Kaitlyn Leeb

Oh my gosh, seven years. That's insane. Yeah, it's astounding how much it just has done. Enough far we've come and everything, and yet you know, the Shadow film is still going strong, so we wanted to. We couldn't obviously complete a season one Rewatch Slash Deep Dive without the one and only Camille. Oh. So, first of all, how are you. How's life? How's the family good? So I'm great. I now have two kids, which is crazy because when I first started Shadow Hunters, I didn't have any. Yeah,

and yeah, they're good. They're like I guess it makes sense because Avery is turning six this year and then my little one is two a half. So yeah, I brought Avery to set five weeks after I gave birth to her to shoot Shadow Hunters season two. Yeah, that little one was on set at like five weeks old, a little shadow Hunter baby. That's cute, That's really cool.

That's something that's amazing about the show is, you know, looking back and seeing how how everyone's personalized have changed to you know, the all the kids and marriages and houses and everything that eat. Right after shadow Unters, people just started pumping out babies like left frind centers. Yeah, how are you guys doing? What's you know, what's new? We're good. No kids as far as I know, no children as yet. Dogs and cats and that's what we're

good with. But we're good. Yeah, Caitlin, why don't we start with sort of everyone? I've been sort of asking everyone to start in the same way. But tell us and tell the fans listening your baby steps, tell us how you how you got started with acting, how like where this world drew you in, what you found cool about it? You know, just give us a little a little Caitlin, what of this crazy industry? This crazy industry?

So um, I originally wanted to be like a runway model, and that was like my dream or like Beyond Billboards, and so I got an agent when I was young, and they were like, listen, you're never going to be a runaway model. You're way too short. And I was like, uh, my dreams are crushed and try acting. I was like, I don't sure. I don't think you're too sure, are you. Yeah, I'm five four, I mean I feel now, Yeah, I feel like Camille. I think was just like a bigger presence.

But I'm a little I'm five four, And so they're like, you're never gonna be run away. Yeah, I know. So they kind of they put me in acting classes. And then I got an agent and I started auditioning for shows, and I booked a couple of things here and there, but um, you know, I went through university. I did a lot of print or of high school, I did a lot of print modeling, and then I stayed in Toronto to the university, and um, I really wanted to

get my degree before I decided to do anything. So I got a degree in psychology and then I booked a movie like my first lead at the same time. So I filmed it, came back, graduated, and then I decided it was just like the industry kind of was like, yeah, nope, you're going to do this, and then I kind of put all my eggs in that basket and went went with it. And um, I've been, you know, really lucky that I can still do what I love and I've

been in the industry for a long time. And it is a crazy industry, that's for sure, but uh yeah, I love it. I wouldn't do anything else. Oh that's amazing. So tell us a little bit why you chose psychology and what what was sort of behind that. I'm always curious is to you know, why people study what they do.

I originally wanted to be like a like an operational nurse, and my mom was like, that's never gonna work for you, Like you're not going to be like that person, and I'm not, and I'm she was so rum But I think when nursing, like when I did my first year, I had to do psychology, and I just fell in love with it. I feel like most people that's how they kind of get into They took a site course and then they're like this is so interesting and then there's so much more. So, um, yeah, I wanted to

go into like do therapy for people help. I just want to help people, and I really found psychology super interesting and relatable to everyone and everything. So I ran a pet therapy program at the Center for Addiction Mental Health here in Toronto for while I was finishing university. Yeah, and I wanted to work there. That's why. Like, I ran this program with my family dog and she was amazing and I learned so much more there than I

did in school, because you're like, just like acting. It's like you can take a million classes, but until you get on set, that's when you really learned, right, Um, And so I wanted to work at cam ATE, which is set of Tradition mental health, and then I booked a movie and realized that this is what I want to do. So yeah, that's really cool. Yeah. Pet therapy is therapy with pets, right, yeah, therapy for pets. Like

it's an addiculous thing. I lived in l a for like six years, and we bumped into this person who was a pet not mystic, Like, um, what are they called the people you go to talk? Yeah, no, but kind of, but they like read who are the psychic? Psychic? That's what I'm thinking, Thank you very much. It was a pet psychic, and they would like, you want to talk to your dead dog because we can do it here. And I was like, wow, okay, I don't. I don't think because I couldn't talk to him when he was alive.

So I don't know what you're gonna offer me, Like you also translator, this is the weird, weird things. You say it like it's a crazy thing, like therapy for pets. But yeah, I think you're right in l A. There's a world for it. I think so too. You're absolutely right crazy. I'm glad it wasn't that. I'm glad it was therapy with pets. I think that might be more beneficial around. Yes, I think so. So talk to us

a little bit about your journey with shadow Hunters. So you've been the industry for a while, you're working in Toronto, you're working probably all over Canada. I can only sue, and this comes across your proverbial desk. What were your first impressions of Camille? What was your sort of did you know of the book series? What was your journey into into our world? So I was obsessed with vampires. I don't know what it was. I was just like

the most obsessed with vampires really, you know they were. Yeah, it was so weird, like before Shadow Hunters. Um. I just loved the vampires, like I want to be a vampire like in real life. I was just like, I thought they were so cool. I don't know, maybe like which ones, you know, because because vampires went all the way from like No s Ferrato in the in the twenties through like Blade Buffy, Like which generation vampires? Yeah, I feel like so Buffy. I was always that that's

like definitely my generation growing up. And then of course, like the Twilight thing blew up and everyone was a vampire, werewolf, vampire, were world. I just like loved it. I thought it would be really cool to play a vampire, I think more so than anything. And so when I cut the audition for Camille, I was like, oh my god, this would be my dream come true. Um. I just thought she was such a good character. I didn't know anything

about the books prior to going into even audition for it. Um, but I booked it the next day, and honestly, it was it was insane. I mean, I'm sure you guys all liked it right away. Yeah. I had auditioned for a couple of things before that, Um oh this happened. I think I helped you. Auditions. Yeah, I auditioned for Izzy first, and then they wanted me to audition for DOT,

but I was in Bali, so I couldn't. Then I came back and Camille came and I was so happy because I was like, this is the one I would really want to do. And then I found out the next day and then it was just crazy. It was like it was just like really overwhelming and crazy, and then fans and everything, so it was a whirlwind. But um, then I got down to research because I soon found out that I don't look anything like Camille does in the books, which was a problem for people at the beginning.

As it always is, you have to give act as the opportunity to prove themselves. It's really important and it's important that like we give people chances, like this is our industry, this is what we do. There's this new one going around that people have pissed that Amelia Clark isn't blonde. The show is about dragons. I know, I

know she's Alia Clark. I guess it's like when people are so invested in the book and like as you know, when you read a book, you you're watching it in your head, right, So they get it's so invested with these characters. And then when I pop up as Camille, who was like you know she was She's such a badass character, They're like, that's not which I pictured her to look like. So, you know, I had some hate and then I had some luve, and I just felt like, Okay,

I need to really figure out who Camille is. So I did a lot of research, read research everything because I was like, Okay, I'm not I don't look like her, but I need to beat her and just to like give the fans with you wanted because I get that, I get their like disappointment. Although I was really hoping to rock a blonde wig. I'm not going to lie. I was like, do it? Did they ever try one on? Did was that ever a remote possibility? Or did they

just keep your I mean, your hair is gorgeous. No. I was so hoping to I mean, I just like I thought it would be really cool, of course, you know, to rock a blonde wig, and I still would look a little bit different, but at least give you know, give them that, But they did, I mean I was wearing a wig. I was wearing like a double wig. It was extremely extremely heavy on my head. But it was black. It was like dark hair. But no, that was never a thing, unfortunately. But that's okay. I think

I love Camille anyway. I love what they did with her so and we love your Camille as well. He did a great job, absolutely, and huge credit to for all the research that you did, because you and David Castro really got to establish what vampires are on our show. And this is you know, this is something Dom and I got to speak about when we were rewatching the episodes. But there's so many different iterations of vampires over all, across all media, and we got to as you know,

you got to invent Camille of your own accord. You and David sort of got to invent what vampires are in our world and established and without the two of you who brought such you especially being the leader of the vampire clan, who brought so much gravitas and history and nuance to what that character was, it really set us up for you know, success in the future. Oh well,

thank you. I mean, it was just so fun to like read about her backstory, you know, she's been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, and you know she's mean and evil, but she's sly and like, you know, she she had like she had to have charm where you would just hate her like that, you know that all the villains are. But yeah, I loved her backstory. I thought it was amazing. I really loved doing the

research for her. There's an interesting sort of theological concept that comes with immortality that eventually you will always end up being somewhat the bad guy. Like if you look over history, if you just human beings and obviously they're four theoretically vampire history as well. Watching society make the same mistakes and repeat things like war and genocide and you know, all of these horrendous things that just sort

of keep cycling through history. I don't know how you do anything but lose faith, you know what I mean. I think it's a very easy thing to happen for vampires to end up like, yeah, we really don't care about these people because they do consistently make the same mistakes, despite guidance, despite learning from them, and having that mistake written down and redivulged in schools again and again and again.

These mistakes still end up happening. So I there's a world in which I understand these like jaded vampires who are like, yeah, they're just food, Like I'm into that, not that that's what I'm into in any way shape what I'm saying. No, I think that's so well sad Absolutely. I mean, especially for what's going on right now in our current state of the world, which is a dark

I feel a dark time right now. You're right, it's like history repeats itself, and so when you go through that over and over and over again, you you're desensitize. You're like, I don't care, Like I'm not even going to get attached to you because you'll die or whatever. We're great And that's kind of how she looked at life. I feel, um, but you're that was so well sadsolutely, I hug It's not mine. So someone else's theory. I can't take any credit for it. I don't remember whose

it was. Person on Wine. Well, there was such an intriguing quality that you you brought to Camille, and that she had this this sense of fashion and gravitas, and and her look was so much of who she was, which played into part of our vampire world being that they're the collectors of items, but Camille almost seemed like a collector of people as well, be it Simon or Raphael or you know, all of these madness even in a way, is that something that sort of played into

the creation of that character or what what what did you kind of pull from when you were doing your your research and everything. Yeah, I mean I love the dynamic and the different relationships she had. Like with Simon, you know, it was like her she got pure satisfaction and joy out of tormenting him right until like as he was especially turning into a vampire. Um. And the same with with David as well, Like there their relationship

was so like good cop bad cop kind of thing. Um. I just like, I don't know, I just wanted to make sure that each relationship was played differently, Like she treated Simon differently. Then of course Raphael and then Magnus was always the one constant that I feel like, I kind of just felt like Camille, if she were to even have a heart, it would be like the smallest

amount would be for Magnets. Like there was just that history, And I think it's because of the history and the going three things over and over again and always you know, coming back that I wanted to establish that relationship to be completely different than with everyone else. Not to say that she had a soft spot, but sort of do you know, I think like a soft spot in like a Camille way, Yeah, a soft of a spot as

Camille can have. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, And maybe she does have a softspot, but she would always like hide that, you know, and keep it, you know. I think, yeah, I think that's you know, adding onto that theory we're talking about earlier, Like I don't think necessarily your sense of morality or empathy or compassion disappears. I think it's just it's jaded, its shadows, like it's something you're like, well, I don't need this this thing anymore because it's been

proven to not be effective to me. Um. So I think Camille absolutely has it. I think it's there, and I think we just didn't see it very often. She's hiding that stuff. I mean, she's been around for hundreds of years, so she you know, she has that. She just has that like knowledge you know when you yeah, so, well, she's a survivor. Speaking of the hundred of years, what was it like to do because you guys did didn't you do? Like a whole photo shoot sort of through

the years. Yeah, like costumes from likes than now You and Harry right and did um Yes, Adam, that was honestly one of my favorite moments. The costume, hair and makeup was amazing. I wanted so badly. I think originally it was like we were supposed to have a scene where we're at the party in those costumes. Something happened we ended up having to, like, you know, just do the photos and whatever and take the pictures. I just

thought that that was honestly so amazing. And Camille style was always great, but dressing up like in that era was phenomenal. I love. I really wish I could see that picture. I can't even like picture right now, I mean, like what it really looks like, but I'm sure we could track it down. But how much how much input did you get to have as far as can you look and the hair and the makeup and the wardrobe. Did you get to be a part of that process or did they have it all planned and it just

somehow worked perfectly on you? Because you're well, the dress, like that gorgeous dress you wore for the first episode was like made for me, so they like literally like I didn't have any input on it, but I thought it was just the most stunning dress ever. It was so gorgeous, like nude under with the black lace over. Um. I we definitely were. We were great with like what jewelry do you want to weigh? Like, you know, especially

with hair and makeup. Hair was a little less um of a thing because I had to like these wigs were like so together. It was like two big wigs um, which was really happy. So I mean like the hair was just there. It was just a state before her, which I loved. I mean, I thought it was great. But yeah, in terms of like nails and makeup and stuff like that, I uh, we definitely worked all together to do that stuff. Wardrobe I think was just done.

They were like this is this dress was made for Camille and um at old photo that we were just talking about. I don't even remember if I had an option. It was just like this huge, gorgeous green gown and I was just more excited to be putting it with my hair up in that awesome Yeah, and Adam was so great, like he was hilarious. I just I really loved him and Harry's relationship as well, so it was fun,

good stuff. Were there characters that you've seen, because you said obviously that you were a huge fan of vampires previously vampires or not vampires. Were there characters or people or anyone you've met people in your life who did you draw on to sort of develop who Camill was or was there any some some people some actors don't do that. Um, I don't think I draw on anyone like personally that I knew, because she was just such like a I mean, I've definitely done that with other characters,

and I don't think. I don't think I know anyone who's as badass as Camille. I wish I did. Yeah, I would be best friends with her, but no, she I just kind of like it up on the box. I knew that these these fans were dedicated to these characters, and the fans were, as I'm sure you guys can agree, are one of the, if not the best, part of Shadow Hunters. They were just so incredible. So I just wanted to give her justice and to do her justice.

So I just really read up and researched what she was like and kind of drew from what I would imagine she was like, I kind of just meet. I don't think I based her on anyone in particular, although this is seven years ago. I don't know. Maybe I did. I can't really know. It's so funny. That's what we keep finding, is like we'll rewatch things and I'll say something in one of the episodes. Then I'll get to another episode and I'm like, that's not what I did, And now I remember what I did. This is a

complete lie. What I said in the previous episode. Now, this is what I'm talking about, because it was just like we started filming, So your episodes, your episodes, you're early episodes, would have been seven years ago, which is crazy that seven years, seven years and two kids later for you. That's wild. Yeah. Actually, I can't even remember what I did on Friday, so I mean, it's remember. But this is something that I just have to say because it's so true for you and for for so

many of the folks on Shadow Hunters. Is the casting was so brilliant on this show. As someone who you know, I read all the books and getting to see all of these characters being brought in and meeting all of you often in hair, makeup, boardrobe, costume for the first time and seeing you dive in and bring so much to it. Everyone cared so much about the characters and did all the research. But there's also an inherent quality

in each person you know, your yourself included. I think I think you're a lot more of about us than you give yourself credit for, um and and there's so much of of who you are inherently that gave Camille that extra little edge, and that extra is something special that I think really brought the magic for lack of a better word, to her on screen. So just thank you for for being the team player. Sweet Oh my god, it was I missed Shadow Hunters so much. I missed

all characters. I really was bummed when we had to stop. Thank you for saying that. Well, and you were such a trooper going through so many different things from you know, being in eight inch heels in a graveyard or you know, getting locked in a coffin and having to st head off. Yeah, I bet right. Yeah, that was actually like one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my career.

I think I'm like I realized that I'm like I think I'm a little claustrophobic, and I also think it's being locked in a coffin with chains was also like a dark you know. I was breaking out inside my heart was like pounding. It's not wild. Yeah, it's not

something I would have wanted to do at all. It's a really it's a I think Alberta had a similar experience when he did his emergency was talking about it like it's it's not a fun thing to like, it's not something that you're supposed to go through as a human being. Yeah, it was weird. It was just like Steve that was our our stunt guy for season right, he was like that he had his hand in like a hole, like holding my leg or my arm or something, just to be like it's okay, Like there isn't out

because I was freaking out. I was so scared, and yeah, claustrophobic, I definitely don't want to get put back into a box. I completely understand. Okay, I have a question for you, because me and my girlfriend were discussing this recently. If your kids this is not even vaguely Shadow Hunters related, It's just occurred to me. I'm not really good host of this show. That's what we're learning because I just I go off through. Um, if if your kids, either of them or both of them, wanted to pursue a

career in acting, what would you say to them. I mean, I would never want to take that. If they really wanted to do that, I don't think I would be able to say no. Um, it's hard. I would just have to steer them in the right direction because, as you know, it can go off and to so many other horrible directions. Um, it would be hard, I think because as we all know, like you know, people glamorize the industry. I really do, especially when you're young. Yeah, really rough. So I had a I had a theory.

I'm not a parent yet, so I don't know. I don't know if this is necessarily going to be the right thing. My first kid is going to be very experimental, basically, is what we're figuring out. I'm going to take a lot of like, let's see if this works with you. And I think what I've sort of vaguely decided is sixteen years old, I need you to go through a

certain level of school. I need you to develop who you were going to be as a human being before the industry tries to develop you because it will, it will try and raise you a certain way. And that's sort of what I've landed on, is like you need to have and sixteens, Like I didn't really know who I was at sixteen. I was still learning, I was still growing, but I had I had sort of my basis. I had my morality that was in place, Like I had my semblance of right and wrong. I understood whatever

it was. And I think that's where my headspace is at now with kids. I think you need to know who you are before you start pretending to be somebody else. Yeah, that's not just to be able to do a good job, but also because there's as you say, like we've all worked with people who were like that person kind of sucks. And it's not necessarily because they got into it early.

It's not for any reason necessarily other than the industry has kind of told them that there is a way to behave that is not the correct way to behave. I think my kids need to know how to behave first, and then if you still want to do it, also gives you enough time to be like, maybe I don't want to do this, Like I'm not sure. That's one of the things as well. So if you got any other towns, that's sort of where my headspace is a

kind of right now. Yeah, that's a good But like, what if they're you know, nine, and they're like, please, please please see the sky, isn't it? Yeah? What if they're nine and a role comes up in something that either I'm doing or a friends doing that they'd be perfect for, like them, what do you do, you know, like a star making role. What do you do at that point? It's such a tricky thing. I know. I think.

I think because we are actors and we've been in the industry for so long, we've seen the good, the bad, the ugly, glamorous, right, I think maybe we would have a better upper hand in kind of steering them in

the right way, do you know what I mean? Because like, yeah, you're on set and you're you know, you're treated like royalty, and then but that's that's ending, Like it's over now when you come back to reality and um hang out with children instead of adults, and you know what I mean, because I feel like kids can grow up so much faster on set. But yeah, that's the thing you've got to be if they're begging you at nine ten years old, I'm just like, what do you do? I mean, Avery

has been in two movies already. Were they things you were working on or something else? Yeah? Yeah, of Persist movie I ever did with with Vivica a Fox, and they needed a child to play her granddaughter who was like a mixed, like an ethnically ambiguous child, and Avery does look ethnically and to us, so it was like can she do it? She was a baby, she was like, um, a year and a half. Maybe I don't even think she was a year and a half. She was young, she's a baby, and she she was in a movie

with me, playing the vicar's granddaughter. And then a few years later I was a producer on Christmas with the Prince and they, I think, like a little actor didn't show up and so I got to put her in like a little scene and that's yeah. It was really it was more for me because she was so young and little. She didn't really remember it, but it was just something for me that I could be like, I have this like forever on, like the two of us in the scene, you know together. That's that's pretty cool.

I like that and I think you're right about like being a parent in the industry, you have a responsibility because you have this understanding of how the industry works, right, you have this responsibility. So my mom, I remember this vividly. My mom came to to my first episode Big Formier, ironically for a vampire movie. I did call Vampire Academy, so they flew her out. She arrives like three and

a half hours late. I don't know what's happened. Turns out she had a fight with Border Control, which is very my mom. She's had this argument with Border Control, she said. So it's something along the lines of like he was like, what are you what are you doing here? And she went on, that's your business it is, But

there you go. Anyway, she arrives and we're in the middle of like round table press, me and Lucy Frying, my costar, and somewhat an assistant or someone came over at some point and said, hey, can can we get you anything? Do you need anything? And I said, actually yes, I would love just a bottle of water, a glass of water, thank you very much. And my mom, unbeknown to me, it's just walked in at the back of the room and she goes. First thing she says to me,

she went, no, get your own fucking water. I was like, that's how I know I'm always going to be a normal kid in this industry because my mom. Yeah, that's amazing. I love your mom. Yeah, your mom is wonderful. Yeah, I guess you missed. Yeah, we were in she came season one with my little brother and my stepdad, but we were doing stuff with Jade in the woods, so we didn't interact that much after after just be the graveyard.

It was the graveyard was I think the last time we really might have been the last time you and I interacted in the show. No, weren't you there when we were looking for the Oh you weren't. They were trying to save you. Wasn't it right when we were trying to find the book? Yeah, okay, so it was just a graveyard. The gray night was fun. That was long. It was fun. It was a night. Yeah, it was a long night. It did look amazing. Vampire Speed is also something we should talk about. Oh my god, yeah,

tell us about Vampire Speed in Stilettos. Vampire Speed was a little scary in Stilettos at the Graveyard because you know you could sink, but I just did it. I was like, okay, yeah, I feel like I was in those heels so much that I got used to them. I don't think I could do it now, though I'd be really scared. I'd probably fall and break my Yeah, they sort of fused your feet after a while, don't Yeah, totally they were, and they were like, yeah, they were, okay,

I just I did it. I crossed my fingers and said, please don't fall, please, it would be awful. But I didn't, right, I don't think you fell once. You didn't even stumble. No, No, I didn't think. God, but that would have been awful. Into a grave, that'd be great. I fell in my combat boots that the two or three when we come and save Simon and I broke my ankle. It was just it was, yeah, probably four or five episodes. I couldn't walk. I was on crutches. It was horrendous. And

that's sort of even in stilettos. That was I don't even think I was running. I think I just went over on it. It was and I was in like active footwear and I just went down. So credit to you ladies. Fod just being so much more athletic than I could ever be. I don't know about that. You had to do like fights and stuff and like healed boots and so did so did um oh my god, her out? Yeah remember her, Like I'm I got her. Her heels probably made mine look, you know, lame. I

think they were pretty similar. I think that's why I got confused with your height, because you it was a solid like I was like in my head, I was like, she's at least five nine, Like that's crazy, that's been crazy thing to say. So your heels most at least five inches. That's assuming that I know how to just eyeball height down to the inch's exactly five nins, exactly

five nights. Well, to be fair, dumb, you you gentlemen are all quite tall, and a lot of us ladies on the show were very short, so you know, getting to have us in the same frame. Um, I'm only five five five six maybe on a good day in the morning, and uh, you know it's it's I never know tall I am anymore I don't know in the morning than you are later in the day. Though, There's no way it's true, like hunch, because gravity just like

infantessm gravity. Yeah, so in theory, I'm thinner in the morning also when I wake up because I've been horizontal be affected by gravity for eight hours. I don't know about that. That's the exact same thing that you're saying.

That's the exact same I feel like if you weigh yourself in the morning, I feel like you'd be be like, Okay, I think I'd probably be lighter because I've been doing something without putting anything into my body for I don't know if i'd actually be physically because gravity has had an effect on my body. That's true. Where do I compress cat? Where is gravity having this effect on me? Isn't my spine? Is my spine compressing by an inch? I think so. I don't know if it's a full inch,

but it's you know, I don't like it. Now. I'm gonna measure myself tonight. And then again it's always get into weird yeah, bars on this podcast, it's very funny. It's we have many science lessons in the midst of return the shadows, whether or not they're accurate as another story. Yeah, we don't know yet. Don't take that to the bank. Not I don't know if that's cocktail talk at your next party or event or when you're with friends. Because I don't know if it's true yet, let me do

some research back to you. We'll do some research cheap. Since shadow Hunters, you've you know, you've done so much and and you've been a producer around things and you've done This is what I love about shadow Hunters is now it's been seven years, we get to look and we get to see where people have gone since then. So tell us a little bit you've done. You've been a producer on seven on a few things now right and kind of moving forward, and a few things with Hallmark.

And I just worked with Hallmark for the first time as well. And it's there's such a wonderful preview. Yeah, I just I saw it. You look amazing. Yeah, those movies. I have to shoot another wrong com next week. Actually, yeah, I've done. I've done quite a few of those. They're great, They're awesome and and people are always so lovely on them.

And yes, those companies are so free to work for um And yeah, I was given the opportunity to be a producer on one of my Christmas movies, like the sequel of It and I had the opportunity to learn, Like I had never been a producer before. I don't even know what a producer does. I kind of still don't. I feel like they just put out fires like all day. So I just took that as like a really great

learning experience. And then I shadowed directors. I shadowed many directors now over the years, and I learned a lot. Like seeing the other side of it puts so much into perspective. It's like the actors haven't even gone on the set yet and there's already been like five emergencies that they're trying to figure out and like reconfigure, and and then the actor comes on and they're like, hey, I'm here, and they don't even know that. People, I'm like putting up claims for them. I'm so tired, Like

you're what you know, idea, like what exact actually? Um. So I've really enjoyed doing stuff like that and just learning about, you know, the behind the scenes and the kind of stuff. Ye would you direct if that opportunity came you would love to direct? Yeah, I would love to know. I was like in talks with the production company that I work for to hopefully direct soon but yeah, Like she was like, you know, you can act and direct, and I was like, no, way, I am not. I'm not.

I don't think I've had that opportunity place not placed I've had it. I've had the question positive to me a couple of times, and I'm like, I don't. I don't think I could because I don't think I could, even just from the completely selfish, I don't think I could be critical about myself in in a neutral way. I don't think I could see I could just see what I'm doing wrong and then you know what I mean, and like not see the sort of the entire picture.

I don't think I could do that. Like I'm fairly critical as an actor anyway, and I don't think I could do it as a whole thing. I think it would be easier to do it, and just like everyone else, you well, especially while you're doing something else that's relatively new. You know, if you're experiment you're you're directing for one of the first times, and it's a new new set of tools that you're trying to figure out. Because every job on set is its own and its entirely on

its own. The whole set of skills and responsibilities and challenges and then to have to double task. Would I think would be um a lot but interesting. Yeah, it would definitely be interesting. It would be I just I

would too petrified to try it. I'd be like, I, yeah, I like way, I'd be like, no, I'm already I would already be so scared to direct because you're like, this is a whole new thing, I've never done this before, and then you're also act in no way, So I was like no, no, no, Like I like, I would love to maybe do a little wrong comm or Christmas movie because I've done my fair share of those, so um, but yeah, I definitely would. I think there needs to

be more female voices in the in the industry. Agree. Um, you did Spinning Out with Yeah and Kaya? Yes? Oh my god, you guys did maze rounds. We did. Yes, we talked about you. She loves you. Um yeah, Spinning Out was it was amazing. I'm so sad that that didn't take off. Do you have a background in ice skating? Yeah? I used to figure skate competitively when I was younger, and yeah, and I quit and I never put skates

on again and had no desire to at all. And so I auditioned for the show and I got this really great character, Leah, who was so mean, like so mean, and I was like, excellent, I love this. But I had to get the skates back one and we were training for like months before we even went to camera, like every single day. It was a lot in freezing cold ranks. And I mean I had had a kid

at that point. In fact, actually when we filmed the finale, I just found out I was pregnant with my second and Johnny Weir, who is yeah, amazing, and he was like one of the first people I told because we were I had to tell him, Like I was a little nervous. I mean, I feel comfortable on the ice, but you know, anything could happen. But um, yeah, it was a lot. I've never had to train so hard for something other than a dance movie, but this was this was even more. It was a lot. So but yeah, Kaya,

oh my god, she was so great. She's really wonderful. Yeah, she had never been on ice before and they had to like teach her how to skate. That's incredible. I mean I have little to no experience on ice. And we had one scene that you know, was a really big deal on the ice. But but I couldn't even imagine doing a whole show. That's that's fascinating. Yeah, it was fun. It was. That was another bummer that didn't, you know, work out because it was a great show.

I touched on so many things and mental health and sport and you know, the competitiveness. But it happened. But yeah, it was. It was so weird. You just never know. You just never know, no matter how confident you are or how right something is, you just never know what people are going to respond to. It's such it's such

a weird animal. And then I guess as well because there's always sort of that disparity of time between like this show is going to land, like everything that's going on right in this moment, this show is going to land, and then it can take like a year for it to come out and the world changes and you're like everyone's going to hate it. Now this is the right time, I know. Yeah, for sure, that would be that would

be a rough situation, a rough girl. But I mean I was confident when I got the call from producers. I was like, we're getting We're gonna get, We're getting renewed and they were like Hi. I was like, wait, that's a bad high. Oh my god. Yeah, I'm like, what's going on? I thought they were joking. I was like, this is not no way like, but yeah, it happened. I mean, you know we've all been on that receiving

end of calls and yeah, we certainly have. When I got the call for this, I was with I was I was doing like a European drinking tour with Matt Dadario. So I we were in we were in like a nightclub, and I get this call and I'm like, oh, I should answer. This is my boss. So I go out, take the call, come back in and he's like, is everything okay? And I'm like, get your phone out, and he gets his phone out and as soon as it comes out, it starts ringing, and I'm like, you should

go take that vacation. No, not at all, like I think. Actually, what was quite nice about it is that we had each other and we we had the ability to sort of start almost reflecting before it was even over. It was actually quite a nice like it was. It was one of the best people to be with because I was with someone who knew exactly what I was going through. And I could like decompress with him over this whilst we were there, you know, that's with him and you

can do the same. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so it was actually it actually ended up being quite nice in a weird way. Yeah. Yeah, it's wonderful. It's better than being alone. Yeah. I was the same way. And it's sort of you get the call and it's almost it's almost akin to getting the call that you're cast in something like that, because it's you know your life's going to change and you're I'm exactly sure how, and it's it's difficult to fathom. That's sort of unknown. That's a fun one that I've

learned to predict as well. So I don't know if this happens with you guys, but it happens with me. So I know, like you know, when you're sort of actually in contention for a role, you've done a few auditions, you've tested, you know, there's only a couple of guys or girls left in your sort of round. You're like, one of us is going to get this role. I don't know who it is, but one of us. And what I figured out is that if my manager calls me and just to my manager. I didn't get the role.

I don't even need to answer the phone. I know I didn't get the role. If I get a call and they go, hey, we've got your team everyone on the call, I'm like, oh baby, I got this one. I know I got this one. This is great. I got this one. But if it cools and it just says his name, I'm like, ship, go on my way. Those are the hard ones. Yeah, it's become such a strange world too, with all these. I had a weird

one recently when um Walker Independence got picked up. I was on an international flight when the news broke, the one international flight I've had in the last five years where there was just no WiFi, and so I land. You didn't know, I had no idea for hours, and I land, and nobody knew why I wasn't responding, and the phone just went. All of these texts and emails and calls came in of like the first things I saw were where are you? And what's wrong? And I'm going, what,

I don't know? I was on a flight, what's going on? And then suddenly everything poured in and I kind of put the pieces together. So no one I didn't even get to hear the news. I had to put the pieces together from from So they released it into the press before you even found out that it was happening. Yeah, because I had been I had been called, but I was on a flight and I completely missed the call and missed all the calls, all the emails, the group

texts everything. Okay, deadline article, it's it's it's wild, how you know. But that's the one thing in this industry. We you know, our lives change left right and centered exactly. Yeah, they can to ride that rough. Yeah for sure. Was that shot in Canada? No, we shot that in New Mexico actually, because I think the other Walker one was Calgary, Alberta. I believe right it might have been. I don't actually know where they shot the pilot. I know they shot Vancouver. Yeah,

I know they shoot that one in Austin now. But okay, it's all over. I mean they shoot. There's there's a ton of stuff that shoots, like in Calgary and all the all the Westerns that shoot up. It's such a beautiful world country it is. It's gorgeous. Yeah, Toronto is fun. I we I just kind of another buddy book a show in Toronto, and he's like, do you have any recommendations, and I'm like, all, baby, get ready, because I'm just going to offload like everything, like all of my favorites.

And then I'm like, you can go to this bob, but don't mention my name because I'm not allowed in this one anymore, and like different things. Tom. It's so good to hear the you do that too, because every time someone mentions Toronto, I'm was like, oh, I have stuff for you, and then I just have a thirty minute diet tribe and they're kind of going, Okay, I don't. I'm introduced him to like my buddies, like my Canadian friends. I'm like, if you want to have this sort of

nights out, go see this person. If you want to go on hikes to this person. And now I have to go back through and remember all of the people that I've recommended him to and then text them and be like, hey, just so you know, I gave your numbers for a stranger and they might reach out, right because you guys were here for so long, right, Yeah,

it was almost four years, which is wild. I realized when we were shooting the series finale that that I had spent more time in Clary's clothes on our sound stages than I had in my own apartments or my own personal life with my friends and family. And it's wild when you're doing that many episodes of a series or any kind of a show, how much of your life is spent in that world? Mm hmm. Yeah, it becomes home and Cass becomes family because you know it

just it just works out that way. Um, Caitlin, before we let you go, I have one more question, if that's okay, Yeah, tell me what your future is. What do you want to do next? What is there is there anything coming up that we should look out for? Would you play a vampire again? Would you never play a vampire again? What's going on? What's in your head? Um? I would definitely play a vampire again. I don't think I would wear the double wig. That was like, honestly

one of the worst parts of it. Like I had headaches within ten minutes of this like huge ass wig on my head. Um. What do I want to do next? I mean I definitely want to play. Um. I like playing like those darker characters. Um, And I think I wanna direct. I'm definitely very much interested in that um again not acting and directing in the same thing, but I would like to try directing. I'm scared too, but I think that that's a good thing. I think, you know,

you can get comfortable doing romcoms and Christmas movies. So I'm like, you know, if I'm going to live in this world, I want to I want to do something that's going to challenge me. Um make me scared of the first day and you know for sure, I mean I think back to my like first day on literally any set still now to this day, and it scares the ship out of me. Like it's still a really nerve it is. Yeah, it's exactly where it's like, yes, but also it's it's a fun challenge and it's an

exciting every time you have a new opportunity. Every time you have a new chapter, it's it's a new horizon, and it's an opportunity to grow and learn. And I think that's something that everyone who jumped into Shadow Hunters, yourself included, was so it was so astronomical to see everyone dive in and grow and change and learn and and enhance our world because everyone was so willing to play. Yeah, it was fun. Man, good memories. It really was a good show. Well listen, I would be honored to be

directed by you. Yeah. Absolutely, You guys, thank you so much for being with us today. Well, thank you for having me. It's really really nice to see you guys and talk and chat and catch up to Yeah No Pleasure. Return to the Shadows as hosted an executive produced by me Dominic Sherwood and Katherine McNamara. Our executive producer is Lingley. Our senior producers are Liz Hayes and Diego Tapia. Our producer is Hannah Harris and Kristin Familiar, and our intern

is Sam Cats. Original music by Alex Kinzy, performed by Alex Kinzy and Katherine McNamara, and the episode was mixed by Seth A landscape