use it instead of, like a sleeping aid, and I take like a half of half. Like, I take such a low dose, and if it's. But I can tell if I'm really, like, really struggling, if I'm having, like, I'm gonna have a panic attack moment, then I'll take a full one and not pass out, which really means you needed it.
- [12:55]
Annaleigh Ashford
Wow. Because your adrenaline's really burning through it.
- [12:58]
Sophia
And then. But the nad. I didn't really. I just was taking it for immune system stuff. But I've never gotten the drip. I've never gotten a push. I've never gotten the iv.
- [13:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
And it was. It was. It was wild. Welcome to our medical show, everyone.
- [13:11]
Sophia
I know I literally. I could talk about the gut microbiome for the next hour if you want.
- [13:15]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, my God, me too. I have a. I have a friend who literally became a, like, an expert in it after a postpartum thing and, like, started one of, like, the best health companies in the world. Because she was just like, there have to be better options for moms than this. She's the coolest person I know. So I, Yeah, I ask her, like, all my nerdy questions about what is legit.
- [13:37]
Sophia
Do I have Candida? Do I have Sibo? Should I take probiotics? I should get a test, right? What. What should I do? Yeah.
- [13:44]
Annaleigh Ashford
She's always like, hey, just remember that anybody who's trying to sell you, like, 46 supplements is trying to profit off of your checkout of 46 items. I'm like, right, right, right.
- [13:54]
Sophia
Yeah. But also, when you go to certain health food stores, AKA Erewhon, sometimes in that aisle, I get, like, lost in good packaging. Yes.
- [14:06]
Annaleigh Ashford
The packaging for me.
- [14:08]
Sophia
Oh, God. I'll be like, I need this colostrum because it's in a beautiful bottle.
- [14:14]
Annaleigh Ashford
Okay. If you love packaging, there's a show that came out on Netflix many years ago called Abstract. Have you ever seen it?
- [14:21]
Sophia
I've heard about it.
- [14:22]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, it is my favorite show. Every episode, they profile an artist or a designer, and there's an episode on typography that literally, it's. It's like. It's like someone scratching an itch that your brain has wanted scratched for your whole life. It's so soothing and pleasurable. And gorgeous to look at that. That is my. That's my gift to you.
- [14:48]
Sophia
Okay.
- [14:48]
Annaleigh Ashford
I can't wait for today.
- [14:49]
Sophia
I'm excited about. I just was in DC For a day and I drove past a. Like a cleaning. Like a cleaners. It was just like a laundromat, but the advertise, like, their logo was so clean, gorgeous. Did you take a pig? I almost did, but I was like, what am I gonna do with this? Like, go start a cleaning company. Like a brand of laundromats that just have really good logo. But really then I had a whole thought process of sometimes we do pick a place for their logo, you know, because you're like, that looks like a really clean, lovely logo. So the place must be clean and lovely.
- [15:24]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah. Well, it's like, look how much they care about the details. I want people who care about details to that level to care about my details.
- [15:31]
Sophia
Thank you for figuring that out for me.
- [15:33]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah, I understand it. I. I'm one of those people who can't not take the picture and who also can't not take the screenshot to the point that when I realized I'd hit over 250,000 screenshots on my phone, I was like, I. I sat with myself for a minute. I was like, is this a thing I should address with my therapist?
- [15:55]
Sophia
I don't think so.
- [15:56]
Annaleigh Ashford
Or is that the most insufferable question I've ever asked myself in a sort of self inventory?
- [16:02]
Sophia
You know what I think it means you're an artist.
- [16:04]
Annaleigh Ashford
Thank you. Thank you for figuring that out for me.
- [16:10]
Sophia
It makes sense to me. I have screenshot stuff all the time. My husband does not. And he's sort of like, bewildered by why I do that. I also, you know when you have to go somewhere and you're. You need the information. You have a flight and you don't want to, like, open your email or open your app like 1800 times. Just screenshot it.
- [16:25]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, yeah. I always.
- [16:26]
Sophia
Right away.
- [16:27]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, the boarding.
- [16:27]
Sophia
Everybody do that? Yeah, done.
- [16:29]
Annaleigh Ashford
I screenshot the boarding pass and then favorite it. And it's my last thing in my favorites album done. So I have it one touch and then when I get on the plane, I delete it.
- [16:40]
Sophia
Are your pictures organized?
- [16:44]
Annaleigh Ashford
They really go in waves. I will be the most organized person. And then also the to do. To organize pile or cluster is also very overwhelming.
- [16:58]
Sophia
Yeah, me too.
- [16:59]
Annaleigh Ashford
But when I do it, I do it really well.
- [17:01]
Sophia
Good for you. I never do do that part well. Mine's just a big mess. It's just kind of bad.
- [17:06]
Annaleigh Ashford
Okay, so this is a thing. And I'm, I will be honest. I haven't been doing it every day, but a friend of mine started this on January 1st, and she's really good. She's doing it every day. And she said every single day starting for New Year's. Search the date in your phone. Okay, so you know today is April 15th. Plug in April 15th in your iPhotos and it will bring up every photo from every April 15th in your entire photo album. And then you can do a clean out.
- [17:37]
Sophia
That's a great way to clean.
- [17:39]
Annaleigh Ashford
I know. And she's been doing it every single day of the year, and I'm so enamored with it. But I was like, you know what? Even if I do it twice a week, it's more than I've done in the last 10 years.
- [17:48]
Sophia
Oh, my God, that's a great hack. Okay, I'm gonna take that because that will help me. I also, I just had a baby. I have a six month old, which is very fun. She's really silly, sweet. And then I have an 8 year old. But I have become that person that somebody's like, hey, let me see the baby. And I want to see, you know, your little boy Jack. And then I go, okay, hold on, help me find the picture. And I turn into, you know, like a 75 year old woman on my phone trying to find the picture and people waiting, you know, just.
- [18:17]
Annaleigh Ashford
Right. Because you also want to find the best picture.
- [18:20]
Sophia
Yeah, you know, I want to, I want to really show off her. Her little blonde roots that are coming in because she, she was born with dark hair and she is. Her hair. Usually their hair falls out and then they like have new hair that grows in. Hers did not fall out. And now she's got blonde roots.
- [18:39]
Annaleigh Ashford
She's got like a reverse dye job.
- [18:41]
Sophia
Yes. She looks like a guy who did like just for men and hasn't done his roots.
- [18:45]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, my God, I love that.
- [18:48]
Sophia
So I'm always trying to find like the picture that really shows her blonde roots.
- [18:51]
Annaleigh Ashford
That feels very spiritually aligned because you are one of the funniest people in our universe. So for you to have a baby with a reverse dye job that's also natural is like, it's chef's kiss to me. I love that.
- [19:06]
Sophia
It's so wacky.
- [19:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
You're like, oh, the universe really gave me a cookie here.
- [19:11]
Sophia
It's so funny. And she also has no idea. You know, she's just like smiling and living dreams. She's a baby. She's Living baby dreams. It's really. It's a look. It's a look.
- [19:22]
Annaleigh Ashford
I love it.
- [19:23]
Sophia
Yeah, she's funny.
- [19:24]
Annaleigh Ashford
And now a word from our sponsors who make this show possible.
- [19:31]
T Mobile Advertiser
Go almost everywhere with the podcasts you love on T Mobile's network. Because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch. Up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card. Last 15 days qualifying unlocked device, credit service port in 90 plus days. Device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required card is no cash access and expires in six months.
- [20:01]
Dutch Advertiser
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- [20:37]
Annaleigh Ashford
I hate when women get asked this question, but I'm also, I mean it genuinely because I'm fat. Fascinated with all the things that you have going on and especially like Broadway schedules. How do you, how do you do the thing and have the family?
- [20:57]
Sophia
Well, you know, eight shows a week is like no joke.
- [21:00]
Annaleigh Ashford
No, it's an artist. It's like a crazy mission.
- [21:04]
Sophia
I always say, you know, when I go back into TV film land, you know, when we have a big day or night shoots are crazy. That is a unique thing. But I still always say we don't have to sing. Like, we don't have to like hit a note that everybody knows you hit or you didn't. There's something like really vulnerable about being on stage, period, because you can't say, can we try again? But also sing. Singing in particular and dancing is. Because it's a, it's also, it's an athletic event, you know, and I, I've always loved the Olympics, but the older I get, the more I'm like, really? Oh, I also, you know, when, when a kicker goes to make the field goal in like a really high pressure situation and it doesn't go well, I almost can't look like, you know, feels like Opening night or something. It's like, very uncomfortable.
- [22:03]
Annaleigh Ashford
That makes me so uncomfortable. Like Adam Sandler movies. I love him. But if I'm watching an Adam Sandler movie at home, I have to pause it and go for a walk around the house and then come back. The secondhand embarrassment feeling, which is the whole point of that kind of comedy, right, Is like you're supposed to feel embarrassed by everything going wrong.
- [22:22]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [22:23]
Annaleigh Ashford
It is so physically almost painful for me.
- [22:27]
Sophia
Yes, I hear you.
- [22:29]
Annaleigh Ashford
And I thought about this a lot when I. Because I hadn't done a stage play, you know, in my adult career until I went and did this show I was telling you about on the West End. And I had days where I was like, I feel like I've been beaten.
- [22:45]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [22:46]
Annaleigh Ashford
It's like someone beat me in my sleep from my head to my toes. I don't know what's happening. And I would think about people like you and be like, what would I have. How would I do this? And be singing? Because I was just talking and then, you know, yelling and crying and having all sorts of insane physical experiences. But, like, I didn't have to sing.
- [23:06]
Sophia
They're all different. You know, I always just say it's like being like a basketball player or baseball players have to play every day, Basketball players have to play every day. You know, the same kind of thing. But you get. You get your endurance up, you train, and then there's also. It's a marathon. It's not a sprint, you know, but. And that's why your body hurts so bad. You're in this, like, long term event. You know, it's just. Sometimes it just feels like it goes on and such. It's such a gift. You have so much gratitude. You know, there's. It's always coupled with immense gratitude and joy and, you know, the communion that you have with the audience every night is magic. But there's definitely an emotional hangover and physical hangover every day. You know what I mean? You wake up, you're like, oh, you.
- [23:51]
Annaleigh Ashford
Know what helps me kind of understand it, Especially because you do feel like when you get to do this and you love your job so much, you always feel like anytime you voice any truth of anything that's difficult, you're like, but I love it.
- [24:04]
Sophia
Please don't think I just did it. I literally just did it.
- [24:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
But. But it's like, I know what that is, and I think what I. What has comforted me weirdly and this so revealing of the kind of nerd I was in school is understanding, like, the scientific theory of how every action has an equal and opposite reaction, like the idea of a pendulum swing. So I think if you're going to get that much joy from the art and the danger of, like, what's going to happen tonight and the experience, like you're saying that you have with the audience, the. The equal and opposite reaction is like, sometimes you wake up and you're like, who ran me over with a Mack truck in my sleep last night?
- [24:45]
Sophia
Totally. You know, the other part of it, my husband did this play, he's done it twice now, where he plays a guy who. Who hits rock bottom and then ultimately gets sober. And it's about addiction, and it's this great play called the White Chip. And he played. Played this really intense arc, you know, and also, he spoke nonstop. He was just basically talking for 90 minutes straight. And one of our friends who's a fantastic actress, Crystal Dickinson, she was like, joe, you know that you're not playing that part, but your body doesn't know that you're not playing that part.
- [25:19]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [25:20]
Sophia
So you know that great book, the Body Keeps the Score?
- [25:22]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yes.
- [25:23]
Sophia
You know, that's actually great. Such a beautiful book. And sometimes I think it's a great book for actors to read because it's a really, like, healthy reminder that you do indeed need rest, because you're putting your body through this marathon, not only physically, but, like, emotionally. I'm really steadfast in, like, we leave it at the door when we leave. You know, leave it. Leave it at your trailer when you walk. You know, when you walk away. And I really believe in, like, the separation of it. Like, I loved. One of the things I loved about severance when it came out was that it, like, helped me explain actor brain. You know, really, it's like kind of like severance.
- [26:05]
Annaleigh Ashford
You're like.
- [26:06]
Sophia
You become a different person for a little bit, and then you got to be like. And come back to you. You can't, like, live in it. You can't sit in that, especially when you're playing the dark stuff.
- [26:14]
Annaleigh Ashford
Totally. But you're right. Your body doesn't know the difference. So if you film a scene where your partner or your sibling dies for eight hours on set one day, like, it's in your body, and you got to figure out how to get it out of your body and also not apologize for how insane it sounds to say, oh, this trauma is in my body.
- [26:36]
Sophia
Totally. The certain scores, too. And musicals stay inside your bones in a way that you're like, why am I. Why do I feel so heavy. Like when we were doing Sunday in the park with George. The score is one of the best scores that's ever been written, in my opinion. But it's also. Half of it's in minor. It doesn't really resolve until the last song. There's this beautiful chord that resolves, and it's kind of when the piece resolves. So the majority of the play, you're kind of living in this. There's a chord that's repeated over and over again. It's in. It's A minor.
- [27:11]
Annaleigh Ashford
So it's uncomfortable and it's, like, tense.
- [27:15]
Sophia
Sounds simple to just say it's sad, but it's, like, very. It's like, melancholy. And then the last song of the first act and the second act, it's called Sunday, and it's a. It's a funeral march, which is also, like, beautiful, but, you know, it's melancholy.
- [27:34]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [27:34]
Sophia
Sad. It's sad. So it stays in your bones. It stays in your guts.
- [27:38]
Annaleigh Ashford
It really does. How do you. How do you work on processing that out? Like, when you talk about the severance experience and you and your husband both, you know, do this job, so thank God someone gets your. Your thing when you come home. But how have you kind of figured out in your personal life and your individual life how to shake all those cobwebs and cords out of your body?
- [28:05]
Sophia
I disassociate.
- [28:07]
Annaleigh Ashford
Cool. I did that for a really long time.
- [28:11]
Sophia
It's really healthy.
- [28:13]
Annaleigh Ashford
No, I used to sort of wear it as a badge of honor. I'd be like, right. Gets to me. And then eventually I was like, this is deeply, emotionally unhealthy.
- [28:20]
Sophia
You're like, I'm exploding. I don't know why that's so weird.
- [28:24]
Annaleigh Ashford
That I woke up and I don't know whose life I'm living or who lives in my house with me. I don't know why this happened.
- [28:32]
Sophia
I mean, you know, that's one way I. A long time ago, I watched this great interview that Emma Thompson did on Larry King, and she explains that she liked the game of being able to walk on and pop right in. Like, walk right on stage and be able to be right in. Like, do enough homework that you can slip in and slip out, like, really with ease. And so, really, like, the goal is to have as much homework as you can done and also flexibility. For me, I find that if all the homework is there and I'm in a safe environment, then I feel comfortable being really flexible and I can kind of slide in and out, and I make Myself kind of slide in and out. So if we're doing something really dark, I kind of give the crew and everybody there, like, a breath to know that they can laugh, that we can joke around, like, let's have some light. But that doesn't work for everybody. So I'm, like, really careful, making sure. Kind of what the other actors need. But I sometimes need that because I'm such an empath. But I can feel the crew, and I feel like what everybody else is kind of navigating, and I don't want them to be in a state for five hours where they feel like they have to be silent and walk on it, you know, I don't know. There's something kind of about the energy of the whole day that feels lighter and brighter if we can all laugh. Like, we need to be reverent of whatever we're working on in the moment. But I always think back to that amazing interview that Emma Thompson did, and I just kind of want to be like her. So I kind of. I. Like, this is going to sound insane, but I play, like, a little game with myself. I'm like, okay, when can you slip out? Can you slip back in? Like, how can you weave in and out of character? Like, basically, can you go through the severance elevator? But that doesn't always, like, make sense for everybody. So I don't. I kind of take a tip from whoever I'm working with and kind of navigate around them as well. What do you do?
- [30:40]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, that's really cool. I think I'm always kind of learning, you know? Me too. I feel like part of the goal, right, of being alive is to learn more and navigate better. And, like, the. The thing I've really been kind of meditating on, and I didn't have the language for it when I turned 30. I think I discovered the language for it when I turned 40. And I realized it's been this exploration over the last 10 years is how to hold more and more things to be true at the same time. So to be able to say, the set I'm on, let's say we're doing a movie together. Our set is incredibly safe and it's dangerous. Yeah, it has to be. So we can be in the scene. You know, I am completely in control, and I am completely out of control. Control in this space. I've done all my homework so I can slip in. And also, I don't know what the going on. And I could be surprised, like, yeah, and. And, you know, I can. In my personal world, in activism, I can hold things I know to be true to be true. I. E. What makes democracy work and what doesn't. Social science data matters. Like, kids do better when they have lunch at school. Defunding school lunches is psychotic. And I have to figure out why someone who is pro defunding school lunches got that way. And I have to be able to listen to what they believe to be true so that I can then have a conversation with them rather than an argument. And. And maybe we come to a new thing instead of we get in a fight. And then they never want to change their mind, you know, so it's like that there's something about that for me. And so the way I think about it is like, every year I want to feel like I've learned more and shifted my capability or expanded my opinion or tolerance or whatever. But also it's weird because it's like sometimes I find that the interest in so many things and wanting to take a cue from my coworkers or my crew means that I start thinking about what everybody else is doing and what everybody else needs and making sure everybody else has everything that is going to make their day go great. And then I realize I haven't done anything for myself.
- [33:03]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [33:03]
Annaleigh Ashford
And so it's like, I don't know, it's a bit like being in, like, the spin cycle, but I think if I can stay aware of it, at least I can sort of stay on top of the water.
- [33:14]
Sophia
Totally. You know, as you were saying all of that, the first thing I thought of was my husband says two things can be true at the same time all the time. And it's actually like. It's a great way to argue with somebody. As you said, it's a great way to resolve. It's a great way to reset. And it's also a great way to have common ground and also keep a conversation going. And then the other thing that you just said as you were talking, I had a realization that my whole explanation was about people pleasing and just making everybody else feel good. Yeah. You know, sometimes in the one thing about what we do for a living, which is super fun and all the things, but it is also navigating personalities. Constant. It's a. It's a really social profession. And sometimes it's just easier when everybody's happy or it's easier when everybody. Buddy. Is having a better day. It's easier when the vibe is good. I would say that that's true for any. Anybody's job. Yeah. And sometimes I think, unfortunately, when you should be able to just invest in the scene and be completely focused on that. Sometimes you can't. You have to.
- [34:35]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [34:35]
Sophia
Also be wearing other hats. And sometimes I think that that makes my job easier to make everybody else happy. But really, now that I'm listening to myself, I'm like, I'm just people pleasing and making people happy.
- [34:47]
Annaleigh Ashford
Well, but I think it's both.
- [34:49]
Sophia
Two things can be true at the same time.
- [34:51]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah, they sure can. I think the thing about it is my natural instinct is to make sure everybody else is good first. I'm trying to learn to also make sure I'm good in that first pass.
- [35:08]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [35:09]
Annaleigh Ashford
And. And I think there's something interesting too. Right. Like, the longer you do this job, the, the more gratitude you have for the, the, you know, relative success you have. Then it's like if. If a new kid comes on set and isn't checking on every department head, nobody expects them to. They're like, do you even know what a department head is?
- [35:30]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [35:30]
Annaleigh Ashford
But when you've been doing this as long as we have, if you don't, it's kind of like, whoa, yes. Actor with an attitude. And you're like, no, I'm just. I have to deliver like a two page monologue today. And I'm running my lines in my head. I'm so sorry. I'm not actually not thinking about what you need. I just don't want to waste your time.
- [35:47]
Sophia
Yes.
- [35:48]
Annaleigh Ashford
So again, it's spin cycle stuff. And I think a lot about. When I thought about it a lot, getting ready for today because you have such an amazing career from, like, Broadway to film to tv, you know, it's crazy to think that you wanted Tony in 2015. Like, talk about the spin cycle of. You've got so many irons in the fire. When you look back at sort of all these spaces you've worked in and different environments, like, is there a mentor who stands out to you? Is there. Is there a kind of advice? You know, whether it's how to stay focused as an actor or I don't know how to, like, not lose your mind on location. Like, what are, what are the standouts for you? When you kind of look back and you realize what your biggest sort of inspirations or maybe nuggets of wisdom are for the. For the next chapter.
- [36:46]
Sophia
Well, that was really nice of you to talk about my career that way. Also, I like to play it in the mic like this.
- [36:52]
Annaleigh Ashford
Amazing.
- [36:52]
Sophia
I like to say, you have had.
- [36:53]
Annaleigh Ashford
A really amazing career. Congratulations.
- [36:56]
Sophia
I'm just. Hey, I'm Just really happy that I've gotten to work. You know, I always love when people are like, so how did you choose this role? I'm always like, I know. Is that a. Like, you know, we answer that question a lot, too. Like, we chose it. Most time actors don't choose what they're doing. Most of the time. We really. That's like the. That would be the dream, you know. Well, that is the dream. Some people do. And I think you, yes, you do choose the things you get to work on because you say yes or no, but the majority of your career is you seeking out work. And also, I just think it's so rare that we get to go, yes, I will bless you with my blessings. You know, it's usually like a collab. It's a collaborative art form. So I think it comes together as collaboration as well, too.
- [37:45]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah, I like that.
- [37:46]
Sophia
So the few jobs that I have just been offered in my life, oh, it's felt like a miracle.
- [37:51]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [37:51]
Sophia
You know, and with the moment that I got to choose for the first time, it was like. It also felt really scary. You're like, I get to choose. This feels crazy. But on that note, the people that I've learned from, I learned from everybody that I ever work with, whether it's a good experience or a bad experience, because there's always something to learn. But I just recently got to go to James Earl Jones's memorial, which was like. Like theater church. It was so beautiful. It was really overwhelming and, you know, felt like the end of an era in so many ways. He felt like somebody who was just going to live forever to me, and he will live forever. The thing that he taught me while working was something that you said earlier is he was the forever student. He was always learning. He was always finding something new in the play. Up until the last weekend, he brought me and Christine Nilsson, who played my mom, into his dressing room. And he was like, I would like to try something new in the scene that comes right after you enter. And, you know, he had had an idea that he wanted to try. We had four performances left. Wow. He would run scenes from Othello with my husband in his dressing room on Thursday afternoons at, like, halfway through the run, he was like, I'd like to run these scenes with you. I always, you know, wanted to work on them again. I never quite cracked them. They've just, you know, the poetry's always been a thorn in my side. There were things about that piece that he wanted to revisit. So he just, like, came in and worked on them. Talk about a forever student. And then the other person who also just recently passed and I thought would just live forever was Linda Lavin. She like, was so, such a dear friend and so funny and warm and hilarious. You know, she was such a, such a legend, but also such a pro. And the way she would walk onto the set of a multicam was like, ready or not, here comes Mama. That is her medium. And she didn't like the back of her hand, but she could make you laugh and still be honest at the same time. But what she taught me was I'd have a couple rough moments here or there and I'd come in her dressing room and we would talk about Al Anon together. She was a big Al Anon person and I'm an Al Anon person. And we would talk about forgiveness and letting things go. And I think that's a. Forgiveness is something that we don't talk enough about in the workspace. Whether it be our business that we're in or every workspace. You have to be able to like let go and let God and move on and forgive people and reset. You have to really be able to reset without holding on to resentment. So I would say, you know, those two were great teachers.
- [40:52]
Annaleigh Ashford
Wow, that's so cool. And now a word from our wonderful sponsors.
- [40:59]
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- [41:29]
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- [42:05]
Annaleigh Ashford
What made you want to shift from all these mediums to to come into this new space and do Happy Face. Like, where did it come from when.
- [42:20]
Sophia
Somebody says, do you want to come do this job?
- [42:22]
Annaleigh Ashford
You're like, yeah, that's one of those.
- [42:25]
Sophia
I know. You know, well, I. I'm so lucky. I've kind of been. I'm. I've been an actor who. People often connect me with whatever they saw me in Last, which is actually like sort of the greatest gift. You know, they kind of just, you know, some people think of me as Buddy and Masters of Sex, and some people are like, oh, I saw you play Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd or, you know, dot and whatever. Yeah, they saw me in Kinky Boots or. Or they saw me positive, whatever. But these are all, like, really different kinds of shows. Like, they've all been really, really different pieces tonally genre, you know, some are comedy, some are drama. And then, yeah, like a crime drama. There's levity. Michael Showalter directed it and he's so funny and great. So he gave. He really set the tone for us and gave us a breath of dark comedy, which I think was important for the piece. But, yeah, I was. Hey, it's fantastic. True story. With a great character with an incredible conflict, and she's really vulnerable and cannot not be vulnerable. There's nothing better playing a character that's just like the grim circumstances will just forever be complicated and uncomfortable for her. So she's going to be vulnerable.
- [43:44]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah. It's like she can't hold it back.
- [43:46]
Sophia
Yeah. I mean, if you had a father who was a serial killer, that would just be a conflict that just never ends.
- [43:52]
Annaleigh Ashford
I literally can't imagine. Okay, will you tell the folks at home who are like, what are they talking about? What is Happy Face in case they've been living under a rock? Can you give them the log line?
- [44:04]
Sophia
Yes. There was a real life serial killer in the 90s called the Happy Face Murderer, and his daughter came out as his daughter and has become an advocate for folks who've been touched by the trauma of true crime. And so this is. This is the telling of her story. Her story is. Is all based on true events. But we've really wanted to be respectful of the victims involved in the real life crime. So the crime elements are fictionalized.
- [44:34]
Annaleigh Ashford
Okay. So they're inspired by things that have happened, but then fictionalized so that it doesn't drudge up sort of historical trauma for people who've survived or for surviving family.
- [44:46]
Sophia
Absolutely. And, you know, one of the things that I think the show reminds us is not only are we unaware of all of the Victims and the victims families. When we consume true crime, you know, as the. You know, the way that we do in pop culture, me included. And why do we like to watch them? Like, what. What's. Why do we like true crime?
- [45:11]
Annaleigh Ashford
Right.
- [45:12]
Sophia
If you think about it, it's mystery. We want to know who solved it, you know, like, who did it, and then we want to know why and how, because it helps keep us safer, helps protect us from it happening to us. And then also, I think one of the questions that my character and the real life Melissa grapples with is why and how and if it happened to somebody that is related to you, can it happen to you? You know? And, yeah, she carries around this, like, bag of guilt and shame for the rest of her life because of something that her father did, not because of something she did.
- [45:50]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah. What. What has it been like to get to know Melissa more because she. She is the woman that you portray. Have. Have you two been able to just sit and kind of unpack those things together? Or does that feel too intimate to you? And are you like, I want to have a dinner, but I don't want to know, so I don't drive myself crazy. Like, how do you thread that needle as a performer?
- [46:15]
Sophia
Well, as, you know, most of the. Most of your information you should hopefully be able to get from the script. And if you don't, that's when you go looking out elsewhere. So I really had everything I needed in the script. And so when we first started working, you know, our incredible showrunner Junkassiccio was like, do you want to talk to Melissa? And she was like, I also have letters. I have all the letters that her. Her dad sent her, which are a big part of our story, which. Side note, this is crazy. Jen had all of her letters, had all of Melissa's letters. Our showrunner had all of the real Melissa Moore's letters from her dad from prison.
- [46:52]
Annaleigh Ashford
Whoa.
- [46:53]
Sophia
In her house in Altadena. And her house burned down.
- [46:56]
Annaleigh Ashford
No.
- [46:57]
Sophia
So when we started doing the press tour, she had to tell Melissa, I have to tell you, all of your letters were in my house, and they're gone. And Melissa was like, you know, that's actually a relief because I never knew what to do with him. This was such a conflict for me, which is really the inner struggle, the inner conflict of my character throughout the series, not just this season, is, what do you do when you love the memory of the man before he was the monster? What do you do with that? What do you do with that trauma? So how about Isn't that crazy? So anyways, I actually. When I would look at those letters, I started to read some of them, and I went, you know, I actually don't need to read this. It felt like I was, like, looking into somebody's drawers that I didn't need to look into. And also, Melissa and I actually didn't connect before, and I almost was relieved because I knew that we would connect on the other side. And during the press tour, I learned so much from her about the machine of true crime and how it affects real people and how every time one of these shows happens, how it can re. Traumatize, you know, families on both side of the courthouse. And we just. We learned so much from her. But I. But I actually didn't need. Didn't need that before we started.
- [48:16]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, well, yeah. I almost imagine it allowed you to have your own journey and experience without the pressure of trying to also carry someone else's.
- [48:26]
Sophia
Yeah. I mean, you know, you also. You feel a responsibility to. To share their story with compassion. And her advocacy work was really important to us.
- [48:39]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [48:40]
Sophia
And also she's got great empathy in the way that she talks to victims. So that was really important. But that's beautiful. Yeah. Wild story.
- [48:49]
Annaleigh Ashford
Something I thought was so cool that you said, talking about this was that, yes, it's a true crime show, but it's really a different kind of take. You. You said in another interview that it doesn't glorify the killer or show any acts of violence against women. And that was such a light bulb for me. I was like, that's so important, because whether we realize it or not, these. These things we show, these reenactments that are on so many shows, you know, in this genre, they. They show things. They normalize by nature. You watch something and you become desensitized in a way, even if you're shocked or scared or whatever. Do you think now that, you know, you're on the other side of so much of that press tour and everything, has it made you think about the ways we approach these stories and maybe how we should think about the way we engage with true crime?
- [49:51]
Sophia
It has absolutely changed the way that I consume true crime.
- [49:55]
Annaleigh Ashford
Wow.
- [49:56]
Sophia
It has. You know, we know that it's real people, but we don't know it's real people. We're not really acknowledging it. It's just another way that we're consuming entertainment. And most of the shows in this genre are through the male lens. There are oftentimes, even from the serial killer's point of view, we spend a lot of time with the killer, why, how, where, and we're never really with a female point of view in this world. And then the other thing that was really unique about the show is it's a show about violence with no violence. We don't see dead bodies all over the forest. That's always a relief to not have to see a dead girl, girl in the, in the forest. You know, you're not gonna see that on our show. You hear about it, which is maybe even sometimes more uncomfortable in some ways. But you. But I think that there's no way around that because it's a reminder that this person did these horrific things to women. And the way he talks about them is so flippant and disgusting. But again, it's. I think it's a show that is trying to give back agency to women in a. In a space where men have had it all. You know, they've been the detectives, they've been the killers.
- [51:16]
Annaleigh Ashford
Right?
- [51:17]
Sophia
Really, the women have just been the victims and the family.
- [51:19]
Annaleigh Ashford
Right. And now for our sponsors.
- [51:23]
T Mobile Advertiser
Go almost everywhere with the podcasts you love on T Mobile's network. Because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card is no cash access and expires in six months.
- [51:53]
Dutch Advertiser
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- [52:27]
Annaleigh Ashford
What was it like to unpack this stuff with Dennis Quaid? Because you know he's got to play your father, which means he has to play this man you're talking about, you know, this person who speaks about women so flippantly and was so violent toward them. Like, were there ever days where he just said, I really hate this. You know, how do you, as actors, figure that out.
- [52:51]
Sophia
He was very clear right. When we started working on this that he wanted to make sure that there would be no glorification of this man. And I think that's why he was interested in working on it, because, you know, it's her story, it's not his. He's very outspoken about that. When we talk about the show, he's like, this is not my story. This is Melissa's story.
- [53:18]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [53:20]
Sophia
And I also think the two of us had a really natural, easy chemistry. You know, I keep saying, like, we always talk about the chemistry that you have with actors when you're playing, like, romantic scenes with them, but we forget about. Like, you need chemistry when you're playing friends with people, and you really need a unique chemistry to play family with somebody. And they have this totally complicated, uncomfortable father, daughter relationship. But it was really easy for us. It was just like, you could feel that there was love right away, which was great because that's the thing that she has to fight and that's the conflict. So, yeah, he was such a great casting choice because he's so charming and naturally likable, and he's still really vulnerable in moments, which he could have just played it like a, you know, like a psychopath. But psychopaths are also complicated. That's what makes them interesting to watch.
- [54:25]
Annaleigh Ashford
Well, and how cool to have a. An actor who really wanted to help an audience understand why people were charmed by this man, why it took so long, probably to catch him, why, you know, all of these things. It's like, weirdly, in order to do Melissa's story, the service it deserves, her father has to be played.
- [54:46]
Sophia
Well, absolutely. Yeah. You don't understand her conflict if you don't like him a little bit.
- [54:53]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [54:54]
Sophia
Which is also makes you feel uncomfortable.
- [54:56]
Annaleigh Ashford
It makes me uncomfortable. No, it makes me feel icky, really.
- [54:59]
Sophia
At the end of it, it makes you question, what would you do if your parent or your sibling or your spouse or your child or your friend, what would you do if somebody did something like this? I can't imagine you would blame a part of yourself. You would forever live with shame. You would forever live with guilt, and you would forever want to be of service to the people that he affected and the victim's families, you know, which is what this woman has done. She's become an advocate.
- [55:29]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yes, absolutely. Wow. It's pretty amazing. And I'm so glad that, you know, despite what a. What a strange world it is to dip into, it's been such a positive experience. I Want to ask you something completely opposite for, you know, our aforementioned need for levity, because it's a heavy chat.
- [55:47]
Sophia
Yeah. You want to take a left turn. Two things can be true at the same time.
- [55:50]
Annaleigh Ashford
Totally. We can be very vulnerable and also very silly. I getting away from true crime, but in the reality genre. I know you are a very big Bravo fan.
- [56:04]
Sophia
Yeah. What do you want to talk about?
- [56:05]
Annaleigh Ashford
I just want to know, like, what your favorite Bravo show is right now.
- [56:12]
Sophia
Well, Beverly Hills. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is always a highlight, but I would also say, I think that Summer House is giving us a nice run right now because the Paige and Craig breakup, we've been watching it play out both in Southern Charm and now in Summer House. And to watch it from.
- [56:32]
Annaleigh Ashford
It goes across shows.
- [56:33]
Sophia
Yeah. Craig knew nothing was happening. And then you watch Summer House, and you're like, craig, how did you not know? Paige was clearly, like, not doing well last summer and not happy with you, and you had no idea there were cracks that he did not see.
- [56:46]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, boy.
- [56:47]
Sophia
Also, I love, love New Jersey. We'll always love New Jersey. And Salt Lake City has become one of the tops. Like, Salt Lake City is kind of wild.
- [56:56]
Annaleigh Ashford
Everybody says that. But Salt Lake City, great.
- [56:59]
Sophia
No, that's okay. That's okay. It's not everybody's thing. Do you watch the Traders?
- [57:03]
Annaleigh Ashford
No.
- [57:04]
Sophia
Do you watch any reality tv?
- [57:06]
Annaleigh Ashford
I watch home shows.
- [57:07]
Sophia
I watch home shows, too. Hey, it's not everybody's thing. It's how I disassociate.
- [57:12]
Annaleigh Ashford
Well, here's the thing. I. It's one of those things that I know the world is so big that it feels daunting to start. I totally get it through friends, I. I know little bits and pieces of the drama, and then I do have a friend who will be like, you don't need to watch anything, but you need to watch this TikTok so you understand what everyone on the Internet is talking about.
- [57:32]
Sophia
Yeah. Like, Vanderpump rules, probably. Yeah.
- [57:35]
Annaleigh Ashford
So now I'm in this space where I'm like, but I want more. I'm scared to give it to myself because I think then I might really go down the rabbit hole. But I have a friend who's also a huge Bravo fan who will just voice memo me catchphrases.
- [57:51]
Sophia
Amazing. So that you're just up to date. Yeah.
- [57:53]
Annaleigh Ashford
On a random day, I get an in this town. And it makes me laugh.
- [57:59]
Sophia
I mean, the one I feel. Well, what I will say is that I think you should maybe go back and watch Vanderpump. Rules, like the last four seasons.
- [58:08]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, okay.
- [58:09]
Sophia
Just the last four seasons. It's a delightful treat. And it's also now parts of it are like being in pop culture. You know what I mean? Like, I did not want to watch the Traders, and then I was like, oh, now it's become a pop culture thing. Now I have to watch.
- [58:25]
Annaleigh Ashford
It's kind of everywhere.
- [58:27]
Sophia
It's kind of. Do you watch Drag Race?
- [58:29]
Annaleigh Ashford
I do.
- [58:29]
Sophia
Okay. So Drag Race is one that I would dip in and out of throughout the years.
- [58:35]
Annaleigh Ashford
So that's what I was gonna say. I go in and out. Sometimes I'm all in. And then there's seasons I haven't scene. I need to.
- [58:41]
Sophia
Really, it's fine.
- [58:42]
Annaleigh Ashford
Okay.
- [58:43]
Sophia
I went back after I had Lucy. Yeah, you. When you're nursing, you're kind of, like, stuck in one spot, and sometimes you're just like, oh, God, you can't really get anything done. So I was like, you know what? I'm gonna get done. I'm gonna watch every episode of Drag Race that's ever happened.
- [58:57]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, my God, how fun.
- [58:59]
Sophia
It was so, so fun. It was a blast. And I'm like, so up to date on Drag Race that I can really talk about anything related. But anyways, that was a fun one to go back and watch from the very beginning, because also, you know, in 2010 or nine, I don't know when did it start? Like, 2009 or something, that, like, glossy camera thing that they did on America's Next Top Model. It was MTV at the time, so it still is mtv. You know, it's changed networks throughout the years, but they have that. That funny, like, it's just so funny. And then everybody's like, outfits that they were wearing, like, their street wear was crazy, you know, wow, fashion has changed in not that long of time. And also it was like, almost 20 years ago. What?
- [59:47]
Annaleigh Ashford
No, it feels like yesterday and also, like another millennia. And it's upsetting.
- [59:52]
Sophia
It makes me, like, feel like I need to wear, like, low rise jeans with a. With a tank top.
- [59:59]
Annaleigh Ashford
I just think I'm never gonna go back. I missed. I didn't know how much I missed the top half of my pants until I got it and then was like, oh, I'm never gonna give this back to you.
- [60:09]
Sophia
Do you have a high butt crack?
- [60:11]
Annaleigh Ashford
I don't think so.
- [60:12]
Sophia
You would know. I don't either. My best friend Craig has a very high butt crack.
- [60:18]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, so he could never wear the low rise jeans.
- [60:20]
Sophia
Well, not a good moment for him. He just always had butt Crack out. We recently, I was like, your butt crack is hanging out and your pants are hot. Like, you have the highest butt crack of anybody I know.
- [60:30]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, not in a low rise.
- [60:33]
Sophia
No. He just has a very high butt crack. That's just a fun thing to look out for. Do you have a high butt crack or a low butt crack?
- [60:41]
Annaleigh Ashford
Feels like a late night infomercial. You can sue.
- [60:45]
Sophia
You know what we should put it in? We should put it in SkyMall. Some underwear for people with high butt cracks.
- [60:51]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yes.
- [60:52]
Sophia
Do you have a high butt crack? We've got some underwear for you.
- [60:55]
Annaleigh Ashford
So niche. It's probably a billion dollar idea. You just did a Judy Garland puppet impression.
- [61:05]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [61:05]
Annaleigh Ashford
So on. Watch what happens live.
- [61:07]
Sophia
It's so weird.
- [61:08]
Annaleigh Ashford
How long have you been a puppeteer?
- [61:12]
Sophia
This was a character that was created. New World Plaza.
- [61:16]
Annaleigh Ashford
How did you.
- [61:17]
Sophia
Do you know how it. Where it happened?
- [61:19]
Annaleigh Ashford
No.
- [61:19]
Sophia
Somehow I was with my friends, and we were like. Somebody was like, you do the worst impression of Eliza Minnelli I've ever seen. And I was like, I know. You know, my Liza Minnelli impression is like, if puppet Judy came back from the dead or if Judy Garland came back from the dead as the puppet. That's my. That's what my Liza Minnelli is.
- [61:37]
Annaleigh Ashford
It's really came from Liza.
- [61:40]
Sophia
The origin story of Papa Judy is Liza.
- [61:42]
Annaleigh Ashford
Again, niche.
- [61:44]
Sophia
Again, niche. I know.
- [61:47]
Annaleigh Ashford
I love it.
- [61:48]
Sophia
That's some gay magic right there.
- [61:50]
Annaleigh Ashford
It sure is. Oh, my God. I want to be in the room for the next one.
- [61:55]
Sophia
Well, Judy makes an appearance. Judy loves to make an appearance. She sounds like she's had a laraza pain in the prepping at the same time.
- [62:06]
Annaleigh Ashford
I was gonna say, it sounds like Judy's really been hitting the watch what happens live bar. Whoever's back there mixing martinis for her has.
- [62:13]
Sophia
Oh, sweet.
- [62:14]
Annaleigh Ashford
Done it right. Sweet.
- [62:15]
Sophia
It was. It was like. It was like the Judy Garland show. Judy. You know, like, last five years Judy. Poor Judy.
- [62:21]
Annaleigh Ashford
Poor, poor, sweet Judy.
- [62:23]
Sophia
Poor Judy. Oh, I know. It makes me. The last five years Judy. What if Judy did the last five years? Nobody wants to. Nobody wants to see that.
- [62:32]
Annaleigh Ashford
Nobody wants to see it. Put it away.
- [62:33]
Sophia
Put it away.
- [62:34]
Annaleigh Ashford
Don't mind me saying that. Well, the show is amazing. There's so many wonderful things happening in your life. You probably have a million things coming down the pipeline. What when you kind of look around and think about the rest of the year, what feels like your work in progress?
- [62:56]
Sophia
My work in progress is, I would say, making sure that I say yes to myself and take care of myself. So I'm getting a second chance at being a mom with a newborn again. You know, I had a little boy eight years ago. And when you have a little person that you're taking care of, not just a little person, it can be any person in your life that you're taking care of. If you have a partner, if you have, you know, if you have a roommate. Like, we take a lot of care of a lot of people, but one of those people that it doesn't take as good of care of myself. And what I mean by that is, like, I'm good at taking my vitamins and drinking my water, but I don't always say what I need. And I just took something from our conversation about you saying, you know, I'm trying to learn, and I'm learning and learning every day and talking about James and talking about sweet Linda and kind of the students of life, not just our craft, that they were like. The lesson that I take away from this conversation today was when you were asking me about my process, and I said, well, I basically put everybody first and make sure that it feels good for everybody else before it feels good for myself. So that's something I'm working on. It's like telling people what I need and telling myself what I need, because I think that's actually something I'm missing. So, yeah, I think that's gonna be kind of one of the goals of the year. We gotta take care of mama.
- [64:25]
Annaleigh Ashford
You gotta take care. Put your oxygen mask on before your neighbor.
- [64:30]
Sophia
Mama.
- [64:30]
Annaleigh Ashford
Mama.
- [64:31]
Sophia
Mama.
- [64:31]
Annaleigh Ashford
Mama.
- [64:32]
Sophia
We're seeing Gypsy this week, actually, on that note. I know. Can't wait. I'm so excited. It's my favorite. It's one of my favorite shows. I think it's in my top five very favorite shows.
- [64:41]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, my goodness.
- [64:42]
Sophia
You ever seen it?
- [64:43]
Annaleigh Ashford
I have not seen it in so long that you're making me realize I should probably go see Audra new run production.
- [64:51]
Sophia
Yes. I can't wait to see Audra Be mama. Ready or not, here comes mama.
- [65:00]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, it's gonna be amazing. Well, let's go see some theater plan.
- [65:03]
Sophia
For you for the next year.
- [65:04]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, my goodness. I don't totally know.
- [65:10]
Sophia
It's like, you know, we're in the, like, I don't know what's happening moment.
- [65:14]
Annaleigh Ashford
Well, we've been in the I don't know what's happening.
- [65:16]
Sophia
I know.
- [65:16]
Annaleigh Ashford
And also in our, like, industry for so many years now. I'm like, oh, guys, try not to.
- [65:23]
Sophia
Be in fear space.
- [65:24]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah, I'm trying to be in abundance. I have a thing in development with some friends. I am working on getting this like really funny queer rom com off the ground with a great comedian that I know. I have a movie coming out in June and. Yeah. And I'm going to do like my favorite nerdy time. I'm guest directing a documentary film festival, Memorial Day.
- [65:52]
Sophia
Amazing. That's so cool.
- [65:54]
Annaleigh Ashford
So I'm like very amped about that and yeah, just kind of leaning into the. To your point, like to things that feel joyful and, and being excited about like the rooms, the people, the learning. I think the thing I've begun learning about how obsessed with work and productivity I learned to be when it became a badge of honor because I was working on a show and like 17 hour days were exhausting. So we had to be convinced they were amazing and like a proof of our dedication, you know. Now I'm starting to try to learn how to really love my days even when they're not like overly adrenalized and exhausting.
- [66:41]
Sophia
Yeah.
- [66:42]
Annaleigh Ashford
And so I'm. I'm overwhelmed by all the things I'm doing in a way. But I also realize, you know, at 6:00 on many days now, I can turn it off and I just have never had that before. And I'm trying to think of that as a privilege rather than to be worried that I'm not doing enough.
- [67:04]
Sophia
Amen.
- [67:05]
Annaleigh Ashford
Yeah.
- [67:05]
Sophia
Yes. Enjoy. Six o'clock. Go to Erewhon and buy $50 worth of dinner.
- [67:11]
Annaleigh Ashford
Hottest club in LA. Did you see that TikTok that went around about the $20 strawberry? The single strawberry at Erewhon in a plastic container. I was like, we've. We've jumped the shark.
- [67:22]
Sophia
You were like, this is crazy. We've jumped the shock. What's it taste like?
- [67:25]
Annaleigh Ashford
Well, yeah, I was like, clearly I want one, but I'm not going to be that person. It's like I've also always wanted to go to space, but I'm not going for 11 minutes in the middle of a recession.
- [67:34]
Sophia
Totally agree with you. We get to the. Thank you too for claiming that it's a recession. Thank you.
- [67:40]
Annaleigh Ashford
What are we doing? What are we doing?
- [67:42]
Sophia
I completely agree. It feels like upside down world. Yes, I do. There are times I love you, Erewhon, but when I go to your produce section, I'm like, I'll see you later. I will go get the other things, but I will go get that weird key lime pie that's made out of coconut and I don't know how it tastes like key lime pie. But it has an aftertaste that reminds you that it's not key lime pieces. But I will not buy your 15 grapes.
- [68:03]
Annaleigh Ashford
No. It's like there are things that I really want from there. And then I also am the person that's like, I'm not gonna pay that for blueberries. I'll go to the farmer's market on Sunday.
- [68:16]
Sophia
Yes. Yeah. For sure. Yeah, I know.
- [68:19]
Annaleigh Ashford
And that's where my Judy comes out. I'm not paying for those berries.
- [68:25]
Sophia
She would have been like, bears. I don't even know what we have. Bears. I haven't had Bears since 1945.
- [68:31]
Annaleigh Ashford
I live on vodka and a prayer.
- [68:34]
Sophia
That's right. Let me over 600 volcano my call it a day.
- [68:41]
Annaleigh Ashford
Oh, my God, I love it. Thank you for today. Congrats on the show. I'm amped for you.
- [68:47]
Sophia
Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Thank you for inviting me into your magic space, you sweet soul.
- [69:08]
Annaleigh Ashford
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