Emmy Rossum on making Furious and Surviving an FBI Boot Camp

Acclaimed actress, director, and producer Emmy Rossum joins Maria Sharapova for a candid conversation on building a 30-year career on her own terms. From getting her start in the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus to holding her own alongside legends like Sean Penn at age 16, to spending nine transformative years on the hit show Shameless where she famously advocated for equal pay, Emmy has continually pushed the boundaries of her craft. Now, she is taking on more creative control as an executive producer and star of the hit thriller Furious on Hulu. SUBSCRIBE►Subscribe to Pretty Tough: https://www.youtube.com/@mariasharapova?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN:►Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠:  https://pod.link/1893437254 CHAPTERS 0:00 – Intro: The Athlete's Mindset in Acting 2:15 – Growing Up on Shameless: Navigating Nine Years and Developing a Front-Row Seat to Production 8:00 – The Ballsy Move: Fighting for Equal Pay and Overcoming the Stigma Around Asking for Your Worth 12:20 – Behind the Scenes of Furious: Finding Dark Catharsis and Developing a Character with Grit 16:30 – Wearing Two Hats: How Emmy Balances Executive Producing and Acting on Set 19:20 – Sticking to Your Lane? Why Emmy Ignored the Doubters and Launched Her Production Company 21:40 – Quantico Boot Camp: Physical Training, Weapons Handling, and Learning How to Be an FBI Agent 24:45 – The Arsenal of Coaches: Why Dialect, Movement, and Breath Work Matter to the Craft 28:00 – Working with Clint Eastwood on Mystic River and Discovering a Process 31:00 – Auditioning for Phantom of the Opera at 16 in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Living Room 36:30 – Singing with Dolly Parton and Learning Humility from Legends 39:35 – Managing Fame as a Currency and Keeping Life Grounded 41:15 – Creative Collaboration: Working Alongside Her Husband, Director Sam Esmail 46:35 – Pretty Tough Rapid-Fire: Unlearning Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, and Finding FluidityFOLLOW THE SHOW►Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasharapova/►Maria on X: https://x.com/MariaSharapova►Pretty Tough on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettytough/?hl=en About Pretty Tough Pretty Tough is the weekly interview podcast hosted by five-time Grand Slam champion, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Maria Sharapova. Each week, Maria sits down with founders, CEOs, athletes, creatives, investors, and other high achievers for candid conversations about leadership, ambition, decision-making, performance, entrepreneurship, wellness, and building exceptional careers.Drawing from her own experience at the highest levels of sport and business, Maria explores what it really takes to succeed—from navigating failure and reinvention to scaling companies, leading teams, and pursuing excellence over the long term. About Maria Sharapova Maria Sharapova is a five-time Grand Slam champion, former World No. 1 tennis player, entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and one of the most recognizable athletes of her generation. Since retiring from professional tennis, she has built businesses, invested in consumer, technology, and lifestyle companies, and become a respected voice on leadership, performance, and entrepreneurship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices