Advertise on podcast: Hey, an Actor!

Who is the highest grossing box office star of all time at time of writing? That's right, Zoe Saldana! No, seriously. And whilst you may know her from some of the most beloved, popular movie franchises of all time (and Avatar), The Brothers Wilson drill down into her career when she's not in a popular franchise. So yes, they do cover Avatar, the supremely successful, yet weirdly unloved 3D sci-fi romp from the mind of James Cameron. But, additionally, the episode looks at ill-received Nina Simone biopic Nina, and the surprise Oscar hit Emilia Perez. Are The Brothers emotionally mature enough to talk about a crime musical about a Mexican sex change? What does Ian actually know about Nina Simone? Why does Pandy start laughing hysterically towards the end of the Avatar review? Listen in and find out!

The 2026 slate for Hey, an Actor! inevitably starts with a well-known comedic actor of Hollywood pedigree: New Jersey's greatest short man, Danny DeVito. The Brothers Wilson skillfully navigate his Taxi sitcom days by covering his film dedicated to his former co-star, Andy Kaufman, in Man on the Moon, as well as one of his first post-Taxi cinematic supporting roles in Romancing the Stone, and his directorial effort in bringing Roald Dahl's Matilda to the silver screen. Along the way, Pandy introduces a new character, Ian learns a new synonym for "taint," and Jerry Lawler is discussed just enough not to worry the podcast's legal budget. Oh, and there's a song parody that sounds unintentionally Muppet-esque.

You know how Christmas comes later each yeah? Well, The Brothers Wilson take this concept to the extreme with Hey, An Actor's End of Year 2025 special in mid-February 2026! With customary apologies, the episode contains what you've come to love and expect with outtakes, Christian's Casting Challenge, and the Tomlinson Awards. Beyond that, the hosts also set the episode around the filmography of the multi-faceted John C Reilly. On the docket are the music biopic mockumentary Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and his most famous double team project with Will Ferrell in Stepbrothers. How do the actual brothers feel about these films and life in general? Find out by listening in before normal service resumes!

A rare sighting of The Brothers Wilson means it's time for another Hey, an Actor! And the podcast finally returns to a true Hollywood heavyweight as it scratches the surface of the illustrious career of the legendary Robert De Niro. In a triple-helping of collaborations with his directing soulmate Martin Scorsese, Ian and Pandy examine the poorly received King of Comedy, the career milestone of Taxi Driver, and the gangster paradise represented by Goodfellas, as chosen by the listeners. Along the way, discussion veers between dream sequence endings, Scorsese nepotism, Jim Bowen, and Pandy profiling a little-known pop culture figure known as The Joker. Also, which of the three featured films receives Pandy's special ire, Halloween-style?

After a shock hiatus, The Brothers Wilson have returned to not only bring you up to speed with their summer, but also to shine their latest spotlight on Jamie Foxx. There are some unfortunate turns of phrase by the hosts when assessing Foxx's Oscar-winning turn in the Ray Charles biopic Ray, then one host waxes lyrical about the moral shades of grey on display within crime thriller Law Abiding Citizen. And, to finish off, the podcast returns to the oeuvre of Quentin Tarantino as Foxx takes on the titular role within Django Unchained. There's a new jingle based upon Ian's insistence that film critics be referred to, whilst Pandy tries to get some new phrases off the ground and into the popular zeitgeist. Also, we head into the next episode with only two films firmly in mind.

Hey, an Actor! covers the Welsh legend Catherine Zeta-Jones. On the eve of commencing his 5th decade, Ian joins Pandy to discuss three of her Hollywood films that kicked off and cemented her stardom, having escaped Wales for fear of being typecast. There's the spooky (?) thriller The Haunting, the swashbuckling Mexican folktale The Mask of Zorro, and her Oscar-winning crime musical Chicago. They also discuss how Ian plans to celebrate his (then) upcoming birthday in a way that links to a previously covered story, and there's a brand new catchy jingle that is sure to be the hit of the summer. Plus: which character in Chicago was Pandy referred to as a teenager? What adjective is used to describe Bob Kane? And, what month is it anyway?

The first episode proper of 2025 is dedicated the legendary comic actor and chocolatier Gene Wilder. As well as referring to previous films covered on HAA, Ian and Pandy examine the classic spoof horror Young Frankenstein, prison-rodeo comedy Stir Crazy, and iconic children's book adaptation Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Along the way, they discuss how important a performer he was to various groups, his amazing legacy in comedy, and his notable collaborations with Mel Brooks and Richard Prior. What links one of the covered films to Breaking Bad? Where do all these ghosts keep coming from? Does anyone else remember Scratchy and Co.? Plus: in this episode, The Brothers discuss Oompah Loompah slavery issues, and there's a callback to a certain someone's favorite actor.

Hey, an Actor! caps off 2024 in 2025 (whoops) by looking at the Tomlinson award-winner for 2024 in 2023, however confusing that might be: Sir Ridley Scott. Subject to one or two thousand bad Geordie impressions by the host who doesn't live in the north east of England, The Brothers Wilson specifically review 1985 fantasy nonsense film Legend, as well as 2012 Alien franchise prequel nonsense Prometheus, before turning the spotlight on the man who directed Alien, Blade Runner, and House of Gucci. As an end of year special, your favorite features are included: outtakes, The Tomlinson Awards, and Christian's Casting Challenge. But the hosts also find time for firing a semi-regular character (and facing recriminations), Ian's memories of podcast reviews from 2012, and Pandy's research into how well AI really knows about the podcast. Listen in and enjoy. If you don't, the hosts may well be replaced by Michael Bell and Paul Salt.

Did someone say Dame O'clock? No? Well, either way, Maggie Smith is The Brothers Wilson's final subject in The Year of Redux. This time, they delve more into her early work that brought her acclaim and awards in the form of problematic Shakespeare adaption Othello, her Oscar-winning performance in the multi-story showcase California Suite, and one of her high-profile later-life turns in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Along the way, The Brothers discuss just how far a black-face performance impacts a critically acclaimed piece, get their Errols mixed up, and prepare for their upcoming 2024 recap episode. Get your Tomlinson votes in!

As The Year of Redux begins to wind down, The Brothers Wilson revisit America's favorite actor: Tom Hanks. Since his last Hey, an Actor! appearance, he's been acting more, producing more, and become one of the earliest celebrities to contract COVID ahead of the pandemic. Rather than dwell, this episode focuses upon his sophomore Oscar win as the titular Forrest Gump, portraying the famous man in The Da Vinci Code, and embodying Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Along the way, Ian offers up a treat for fans of niche British comedy from the mid 90s, Pandy reminisces about educational toys, and the acceptability of the name Gavin is contemplated. Also brace yourself for feedback both foul and fair, a Junior Wilson once again making a cameo appearance, and a major announcement of a new tentacle of HAA audio goodness!

The Year of Redux carries on apace as The Brothers Wilson revisit the career of Faye Dunaway. Rather than look at the decline of her career, Ian and Pandy choose instead to review why she was such a star in the first place by considering her New Hollywood breakthrough role within Bonnie and Clyde, her rubbing shoulders with the biggest British stars of the 1970s in the comedic retelling of The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge, and her starring role opposite Jack Nicholson in the famed detective noir flick Chinatown. Amongst the serious critical reviews for which the podcast is famous, this episode also boasts cameos from Pandy's children, recalls Ian's favorite memories of watching the films in question, and delves into Thai wedding celebrations!

The Brothers Wilson return to the summer as the Year of Redux settles its sights upon everyone's favorite Coppola: Nicolas Cage. This episode takes in his early turn as Cher's love interest in the Oscar-winning 80s comedy Moonstruck, his wacky-haired heroism in the nonsense Bruckheimer plane-heist / crime movie Con Air, and his self-deprecating turn playing himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Along the way, find out which movie yields the most Bond comparisons, and which movie would gain the most tepid poster quote from Pandy were he a contemporary mainstream film critic.

Amy Adams is next on the HAA Year of Redux docket! The featured films covered by The Brothers Wilson are her career commencing, beauty pageant, black comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous; her first foray into a big budget comic book movie franchise, Man of Steel; and linguistic sci-fi puzzler Arrival. Along the way, there are some naughty well wishes from classic fans of the show, a challenge gauntlet thrown down by The Orgs, and a thanking for Sheryl Crow.

Hey, an Actor's Year of Redux continues with The Brothers Wilson profiling Halle Berry once again. The focus shifts from her early career supporting role in Eddie Murphy vehicle Boomerang to her ill-fated titular performance in 2004's Catwoman, then to her major contribution to the Wachowskis' ambitious filmic adaptation of Cloud Atlas. Along the way Ian fills Pandy in on the on-set fatality of the original Crow movie, the Wilson family trip to Edinburgh is analyzed, and a shout-out / mention goes to Donovan Grant's gran. And how do the brothers handle the inevitability of the podcast's new sponsorship deals?

The Year of Redux commences! The Brothers Wilson's victory lap after 100 episodes will consist of previously covered actors that we feel deserve an update or second go, and what better way to start than with Will Smith. Ian and Pandy discuss sci-fi comedy Men in Black, biopic Ali, and Netflix juggernaut Bright, as well as what has happened in the 10-ish years since last they explored his career. Plus: can Will Smith be considered a "safe pair of hands" with his movie choices? How have the events of the 2023 Oscars affected his career? How awesome is Bright!? All the questions answered, a new celebrity endorsement, and more in this audio gift for your ears!