Episode 6: Kathryn Hahn

Kathryn Hahn has played them all. From her critically acclaimed roles of Mrs. Fletcher on the eponymously named HBO series to Agatha/Agnes Harkness on Disney +’s WandaVision, and now staring as Claire Debella in Rain Johnson's "Glass Onion: Knives Out 2," Kathryn has left the idea of typecasting and pigeonholes in her formidable dust. At the core of her ability to shape shift into a variety of roles is her Yale School of Drama training which she describes as “there is something about a craft [training] that anchors me to something ancient… My career is not a fluke.” 

It is refreshing to hear someone in our current world speak about the importance of training and expertise, particularly in an industry that will have us believe that famous people have a special quality that sets them above the rest of us mere mortals. In a time when people seek fame so quickly and recklessly, Kathryn speaks honestly about how flying under the radar through much of her career and doing the work has given her the freedom to make unexpected and varied choices in her roles. This freedom has given her longevity and much respect. 

Equally important to her success has been her ability to know her worth and ask for what she wants. She tells us, “The vulnerable first step off the cliff is terrifying” when you ask for what you want, but you must take that step with love and zero defensiveness. 

Hers is advice that hearkens back to another time; keep your head down, do your work, treat people with love and kindness. These words may not be fodder for sizzling headlines, but for creating a successful career, she proves the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical Into the Woods, “Witches can be right.”