Latest news with #SeasonedSessions
Buzz Feed
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
'Steven Universe': Estelle Opened Up About Being The Inspiration Behind Garnet
It's been eleven years since the iconic Steven Universe first aired in the UK. Garnet is one of the cartoon's most beloved characters, voiced by the talented Estelle. Well, on a recent episode of the podcast, Estelle opened up about working on Steven Universe, and she shared some details about the origins of Garnet that has made us love the show even more. Speaking on Seasoned Sessions, Estelle revealed that she loves cartoons (Bob's Burgers is her fave), and back in 2012, she told her team that she was really interested in venturing into voice acting. After asking about animation roles for six months, she got the call about a character that was described as a 'big sister,' and immediately said, 'I could do that, I'm a big sister in real life.' Estelle auditioned for both Garnet and Amethyst, and was told, 'Between your accent, the deepness of your voice, and the sarcasm; this is it.' The came about a few years after Estelle released the music video for her song, 'Freak,' where she took on the persona of a motherly figure on a mission to instil confidence in her children. Well, after securing the role of Garnet, Estelle learned from Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar that she actually based the character on her music video. 'She was based on how strong the character [in the 'Freak' video] looked,' Estelle shared – and you can see the similarities in the way Garnet's drawn. So, with Garnet being based on a character of Estelle's creation, the team approached her for an audition to see if she wanted to take on the role. And of course, the rest is history: a casting match made in heaven! You can listen to the full chat with Estelle below, and all episodes of Steven Universe are on Netflix, if you fancy a rewatch.
Buzz Feed
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Brian Tyree Henry Opened Up About His Career Journey, And Now We're Even More Obsessed
From Paper Boi to the MCU, there's a lot to be a fan of when it comes to Brian Tyree Henry. So when he joined us on Seasoned Sessions to talk about his latest show, Dope Thief, we had to talk to him about his career journey – from Atlanta and beyond. Here are some things we learned! Brian didn't plan on being an actor – he was originally studying Business, but when he went to the arts department, he knew he'd found his place. Business was never really an ambition for Brian, 'I was just following the herd of like, 'oh boy, everybody's doing business,' and I hated it.' He shared that one fateful day on campus changed his life; some friends took him along to audition for an all-Black adaptation of Antigone, and he was sold. Going to Yale was a bit of a culture shock, but his roots proved to be a strong foundation. Brian shared that from preschool to college, he only went to predominantly Black institutions, and this background really enriched his experience at Yale, an experience which he described as being 'exposed to the real world.' 'Because I was so ingrained and steeped in heritage and culture and learning about Black playwrights and poets and activists, like I was able to really put that into the work that I was doing,' he shared, saying that his experience at Yale gave him the space to learn all the essentials of acting and collaborate with many wonderful Black artists. He instantly knew he was a perfect fit to play Paper Boi, but he went into the audition with no expectations – he just wanted to have fun. FX It wasn't hard for Brian to get into character: 'I knew exactly who this dude was,' he shared, 'I immediately was like, oh, that's my best friend.' He had to dress as what he thought the character would wear, which was easy for him – 'Camo shorts, black polo, and an Atlanta Braves cap' – and the rest is history. The cast of Atlanta are like family to him. The chemistry between Brian, Donald Glover, and Lakeith Stanfield was instant. 'There was such an immediate connection,' he said, 'we were all just laughing and vibing.' The group was so tight that they permanently commemorated their bond on one of Brian's birthdays. 'Donald gave us a tattoo party and we all got the 'Atlanta A.' Except Zazie – she got her ears pierced,' he laughed. Brian knows that Atlanta is iconic, but he's still getting used to people calling him Paper Boi. FX 'My name is Brian,' he joked, 'I had this morbid thought one day: when I die, is the news going to be like 'Paper Boi Brian Tyree Henry'? And I was like, 'I don't want that, but that's okay.' He's made his peace with it, though, and can thank Paper Boi for making him one of Rihanna's favourite actors. He brings himself into every role, especially in Dope Thief. AppleTV+ In Dope Thief, Brian plays Ray, a former inmate trying to survive after prison. It's gritty, raw, and emotional, and he helped shape Ray's story from the ground up. 'When I read the script, I was like, 'if you put my body in this space, it changes the whole narrative,'' he said. 'It's really easy to see narratives where we have a Black and brown man and there's violence and drugs. But with this one, we really wanted to pull back and show the layers of what that friendship is because at the end of the day, these two men love each other. It's a love story.'
Buzz Feed
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Tramell Tillman Talks 'Severance' Secrets, Dance Moves, And Milchick's Mysterious Backstory
If you've been watching Severance, then you already know that Seth Milchick is one of the most intense, mysterious, and meme-worthy characters on TV. Apple tv+ Played by the enigmatic Tramell Tillman, Milchick went from being a slightly terrifying corporate enforcer to a fan favourite, and it turns out, there's a lot more to him than big words and dance moves. In the latest episode of Seasoned Sessions, we sat down with Tramell Tillman to talk all things Milchick – from representation and microaggressions to what Seth might be like behind the walls of Lumon. Tramell's route into acting is far from traditional – he was studying in med school before pursuing his passion. Apple tv+ Tramell told us that he 'fell in love with acting' as a child, but due to not having any mentors within the industry, he settled on becoming a doctor. After a pivot, in 2014, he became the first Black man to graduate with an MFA in acting; 'Hopefully I'm paving the way for someone else,' he shared. The famous Milkshake moves were freestyled. Apple tv+ Tramell made it clear that while he did freestyle, Milchick's vibe is very different to his own: 'How he moves is a machine, so it really was just tapping into this other energy he has and just let him fly.' He thinks Milchick may have a different approach to the severed floor than Cobel, and even Lumon as a whole. Apple tv+ Episode eight – Sweet Vitriol – explored Harmony Cobel's backstory, and we learned just how deeply her life was intertwined with Lumon, explaining her dedication to Kier. Since we've not seen much of Seth outside of Lumon, we wanted to know if Tramell thought he may have a similar background to Cobel. While he doesn't know his backstory, he pointed out that though things like the ORTBO and kindness reforms, Milchick's trying to offer the innies something different to what they've had before. Tramell considers the Kier paintings as one of the catalysts in Milchick's character arc. Apple tv+ In the Severance podcast, Tramell asked, 'Does Milchick know he's Black?' He explained what he meant by that, saying, ' Does he identify with his Blackness, with the culture? That's what I meant. Because even in real life, many people assimilate, or suppress parts of themselves to fit in – especially in corporate environments.' And we can all agree that Milchick went on a journey of identity this season. Tramell thinks the stakes were raised once he got promoted, and felt the pressure to deliver; 'I think every decision that he makes from episode three to 10 is influenced by that Kier painting and the cost of what it is to be a leader on the Severed floor without having the support.' The microaggressions and that scene with Drummond were (unfortunately) very relatable to Tramell. Apple tv+ In Season 2, Milchick gets penalised for using 'big words,' and the moment hit hard. 'I've had my speech policed often for being too articulate,' Tramell shared. 'And that scene with Drummond felt very, very real. You know, there is this expectation of Blackness and expectation of how we're supposed to speak and communicate.' Who would Seth be friends with outside of Lumon? Tramell reckons it would be Irving. Apple tv+ Tramell shared that it was painful to watch how things panned out between Irv and Seth, but on a lighter note, 'Irving's got swag. They'd definitely bond over the swag.'
