Olivia Munn Almost Quit Acting Before Landing ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Role!

Before joining the cast of the new Apple TV+ dramedy Your Friends and Neighbors, Olivia Munn had nearly decided to end her acting career permanently.

During a recent conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Munn shared how the period before starting the series—which features Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet—was particularly challenging. She faced a halt in her career due to the pandemic, was adjusting to life as a new mother, and struggled with postpartum anxiety. These issues led her to consider shifting her career focus towards writing, producing, or directing.

“I reached out to my agents and my manager and told them, ‘I don’t want to act anymore — don’t look for roles for me,’” she stated.

Yet, the opportunity to play a role in the show crafted by Jonathan Tropper persuaded her to reconsider. The show quickly got the nod for a second season and revolves around Andrew “Coop” Cooper (played by Hamm), who is dealing with his recent divorce and sudden job loss as a hedge fund manager. He finds himself pilfering from his wealthy neighbors. Munn plays a divorced woman who becomes romantically involved with Coop. She was captivated by the show’s sharp commentary on the lives of the super-rich.

“They lead their lives with such a disregard for consequences. Their sense of invulnerability and watching that unravel is incredibly intriguing,” she mentioned. Munn described her character, Samantha, as “a fighter—she’ll do whatever it takes to secure her status and protect her kids.”

Munn, who had been undergoing various treatments and surgeries for breast cancer prior to filming and is now in remission, will appear in Season 2, according to Tropper. “Initially, we saw her character as only being part of one season, but after some time working with her, everyone agreed we wanted her back,” he commented.