Tess Olivia, superstar actress and SNL Body Double, is featured on Basketball Coach News by her former New Hampshire Basketball Coach Irvin Harris and Peter Mingils

Loading…

0:00 0:00

From the Basketball Court to 30 Rock: Tess Olivia on Building Fortunes Radio with Irvin Harris and Peter Mingils

Welcome to a special edition of Building Fortunes Radio. In this power-packed broadcast of the Basketball Coach News Segment, hosts Irvin Harris and Peter Mingils sit down with featured guest, actress, and former college athlete Tess Olivia.

From her principal role in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street to four seasons at 30 Rockefeller Center working on Saturday Night Live, Tess shares how athletic discipline, dedicated practice, and mental resilience translate directly to performing under the bright lights of Hollywood.

https://thetessolivia.com

For ongoing sports leadership articles, coaching resources, and game breakdowns, visit Basketball Coach News. To explore acting projects, showreels, and creative updates, visit The Tess Olivia.

The Basketball Coach News Segment: Monday, August 31, 2026

Irvin Harris:

“Good evening and welcome to Building Fortunes Radio. This is your Basketball Coach News segment. I’m Irvin Harris, along with my co-host Peter Mingils, broadcasting from Sandown, New Hampshire to entrepreneurs, coaches, and dreamers everywhere.

Tonight we have a very special guest who understands what it means to perform when the lights are brightest.

Our guest is actress Tess Olivia. Tess is a multi-faceted actor now residing in Los Angeles. Many of you know her from her Principal role in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.

After that break, she left New Hampshire to pursue her dream in New York City and was quickly brought into the family at 30 Rockefeller Center, where from October 2017 to May 2021 she worked on the iconic Saturday Night Live: as a body double and stand-in for Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon, and Chloe Fineman, and as recurring background, playing out scenes with everyone from Will Ferrell and Natalie Portman to Jennifer Lopez, Matt Damon, Gal Gadot, and Adam Driver.

But before Hollywood, Tess was an athlete. She played basketball in high school and in college, so she knows about discipline, practice, teamwork, and performing under pressure: the exact same DNA that makes a great actor and a great athlete.

Tonight we want to connect those two worlds. What does it really take to make it on the big screen? It’s the same hunger that young players have to make it to the NBA and WNBA. What inspires success, how do you handle rejection, and how do you stay ready for your moment?

Tess Olivia, welcome to Building Fortunes Radio. We’re honored to have you.”

Complete Interview Questions and Highlights

The Athlete to Actor Pipeline

Tess, you were an athlete long before you were an actress. What did basketball teach you about show business that acting classes never could?
Every athlete knows about tryouts and getting cut. How did that prepare you for auditions in New York and LA?
In basketball, you have a coach calling plays. On SNL, you have Lorne Michaels and a head writer. How similar is that team dynamic?
For kids listening who dream of the big screen the same way other kids dream of the NBA/WNBA: What is the real daily grind they don’t see on Instagram?

The SNL Masterclass (4 Years at 30 Rock)

You spent almost 4 years at Studio 8H as a stand-in and body double for Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon, and Chloe Fineman. What is the most important thing you learned about comedic timing just by watching them up close?
You were in sketches with Will Ferrell, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Driver, and Adele. What separates a good guest host from a truly great one when the pressure is live?
SNL is famous for last-minute rewrites at 11:30 PM on Saturday. How do you stay calm, professional, and ready when everything changes in 30 seconds?
As a stand-in, your job is to be invisible but perfect. How did that discipline shape you as a principal actor when it was finally your close-up?

The Business of Acting and What It Takes to Succeed

You booked The Wolf of Wall Street and then made the bold move to leave New Hampshire for NYC. What gave you the courage to bet on yourself?
You studied at Maggie Flanigan Studio while working full-time at SNL. Why is continuous training so important even when you are already working?
Every actor faces long stretches of “no.” What is your personal system for handling rejection without losing confidence?
Teaching yoga and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are personal interests of yours. How much is mental and physical fitness part of success in this industry?
What was the moment you almost quit, and what pulled you back in?

Inspiring the Next Generation

If a 16-year-old girl in New Hampshire today said, “I want to be you,” what are the first 3 things you would tell her to do this month?
The basketball player practices free throws for hours. What is the actor’s equivalent of free throws that you still practice daily?
What inspires you now? Is there a role, a director, or a story you are manifesting for this next chapter in LA?
How can our listeners follow your journey, support your work, and hire you for their next project?

Program Closing (Peter Mingils and Irvin Harris)

Peter Mingils:

“Tess, this has been enlightening. What I heard tonight is that whether you’re trying to make it to Madison Square Garden or to Studio 8H at 30 Rock, the formula is the same: show up early, stay ready, be coachable, be a great teammate, and love the work more than the applause.”

Irvin Harris:

“Absolutely, Peter. Tess, thank you for representing New Hampshire with such class, for your hard work from The Wolf of Wall Street to SNL, and for showing our young athletes and young artists that dreams do transfer. The discipline you learned on the court is now paying off on camera.

To our listeners: if you have a child who wants the NBA, WNBA, or Hollywood, share this episode. Success leaves clues.

Tess Olivia, where can people find you online?”

[Tess shares thetessolivia.com]

Irvin Harris:

“We will link to Tess in our show notes. This is Irvin Harris and Peter Mingils for Building Fortunes Radio, the Basketball Coach News segment. Keep building your fortunes, keep practicing your craft, and keep believing in your shot. Goodnight everybody!”

Educational, Motivational, and Inspirational Broadcasting

Each radio show is educational, motivational and inspirational for the Building Fortunes Radio listening audience.

These podcasts are brought to you on the Building Fortunes Radio and Youmongus Radio Network. Youmongus.com is also a corporate sponsor.

Where to Listen and Subscribe

They are rebroadcast on Amazon’s Podcasts, Amazon’s Audible, Apple’s Podcasts, Spotify and iHeart Radio as well as on many other major platforms for podcasts. You can also find these podcasts published on YouTube and Facebook.