June Laporte On Queer Understanding And Taking On Role In MGM+’s “American Hostage”

Need a binge-worthy series to close out 2026? Oh, we’ve got you covered.

Jon Hamm leads us through a nail-biting (and historically accurate) hostage situation in the MGM+ original series American Hostage. But the real scene stealer of the show is June Laporte, who plays the recurring character Ginny Hughes in the show.

We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with June about their upcoming projects, potential Season 2 hopes for American Hostage, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in acting?

J: “I can remember being 8 years old and stepping into a theater for “tech week” of a show for the first time, and that was pretty much it for me! I told my parents, and they fully supported me and got me into more acting classes and really made me feel as though that was a possibility for me.”

Congratulations on your role in American Hostage! What was the filming experience of the series like for you?

J: “Truly amazing to work with such an incredible ensemble. There was such a generosity on set, especially from Jon, and it’s just such a fantastic experience to work with such present and skilled actors who I admire.”

You truly shine as Ginny Hughes! As one of the only roles made for the series, what was it like bringing Ginny to life in a situation that was based on a real-life crisis and real people?

J: “It was so gratifying to be able to do research into the historical context and archival footage of Tony and Dick, it really helped me create the context of the world for myself. For Ginny, I was really interested in what it would have been like to be a woman in the 70s in radio journalism, and what might have led her to that path! I love playing characters who are capable, intelligent,
and have a lot of grit.”

Everyone says that they would stay calm in the face of trouble until they actually are faced with it head on. If you were Fred Heckman, how do you think you would fare?

J: “I think I would be taking things moment by moment, like Fred! It was an event that was ever changing, and there’s such a delicacy about how to move forward. I mean, at least one life hangs in the balance of your potential actions. I think I would be ruminating and trying to move forward in the most ethical way to cause the least amount of harm.”

Based on the success of this season, there’s been rumblings of a Season 2 renewal! Would you personally like to see the aftermath of life with Ginny and Fred and the rest of the radio crew, or would you hope to see you all become reimagined into another real-life crisis of the past?

J: “It’s really interesting to imagine a season two for these characters. I feel in so many ways that this particular story is complete with this season. It would be really cool to see another real life crisis of the past be brought to life, with a different point of view.”

From The Last of Us to The Dropout, you’ve taken on an array of characters in every genre imaginable. What roles pop into your head when you think of what was the most challenging and the most validating thus far?

J: “I loved working on Canadian Indie “You Can Live Forever” so much, and it’s a film that kind of keeps going in many ways. We premiered at Tribeca in 2023, and I get messages all the time about people’s response to it, which always makes my heart so warm because it means so much to me, personally and professionally.”

As an incredible non-binary actor, do you see proper representation as the identity of the role you don itself or the hiring of LGBTQIA+ performers as a whole?

J: “I do think we still have a ways to go, and in many ways that is why I feel like it’s important for me to be out and vocal about my identity. I want to keep making it easier for those to come. I think queerness is beautifully complex and I have a lot of empathy for how it can feel confusing to those who might not be queer. I really do hope to make conversations around gender, etc., easier and gentler wherever I go – I always want people to know that I’m open to chatting and answering any questions. It’s so gratifying to be an actor, as a person whose gender identity feels so fluid, because I love getting to play characters who are femme, queer, etc and connect with different parts of me!”

In addition to acting you are a true triple-threat with your writing and directing talents. Can you tease anything that you are working on?

J: “I am working on a fun series that I can’t talk about yet, stay tuned! I have also wrapped on a short film that I wrote and directed, and I look forward to creating more work in 2027.”

Make sure to watch June shine in American Hostage, with all episodes of the premiere season streaming now on MGM+!

Photo Credit: Pooya Nabei

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.