'XO, Kitty' star Audrey Huynh exclusively tells Morning Honey about joining Season 2 of the Netflix series.
Exclusive: 'XO, Kitty' Star Audrey Huynh Says Being Part of the Hit Netflix Series Is 'So Surreal': 'I'm So Grateful'
Jan. 20 2025, Published 5:57 p.m. ET
Since Audrey Huynh has been a fan of XO, Kitty and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, she was ecstatic to learn she got the part of Stella during Season 2 of the hit series.
"I remember watching the movies over and over when they first came out, and I remember binge watching XO, Kitty with my sister when that came out, so being able to be a part of this new season is so surreal. Working with Anna [Cathcart] has been such a joy as well. She is insanely talented, has such a strong work ethic, and a heart of gold, and I’m so grateful to be able to call her my cast mate and my friend," Huynh, 19, exclusively tells Morning Honey.
Audrey Huynh plays Stella in 'XO, Kitty.'
"Starring in XO, Kitty had been the most insane and rewarding experience of my life. I love everyone who is attached to this show so dearly, and just being able to say that I was a part of creating something so wonderful is deeply special to me. This show will always have such a special place in my heart, and honestly it still doesn’t feel like real life sometimes," she continues.
Though the brunette beauty was "terrified" walking onto the set for the first time since joining the series, she was put at ease pretty much right away.
"I was so nervous to see how the fans would receive Stella and how it would feel joining a very established cast, but the cast was more than welcoming for us newbies. They made it so easy to acclimate to being a part of this show, and it honestly made the entire experience so much more enjoyable," she says.
The actress also loved diving into her role.
"Stella is such an interesting and well-rounded character, but I would definitely say that I love her ambition. She is so driven and knows exactly what she wants, which is very admirable considering she's a teenage girl. Though she might not have the greatest intentions, she does care a lot about the people in her life and will stick up for anyone when they need it," she shares about her character, who is holding onto a secret most of the season. "We are very different people, but those were definitely some of the main similarities between us, and I used those to connect with her on a more personal level to play her more authentically."
Audrey Huynh says it was 'surreal' appearing in 'XO, Kitty.'
She adds: "I learned so much about myself, the industry, and life while filming this show, but I would definitely say that I learned the most about finding myself. This entire show is about self-discovery, and I was able to learn how to navigate being an actor, which helped me expand a lot more on my craft. Also being surrounded by the cast, who are all very experienced, helped me learn a lot about what I was walking into."
Working alongside Cathcart and the other cast members was thrilling for the young star.
"We got so close while filming in Korea, and I’m so grateful to be able to call them close friends of mine now. They’re all such wonderful people, and we spent so much time together on and off set, which definitely brought us all closer," she reveals, adding that she really "hopes" people enjoy the latest season, which premiered on Netflix on January 16.
"We really put our hearts and souls into making this season, and I’m really excited for people to finally watch it. Every aspect of Season 2 is amazing, and I can’t wait to see people’s reactions to what we created," she says. "This whole show is about going on this journey of self-discovery, and I think that is such an important thing to be depicting on screen. Kitty goes on a journey of figuring out who she is, which so many people can relate to. It is definitely a message of being okay with figuring out who you are and allowing yourself to make some mistakes along the way."
The star is releasing new music in February.
Additionally, Huynh is a talented singer whose new EP lovesick is due out in February.
"I am so insanely excited for people to listen to this EP. I’ve been working on it for a while now, and all of these songs are so special to me. This is such a huge passion project of mine, and the fact that it’s coming out soon is crazy. I’m nervous about how people will feel while listening to it, but I feel like that is definitely a fear that comes with releasing art that you care about. These songs are so vulnerable, and I just really hope that people can relate to them in a way that makes them want to listen," she says of the five songs.
Huynh, who has always wanted to be a performer, is "so grateful she's stayed on the same path because "it has been so rewarding."
"I love how songwriting allows me to be vulnerable. I am able to let myself feel whatever I want to feel and turn it into something tangible, which is such a special thing for me to have," she says. "I would say my biggest inspiration would be Taylor Swift. I admire her so much as a writer, and her songs are huge inspirations for me. I’ve been listening to her since I was a little kid, so she has definitely had a lot of influence on my music taste and how I write my songs."
As for what the future holds, the We Bare Bears star is looking forward to playing for a big crowd of people.
"I’ve played a few live shows already, but being able to go on my own tour would be so insane, so that’s definitely on my bucket list for the future. Another thing that would be super cool would be to write a song for a film or TV show. I love listening to soundtracks and composing, so writing a song in that sense would be crazy," she states. "I hope that young people coming into this industry see me as an inspiration in how much I love what I do. I think that being passionate about the things that you love doing is so important, especially in an industry like this one, so I really hope to inspire people in that way."
Huynh, who admits adjusting to fame has been "a huge shift for me," feels "lucky" to be surrounded by a "solid group of people in my life that keep me grounded."
"I’m kind of seeing where the wind takes me this year, but a few goals of mine would be to release more music, play more live shows and expand on acting! In five to ten years, I definitely see myself still being in this industry and doing what I love. I would also love to be in a film or show where I can utilize some other skills of mine besides singing, and explore new hobbies," she shares.
The actress is excited for what the future holds!
"I love releasing music, and I love the feeling of knowing that people want to listen to the music that I write, so there will definitely be some more music from me in the future. An album is on my bucket list, and I have so many unreleased songs that I’m hoping to share in my future album as well," she continues. "The best piece of advice that I’ve gotten would be to never give up on what you love. It’s such a cliche, but it’s so true, and honestly it’s been what has kept me motivated in this industry for this long. Keep persevering and stay passionate."