Sandra Bullock

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler hosts a heartfelt and humorous conversation with acclaimed actress Sandra Bullock on the podcast 'Good Hang.' The episode features candid

Key takeaways

• Sandra Bullock emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships and self-care, especially during difficult times like caregiving.

Main topics

• Sandra Bullock's career diversity and acting range
• Behind-the-scenes dynamics of 'Practical Magic 2'

Notable quotes

"She's like a mother to us on the side. She just likes ever since has been... a mother to us." – Maisie Williams

Conclusion

The episode closes with a touching tribute to caretaking and emotional

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:04) Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Boy, we are excited about our guest today. She's a gigantic movie star and an incredible talent. And it's the one, the only Sandra Bullock. Sandy Bullock is here today. And we talk about so many things. We're going to get into it. We're going to talk about her love of physical comedy. We're going to find out her favorite German word, and I'm going to try to guess what it means. We're going to talk about what a nightmare it is to stand next to Nicole Kidman on a red carpet. And we are going to talk about her new movie, Practical Magic 2, out this week. It is great. Check it out. She is incredible. credible. We are lucky to have her. And we always do this at the beginning of our episodes. We talk well behind our guests' back and we find somebody who knows our guests and wants to give me a question to ask them. So we are joined today by two of her co-stars from Practical Magic who play her daughters in the film and great, incredibly talented actresses in their own right, Joey King and Maisie Williams. Hello, ladies. Speaker 2 (1:08) This episode is brought to you by Uber. You know those little choices you make that give you more comfort throughout the day, like planning your outfit the night before, sharing your location with a friend when heading home late, taking the actual lunch break away from your desk. Uber has one too. It's called Women Preferences, and it lets women riders request a woman driver directly in the app. Because sometimes having a little more choice can make a big difference. It's a simple option that can help women feel more comfortable during their ride. Learn more on the Uber app. Speaker 2 (1:50) M.G. Look at who I'm getting to talk to. Double trouble right over here. Someone just rang my door. Wait, someone's at your door. Wait, take us with you. Who is it? My Speaker 4 (2:01) husband's answering. You know what I think? I think it's part of his anniversary present. I got him just arrived right at this moment. Oh my gosh, Speaker 2 (2:08) what did you get him? Tell us. We won't tell anyone. Speaker 4 (2:12) I Speaker 1 (2:12) got, because it's our three-year wedding anniversary. He's right over there. You're Speaker 4 (2:15) going to hear what I got. It's fine. Just go in the other room. Speaker 4 (2:19) I got him three years of leather, so I got him a really nice, like, leather carry-on. And Speaker 2 (2:24) someone's delivering it to the house? Speaker 4 (2:28) That's fancy. Well, I got it shipped. Okay, Speaker 2 (2:31) okay, so it's just someone who shipped it. Okay, got it. I bought it online. I thought it was like a white glove service where, like, a butler is delivering a leather case. Speaker 4 (2:41) I want my bag to have a butler. Speaker 2 (2:45) Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry if we ruined the surprise, but that was exciting. We get excited when somebody rings it. I mean, I'm sorry. Someone rang Speaker 4 (2:51) the doorbell. Speaker 2 (2:51) Who rings a doorbell anymore? Like there's no, like we had this happen on, on the show when, when we were with Rachel Dratch. Yes. Speaker 3 (3:01) Amy, Speaker 2 (3:01) we know. Speaker 3 (3:05) Oh Speaker 4 (3:05) my God, the best. That clip comes up on my feed all the time and I watch it just, I watch it full through every time I see it. Speaker 2 (3:13) Joey King, Maisie Williams, I just want to say, I love and have watched everything you guys have done. When I saw that you were in this, in Practical Magic 2, when I saw that you were the daughters in the film, I was like, okay, okay, we're going heavy hitter here. We've got a four top, a real heavy four top. With Nicole and Sandy and you two. I'm like, incredible. Speaker 4 (3:35) Oh, my God. Also, Speaker 2 (3:37) you're crushing it on TikTok. Speaker 3 (3:39) We love making TikToks. Speaker 2 (3:41) We really do. Your Speaker 4 (3:43) TikToks are so good. Oh, my God. It makes me so, like, I feel I'm, like, blushing that you watch them. Speaker 2 (3:50) Now, Joey, you've been on TikTok for a minute. Me? Yeah, I've Speaker 4 (3:54) been there from the beginning. Been there a while. You Speaker 2 (3:59) were there before Speaker 4 (3:59) COVID, I believe, which is... The birth. My sister got me on TikTok. I remember to promote one of the Kissing Booth movies. She was like, you've got to get on TikTok and start dancing. And I was like, all right, soldier. Whatever you say. Speaker 2 (4:13) Yep. And now here we are. I feel like I've been watching you guys depressed for this movie. And it's been very cool to watch not only, like I've said, very talented women get to do... something very special together, but it does feel like you have all really enjoyed working together. Yeah. Speaker 3 (4:32) It was so much fun. It was, it's kind of crazy. It was a year ago to the date that we finished, I think. Right, Joey? You're right. Yeah. It was so, we spent the whole summer together. It was beautiful. And then doing all this press together has just been like such a dream. Just a lot of giggling actually. Yeah. So Speaker 4 (4:50) much, so much giggling. Maisie's like my favorite. woman ever so this has just been like the greatest joy to make such a close friend through this film that's all about sisterhood oh every time you know they always are like what spell would you cast and press if you had to cast one spell and my answer every time was like i just want maisie to live closer to me that Speaker 3 (5:12) would be so nice living in la we Speaker 4 (5:15) were literally in the waiting room to come on here and we're just like texting like we just can't stop We can't stop communicating. Speaker 2 (5:24) Maisie, play your cards right and a leather briefcase will be hand delivered to your door in just a few years. Okay, so we're talking, I am talking to Sandra Bullock today, whom I really don't think I have met. Okay. Yeah, I mean, I am of the age where we may have met and I forget, but I don't think so. We've never really properly met. What was your first experience meeting Sandy? And what do you love about working with her? And should I call her Sandy right away? Speaker 3 (5:56) I feel like, yes. Okay. You should just rock straight in with Sandy. Okay. I feel like she'd love it. And she always introduced herself that way. I met her, she immediately offered me some Haribo, I think, which just like broke the ice, which was lovely. And it was at the read-through. Speaker 2 (6:11) Just to be clear, that's a gummy bear. Speaker 3 (6:13) Yes. A gummy bear. Got it. Speaker 3 (6:17) Right. Yeah. Speaker 2 (6:18) Important to make that distinction. Speaker 3 (6:21) Yes. Yeah. And she texts us immediately. It's your mother here. Like how she gets that. Mother. Mother. It's your mother. It's your mother. And she just like ever since has just been. Like a mother to us on the side has been so special. We went for a little sleepover at her house. It was cool. Speaker 2 (6:46) Wait, tell us, say more about that. What do you mean? Before you started shooting, you did? No. Speaker 3 (6:50) It was like after a night shoot, after the night, after a night shoot, we went there and we had little cocktails at like six Speaker 4 (6:57) o'clock in the morning and then Speaker 3 (6:59) stayed over in her little cottage. And then the next day we got to go in the hot tub. We raided her fridge and ate all her food. She had to go to work. She left us in the house. And then we just like ate and sat on the sofa, watched like YouTube. Speaker 4 (7:12) It was nice. Speaker 4 (7:15) It was so nice. It was, I mean, she's just the best. She's such a nurturing spirit. She's like, she's one of those people who, you know, she says that she'll always be there for you. And she's like, really means it. Like she'll answer the call anytime, any day. I've texted her in distress before being like, I need your advice on something. And she's like calling now. And so, and that's just such a, she's such a, she's such a. like a girl's girl. And also just like, I don't know. She's just, I'm so amazed by her and her and everything she's been through and she handles herself with so much grace and elegance. And I just, and she's, she's just so hot Speaker 2 (7:55) too. I know. She's so hot. She's so hot. It's a lot, like it's a lot. It's hard to ask somebody like, why are you so hot? I think you have to. That'll be my first question. Speaker 4 (8:06) Why are you so hot? Speaker 2 (8:07) Why are you so hot? No, but she has this thing. I mean, we've been like, you know, we get ready for our guests and we're like reviewing their body of work and her body of work is so diverse. It's incredible. She has been in a space movie that has made a gazillion dollars. She has done like really deep, intense drama. She's done horror. She's done incredible physical comedy. She's been done hugely successful romantic comedies. She's done, she can do it all. How does she like to work? And what was it like working with her in this film? I Speaker 3 (8:40) mean, I love watching her. She's almost like tinker, especially if it's like a physical comedy scene. She's really building it. She'll get to set early. She'll rehearse on her own. She'll block with supporting artists. And she'll build it and build it and build it. And each take, she adds something more. But it's like she's constantly finessing. one idea and it's like so amazing to watch and it's like really nice to watch someone doing something that seems so off the cuff and so natural but they're like and they've thought about it a lot and they know what props they want to have. And they, and like, I just, I liked to see that on set. Like it was a peek behind the curtain because everything she does is so funny and it seems so natural and seems just so in the moment, but like, it takes a lot of work for her to do something that she's like really happy with. And we got to watch that time and time and time again on this Speaker 4 (9:34) movie. She's also just a really great, generous actor too. Like there was just some stuff where we had, where it was like really emotional. for either me or Nicole and like the way that she would support us when it was like our turn to have like a, like a really tough moment or a big moment was so just beautiful. And it's like inspiring and, and so special because she, she takes her job so seriously. And she also takes making sure others experience a good job too. So seriously. I Speaker 2 (10:08) ask, um, the, um, the people that I have the pleasure to Zoom with, if they have a question for my guest. And I was curious if you think there's anything I should ask her today on your behalf. Speaker 3 (10:22) I think she's got such, like, there's such a lack of vanity to the way that she approaches physical comedy. And I think it's really, like, I get very self-conscious on set. And I know that there are times in her life where she feels self-conscious, but it's never in front of the camera. So it seems like it's never in front of the camera. And I just, like, has that always been just instinctive? Or is that something that she's, like, crafted? Like, if she's feeling self-conscious, how does she get out of it? Like, I just, like, really... I really want to know how she battled that. Speaker 4 (10:58) I love that question, Maisie. I think that's such a good question. Speaker 2 (11:01) Okay, and what's yours, Joey? My Speaker 4 (11:03) question for Sandra is I want to know when the last time she just quietly thought to herself, does it get any better than this? Like, what's the last moment she had that was so, does it get any better than this? Speaker 2 (11:16) Oh, that's such a beautiful question. And it's going to also help her. get back to that moment? That's a really generous question. I'm Speaker 4 (11:26) excited to watch the episode because I'm excited to like see where she goes mentally with where she arrives. I think that'll be special. Speaker 2 (11:34) Oh, that's a great question. You guys are so smart and talented. And the future. You're the future. So we're in really good hands. And I've Speaker 4 (11:44) always said that. Speaker 2 (11:48) And we all know that the future looks incredible and there's nothing to worry about. Yeah, Speaker 4 (11:52) literally. Speaker 4 (11:55) These are perfect in our hands. Come on. Speaker 2 (11:57) Well, thank you so much for your time. I know she'll be thrilled that I talked to you both and I bet she's got the warmest things to say right back to you. So thank you guys so much for doing this. We Speaker 3 (12:07) love you, Amy. Thank you for having us. Speaker 2 (12:11) Thank Speaker 3 (12:11) you so much for having us. Thank Speaker 2 (12:12) you so much. Such a pleasure to meet you both. Hope to get you in the stewed. Yes. Speaker 3 (12:17) We Speaker 4 (12:17) would love. Great. Speaker 2 (12:19) Me too. Okay. Bye. Bye. Speaker 2 (12:25) Folks, it's officially fall, which means we've entered the season of change. Changing leaves, refreshed wardrobes, and new routines. But the one thing that doesn't need to change? Your phone. The smartest upgrade this season isn't a new phone. It's a better wireless plan. Switch to Visible, the ultimate wireless hack. You get unlimited 5G data and unlimited hotspot. powered by Verizon for just $25 a month. That means keeping the phone you already love, ditching your overpriced phone bill, and saving enough to give yourself a pumpkin spice all season long. All the perks of big wireless for half the cost. Switch today. at visible.com. The Visible plan starts at $25 a month or get our premium Visible Plus plan and save $10 on your first month with promo code HANG. Terms apply. See visible.com for plan features and network management details. Sandra Bullock is here. We looked at the fake food. Yes, Speaker 1 (13:21) we Speaker 2 (13:21) did. I'm very, very excited. Thank you for buying. I know you're in the middle of a lot of talking. I Speaker 1 (13:26) am super excited because I'm excited to be in the company of your brain. Truly. Speaker 2 (13:32) Same. And your sweater says shenanigans. Speaker 1 (13:34) It's from the film. It's something Aunt Jet says. And let's start there. Okay. Speaker 2 (13:41) Because when Speaker 1 (13:43) I was Speaker 2 (13:43) thinking about how to start this interview, which I've been very excited for, we were just talking about the fact that you really can do so many things well and how tiring it must be to be good at so many things. You know what it is? Speaker 2 (14:00) You're a physical comedian. You're an incredibly successful producer. You can do really deep, meaningful things, big and small. You've been in huge Speaker 1 (14:10) hits. You've been in small. In stinkers. You've been in huge hits and then some that have failed. You've been in huge Speaker 2 (14:14) hits. You've been in things people don't choose to see. Yeah. And you've withstood that. Yes. Did I? Speaker 1 (14:23) But Speaker 2 (14:23) you are, to me. You have what Lucille Ball has. You have what Carol Burnett has. You have like a physicality. You have timing. What did you guys laugh at in your family when you were little? Because Speaker 1 (14:36) you have really interesting creative parents. Really interesting parents. Had. They're dead. So they're up here. My mother was German. Right. So right there. What Speaker 2 (14:46) is Speaker 1 (14:46) she laughing at? Speaker 2 (14:47) Not funny. Speaker 1 (14:49) Really did not have a sense of humor. Which. Speaker 1 (14:54) actually makes you want to challenge that on a daily basis. Yeah. Speaker 2 (14:59) My Speaker 1 (14:59) father was from Birmingham, Alabama. English, Irish, French, you know, like storyteller from the South. Speaker 4 (15:07) So Speaker 1 (15:08) he had a rhythm of his own. But I really think I got it from trying to break my mother. She was trying to Speaker 4 (15:17) break me. Speaker 1 (15:17) Yeah. By making her laugh. And it was always when I hurt myself, when I fell. So, which kind of goes hand in hand with the Germans. Speaker 2 (15:25) She would laugh hard when you fell. She would laugh Speaker 1 (15:27) so hard. And I went, my mother didn't laugh a lot. So to get joy out of her Speaker 2 (15:31) was Speaker 1 (15:31) everything. My dad, I had, I had in the pocket, but my mother really was someone that I knew wanted to laugh and needed it. But when I finally found it, it was like, it was my little ace in the pocket. It, she, she. She was a tough audience. Speaker 2 (15:49) Was there any American stuff that she laughed at that she liked when you were younger? Do you remember her laughing at anything or liking any pop culture American TV? We Speaker 1 (15:58) didn't really have a lot of TV in the house. We didn't Speaker 2 (16:00) have Speaker 1 (16:00) magazines. I lived overseas. We watched foreign films. I would always gravitate to the ones that had a physicality so you could understand it. But no, my mother was an artist. She was an opera singer and it was very serious. I'm incredibly intrigued by this. She was extraordinary. And I notice that now more than ever being a mom and seeing her practice her craft, which was incredibly annoying to me. Speaker 2 (16:29) Yeah, of course. It Speaker 1 (16:31) was loud. Yeah. And it was in the basement of our house. permeate the whole neighborhood as we're playing like kickball outside. You hear her vocalizing and you're just like, you have very good posture. I'm Speaker 2 (16:41) trying. Did she have really good posture? Yes. Yeah. She was breath Speaker 1 (16:44) control and all that stuff. All of it from the diaphragm. She was, she was, so she was, she practiced a high art. So did my father. Yeah. But he just had that Southern thing that was more relaxed, but also to control the room and put the remedies. She had no desire to put the remedies. Incredible. None whatsoever. Speaker 2 (17:02) I'm always fascinated by the people that can stay quiet and that don't feel the need to change the temperature in the room. It's fascinating to me. It's like such Speaker 1 (17:12) a power move. It is. It's funny that you bring that up because today I had that very conversation with my sister. I was like, I am so tired of hearing myself talk. Oh, babe. She goes, I'm like. Speaker 1 (17:27) And it's also the press junket. I feel like I'm here to just share and do whatever. But she says, you know, it's also your undiagnosed ADHD and your trauma response. I went, Speaker 2 (17:38) okay. You're like, wow, Speaker 1 (17:39) you Speaker 2 (17:39) read for Phil. Thank you so much. But has this ever happened to you where you're on a conference call and you're accidentally on mute? And you're talking, but you're on mute. And then you get off mute and you realize like, I've actually just been the most powerful I've ever been by not talking, by pausing for more than 10 seconds. But I never do that. I have to work at it. Okay. We were talking about, we were talking about your German mom, but we're talking about opera. I, your relationship to music is really interesting to me. I've learned that about knowing you, not only like. As a producer, you're picking music for the projects you make. There's really good needle drops that are in films that you make because of you. But you sang opera. No, I did not. Oh, you didn't? Speaker 1 (18:23) Are you a singer? Not even close. Okay. No, I'm not one of those who says, oh, I can't sing and then I'll be in the car and I'll belt something out. And they're like, you've got a great voice. Okay, you know you don't have a good voice. I should not be singing. But what I have is great rhythm. Yeah. Timing. Timing. But Speaker 2 (18:44) you sang with your parents. Were you not in operas? Yes, I was in the back. Speaker 1 (18:48) I was in the background. There's always like some filthy child stealing money and coins off the floor. That was me. Speaker 2 (18:55) And so do you feel, did your mom want you to be a singer? Did she ever want you? No. She knew. Speaker 1 (19:00) Look, there could only be, she knew. There was only one her. Speaker 4 (19:06) And Speaker 1 (19:06) she was of the highest order of talent. She was the one. I was the jokester. I found Speaker 4 (19:14) my Speaker 1 (19:15) way to