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Every year during the awards season, The Hollywood Reporter organizes a Roundtable series to showcase Oscar frontrunners.
These Roundtables are powerful not because of the stars they bring together but because of the structured conversations they kindle – they are Mentoring Circles that just happen to promote industry talent. During each Roundtable, a facilitator leads the celebrities in an insightful exchange with thoughtful, relevant questions, prompting them to reflect on their careers, challenges, and experiences in Hollywood. This year’s Actress Roundtable did not disappoint. Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana, Mickey Madison, Tilda Swinton, Angelina Jolie, and Zendaya explored topics ranging from imposter syndrome and second-guessing their decisions to feeling self-conscious and ignoring their inner critics. Like prior Roundtables, their conversation was revealing, entertaining, and uplifting. At one point, Zendaya reflected on the beauty of connecting in this format, “I appreciate having moments like this because at least now the connections are made. I can reach out and ask questions because all of you have such experience, and that’s so valuable. I often feel too nervous to reach out and ask, “Hey can I get some advice?” To which Demi Moore quickly responded, “In truth, it’s a real gift to feel like there’s any kind of experience, strength, and hope I could impart to someone. That is actually enriching. So, reach out!” Proving that the desire for mentoring knows no bounds! Unfortunately, many people feel like Zendaya: too nervous to reach out. And most mentors feel like Demi: longing to impart their wisdom, hoping someone will benefit from it. So what stops people (even famous people!) from connecting? That which can derail the best of us: fear, time, and distractions. And that’s when a formal mentoring structure plays a strategic role, intentionally bringing people together for purposeful conversation. Mentoring circles, mentoring programs, buddy programs, group mentoring, and job shadowing each normalize the exchange of advice, perspectives, and ideas. The Hollywood Reporter Roundtables work because the mentoring circle format reduces the intimidation factor, de-risking the connection. And when the space feels safe, strangers evolve into acquaintances, and chitchat becomes bold banter. But we don’t need an Oscar nomination to know that we could use some advice or that someone would benefit from our hard-earned wisdom. We simply need to stop trying to navigate life alone. © 2025. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved. |