Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi Kat Cunning on Star People, UFOs, and Multi-Layered Identity
In this episode of Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi, I sat down with the magnetic Kat Cunning—actor, musician, and boundary-breaking performer—whose journey from Broadway to Hollywood has been anything but ordinary. Kat first caught the spotlight in HBO’s The Deuce, a breakout role that opened doors to collaborations with icons like Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. On Broadway she was in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, alongside Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber.
Now, Kat takes on one of their most layered roles yet in Adam Finberg’s Star People, portraying Claire—a character haunted by a childhood vision of a UFO during the infamous Phoenix Lights Incident. As Claire searches for answers across time and memory, Kat brings a raw vulnerability and cosmic curiosity to the screen, challenging the boundaries of identity, belief, and connection.
🎧 What You’ll Hear:-
Behind-the-scenes stories from Star People and the emotional weight of portraying Claire
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How sci-fi becomes a lens for exploring trauma, obsession, and the search for truth
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The real-life mystery of the Phoenix Lights and its influence on the film’s narrative
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Why Kat believes vulnerability is their superpower—on stage, on screen, and in life