Olivia Munn epitomizes the essence of keeping it real, whether she’s championing breast cancer awareness, navigating the joys and challenges of motherhood, or captivating audiences in her new compelling role as Sam in the Apple TV+ series Your Friends and Neighbors.
“Your Friends and Neighbors is about this very successful man, [played by] Jon Hamm, who loses everything, and he’s forced to start to steal from his friends and neighbors,” she explains of the buzzy new series. “It’s about this world that is the top 1% of America and how all of their lives are intertwined—and the chaos and greed and destruction that happens within this group of people,” she says. Munn’s ability to infuse her character with relatable humanity amid the chaos of the elite social circles she navigates is thanks to preparation drawing from real-life interactions. “I mined from a collection of different people I have met over the years,” she says.
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Munn’s deep sincerity extends into her real-life role as a breast cancer survivor and advocate. Her initial reaction to her diagnosis was one of privacy and introspection. “When I was first diagnosed, my first reaction was not to tell anyone... because at that time, the diagnosis was so big,” Munn shares candidly. Yet, she soon recognized the need for support for herself and her husband, which led her to discuss her journey openly. This transparency has enabled her to advocate effectively for early detection, driven by her personal experience and a simple yet lifesaving online test.
Motherhood has fundamentally transformed Munn’s worldview and priorities, impacting how she balances her professional endeavors with personal well-being. “It has changed how I look at everything,” she says. “Having children changed how I see everything and live for the day,” she reflects. Munn’s approach to life is now more focused on creating a stress-free environment for her family, learning to navigate life’s challenges with a clear perspective on what truly matters.
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“I’ve learned from my oncologist that stress creates stress hormones, and those hormones feed into my type of cancer,” Munn explains. “And so whenever I think about having a certain person in my life who causes me stress or gives me anxiety, or if there’s a scenario or a job that does that, I think to myself, ‘If this is, God forbid, feeding any cancer in my body, and it came back later as cancer that we found—would it have been worth it?’ And the answer is always no. So it frames my mind differently,” she says. “My decision to be really clear about the people and things in my life that give me stress has changed my life in a way that has made it really clear. It’s just very simple: Does this cause me stress? [If it’s] yes, I don’t do it or I take it out of my life. If it’s no, then I continue forward.”
Living with husband and comedian John Mulaney, Munn finds that laughter is indeed a crucial medicine in their household. “There isn’t a day that goes by that we’re not laughing. ... John is the funniest person at home and onstage. He’s equally funny in both places. I don’t know how our family could survive without him,” she says, highlighting how their life together is enriched with humor, which helps them handle the complexities of their lives. “He doesn’t let the stress get to him, so it makes my life a lot calmer. But if there is something that feels like it’s going to be stressful, I look at him, and within a few minutes, he’s made a joke about it, and it just helps cut the energy completely,” Munn explains, noting that their son is following his lead inheriting his sense of humor. “It’s really sweet because I see this little mini-me in the making. I see this carbon copy of John being molded in front of my eyes.”
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Munn’s commitment to living authentically extends deeply into her advocacy and personal wellness practices. “I’m diligent about my water intake. I drink two and a half liters a day. It’s really important just to flush out my system—flush out the toxins,” she explains. She has also discovered the profound impact of meditation on her overall health and mindset. “I meditate just seven to 10 minutes a day. It’s not a ton, but it’s been impactful,” she shares. By setting attainable goals for herself, Munn maintains focus and derives joy from her achievements, big and small. “I started giving myself attainable goals. … Meditating seven to 10 minutes a day is attainable. I’m really focused on it, and that always feels good. Making attainable goals is one of the biggest things that brings more joy to my life.”
“MY DECISION TO BE REALLY CLEAR ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT GIVE ME STRESS HAS CHANGED MY LIFE IN A WAY THAT HAS MADE IT REALLY CLEAR. IT’S JUST VERY SIMPLE: DOES THIS CAUSE ME STRESS? [IF IT’S] YES, I DON’T DO IT OR I TAKE IT OUT OF MY LIFE. IF IT’S NO, THEN I CONTINUE FORWARD.”
Beyond personal health, Munn is eager to leverage her platform for broader impact, particularly regarding cancer research and awareness. “I’m excited that the Susan G. Komen Foundation reached out to me to take a larger part in the organization. I’m excited to join them and see what we can do to help get more awareness out there, but especially get more funding for research,” she enthuses. Her personal battle with a fast-growing and aggressive type of cancer underscores the critical role of research in her survival and recovery. “I know that my cancer is curable because of the research that has been done—and research needs money—so I’m excited to be working with them on that.”
Much like the accolades for her work on screen, Munn’s efforts in breast cancer advocacy have not gone unnoticed, as she was recently named a Time 2025 Woman of the Year. Her visibility and dedication have had a tangible impact, no doubt. “Continuing to spotlight this could help us get the message out even more and hopefully save even more lives,” she explains. “There isn’t a day that’s gone by that I haven’t gotten a text or email or DM where someone is telling me that they found their cancer because of this.”
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