Inspired to try acting at a young age and single-mindedly focused on it ever since, Olivia Cooke has appeared in some of the most acclaimed film and TV projects of the last decade, reinventing herself on screen each time. Her “In the Envelope” interview is a crash course in several key tricks of the trade: accent work, self-tape advice, even the nuances of crying. Inhabiting a character inside and out, she says, requires selfless collaboration and detailed backstories. “Otherwise, you’re coming in as you and you’re wearing funny clothes.... You’ve got to convince yourself.”

Hailing from Oldham, Greater Manchester, Olivia acted onstage in youth theater groups before booking BBC miniseries “Blackout” and “The Secret of Crickley Hall.” After not being accepted to drama training programs, she focused on screen work, breaking out in “The Quiet Ones” and, across the pond, the “Psycho” prequel series “Bates Motel.” She’s starred in “Ouija,” “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Thoroughbreds,” “Ready Player One,” “Vanity Fair,” and recently, “Pixie,” “Little Fish,” and Darius Marder’s Gotham Award–winning film “Sound of Metal.” Next she’ll lead the “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon.” For more, read Olivia’s 2018 Backstage cover story: https://bit.ly/2NtUNDf

This episode is brought to you by Amazon Studios. For more on “Sound of Metal,” check out the interview with star Riz Ahmed over at Backstage.com: https://bit.ly/2Ku7BrS
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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Special thanks to...
- Host: Jack Smart
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis