When Brittany O’Grady shows up, the projects are never ordinary. From the soulful chaos of Star to the glossy darkness of The White Lotus and the chilling twists of It’s What’s Inside, O’Grady has carved out a career defined by risk, depth, and fearless choices. This week, the multi-talented actress joined The Wayne Ayers Podcast to unpack a whirlwind season of premieres, passion projects, and her blockbuster leap into Jumanji 4.
Netflix is About to Blow Up with A House of Dynamite
O’Grady’s recent film release is Netflix’s political thriller A House of Dynamite, premiering on October 24, 2025. Directed by Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow, the series explores what ordinary citizens would do in case they were confronted with a nuclear danger. O’Grady’s character is Lily Baerington, an aide to Congress, and the wife of Jake Baerington, played by Gabriel Basso.
“It’s such a tense, human story,” O’Grady explained. “My role was to remind audiences that people in positions of power still have families, still have homes, still have something to lose. It was about humanizing that world.”
The cast is a dream lineup featuring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, and Anthony Ramos, to name a few. When asked who O’Grady would have liked to act with, she laughed: “I mean… Idris Elba. Obviously.”
The Indie Thriller That Stole Her Heart
If A House Of Dynamite is an action-packed blockbuster, then O’Grady’s other recent release is the antithesis, an unpretentious, down-and-dirty indie film that could possibly be O’Grady’s personal film yet.
In Our Blood, directed by Pedro C.S., is a mockumentary thriller about a young woman searching for her estranged, addicted mother after she disappears. O’Grady describes the script as life-changing:
“I read the ending in a corner on my phone and literally called my team like, Did I read this right? It broke something open in me as an artist.”
Alongside actors EJ Bonilla, Alanna Ubach, and Kisha Fairchild, the movie combines horror and heartbreak in a climax topped with a mind-blowing twist. O’Grady went on to say that filming in New Mexico made her appreciate independent films even more because it offered “a feeling so grounded, so collaborative. Intimate. Like everyone is making the world together.”
She believes it is one of her favorite films, but then goes on to say with parental pride, “All my projects are my children.”
Jumanji 4: From Banana Republic to the Jungle
And then came the news that made headlines around the world: Brittany O’Grady in Jumanji 4.
O’Grady remembered that she discovered the part during a shopping trip with a friend in Banana Republic: “I was circling racks of sweaters, trying not to scream. My first blockbuster in the middle of a mall.”
Even though she doesn’t have much to say yet, she is super excited to be involved in the re-creation of the classic series by director Jake Kasdan. “The original with Robin Williams was such a big part of my childhood. The new ones with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black are so funny and fresh. I’m just honored to be part of that world.”
When asked if she’s met either “The Rock” or “Kevin Hart,” O’Grady joked, “Not yet. But I’m preparing myself.”
Horror Girl Era: The Dark Side with Brittany O’Grady
O’Grady’s own film career has careened from one medium to another: from the musical television grind in Star to the HBO high-end programming in The White Lotus, and on to horror movies like It’s What’s Inside.
She admits she wasn’t a horror fan at first: “But by doing them, I grew into it. Now I understand why people are obsessed. There’s a satisfaction in the twists, in confronting fear. And yes, I’d absolutely love to play a horror villain someday.”
Bond Villain, Broadway Diva, or Both?
Beyond horror and thrillers, O’Grady wants to stretch even further: Bond villain, Broadway-style musical lead, animated voice actress. “I want to use my whole wheelhouse,” she said. “Roles where I can transform physically, emotionally, musically, that’s where the joy is.”
She is also working on HBO’s final season of The Comeback alongside Lisa Kudrow, diving into comedy after years of heavy drama. “Every day on that set I’m laughing my butt off. It’s brilliant.”
Start Fans, Sit Down, We Have to Talk
No Wayne Ayers interview would be complete without fans of Star invading the conversation. Asked for his thoughts on the show’s rushed conclusion, O’Grady offered his characteristically heartfelt responses:
“What happened at the end was unfair. To the fans, to the characters. I hear you. I love you. But it’s out of my hands. Please keep asking the powers that be. I would do it in a heartbeat before my hair turns completely gray.”
