Photographer : Jose Garza https://josegarzacantu.com/
Talent: Kerry Frances is an actress, singer, writer, director, and producer.
1.You’re returning to the Knives Out universe after first appearing as Sally in the 2019 film.What was it like stepping back into Rian Johnson’s world—this time as the medical examiner Tammy, a much more central character in Benoit Blanc’s investigation?
Hey, Ouch Magazine! I’m so happy to be back in Benoit Blanc’s world and another Knives Out movie. Both Sally and Tammy are such fun roles, and it’s exciting to play with these exceptional casts. I love working with Rian—we also did the first season of Poker Face, and he offered me a terrific role in season two that wound up conflicting with filming dates for this movie—and I think he’s one of the best filmmakers of our time. It’s riveting to be one of his few go-to actors, not to mention a close friend. I’ve had a lot of questions about jumping back into his world, and they always make me laugh, as we’ve been deeply entrenched in each other’s worlds for almost half my life. I love getting to tell stories with him; it’s one of the great honors of my life, and I’m excited to tell many more. The Knives Out universe is unmatched, and I hope there are many, many more of these movies as long as Daniel and Rian are willing to make them.
2. Tammy plays a key role in unraveling the mystery this time around. What can you tell us about her perspective on the case—and how did you approach building a character who works so closely with Blanc?
Tammy helps us move the story forward and learn more about Father Jud’s character and who he is as a person. She’s relaxed and fairly unbothered; she trusts herself to do her job and knows she’s great at it. In fact, she’s a bit annoyed that Blanc has interrupted her day. I approached her like I do all of my roles: by building out a detailed life story and getting into her mind.
3. Daniel Craig has become iconic as Benoit Blanc. What was it like collaborating with him in more substantial scenes this time? Any moments on set with him that stand out?
I love working with Daniel and learn a lot from having a front-row seat to his work, along with acting opposite him. He’s very sweet and remembered me from the first movie, greeting me with a big hug. He also generously played around in the scene with me, offering more dialogue, doing improv, adding in my character’s name, and addressing me more than was in the original script, among other things. I’m aware I live a really special life where, when I step into a room, Daniel Craig smiles at me and reaches out his arms to hug me. That’s something truly special I don’t take for granted, along with his generosity as an actor.
4. Wake Up Dead Man features an incredible ensemble cast, including Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, and Mila Kunis. How did the dynamic on set influence your performance or your experience overall?
They were all very welcoming of me, and we all hung out in the greenroom area, chatting and snacking. Glenn let me meet her adorable pup and spent time talking with me between her incredible scenes. Mila told me about her day-to-day life when I asked, and Josh was so fun to talk with. At one point, he and I were the only people in the greenroom and dove right into talking like we were old pals. How they (and the cast of Knives Out, and so many other exceptional A-list talents I’ve gotten to work with) treat me deeply impacts me, and I hope to be that for younger, less famous actors in the future when I’m the experienced movie star they’re sitting with between takes.
5. Rian Johnson’s murder mysteries are known for their twisty narratives and carefully laid clues. As an actor, how do you navigate a script where secrecy is everything? Did anything in the story genuinely surprise you?
I have a unique experience in that Rian and I start talking about his scripts as soon as he casually mentions he’s working on a new idea. I get to talk it out with him from that moment all the way to being on set. I respect his work, as I do all scripts I’m sent and meetings I have, so it’s easy to keep secrets. The trust Rian has in me is next level, and I don’t take it lightly. I was surprised by the ending and was shocked to find so many people sharing on social media that they were able to figure it out so easily, but I think that’s because I’m not trying to figure anything out or solve it first. I’m just enjoying reading the script and making the movie. I think it’s like any other job where there are things you can tell your family and friends and things you need to keep quiet about for HR reasons—in this case, HR is the general population who will go see the movies, but otherwise it’s the same. I’ve also been really surprised by how many people I’ve seen discussing how the movie reawakened their faith or caused them to genuinely think about what they believe in. That’s so special and unexpected.
6. You’ve worked across film, television, and music. How does taking on a role like Tammy—grounded in technical, forensic detail—challenge a different side of your artistic skill set?
Tammy is definitely all facts, all science, all direct, whereas I am very artistic, empathic, and imaginative. It’s really fun to play roles like her because I don’t experience her way of thinking and being very much in my own life. I care deeply about others and making sure they’re happy and taken care of, whereas she is focused on the job and her snacks, and that’s about it. It’s neat to try out her way of living. It still requires the same type of work and prep, but offers me a different experience.
7. Fans know you from Poker Face, where you acted opposite Natasha Lyonne and other heavy hitters. How did your experience on that series prepare you for the tone, pacing, or storytelling style of Wake Up Dead Man?
When working repeatedly with the same writer/director, it helps to do as much as possible with them so I know the tone, pacing, and experience really well. I loved learning about how different a TV set is from a film set, how the schedule changes, and what is required of me when making a TV show, especially a pilot. I had way more scenes in that episode than in the films so far, so it was also really fun to stretch my comfort zone and skill set even further.
8. Your musical work is flourishing as well, with your single “You & Me & Everything” from Us & Ourselves recently out. How are you balancing your music career with your film work, and do the two ever inform each other creatively?
They all come from a place of storytelling and a desire to entertain others. Music unfortunately often takes a backseat to acting, writing, and producing, but I’m actively working on that this year and was excited to have an opportunity to place a song into the movie Us & Ourselves, which I also act in. I hope to start writing music with and for others this year, along with releasing more of my own and placing more into TV, film, and stage work.
9. You’ve worn many hats—actress, singer, songwriter, voiceover artist, writer, producer. Is there a part of you that gravitates toward one creative identity more than the others, or do you thrive on the variety?
I see myself most as an actress, singer, and songwriter, as it’s what I’ve always been called to do and love so much. Writing, producing, and directing have taken off in the last two years with the release of my first short film, MAMA MAMA, which I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. I’m currently shopping five features and two pilots, along with optioning ten books, alongside my literary manager, and I absolutely love it. However, acting and singing are the inside of my heart. When I’m doing either, everything in my life makes sense, my anxiety drastically reduces, things I worry about drift away, and I feel aligned and accurate. My plan is to utilize all of these things together by acting in a movie I’ve written, or putting a song into a TV show I’ve developed, or any other number of ways to continue being my multi-hyphenate self and share as much of my work as possible in each different project.
10. With Wake Up Dead Man in theaters and Netflix shortly after, what do you hope audiences take away from your character, the mystery, or the film as a whole when they meet Tammy on screen?
I hope they continue to notice I’m “the girl from the first Knives Out! the lawyer girl! the queen of lawstuff!” as I’m hearing over and over, and that they enjoy my work again, along with loving the film as a whole. It’s an honor to be part of these movies and to entertain so many people. Life can be very hard, and to be part of something that makes people laugh and escape for a little bit—that’s a huge gift I treasure deeply. I hope it causes them to look at their own faith and religion and consider what they think, say, or feel about it. I’m very much a faith person and am marveling at how God is working through this movie. I also hope they want to continue to watch my work and keep up with what I’m doing, which they can do on Instagram or TikTok at @kerryfrancesofficial. And I can’t wait to keep telling amazing stories—hopefully many more Knives Out movies, and many other things I don’t even know about yet. Thanks so much for having me!
