The second season of XO, Kitty, a derivative of the uber-popular To All of the Boys movie sequence, featured a twist many followers by no means noticed coming.
As Kitty Music-Covey launched into one other semester on the Korean Impartial Faculty of Seoul (affectionately generally known as KISS), she had one other run of romantic entanglements and a continued want to study extra about her household.
Nevertheless, she didn’t account for a brand new roommate who would look to show the lives of certainly one of her closest pals the other way up.
Bubbly and candy Stella appeared like a beautiful new arrival who built-in herself into the lives of Kitty’s pal group and into the center of her one-time (so he claimed) admirer, Min-ho Moon.
However unbeknownst to her new pals, she was actually at KISS to enact a revenge plot for the ages.
Newcomer Audrey Huynh performed Stella, previously Ester Shim. She was a scene-stealer as {the teenager} who got here throughout as nothing however a sweetheart however was hiding some deep-seated trauma beneath her genial face.
Huynh suits proper into the strong and gifted forged that has made the sequence certainly one of Netflix’s hottest reveals.
The present has grow to be way more than a derivative, and the XO, Kitty Season 2 was a binge-able deal with for individuals who’ve fallen in love with these complicated and intriguing youngsters looking for their method.
On this enjoyable chat, we spoke to Huynh about her character’s journey, her journey becoming a member of the sequence, and a lot extra.
Huynh has a shiny future on this business, and it was a pleasure to spend a while along with her and talk about different subjects.
How acquainted have been you with the To All The Boys I’ve Liked Earlier than books and movies earlier than becoming a member of XO, Kitty?
I’ve been an enormous fan of this franchise because the first film got here out. I learn all of the books. I watched all the flicks. Then I completed XO, Kitty season one when it first got here out.
So, even simply getting this audition discover, I used to be freaking out that I obtained an opportunity to audition for XO, Kitty. I’ve been a fan for years.
Coming right into a sequence like this, the place there’s already a longtime forged, how was it so that you can enter a scenario the place largely everybody else has been there?
I used to be very terrified at first. I used to be so scared. I used to be on the airplane freaking out. However they have been simply so welcoming. The primary time I met them, they made it straightforward to acclimate to the forged and the present. And the quantity of recommendation that gave me, simply as a brand new actor, was superb.
It simply made the entire expertise so unimaginable.
Whenever you have been going out and auditioning for the function, what drew you to Stella? What about her made you are feeling like this was a job you could possibly play?
Once I first obtained the casting name, I had no concept during which path she was going to finish up, however there was all the time that little trace of thriller about her. There was one thing not fairly proper.
One thing was undoubtedly occurring along with her.
However as quickly as I obtained the scripts, I used to be like, “I’m obsessive about this character. This is able to be a lot enjoyable to play.” And I did have a lot enjoyable taking part in her.
How was it taking part in Stella and Esther? They have been these type of dueling characters, in a method. Stella wasn’t essentially misunderstood, however there have been many layers to peel again.
Are you able to speak about Stella’s motivations, the way you noticed her, and her development all through the season?
She involves KISS very damaged. She’s had loads of previous trauma, and that undoubtedly motivated her complete revenge plan. However, in a method, whereas she was there, she debated switching her motives.
It was very very similar to, “Do I preserve going with the plan, or do I cease as a result of I care about these individuals?” She didn’t notice she was going to care concerning the individuals she was going to satisfy.
That was an inside battle that I used to be taking part in with. However it was very fascinating to see her backstory unfold as a result of I additionally didn’t get that at first till the later episodes. So, all of it made sense as soon as I understood why she was doing what she was doing.
However I really feel like we wish to see extra of her backstory. I wish to see extra of her backstory. I feel that’d be very cool, simply to unpack that somewhat bit extra.
Talking of relationships, Stella tells Min-ho on the finish that it did grow to be actual for her over time. Do you suppose she was being truthful there?
She cared for the individuals she met at KISS, and the principle factor was her realizing that he was by no means actually into her at first. So she will be able to do what she’s doing, and it’s utterly okay, although it wasn’t okay.
I don’t condone any of her actions, however I feel it reached the purpose the place she was conflicted and questioned whether or not or not she ought to preserve going along with her plan.
Was there something that you simply discovered about your self via this function and thru making the sequence?
I feel the principle factor for me was simply studying find out how to stay life. I by no means actually obtained to journey a lot. I used to be in class after I first obtained the casting discover and needed to drop out utterly. So, being spontaneous and studying find out how to be okay with that was a giant takeaway.
I additionally discovered a lot concerning the business, being an actor, and what this complete life entails, and that was actually particular to me, too. And the forged —we’re all so shut.
I discovered a lot about friendship. I like the entire forged a lot, and we nonetheless speak. I used to be texting with them this morning.
It looks as if you guys are pals if you’re watching the present, and I’m glad to see that that interprets offscreen. Do you’ve gotten any enjoyable tales from filming? Is there something that stands out to you?
Oh, there’s a lot. A few of my favourite moments have been actually off-set. We had such a enjoyable dynamic. Each friendship that you simply see on the display screen completely interprets to actual life.
However my favourite reminiscence with them was once we went to this rail park after which went zip-lining simply out of the blue. It was a lot enjoyable connecting with everybody one final time earlier than all of us left.
It was a few weeks earlier than we have been supposed to depart, and it was a brilliant cool bonding expertise. We introduced our households that have been on the market, like my mother and Anna’s household.
It was only a cool probability to attach with everybody off-set as a result of we’d additionally spend a lot time collectively on-set. So yeah, that one holds a really particular place in my coronary heart.
For you, Audrey, what relationship did you take pleasure in most in season two?
I actually like Kitty and Q’s friendship. They’ve such a enjoyable dynamic. Even offscreen, Anna and Anthony are such shut pals, and their back-and-forth is so cute. However that one is certainly one of my favourite relationships.
How essential is it so that you can be a part of a venture like XO, Kitty, that authentically illuminates Korean tradition?
Oh, it’s deeply essential. That’s actually why I used to be a fan of the flicks within the first place. Seeing a lead who appeared like me after I was youthful was utterly extraordinary, so it was so cool to have the ability to see that.
With the ability to actually spotlight part of my heritage and part of my household historical past that I like talking about in a present like XO, Kitty, is so cool.
Jenny Han’s capability to deliver these genuine characters to life, as a young person and as a younger Asian American, and merge the 2 collectively is insane and superior. I adore it a lot. It genuinely means rather a lot to me.
How does it really feel that it’s lastly on the market for everybody to see?
I’m so joyful! We put a lot of ourselves into the present and a lot work into the season, and I’m simply so glad that it’s out on the planet to really feel.
You’re an achieved singer and actress, two equally exhilarating and intense careers. What have these two issues meant to you?
I’ve been appearing for a really very long time now, simply type of floating via the business, however music has all the time been a secret ardour of mine. And I grew up taking part in music.
I grew up writing songs, after which I noticed I may put them on the market, and other people would wish to hearken to them. So, I began releasing music a few years in the past, and it’s been a lot enjoyable.
I like writing music, and I like the truth that individuals like listening to what I’ve to say. In order that’s extra of a private factor for me, however I’m gearing as much as launch some extra music. It’s tremendous enjoyable, and I’m simply making an attempt to maintain it going.
However the two have all the time existed concurrently in my mind. I don’t like yet another than the opposite. I really feel like they’re each on the identical degree. It’s a lot enjoyable having the ability to do each and having each in my life.
I often ask this to individuals I’ve by no means spoken to earlier than. Since that is TV Fanatic, we’re all about TV right here. I’ve obtained to know what your favourite consolation present is.
One thing you want to observe if you’re feeling down or joyful or something. After which, what are some more moderen reveals you’ve been entering into and watching?
Oh, I like Gray’s Anatomy! Anytime I’ve free time, I’ll activate Gray’s Anatomy. In order that’s a consolation present of mine. Just lately, with my mother and father, I’ve been watching The Evening Agent to prepare for the second season, and that present is so good.
Oh my gosh. I had no concept how good that present was. We’re additionally watching Silo proper now, and that’s additionally a extremely, actually good present.
All good reveals! Thanks a lot to your time right this moment, Audrey. I admire it.
Thanks for having me. This was a lot enjoyable!
***This interview has been edited for size and readability.***
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