Rosie O'Donnell Opens Up About 'Horrifying' Intimate Scene on Good Hang

Leave it to Amy Poehler to create the kind of cozy, laugh-out-loud podcast space where guests feel comfortable spilling everything. That's exactly what happened when Rosie O'Donnell stopped by Good Hang and got wonderfully candid about one of her most nerve-wracking on-screen moments to date.

Rosie's Surprising 'And Just Like That' Role

O'Donnell made her long-awaited debut on the Sex and the City spin-off in Season 3, playing a nun navigating her very first romantic encounter — with none other than Cynthia Nixon's Miranda Hobbes. According to Page Six, the 64-year-old comedian described the whole filming experience as flat-out "horrifying," and honestly, her explanation is both hilarious and deeply relatable.

She explained that when Nixon first approached her about the guest spot, she didn't hesitate for a second. The two have been close friends since Nixon appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show back in the late '90s, so naturally, O'Donnell said yes without asking too many questions. That turned out to be a bit of a surprise when she actually sat down to read the script.

"I said, 'Of course, I'll do it with you,' you know. And then I read it, and I'm, like, in bed with just the sheets," she recalled with characteristic humor.

Kissing a Friend Is Its Own Kind of Awkward

While O'Donnell said the on-screen kiss itself wasn't the hard part, the post-intimacy bedroom acting pushed her firmly out of her comfort zone. She admitted that laying in bed and pretending the two had just been together felt strange in a way she wasn't fully prepared for — and she even described herself as "a little immature" when it comes to that kind of material.

Poehler, ever the empathetic host, chimed in with a perfectly timed observation: "Also, it's weird to kiss your friends." O'Donnell could not have agreed more.

For context, O'Donnell noted that the only other intimate scene she'd filmed in her career was years ago on FX's Nip/Tuck, alongside the late Julian McMahon. So stepping back into that territory — with a close pal, no less — added an extra layer of nerves she wasn't quite expecting.

Cynthia Nixon Had Nothing but Praise

For her part, Nixon has been nothing but glowing about her friend's performance. During a separate appearance on Andy Cohen's Radio Andy show in May 2025, the Gilded Age actress described O'Donnell as "so centered and wonderful" on set — real, tender, and hopeful, in her words. Nixon also revealed that showrunner Michael Patrick King had actually been crafting a role with O'Donnell in mind since the very first season, but the timing never aligned until Season 3's pilot finally made it happen.

A Decades-Long Friendship Shines Through

Despite the behind-the-scenes jitters, the whole experience clearly deepened an already meaningful bond. O'Donnell used her time on Good Hang to shower Nixon with some genuinely heartfelt admiration, calling her "one of the best actresses that we have" and praising her for the integrity she brings both to her craft and to her personal values.

"She stands up for injustice wherever she sees it. She puts her money where her mouth is. She loves her children and her wife," O'Donnell said warmly. "I admire her greatly."

It's the kind of mutual respect and real talk that makes Good Hang such a standout listen — and Amy Poehler's easy, genuine warmth as a host clearly has something to do with that. Much like Scarlett Johansson's refreshingly unfiltered approach to her public appearances, there's something magnetic about celebrities who simply show up as themselves. O'Donnell did exactly that, nerves and all.

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