Ahead of the highly anticipated release of XO, Kitty Season 2, actress and musician Audrey Huynh opened up about joining the Netflix series, playing one of the season’s most complex characters, and using music as an emotional outlet.
A longtime fan of the XO, Kitty universe and its predecessor films, Huynh described the audition process as surreal. Being invited to audition—and ultimately being cast—felt especially meaningful given her connection to the franchise as a viewer.
“I have always been a huge fan of this entire franchise… even just giving me a chance to audition for season two was so crazy to me. I screamed when my team sent it to me.”
One of the season’s most talked-about moments involved a carefully recreated scene that paid homage to the original movie. Huynh described the experience as exciting and immersive, emphasizing how intentional the production was about honoring the source material.
“That day was so much fun (…) that was specifically set up to be shot by shot like a direct parallel to the movies so I was sitting there watching it all happen like, ‘Oh my God, this is so crazy.’”
Her character, Stella, quickly became a standout due to her unpredictable and morally ambiguous nature. Huynh appreciated the depth of the writing and enjoyed unpacking Stella’s motivations, even while recognizing why viewers might find the character unsettling.
“I honestly really like her (…) She was such a fun character to like bring to life, she was just so very well written and well-rounded. She’s just a very like three-dimensional kind of character and I had so much fun just like picking her apart and really figuring out all of the little like niches in her character (…) She’s a little bit crazy (…) but I think that’s what makes her really special.”
Much of Stella’s storyline was kept secret throughout filming. Huynh discovered key plot developments gradually as episodes were released, allowing her to experience the twists almost in real time. This approach, she explained, made the character’s reveal feel more authentic and layered.
Behind-the-scenes moments offered lighter contrast, particularly during a comedic dream sequence involving a face mask that proved technically difficult—but ultimately memorable.
“That was a crazy scene because we only had one face mask so they kept having to spray it with water. It was soaking wet and my face was wrinkly afterwards (…) the hardest part was trying not to laugh because it was such a hilarious scene. I remember filming it with Anna (Kitty) and Sang Heon (Min Ho) and the first time they saw me in the face mask was the first time we were actually filming it and we were on camera and it was on me and they were bursting out laughing and I was trying so hard not to break.”
Huynh views Stella’s emotional arc as a slow unraveling. Though the character entered the story with a clear plan, her interactions with others slowly complicated her intentions, blurring the line between manipulation and genuine feeling.
Asked whether Stella and Kitty could have been friends under different circumstances, Huynh agreed.
“I think Stella doesn’t have many friends (…) if Stella wasn’t psycho, they probably would’ve gotten along.”
Outside of XO, Kitty, Huynh continues to expand her creative reach. In addition to acting, she recently worked on the English dub of Squid Game and is preparing to release her debut EP, Lovesick. Despite its Valentine’s Day release, the project explores heartbreak, vulnerability, and emotional conflict rather than romance.
“It’s definitely not a love album. It’s a breakup album and it’s super like sad and angsty (…) I wanted the name Lovesick because I feel like it has like a double meaning — you could be so in love with a person that you feel sick with love but then also you could really be so in love with a person that it makes you physically ill, so I kind of wanted to play on that.”
With the release of Season 2 of XO, Kitty, Audrey Huynh is emerging as a multifaceted talent—one equally comfortable navigating complex characters and deeply personal storytelling through music.
