Katherine McNamara

Chelsea Green sat down on Spotlight with Kat Siggers to discuss her surprising leap from WWE superstar to television actress. Green stars as Shelby in Blue Ridge, an Appalachian-set cop drama, marking her episodic TV debut after previously appearing in a Christmas film directed by Gary Wheeler—the same writer-director who created Shelby specifically with her in mind.Green described Shelby as a “badass” woman in a male-dominated field who ultimately just wants her family’s love and recognition—a parallel she found easy to draw from her own wrestling career. Though new to acting, she trains weekly at Class Act Studio in Orlando, working to strip scripts down to their emotional core. One surprising asset from wrestling: comfort with improvisation. Unlike traditional actors trained to stick rigidly to scripts, Green is used to live television where “whatever happens, happens.” She admits this occasionally means paraphrasing dialogue rather than delivering it word-for-word, something her acting coach finds amusing but ultimately harmless to the performance.Green also opened up about imposter syndrome, noting the feeling isn’t new—she experienced it entering wrestling 13 years ago too. She credits the warmth of the Blue Ridge cast, led by Jonathan, for making the transition smoother, and singled out an emotional scene surrounded by veteran actors as a breakthrough moment where genuine tears came easier than expected.The conversation also touched on her first horror film, produced by Lifeboat Productions and written/directed by Josh Stolberg (Saw franchise), co-starring Rory Culkin and Lauren LaVera. Green called it a huge learning experience despite disliking horror herself.Lighter moments included fitness talk; Green emphasized protein intake over marathon gym sessions, preferring heavy lifts with fewer reps—and reflections on making history as the first-ever WWE United States Women’s Champion, a title she says can never be erased from the record books.Chelsea Green closed by urging wrestling fans to check out her Blue Ridge episode, teasing there’s much more behind-the-scenes content still to come.Listen & SubscribeApple Podcast / Spotify / Amazon Podcast 🎧 Listen now — by subscribing to our Substack, you get episodes a little earlier. Spotlight with Kat Siggers is a Nerdspin Podcast Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Spotlight, Kat sat down with the brilliantly funny and refreshingly candid Milana Vayntrub, actress, creator, activist, and the voice behind Marvel’s beloved Squirrel Girl, fresh off the premiere of one of the most anticipated films of the year: Project Hail Mary, alongside Ryan Gosling.Milana plays Alessia, a Russian astronaut tasked with nothing less than saving the universe. She was instantly drawn to the character’s grit. “She had to be a little bit of a renegade to be a female astronaut in Russia,” Milana tells Kat. “She had to overcome some real stuff to be the person they chose to not just represent their country, but to save the universe.” It’s a role that fits: part hard-ass, part party girl, entirely compelling.But the conversation goes much deeper than the red carpet. Milana and Kat explore the state of the internet, the clickbait economy, the rage machine, and the bots designed to manufacture chaos. Milana speaks openly about the online harassment she faced during her AT&T commercial days, describing it with raw honesty: “It felt like men were grabbing at me.” Rather than retreating, she channelled that experience into advocacy and into Only Philanthropy, her platform where exclusive content funds charitable causes.There’s also a beautiful detour into her OG YouTube era with creative partner Stevie Nelson, her passion for female-led storytelling, and what she’s doing at home to raise her son differently — making sure he grows up watching shows with female leads.Warm, wickedly sharp, and completely herself, Milana is exactly the kind of guest that makes you want to hit play all over again.🎧 Listen now — by subscribing to our Substack, you get episodes a little earlier.Spotlight with Kat Siggers is a Nerdspin Podcast Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

Felicia Day joins Kat Siggers for a candid conversation about fandom, creativity and reinvention. Day revisits Charlie Bradbury on Supernatural and why the character landed so hard with fans, looks back at creating The Guild — the web series that made gaming culture must-watch TV years before streaming caught up — and opens up about her new novel The Lost Daughter of Sparta, its mythological roots, and why she's rewriting ancient legend now. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

Peter Jacobson — Dr. Chris Taub on House, and a face in the Star Wars galaxy via Ahsoka — joins Kat Siggers to talk about stepping into franchises that fans already own. Jacobson gets into the craft of playing difficult, compromised characters, how a long-running network drama differs from a streaming event series, and the projects he's chasing now. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

This week on Spotlight with Kat Siggers, Kat sits down with 'Weapons' star Callie Schuttera for an in-depth conversation about her breakout role in Zach Cregger’s buzzy horror epic. Callie opens up about playing Alex’s mom, a character who transforms from a loving parent into one of the film’s most chilling presences, and how she approached such an emotionally demanding shift.From unpacking the hidden grief that drives her character’s choices to reliving the now-iconic “bathroom door” sequence inspired by 'The Shining', Callie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how 'Weapons' balances shocking scares with deeply human themes. She also shares what it was like to collaborate with her wife, director Gabriela Ledezma, through their production company Poison Pictures, and teases their upcoming dystopian horror thriller. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Spotlight with Kat Siggers, we are thrilled to feature the multi-talented Meg Donnelly. We discuss her new EP 'dying art,' her involvement in the upcoming 'Zombies 4', and her exciting voice work on Supergirl. Additionally, we explore Meg's thoughts on the possibility of becoming a superhero one day. Tune in for an engaging discussion that highlights her artistic journey and future projects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Spotlight with Kat Siggers, actress Caitlin Carver (I, Tonya, Dear White People) joins us to discuss her chilling new horror film Call of the Void. Set deep in the Appalachian wilderness, the film blends folk horror with haunting original music—and Caitlin opens up about the emotional weight of her character, the terrifying use of sound, and the powerful themes of grief and identity woven throughout the story.We also explore Caitlin’s unique journey from dancer to actress, her unforgettable experience playing Nancy Kerrigan in I, Tonya, and how she prepares for emotionally intense roles—complete with music playlists and scent memory! Plus, we get a special cameo from her cat Dennis and a fun throwback to her earliest gigs at Disney.If you're a fan of psychological horror, indie cinema, or simply love hearing artists talk about their craft, this episode is for you. Call of the Void hits digital platforms on April 15, 2025—don't miss it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Spotlight with Kat Siggers, we sit down with the incredible Diana Lee Inosanto, best known for her role as Morgan Elsbeth in The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. Diana shares insights into her journey as an actress, martial artist, and storyteller, discussing her experience in the Star Wars universe and beyond. Don’t miss this deep dive into her career, inspirations, and what’s next for her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Spotlight with Kat Siggers, we welcome the incredibly talented Katherine McNamara. Best known for her roles as Clary Fray in Shadowhunters, Mia Smoak in Arrow, and Sonya in Maze Runner, Katherine shares insights into her journey through some of the biggest fandoms in TV and film. She opens up about the impact of playing such beloved characters, being a part of these great fan communities, and the challenges of performing her own stunts in action-heavy roles (Air Force One Down). Get ready for a fun and insightful conversation with one of the most dynamic stars in this industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe

We’re thrilled to have an incredible guest—Alanah Pearce. Alanah is a true multi-hyphenate: an actor, voice actor, video game writer, and content creator with a massive following of over 2.2 million fans. During this episode we talk about how she’s making her mark in the horror film industry, starring in V/H/S Beyond and creating an episode of the upcoming animated horror series Dark Corners. Stay tuned as we chat with Alanah about her incredible journey, her transition from gaming to film, and the exciting projects on her horizon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Spotlight with Kat Siggers at spotlightwithkat.substack.com/subscribe