Award-nominated actress Grace Lynn Kung, who just received an ACTRA nod for Outstanding Performance in The Death (and Life) of Carl Naardlinger, will also be playing Annie in the upcoming Global TV series Mary Kills People, which premiered January 25th. She previously appeared in 12 Monkeys, The Strain, and most recently, Miss Sloane, and it was just announced that she’ll be in the new Chucky film, Cult of Chucky.
She opened up about her new series, and why she has an uncanny ability to predict how people want their steak cooked.
CraveOnline: Tell us about Mary Kills People.
Grace Lynn Kung: It’s a six-part event series, and it surrounds the story of Dr. Mary Harris, a mom and ER doctor, and her side job is acting as an underground angel of death. I share the side hustle with her and another doctor, and it’s a chain of highly confidential cat and mouse, but when the mouse really wants to die. I play nurse Annie, a friend and colleague of Mary who works at the same hospital. I’m working with some of the most dire medical situations and know who is in palliative and most in need… basically I’m the person who decides who is the most worthy to pass on to Mary for consideration, which is highly illegal because I give her the info and files. My character is a hardened woman because of everything that she does, but she has to be because she falls in love with all these patients.
Any other projects you’re currently working on?
I’m working on a horror film, and I did a great film, Miss Sloane,” with Jessica Chastain. We take on the biggest gun lobby. You think you elect officials because you want them to be your speaker and your voice, but lobbyists are really the ones moving the pieces, and they are like the puppet masters moving the congress people’s actions.
Lots of hot button issues!
It’s been really lovely to work on projects with something to say and big questions to ask.
You’ve done TV and film work – is there one medium you prefer over the other?
No. I went to school for theatre, and when I got out I thought I’d be in theatre most of the time and maybe be fortunate enough to do a film. I came out and found that the theatre scene wasn’t so open and it was very slow for movement, especially as a person of colour. Film became what was open. I always grew up in film and romanticized film and television – there’s something romantic about film. And this show (Mary Kills People) is like a film saga. You feel like there’s no difference between the show and a movie.
What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I have an uncanny ability to predict how people like their steak! I love to do it. Part of the reason that I got into acting is that I’m fascinated by human beings, and it’s become like an extension of that. I feel like how somebody likes their steak tells me how I can muse about. I love to break it down, and 75% of the time, I’m correct. The funny thing is, I don’t eat meat!
