Busy Philipps received two life-altering phone calls within hours of each other earlier this year — one offering her a role in the new CBS drama “Cupertino,” and another from a doctor at NYU telling her she had a brain tumor that needed to come out, NPR reported.
Philipps recounted the morning on NPR’s “Wild Card,” a series in which host Rachel Martin draws a card from a deck and asks a guest a big question about their life. In the interview, Philipps also disclosed that she was raped at 14 and spoke about discovering sexual pleasure later in life, NPR reported.
A Diagnosis Arrived the Same Morning as a New Role
Philipps told NPR that she had recently auditioned for “Cupertino.” “I found out in the morning that ‘Cupertino’ was happening,” she said in the interview. “They were all so excited about me joining the cast. And a few hours later, Dr. Davinski called me from NYU and was like, you have a real brain tumor, and it’s got to come out of your head.”
Her response, delivered with laughter: “OK, but I’m starting a new TV show, so I don’t know if this is going to work for me.”
Busy Philipps has revealed she had a malignant brain tumor removed weeks before she was set to start filming her new CBS show “Cupertino”: “I’m grateful that I’m alive,” Philipps told People. Despite her primary care physician reaffirming her health, Philipps decided to get a… pic.twitter.com/VC5ll0gK4o
“Cupertino” Premieres on CBS and Paramount+
The CBS drama “Cupertino,” in which Philipps stars, is now available on CBS and Paramount+, NPR reported. The series is out now on CBS and Paramount+.
Philipps Discloses Rape at 14 During Wild Card Conversation
During the NPR interview, Martin asked Philipps what she loved that she discovered later in life. Philipps answered, “Sex,” then elaborated that although she had sex very early, she had been raped at 14 and grew up in an era when women’s pleasure “was not a thing that we were sort of encouraged to even explore.”
“It took a long time for me to understand that my sexual pleasure is great,” she told NPR. “It’s a good thing, and it’s a thing that should be — that I should be in touch with.”
Perimenopause, “All Fours,” and Halle Berry
Philipps told NPR she now feels herself at the “precipice of menopause,” with perimenopause already taking over. She said she read “All Fours” and does not want to “fall off the cliff,” adding that actress Halle Berry gives her hope about this stage of life. “Thank God, Halle Berry,” she said. “For everything.”
Busy Philipps Reveals She Underwent 2 Surgeries After Discovering Rare Brain Tumor: ‘Grateful That I’m Alive’ (Exclusive) https://t.co/YM7EeE1Odm
Questions About the NPR Wild Card Interview
Rachel Martin conducted the conversation for NPR’s “Wild Card” series, which NPR published as both audio and transcript. The full video conversation is available on YouTube under NPR Wild Card.
Philipps said Dr. Davinski at NYU called to tell her she had a brain tumor that required surgery. NPR noted the conversation touches on sex and child sexual assault.
Where can viewers watch “Cupertino”? The series streams on Paramount+ and airs on CBS, according to NPR.
Related reading