Variety Unveils ‘Actors on Actors’ Lineup for Season 23 Under New CNN Collaboration
Variety and CNN announced their collaboration for Actors on Actors in late November 2025. This partnership allows the Emmy-award winning series to stream exclusively on CNN’s platform before becoming available on Variety’s digital channels. CNN subscribers are able to view some interviews from previous seasons now on the app. The first interview under the new collaboration will air Friday, December 5 on both platforms and daily thereafter.
Actors on Actors is a one-on-one candid interview between peers in the film and television industry—conversations about their craft, their successes and failures, and in some cases, bracelets (Colman Domingo and Kieran Culkan). The long-standing series not only offers fans a chance to hear their favorite performers talk about their experience as actors, but it provides a safe space for the colleagues to speak without the flashing lights, red carpets, and obligated social (and crowded) events. As seen in previous interviews, even the actors have trouble finding the time to commune in quiet, intimate settings with their peers. Variety creates the platform for them to do so without the added pressure to be “on” all the time and to, in some cases, form lasting friendships beyond the lens.
Some of the Season 23 Actors on Actors pairings include Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) and Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love); Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good) and Hugh Jackman (Song Sung Blue); Brendan Fraser (Rental Family) and Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine); and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) and Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein)
The complete list along with dates can be found here. Check out an interview with Colin Farrell and Danny DeVito from Season 22 below.