Monica Lewinsky

I think I felt more self-conscious about being Monica Lewinsky than being an older student. Yeah, it was a little harder. And I think it was.

I think in terms of being older, that went away. So I think once I made friends, and I've always been a big believer of like, you just need one friend, one person to have lunch with, one person to go to the movies with. And I made several friends that I'm still close to today. But graduate school was really interesting for me because it sort of became the mirror of my trauma.

I think in terms of being older, that went away. So I think once I made friends, and I've always been a big believer of like, you just need one friend, one person to have lunch with, one person to go to the movies with. And I made several friends that I'm still close to today. But graduate school was really interesting for me because it sort of became the mirror of my trauma.

So it was like all of the things that I hadn't totally understood had damaged me came to the surface. So I hadn't realized the impact of having been called stupid for such a long time. So I couldn't get up and give a presentation in class.

So it was like all of the things that I hadn't totally understood had damaged me came to the surface. So I hadn't realized the impact of having been called stupid for such a long time. So I couldn't get up and give a presentation in class.

Like I was – and my imposter syndrome around I was afraid to go – like when we had to write essays and do dissertation, which I'd never done a dissertation or thesis, whatever it was. I was too – I was too worried about going to ask for help because I was anxious that what I needed help with, everybody else knew. And then they would like go, oh, you don't really belong here. Yeah.

Like I was – and my imposter syndrome around I was afraid to go – like when we had to write essays and do dissertation, which I'd never done a dissertation or thesis, whatever it was. I was too – I was too worried about going to ask for help because I was anxious that what I needed help with, everybody else knew. And then they would like go, oh, you don't really belong here. Yeah.

You know, so there was that. Yeah. But you got through it. I did. I did. And you got skills that you use today, don't you? Well, yeah. I think, you know, I think I read Rashida Jones said this once somewhere and it was so perfect that I've stolen it, that a master's degree gives you a new lens. And so that is completely, you know, it really reoriented me.

You know, so there was that. Yeah. But you got through it. I did. I did. And you got skills that you use today, don't you? Well, yeah. I think, you know, I think I read Rashida Jones said this once somewhere and it was so perfect that I've stolen it, that a master's degree gives you a new lens. And so that is completely, you know, it really reoriented me.

And how I looked at myself, my own story, but also what happened to me in the world because I was studying social psychology. But I – yeah. Go back to school. Well, I'm – You know, you can take one – I don't know how many classes you have to take a thing to be matriculated, but –

And how I looked at myself, my own story, but also what happened to me in the world because I was studying social psychology. But I – yeah. Go back to school. Well, I'm – You know, you can take one – I don't know how many classes you have to take a thing to be matriculated, but –

And I don't know, maybe your time in Paris was like this. But for me, it was like fumbling. I was just fumbling trying to move forward and didn't really know where. how to do that, which way to go, where to go. And so, okay, well, this isn't working. So what's the opposite of this? Okay, I'll try that. And that doesn't work. And you're, you know, kind of so.

And I don't know, maybe your time in Paris was like this. But for me, it was like fumbling. I was just fumbling trying to move forward and didn't really know where. how to do that, which way to go, where to go. And so, okay, well, this isn't working. So what's the opposite of this? Okay, I'll try that. And that doesn't work. And you're, you know, kind of so.

Were you writing all along and it was just sort of one of those things where you eventually felt ready to let people read your writing? Or did you sort of start to discover that you were a writer?

Were you writing all along and it was just sort of one of those things where you eventually felt ready to let people read your writing? Or did you sort of start to discover that you were a writer?

That's so interesting. I've never thought about the connection of, you know, I mean, obviously actors inhabit other people and personas, but but I haven't ever really thought about it or heard maybe of that. interest coming from sort of trying to understand the human condition better.

That's so interesting. I've never thought about the connection of, you know, I mean, obviously actors inhabit other people and personas, but but I haven't ever really thought about it or heard maybe of that. interest coming from sort of trying to understand the human condition better.

You know, it's really interesting.

You know, it's really interesting.

One thing I wanted to go back to, because you were mentioning it before, and this is in connection to John and the sort of early years, you wrote this extraordinary piece in The New Yorker. um, in 2018 about exactly like what you were saying before about recontextualizing, I think for, um, for today's world, like what these films meant.