Chase Infiniti, Kerry Washington and the Drama Actress Roundtable

Six actresses, including Claire Danes and Kerry Washington, unanimously stated they do not feel they have “made it” in Hollywood during a roundtable discussion at The Georgian Hotel in late April. The group, which included Carrie Coon, Rhea Seehorn, Chase Infiniti, and Sarah Pidgeon, described the industry as an endless ladder where the vast majority of professionals are “just working,” according to Danes.

How do top actresses view success in Hollywood?

Success is viewed not as a destination but as a continuous effort to maintain employment. Carrie Coon noted that despite her roles in The White Lotus and The Gilded Age, she still feels the need to fight for big movie roles and often receives unfinanced indie scripts, according to Coon.

Kerry Washington stated that the industry operates on a “list” system. Washington explained that she transitioned into producing because she refused to spend her life “waiting to be invited to the party,” opting instead to create her own projects.

Did You Know? According to Kerry Washington, when the show Scandal aired, it had been nearly 40 years since a Black woman had led a network drama.

What are the challenges of the audition process?

The actresses described grueling audition cycles that can last months. Chase Infiniti reported a six-month audition process for One Battle After Another, which involved weekly meetings, movement auditions, karate, and chemistry reads with Leo DiCaprio and Regina Hall, according to Infiniti.

Taraji P. Henson Auditioned for Kerry Washington’s Role in ‘Scandal’

Kerry Washington described a similarly long process for Scandal, which included four or five auditions and a screen test. Claire Danes recalled a “protracted waiting period” for Romeo + Juliet that caused her such stress she developed canker sores, according to Danes.

Rhea Seehorn shared that during her audition for Better Call Saul, she initially believed she had not booked the role until her agent called her while she was walking in Venice, according to Seehorn.

How do public personas impact acting careers?

The divide between private identity and public perception often requires a curated persona. Kerry Washington detailed the creation of “Red Carpet Kerry,” a version of herself designed to handle the “It girl” marketing expectations of the industry without leaving her vulnerable, according to Washington.

Sarah Pidgeon noted the difficulty of balancing the need to present oneself as a “brand” while wanting to get lost in a role. Pidgeon described the physiological response of being hounded by paparazzi while filming a project about Carolyn Bessette, which she used to help embody the character, according to Pidgeon.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that the shift toward producing, as mentioned by Washington, is a strategic response to the “list” hierarchy. By moving from talent to creator, actresses can mitigate the instability of the casting process and gain direct control over their career trajectories.

What gender dynamics exist in performance feedback?

Rhea Seehorn criticized the difference in how male and female actors are praised. Seehorn stated that women often receive subjective personality descriptions, such as being called “effervescent” or “quirky,” while men receive “craft-based compliments” regarding their actual talents, according to Seehorn.

Claire Danes added that women are frequently told they are “attractive” or “cute” as a substitute for professional feedback, according to Danes.

How do actors handle their own work and public reception?

Actors maintain varying relationships with their recorded performances. Claire Danes revealed that she was told her death scene in the 1994 film Little Women was reshot because Coca-Cola spilled on the negatives, but she later learned the reshoot was actually to mute her “guttural” death rattle, according to Danes.

Carrie Coon described the surreal nature of fan interactions, recalling a woman who sent her AA pamphlets because she believed Coon’s character on the sitcom Whitney was a real person struggling with alcoholism, according to Coon.

Regarding future career movements, the actresses indicated that they may continue to navigate the “list” system. Coon suggested that while she may have moved up to the “top of the B-list,” she will likely continue to fight for high-profile film roles, according to Coon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long was Chase Infiniti’s audition for One Battle After Another?
According to Infiniti, the process lasted six months and included weekly meetings, movement auditions, and chemistry reads.

Why did Kerry Washington create the “Red Carpet Kerry” persona?
Washington stated she created the persona to step forward into fashion and makeup to avoid being “vulnerable and naked” in public settings, after realizing that “It girl” marketing could provide more leverage in booking roles.

What did Claire Danes discover about the reshoot of her scene in Little Women?
Danes recently found out that the reshoot of her death scene was not due to a Coca-Cola spill on the negatives, but because her original performance was too authentic and needed to be more muted, according to Danes.

Do you think the concept of “making it” in a creative industry is a realistic goal or a persistent illusion?