With ‘Running Point,’ Brenda Song Finally Steps Into Herself

Two years ago, Brenda Song found herself in a professional stalemate. She’d been acting steadily since age 6 — her first big break was on the Disney Channel show The Suite Life of Zack & Cody — and though she’d successfully pivoted into more mature roles (like the Hulu series Dollface), something didn’t feel right.

After having two children back-to-back, she felt lost trying to find her place as a working mom and, for the first time, was considering a life outside of Hollywood. “I felt like the universe was constantly telling me to just go be a mom,” she says. “I said to my partner [Macaulay Culkin], ‘If the best years are behind me, I’m OK with that because I’ve had these amazing adventures.’ And he was like, ‘Are you crazy?’ ”

Instead of quitting the business, Song switched up her team, leaving her managers of 26 years for Emily Gerson Saines, who also oversees the careers of the brothers Culkin (Macaulay and Kieran) and had a vision of Song as a more serious actor. In what felt like an instant, she had meetings with Gia Coppola, which landed her a role in The Last Showgirl, and Mindy Kaling, who was putting together a new Netflix series based on the story of Lakers owner Jeanie Buss.

The fruit of that labor is Running Point, debuting Feb. 27 — in which Song plays the chief of staff to Kate Hudson‘s team president. The show’s creative team includes such comedy heavy hitters as co-creators Ike Barinholtz and Elaine Ko and stars Max Greenfield and Drew Tarver, creating an improv-heavy environment that was intimidating but ultimately so satisfying that it reignited Song’s ambition. “I’m finally feeling challenged creatively,” she says. “I think that at 36 years old, you guys are only just now meeting the adult me.”

What did you know about Running Point when you had your first meeting? What sold you on the show?

I’m a huge basketball fan, and a huge Lakers fan. I have a championship ring, I know all about the story of Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis, who my character is loosely based on. So I was really excited, but I was blown away by the way Mindy and Ike approach making shows — they don’t take themselves too seriously, and they think life is too short not to be able to make it home to put your kids to bed at the end of the night, or just to live your life. The timing was crazy — I was at the first table read for Running Point eight days after I finished filming The Last Showgirl — but it made for such an incredible learning journey for me and helped me figure out how to be OK with saying, “OK, this is what I’m good at, this is what makes me unique.”

Would you describe comedy as one of your strengths?

It’s funny, obviously I grew up doing a sitcom [The Suite Life]. But this show was full of stand-up comedians and improv actors. They kept me on my toes. They’d throw crazy dialogue changes at you. And during the scenes where we’re in the background watching a basketball game, they’d have us playing improv games where they’d throw out a scenario and we’d have to build a story around it. They’re all so good at thinking on their feet, and it’s a set of skills I personally do not have quite yet and would like to hone a bit more.

You play Kate Hudson’s best friend and professional right-hand woman. Did you do any sort of chemistry read before you were cast?

The first time we met was actually Valentine’s Day, at the first table read. We fell into our connection really effortlessly, which I think is a testament to the showrunners putting together a group of like-minded people. I admire so much about Kate; she has three kids and runs like 14 different businesses yet is so present on set and does everything with such ease. I really couldn’t believe I was getting to do scenes with Kate Hudson. So many of her movies live rent-free in my head — How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days was of course a favorite, I still remember seeing it in theaters with my mom and best friend.

Can you talk a bit more about your struggle juggling being a mom with being an actress?

I was having a really hard time finding a balance between wanting to be present as a mom, a partner, a friend, a daughter and also putting energy into pursuing my dreams. The Last Showgirl and Running Point really changed my life because of the people I met. When I first sat down with Gia, she was a new mom. [Showgirl stars] Pam Anderson has two sons like me, and Billie Lourd has young kids. The day before our Point table read, Mindy Kaling texted me like, “Hey, I’m going to miss it because I’m about to give birth.”

You can’t watch The Last Showgirl with your kids, but what about Running Point?

Oh God, I really hate watching myself. I always say I feel sad that I was in The Social Network only because it means I can’t watch it. I’m in one scene, but I can’t enjoy the film! I wish I could just put a thumb over my face.

In the series, you speak Hmong during one scene — was that nod at your Thai roots improvised?

We wanted to bring in some cultural aspects that were specific to me. My grandmother doesn’t speak English, so I’m fluent in Hmong. Noticing, and then adding, that nuance was all Mindy. I think it’s incredible that there are so many more opportunities for Asian American actors than there were when I started, but I don’t want just roles that are only about being Asian. Mindy gets that, and she just wanted the world of the show to represent people, and to represent L.A. This was the first time where I’ve played a character that felt like a good balance between showing my culture but also getting to just be the character.

This story appeared in the Feb. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.