S2E10 | Brittany Ishibashi Discusses Her Role on the New Buddy Show "Brothers" Starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey

Brittany Ishibashi joins United by Rice to talk about her role as Joy in the new Apple TV series “Brothers,” starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Ishibashi takes us inside the unusual premise of the series, inspired by the real-life rumor that Harrelson and McConaughey might actually be brothers, and shares what it was like stepping onto a set built around their decades-long friendship. She talks about the improvisation that comes with working alongside the two actors, what surprised her about them away from their larger-than-life public personas, and why she describes Harrelson as “the most present person you will ever meet.” The conversation also gets personal as Ishibashi reflects on her own path through Hollywood, from the roles available to Asian American actors when she began her career to the opportunities she sees today. She discusses auditioning for Joy, the significance of being part of a major series without her ethnicity defining the character, and why the changes she has witnessed in representation have felt “life affirming.” It’s a candid conversation about craft, identity, longevity, and finding your place in an industry that has changed considerably during Ishibashi’s career.