Mindy Cohn Says Being Cast on “Palm Royale ”Increased Her Self-Confidence (Exclusive)

Mindy Cohn is grateful for her time on Palm Royale.

The actress, 59, returns as society reporter Ann Holiday in season two of the Apple TV series and says the opportunity arrived at exactly the right moment. “The fact that this came when it did has been such a wonderful surprise, yet right on time,” she tells PEOPLE. “What I love about this business is that your life can change because of a phone call, a self-tape or an audition.”

Joining the show, Cohn admits she didn’t initially grasp just how star-studded the ensemble would be. “All I knew when I started was that Kristen Wiig and Laura Dern were attached. I didn’t know the rest,” she says. “The cast is the gift that just keeps giving.”

Working alongside heavyweights like Carol Burnett, Allison Janney, Leslie Bibb and Kaia Gerber has had a profound impact on Cohn’s confidence. “What’s really been amazing is how much of a better actor I am three years into working with these kinds of performers,” she says. “It really does spoil you. I got to work with these top-tier people — what that does for your self-confidence… it just ticks every box.”

Beyond her professional growth, forming genuine friendships has been an unexpected bonus. “It’s been a dream,” the Facts of Life star says. “What I didn’t count on was how familial and how borderline obsessed we all would be with each other, just on a personal level. Our text of 12 is pretty friggin’ special.”

She adds, “And Ricky [Martin], Carol, Allison, me, Amber [Chardae] Robinson, Kaia… all these generations sitting there, listening to music and gossiping with each other. Just the general hang where we didn’t want to leave each other or the set is very unusual. In this day and age, everyone goes back to their trailers, especially with these big stars, but instead we would all sit together in our director’s chairs.”

Cohn hopes that closeness shines through on screen. “I’m hoping what you guys see on screen is not just this brilliant writing coming to action, but the genuine connections we have and that we really just love each other and like each other,” she tells PEOPLE. “Some of my best conversations this season were with Kaia. Never in my life would I ever have been able to have those conversations with a 23-year-old who is just a rockstar. And then of course with Carol or Allison, I’m the baby.”

As for what else awaits viewers this season? Cohn teases plenty. “We get to see Ricky Martin naked, which is one box ticked,” she jokes. “This season is like a dirty martini… with a twist. It’s just delicious.”

New episodes of Palm Royale season 2 debut Wednesdays on Apple TV.