Gugu Mbatha-Raw

The celebrated period drama "Belle" marked the arrival of Gugu Mbatha-Raw and since then she hasn’t stopped impressing audiences in films like “Motherless Brooklyn," “Misbehaviour” and series like “Doctor Who,” “Black Mirror” (San Junipero episode), “Loki," “The Morning Show,” and “Surface,” which is now releasing episodes from its second season. On that Apple TV+ series, Gugu plays Sophie, a woman who has lost her recent memories and must piece them together. She talks about the “liberating” feeling she got playing someone with a missing back story and how it forced her to be present. She explains how she utilizes her sense of smell in her preparation process, how she learned to claim her space on set and not be “crushed by the technicalities,” how taking on the leadership role of EP expanded all aspects of her work, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Caveh Zahedi is one of the most influential independent filmmakers of our time. Jay Duplass, Lena Dunham, Richard Linklater, Greta Gerwig, are all big fans of his 30+ years worth of ultra-autobiographical work (five features, “I am A Sex Addict” perhaps being the most popular). His magnum opus, “The Show About The Show,” started out as a “self-reflexive TV show about its own making” for BRIC TV and has continued despite lawsuits, loss of distribution, re-castings, and many more obstacles, thanks to Zahedi’s dogged determination to simply tell the story, mostly through re-enactments using the actual people in his orbit playing themselves, of what happened in his life. He gets a small, but passionate amount of support from his loyal fanbase who want him to see this now decade long journey come to an end in the final season, which is about to be released. Zahedi has done a lot of interviews about his filmmaking, but rarely any, like this one, that focuses on his work as an actor for other filmmakers and in front of his own camera, where he plays a version of himself. He talks about the tonal fine line he has to walk when addressing the camera, nudity (his and others’), actors who work well with his directorial approach (like Emmy Harrington and Jim Fletcher), the rigors of auditioning to play a pedophile rabbi, striving for “non-acting,” and much more. Creative Nonfiction Film Weekend is bringing Zahedi's work (and the man himself) on a UK tour in March 2025. Check here for more info Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Lucy Boynton is known for delivering exceptional performances in films like “Sing Street,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Chevalier,” and “The Greatest Hits.” Her latest is the BritBox’s limited series “A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story,” about a woman convicted of killing her abusive lover who then became the last woman to be hanged in the UK. On this episode, she talks about why the challenge she faced portraying Ellis “wasn’t an actor issue,” but more about facing the traumas women are still dealing with decades later. She ponders how acting as a child served her into adulthood, explains why over-direction is never a problem for her, why “turning the dials” on micro-facial acting excites her, makes a plea for more women screenwriters, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Griffin Dunne has balanced acting, directing, and producing for over 40 years in this business. “Chilly Scenes of Winter,” “An American Werewolf in London,” “After Hours,” “Practical Magic,” “This is Us,” to name just a small handful of his credits. For his latest, “Ex-Husbands,” he delivers a performance revelatory in its ease, miraculously blending lightness and dread. It’s so much fun, and even inspirational, to simply watch him walk around as this character, carrying this load. Hopefully, this is the start of a new chapter: Dunne as the contemplative man of a certain age who has seen it all. On this episode, he shares his favorite piece of direction, talks about how producing affected his acting work, tells the story of discovering he’s a Chekhovian actor, explains why it all comes down to listening and being in the moment, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

In movies like “Million Dollar Baby,” "August: Osage County,” “Blow The Man Down,” and series like "The Americans,” “Justified,” and “Sneaky Pete,” “esteemed character actress Margo Martindale” loves to play people much different from herself. And she’s been so good at it for so long that she only started to get truly recognized for her work in her 60s. Three Emmys later, she’s able to pick and choose what she wants to do. Her latest, the Amazon series “The Sticky,” finds her number one on the call sheet and having a blast playing the bombastic maple syrup farmer Ruth Landry. On this episode she explains why the first step in her preparation process is knowing where a character was born and raised. She talks about feeling most free when she’s able to “play” like she did in her backyard, what makes Alexander Payne and Robert Benton great directors, why it took some time for her to settle in to sit-com acting, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Brad Fleischer is an actor, teacher, coach, filmmaker, producer, and founding partner of GhostLight Media. He originated the role of Doug in “Gruesome Playground Injuries” alongside Selma Blair. On Broadway, he starred opposite Robin Williams in “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” opposite Tony Schaloub in “Golden Boy,” and played the title character in the Olivier award winning “Coram Boy.” On the screen, Brad has worked with Robert De Niro in “The Good Shepherd,” Scott Frank and Liam Neeson in “Walk Among the Tombstones”, Greg Nicotero on “The Walking Dead”, among many others. For 17 years and counting, he continues to run his own professional acting class in New York and Los Angeles, strictly through word of mouth. On this episode, he tells the story of how he came to a level of dedication similar to what athletics required, which he now passes on to his students. He talks about the difference between the visceral and the intellectual; the importance of finding and working with good actors that you can learn from; why it all comes down to focus, specificity, and commitment. Plus much more!

Marianne Jean-Baptiste is getting accolades and awards for her incredible performance in Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths.” The two last worked together nearly 30 years ago, on Leigh’s “Secrets and Lies,” for which Jean-Baptiste was nominated for an Oscar. On this episode, she takes us all the way back to her first time working with Mike Leigh, on the play “It’s A Great Big Shame,” and details for us the ins and outs of working with him on these three projects. She talks about her love of process, how this intense character work fuels her on less actor-centric jobs, why she’s still mad at Leigh for “murdering” Pansy’s mother, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

The U.S. premiere of “Hard Truths” at the New York Film Festival in October brings director Mike Leigh back to the podcast for the third time (Ep. 54 and Ep. 204). He talks about working again with Marianne Jean-Baptiste after nearly 30 years, how a lower budget didn’t change his process but made him “dig vertically,” why American actors are unofficially not allowed in his films. Plus he shares his hope for cinema after he’s gone, but explains why he refuses to officially pass down his process. And much more! "Hard Truths" opens in select U.S. theaters on Friday January 10th.  Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Tiffany Boone’s breakout role was Jerrika Little on the series “The Chi.” “Little Fires Everywhere,” “The Midnight Sky,” “Nine Perfect Strangers” and “Hunters” followed. Now she voices Sarabi in Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King.” She explains how getting back to her childlike imagination was a must for that role. She tells the story of trying to break up with acting but acting wouldn’t break up with her. She talks about the importance of knowing the character better than anyone else, how focusing on connecting with people through her art allowed her to “let go of the desperation,” and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram

Tommy Dewey is best known for playing Alex Cole on the Hulu series “Casual” for five seasons. This year, two movies benefit from his talents—the Jason Reitman ensemble comedy “Saturday Night”, and Caroline Lindy’s romantic/horror/comedy “Your Monster,” where he brilliantly plays the titular character. On this episode, he talks about what went into deciding on the proper mixture of absurdity and tenderness  for that special role. He explains why, if a comedy script connects with him, he “maybe reads it once and stay the hell away from it.” Plus how writing can help you as an actor, the increased pressure of 3-dimensionality the higher you are on a call sheet, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from  Filmmaker Magazine. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft.  Follow Back To One on Instagram