Kat Harlton
Photo: Megan Vincent
Poster: Toronto International Film Festival
Reeling from a painful breakup, thirtysomething Emma (Murphy) decides to nurse her wounds with a night out clubbing. That’s how she meets the cute, charismatic, and notably younger Luke (Raiff). It isn’t until the next morning that the pair’s age gap fully hits: Emma, it turns out, was once Luke’s babysitter.
After this emphatically one-off hookup, Emma turns a page, forging a new career path and deciding, regardless of her relationship status, that she wants children. Luke, meanwhile, has a funny way of reappearing in Emma’s life on a semi-regular basis. Might he be a sperm donor? Might he be something more?
Kari plays Paige, a close friend within the film’s central circle who becomes part of the conversations, relationships and pivotal moments surrounding the characters played by Annie Murphy and Cooper Raiff.
We had the opportunity to connect with Kari to discuss her character work, the film premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and what she hopes the audience connects with.
Kat: What drew you to All That She Wants and to the character of Paige? What was it about the script or the role that made you want to be part of the film?
Kari: As soon as I saw the audition breakdown, I knew it would be so special to be a part of, especially with great artists like Annie Murphy and Christine Baranski attached to it. Then I read the scene I had to prepare, and I remember laughing out loud because it was just so funny! We had to stop in between takes because we were laughing so much, and I really do think that’s part of the reason why I was cast. You could see through the camera how much fun we were having, and we were lucky enough to keep that same energy while shooting it.
Kat: Paige is part of such an important inner circle in the film. How did you approach finding her personality and figuring out her place within the dynamics of the group?
Kari: It was interesting getting to play Paige because she really is a young 20-year-old girl in college who’s cute, fun, friendly… and maybe has one too many to drink every now and then. But at the end of the day, she’s young and having fun, and that’s okay. We were all young once, and we’re allowed to have fun and enjoy that time in our lives.
Kat: What was it like working alongside Annie Murphy and Cooper Raiff? Did their chemistry on set help shape the relationships and energy you brought to your scenes?
Kari: They are two incredibly talented individuals, and it was such a pleasure to work with them. Not only are they wonderful at their craft and amazingly funny on and off screen, but they’re both just wonderful human beings. The chemistry between the two of them felt so natural, but I really do think it stemmed from the fact that they are really good people. That created a really safe space to work and create in.
Kat: The film explores love, relationships and the expectations we put on ourselves. What do you think makes its take on modern romance feel particularly honest or relatable?
Kari: I always say that art, whether that be music, TV, film, etc., connects with audiences best when they can connect to it. But for that to happen, it has to feel real, and they really embodied that. We also get the bonus of being able to relate to both a Millennial and a Gen Z. There are so many little nuances that you don’t notice with an age gap like that, but they bring those differences to light so well in this film.
Kat: Was there a particular scene or moment with Paige that you found especially rewarding or challenging to play? What made that moment stand out for you?
Kari: The karaoke scene was quite a challenge for me—first because I got the song and the request to sing on screen either the week of or the day before we shot it. But I want to make it clear that I LOVE a challenge. I knew the song prior to filming, but didn’t know all the verses by heart, and I’m also a trained singer, so I naturally find myself trying to be as polished as I can when preparing a song for work.
This time around, I had to be comfortable singing “drunk” and not sounding “pretty,” and although it was nerve-wracking, it was also so freeing at the same time. It also helped that when I got to set, I quickly learned that one of the background actors was my good friend, Sherry Huang, so having her beside me kept it fun and light. It’s healthy to not take yourself too seriously every now and then. ;)
Kat: Romantic comedies often depend heavily on ensemble chemistry. What was the atmosphere like behind the scenes, and how did the cast and director create that collaborative feeling?
Kari: Andrew and Scarlett, our directors, allowed us to work in a space where collaboration was always welcomed. That really helped us feel like we were able to play around and explore things. I also remember getting to set on the first day and hearing a knock on my trailer door. It was both of them, with huge smiles on their faces, saying, “Hi! We just wanted to introduce ourselves. It’s so wonderful to have you here with us. We’re so excited to work with you.” From there, all your nerves just melt away, and it breaks down that “wall” between director and actor. It creates a space without titles or judgment, where everyone feels comfortable just being creative.
Kat: You’re bringing a substantial background in animation and voice acting into increasingly prominent live-action roles. How has that experience influenced the way you approach performing on camera?
Kari: It’s definitely a switch from animation to on-camera work. I feel like, since it’s just your voice when you’re creating work in animation, there are fewer factors for you to worry about—wardrobe, hair, eyelines, etc.—so it’s easier for me to get out of my head and just create. On-camera work for me includes all of those other factors, so I’m navigating how to allow myself to create without my inner voice getting in the way of the process.
Kat: Do you feel like live-action has opened up a different side of your work as an actor? Are there things you’ve discovered about yourself creatively through this transition?
Kari: I’ve actually been auditioning for on-camera roles since I was quite young, so it’s not that I’m necessarily learning how to work on camera. In the past few years, though, I’ve learned how to grow into myself as an adult rather than being a “child actor.” I may still be auditioning for teenagers here and there, but I am an adult now, and that impacts my process and the content that I put out.
Kat: The film is premiering at TIFF, right here in your hometown of Toronto. What does it mean to have such an exciting moment in your career happen on home soil?
Kari: This means everything to me. The film was set here, shot here, and now the world premiere was held here at TIFF… it’s such an incredible full-circle moment as someone who grew up just outside of this beautiful city. I remember getting all dressed up as a kid, and my parents would take my brother and me to dinner and a show downtown, or we’d be watching a movie, and my parents would point out places like City Hall or the Toronto Reference Library. I now get to say that I’m a part of the history here in Toronto.
Kat: Looking ahead, does All That She Wants feel like the beginning of a new chapter for you? What kinds of roles or stories are you hoping to explore next?
Kari: This whole experience, especially at TIFF, has definitely felt like a new chapter for me, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. I try to remind myself to just focus on honing my craft and creating art from a place of honesty, which I hope will lead to wonderful work for me in the future. It’s hard to say in this very moment what roles will be next for me, but as someone who voices super-strong action characters in animation… it would be so much fun to be able to bring a character like that to life on the big screen.
For more on All That She Wants including showtimes visit: https://www.tiff.net/films/all-that-she-wants