Overview of Call Her Daddy with Malin Akerman
In this episode of Call Her Daddy, actor Malin Akerman talks with host Alex Cooper about The Hunting Wives, her unconventional route into acting, and the experiences that shaped her approach to relationships, motherhood, and self-worth. She also reflects on growing up between Sweden and Canada, confronting exploitation in the modeling industry as a teenager, and learning to be more open through therapy.
The Hunting Wives and Female-Led Storytelling
Akerman says she was initially unsure how to approach The Hunting Wives, whose story walks a line between grounded drama and outrageous situations. Conversations with creator Rebecca Cutter and producer Erwin Stoff helped her see how believable characters could make the show’s wild plot work.
She values the series’ portrayal of women’s sexual freedom and its female gaze. With an all-female directing team, the cast and directors discussed how to make intimate scenes feel sexy and authentic from women’s perspectives. Akerman also describes her on-screen relationship with Brittany Snow as having grown into a close, sisterly friendship built on trust and mutual support.
From Teen Modeling to an Acting Career
Born in Sweden and raised mainly in Canada, Akerman spent summers and holidays with her father after her parents separated. At 16, she began modeling and traveled alone for work in Europe. She describes a culture in which young models could be left vulnerable to older men, including one photographer who tried to pressure her into removing her bra and threw a light stand at her when she refused. Her agency dismissed her complaint, reinforcing how intimidation and fear of losing opportunities could silence young women.
Akerman later moved to Los Angeles with a close friend to pursue acting. After a difficult start, she briefly joined a band despite having little singing experience. The band brought her together with her first husband, and the two began a relationship while navigating a language barrier with the help of a dictionary.
Relationships, Motherhood, and Healing
Akerman says she and her first husband had not discussed parenting or the practical changes a child would bring before becoming parents. They separated when their son was still very young. She describes the period as painful and exhausting, but found support in a close friend who moved in to help. Their weekly gatherings eventually became “Sebi Sundays,” with family time, music, and dancing.
After the separation, Akerman spent time in therapy and practicing Transcendental Meditation. She began to understand how earlier experiences—including feeling the loss of her father when he moved back to Sweden—had led her to keep people at a distance. In her later relationship with her husband, Jack, she practiced being vulnerable and found a partner who was willing to communicate openly. She says therapy helped her recognize her patterns, while building a healthy relationship also required working through them together.
Her advice is to discuss parenting expectations and logistics before having children, communicate honestly, and notice the stories you tell yourself. She also encourages people to take small steps toward changing habits that aren’t working.
Identity, Family, and Growing Older
Akerman describes motherhood as a major shift in identity. It took time to adjust to the loss of her previous freedom, but she says parenting has also let her experience life again through her son’s eyes. Becoming a mother gave her more understanding of her own mother, who struggled with depression when Akerman was growing up—at a time when mental health was rarely discussed.
She says getting older has helped her let go of people-pleasing and care less about winning everyone’s approval. Her outlook is shaped by a habit of looking for a silver lining and by learning to treat herself with more kindness.
What Akerman Teases About The Hunting Wives Season 2
Akerman says the second season is as unpredictable as the first, with new characters, deaths, and a major shocking moment. The cast read scripts as they were being written, so the actors sometimes learned about dramatic twists alongside one another. She adds that the cast felt more confident returning to their roles and worked to keep the show’s heightened situations believable. Akerman also says the wigs received a larger budget and a skilled wig maker this season.