Kate Pearson is one of the driving forces behind much of the emotion on the hit show This Is Us. She dreams of becoming a singer, but struggles with self-image and confidence, and for reasons that remain unknown, she blames herself for the death of her father, Jack. But while we do know these major parts of her character, there's still a lot to learn. There's a lot yet to be revealed, which will most likely be told through flashbacks to Kate's teenage years. this is us . That's where actor Hannah Zeile comes in.
Taking on an origin story for one of the main characters on a hugely popular TV series can be a big responsibility, but Zell, who plays teenage Kate, said she didn't feel much pressure from her older counterpart .
"Chrissy Metz trusted me enough to make the character my own, which I thought was really cool."
"It's funny, whenever I'm with Chrissy [Metz, adult Kate] or Mackenzie [Hancsicsak, 10-year-old Kate], we don't actually bring up the show a lot. I feel like that with a lot of the cast," Zell said on the phone said in the interview. "We really like each other. Chrissy is hilarious, so when I'm with her I usually just laugh."
While the cast is connected as a whole through their characters, Zeller said she thinks it's a good thing they don't micromanage each other — she thinks people are different at different stages of their lives, and the show should reflect that . “We just trust each other and let each generation have its own character,” she said. "I don't feel like people are the same [as adults] as they are as teenagers. You know, you're always evolving and adapting. So, Kris trusting me enough to make this character my own, I think is awesome. "
"My first day on the job, Milo (Ventimiglia) came up to me and said, 'Welcome to the family.'"
Mays isn't the only actor Zell said it felt great to be on set — having Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore play your on-screen parents must have been an out-of-body experience, and Zell is taking advantage of it at this point. “I feel like I’m in a master class every time I work,” she laughs. "Watch them and learn new things from them. They've been in the industry a long time, so they have a lot to offer."
Beyond the educational aspects, Zell said Moore and Ventimiglia were nothing more than friendly presences during daunting scenes. “Walking on set can be intimidating,” she said. "But on my first day on the job, Milo came up to me and said, 'Welcome to the family.'"
Of course Ventimiglia even makes an appearance as a calm father figure. Did anyone expect less? In a scene filled with secrets, it must be nice to have someone to turn to. Zell said the production of "This Is Us" was so fast-paced and so secretive that she often didn't get the final script until days before filming. Despite the quick turnaround, she said she always felt like she had enough time to prepare for scenes, and that's a good thing considering the emotional weight her character shoulders.
Zeller's character has become more prominent this season, with viewers getting closer and closer each week to learning how Jack died when the children were teenagers. Not only does Kate blame herself, but she also reveals that she was also the one who told her brother Kevin about his passing — Zelle may have some heavy scenes ahead of her, and she knows it. She even hinted that she knew why Kate blamed herself for Jack's death.
"There's a lot of things that are super secret, but I do have background and information about things that affect my character's background, like things that affect [Kate's] life and other scenes that I might be doing," she said.
When I asked her if she knew how Jack died, I wasn't expecting an answer—I couldn't imagine the extent to which the actor had to be sworn to secrecy, and Zeller proved himself to be a man worthy of keeping it secret. "My lips are so sealed," she said. She's excited to see the public's reaction once all is said and done, and says she's even had friends harass her for inside information - and let's be honest, who among us wouldn't do the same thing? “ That’s definitely the first thing I get asked, always,” Zell said. "Even my friends were texting me and saying, 'How did Jack die?' ... So, yeah, I'm very excited for the news to be revealed."
This is only Zell's second TV show — she appeared in two episodes of Charlie Sheen's Anger Management — but This Is Us has become a phenomenon beyond her imagination. "I still feel like I'm in a dream," she said. "This is crazy."
Zell will likely take viewers through some of the show's most heartbreaking and emotional scenes, and if her performances so far are any indication, the role of teenage Kate is in capable hands.
