{"id":254414,"date":"2025-11-10T06:30:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T06:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/254414\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T06:30:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T06:30:23","slug":"katy-obrian-on-her-big-onscreen-year-after-breakout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/254414\/","title":{"rendered":"Katy O’Brian On Her Big Onscreen Year After Breakout"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tWith five movies releasing this year, including two this month alone, actress Katy O\u2019Brian<\/a> seems to be everywhere.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Christy<\/a> and Running Man<\/a> actress recently spoke to Deadline about her busy onscreen year, following her breakout movie role in A24<\/a>\u2018s Love Lies Bleeding<\/a> and a series of parts in major franchises, noting that she\u2019s considering \u201ctaking things into my own hands\u201d with her career and adding producer to her resume.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m really interested in building something from the ground up,\u201d O\u2019Brian explained. \u201cFranchises aren\u2019t my thing, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMeanwhile, she\u2019s also eager to get audiences \u201cback in the theaters\u201d after working on some major blockbusters with the likes of Tom Cruise, Glen Powell and more.<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Brian explained that Powell \u201chas a stage right now where he can make movies that speak to large audiences, hopefully, and bring people in. And I think that\u2019s what he\u2019s hoping to do, and I really admire that because that keeps all of us working.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBut if people don\u2019t go watch it in theaters, and you say you want original content, you have to go watch it,\u201d she added. \u201cYou have to go support it. It\u2019s the only way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThis year alone, O\u2019Brian appeared in The Running Man, Christy, Mission: Impossible \u2014 The Final Reckoning, Queens of the Dead and Maintenance Required. It\u2019s quite the resume for an actress whose credits also include Twisters, The Mandalorian, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Walking Dead.<\/p>\n

\n\tWith such a diverse body of work already under her belt, read on about Katy O\u2019Brian\u2019s career and what she\u2019s taken away from her time in the industry.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Z Nation\u2019 (2018)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Oliver Irwin\/Syfy\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tNoting that the state of the industry is \u201cscary for everyone\u201d right now, O\u2019Brian revealed, \u201cI did 5 projects last year. I haven\u2019t worked this year.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tRecalling her first series regular role on the fifth and final season of Syfy\u2019s Z Nation<\/a> (2014-2018), she shared some wisdom from co-star DJ Qualls<\/a> that still sticks with her amid the ups and downs of Hollywood.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cHe\u2019s like, \u2018After every single job, I say, \u201cWell, that might be the last time I ever work again.\u201d Because you just never know in this business,’\u201d recalled O\u2019Brian.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cYou can never rest on your laurels here,\u201d she added of advice an acting teacher once gave her. \u201cYou have to always be planting seeds because the second that you kind of think that you\u2019re in a cush position, you\u2019ll find a drought, and then you won\u2019t have any surplus or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018The Mandalorian\u2019 (2020-2023)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Disney+\/Lucasfilm\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tAppearing in multiple franchises, O\u2019Brian made her Star Wars<\/a> debut in 2020 as Elia Kane in The Mandalorian<\/a>, an officer in the Galactic Empire who was tasked with tracking the Force-sensitive infant Grogu.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania\u2019 (2023)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Jay Maidment\/Marvel\/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter a 2020 guest arc as Kimball on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.<\/a>, O\u2019Brian had the rare opportunity to pull double duty in the MCU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI came in really late in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I had a really small [part],\u201d she explained. \u201cI had like two lines and stood in the background for a while, and then I think I blew up or something. I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Brian added, \u201cAnd then they de-canonized it or something and I was allowed to be in Ant-Man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn 2023, O\u2019Brian appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania as Jentorra, leader of the Freedom Fighters in the Quantum Realm.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Love Lies Bleeding\u2019 (2024)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Anna Kooris\/A24\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tLast year, O\u2019Brian\u2019s breakout movie role came alongside Kristen Stewart<\/a> in A24<\/a>\u2018s Love Lies Bleeding<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tPlaying bodybuilder Jackie, the character strikes up a romance with New Mexico gym manager Lou (Stewart) while on her way to a competition in Las Vegas, only to get caught up in the danger around Lou\u2019s criminal family.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Love Lies Bleeding\u2019 (2024)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Anna Kooris\/A24\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Love Lies Bleeding\u2019 (2024)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Anna Kooris\/A24\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Brian revealed that Edgar Wright<\/a> saw her in the Rose Glass-helmed film, which inspired him to cast her in The Running Man.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI guess he just saw\u00a0Love Lies Bleeding\u00a0and wanted me in this movie, which I was really excited about cause I\u2019ve always loved Edgar\u2019s work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Twisters\u2019 (2024)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Tunde
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon\/Universal Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter playing mechanic Dani in last year\u2019s Twisters<\/a>, O\u2019Brian reunites with Glen Powell<\/a> in her latest movie The Running Man.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe\u2019re engaged and we\u2019ll be married\u2014no, kidding,\u201d she joked, adding: \u201cI love working with him. I love the energy that he brings to set, and I think he\u2019s very driven and very motivated to make the most out of a career, and he\u2019s trying to do the Tom [Cruise]<\/a> thing, we\u2019re trying to get people back in the theaters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Mission: Impossible \u2013 The Final Reckoning\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Paramount Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter starring alongside Cruise earlier this year in the eighth installment of the Mission: Impossible<\/a> franchise, O\u2019Brian praised the \u201chuge collaborative effort\u201d between all departments, calling it \u201ca really refreshing and inspiring set to be on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI really appreciated that the biggest movie star in the world is making everyone sit down and appreciate and respect that,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s like, go around and ask questions, learn. He\u2019s hoping that people will take the baton.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Maintenance Required\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Madelaine
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Matt Squire\/Amazon MGM Studios\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tEarlier this year, O\u2019Brian starred alongside Madelaine Petsch and Madison Bailey in Prime Video\u2019s romantic-comedy Maintenance Required<\/a>, playing flirtatious mechanic Cam.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Queens of the Dead\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Shudder\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tIn Tina Romero<\/a>\u2018s Queens of the Dead<\/a>, O\u2019Brian stars as Brooklyn club promoter Dre, who the actress thinks was inspired by the co-writer\/director.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cObviously, she wanted to pay tribute to her dad\u2019s legacy,\u201d she said of Tina, whose father George A. Romero<\/a> pioneered the zombie horror sub-genre.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cBut also in her own way, she\u2019s been on the scene,\u201d explained O\u2019Brian. \u201cShe\u2019s DJed, she\u2019s been an event promoter, all of these things. So, it was fun to, in a way kind of think, \u2018Am I playing Tina right now?\u2019 It felt like an honor to kind of be cast as, essentially who she is in this world. But she just was open for everyone to be creative, had a very clear vision still. And despite how stressful it must have been with the budget and time limits and everything, she just seemed very unfrazzled and just had positive wonderful energy the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Queens of the Dead\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Dominique
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Shudder\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Brian praised the outcome \u201cvery low budget\u201d LGBTQ<\/a> horror comedy, which premiered last month.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt was so fun. It was a special energy,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were in this building that I think now is condemned. There was no air conditioning, Jersey, hot, sweaty summer. It was so hot, and then I can\u2019t complain cause there\u2019s people in drag and they\u2019re not complaining.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe actress added, \u201cEveryone was just there for the love of it, the love of the projects, love of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNoting how the small crew was \u201cable to be resourceful,\u201d O\u2019Brian said, \u201cI was just every day blown away with what everyone was able to bring to the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018Christy\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Black Bear Pictures\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tNow in theaters, O\u2019Brian plays boxer Lisa Holewyne in Christy<\/a>, her \u201cfirst time\u201d playing a real person.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt was really intimidating because, and the fact that she\u2019s still alive too, and well and very strong, a Hall of Fame boxer\u2014you want to do it right for so many reasons,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAnd then also, Christy\u2019s story is so inspiring, so heart-wrenching, and so very personal,\u201d added O\u2019Brian. \u201cShe was on set regularly, and even Lisa, the person that I was playing, she would stop by. We mostly just goofed around, but she was very gracious with her time, very forthcoming in terms of answering any questions that I had. I just greatly appreciate both their vulnerability and also just their genuine love and goofiness around each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018The Running Man\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Paramount Pictures\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tIn Wright\u2019s The Running Man<\/a>, based on Stephen King<\/a>\u2018s 1982 novel, O\u2019Brian plays Ben\u2019s ( Powell) fellow contestant Laughlin, an expanded and gender-flipped version of the original character, who joins the titular deadly reality show for a chance at winning a fortune.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI really admired his sense of humor<\/a> and all of that, even if it\u2019s the apocalypse or whatever,\u201d O\u2019Brian praised Wright. \u201cAnd his cool cuts, his editing choices, the way he slides sound design, music into everything, I think he just makes for a really unique cinematic experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u2018The Running Man\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Paramount Pictures\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tDespite seven years of experience as a police officer and 30 in martial arts, O\u2019Brian admitted she didn\u2019t get to do as many stunts in The Running Man \u201cas I\u2019m used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe coolest thing I think I got to do was a slide across the car hood, and other than that, I was kind of bummed because I would have loved to have had a little more of the action on my own,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\t\u2018The Running Man\u2019 (2025)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Katy
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Ross Feguson\/Paramount Pictures\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Brian said that her version of Laughlin is \u201ctotally different\u201d from the book version, as well as the original 1987 movie, which starred Yaphet Kotto in the role.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe book Laughlin character gets like one sentence, I think. It\u2019s just to say, \u2018Hey, there are other runners out there, and oops, they died,’\u201d she explained. \u201cSo, Edgar wanted one of the runners to be a woman this time, and I don\u2019t know how he got the inspo to make her\u2014well, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tO\u2019Brian continued, \u201cHe had three types of runners, right? So, he has the hopeless one, and it\u2019s all about ratings and views and how they select reality TV stars, right? So, there\u2019s the hopeless one, who basically just doesn\u2019t even know how to play the game; the negative one, who knows they have no chance in the world and is just gonna live it up the way they can. And that\u2019s the one that essentially Laughlin is.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With five movies releasing this year, including two this month alone, actress Katy O\u2019Brian seems to be everywhere.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":254415,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[6491,9296,96,105793,105794,105795,95407,19249,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-254414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-celebrities","tag-christy","tag-entertainment","tag-katy-obrian","tag-katy-ou2019brian","tag-mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning","tag-queens-of-the-dead","tag-the-running-man","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254414"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254414\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}