- KaDee Strickland describes her character on “Cruel Summer” as having a strong primal instinct to protect her daughter.
- She cannot reveal which side Debbie will take between Megan and Isabella, but she praises both actors.
- Strickland admits that discovering Megan’s secret life fueled by Adderall was terrifying, especially as a parent.
“Cruel Summer” star KaDee Strickland empathizes with her character Debbie’s instinct to defend her daughter Megan against accusations of murder.
Strickland, who portrays Megan’s mother and host to exchange student Isabella on the thrilling anthology series, explains that any parent would feel a primal instinct to protect their child when they are in trouble.
This season, “Cruel Summer” introduces viewers to the fictional town of Chatum, where Megan, Isabella, and Megan’s best friend Luke find themselves in a complicated love triangle.
The mystery in “Cruel Summer” unfolds across three timelines: summer 1999, winter 1999, and summer 2000.
Throughout the series, Luke becomes involved with both Isabella and Megan romantically. When Luke is murdered on New Year’s Eve 1999, both girls become suspects.
In an interview with Insider, Strickland discusses why Debbie refuses to choose sides between her daughter and Isabella when they face murder accusations.
Debbie’s relationship with Isabella develops in an intimate, mothering way because Isabella lacks a maternal figure in her life.
Strickland remains silent on Debbie’s ultimate loyalty in this season’s finale, but she praises Stanley and Underwood as talented scene partners.
She explains that when she acts alongside Sadie or Lexi, she only needs to look them in the eye and stay open because they provide her with complex moments to react to.
Strickland praises Stanley and Underwood as smart actors who always provide her with something natural to react to during their complicated scenes.
She wants the audience to question whether Debbie will prioritize bloodline loyalty or question her child until the very end.
Although Strickland’s real-life son is not yet a teenager, working on “Cruel Summer” has given her insights into approaching parenthood with the right mindset.
She mentions that while parenting in the early 2000s, like Debbie’s character, may have been different, she experienced a terrified moment of panic when she read the script and learned about Megan’s secret life fueled by Adderall.
Despite the challenges she anticipates in parenting a teenager, Strickland believes it was the best decision she ever made.
“Cruel Summer” airs on Freeform on Mondays at 10 p.m ET.
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