Barbie Ferreira Talks About ‘Euphoria’ and What Could Be Ahead for Kat

Kat was a bold and relatable character who evolved significantly throughout the show’s storyline. She started as a shy, self-conscious high school student and blossomed into a confident, body-positive young woman who explored her identity, sexuality, and personal empowerment.

Barbie Ferreira has been vocal about how meaningful the role was for her and the importance of portraying a character that challenges traditional beauty standards.

The 27-year-old actress spoke to PEOPLE Magazine about her previous acting roles while sharing insights into her upcoming Broadway debut in “Cult of Love,” set to open on December 12. The actress shared that she drew inspiration from a deeply personal aspect of herself to bring life to her “Euphoria” character, Kat — a bookish yet boldly sexually empowered teen.

“I was very young. I was 21. I brought a lot of my vulnerability and my own exploration of my own sexuality,” she said. “And it wasn’t too long before that I was in high school, so … it was very raw and real. I got to bring a lot of my own experiences to it. I’m really happy that it read.”

Reports surfaced of creative differences between her and the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, during Season 2. These reportedly led to a reduction in her screen time, leaving fans disappointed by the lack of focus on Kat’s story.

Ferreira ultimately announced her departure from the show after the second season, telling fans, “After four years of getting to embody the most special and enigmatic character, Kat, I’m having to say a very teary-eyed goodbye.”

She continued, “I hope many of you could see yourself in her like I did and that she brought you joy to see her journey into the character she is today. I put all my care and love into her, and I hope you guys could feel it. Love you, Katherine Hernandez.”

While she may not be reprising her role, she continues to reflect on her character’s journey. “Well, I’m 27, so that means she would be 22,” the actress told PEOPLE. “So probably in college. Yeah, in college, living it up. Probably less, I would hope, less restless.”

“Kat means a lot to me too,” she added. “It was such a wonderful experience. It was my first acting job, really, a substantial acting role. I had little guest spots before. And it was really where I learned how to be the actor that I am, and it’s the start of this whole thing. It just was so wonderful to have a character that is so dynamic and meant so much to so many people. And I really hold that dear to my heart. And I hope I did it justice.”

Kat’s journey resonated with many viewers because she tackled real-life struggles with self-image and societal pressures in a deeply relatable way.

Initially grappling with insecurity about her weight, she found empowerment through writing online fan fiction and ultimately embraced her body unapologetically, embodying themes of body positivity and self-discovery. Her transformation also involved sexual exploration, as she navigated different relationships and challenged societal norms about plus-size women and sexuality.

However, beneath her outward confidence, Kat faced internal conflicts and interpersonal struggles, particularly in her complicated relationship with Ethan, her love interest, which highlighted her difficulty balancing newfound confidence with vulnerability.

Ferreira also shared insights into her current stage role in “Cult of Love,” a play written by Leslye Headland. Starring alongside Shailene Woodley and Zachary Quinto, the production follows the four adult Dahl siblings and their partners as they navigate a chaotic and emotionally charged Christmas at home.

“I’m actually not part of the Dahl family,” she told PEOPLE. “But I observe the dynamics and I interject. And one would say I’m kind of like the audience a little bit.”

“So it’s a really, really fun role. I get to be the person who is objective to it in a way and is in real-time unraveling the story of the family with my own eyes,” she continued. “So it’s really a fun, fun character. There’ll be a lot of jokes, a lot of moments of heartbreak, moments of joy, moments of just silliness. I mean, it has it all, really.”