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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