XO, Kitty‘s Anthony Keyvan Talks Playing Q and Karaoke Nights With the Cast
As longtime admirers of Anthony Keyvan, we couldn't have been happier when we discovered he'd be starring in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before spin-off, XO, Kitty, and the series has exceeded all of our expectations.
The show follows Lara Jean's little sister, Kitty, who enrolls in a South Korean boarding school to surprise her long-distance boyfriend, Dae. However, when she shows up after traveling halfway around the world, she's surprised to see another girl on his arm, claiming he's her boyfriend—and the story only gets wilder and most unpredictable from there. Anthony plays Q, a fellow American student who quickly becomes Kitty's most trusted friend to help guide her through the mayhem of high school life in a foreign country, and we got the chance to ask the actor all about the experience in the interview below.
Sweety High: When did you discover your passion for acting? Was there any specific a-ha moment that made you realize it was the path for you?
Anthony Keyvan: I first started acting when I was 5, and it was because my parents put me in a class after begging them to enroll me. It's something I've always loved and I can't imagine not doing what I do.
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SH: Were you a fan of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series before auditioning for XO, Kitty? What does it mean to you to join such a beloved franchise?
AK: Of course, those movies are iconic! It means so much to me to join this franchise because it means I get to contribute to pushing forward API stories and bringing more representation to mixed Asian kids like me.
SH: Can you tell us a little bit about XO, Kitty? What is the series about, and where does your character, Q, fit into the story?
AK: XO, Kitty is a continuation of the To All The Boys… series through the eyes of Lara Jean's little sister, Kitty Song Covey, who travels to Seoul to connect with her mom and be with her long-time boyfriend, Dae. It's a coming-of-age story about self-discovery, exploration of love, and what it truly means to be a teen figuring it all out. My character, Q, is Kitty's roommate, best friend and confidant. He is a star athlete and one of few American students at K.I.S.S. He seems to be the only one that can keep Kitty level-headed as the world around her becomes increasingly chaotic.
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SH: Are you like Q in real life? In what ways are you most similar and most different?
AK: I think in a lot of ways, Q and I are very alike. For one, we're both half-Filipino, half-Iranian! We're also both big on fitness and physical health.
SH: What was your most memorable moment on the set? Did you have any favorite moments with the rest of the cast?
AK: Some of my best memories while filming took place during our weekly karaoke nights and our times at the local climbing gym. We also spent a lot of time at our hotel cooking "family dinners" for each other.
SH: What are you most excited for fans to see in the series?
AK: I'm most excited for everyone's reactions to all the crazy twists the show has and what crazy things our characters get ourselves into.
Can't stop watching XO, Kitty? Click HERE for the series' best quotes to use as Instagram captions.