1. What It's Like to Be a Hollywood Actor Elizabeth Pearson Garr 46:07

Like lots of other starry-eyed young actors, Barret Swatek moved to Los Angeles right out of college with dreams of making it in Hollywood.  Unlike most of them, she succeeded.  In this truly behind the “scenes” conversation, Barret shares her journey–from skanky agents, acting classes and sneaking onto studio lots, to finally landing her breakthrough role on “Seventh Heaven,” all the way through her recent turn on “Yellowstone” and beyond.  She talks about  auditioning, life on a set, watching herself onscreen, and hanging out with friends who have become huge recognizable stars.  Come backstage with us to find out what it's really like to work in Hollywood.

In this episode: 

  • When Barret first arrived in Los Angeles (02:33)
  • How she got her first (sketchy) agents (06:13)
  • How she got her (good) agent (09:08)
  • A typical day on the set (12:49)
  • What it's like to be a guest star on a TV show (17:52)
  • Getting roles now–offers and auditions (20:30)
  • Working on “Yellowstone” (22:34)
  • Process of finding a character (26:43)
  • Dealing with rejection (28:23)
  • If she's ever felt intimidated by other actors (31:13)
  • Dealing with pressure to always look good (36:00)
  • What Barret would tell her younger self (36:59)
  • Getting recognized in public (40:50)

Want to know more about Barret?

  • Follow her on Instagram: @barretswatek 

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Elizabeth Pearson Garr has spent a lot of her life asking questions. A daughter of a professor and a principal, as a kid she loved sitting at the “adult table” during their dinner parties so she could participate in the “real” conversations.

Elizabeth went on to graduate with honors from Harvard with a degree in History and Literature, and promptly attended professional cooking school to become a food writer. That led to various career opportunities, including becoming one of the first employees of the Television Food Network; writing/producing gigs at networks from PBS to E!; anchoring/reporting at the NBC affiliate in Billings, Montana; earning a graduate degree in Documentary Film & Video from Stanford University; and various and sundry other things. The through-line to all this has been curiosity. Elizabeth is a skilled interviewer who loves diving deep into research, finding connections, and telling good stories.

Elizabeth has a husband, two daughters, and a fluffy white dog who rarely leaves her side.