Kerry Frances in Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Kerry Frances | Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Kerry Frances is an actress and multi disciplinary artist whose work spans film, television, theater, music, and filmmaking. As she returns to the Knives Out universe in Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man, she continues to build a career marked by versatility, creativity, and heart.

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We have viewers/readers in different countries. Could you introduce yourself for those who might not know you?

I'm Kerry Frances, an actress and singer, currently in the third Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man. I'm best known from the original Knives Out and the TV show Poker Face, and have enjoyed work such as a Broadway tour, off-Broadway, commercials, voiceover, and more. I'm also a writer, producer, and director, and my first short, Mama Mama, is on the film festival circuit.

Could you tell us a little about your beginnings and what first drew you to acting?

I've always known I'd be an actor and singer since I was very young. I sang before I spoke and was putting up musicals in the basement of my childhood home with all of the neighborhood kids as young as age 2. I simply can't not do it, it's my calling to perform and tell stories. I got into community theatre and voice lessons while growing up in NJ, and would enthusiastically pitch going to LA for pilot season to my parents, who were unenthused by that idea. I booked a big Broadway tour right out of school at an open-call audition, and my career took off from there. I feel very blessed to do what I love.

How did you feel when you learned you’d be returning to the Knives Out franchise for Wake Up Dead Man?

Incredibly happy and honored. I'm lucky to have a close friendship with writer/director Rian Johnson and feel grateful he continues to offer me roles in his exceptional work. I love these stories, I love Benoit Blanc, and to continue telling them is such a treat. The ensemble casts are always top-tier, and it's delightful to get to know them as people and learn from them as actors. I love these movies and hope they continue on forever.

What can you share about your character Tammy and her role in the investigation alongside Benoit Blanc?

Tammy is an important role in that she helps move the story and investigation along. She's also really fun to play, as she's unbothered by the whole thing, dead bodies and fancy detectives included. She runs the morgue and does not play about her work, and is lightly annoyed they're interrupting her snack time but happy to be of help. Tammy is so different from Sally, my role in Knives Out, and it's been fun to explore and create backstories for both of them.

You've worked with Rian Johnson, Daniel Craig, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, and Josh Brolin. What was the experience like collaborating with them?

I'm incredibly lucky to work alongside the absolute best talents in the business, in front of and behind the camera. Working with these actors helps me remember I can keep up and gives me a sense of belonging, but also reminds me that there's always more to learn and keeps me in a state of awe. I learn more about myself as an actor and human with each experience. For example, with this movie, I've been learning a lot about day-to-day life as an actress doing press, which I hadn't done fully before. This gives me insight into their days, considering they have much more scheduled for them.

Being exposed to A-list talent means I understand how important it is to have my physical, mental, and emotional game on lock. So much is demanded of actors, but you don't know what you don't know until you're suddenly thrown into the deep waters. By working with these talents and being exposed to so much that many actors never get to see, it helps me stay in training mode so I'm ready to handle everything as it comes. Talent-wise, they can't be beat. So much of my acting training has come from watching them act, but also watching when the scene cuts as they bounce right back into the green-room conversation with ease. Rian is one of the greatest writer/directors of our time, and learning from him continues to change and expand my life. He holds metaphorical doors open for me and allows me into every world he creates, along with his regular world, which is a gift.

You're also a singer. What does music represent for you creatively?

Yes! I love singing and songwriting very much. Music is how we express our deepest thoughts when words may fail us. There's a quote Kristin Chenoweth uses often that says, “We sing because we cannot speak anymore,” and that's exactly how I feel. I've put out one Christmas song and have another single out next week. Both haven't fully expressed what I can do in terms of songwriting, but I'm so excited to continue pushing into that and sharing my songs with the world.

I trained classically initially, so I can sing opera, but my go-tos are musical theatre, pop, and singer/songwriter style. I went through a period where I wasn't listening to much music, and a friend gifted me an Apple Music subscription. This reminded me how powerful music is, the thrill of playing your favorite songs in the car and singing at full volume, the joy of making playlists for people you love, sharing new finds and old favorites. Music tells a whole story, whether in a movie or a Broadway show, and tells our life story too.

If you had to choose just one path: acting, singing, writing, producing, which would you choose and why?

Acting and singing go hand in hand to me, they all do, as a storyteller, to be fair, but those are my first loves, and I focus on ensuring my acting and singing are public-facing the most, so people know me as an actress and singer first and foremost. I'm very grateful to not have to choose.

If you could choose a dream collaboration, whether starring in a specific film or series or working with an actor or actress you admire, who would it be and why?

I'd like to make movie musicals. We're already seeing a small comeback, but I feel deeply confident this is my calling in life, to blend everything about my career into one. I'd love to reunite with Glenn Close on one, Lin-Manuel Miranda is high on my list, and absolutely Leslie Odom Jr. I'd love to make musical movies with the same team behind the Knives Out movies and hope that comes to be, as I know it would be in the best hands. I have great respect for Broadway and hope to introduce many people to wonderful works, along with my originals. I also often say I want to play the sister of actresses like Kathryn Hahn, Melanie Lynskey, and many others, I have a comedy thriller pitch perfect for the three of us.

What do you enjoy doing most when you’re not working on a project?

I love writing and am currently shopping my original scripts, along with books I've optioned, to networks and streamers. Reading on my balcony or poolside is a favorite. I've only been in LA a couple of years, so exploring my new city and trying new restaurants is fun. Hiking, Lagree classes, or long walks in my favorite neighborhood also top the list. My all-time favorite thing to do, though, is stay at a gorgeous hotel and go to the spa. Staycations and vacations are the best, and I hope to do both more often.

photo: Jose Garza / https://josegarzacantu.com/

Is there a hobby or passion outside of the entertainment world that people might be surprised to learn about?

I love dogs very much. My own dog inspired my short film, and I'm putting together a dog film festival to benefit rescues and showcase dog-based films. I love asking people if I can meet their dogs when we pass on walks, each one brings me so much joy. I don't have my own at this time and look forward to having a house with a big fenced-in yard where my future dogs can run and play freely. I also love painting and would like to get back into it. Lastly, I'm a huge Gilmore Girls fan and run a popular TikTok and Etsy shop, The Stars Hollow Shop. That usually surprises people the most.

What can fans look forward to next from you, both on screen and behind the scenes?

They can enjoy Wake Up Dead Man out on Netflix on Friday 12/12, my next song You & Me & Everything releasing shortly after that, and many more movies and TV shows to come. They can definitely enjoy musicals, romcoms, and wonderful book adaptations from me, and I'm excited to sell those to the right producers and places. I'm excited to continue working with Rian and can't wait to see what his mind thinks up next. Overall, a lot is on the horizon, and I can't wait to watch it all happen. You can keep an eye on what I'm up to at @kerryfrancesofficial on Instagram and TikTok. Thanks for a fun interview!

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Journalist: D.R.

Courtesy of Conscious Hollywood PR #KerryFrances #WakeUpDeadMan #Netflix