Audrey's Acting Career and Business Insights

Audrey discusses her journey in the acting industry, emphasizing that she's always learning and that the business is constantly changing. Audrey shares that while she's had many challenges, she's never considered quitting acting.

Supporting Actor Parents and Child Choices

Audrey discusses her passion for supporting actor parents, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in storytelling. She shares her personal decision not to have children, explaining that she always knew motherhood wasn't for her. Audrey describes her supportive role as a friend to parents, making herself available to help and be part of their chosen family in Los Angeles.

Actors' Parenthood Challenges and Media Representation

Audrey discusses the challenges actors face when considering parenthood, highlighting the lack of transparency about time, energy, and financial commitments. She emphasizes the fear and uncertainty actors experience, especially in the first decade of their careers, as they balance their acting pursuits with the desire to start a family. She expresses frustration with the lack of detailed discussions about the logistics of balancing parenthood and an acting career, particularly in media interviews and podcasts.

Parenting and Friendship DynamicsEmily discusses her experiences with friendships after becoming a parent. Emily emphasizes the importance of putting oneself out there to form new connections, particularly with other parents.

Supporting New Mothers and Caregivers

Emily and Audrey discuss ways to support new mothers and caregivers. They emphasize the importance of taking initiative rather than asking open-ended questions about needs. Suggestions include bringing food, doing household chores, and offering specific help like grocery shopping or hiring a cleaner. They also stress the importance of setting boundaries and communicating them clearly.

Balancing Acting Careers With Parenthood

Emily and Audrey discuss the challenges of balancing acting careers with parenthood, particularly regarding self-tape auditions. They highlight the difficulties of finding time and space to record auditions while caring for children, as well as the financial burden of childcare or schooling. Emily shares her experience of having an actor husband as a reader and paying for her daughter's schooling to create time for auditions. They also touch on the isolation some parent actors face when unable to reciprocate as readers for their non-parent actor friends.

Parenting Challenges and Socioeconomic Disparities

Audrey and Emily discuss the challenges of parenting as children grow older. Audrey shares that her friends with older children find themselves busier with activities and social commitments, contrary to expectations of having more free time. Emily expresses concern about managing multiple children's schedules and the financial burden of extracurricular activities, especially in Los Angeles. They also touch on the socioeconomic disparities in LA and the difficulties of maintaining a middle-class lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in these situations.

Audrey's Selftape May Initiative

Audrey discusses her self-tape practice initiative called "Selftape May," which she started to help actors improve their audition skills without spending money. She encourages actors to practice self-tapes regularly, aiming for about four per week, to build capacity and solve logistical issues. Audrey and Emily also discuss the challenges of balancing acting careers with parenting responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of finding ways to practice and improve despite time constraints. Audrey mentions therapy and her supportive husband as her current lifesavers.