Get the Scoop From... A 'Royals of Malibu' Star
Steph Sherry plays Lucy on the hit podcast.
Welcome to Get the Scoop From…, a bi-weekly series featuring interviews with actors, musicians, writers, and more working in Hollywood.
Back in high school, my friend Stephanie Sherry had a reputation for stealing scenes in plays and making her classmates (and teachers) belly-laugh multiple times a day. So it’s no surprise that she’s now a professional actor, host, and comic whose stage presence and sense of humor can be felt in not one but two popular podcasts: The Royals of Malibu, aka the #1 Fiction Podcast on Apple and Spotify and Audible's "Best of 2023" podcast, and Lattes with Lucy, an advice spinoff.
Additionally, Steph also hosts her very own podcast, Never Too Late to the Party, which focuses on the pivotal role of timing in life and features conversations with stars like Chef Nancy Silverton, Gracie Lawrence, and Benjamin Byron Davis. Below, learn how this multi-talented 33-year-old got into podcasting and get her advice on breaking into the voice-over world.
RS: You play Lucy on The Royals of Malibu. How did you get the role?
SS: I actually got the part in the classic way - which we know is so rare nowadays! My agent Portia sent me the audition. I recorded it in one take. And shortly after I had the part!
RS: What is the process of recording the podcast like?
SS: Recording Royals is truly the highlight of my year. I can't even believe that I've been doing it for three seasons now. It truly is never lost on me that this is an out of this world opportunity, especially in the realm of voice acting.
We actually record in person, all together! It's truly a theater kid's dream. If you, like me, grew up in plays and loving that collaborative environment, then you would absolutely love booth sessions. You're all in there together in this tiny little black box and the moment they call action reality fades away and you're all in this new world together. It's truly magic and it's SO quick. You wouldn't believe how fast we record an entire season's arc. In the blink of an eye you're done, wishing you could start the process all over again.
RS: When you joined the podcast, did you have any idea how big it would get? What were your expectations?
SS: This was my first voice acting gig and the job that got me my SAG card. It was a huge moment. I genuinely had no clue what to expect. At the time I had heard of scripted podcasts, but I definitely didn't know how big they could become. I didn't know something like this could reach thousands of people - let alone millions.
RS: Once it did blow up, how did it impact you?
SS: It's been wild - I honestly feel so lucky to be a part of a show that impacts so many teens. I hear from our younger fans all the time. Royals is filling such an important role in their lives. It's not only a fun, addicting story they can lose themselves in, it's also a place they can learn how to navigate their own lives. High school is hell - we all remember - and right now it's more complicated than ever. Royals isn't just a soapy story about a prep school love triangle - it's about teens struggling to discover who they are and who they want to be.
My character Lucy is the local barista who acts a sounding board and psuedo-mother figure for our lead character Ella. She gives her advice when she's lost and is her rock as she navigates the ups and downs of dramatic high school life. A modern day Mr. Feeny, you could say. The success of the show created an opportunity for a spinoff series where I was able to give advice to the actual fans about their actual lives - and that honestly meant the most of all.
RS: Has Royals opened up any other opportunities for you?
SS: I truly owe Royals everything - it jump started my voiceover career, it introduced me to my love of voice acting, and most importantly it set me on the podcasting path I'm on today. Meeting the Royals production team is what allowed me to synthesize and produce my own podcast Never Too Late to the Party, which is the project I am most proud of thus far. I've always wanted to produce my own work and create content that makes anyone struggling with feeling late in life feel a little less alone. Working on Royals not only familiarized myself with the podcasting process, it helped me hone my voice as host and discover my love of the art of the interview. I would not be where I am today without it!
RS: You've also done really cool work as an actor and comedian - tell us about that! What projects have been your favorites? What are you most proud of?
SS: I was a bicoastal standup for a few years - it was so exhilarating and the most challenging. Standup is without a doubt the hardest thing I've ever done. There is truly no better feeling than making an audience laugh. But the funny thing is, the whole time I kept being told to punch up the truth. Yeah, yeah, tell your story, but in this bigger, more outrageous way - a way that perhaps is funnier and more entertaining, but less honest. Time and time again, all I wanted was to be honest. That's when I realized podcasting and telling the truth in a funny, accessible way was so much more intriguing to me than landing a punchline.
I've loved working on my podcasts and continuing to hustle as a voice actor. I also still absolutely love being on camera - I've had the best time working on indie films and friends' short films - really anything that allows me to be creative in a group is just the best. Any time spent on set is a highlight of my year.
RS: What podcasts are your own favorites to listen to?
SS: Omg, there are so many. Las Culturistas is my number one. Bowen and Matt are not only hilarious, they are so heartfelt, so vulnerable, so honest. They become your shining light in dark times, your best friends on a lonely day, your place to feel connected to the world at large whenever you're feeling isolated or alone. I can't express enough how much I owe to this podcast. They are my absolute everything.
I also love Wiser Than Me, Pod Save America, Dead Eyes, Therapuss with Jake Shane, Normal Gossip, I could go on and on.
RS: What's something about being on a hit podcast that most people wouldn't realize?
SS: I think most people might not realize that we wouldn't know the impact the show was having if people didn't share or reach out. Something so interesting about podcasting is there's no real life component - no live show, no real human interaction. When you do standup, the feedback is immediate. If you are a musician and you tour, you get to literally see the impact your music has on people. We don't get to see that. It's a little sad, but it makes those DMs and those social media posts that much more meaningful.
RS: What's your advice for anyone looking to break into the arts, especially podcasting?
SS: Number One: Please don't give up. The world needs artists and people who care about art more than ever. Do not stop.
Number Two: As my best friend Gracie says on episode one of my pod - you just gotta do it. You have to try. You cannot live your life too scared to go for your dreams. It will just eat you alive. And yes, it might take time, and it might not happen in the way you think it will, but as long as you're in some small way each day getting closer to your dream - that is all that matters. Trust!! And the rest will follow.
Follow Steph on Instagram and listen to The Royals of Malibu on Spotify.