IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE MONAGHAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Golden Globe nominated actress Michelle Monaghan will next be seen on season three of the Emmy-winning anthology series ‘The White Lotus’, premiering today (16th February). She is also currently in production on Apple Original Films’ ‘The Family Plan’ sequel, where she’ll be reprising her role. Most recently, Michelle starred in Apple TV+’s ‘Bad Monkey’, and some of her other most notable roles include ‘MaXXXine’, ‘Mission Impossible: Fallout’, ’The Best of Me’, ‘Made of Honor’ , ‘Gone Baby Gone’, and ‘Tue Detective’.  opposite Casey Affleck and Morgan Freeman; and J.J. Abrams’ Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol opposite Tom Cruise.   

Season 3 of ‘The White Lotus’ is just around the corner. What can you share about your character, and what drew you to the role in this highly anticipated season?

I play a famous television actress named Jaclyn Lemon. I'm a part of a storyline in which there are three women, childhood best friends, that decide to go on a girls trip to Thailand. These are women who have a lot of shared history, and yet their lives have taken very different directions since they kind of grown apart, so to speak. They have different jobs, different kinds of families, and they essentially go on a trip to Thailand to reconnect, hopefully. And that's when we start to see what their storyline involves or devolves.

Mike White is very specific about  his casting process. He basically chose Jaclyn for me and I auditioned for the role, and I was just so excited to work with him. I've been a fan of his for so many years, since his work with ‘Chuck & Buck’ basically. The kind of material that he writes, he's like a master of tone. And when I got the eight episodes after I signed on, I was just blown away thinking to myself “Season three, he has done it again”. And I in particular just love the ladies storyline. It's a very complicated chemistry that these three women have. It's a lot shifting power dynamics, it's very complex, nuanced and subtle and nonverbal. As an actor, I was so up for the challenge, and I just knew it would be a creative once in a lifetime experience.

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I think it's safe to say that we'll be left guessing til the last second of the last episode on the mystery being unsolved?

Yes, you willl. I had the great pleasure of getting all the eight episodes at once to read. And I actually got them right before I was boarding a plane to Australia, so I immediately knew I was not going to sleep on that plane. I binge read these eight episodes and I didn't have any kind of clue or hunch as to what the finale would be. And it's mind blowing. He really has done it once again.

‘The White Lotus’ is known for its dark humor and intricate character dynamics. What unique elements does your character bring to this season, which is set in Thailand?

I think what Mike does differently with this season and the themes that he explores is really the spirituality of Thailand, and the light and the dark, good versus evil. It's just sort of like the western culture, the bits that are kind of shiny and shallow. And he juxtaposes that with this really powerful spirituality that exists in the backdrop of Thailand. And so when the two worlds collide, you get these really dynamic, amusing, haunting, and confronting scenarios for all of these characters.

Jaclyn is a part of this women's group, where they're exploring the nuance of being a woman and that kind of constant comparison that we have with each other as women, second guessing our life choices and judging ourselves, but also judging each other and that kind of competitive nature. I loved the idea of creating the dynamic where one's the peacekeeper, one's the victim, one's the perpetrator, and how that power shifts and those dynamics shift from episode to episode, or from scene to scene. And it was amazing getting to do exactly that with such amazing actresses opposite me. We really leaned into all of the nuance of that and the subtleties of that, and we all become kind of mirrors to each other, which is really what Mike wanted of us. Jaclyn is this woman who's lived this incredible life. She's this famous actress, and she's able to pay for her girlfriends to come along on this trip. On the surface, she seems like everything's great, life is fabulous, and then she starts to hang out with her friends and we start to see aspects of comparison that kind of comes up when women are in the company of each other. I was excited to lean into to all of those neuroses and those little subtleties, those moments.

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shoes GIANVITO ROSSI
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glasses MOSCOT
jewelry CARTIER

Without giving us any spoilers, what will the fans be most surprised about in Season 3?

I think that this season is darker than seasons before, for sure. I think this season is going to be very confronting for a lot of fans. The performances are so outstanding, I am such a proud co-star over here. There's maybe a surprise or two down the line that you might see that's unexpected, and I think fans are going to be really excited about that. I think also what's different about this season is that we actually see the guests sightseeing. We're actually getting out of the White Lotus resort and taking in all of the beauty and the culture, and the traditions of Thailand, so as a result, the scope of the show actually feels much bigger. And I think that really adds to the richness and the depth of this season in a way that maybe we haven't seen so much before. And yet you have all of that looming chaos brewing, so it’s a very intense season.

You’ll also be reuniting with Mark Wahlberg in ‘The Family Plan’ sequel. Can you give us any sneak peeks about what fans can expect from this action-comedy sequel?

I love working with Mark so much. We were so excited to get to do this all over again. This is my third movie with him, and we just have a great time together. We have a terrific cast that builds out our family dynamic and this family plan too. The Morgans are going to Europe, so we are going to be shooting in London and Paris, and we're utilizing all the beautiful landmarks respective to both of those cities. And it's really action packed. We've also got Kit Harrington joining the cast, so that's really exciting because he's fantastic. It's a lot of fun, and there's a ton of stunts, but we have that wonderful family dynamic and that wonderful banter that fans are going to experience more of.

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From ‘The White Lotus’ to ‘The Family Plan’ and ‘Bad Monkey’, you’re taking on such a variety of roles. How do you manage the shift between such different roles and genres?

That's such a good question. I started out my career actually doing comedy. ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, I would say was really what kind of put me on the map. And that was such a great introduction to the industry in terms of genre because of Shane Black’s writing and tone, which comprised of action and drama and comedy. It was within that movie, I would say, that I discovered that I was compelled and interested in all the different genres. Then I went on to do some romantic comedies and in between that did some dramas, and discovered that I love action a lot.

My whole career these are things that just find their way to me. Right before ‘Bad Monkey’, I was coming off of a pretty intense drama and I said to my agent that I want to do comedy next. I find it to be the most challenging genre, and I think most actors will tell you that it is the most challenging because comedic timing is difficult. I admire that in so many of my contemporary work. And then a month or two later after that, Bill Lawrence offered me the role of Bonnie. To be able to get to work with someone whom has such a singular voice in terms of writing and tone, and to get to work opposite Vince Vaughn was a dream. Then ‘The Family Plan’ came on the heels of that, and I was on a comedy roll. I was feeling like I was just finding my groove, and I've really had so much fun the last couple of years.

I can feel the pull a little bit to what the next thing will be, but I really just trust in the universe that it'll reveal itself to me when I least expect it. The great thing about working in this industry at this time is there's so many different avenues. We have streamers, we have studio films, we have independent films. Some of my favorite roles are my experiences in independent films. As actors, I feel creatively and artistically the world is our oyster.

Looking back, which role would you say shaped your career the most, and why?

Oh gosh, that's like picking a favorite kid. One that has shaped me in such a different way, whether personally or professionally, is ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’. It was just a profound experience getting to work with Robert and Val and Shane. They all really took me under their wing and taught me so much. I would also absolutely say being a part of the ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise for so many years was incredibly special. Working with Tom is so special. He's just such a class act and he really brings out the best in every performer, every crew member. I mean, it's just a wonderful environment to work in and to grow in as an actor.

There’s also a movie called ‘Trucker’ that is very near and dear to my heart. I proved something to myself on that movie. It was my first lead role. I really worked hard in terms of my dedication to the craft, becoming a truck driver, and had such an amazing and profound experience working on that film. I sort of checked the box and thought “Okay, I can do this. I'm meant to do this”. And that was really pivotal for me.

‘True Detective’ was another one. The first time I got the call to do it, I remember thinking “Oh, it's TV? I don't know. I'm not really doing TV right now”. And I remember thinking Matthew's doing TV and there was such a stigma around film actors dipping their toes into television. But the material was so good, Nic Pizzolatto’s writing was just incredible, and Cary Fukunaga is a remarkable director. And I worked with Woody a few years earlier and loved him, so that was one of those special moments when you can feel on set that something magical is happening. That was a very special experience for me as well. Every single time I go to work, I learn something, I take something back home with me, and it informs me personally or professionally for sure.

And obviously ‘The White Lotus’ is right up there. Are you kidding me? It was six months in Thailand. It was incredible. First of all, I have to tip my hat to Mike, because he wrote it all, and then he directs it all. He directs every single scene and it's an incredible artistic feat, which he brings to the table. And he does it with so much joy as well, and just such great energy. There's nothing greater than watch him see the characters he’s written come to life. It truly brings him joy, so it's just a wonderful energy to kind of work with. It's a marathon doing that show as an actor or our crew.

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Your career has spanned across genres, from action to drama and comedy. What makes a role and project truly stand out to you in order to make you want to be a part of it?

I mean, it always goes back to the writing. It always goes back to having an emotional response to it. If I'm having an emotional response to it while I'm reading something, if my heart starts racing, if I start feeling something in my belly, if it triggers something in my head, that's exciting to me because I'm just reading it. And if then I can envision myself embodying that character and that feeling, and be able to convey that to audiences, that's so exciting. That feeling is like a drug. You're always in search of that, and so when you find that material like ‘Bad Monkey’, you're like “Oh, I know who this crazy gal is.”, Or something like Mike White does, the story and the depth in which he writes, you just feel so compelled to have to do it.

Your career has spanned over two decades. How do you stay motivated and inspired to continue taking on new challenges and roles? Is there a particular aspect of your career you’re still eager to explore?

I've always been inspired by the people that I have worked with on each and every job. The connections that I've made, personal and professional, it is clear to me that there is no other job that I'd ever want to have, and that I'm clearly living the life that I'm meant to live. And I'm just getting more excited about all the different facets which the industry offers. I feel like I've tackled the acting thing and I love it. I'm never going to stop doing that, but I'm also interested in writing and I'm currently developing something, which I kind of have to keep a secret right now, but I’ll ultimately star in and produce, and potentially direct as well. So, that's definitely on the table for me, and is something that I aspire to continue to do and nurture.

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How do you unwind after wrapping on a tough or emotionally charged project? Are there any hobbies or activities you enjoy doing to relax?

First and foremost, I love to connect with my family. This job is a challenging career because it often takes us emotionally, mentally and physically away from our families. And so it is always about that reconnection and being present there for my children and for my husband, a beautiful family whom I adore. They’re my biggest passion.

One of the things that I do daily, I'm a meditator. I generally start my day doing that. That's pretty invaluable to my wellbeing and my state of mind. And then, I have a daily practice of Pilates, which is the other love of my life. I started practicing it several years ago, and it's just a great mind and body connection in terms of strength and breath. I also love the outdoors, I love hiking. We live in Los Angeles, so we have the benefit of going on a number of different hikes or kind of cruising to the beach. And another favorite pastime of mine is baking. It's kind of like my yoga. What I love about it is that you have to be so precise and you have to be so present. So for me, it's almost like meditating. It's almost like doing like yoga or something where you're very connected to what you're doing, and there's very little distraction and it makes the house smell beautiful. And it always feels celebratory to me. It's something that I used to do with my mom all the time growing up, so it kind of touches me in that way. And I love to travel. I really love getting to experience different places and cultures, and getting to do that with my family is like my number one thing.

What’s next for you beyond these exciting projects? Can you share any upcoming roles or personal goals you’re pursuing?

Personally, I want to keep nurturing and exploring this life that I have with my family. I cherish them so much. I was just saying to my husband over the weekend that our children are growing so fast. I've loved every stage of parenthood, but my daughter's 16 and teaching her how to drive right now is gold for me. I love the ages that they're at right now so much, so just continuing to be present for that and enjoying our precious time together is wonderful.

And it was honestly my New Year's resolution. I'm never up for New Year's resolutions, but when somebody asked me at a dinner table “What's your New Year's resolution?”, I was like connection and maintaining very personal relationships that I have because they fill my cup and it's very special to me.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent MICHELLE MONAGHAN
photography RYAN SARADJOLA
styling HOLLY WHITE at The Wall Group
makeup WENDY ROWE at The Wall Group
hair EARL SIMMS AT CAREN AGENCY
styling assistants EOIN HIGGINS, MADELEINE WILLIAMS and IZZIE ATKINSON
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN