How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Marlee Matlin
It was her father's only day off, so her family made a weekly tradition of meeting up with close friends for breakfast at a local deli. Afterward, she and her family of five would do a season-friendly activity — apple picking in the fall or a Chicago Cubs game during the summer, perhaps — before wrapping up with a finale event they called 'takeout Sundays.'
'Sundays were always my favorite day because I knew that we'd all be together,' says Matlin, who became the first deaf actor to win an Oscar in 1987 at the tender age of 21. During our Zoom call, she communicated via an interpreter.
Throughout her career, the 'Coda' star has been vocal about her battles with addiction and sexual abuse, but fans are getting an even more intimate look into her life via her latest project, 'Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,' which is showing in select theaters nationwide and will be available on demand on August 22. When she was approached to do a documentary, Matlin says it was a no-brainer for her to have her longtime friend and fellow deaf actor, Shoshannah Stern, direct it.
'What better way to have two deaf women who have similar shared life experiences to tell my story?' Matlin says. In the 1980s, she convinced lawmakers to add closed captioning to television programming.
The veteran actor and activist has been a self proclaimed 'California girl' for nearly 40 years, but says that she will always be a 'Chicago girl at heart.' (The skyline of the neighborhood she grew up in, Morton Grove, is proudly tattooed on her forearm.) These days, she's enjoying empty-nester life with her husband Kevin Grandalski. Her ideal Sunday in L.A. involves visiting the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, getting her steps in at the Rose Bowl, having a slice of pizza in Eagle Rock and spending quality time with her 14-month-old granddaughter.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
6 a.m.: Take care of my pets
If I had the choice, I would probably wake up at 8 a.m., but because I have a cat, it's 6 a.m. I also have a dog who needs to be taken out on a walk. Like a fool, he barks at every other dog that we encounter, and I have apologize to each dog owner.
Then I have to have to have breakfast. I'm a breakfast person. I don't skip it. I love my oatmeal with a little bit of brown sugar and blueberries. If I'm in the mood, I'll make some turkey bacon and make sure it's extra crispy, and I drink my Red Bull sugar free. I know I'm going to get a lot of flack because I drink a Red Bull in the morning, but that's what I drink. I like my drink, and it's as simple as that. I don't drink coffee. I wish I did, but I don't like the taste.
After I've gotten breakfast out of the way, I have to make my bed. I can't even leave the house with an unmade bed. I have to make the bed immediately, and my husband knows that very well.
10 a.m.: Go shopping for new threads
I might go to Rose Bowl either for the flea market, which is open once a month, or for a walk. Before I had foot surgery, I would always go and walk around the Rose Bowl at least twice for a total of six miles. I love power walking.
Afterward, I would go to a couple of boutiques that I like. I'm a big supporter of small local businesses, so I would stop by Tuck in Pasadena and Everson Clare in La Cañada Flintridge. They are both female-owned, and they care about their customers a great deal. Both of them are very good friends of mine. They both work so hard to get their stores opened. I watched them from their inception to where they are today. They have different clothing styles that seem to fit me well. Then there are some stores that I'll go to in Studio City. You can find me at Sephora, Nordstrom or HomeGoods.
2 p.m.: Pick a favorite L.A. activity
If we're in the mood to be active, we'll go to Descanso Gardens or to a Dodgers game. We recently went to Shot of Art, and it's so fun. It's similar to paintball. You create art on a canvas as it spins. I just got reelected as the governor of the Academy Museum, so I'll make sure to go there. Being governor and a member of the Academy, they have been nothing but so supportive of my community and many other underrepresented communities as well. Everyone who has a love for film or history [and] how films are made should go to the museum. Even if you [do] not, you'll be surprised.
4 p.m.: Quality time with my granddaughter
Then I'll come back home to spend time with my granddaughter, who is 14 months old. We'll have playtime at the house. She's always exploring. She loves the cat. She runs after her, and I'm always the one having to run after the baby. So there's the three of us running around: cat, baby, then me. I'll take her to the park, which is down the street. Just being with her is the most important thing. We are just in awe of watching her grow, exploring the world and watching what she learns. That's the perfect Sunday for me.
6 p.m.: Enjoy an early dinner
I love to cook on Sundays and have an early dinner. I have a whole raft of cookbooks and recipes that I've printed out. I'll just take that big stack and search through it. I'm not somebody who does a whole lot of research. I just pick one and then go for it. I love to barbecue, and I love to bake desserts. I have a sweet tooth. I set up a candy bar — like a bar for candy — in my house. It's dangerous to have a candy bar. Wait until my granddaughter grows old enough to realize what the candy bar is actually about.
But if I don't feel like cooking, we might go to Casa Bianca. It's a pizza shop in Eagle Rock. The pizzas, the mozarella sticks and the salads are fantastic. The chicken piccata is great, and the people who own it are just wonderful people and so welcoming.
8 p.m.: Backgammon before bed
I'll spend time with my husband after dinner, and we'll clean up. Then I'd check my phone to see what's coming up for the week. Depending on what's going on, I'll get in touch with the kids and play backgammon on my phone — just spend time winding the day down. And I'll take an evening walk. Before I close shop, I have to take the dog out once more. I go to bed early. I'm usually in bed by 9:30 p.m.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
11 minutes ago
- USA Today
'Happy Gilmore 2': The wildest celebrity cameos, from Travis Kelce to Ken Jennings
Spoiler alert! We're discussing major plot details from the sequel 'Happy Gilmore 2' (streaming now on Netflix). It's all in the hips. Adam Sandler's oafish pro golfer is back on screen for the first time in nearly 30 years, in a new movie that follows the titular Happy Gilmore as he attempts to get back in the game and raise his five kids after the death of wife Virginia (Julie Bowen) in a hurtling golf ball accident. Christopher McDonald, as Happy's nemesis Scooter McGavin, and Ben Stiller, as abusive orderly Hal L, have also returned. Here are some of the most memorable A-list appearances from actors, musicians and athletes throughout the new movie: Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Bad Bunny The Puerto Rican hitmaker continues to make inroads into acting, after 2022's 'Bullet Train' and Darren Aronofsky's 'Caught Stealing' (in theaters Aug. 29). Here, he plays Oscar, a good-natured busboy-turned-caddie for Happy. Benny Safdie After co-directing Sandler in 2019's nail-biting 'Uncut Gems,' Safdie chews the scenery as main antagonist Frank Manatee, the conniving owner of a sports drink company. Travis Kelce The Kansas City Chiefs tight end (and beau to Taylor Swift) makes an amusing cameo as a strict restaurant manager, whom Oscar dreams of covering in honey and feeding to a bear. Please Don't Destroy The 'Saturday Night Live' viral sketch trio appears throughout the movie: Martin Herlihy, who is also the son of the film's co-writer, Tim Herlihy, plays an amateur golfer who mercilessly taunts Happy when he comes out of retirement. Ben Marshall and John Higgins also make blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos as irreverent, shirtless spectators during a game. Eric André and Margaret Qualley Like Herlihy, the stand-up comedian and 'The Substance' actress pop in as unimpressed putters who fall victim to a fiery golf cart crash at the hands of the inebriated Happy. Eminem, Post Malone and Kid Cudi The rappers all have small but memorable roles in the new film: Eminem, as a bearded heckler named Donald Jr.; Malone, as outlandish golf commentator DJ Omar Gosh; and Cudi, as an FBI agent who apprehends Stiller's character at the end of the movie. Guy Fieri The 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives' favorite drops in late in the movie as a golf tournament official who gets the crowd fired up. Haley Joel Osment The Oscar-nominated child star, best known for 'The Sixth Sense' and 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence,' has a substantial supporting role as Happy's cocky golf rival Billy Jenkins. Steve Buscemi The Hollywood veteran has appeared in many of Sandler's movies, including 'The Wedding Singer' and 'Billy Madison,' and has a minor part here as Happy's eccentric neighbor. Ken Jennings The 'Jeopardy!' host plays himself at the start of the film, as a long-retired Happy is distressed to learn that none of the game show's contestants have any idea who he is. Sean Evans from 'Hot Ones' Frank Manatee goes on a promotional tour in support of his sports drink brand, which includes an interview with celebrity wings master Evans, as well as real-life podcasters Bobby Lee and Alix Earle. Marcello Hernández The 'Saturday Night Live' heartthrob, who's beloved for his viral 'Domingo' sketches, is in and out as Oscar's cousin, Esteban.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Gwyneth Paltrow Takes On Surprise Role For Astronomer After Viral Video
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Astronomer, the New York data tech firm caught up in the Coldplay concert "kiss‑cam scandal," has hired actress Gwyneth Paltrow for a lighthearted marketing video which capitalizes on the attention driven by two executives caught canoodling at the gig. The company enlisted the Oscar-winning ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as a "very temporary spokesperson" in the tongue-in-cheek video. Why It Matters The clip follows the resignation of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot—both pictured in an embrace caught live on a jumbotron during the July 16 concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The CEO is still married, and Cabot was reportedly previously married to Kenneth Thornby, their divorce being finalized in 2022. The footage of Byron and Cabot ducking away from the camera, when they realized they were being filmed, quickly went viral. The original video amassed more than 45 million views on TikTok and millions more in reposts across other platforms. In this Nov. 7, 2015 file photo, Gwyneth Paltrow attends LACMA 2015 Art+Film Gala at LACMA in Los Angeles, Calif. In this Nov. 7, 2015 file photo, Gwyneth Paltrow attends LACMA 2015 Art+Film Gala at LACMA in Los Angeles, Calif. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP What To Know In the video, posted to X, Paltrow is sitting at a desk and thanks the public for their interest in Astronomer. She says: "I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer." She continues: "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones." Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. — Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 25, 2025 A question then appears on screen reading: "OMG, what the actual …" Before the final word appears, the video cuts back to Paltrow, who shifts to promoting some of Astronomer's services. In a subtle nod to the widespread attention the company has received, Paltrow adds, "We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation." Another question starts to appear on screen, typing out: "How is your social media team holding up?" But before it's finished, Paltrow interrupts abruptly, announcing that Astronomer has spaces available at an upcoming conference in September. She closes the video with: "We'll now be returning to what we do best: delivering game-changing results for our customers." Astronomer, a New York-based company, helps companies develop, grow, and analyze products using artificial intelligence. After Byron resigned, the company said in a statement: "Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met." Pete DeJoy, who has taken over as interim CEO, admitted on Monday that the company has faced an "unusual and surreal" amount of attention in recent days. On LinkedIn, he wrote: "While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name." What Happens Next Astronomer's board of directors has announced the start of a formal search for a new chief executive.
Cosmopolitan
3 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Gwyneth Paltrow is Astronomer's "spokesperson" after Coldplay Kiss Cam
For those keeping up with the Astronomer x Coldplay kiss-cam saga, a new (read: unexpected) update has broken the internet overnight. Gwyneth Paltrow — who, as we all know, is frontman Chris Martin's ex — has become Astronomer's "temporary spokesperson," appearing in a new corporate-style video for the DataOps company. Last night, the surprise parody video was shared on their website and social media, explaining that Gwyneth had been hired on a "very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer." Sitting behind a desk in a bare office and wearing a pale blue shirt, the 52-year-old began her monologue by thanking the world for its "interest in Astronomer." Code for: the viral clip of Andy Byron, former CEO of Astronomer, and HR specialist, Kristin Cabot, whose affair was exposed at the Boston Coldplay concert. Gwyneth continued: "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones." In an iconic PR move, on-screen text then started to type out: "OMG! What the actual f—." This was followed by the actor answering a completely different question, namely calling Astronomer the "best place to run Apache Airflow." More sarcastically, Gywneth then told the camera that she and the company have been "thrilled by how many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation." Other questions included, "How is your social media team holding up?" To which the Oscar winner responded by sharing that there is "still room available" at the company's Beyond Analytics event in September. Of course, after posting the video, the comment section went wild. From people calling it a "10/10 idea" to approach Gywneth for the role, to the classic, "the devil works hard, but Astronomer's PR team works harder," others simply called it a work of "genius." Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader's Digest, ITV's Woo! and Vice's NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024.
