Vanessa Angel - Still Here Hollywood Podcast w/ Steve Kmetko

[TMC]

She was discovered at 15 in a London coffee shop… and within years, she was starring in major Hollywood films alongside legends.

In this episode, Steve Kmetko sits down with actress Vanessa Angel to talk about her unexpected rise from modeling to acting, working with icons like Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Woody Harrelson, and the reality behind building a career in Hollywood.

From Spies Like Us to Weird Science and Kingpin, Vanessa shares the moments that defined her journey, including the role she almost had that changed TV history, the truth about being a young model alone in the industry, and why she spent decades trying to be taken seriously.

She also opens up about imposter syndrome, personal growth, motherhood, and what success really means now after 40 years in the business.

This is a candid, funny, and surprisingly emotional conversation about fame, resilience, and finding yourself when the spotlight fades.

THIS IS STILL HERE HOLLYWOOD, I’M STEVE KMETKO. JOIN ME WITH TODAY’S GUEST, FROM WEIRD SCIENCE, ACTOR VANESSA ANGEL.

• 00:00 Intro, From modeling to Hollywood
• 01:04 Landing Spies Like Us and getting hooked on acting
• 03:30 “I didn’t know what I was doing” early career struggles
• 05:01 Training at the Actors Studio
• 07:13 Trauma, reflection, and emotional depth
• 09:18 Discovered at 15, navigating modeling alone
• 11:22 Paris, early industry exposure, and vulnerability
• 12:25 Arriving in New York, a life-changing moment
• 16:06 Modeling vs acting, finding her voice
• 17:51 Wanting more than just being “looked at”
• 19:00 Early acting work and learning on Baywatch
• 22:24 When she finally felt confident as an actor
• 24:47 Working fast, learning lines, and set discipline
• 27:53 Warren Beatty’s advice that changed everything
• 30:13 Meeting Hollywood legends early in her career
• 33:00 The role she lost, originally cast as Xena
• 35:53 How Kingpin happened through perfect timing
• 36:59 Working with Woody Harrelson
• 38:30 Bill Murray on set, total unpredictability
• 39:38 Learning comedy and finding her rhythm
• 41:37 Being typecast and not taken seriously
• 43:50 Advice to young actors and models
• 46:02 Comic Cons and connecting with fans
• 47:53 Full circle, life today and finding peace
• 49:32 Divorce, independence, and rediscovering herself
• 51:27 Life now, priorities and fulfillment
• 54:35 Travel, gratitude, and perspective
• 56:49 What she’s most proud of
• 59:45 Outro

Actor Vanessa Angel joins Steve Kmetko to reflect on a career transitioning from high-fashion modeling to iconic comedy roles. The conversation explores the challenges of professional growth, the technical demands of film sets, and how serendipitous timing shaped significant opportunities throughout a journey in Hollywood.