Exclusive Interview: Zoë Chao Talks The Afterparty Season 2, Her Character’s Evolution, and Taking Up Space

Zoë Chao is an award-winning storyteller who is best known for the dynamic characters she’s brought to life in projects like Strangers, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, and Love Life.

This July, she reprises her role in the global hit murder mystery comedy, The Afterparty. From Academy Award winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord, each episode of The Afterparty is a genre-bending comedy that explores a different character’s account of one tragic event, all told through the lens of popular film genres and unique visuals to match the storyteller’s perspective.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Zoë about Season 2, her character’s evolution, and the importance of representation and taking up space in media.

PC: One of the benefits of television as a medium is the opportunity to grow with a character for an extended period of time. This season, we’re going to get introduced to Zoë’s family. Have you learned anything new about your character through her interactions with those closest to her?
Zoë: Yeah. It’s been really fun to explore new sides of her. We get to meet her as a daughter, as a protective older sister, as someone who is in love with Aniq and in a new relationship, and as a detective. She keeps unfolding in really fun ways.

PC: Like you just said, we’re going to see Zoë get in on the action this season. How early on did the writers clue you in on that aspect of her development? How would you describe her detective skills?
Zoë: I think she’s too close to the story. She’s living a nightmare scenario. Her sister is one of the big suspects. Her parents are suspects. What lengths will she go to protect her family? That’s the big question. The stakes are too high for her to make a good, reasonable detective.

PC: Representation is such a cornerstone in media. You’ve said in the past that you rarely saw yourself on screen and that had an impact on your upbringing. You’ve played such an integral role in making sure that future generations won’t have to experience something similar. Have you had time to reflect on your own contributions in pushing this much-needed movement forward for our community?
Zoë: I have thought about it a lot. I think about all the actors who have come before me who really paved the way so that I can be here in this chair speaking to you. Everyone from John Cho, Vivian Wu, and Ken Jeong, whom we get to act with this season.

The first day that I met John, he said such a wonderful thing. He was like, “In the past if I had read a character that had a family, I knew I wouldn’t get the part. They wouldn’t cast a whole Asian family. But today, we’re playing your family and that’s important.” That was so moving to hear. I really give credit to everyone who came before me. I’m excited for further opportunities in the future to keep taking up space.

To keep up with Zoë, follow her on Instagram. Watch new episodes of The Afterparty every Tuesday on Apple TV+.