SmartLess · Podcast summary
"Sharon Horgan"
Sharon Horgan, the acclaimed writer, producer, and actress, joins the hosts to discuss her creative process, the challenges of working in different entertainment industries, and her upcoming HBO series, "Bad Sisters."
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- ✨Sharon Horgan finds immense joy in creating new projects, describing it as an opportunity to 'start all over again' and build new worlds from scratch, despite the inherent fear of not being able to create something as good as previous works.22:20
- 🌍Horgan highlights the difference between UK and US television, noting that UK shows traditionally have shorter runs (1-2 seasons), allowing creators to move on to new projects more frequently, a model now shifting due to global streaming.23:59
- 😂The writers' room is a source of 'ridiculous joy' for Horgan, where the deepest laughs often come from bits and jokes that never make it into the final script, emphasizing the collaborative and uninhibited nature of early creative development.30:33
- 🎭Horgan admits that she used to struggle with actors deviating from her written lines but has learned to be 'better at it,' realizing the value of allowing performers to bring their own interpretations to the characters.49:57
- 💼Before her success in comedy, Horgan worked for six and a half years as an administrative officer in an employment service, a period that instilled a strong work ethic and practical approach to her career.1:00:01
- 👵Horgan's upcoming HBO series, Youth, explores the 'sandwich generation' experience, focusing on a woman in her fifties navigating her children leaving for college and her parents aging, offering a blend of humor and poignant observation.1:22:22
Chapters
- 2:27Introduction to Sharon Horgan
- 20:22The Creative Process and Starting Over
- 22:22UK vs. US Television Industry Differences
- 30:09The Joy of the Writers' Room
- 40:00Maintaining Creative Control and Actor Collaboration
- 1:05:00Sharon Horgan's Unconventional Career Path
- 1:25:27Upcoming Projects: 'Bad Sisters' and 'Youth'
- 1:33:37Life in Los Angeles and Industry Talk
- 1:38:18Personal Reflections and Future Endeavors
The digest
Sharon Horgan, the multi-talented writer, producer, and actress, recently joined the podcast hosts for a candid and insightful conversation about her illustrious career. Known for her sharp wit and unique brand of dark comedy, Horgan delved into the intricacies of her creative process, the differences between the UK and US television industries, and the personal experiences that fuel her storytelling.
The Art of Starting Over: Embracing New Projects
Horgan, celebrated for her work on shows like Catastrophe and Bad Sisters, expressed a deep love for creating new content. She described the bittersweet feeling of moving on from beloved projects, acknowledging the emotional attachment to characters and worlds she's built. However, the excitement of starting fresh, of building a new universe from scratch, is what truly drives her.
"When you make something new, you get to start all over again, like from scratch. You get to be, you get to just like put your playlist together and start over," Horgan explained. This process, while exhilarating, also comes with a degree of fear. "It's really scary because when you come up with characters, you always think that's the last time you're going to come up with a good character." This sentiment highlights the constant pressure and self-doubt that even successful creators face.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 5-minute article, 6 more sections, and every new episode from SmartLess and the creators you follow.
- UK vs. US Television: A Tale of Two Systems
- The Joy of the Writers' Room: Collaboration and Laughter
- The Challenges of Maintaining Creative Control
- From Employment Office to HBO: An Unconventional Path
- Bad Sisters and the Future: Youth on HBO
- The Joys and Challenges of Life in Los Angeles
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