Hannah Einbinder, known for 'Hacks' and the new film 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,' reflects on her transformative personal and professional journey, her profound self-discovery, and her unapologetic political advocacy that challenges industry norms.
Hannah Einbinder discusses a pivotal moment in her career, balancing the conclusion of HBO's 'Hacks' with the breakout success of Jane Schoenbrun's queer meta-horror, 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.' In the latter, Einbinder plays Kris, a filmmaker obsessed with a reclusive slasher star, a role that resonated with her own journey of confronting shame, repression, and embracing desire. She highlights the film's 'roadmap' for self-acceptance and setting boundaries. Einbinder credits 'Hacks,' where she played Ava Daniels opposite Jean Smart's Deborah Vance, as profoundly transformative. The experience taught her self-advocacy, boundaries, and helped her move from a 'shell' to an 'embodied' and self-assured person. Her ability to forge electric chemistry with formidable older female co-stars is noted across both projects. Born into a progressive Jewish family with comedic parents Laraine Newman and Chad Einbinder, Einbinder cultivated her comedic discipline from a young age, leading to standup and her breakthrough on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' which secured her role in 'Hacks.' Beyond her acting career, Einbinder has become a prominent and outspoken activist in Hollywood, using her platform to advocate for the climate crisis, immigration, ICE, and Palestine. She recounts her 'political awakening' and the challenging process of 'unlearning' Zionism, leading to her strong anti-Zionist stance, which she views as a deeply Jewish act of valuing human life. While acknowledging the personal and professional costs, she finds solidarity within the anti-Zionist Jewish community. Einbinder firmly believes that 'politics is the most personal thing,' a philosophy that underpins her roles and her public advocacy, showcasing her evolution into a confident and self-determined artist.
