Walker Stalker Con: Interview with Katelyn Nacon of The Walking Dead

“That’s  how you lose people, even after they’re gone.” – Glenn Rhee to Enid (Katelyn Nacon) during The Walking Dead season 6

Ever since Glenn died such a horrible death on The Walking Dead, I have been pondering the time he recently spent with Enid.  I thought about the things he taught her about staying hopeful and keeping loved ones alive in your actions and your will to live.

So, of course, now I’m really worried about how she will respond to losing him — someone she bravely let into her life, now so quickly taken from her. Will she draw strength from his words? Or will she lash out because she let someone in and now they are gone?

I had the pleasure of spending a few minutes at Walker Stalker Con Atlanta with Katelyn Nacon, who plays Enid on The Walking Dead.

She was very sweet and it was so much fun talking to her.  While I am way older, I felt a bit like I was back in school catching up with one of my friends. We talked about make-up and I shared how I wanted Glenn to be Enid’s adoptive dad.  You know, girl stuff!

You can watch the video here or read the transcription below.  (It’s a little tough to hear with the convention noise in the background.)

How did you personally react to learning of Glenn’s death?

Katelyn:  “I was actually really pissed to be honest. I was just starting to work with Steven.  I was like, wow, he’s such an amazing actor. I’m so stoked because I might be able to keep working with him in the future and be able to learn more stuff. And then its like, psyche, he’s dead. So I was really upset with that. I definitely wanted to be able to work with him more.”

I enjoyed your interaction and the scenes you had together. There was a lot of emotion.

Katelyn:  “It was a lot of fun and It was so easy to work with him and it felt so natural. He’s just a genius. And we’re losing Michael, who’s like the biggest sweetheart I’ve ever met. At least I get to see them at the cons, but I won’t see them on set anymore. And I was there the day they said goodbye and they gave their speeches and everything and I was just bawling. It was so horrible.”

How did you initially think The Walking Dead writers would have Enid react to Glenn’s death?

Katelyn:  “See, if it was me, I would just cry forever and never come out of the house again. But Enid’s a lot tougher than I am and she’s already been through this kind of stuff in life. But the thing is she always makes it so she doesn’t let people into her life. But Glenn’s one of those people who did. He broke down her walls. He was able to help her, too. She did see him as a father
figure.”

I’m really afraid to find out. Could this break her? Or will what she learned from Glenn inspire her to go on?

Katelyn: “In the small amount of time she’s had with Glenn it’s already changed her life and the way she looks at things.”

I’ll be hopeful then.

Katelyn:  “Yeah, it’s all you can be.”

What did you think of all the suspicion around Enid? About her maybe being a Wolf? And did you hear the one about the poisoned pickles?

Katelyn: “Yep. And one time someone asked me if I stole Judith when I left. And I was like ‘No!’, I wouldn’t do that. That was the only one where I was like ‘no’ and not trying to be suspicious or anything. But when I heard all [those suspicions] I was like, ‘come on guys!’ She’s mysterious, but you’re supposed to love her! Not think shes a spy. I knew that she wasn’t a Wolf, but I could see that there was maybe a hint of that.”

It was an interesting theory, but it went too far.

Katelyn: “Yeah, it just kept going and going, and i was like, uh, no, I don’t think so. And now you can tell that she’s not that.”

How much did you know about Enid’s story when you started? For instance, did you know what had happened to her parents when you started the job? Or was that slowly revealed to you?

Katelyn: “I knew that her parents were dead and that she was living with Olivia. See when I got the audition script I had no clue. It was very secretive. I didn’t even have the name Enid. I had a name like Jane or something. And, so it was completely different. It wasn’t even set in the apocalypse, and so it was completely different scenes. I got to know what kind of character Enid was, but I didn’t know anything about her back story until a few days before filming and I met with Scott Gimple. So he told me. He kind of went through, not details, but the basics of her story. And if there were any gaps I just filled them in.”

How much of a normal life do you get these days?

Katelyn: “It’s pretty normal. The only problem is that I just never really have time for anything or I’m missing out on normal stuff like hanging out with my friends, or going to a party because I have to work. That kind of thing. But otherwise, I still go to school. I still get to hang out with my friends every once in a while. It’s still pretty normal.”

Is there anything you’d like to share about your music or T@gged or other projects?

Katelyn: “I was just in New Mexico filming season 2 of T@gged. I don’t know when it’s going to come out, but it should be out sometime 2017, hopefully. I hope it comes out
as soon as possible, but that was amazing. It’s even better than season 1, it’s going to be so good.

And then my music, I have the Love in May EP out on iTunes, but I have so much more, there’s just not enough time. I have 10 new songs that I’ve written.”

Do you like the song writing aspect just as much as performing the songs?

Katelyn: “I like the songwriting better actually. I like people hearing them, but they don’t necessarily need to hear them from me. I don’t really care about the performing as long as people are hearing the songs. But writing the songs is kind of a good therapy session
in a way because not only are you getting your own emotions out, but in a way it’s kind of like storytelling and you can hope that your message can be heard by other people and influence them as well. So if I’m able to do that, its pretty frickin’ cool, I think.”

Next: Exclusive interview with Greg Nicotero

I have to say, I think Katelyn is pretty cool as well.  Thank you, Katelyn Nacon, for your time and enthusiasm in discussing your work on The Walking Dead.

I’m guessing we will be seeing Enid again soon as the sneak previews for season 7 episode 4 show Negan calling on Alexandria. Let’s hope she finds strength from her time with Glenn and continues to fight the good fight alongside her Alexandria family.