Nancy Drew's Kennedy McMann Spills on “Weird” On-Screen Kiss with Co-Star

Hey, what's up guys? We're hanging out in the Young Hollywood Studio with Kennedy McMann. How's it going?

Hey, it's going good.

I'd say you're a Nick Woman.

Oh, you think so? Thank you for that joke. I get I get that a number of times. I have a number of times, which I like. I like it. You know?

Yeah. Well, I have to say congratulations on the show.

Thank you.

This is so awesome. Nancy Drew. Yeah, I know. Now, is this like your Would you consider this your first big, big role where you're the main character?

Oh, yeah. Oh, for sure. So, I just graduated from drama school a little over a year ago. And I had done a couple little I did my Law & Order: SVU. It's the every actor must.

So cool. And now you're Nancy Drew. Oh my god. Yeah. Which is perfect for you because I heard that you were actually a big fan of the books and everything like that.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, my whole life, as a kid and then all through college and everything.

Josh Schwartz, I can't believe is behind this. Everything he touches turns to gold. I mean, The OC, Gossip Girl. Did you ever watch any of those shows?

Oh, yeah. I like grew up on Gossip Girl. That was like my first all-nighter I ever pulled was like watching Season 2 like through to the finale of Gossip Girl. Yeah. And being like, "Oh my god, if only one day I could be on a show like this." And so the fact that it's come full circle like this is

Absolutely. How amazing is that?

Yeah. Nutty.

Now, when you go out to press events and stuff like that, do you have any celebs coming up to you telling you they're big fans of Nancy Drew and congratulating you on the show or anything like that yet?

You know, I mean everybody's been super, super lovely and excited. I think the fact that it has this iconic name attached to it. It it just gets people really excited to kind of see it in the modern context. And this is I think will be the first time really since like the '70s version

Right.

with Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy Drew, who is actually a guest star on our show.

Did you talk to Pamela about your role and and what it was like for her to play Nancy?

Yes. So she wrote me the loveliest letter. Like she came with it and gave it to me when we were in the hair and makeup trailer. And

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. It was, I mean, I read it in my trailer and like balled my eyes out. It was so beautiful. And and she's just the loveliest woman really. And she's like, "Any time you're in." Like she's living in Mexico now. She's like, "Any time you're in Mexico, come and stay with me."

That's so cool. Go to Mexico.

I know. I gotta go. I gotta go hang with Pam. You know? For sure. Yeah. That's so cool. But yeah, she was great.

Okay, so what can you tell us about the show? I mean, obviously,

Sure.

we know the story of Nancy Drew, but is it following like the books or is it have its own narrative in the show?

So, this is in definitely, it's a unique narrative. So, we're not seeing one of the books played out or anything like that.

Okay, so that's cool.

We see her in the pilot in working her summer job at this restaurant with with these two other girls, George and Bess and Ace and Yeah. the sort of beginnings of of this uh crew of of friends. And there's a murder that happens in the the parking lot of the restaurant. And there's possibly a ghost.

Yes. I mean, in the clips I've seen standing behind you in the attic. How did you handle that?

Oh, yeah. So, I never saw any of it. Essentially, the way that I was directed in in this scenario is it's like, Nancy has such a she almost has a sixth sense of just she just can tell like when she just is super hyper aware. Um and so it's like almost always this sort of tingle on the back of the spine when when when that ghost is around. But yeah, I mean, it's a supernatural world. Ghosts are are a part of the world.

Do you believe in ghosts like in life?

Me, Kennedy? Yeah. I'm afraid of saying no, I don't believe in ghosts and then ghosts coming to prove me wrong.

Exactly. You said you don't believe in me?

I think about that all the time. Like, you're real. I know. It's cool. It's cool.

So, you um you also have a love interest in the show, which is cool.

I do. Yes. Yes.

And is this your first on-screen romance or have you done this before? Okay.

Oh, yeah.

So what's that like? Is it kind of awkward at first and then

Yeah. You know, I think that because it sort of is for both of us. So Tunji is Tunji Kasim is the actor who plays Ned Nickerson. Tunji is really just super warm, super great person. Yeah. And I think we both got really lucky that we were like, we were super up front about it. We're like, this is gonna be weird. Um and but we're like, "Hey,"

Is that how you said it? Hey.

Yep. And he was like, Yes. It will be. Um and it was great. We were open about it. And and you know, we we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and getting comfortable with each other. And he's just super kind, super lovely person.

Okay, last question. What do you do for fun when you're not acting?

I am a huge Dungeons and Dragons fan.

Really?

Uh yeah, majorly. I like when I was uh living in New York before I was doing this job. My friends and I played like 10 hours a week. Yeah. So I DM a Dungeon Master. I run the game. That's awesome. But then I also play. Um so I spend a lot of time like pouring over like thick rule books and things like that. And like monster manuals and everything. Um so I'm super like fantasy nerd in that way. And I love playing video games, fantasy video games, things like that.

You might have to change your name on there eventually since you're on, you know, this big show now. I know. Nancy Drew. See if that name's taken.

That's such a good idea. Oh my gosh.

On all your gaming channels.

No, I know. That would be awesome. Yeah.

Give me credit for that someday.

I will. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Congratulations on all your success.

Thanks. I'm so excited for this show. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.