Vanessa Angel "Kingpin" / "Weird Science"

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

Show Credits

Host/Producer: Steve Kmetko

All things technical: Justin Zangerle

Executive Producer: Jim Lichtenstein

Music by: Brian Sanyshyn

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Publicist: Maggie Perlich: [email protected]

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