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00:00Hi everyone, it's Allie Stegnita from Hollywood Life and I am so excited to be going live today
00:06with none other than Kat McNamara. She is one of my favorite actresses. She's one of my favorite
00:13people. She's an incredible person and I am so talented, so I'm so excited to talk with her.
00:20Coming up. Hello. How are you? I'm good. It's so good to see you. You as well.
00:28So much to talk about. Obviously, as I just introduced you guys, we have Kat McNamara here
00:35and we are so excited to see you in Hallmark's upcoming movie, Love Classified, out on April
00:4416th and then it premieres on their new streaming service, which is so exciting. So tell me a little
00:52bit about this movie. You're starring alongside Melora Harden, who's amazing. Melora is just
00:57incredible. She's such a force to be reckoned with in every way, but also one of the kindest,
01:04most joyful individuals on set. It's always inspiring for someone like me who has been
01:13working for a while and all of this, but to see women in the industry who have maintained
01:18careers with such longevity and such diversity and roles and such kind of all-encompassing
01:23aspects. Yeah. And to get to kind of play her daughter and to work with her and see how she
01:32works in real life, it's incredible. Big fan. But also, you know, the film itself is so lovely and
01:40the script really struck me instantly because it's, at its core, it's just a story about letting
01:46love surprise you and letting love come into your life in a way that is unexpected, as it often does.
01:53And, you know, as our world moves forward, it's amazing to have opportunities to tell stories that
01:59are just about love at its core and not putting, you know, any stigmas or labels or anything
02:06on what that can mean. Definitely. It really seems like a story about connection and not just,
02:13you know, a romantic connection, but a familial connection. And I think that that's something,
02:20especially after the last few years, that everybody can relate to.
02:25Absolutely. And a lot of these characters, particularly my character Taylor, is,
02:30has had a lot happen in her life in the last couple of years and has sort of isolated herself
02:34emotionally. And, you know, through a course of several events, decides, you know what,
02:39it's time, I'm going to put myself out there again, and looks for a connection. And each of
02:43these characters in the story is missing a piece of that human connection, whether it be familial or
02:50in friendship or in work or life or love. And throughout the course of the story, these people
02:56are brought together not only through these connections, but as a community. And it's just a
03:00really lovely, touching story that is very grounded in kind of where our world's at today.
03:06Absolutely. And it seems like it's a bit of a modern love story as well. You and your co-star,
03:14Arian Mondi, I don't want to say her name incorrectly, Arian Mondi. Yeah, is that right? Oh, perfect. Okay,
03:19great. So tell me a little bit about just that on-screen chemistry that's obviously already
03:24screaming through the trailer. I mean, the comments on the YouTube of the preview, people are like,
03:30I'm so ready for this. No, Ari's fantastic. And we just instantly clicked and had so much fun
03:37building this story together. Because ultimately, what it's about, it's, you know, it's all centered
03:42around this app called Classified. And, you know, it's sort of a community message board. And in the
03:48way the old-fashioned, you know, little classifieds, you used to put seeking whatever romantic
03:53connection or this or that, it's now through an app. And through this community, people kind of
03:57put themselves out there in whatever way. And Taylor, my character, decides to do so,
04:02you know, in the dating and relationships aspect. And so does Ari's character. And these two people
04:08connect and, you know, shows up for a date. And it just so happens to be a woman. And Taylor looks
04:13at her and goes, you know what? Sure. Let's see. Let's see where this goes. And let's, you know,
04:19you have a genuine connection with a person. And the ability of these characters to just be
04:24open to connection and to love and to seeing where it takes you is a really beautiful thing.
04:31Absolutely. I mean, I met my boyfriend on an app. And we've been together for almost two years.
04:37And it's such a real thing. So it's such a real thing, though, you know, that you have to take that
04:44chance and look for something unexpected. And it's a really great lesson to so many
04:48young women and men out there, too, who feel like they haven't met their match. And
04:53it could just be, you know, a stroke of a keyboard.
04:57Absolutely. Well, the world is a big and beautiful place. And there's so many people out there that are
05:02looking for connections. It's a really lovely story in a lot of ways. And it also comes back to
05:11the family as well. You know, it's this mom and her two kids who have sort of been rocked by this
05:16tragedy. And through the course of this story, they're able to work through some of those issues
05:22in, you know, a slightly tumultuous, but ultimately, hopefully beneficial way.
05:28Definitely. Now, tell me, what was the most difficult thing about stepping into this role,
05:34like that you maybe struggled with, but eventually got as you were playing Taylor?
05:41I think I wouldn't say I mean, each project presents its own challenges. And I think,
05:46you know, maybe the most difficult thing about this entire project was choreography in the plant
05:51store. You know, they made this beautiful plant store, my character runs a sort of, it's
05:57a plant store. That's all I can kind of describe it as. But as she as we've created all of these
06:04scenes, we kept trying to, you know, work with our director, Stacy, and figure out ways to make the
06:10space new and fresh. And there were times where we got a little bit carried away with, okay, I'm going
06:15to pick up this plant and that plant and carry this over here. I'm a bit of an awkward individual.
06:19And so, you know, there were a few moments of comic relief. But hey, that's what it's about,
06:23right? Exactly, exactly. You're getting your your sea leg, you had sea legs a little bit as you
06:29return to sets. Oh, 100%. But it did. It did definitely inspire a green thumb. I'm having
06:35to resist buying a million plants for my apartment now. Oh, it's so fun. Oh, my gosh. I know I,
06:42I've been trying to keep I'm like looking at one. I'm like, I've been trying to keep one alive. And
06:47it's one that's like hard to kill. I know. Well, and I travel so much to that. I'm always like,
06:52oh, I'll buy all these plants. And it'll be lovely. And then I'm never home. So then you
06:55come home and you're dead. And it's sad. I know. I know. Oh, my gosh. Well, you're so great at
07:01floating between genre to genre. You can do drama, you can do comedy, obviously, rom coms,
07:07and a lot of action. Is there a genre that you haven't gotten to touch yet that you'd really like
07:15to? A little bit of everything. You know, it's it's funny you asked that because my answer was
07:20always that I'd love to do a period piece. You know, I always say, you know, put me in a corset
07:24and a hoop skirt. And I'm a happy girl. But currently, I'm shooting the pilot for Walker
07:28Independence for the CW in which I am in a corset for most of it. So it's, you know, you put things
07:35out in the world and they end up manifesting eventually, hopefully. But it's, it's been a lot
07:41of fun. And you know, I have to find my new answer for that question, I guess. But ultimately,
07:45my, my goal as my favorite thing about my job is that I get to be a chameleon. And I get to live
07:50a million different lives and sort of experience all of these different aspects of what life can be,
07:57and tell the stories of as many different kinds of people as possible. So, you know, that's kind
08:02of a promise I made to myself at the beginning of my career is that I wouldn't ever get stuck just
08:06doing one thing. I constantly if you keep pushing yourself, and you keep seeking that diversity,
08:12it really allows for growth. And that's how you, you know, grow as an artist and as a human.
08:18Absolutely. And speaking of Walker, I know that you can't say too much. But can you tell us
08:23what intrigued you and captivated you about the role of Abby?
08:29Oh, so many things. I mean, I've always wanted to do a Western. And I've always wanted to do a
08:33period piece of this nature. And there's such a legacy to the Walker story. And especially with what
08:39Jared's done with the new show and everything else, it's, it's really grown in so many ways.
08:45And as soon as I read the script, it's so captivating. And the cast of characters is
08:51Oh, Philly's watching. Yeah. Another member of the cast of Walker Independence. But it's,
08:58it's such an incredible cast of characters and an incredible cast of actors bringing this to life.
09:03And, you know, everybody, a part of this production, from our director to literally every single
09:08element is so beautifully done. And there's so much richness in the world and so much attention
09:13to detail. But it's also a very different Western than I think anyone has ever seen. And that's
09:19something that's exciting to all of us that are a part of it is that it's, it's a Western,
09:24but it's brand new.
09:26Yeah, so cool. We definitely can't wait to see it. Have you and Matt Barr been able to
09:32discuss your chemistry and just like the dynamic that you hope to have?
09:37Matt Barr is wonderful. From our we had a chemistry test on zoom, which is one of the
09:42oddest things that you'll ever do as an actor. Yeah. Zoom meetings are hard enough. And yet,
09:48you know, trying to figure out if you can act on screen with someone is another story.
09:51But as soon as I met Matt, I knew that we were going to get along both personally and professionally
09:55and just have so much fun together. And also, you know, he, he cares so much about this character
10:00and the story as well, obviously. Hey, Matt, he's watching too.
10:03Oh my gosh. Hi guys.
10:05But, but we've just had the best time kind of building this with the rest of our cast
10:09and crew. It's, this process has been such a dream and I'm, I'm really, really grateful
10:13to be a part of it.
10:15Amazing. And is there a story kind of similar to the genre question? Is there a story that
10:20you really want to tell that has yet to be given a cinematic treatment?
10:27That's a really interesting question. There are several and, and, you know, through the pandemic,
10:31I think all of us kind of thought, what are other ways in which we can be a part of storytelling?
10:36And I've sort of dabbled now in writing and producing and, and seeking directing opportunities.
10:42And so those things are coming. I don't want to say too much yet, but those things are definitely
10:46coming. Um, but I think ultimately what I look for in stories is something challenging and something
10:52unexpected. And, you know, there's all of the stories I tend to gravitate toward are those where
10:57it, it, on the surface, there is sort of an apparent look or feel or, or element to these
11:05characters. And that as you get to know them and as you dive deeper, there's so much more there.
11:10And that's, that's the fun of it is discovering and digging in and going, what can I do to make
11:15this even deeper? Absolutely. Um, and I know you are always creating and you're always thinking
11:22about what's next. Um, and you just launched a podcast, um, with Dominic for, uh, that's your
11:29shadow hunters podcast. Um, does this journey give you hope that maybe shadow hunters could come back
11:36in some way in the future? This is probably the most common question that I could ask. Uh,
11:42and this is part of why it's part of why we're doing the podcast. You know, we, we don't know
11:46because you know, if friends can do a reunion 10 years down the line, if you know, the West Wing
11:52can do a reunion that shadow hunters, I'm sure at some point can do some iteration thereof. At least
11:57I hope if anyone ever needs a Clary Frank again, I volunteer as tribute. Um, but as far as the podcast
12:03goes, you know, we do get asked this question all the time and we do, the shadow fam has so much love
12:08and it's such, it's a fandom that, that has a life of its own now beyond the story and beyond the show
12:15and beyond any of us. And, you know, I know I can speak for the rest of our cast in saying that we
12:21love the shadow fam and we are in awe of this community that, that the fandom has created and
12:26want to do everything we can to help foster that. And also, you know, for me, shadow hunters was
12:31from age 19 to 23, which is such a huge transformative shaping period of your life.
12:37And I was lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful people in creating the show and with
12:42such an amazing fandom. And when I was approached about doing a podcast for shadow hunters, I thought
12:47this could be the perfect opportunity to sort of relive that and tell all the stories that we
12:52haven't been able to tell up until this point and to celebrate this fandom. And so I called Dom up and
12:58said, Hey, do you want to, do you want to do this with me? And he was of course, a hundred percent in.
13:02So it's been a really fun process and a very hard secret to keep.
13:06Oh, I'm sure. How has it been for you? Just even looking back at those episodes and just the
13:12storylines that you went through and now you, I'm sure you have a really different perspective.
13:19Yeah. It's wild. We didn't realize that it was seven years ago that we shot the show.
13:24And that's, I mean, we're completely different people than we were when we started the series,
13:29but it's, it's such a lovely thing to look back on because we do have such fond memories
13:34of creating this show. And I think we have more silly stories that we've forgotten than
13:39we could ever possibly remember. But as we sort of watch through these episodes and bring
13:45in other guests, because we are all also are bringing in other cast members and designers
13:51and producers and writers and other people who were just as instrumental in telling this
13:57story as each of us to, to tell their version of the story and to reminisce and to, you know,
14:01talk a little bit about how that magic was created on screen. Because that's again, so much of what
14:06made the show what it was is the, the camaraderie between every element of production.
14:12Definitely. And those behind the scenes stories are what people now like, are like, you know,
14:17when you hear something aligned with a scene that went viral at one point. And that's just,
14:22it's a really cool thing to be able to look back on your body of work like that.
14:27It's, it's a lot of fun. And, you know, there's definitely embarrassing moments along the way,
14:30but that's all part of the fun.
14:32Of course. Of course. Is there anything else coming up for you that you wanted to talk about?
14:37Anything going on in your life that we, you wanted to put out there?
14:41Uh, at this point, I think that just about covers it. There's, there are other things
14:47coming soon, but I can't quite talk about them yet. All right. But those are, those are the big
14:51ones, but thank you so much for taking the time to chat today. And thanks everyone for watching.
14:55Thank you guys so much for watching. Yes. Everybody tune into love classified on Hallmark,
15:00April 16th, and then it will be on Hallmark movies. Now the streaming service from Hallmark.
15:06Thank you so much, Kat.
15:08Thank you, my dear. Have a great rest of your day.
15:10Thank you as well. Bye. Bye guys.
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