“We have a show to film, and we’re getting it done,” said Suffolk University senior Cate Healy after she made her TV screen debut.
In Feb. 2024, Healey’s family sent her a Facebook post that inevitably changed her year. An open casting call for “The Walking Dead” spinoff, “Dead City,” was held for actors in the Massachusetts and New England area.
Healy, originally from Braintree, studies theater and is heavily involved in the Performing Arts Office. She is on the e-board of Suffolk’s improv group “Seriously Bent” as well as “Rampage,” Suffolk’s show choir.
She applied to the casting call with the thought of being selected as a zombie, otherwise known as a “walker,” or not being selected at all. Three months later, she was selected as a background actor out of the 10,000 applicants, according to one of the producers.
“The fact that I was picked, I was kind of like, ‘Woah. That’s crazy.’ And not even as a walker, as a human character. I was very shocked to find out I would be presenting as myself,” said Healey.
Shortly after being selected, they had her sign a non-disclosure agreement, making sure she would not tell anyone about what or where they were filming. Other than her mom, no one else knew what her day-to-day was like.
“I wanted to tell everybody because I was working with Lauren Cohan, who was great to work with and Gaius Charles and Dascha Polanco, who were new additions to this season,” said Healy.
Healy’s character is a part of a group called the “Foragers.” At the start of the apocalypse, a group of fourth graders were on a school field trip when Roksana, Pooya Mohseni, found them and took them in. Since the beginning, they have been foraging and trying to survive in any way they can.
The producers arranged a time for Healy to visit the set in Attleboro for a fitting and hair and makeup test. That was when it all hit her; she was going to be a recognizable person on TV.
“I went in for my fitting and I was like, ‘Oh, so I kind of look like myself. People are going to know that’s me if I come on screen,” said Healy.
The “Foragers” were on set for a total of eight days, working a range from 12 to 14 hours a day. She was completely immersed in the atmosphere and “The Walking Dead” universe. Filmed in an abandoned boathouse, the costumes, makeup and set dressing made the set feel alive.
“[The set] really helped me as an actor; you could really feel like you were there. It was very homey and totally immersive. You would not have trouble acting,” said Healy.
Watching the main series or spin-offs was not a requirement to be hired, and Healy had little to no knowledge about the show or the franchise before being cast. She admitted that her gap in knowledge added a bit of pressure, and she wanted to make sure she did the series justice.
Although the set was mostly calm, there were some fans sneaking onto the set trying to find some of the star-studded actors or get a sneak peek at what to expect for the coming season. Some fans even took pictures of the background actors and posted them to social media threads.
“We’d be getting food on our dinner break and I’d get up to go to the bathroom and this couple once came up to me [and asked], ‘Can we have a photo?’ And I was like, ‘No! Sorry I’m under NDA! Sorry, gotta go!’” said Healy.
Ed Ornelas, who directed four episodes of the newest season, was a big help to the background cast. Since Healy did not have lines, he had to explain the context of what was happening in the scene so she could appropriately act. He worked with each actor one-on-one and fully engaged them in the universe.
“Having that kind of backstory definitely helped. It helped me realize that all we have is each other and we kind of have to channel that,” said Healy.
Cohan, who plays Maggie, is also an executive producer and director on the show. Cohan helped the cast with acting choices and clarifying the backstory.
“Lauren’s been on the show since early seasons of The Walking Dead…if anyone gets it, she gets it. I cherished her feedback as well,” said Healy.
By just using her body language and facial expressions, Healy learned and improved so much about how to portray a character without speaking. To her, acting is not about the tone of voice or line delivery; instead, it is the entire face and how the body is positioned.
Healy’s acting background is mostly theater, and after doing film, she revealed that screen acting feels more human. Having the opportunity to do film with a theater background was a challenge, but it was one she was ready for. She enjoyed balancing both and figuring out the similarities and differences between the two mediums. Without a script and just a synopsis, Healy had to fully immerse herself in the universe and character.
“If you want to embody a character, it has to be all over you,” said Healy.
Although initially excited to work on a film set, Healy was nervous about her first set experience. Very quickly, however, Healy and the rest of the “Foragers” cast became incredibly close and are all still in touch. She recalled all of the downtime she and her cast-mates had in between takes or scenes. With so much spare time, they all became fast friends and spent hours in their holding tent taking pictures and making TikToks.
“I got very close to them fast. You’re spending 14-hour days and nights with these people; it becomes almost like family,” said Healy.
Healy appreciates the unwavering support she has received from her colleagues, friends and Suffolk professors. She kept this secret for a long time until May and was so happy to finally share what she had worked on the previous summer. The opportunity to work on a film set for such a major franchise does not go unrecognized by Healy.
Putting yourself out there and stepping out of your comfort zone is the key to getting started in the acting world, according to Healy. Going to open casting calls and trying new things just means obtaining more experience. Healy applied for the role on “Dead City” spontaneously.
“Taking chances is very important because, honestly, this whole thing was take a chance and see where it gets you. And it got me somewhere,” said Healy.
The most important thing for her was to experience the enriching professional atmosphere. She met established industry professionals and improved her skills within those eight days, and that is something that she will never forget. If you are going to view “Dead City” season two for the first time, Healy has one final piece of advice.
“Put your seatbelts on. Because we’re about to go on a ride, it’s gonna get crazy,” said Healy.
“Dead City” season two is now available on AMC+.
