Actor Olivia Munn recently reflected on her early encounters with co-star James Marsden, as they promote the upcoming second season of the Apple TV series, “Your Friends & Neighbors.” The duo share a unique bond that dates back to their high school years in Oklahoma City, where Munn befriended Marsden’s sister, Jenny.
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Munn, who grew up in Oklahoma after spending a portion of her childhood in Tokyo, expressed her gratitude for the friendship that helped her navigate the challenges of making connections during her formative years. In a conversation with PEOPLE, she recounted how Jenny, a fellow student at Putnam City North High School, invited her to hang out, which eventually led to a memorable meeting with James, who was already on the brink of stardom due to his role on the CBS show “The Nanny.”
“I couldn’t believe that I was one degree away from meeting somebody who had made it,” Munn shared, emphasising her childhood aspirations of acting. The initial meeting involved a trip to Bennigan’s and ice cream at Brahms, an outing that left a lasting impact on Munn. “When I met him, he was so impactful to me and the way I was thinking. I thought, ‘I’m going to lock in, and everybody else telling me that this is a lofty goal, I’m not listening. I’m going to keep going,'” she recalled.
In a light-hearted moment, Munn admitted that she frequently explored James’s room with Jenny during his absences, sparking playful banter between the two actors. Marsden jokingly confirmed that his sister had a habit of facilitating these impromptu tours while he was in Los Angeles.
Despite the nostalgia of their early connection, Munn and Marsden did not cross paths again until years later, unexpectedly reuniting at a Hollywood event. Both actors subsequently found themselves in the X-Men film franchise, with Marsden portraying Cyclops in the early 2000s and Munn taking on the role of Psylocke in “X-Men: Apocalypse” in 2016. Marsden’s sister found amusement in the fact that her childhood friends ended up working together, a moment that was not lost on him.
“She was thrilled. She’s like, ‘I just saw you doing a show with Olivia. How crazy is that?'” Marsden commented, noting his sister’s demanding career as a teacher and the strenuous work ethic she maintains.
As the pair gears up for the premiere of the second season of “Your Friends & Neighbors,” Marsden steps into the role of Owen Ashe, a billionaire whose presence disrupts the dynamics in Westmont Village, while Munn reprises her character, Sam Levitt. The new season promises to continue exploring the intricacies of friendships and relationships, as exemplified by Munn and Marsden’s own journey.
The ten-episode season is set for release on Friday, April 3, on Apple TV, with fresh episodes released weekly until June 5. Alongside Marsden and Munn, the cast features notable names such as Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, and Hoon Lee, aiming to captivate audiences with compelling storytelling.
With both actors reflecting on their past and the unpredictable nature of their careers, Munn aptly concluded that impactful moments can arise unexpectedly. “You never know when you’re going to impact someone’s life. It could be a very small moment for you, but it could be such a core memory for someone else,” she noted.
In a world driven by ambition and the pursuit of dreams, Munn and Marsden’s shared history serves as a reminder of the connections that can blossom in the most unexpected ways, laying a foundation for future collaborations in the entertainment industry.