‘Euphoria’ Star Anna Van Patten Teases “Really Big” Season 3 Finale: “You Can Expect A Lot Of Action”

The third and final season of Euphoria has expanded the world of the HBO show far beyond high school halls and into the underbelly of Los Angeles. When Rue (Zendaya) decides to work for strip club magnate Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), she quickly becomes acquainted with many of the girls who dance at the Silver Slipper. One of the most prominent in the group? A new girl named Kitty (Anna Van Patten) who starts working at the club Euphoria Season 3 Episode 4 “Kitty Loves to Dance.”

Although we’re reportedly told that the Kansas native really likes to dance, things take a turn for the worse when she’s asked to entertain her first set of customers. After Rue is horrified to watch men sexually assault Kitty on CCTV monitors, she asks the girl if she’s okay… And if she’s being forced to work at the Silver Slipper. This kind conversation is what sparks Magick’s (Rosalía) mistrust of Rue and a chain of events that may eventually lead to the death of the anti-heroine in the show’s finale.

When we last left Kitty, she was happily eating Twinkies on her way to a Brazilian butt lift course in the shade in Mexico. Little did Kitty know, however, that the ambulance sent by the Alamo across the border was being monitored by DEA agents intent on catching fentanyl dealer Laurie (Martha Kelly) in the act.

DECIDER caught up with Anna Van Patten earlier this week to talk all things Kitty, BBLs, and meeting the likes of Maddy (Alexa Demie) and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney)…

DECIDER: We learn from the Alamo that Kitty is from Kansas. Do you have a broad sense of his backstory and how he got into this line of work? And what led him to the Silver Slip?

ANNA VAN PATTEN: In my head, I had an idea, but when I was playing him, I really tried not to focus on his history and how he ended up in these situations, but just watching him as a person, going through these situations and playing his reality in the moment.

In your first episode, there is a shocking sequence where you entertain men in a secret room. Rue sees it, we see it. Too bad what happened to him. I’m curious to know what it was like to deal with that situation and how safe you felt when you were in the program of the whole situation?

I’m so happy that during the set up and doing that scene, I felt very supported. I mean, everyone was soft and they knew that this was a very dangerous situation. I’m lucky that the cast and crew – and there’s a close relationship coordinator – really took care of me and took care of all of us.

The scene that follows in the bathroom when Rue tries to comfort Kitty, is chilling because not only does Rue ask if she is being forced to do this, but Kitty’s response is, “I like to dance.” I’m curious: is she forced to do this and why does Kitty love to dance so much?

I think “I love to dance” is a real thing that Kitty likes to do. Maybe you went into this thinking it was going to be something different. And I think he’s scared and doesn’t know who to trust.

What was it like working with Zendaya on that scene? Because it’s so powerful to watch. You both share these unspoken, I think, truths or secrets. We know there’s a subtext going on that’s just outside the lines.

Yes, you are an amazing scene partner. Despite his character, he is warm and present, and you feel safe there next to him in the scene. He is very generous. It was great, yes, it was great to work with him and watch what he does up close.

One of the funniest stories is how Maddy hires Kitty and Magick to be her two new girls. It’s a fun sequence when Maddy directs the photo shoot of the three of you and Cassie there. Can you tell me what it was like a day to work with Rosalía and Sydney and Alexa in that sequence?

Yes, that day was very nice. It was almost two full days of photoshoots at the club and it felt like it
“Euphoria.” I think it’s because we had Maddy and Cassie there, but also in our full glam, and playing music. And then off camera, just talking to them and they’re all so nice and fun.

Yes, tell me about glam. Euphoria she is well known for her looks, her hair, her makeup, her attire. I know they’ve done a lot of work on the Silver Slipper girls to give them all their personality and all their kind of vibe. How did you respond to the costume and the glam and what did it tell you about Kitty?

Well, it’s amazing because they work together so much in a way. And what I loved about Kitty is that she has a glam arc in a way. We see her very pink and innocent looking, and then in the latest episode she has, she’s got rhinestones and she’s got dark colors and long hair and long nails, too, if you pay attention. I think we’re seeing her for the first time, the little pink nails that are shiny and then they get long and pointy. And I think that’s because of Maddy’s influence and her trying to adapt to the world around her. But it was really fun because it really helped me get into Kitty. Going through those hours of hair and makeup and clothes, it felt like a complete change and very different from who I am. So it really helped.

Yes, we learned in last week’s episode that Kitty is really excited because she is going to Mexico to get the BBL. There is something sweet and funny about the way he tells girls and the way they look at him. What did that mean to you? That there is a scene where the girls want her to look after herself and think about business and think about her health and safety?

Yes. I mean, that scene was really fun because you spend a lot of time with all the girls you see in that scene, and they’re all so sweet and straight that I felt supported by them, in life in general, because they’re all so amazing. But I think that, you know, he was very happy to share this news because I think he was very happy to get the BBL.

And how much ice cream did you get to eat in those scenes? Was that part of the fun?

Yes, a lot of ice cream. I’m still learning how to eat because the same thing happened to me with Twinkies, which you can see me eating in the back of the doctor’s van. I think I ate like 20 Twinkies and ice cream, too. I ate a lot just because I wanted to feel real, even in a wide area. But then I asked friends who are gamers, like “What do you do?” And it’s like, “You usually don’t eat much until it’s close.” So everything is a learning experience. But it was really nice to eat ice cream.

I haven’t seen the ending yet, but I understand that you have an important role to play. Can you make fun of what’s going on? How worried should we be about Kitty if she’s in an ambulance being followed by the DEA?

Well, I haven’t seen the end, and things change a lot, even from what I’ve experienced. But I think you can expect a lot of action. I mean, from what I saw, they were really big scenes. And, yeah, I don’t want to give away too much about whether Kitty gets a happy ending or not, but I think she deserves one.

No, I agree with that. This is the third and final season Euphoria. This show had a huge cultural impact. What was it like to join this project at this point in its story? Because it feels like the most important time.

Yes. I mean, just being a part of it. Season three is very special, and I think this season is, it’s very different from the last two because it feels so much bigger now. And I’m just so happy that I got to be a part of it.

What is your favorite thing about everything you do? Was there a particular occasion, costume you wore, or friendship you formed? Looking back Euphoriawhat will stick with you the most?

Well, there are many. One of the scenes was a car ride with Maddy and Magick down Hollywood Boulevard. It was just a camera and a car. We were just improvising and talking, and it just felt like a “squeeze” moment. Of course, full hair and makeup, it just felt very Hollywood in a way that was really fun. But I think Kitty will be my favorite. I learned a lot about myself playing him.

I Euphoria the finale airs tonight, May 31, at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max.

This interview has been edited and formatted for clarity.