Katherine McNamara & More on How to Love Who You Are

What have you been up to since we saw you guys last in the studio? Do you remember that? The Young Hollywood Studio?

I do. I do. I'm trying to remember what I've been up to. Just Hello, darling. I love you too. Uh, more episodes of Arrow. We've had the full future episode of Arrow Air and more and more episodes of Shadow Hunters. We can actually talk about parts of the season now, which is exciting. For me as an actor, it was kind of the best thing to get to explore a different side of a character that I've been playing for so many years and and with that, we get into so many iconic book moments that I think fans are really going to love.

You look at beautiful in olive green.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Well, congratulations on the show PLL the Perfectionist. How does it even feel?

It's been really great because the fans have been so responsive. They've been so happy with it, which means that we're doing something right. Um but we've just been able to connect with everybody all over the world all over again, which makes me so happy. And unlike PLL, I know everything that's happening in the first season. We would always we're not sure when the show premiered for PLL. We were like, I don't know, we haven't filmed the last six episodes, but we know everything in the first season and I think that's really fun, it's really special. And I'm extremely excited and proud of what we created and I think the fans are going to love it.

How are you?

Good. How are you?

Good. I love this all black number. You look stunning.

Thank you. It's really hot. I wasn't uh I wasn't betting on the heat. Far out.

Just for the people watching at home, the sun is beating on us right now. And also you're at the end, so everyone that comes to you has now been on here for like 30 minutes. So, sorry. You're getting the worst.

Thank you guys for hanging out with us despite the heat. All good.

Good to see you. Congratulations on good trouble. Oh my God. We are obsessed. We've been binge watching like crazy. How does it feel to be on such an amazing show?

I mean, it's it's insane. And to hop from the amazing show, what was The Fosters to good trouble has just been so surreal and such a huge blessing. And to hear that people really love it is just it's so worth it. It makes it all worth it.

Well, your character specifically, she touches on really intense, but really real topics. So, I want to know like, how does it feel to actually get to play that character and talk about these things? Because it is hard to talk about sometimes.

It is. I mean, I think that's the beauty of the show is like it really tackles things that are kind of uncomfortable to talk about, but are just so necessary and needed to be on screen because it's so relatable. And it's been really, really fulfilling to fight the patriarchy.

Hey, Daisy, Stephen. How have you been? It's been so long.

I've been so good. How have you been?

Good. I know we're passing by, but like I have to do. I have to do this.

Oh, that's so sweet.

We did see your boys, Dan and Shay for the Grammys. Oh, wait, were you freaking out in that moment?

I was freaking out. Actually, their tour is going on right now. Their headlining tour. And I was the girl in their music video for the song How Not To. And uh they have like a whole montage of me before they start How Not To in the show. So, I'm like basically on tour with Dan and Shay.

You look very dashing in the blue today.

I didn't think it was gonna be quite this hot, so maybe double-breasted wasn't the way to go. But it's okay. After you, I can go and just take my jacket off and everything's gonna be fine.

Well, how have you been since we saw you last with the cast? You guys took over our couch and it got crazy in there.

Yeah, we did. Sorry about that. I know how much easier is it to interview one of us lots, right?

Lots because you don't yell over each other.

What's going on, girl? I'm just out here, baby. You know what I mean? It's representing jaws at one time, you know, because like life is a horror movie, you know, and boo, you know what I mean? No, I've had like 16 uh Snickers. Um no, I haven't. I really haven't. What up, Bo? We're I'm excited, yo. Like literally Freeform is the place to be. And I'm just so so to be a part of this network and you know, telling stories and inclusivity and all these women led shows. Yes.

So last time I saw you, we were at the trucks, yeah? Was it at the trucks? I think so. You weren't at the premiere? Wow, my memory sucks. I thought you were gonna look at the camera like, well, his memory sucks. Moving on to more important things. Congratulations on good trouble first and foremost.

Thank you so much.

Your character, I mean, clearly is causing so many amazing conversations. So how does it feel to be that character?

It's moving things around with my personal life, with my family, uh with my experience in the past. So it's it's so much more than just the role itself. It's it's deeply personal with me.

Girl, we've been watching you on our TV screens for a while now. We were like, when are we gonna get to talk to Miss Emma?

I'm here. I'm here.

We're so excited. Congratulations on the show. Good trouble. Yeah. I'm obsessed. Do you hear that all the time? Do you much, right?

I do. You know what? I've never met I hope I'm not jinxing myself. I'm going to knock on wood. I've never met a person who was like, Hey. But like I hope maybe I have nicer friends then who would have been like, your show's in. But yeah, everyone loves it. I love it.

What can you tell us about the masks, though? I'm so intrigued by those.

I know. I mean, I think it's it's mainly just so PLL-esque, I would say. Um but I think it really comes into play when we talk about perfection. Uh which is perfect topic now that we're at um summon in the panel. But I uh I feel like we all live such supposed perfect lives and it's so unattainable. And the perfectionist world comes crashing down when this happens. Everything that they've been trying to hide and keep secret, all the flaws that they've been trying to lock away somewhere. Um they come to light and it's and it's extremely scary for them and they have really big stakes, but I feel like we can all relate to that.

There's a panel here tonight that's called be whoever the F you want. And I love it because it is so sassy. So but that's Freeform. It's a little sassy.

Exactly. Claire is a little sassy. Alex is a little sassy. We all like to get a little sassy.

True, true. So I want to know with you and maybe if you want to include your characters, what kind of tips would you give the Young Hollywood fans and how do you accomplish that? What have you learned?

I think the most important thing is to remember who you are and remember what makes you special. Be who you are. Be your authentic self. That's what we're here today to celebrate. So just live your truth. Be yourself because no one is better at being you than you. If somebody's making fun of you because you're owning yourself completely or picking on you because of that, that is somebody who has an issue with themselves. The best thing that I found was surrounding myself with people that really did care about me, care about who I was and where I wanted to be in my future.

Very good answer. Honestly. Let me check my notes. Freeform Freeform you watching.

Being whoever the hell you want and not having any restraints, cuz it's so it's so freeing like that and it feels so clear. Keep being who you are because someone, somewhere is going to appreciate that and they're going to keep you in their corner and you're going to find your tribe. There's no better time than now. And it's just believe in yourself and you know, you can literally be whoever the F you want. Truthfully.

Yeah. Well, Shara, you're amazing. Can we go now? Cuz, you know, I always get emotional. Asian sisters right here.