“Euphoria”’s Barbie Ferreira Says She Brought an ‘Exploration of My Own Sexuality’ to Her Character Kat (Exclusive)

Barbie Ferreira gave Kat Hernandez of Euphoria a lot of herself.

Ferreira, 27, discussed her Broadway debut in Cult of Love, which premieres on December 12, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. She also talked about her previous acting gigs.

The actress disclosed that she took inspiration for her Euphoria character, the bookish but sexually dominant Kat, from a personal aspect of herself.

“I was rather young. I was twenty-one. I shared a lot of my personal sexuality development and vulnerability,” she said. Additionally, I had just finished high school, so it was really honest and unvarnished. I was able to contribute many of my personal experiences to it. The fact that it read makes me very delighted.

 

 

Ferreira also reminisced on making Kat come to life as her first acting role and made a prediction about where she would be today.

The actress stated, “Well, since I’m 27, she would be 22.” In college, most likely. Yes, living it up in college. I would expect that there will be less restlessness.

“Kat is also very important to me,” she continued. “It was an absolutely amazing experience. In actuality, it was my first significant acting part. I used to have small guest appearances. And it was the beginning of this whole process, and it was really where I learned how to be the actor that I am now. Having a character that is so lively and significant to so many people was simply amazing. And that is very important to me. I also hope that I did it justice.

Ferreira then talked candidly about her current performance in Leslye Headland’s play Cult of Love. The drama, which co-stars Shailene Woodley and Zachary Quinto, follows the four grown Dahl siblings and their partners as they return home for a turbulent Christmas.

 

Loren Montgomery, played by Ferreira, brings one of the Dahl siblings home. She admitted to PEOPLE that she is not related to the Dahls. However, I take note of the dynamics and make an observation. And one could conclude that I somewhat resemble the audience.

 

Thus, it’s an incredibly enjoyable role. I get to be the one who, in a sense, is impartial about it and is deciphering the family’s story in real time with my own eyes,” she added. It’s a highly entertaining character. There will be plenty of jokes, heartbreaking moments, happy moments, and just plain silly times. Really, it has everything.

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Ferreira stated that she didn’t anticipate working on Broadway this year when she declared in August 2022 that she would not be returning for another season of Euphoria.