IN CONVERSATION WITH AUDREY HUYNH

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actress, singer, songwriter and musician Audrey Huynh will be seen on Netflix’s critically acclaimed series ‘XO, Kitty’, when the series returns for season two on 16th January. Audrey is also currently working on her debut 5-song EP ‘lovesick’ due to be released in February. 

Audrey, you have a lot of exciting things happening in 2025, particularly with your role in ‘XO, Kitty’. What drew you to the character of Stella, and how does she fit into the larger narrative of the show? 

During the audition process for this season, I didn’t have much to go off for Stella’s character. But, after I got cast and saw the scripts, I was so drawn to her drive. She has so much ambition, which I admire, and she’s definitely the kind of person who knows exactly what she wants. I definitely don’t want to spoil anything, but she has such an interesting and complex dynamic that compliments the other characters, and I’m really excited for people to finally meet her. 

How does it feel to be a part of such a highly anticipated series, especially one that is a spinoff of a beloved franchise like ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’? 

Having the chance to step into a show like this one has been such a surreal experience, it still honestly doesn’t even feel like real life. I remember watching the movies when they first came out and feeling so much joy seeing an Asian-American lead on screen, and now being able to be a part of this franchise with a predominantly Asian cast is so healing and so special to me. 

Season two of ‘XO, Kitty’ introduces some new dynamics. Without giving too much away, what can fans expect from Stella’s journey and her relationship with Kitty?

Stella is a new student at KISS and is Kitty’s roommate. She has such an interesting dynamic and fits in with the other characters in such a unique way, so the fans can definitely expect the unexpected with her. She is very passionate about her goals and overall, I’m really excited for people to finally meet her. I had so much fun playing this character. She was so complex and well-written. I had a blast bringing her to life. 

You have such a diverse background in acting, from working in commercials at a young age to landing roles in feature films. How has your acting career evolved since you started at just six years old? 

I’ve known that I wanted to be in this industry since a very young age. I started out my career in commercials and print modelling, then slowly transitioned into acting, which became a huge passion of mine. Having the opportunity to be constantly immersed in something I love doing has been such a gift, and honestly, I’ve never really lost love for it. If anything, I love it even more now than I did when I started out. I’m also very lucky to have had parents that have supported me and this dream of mine since I started out. I’m also grateful to be in a position where I can pursue the things I’m passionate about and the things I love doing. 

You’ve had an exciting start in music, releasing several singles and gearing up for your debut EP. Can you share what inspired the sound and themes of your upcoming EP ‘lovesick’? 

This EP has been a passion project of mine and I’m so excited for it to be out for people to listen to. Music for me has always been a form of therapy, and I’ve always been drawn to writing about things that I deal with as a young adult that other people in my position can hopefully relate to. This was definitely inspired by my first year in college, learning how to grow up, and navigating love and heartbreak and life itself as a teenager. I based a lot of the sound from artists that I enjoy listening to, like Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, and Lizzy McAlipine, but my producer and I really wanted to experiment with an angsty, yet sad and grounded feel, which has been so much fun. 

Your musical talents are quite impressive. You play several instruments, including piano, guitar, and the ukulele. How do these skills influence the way you approach songwriting and performance? 

Having a background in music has been insanely helpful when it comes to writing my songs. I’ve been studying music and taking lessons for multiple instruments for years now, and it allows me to write in a very complex way, which I love. Writing lyrics however is an art form that I’ve always been drawn to, so a lot of my songs are very lyric-heavy, raw and vulnerable. 

What’s it like balancing your acting career with your music? Do you find that one creative outlet fuels the other? 

Music and acting co-exist in my mind. I feel like both are equally as important to me, and it’s never really gotten to the point where I’ve had to put one before the other because they’re both things that I love doing. I definitely spend my personal time focused on music a lot more, but they’re definitely both passions of mine that I’m going to keep pursuing. When it comes to music, sometimes I’ll wake up from a dream at three in the morning and run down to my piano to write a song about it, which definitely keeps my creative mind fresh. 

As someone with a rich multicultural background, how has your heritage influenced your perspective on both acting and music? 

I am so deeply proud of my heritage and where my family comes from, and it definitely plays a role in who I am as a person and my career. Representation is something that is extremely important to me and being able to represent the Korean-American community in ‘XO, Kitty’ and the young Asian-American singer-songwriters through my music is something that is so special. My parents and extended family have always made sure to keep my siblings and I very connected with all aspects of our family background, whether that’s family traditions or cultural holidays. It’s something I am so happy about because it really helped shape who I am as an individual. 

You studied Vocal Performance at Chapman University. How has your academic experience complemented your professional career, and do you find that school and real-world acting/music intersect? 

I had a fun and insane college experience, and I feel like I gained so many core memories from my time at Chapman. I wouldn’t trade the life experiences and lessons I learned for the world, and I’m so glad I got to have that time in my life. Studying music has taught me so much, not just about my craft, but about myself. I was able to make multiple connections, and college in itself helped me learn about how to be an adult and make my own decisions, which I’m immensely grateful for. 

Given your busy career, how do you find time to stay grounded and make sure you take time for self-care? 

Music has been and still is one of my favourite self-care activities. I’m the type of person that feels things very deeply, so I tend to write songs about those emotions. I find that helps with keeping my head clear and myself grounded. I also live with my parents and siblings, which I love, because it allows me to still be the person I am outside of my career. My mom has always been so great at keeping me grounded, and my sister is my best friend, so I’m really glad that I still have that aspect of my life. 

With ‘XO, Kitty’ coming out soon and your debut EP set for release in February 2025, what other projects do you have coming up in 2025? 

As of right now, I’m really focused on ‘XO, Kitty’ and my music, but 2025 is just getting started, so hopefully there’s more projects coming up soon.

photography DIANA KING