Original subtitles

The pain is really tough, I know.

You know. We've been there.

But if I had ended my life when I wanted to,

there is so much I would've missed.

♪♪♪

One of the things I admire most about today's guest

is that she's unafraid to stand up for what she believes in,

even in the face of adversity.

She's an actress, producer, activist, and total badass.

Joining me now, Olivia Munn.

- Hi! - Hi!

I'm so excited for this.

One of the main things that I really admire about you

is your sense of strength.

Where do you get that from?

I'm strong because a strong woman raised me.

It's all I've been raised to know is to--to be strong.

As women, do you think our self-esteem

is often tied to external things, like relationships,

or what others think about us?

Men are encouraged to become someone,

and women are encouraged to find someone.

It's really hard as we, you know, grow up in our lives

to really try to actualize that because we have our own dreams

and our own goals and we want to become someone.

But the world is telling us that we need to find someone

- to become something. - Mm-hmm.

Why does society make us feel the need as women to--

in order to have a happy ending we have to have a partner?

When I take on any role, the first thing that I ask myself

is "Does she exist if he doesn't exist?"

- Mm. - If the answer is no,

then I just can't take the movie, no matter how big it is,

no matter what it is.

That also goes into movies that I do take on.

So we're doing a scene. It'll be me and my husband

and they'll say, "Okay, uh..."

To him: "Why don't you go and, um, maybe pay some bills

or get on your computer? And, Olivia,

why don't you just put some dishes away?"

What we're doing is, we're creating more microaggressions

- that go out into the world. - Mm-hmm.

So when little girls are watching these movies,

and they're seeing dads work and go off to work

and moms stay home and clean,

those are the microaggressions that get instilled into us.

You wonder why women struggle so much.

It is impossible to do it all.

You know, nobody ever asks, "How does Barack Obama do it all?

"How does he--how is he a father

and the President of the United States?"

- [ chuckles ] Right. - No one ever asks that.

- Right. - Because no one ever

expects that of men.

That's so true.

In the MeToo movement,

you were so courageous and so brave.

Were you afraid to speak up?

Yes, there was definitely fear there,

but it didn't stop me from doing what I know I had to do.

There were definitely times when I was threatened

that I basically wouldn't have a career anymore,

that I would be pissing off the wrong people.

That never stopped me.

You can take my career. You can take my house.

You can take my money, but the things

that matter the most to me, they're not up for sale.

That's...really beautifully said.

♪♪♪

You had posted a caption on Instagram

that literally made me cry when I read it.

You were talking about depression and anxiety.

Mm-hmm.

"Please listen to me, from someone who is telling you

"that she's been where you are,

when I say that suicide is not the right choice."

And it was just beautiful being able to relate to something

and understand where you're coming from now.

I'm--I'm glad that it--it-- it resonated with you.

People who deal with depression like you and me

and who can have suicidal thoughts,

any time you get to that place,

and it seems like things are too tough

and you just can't take it anymore,

just ask yourself if you can just hold on another day,

because if you take your life, game over. It's done.

You don't get to see what will happen in 10 years.

The pain is really tough, I know.

You know. We've been there.

But if I had ended my life when I wanted to,

there is so much I would have missed.

And that's, like, worth staying for.

It's a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

You know, and for people who struggle with it,

- it doesn't feel temporary. - Right.

It's like, I know I'm never fully gonna be free

- from my eating disorder. - Hmm.

But I know that every time I don't get rid of my meal,

- I'm flexing that muscle. - Yeah.

Something that's been extremely empowering to me

is rewriting my narrative.

- Mm-hmm. Yes. - So...

growing up having, quote-unquote, daddy issues--

In 2017, I had a song called "Daddy Issues."

- I was living that narrative. - Yeah.

And I've learned how to take it back.

♪♪♪

What advice would you give for young women

who are struggling with self-love?

Self-love to me comes from knowing what really, really matters.

What matters the most? My family's love,

my friends' love and respect,

my integrity, and so first you have to look at

the people in your life

and the apps on your phone.

[ chuckles ]

- For real. - Mm-hmm.

Because you can't allow

people to litter so much negativity in your world

and then wonder why your life is trashed.

Ask yourself, is this necessary?

Does it make my life better?

Do I like myself more?

We all have those insecurities. The difference is,

you cannot let a small human feeling

become the narrative for your life.

Mm-hmm.

Insecurity that comes up

is a tiny drop in the ocean of who you are.

That's why it's so important

to fill your mind and your heart with so many other things

so that you can really lean on those things

and be proud of those things. Because if outside validation

is your biggest source of nourishment,

you will be hungry the rest of your life.

Oh, you are preaching to the choir

because I was so hungry for so many years.

Mm-hmm.

I know that you're also so passionate

- about rescuing animals. - Mm-hmm.

I would love to hear more.

I partnered with the Humane Society

and Maddie's Fund and The Ad Council,

and that's to get out the word to people

that shelter pets are--are awesome,

and my two pups, Chance and Frankie,

were on this campaign across the country

- so it's so cute to see billboards. - Yes!

It's, like, the cutest thing in the world to see.

I just love it. And the thing about rescuing

that people don't always understand is that any dog that you want,

even if it's a hypoallergenic dog or a special purebred dog,

you can find them at a rescue because

- there are a lot of puppy mills. - Mm.

My dog Chance, he's a purebred Cavalier King Charles

who was rescued from a puppy mill in New York.

And so anything that you want, it just takes a little bit

of work to find the right one,

but you're helping to save a life for sure.

Well, this was just so much fun, and I seriously appreciate you

for being such a badass and such a great role model

for not only millions of people but me, too.

Aw, that means so much to me.

Thank you so much for having me. This has been so much fun.

- We're gonna keep talking. - I know! [ laughs ]

We're gonna keep hanging out.