AMERICAN PLAYBOY: THE HUGH HEFNER STORY is a 10-part docuseries from Amazon Originals about the history of Playboy from the perspective of its charismatic founder. Sonia Satra plays Gloria Steinem in the series and talks to Digest about the experience.
Soap Opera Digest: How did you get involved with the docuseries?
Sonia Satra: It’s my husband’s [Stephen David Entertainment] series, and I thought it would be really fun to be involved. When I saw a casting sheet with a picture of Gloria Steinem from back in the ’70s, I thought, “Wow, I actually look like her a little; I wonder if I could play her.” So I suggested it, and I read for the director and Stephen, and they decided I’d be a good fit.
Digest: What was it like to play such an iconic figure?
Satra: It was very exciting. A little nerve-wracking, daunting, because she is such an icon, so well known by so many, and I personally have such deep respect for her. You definitely don’t want to screw up playing someone you admire as much as I admire her. It was a great challenge, really fun, and I learned a lot.
Digest: How did you prepare for the role?
Satra: I watched all the videos, interviews, any footage I could get a hold of, of her back in the ’70s. I read a lot of articles she’d written, ones written about her, trying to get a sense of how she thought as well as how she spoke and carried herself. My goal was to step into her as an actual person, not just her as a public figure.
Digest: Was it fun to play a character from a different time period?
Satra: It’s always fun to be in a scene from a different time period. It’s like stepping back in time, and that means really trying to understand their point of view. This was a big, bold time for the women’s movement and they were truly fighting for women’s rights. Thanks to their efforts and those of other civil rights leaders, we are where we are today. But as I played the character I had to remember the stakes were very high — women’s rights and women’s history were being created in those moments. Aside from that, it was fun just from a wardrobe point of view. I really loved getting her whole look down — she was so stylish, had a very distinct look, from the glasses to the bell bottoms to the turtleneck. It’s fun to be transformed into a different era, and to be around other actors who are dressed for the part. It really feels like stepping back in time. Also, I got to visit the Playboy Mansion to celebrate the premiere — that’s not a place I ever thought I’d visit — but it was an amazing night.
Digest: What was your biggest takeaway?
Satra: Gloria believed that in order to create a movement, you’ve got to move — you can’t just sit around expecting things to change. (Which is very much the theme of my company, Moticise!) And she was so gifted in actually doing that, motivating people, moving them to action. She knew that it wasn’t enough just to say the right things, or to make people feel a certain way. She had to get them to move, to act, or else all the eloquence and rhetoric in the world wouldn’t get her anywhere. And she did just that.
AMERICAN PLAYBOY: THE HUGH HEFNER STORY is available for streaming on Amazon.com.
For more on Satra’s empowering fitness and mind-focusing techniques, check out www.moticise.com.
