Ahead of the highly anticipated second season of Netflix’s fan-favourite To All The Boys spin-off, we sit down with the Canadian actor to chat all things Kitty, her adventures in Seoul, and the creative role models who influenced her growing up.

“Kitty’s ability to let love lead her, and continuously be fearless when she goes after what she wants, is something I’m always trying to learn from her.” Anna Cathcart is kicking off 2025 with a bang. When she speaks with Wonderland, the Vancouver-based actor is gearing up for her biggest release of the year — the second season of XO, Kitty!, now streaming on Netflix. Since its debut in 2023, the spin-off of one of the streaming giant’s most successful productions — Jenny Han’s To All The Boys film series — has amassed a devoted fanbase. And now, the KISS kids are back for more.

More Heartstopper than Sex Education, XO, Kitty! is a coming-of-age story following the youngest Song-Covey sister, Katherine, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery in Seoul, South Korea. Amidst navigating new friendships, adulthood, romances, and everything that comes with it, Kitty also uncovers her family’s past and strives to honour her late mum’s legacy. “This season Kitty has a much greater sense of who she is and begins the semester with an “I got this” mindset,” Anna shares. “Similarly, I started season 2 with a much greater sense of confidence than I had during season 1.”

Ahead of this exciting new chapter, we caught up with Anna to discuss the joy of playing a character over time, the creative influences she grew up with, her favourite moments exploring Seoul with castmates, and what’s next for 2025. Keep scrolling…

Hi Anna! Before we dive into your new project, let’s rewind a bit. Could you tell us about your upbringing and what first sparked your interest in acting?
Since I was born my sister has been my main role model, and honestly, my idol.  She did commercials when she was little and pretty much anything my sister did, I wanted to do too.  This may have been how my excitement for acting started, but it quickly became clear that it was much more than that.  I shot a commercial for Crayola chalk when I was 10 years old, and I remember turning to my mom after I wrapped and saying “That was the best day of my life”.  Ever since, it has always been my dream to work in this industry.

Do you remember some of your early influences in the industry? What made you fall in love with the craft?
Growing up my mom used to get mad at me for watching so much TV and I have to admit I watched more Disney Channel than any kid I knew.  Looking back on it, I genuinely believe this was my acting training.  I was so inspired by these shows and I would watch them so intently, absorbing the acting techniques and memorizing all the lines.   For my entire childhood it was my biggest dream to be on Disney Channel, and I ended up booking Descendants 2 when I was 13.  To this day, it still blows my mind that I booked that role.

Huge congratulations on Season 2 of XO, Kitty! I can only imagine this project must be very close to your heart. Tell me a bit about Kitty and what you love most about her.
Thank you!  I feel so grateful that I’ve gotten to play a character who I love for so many years.  Something I really admire about Kitty is how fearless she is to be herself.  There’s this moment in episode 6 where Peter says to Kitty “Since when do you care about looking like a freak?” and I think it sums up such a beautiful part of who she is.  Kitty isn’t afraid of what others think of her, as she knows her actions are always coming from a place of kindness and care, even if they can get her in messes sometimes.

What are your expectations for the release, and what are you most excited for fans to see?
I try not to have too many expectations with releases but I will say I am so excited for fans to watch this season.  I think it’s bigger and better than season 1 and that we got an opportunity to really find the rhythm of the show.  And I will not lie – I’m excited to see their TikTok edits LOL.  It means so much to see how invested people are in the show!

How do you reflect on Kitty’s character evolution since Season 1, and how do you think that mirrors your growth as an actor?
This season Kitty has a much greater sense of who she is and begins the semester with an “I got this” mindset.  Similarly, I started season 2 with a much greater sense of confidence than I had during season 1.  The learning curve was very steep during the first season as it held so many new experiences for me, but this time I knew what to expect.  Like Kitty, I knew this time around I could do this because I had done it before plus I’ve grown so much since then.

How was your time on set during Season 2? Tell us a bit about your relationship with Seoul and the bonds you formed with the city.
I feel so lucky that I’ve gotten to live in Seoul now for two seasons!  It’s such a vibrant place and this time (since it wasn’t COVID) we got the chance to check out the city and its nightlife way more.  There are so many amazing spots and it is truly a place that never sleeps!

When would you say Kitty challenges you the most? And what about her do you find most similar to yourself?

I think something Kitty and I both have in common is a big heart, and that we both care so deeply.  The way this is expressed in our personalities though is very different. You could say that Kitty “overfeels” (which I do too), but she does not overthink, which is something I struggle with. Kitty’s ability to let love lead her, and continuously be fearless when she goes after what she wants, is something I’m always trying to learn from her.

What about filming this project brings you the most joy? And what do you hope fans take away from this new chapter?
The thing about this project that brings me the most joy is when I hear about how it has inspired others to be less afraid to be themselves.  I’ve had many viewers tell me personally that Kitty’s journey with her sexuality reflected their own story in a way they have never seen before.  This is truly what makes me most excited – Kitty helping someone feel understood, seen, and loved.  I’ve heard the same thing regarding cultural/ethnic representation on the show and it means so much.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future? And what are your expectations for 2025?
My 2025 is a little unpredictable for me at the moment and I’m really curious to see where it takes me.  For the past 16 years I’ve been balancing school and work at the same time and this year I’ve decided I’m finally going to give work my full attention.  I’m so excited to get the opportunity to really lean in and give it my all.

The second season of XO, Kitty! is available now on Netflix.