John Malkovich

John Malkovich

Author: Bella Freud September 3, 2025 Duration: 1:14:02
John Malkovich is an award-winning American film star, theatre actor and director. After ten years in Chicago as an original member of the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Malkovich made his Broadway debut in 1984 as Biff in Death of a Salesman. He appeared in many highly acclaimed films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, gaining widespread attention and admiration in his compelling performance as Valmont in Dangerous Liaisons. In 1999, he starred as a surreal version of himself in Spike Jonze’s brilliant directorial debut Being John Malkovich which became an international sensation. Malkovich directed The Dancer Upstairs which was released in 2002. He won the Milton Schulman Award for the best director in 2016, after a multi-year run of his adaptation of the play Good Canary. He also wrote and directed three short films in collaboration with Bella Freud - Strap Hanging, Lady Behave, and Hideous Man. In 2002, John launched his own fashion brand Mr Mudd, with its debut menswear line “Uncle Kimono”. He has been repeatedly recognised as one of the greatest actors of his generation, and continues to maintain an idiosyncratic artistic output across film, theatre, television, and fashion. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and John Malkovich discuss his grandfathers obsession with Lassie, the inspiration behind the name of his fashion brand Mr Mudd, and the making of Being John Malkovich. Full video episode available to watch on Youtube now. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud, the iconic designer turns her studio into something closer to a therapist's office. Every episode, a guest settles in for a conversation that starts with the fabric of our lives-literally. Bella Freud guides discussions that pick apart why we wear what we do, treating a wardrobe choice not as a trivial concern but as a window into our deeper selves. These aren't typical interviews about trends; they're meandering, personal explorations. You’ll hear stories about the power of a specific scent, the armor of a well-cut jacket, or the nostalgia tied to a childhood uniform. Naturally, the dialogue in this podcast often spirals into much broader territory, touching on the anxieties, cultural shifts, and personal histories that shape us. Freud shares her own vivid anecdotes generously, creating a space where fashion becomes the starting point for talking about everything from love and politics to the very construction of identity. The result is a series of intimate, sometimes surprising dialogues that reveal how the things we put on our bodies are inextricably linked to what’s happening in our minds and in the world around us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 68

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud
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