Portraying Amanda Knox with Grace Van Patten

This week on Reclaiming, Monica sits down with actor Grace Van Patten, whose fearless performances have made her one of Hollywood’s most intriguing young talents. Grace opens up about the challenge and responsibility of portraying Amanda Knox (‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ on Hulu), and how she approached the role not as a tabloid figure, but as a complex human being caught in an impossible situation. She reflects on growing up in a famously creative but deeply supportive family, where encouragement and curiosity were constants — and how that foundation helped her stay grounded while pursuing a life in front of the camera. Grace also shares how her college courses in criminal psychology unexpectedly became tools in her actor’s toolkit, helping her build deeper, more layered characters. Together, she and Monica explore how the MeToo movement reshaped her generation’s relationship to power and vulnerability — and how, through it all, Grace is learning to reclaim her inner child, to hold space for joy, curiosity, and self-trust amid the demands of a difficult world. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:19 ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ 02:32 Challenges and Support in Acting 03:22 The Impact of Amanda Knox's Story 05:18 Responsibility of Portraying Real People 19:18 Grace's Acting Journey 20:36 High School Experience at LaGuardia 22:19 Family Influence and Career Decisions 24:51 Grace's Acting Method and Rituals 30:07 Finding Comfort in Routine 31:39 Overcoming Public Speaking Fears 34:17 Navigating Public Perception 40:32 Reclaiming the Inner Child 57:31 Reflections on Trust and Emotions 58:57 Conclusion and Gratitude Watch more episodes of Reclaiming:    • Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky   Follow Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on social:   / reclaimingwithmonica     / reclaimingwithmonica   Connect with Monica:   / monica_lewinsky   https://x.com/monicalewinsky   / monicalewinsky   Connect with Wondery: Connect with Wondery   / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia   https://x.com/wonderymedia About the show: If you’re interested in unexpected conversations that go uncharted places, are remotely self-aware and like to laugh, then please join me as I continue to find my public voice on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky. (That’s me.) I will have honest, wide-ranging interviews with all kinds of people – recognizable names, regular folks, experts and friends – about what it means to reclaim what’s been lost or taken in the broadest sense. Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves. And because I love a good tangent, we’ll probably also touch on other stuff, too. Listen to Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky premieres early and ad-free at https://wondery.com/shows/reclaiming-.... #monicalewinsky #podcast