Movies

Olivia Munn nearly quit acting. Then came ‘Your Friends & Neighbors,’ cancer and recovery

BBG News

In New York, the moment Olivia Munn secured her part on “Your Friends & Neighbors,” the latest Apple TV+ series, was a major milestone for her acting career. Joining stars like Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet, Munn would be making her return to a continuous series role after several years, having spent that time dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a mother, battling postpartum anxiety for nearly a year, and even contemplating leaving acting altogether.

However, it was during the production of “Your Friends & Neighbors” that Munn was fighting her breast cancer battle. This is where she revealed her diagnosis, which she had kept private for months, to the public. She had just come out of a series of surgeries, having undergone them mere days before she began filming.

With the premiere this Friday, Munn is readjusting to her role as a public persona once more. She’s eager to share tales from her life as a parent, spouse, and indeed, a victor over the cancer that had shown signs of rapid growth before its detection.

However, it’s important to note that Munn isn’t seeking any preferential treatment or overly gentle handling due to her past experiences.

In a recent interview, Munn said, “I prefer things to be straightforward and not overly pleasant. I dislike being given false reassurances.

She stated, “After spending a year fighting cancer and undergoing five operations, my aim isn’t to be recognized as someone who is ill. Instead, I aspire to reach the other side and return to my usual self.

During a trip to New York, Munn, age 44, was enthusiastically expressing her everyday role as a mother outside of the camera’s view. She shared snapshots and clips of her three-year-old son, Malcolm, and six-month-old daughter, Méi, who were in Los Angeles with their father, John Mulaney – comedian and late-night television host, Munn’s spouse.

Munn recounted amusing anecdotes from Méi’s early life, such as the time when she failed to install a sound machine in her daughter’s room for almost two months (“That’s like not dressing your baby at night,” Munn lamented), and insights on their approach to raising Malcolm so he doesn’t view his sister as a competitor for their love: “Comparing leads to competition,” Munn clarified.

Entertainment & Arts

In simpler terms, Olivia Munn and John Mulaney have welcomed their second child, even as Munn fights cancer. Munn felt extremely deep emotions during her experience with surrogacy.

Two years ago, Munn had been taking time to recover from months of anxiety attacks after Malcolm’s birth. She hadn’t worked in a while and wasn’t satisfied with her acting career. As she considered switching to editing, producing, or writing, she declared to her agents and manager, “I’m finished with being in front of the camera – don’t offer me any roles.

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that I initially declined the role in “Your Friends & Neighbors,” a gripping dark comedy-drama penned by Jonathan Tropper (“Banshee,” “Warrior”). However, after being presented with this intriguing opportunity, my heart underwent a transformation. In this captivating series, the Emmy-winning actor Jon Hamm, famously known for his spellbinding portrayal in “Mad Men,” embodies Andrew – a once successful hedge-fund manager who has been dismissed and resorts to burglarizing his own affluent neighborhood to maintain his extravagant lifestyle. I was fortunate enough to be cast as Sam, a divorcée within Hamm’s ostentatious social circle who develops an intimate friendship with him.

As a child raised by military parents who constantly relocated our home base, I found a striking resonance with the film “Your Friends & Neighbors.” It’s not just a movie; it’s a searing critique that delves into the upper echelons of American society – a reflection that left an indelible mark on me.

Munn clarified that their lifestyle is marked by a certain lack of caution. She finds it captivating to observe how these individuals, who seem untouchable to the world, eventually face hardships. As for her character, she asserted that it’s resilient – always ready to go to great lengths to protect her position and care for her children.

In the following months, Munn received news that would significantly alter her life’s trajectory. Despite reassuring results from genetic screening and a recent mammogram, she decided to take an online Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment test. A score of 20% or higher on this test indicates a high risk for breast cancer, and Munn’s result was 37.3%.

Television

On a Wednesday announcement, Olivia Munn disclosed that she was identified with luminal B breast cancer the previous year and underwent a double mastectomy. Despite this, she feels fortunate.

Following an MRI examination, Munn recounted a discussion with her doctor that left her in shock and disbelief. “I didn’t allow her to take a seat,” Munn reminisced. “In the manner I’ve often seen in films, I asked, ‘Is it cancer?’ She replied, ‘Yes, it is cancer.’ As she explained the details, I found myself thinking, ‘Could this really be happening to me?’

In a similar vein, Munn likened the experience to instances from her past, such as being involved in car crashes, where she vividly recalled thinking, “I’d rather not be here.

She put it this way: ‘It’s as if I’m shouting, but all my shouts fall on deaf ears. Regardless of how hard I plead, sob, or bargain, I have no control in this circumstance. All I can do is hope that I’ll manage to get through it.’

Over the ensuing days, Munn encountered increasingly worrying updates about her condition. During the interview, she recounted these events: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer at Stage 1,” she stated. “Subsequent examinations revealed additional tumors. The cancer has now spread to multiple areas and is not confined to a single location; it’s multi-quadrant, multifocal. We also discovered a lump the size of a tangerine.

Every time someone mentioned that an aspect of Munn’s luminal B breast cancer was uncommon, she realized that “uncommon doesn’t equate to good.

“You’re like, when does the bad news stop?” she said.

For several months, Munn’s life was filled with rigorous cycles of surgeries and treatments, which included a double mastectomy, lymph node dissection, reconstructive surgery, a nipple delay procedure, hormone-induced menopause, and extended recovery periods after each operation. Following her last surgery, an oophorectomy and partial hysterectomy, she took a week to recuperate before commencing filming for “Your Friends & Neighbors” in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Prior to the journey, Munn called Tropper to share her recent cancer diagnosis and treatment plans. She assured him, “I’m okay, I can work without any issues. Don’t worry, I’ll be there, I’ll make an appearance.” Despite this reassurance, I was concerned he might have reservations – “Oh, here’s a sick person on set.

In an interview, Tropper, the series creator, shared that he found out about Munn’s illness from a phone conversation. When someone shares such news, you simply express hope for their well-being and emphasize the importance of good health. To accommodate her needs on the show, we promised to allow her rest when necessary and adapt our schedule to ensure she had enough time for her health.

He stated, “The conversation wasn’t particularly challenging since she’s incredibly open about that topic, as well as most other things.

Tropper mentioned that Munn will reappear in Season 2 of “Your Friends & Neighbors,” which has already been renewed by Apple. Originally, the character was intended for just one season, but after working with her for a short while, there seemed to be a general agreement among everyone involved that they wanted her back.

Peet stated that she started collaborating with Munn on the series following the actor’s decision to share her cancer journey publicly. She expressed deep respect for Munn, saying, “I was greatly inspired by her bravery in speaking out about her ordeal and using it as a means to aid others, all while dealing with it herself and adjusting to her new circumstances.

Peet, portraying Andrew’s former spouse Mel, remarked, “She seems to have an innate sisterly feel, if you will. She embodies many aspects. She exudes a lot of zest for life. She appears eager to savor every bit of the present moment. I suspect she has always been like that.

Despite the backing from her team, Munn faced additional difficulties on a series where her character is frequently portrayed in intimate scenes. “I was extremely anxious about filming sex scenes,” she admitted, “because I have numerous scars.” These scars are visible even under clothing and would be noticeable if she were completely undressed.

In the same breath, I recognized these scenes as pivotal in showcasing the complex relationship between my character and Hamm’s. “There’s a deep longing within me that he’s unwilling or unable to fulfill, and our bond is forged solely through intimacy,” I expressed. “I yearned for this dynamic to be depicted accurately. I desired these scenes to resonate with raw, intense emotion – no holds barred whatsoever.

Through the guidance of an intimacy coordinator and deep introspection, Munn managed to complete these demanding roles. “I did experience feelings of insecurity,” she shared, “but every time I went through with it, I came out feeling more confident.

Instead of expressing that her body deceived her by falling ill, she expressed gratitude, saying, “I’m incredibly thankful for my body because it helped me get through this.

Munn expresses heartfelt relief as she shares that she no longer has cancer. However, she added, this joy is tempered by the realization that she may always feel watchful for potential issues in the future. On a lighter note, she can now chuckle at a stand-up routine by Mulaney where he humorously discusses “chemo brain,” a post-treatment issue, on his Netflix late-night show “Everybody’s Live.

Munn stated she didn’t collaborate with Mulaney on the skit, but she clarified, “I have complete trust in him. I admire his humor. He holds our family dear and feels fondly towards me. We frequently joke about my personal life and my identity. Watching it, I felt he was expressing, ‘I care for you deeply.'” (This version attempts to maintain the original’s tone and spirit while using simpler language.)

In her daily outings with her family to the Sunset Gower studios, where Mulaney records “Everybody’s Live,” Munn finds herself frequently recalling the strong connection between her past and present. This is because the individual she is today is deeply shaped by the person she used to be, as evidenced by her former role on “The Newsroom,” an HBO series that was filmed at these very studios where she once belonged to its cast ensemble.

During one of our recent visits with Mulaney and his kids, Munn mentioned, “As we walk towards his office, there’s a poster of ‘The Newsroom.’ Malcolm points it out and says, ‘That’s mom.’ Later, when we pass by Viola Davis, he exclaims, ‘That’s mom.’

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2025-04-11 13:32

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