As Hulu's Nine Perfect Strangers heads into its finale, Grace Van Patten, who plays Zoe Marconi, is a central figure in one of the show's pivotal storylines. Created by David E. Kelly and John-Henry Butterworth, Nine Perfect Strangers is adapted from the novel by Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies) and involves an eclectic group chosen to stay in Tranquillum, a wellness retreat run by the mysterious Masha (Nicole Kidman). Grace and her parents, Napoleon (Michael Shannon) and Heather (Asher Keddie), are invited to heal their trauma over the suicide of Zoe's twin brother, Zach (Hal Cumpston).
Screen Rant spoke to Grace Van Patten about what it was like shooting Nine Perfect Strangers in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and about Zoe's emotional arc throughout the series. The standout young actress also described the experience of working alongside her co-stars Nicole Kidman, Michael Shannon, and Luke Evans, as well as how she would fare if she stayed in Tranquillum in real life.
Screen Rant: Nine Perfect Strangers is set in California, but you actually filmed in Australia during the pandemic. What was it like shooting the show with COVID protocols?
Grace Van Patten: It was necessary and felt very safe. Luckily, we were in a small beach town in Australia and they had COVID very under control so it was a beautiful place to be at the time. We were tested every other day and my nostrils were raw by the end.
You’re part of a powerhouse cast on the show, and you’re working with some of the best actors like Nicole Kidman, Michael Shannon, Melissa McCarthy, and Luke Evans. I read that Nicole stayed in character as Masha throughout the shoot. What was that like with her?
Grace Van Patten: I'm so inspired by her. She is so dedicated on a different level. It's so beautiful to watch and so committed. She stayed in her Russian accent the whole time. The first time we all met her was the first time all the characters were meeting her. It felt very real from the first moment.
Michael Shannon plays your dad, Napoleon. My favorite moment of his on the show is when he performs “You’re The One That I Want” from Grease. His other roles are usually so intense. What was it like working with him, especially when he’s showing a wild comedic side like that?
Grace Van Patten: Michael Shannon is such a genius. I actually knew him before we were shooting because he worked with my dad [director Tim Van Patten] so I grew up seeing him around and knowing him, so it was such a special moment to find out that he was gonna play my dad. And it was also comforting to my real dad because I had a familiar face across the world. It was such an amazing experience and watching him do what he does best was unreal.
You were the youngest cast member on the show and you're working with these amazing actors. I would imagine you were able to soak up your costars’ knowledge like a sponge. Can you share any tips or what you learned from your fellow cast members?
Grace Van Patten: I really wish I wrote down more than I did. Every day it felt like a master class and I could take something from each day and put it in my pocket. Everyone's dedication was so admirable. Everyone was so equally committed and they were all such amazing people.
There was one piece of advice that Michael gave me - not even advice, he was just talking about his process and he was saying how when he reads a script, he's given all these little pieces of LEGOs and to put it all together and make a real human being. I thought that was such a cool way to look at it.
Some of my favorite scenes in the show are the group scenes when you're all together. The one that stands out the most was Zoe's birthday. Do you have any recollections of shooting that scene?
Grace Van Patten: I remember being really nervous shooting that scene because I had that big birthday speech. It's one of my favorite scenes in the show. It's really Zoe's moment of telling all these people what they mean to her and expressing her love for them. She says in that speech that no one's really treated her like a person the past four years, they treated her like a victim. Like a patient and not as a person. I thought that was so beautiful that she's finally feeling seen and heard, and that she's able to begin the healing process because of that.
Zoe is the youngest person in the show but it’s interesting that she’s one of the ones who holds together emotionally the best, especially considering the trauma of Zach’s suicide. Zoe tells people that she and Zach weren’t even close, and my read is that she was able to let Zach go in ways her parents couldn’t. In a way, Zoe dealt with Zach’s suicide in a healthier way than Heather and Napoleon.
Grace Van Patten: I think Zoe saying that she wasn't close with Zach was definitely a coping mechanism. I think Zach was actually her best friend in the whole world but she's had to suppress a lot of feelings in order to attempt to make her parents happier and not put her emotions onto them. Given they're already feeling incredibly lost themselves. When you meet Zoe, she's really in desperate need to reconnect with her family again. They all are. They're all dealing with this grief in such different ways that it's caused them to really separate from each other. Seeing them mend back together, I thought was a beautiful arc to the story.
There are a lot of complex relationships on the show within this weird found family that forms within the group. One of my favorites was Zoe and Lars. I liked how Zoe instantly sized up that something was off with Lars and makes that early connection with him. Can you talk a little bit about working with Luke Evans?
Grace Van Patten: I love Luke so much and we became really good friends off the set too so we definitely sprinkled our love for each other into our characters. But I love that relationship so much. I think it's such an important part of both of their journeys on the show. You really see them become vulnerable for the first time with each other, and they really break down each other's walls in such a beautiful way. I think they will be lifelong friends.
How much fun was it to scream in the sweatbox with Luke?
Grace Van Patten: It was fun. Very, very therapeutic. We should scream more often but we work with a lot of neighbors, so...
Without spoiling the finale, can you give us a hint on how it all turns out for the Marconis?
Grace Van Patten: Hopeful. You can expect some hope for the Marconis, which they need.
Pretend that you were chosen to go to Tranquillum in real life and didn’t know anything about it. Do you think you could finish the ten days?
Grace Van Patten: Who knows! These people were convinced so many times to stay but that's only because Masha is hypnotic. Who can turn down Masha AKA Nicole Kidman? If the host of this theoretical wellness retreat were anything like Masha, I'm sure I'd have no choice but to ride it out.
What’s your favorite kind of smoothie?
Grace Van Patten: I haven't had a smoothie since we wrapped because I think if you cut me open, I would bleed smoothie. But I love banana, peanut butter, cinnamon, honey.
Of course, we're Screen Rant so we're into Marvel and geeky stuff. When I watch you as Zoe, I'm honestly thinking, "X-Men. Jean Grey".
Grace Van Patten: Let's manifest that! That's amazing. That would be a dream. That's so cool.