Euphoria has never exactly been a show that eases viewers into anything, and its latest new face, Kitty, has already made one of the most difficult introductions of season three.
The HBO drama brought Kitty into the story as a newcomer at the Silver Slipper after Angel disappeared from rehab, with Rue watching events unfold from behind the scenes.
In the episode, Kitty is hired by a group of men for a private room, leading to one of the show’s darkest sequences so far. The character is played by Anna Van Patten, 27, who has now found herself at the centre of conversation after just one appearance.
However, whilst viewers are only just getting to know Kitty, the actress behind her is already connected to a name many TV fans will recognise.
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Anna’s older sister is Grace Van Patten, who is best known for playing Lucy Albright in Hulu’s Tell Me Lies.
Grace has also appeared in shows including Nine Perfect Strangers, Maniac, and Boardwalk Empire, and recently took on the lead role of Amanda Knox in Hulu’s The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.
In a very full-circle casting choice, Anna also appeared in the same series, playing Amanda’s sister Deanna, meaning the real-life sisters ended up playing sisters on screen too.
It turns out the pair comes from a seriously well-connected Hollywood family, as their dad is director and producer Timothy Van Patten.
Timothy has worked on some of the biggest prestige dramas around, including The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, The Wire, and Game of Thrones. Their uncle was actor Dick Van Patten, while their cousin is actress Talia Balsam.
Anna has been building up her own CV for a while, too. Before Euphoria, she appeared in Gossip Girl, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and FBI: Most Wanted, as well as the 2022 horror film Master.
However, Kitty is the role that has suddenly put her name in front of a lot more people. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about preparing for the part, Anna said: “I had never been to a strip club in my life.”
She explained that she began taking pole-dancing lessons when she got the callback, adding: “I think I kind of manifested the part with those lessons.”
Anna also said she visited a club in Budapest after finding out she had landed the role, explaining that despite a language barrier, she got ‘a lot of inspiration’ from speaking with dancers there.
The actor has previously said she studied drama at a performing arts school before going on to study film at The New School, and has hinted that she may eventually want to work behind the camera as well.
Topics: Euphoria, HBO, Celebrity, TV And Film
Ben Williams