LZ interviews actor Michael Urie on the podcast “You Are Beautiful,” beginning with playful banter and a lip-sync to “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” which prompts Lawrence to share a personal memory of hearing the song as a closeted teen and how it shaped his connection to Michael’s fearless public identity.

Michael answers Lawrence’s mirror question while doing press from The Daily Show green room, noting Shrinking has been renewed and joking about fixing a broken hot-water handle in his Upper West Side apartment. They discuss Michael’s Texas roots in Plano, his early love of movies and storytelling inspired by Tim Burton, and how shyness led him to play alone with toys while inventing stories. Michael describes a key high-school turning point when a substitute and his teacher moved him into an advanced theater class, being pushed into Fiddler on the Roof due to a lack of boys, and realizing performance was for him after getting a big, repeatable laugh; he also competed in speech tournaments.

Michael talks about coming out with support from his older queer sister, having dated girls in high school, and feeling that people in New York and at Juilliard made “intelligent assumptions” as he grew into himself.

Lawrence shares his own later-in-life public coming-out and sobriety, and a Harrison Ford anecdote from Live with Regis and Kelly; Michael reflects on long careers, working with Harrison Ford on Shrinking (including the character’s Parkinson’s storyline), and how acting can evolve into old age, mentioning June Squibb. In rapid-fire topics, Michael discusses Ugly Betty: multiple auditions, Mark St.

James originally intended only for the pilot, Vanessa Williams’s generosity, and their on-set comedic collaboration; he highlights his proudest element—the bond between Mark and Justin Suarez and the storyline confronting Mark’s mother. Asked for advice to queer youth in a difficult climate, Michael emphasizes “find the helpers,” chosen family, and that it’s not worth expending energy trying to change people—find your tribe.

He also reflects on stage work including Buyer & Cellar (hundreds of performances and famous attendees, though Barbra Streisand never came), Torch Song with Mercedes Ruehl, Once Upon a Mattress as an unexpected dream role, and the shocks and performances in Oh, Mary! with Jinkx Monsoon.

The episode ends with Michael sharing that his relationship works because he and his partner listen to each other, and he completes Lawrence’s closing prompt: he is beautiful because of the reflection of life he receives back—joy, humanity, and connection.

Menu:

00:00 Pajamas, Popcorn & Finally Meeting Michael Urie
01:04 Breaking the Ice: A Surprise Lip-Sync Challenge
02:14 “Don’t Cry Out Loud” Deep Dive: Music, Memories & Meaning
04:06 Why This Podcast Exists: Beauty, COVID Reset & Fearless Living
05:54 A Camp Crush & Learning to Hide Feelings
07:19 Mirror Question: Pride, Sobriety & Where You Are Today
07:53 Press Day Wins & Upper West Side Life (and No Hot Water)
10:51 Texas Roots: Plano, Two-Stepping & Oil Can Harry’s
12:46 The Spark to Perform: Movies, Toys, Theater Class & Getting the Laugh
18:52 Coming Out Journeys: Family Support, Julliard & Finding Your Person
25:05 Was I Born for This? Finding the Path to Acting
25:38 Support Systems & ‘It Was Meant to Be’
27:34 Working Forever: June Squibb, Harrison Ford & Aging in the Craft
30:17 Harrison Ford’s Humble Movie-Star Moment (Hair & Makeup Story)
31:28 Rapid Fire Begins: Landing Ugly Betty’s Mark St. James
34:06 Why Mark/Justin Mattered: Representation, Heart & Comedy
38:29 Advice for Queer Kids Today: Find the Helpers, Find Your Tribe
42:12 Stage Lessons: Buyer & Cellar and the Barbra