We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Katy about her upcoming projects and ZNation, which premiered October 5th on SyFy. Check it out below.
Hi, Katy! Thank you for granting the interview. Your career is skyrocketing and we’re excited to speak with you about it! You have had roles on some of the hottest series on television, such as “Halt and Catch Fire,” “The Walking Dead,” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” What do you enjoy most about your acting?
I get to play for a living! For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved listening to stories and acting them out. Being able to make a career out of that is a dream come true.
Tell us about George. Who is she? What is her personality like?
George is a passionate, warm-hearted idealist, who despite making it almost 10 years into the apocalypse, still remains positive and somewhat naïve to the often harsh realities of the people and the world surrounding her. She is a strong fighter in combat and even tougher when it comes to fighting for her beliefs. Although well respected among the other survivors, George is a reluctant leader who feels unqualified and unconfident in her ability to make tough decisions that need to be made.
What role does George play in the series?
George is essentially a post-apocalyptic politician who is trying to unite a land of outposts under one nation: Newmerica. George’s mission is to pass a referendum that would allow these outposts to join together under one government and make “Talkers” (people who are dead but maintain their cognitive function/personalities/ souls), full citizens of Newmerica. Many humans, however, do not trust Talkers, and in true Z Nation form, chaos ensues.
Throughout the season, George faces devastation in the pursuit of her mission, but with the help of Lt. Warren and the others, George becomes a vessel through which the other heroes can impart their knowledge of what it means to be a great leader. George seeps hope from every pore in her body. With that energy, she allows others to hope for a better future as well.
Was it a challenge to play George? Did you have to pull from experience?
I felt very connected to George as a character, so it was easy to pull from my past and what I see in the world today to help me relate to her. When I was younger, I was very much an idealist. As I experienced more in life, I realized, much like George, that one has to be able to balance their ideology with the reality of the world around them.
I was a police officer at 20 years old, so I know firsthand what it’s like to have a great deal of responsibility thrust upon a person at George’s age. As an officer, I worked for my department’s crisis intervention team which focused on calls dealing with psychiatric distress. That unit made me much more empathetic, loving, and understanding toward individuals who, much like the talkers in this series, are misunderstood and often rejected by society. That experience helped me back George’s position throughout the season.
The greatest struggle playing George is that she faces a lot of loss over the entirety of the season…she really doesn’t get a break. Oftentimes, hitting those low moments on the page brings up some real-life issues. It can wear you out. Luckily, we have an insanely supportive and understanding crew who is always there to lend you a shoulder to cry on…or at least a tissue.
How did you get the role?
I auditioned and got a callback for the role of Sarge in Season 4. Obviously, I didn’t book the part, but I was brought back to audition for the role of George this season. It was a very short process for a series regular role—just video audition and a live callback.
When I spoke to Karl, the showrunner, about why I was selected, he mentioned that my resume stood out. When he read: police officer, bodybuilder, martial artist; he saw: discipline, discipline, discipline. Karl noted that this show shoots quickly with long hours and he typically looks for people who he knows can put in the work and be consistent.
The subject matter of the series is intense. How does season five production bring something new to the story?
Season 5 is less about killing zombies or finding a zombie cure and more about questioning what makes us human and what lengths we will go to in order to protect our definitions of humanity. The heroes find themselves rebuilding a world they thought was lost all while questioning whether they are truly on the right path.
What is going to surprise people about George?
Teaser: George and Lt. Warren have a history! It’s a fun little story that will hopefully give the fans something to play with. On another note, I think people will be surprised that despite having gone through the same apocalypse as everyone else, George can somehow see the good and the value in everyone. Although she is an idealist and believes strongly in her side, George is never afraid to admit when she is wrong.
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue and why?
One of my favorites that is very telling of George’s character:
George: “I still have hope…and I know you do too…that one day, this long, dark, howl of despair will be over. There will be an after someday. And when that day comes…I want to be able to live with myself.”
This little bit shows that George is still pushing for a future and that she hasn’t given up. Furthermore, she doesn’t see the apocalypse as an excuse to lessen our standards of morality.
Another line I love that has zero importance to the story:
George (looking at a vending machine): “Do you think they have diet?”
I was always asking for diet Coke on set. For whatever reason, it was in short supply, so various members of the crew would stash some for me if they spotted it. I think it became kind of a game. There were days where I had 3-4 people tossing diet Cokes at me. I loved that that line was put into the story to give us something to smile at behind the scenes.
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
The crew!!! Z Nation’s crew is forever branded in my mind as one of the best crews on the planet. They welcomed me into their piece of the apocalypse since day 1, and it truly felt like being part of a family. These people work their asses off pretty much every day 12+ hours each day, yet still, manage to have fantastic attitudes. Not to mention, they make masterpieces on this show that constantly amaze us. There is no way Z Nation would be possible without them.
In your opinion, what scene in the series is going to blow people away and why?
It’s hard not to give too much away with this question…To be safe, I think people are going to love Limbo. Each outpost has its own personality—Limbo is something special. I think everyone had a few shock-laughs on that episode.
What do you enjoy most about your character and role?
George’s story arc is the typical male hero story that gets to be played in a different way. I’m not a damsel in distress or ingénue, nor am I a stone-cold Rambo killer. I get to laugh, cry, fight, bleed, and love. Action characters don’t often get that broad of a range.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about the show?
I had a nasty ankle sprain about 3 weeks into shooting and spent the majority of the season in an ankle brace. Feel free to look for the limps and watch George struggle up and downstairs!
Connect with Katy:
Instagram: @thekatyo
Twitter: @OKtheKO
Photos credited to Daniel Schaefer, Outlier Imagery.
Instagram: @outlierimagery
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