In the latest episode of "The Envelope" podcast, journalists Mark Olsen, Yvonne Villarreal, and Shawn Finnie engage in in-depth conversations with Naomi Watts and showrunner Issa López about their current projects.
Naomi Watts discusses her acclaimed role as Babe Paley in "Feud: Capote vs. the Swans." The show explores the aftermath of Truman Capote's controversial short story "La Côte Basque, 1965," which depicted New York City socialites. Watts highlights the effort of portraying Paley, who was known for her elegance and reserved lifestyle. She mentions her process of understanding Paley’s character, including reading extensively and incorporating small yet significant details like prosthetic teeth to align more closely with Paley’s appearance.
Issa López talks about her rendition of "True Detective: Night Country," the first in the series without creator Nic Pizzolatto. This season stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis and is set in Alaska. López details her choice to provide a more female-centric perspective, enlisting Indigenous input, and emphasizing contemporary issues such as the land back movement and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. López describes the research process impeded by the pandemic, her reliance on digital platforms for regional insights, and her eventual integration into Alaskan communities.
Listeners gain a glimpse into Naomi Watts' and Issa López’s personal and professional journeys, highlighting their dedication to accuracy and cultural sensitivity in their craft.