Monica Lewinsky

Next up, actress Journey Smollett.

I think something we have in common is we're both really interested in the idea around transgenerational trauma and epigenetics.

And I think you were talking about how that, like, you're feeling your DNA has the memory of your ancestors of both, right?

Like, your mom, who's Black and from the South, and your dad, who was Jewish.

And so I'm curious...

as to how you figured that out for yourself, that you're looking at all this transgenerational memory that's come through from all these vast experiences and how that impacts what you're bringing to the screen.

Oh, I love that question.

I don't know that I've ever been asked it in that way before.

Yes, I am very fascinated by memory, blood memory, how our DNA holds instructions.

And there's so much research out there about that now.

It's really, really fascinating.

And yes, I sit at the intersection of multiple identities.

I was raised...

you know, by a black woman.

And my dad passed away a few years ago, but he Ashkenazi.

And so growing up, my mom really made such an effort to give us guidance in knowing that, okay, you have this very eclectic background and you come from multiple cultures, but you don't have to, um,

be one of those people that's just like walking through life lost, right?

Like she really wanted us to just, it was just about embracing our whole self.

And yes, I am a black woman and I know how the world sees me.

And I know the limitations the world wants to put on me.