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At the tail end of last year I had the opportunity to interview one of the actors in the new film from the Knives Out anthology, Wake Up Dead Man. To be 100% honest – and to keep my literary integrity – I had never seen any of them before this interview. But, my boyfriend is the biggest Knives Out fan I know, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to look cool in front of him.
I sat down with Kerry Frances, a returning cast member from the first movie in the series, to hear her story about being part of a franchise that has reshaped the modern whodunit. She had so many positive things to say about her time on set that our conversation quickly became about the people, passion, and process behind bringing Wake Up Dead Man to life. And as a side note to everyone, I have now seen all 3 movies – they're fantastic.
A Darker Turn
Wake Up Dead Man is the third film in this trilogy, and if you are a true Knives Out fan you would agree that this latest addition to the series has a deep cutting edge to it, what with taking on the catholic church and all. In better words, Frances said:
"It's a bit more of a callback to the first one than Glass Onion (the second film in the series) which was more fun, splashy, and colorful. This is a bit darker, not only in terms of tone and theme but also in literal lighting and setting."
This film is not the fluffy comedy we saw in the sequel; on the contrary, it utilizes more aspects of suspense, horror, drama, and of course mystery. Compared to many of the other romcom/family movies that came out within the same week (Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants) Wake Up Dead Man is a film for those seeking something below the surface level.
"I think so often we get less intellectual/deep movies based on what studio execs believe audiences can handle. And the response to our movie is that we can handle brilliant, well-written, thought-provoking films."
That sentiment echoes throughout Wake Up Dead Man, which trusts its audience to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, and unanswered questions rather than spoon-feeding easy conclusions. In doing so, the film doesn’t just entertain—it challenges viewers to engage more actively, proving that there’s still a real appetite for smart, layered storytelling in mainstream cinema. If you are looking for this type of brain-stimulating art, go stream Wake Up Dead Man now on Netflix.
Big Names, Bigger Heart
Many people would be intimidated to make their film debut on a multi-million dollar film set full of A list actors... not Frances. She shared that she was so stoked to get back on set and that she felt so at home there.
"To be back in the Knives Out world is thrilling and an absolute privilege!"
Her costar, Daniel Craig, plays the eccentric and intimidatingly observant detective "Benoit Blanc". However, on set he was anything but intimidating. Frances shared:
"Daniel Craig, whom I had met in the first film, as soon as I took a step toward him, he threw his arms out to me and knew exactly who I was. That was a really special feeling."
I imagine if James Bond came up and bear hugged me, I would be a little starstruck.
This film was the definition of a star-studded cast, featuring performances from Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Daniel Craig, just to name a few. She talked about what a fascinating experience it was being able to watch some of the amazing performances of her costars.
"Well Josh O'Conner and Glen Close alone just blew me out of the water to not only witness in person but now on screen!"
While Wake Up Dead Man boasts an undeniable star cast, what left the strongest impression on Frances wasn’t the names attached to the project, but the generosity and warmth behind them—an atmosphere that made even a massive production feel collaborative, grounded, and genuinely welcoming.
Creating Her Own Momentum
I was so impressed by Frances' confidence that I wanted to know a little bit more about how she's been shaping her career over the years. She, like many tenacious actors has "always been a classic overachiever," she continued by saying:
"Most kids, when they want to get into acting or singing they get into community theatre. I began training operatically at 11. I didn't want to do community theatre I wanted to go LA for pilot season."
And throughout her career, she has continued to amaze by sharpening all different branches of creative work. She is a true Swiss Army Knife who just recently wrote, directed and starred in her own short film Mamma Mamma. She made it after being inspired by the predominantly female team on a separate film she starred in, Poker Face. When talking about creating her own work she shared:
"I really didn't know what I was capable of until I made this short. I feel like it released something in me where now I am running very fast and determined toward all my goals with a deeper confidence than I ever had before."
She created this film with a pretty limited budget, and yet it's received several awards and recognitions at film festivals across the country. The project really stands as an inspiration to all young filmmakers out there.
"It opened up another chamber in my brain of, well I did this $1,000. What could I do with $10,000? What could I do with a million? What could I do with 10 million? Let's see."
Frances’ career is a reminder that longevity in this industry isn’t built on a single role or moment, but on curiosity, courage, and a willingness to create opportunities when they don’t already exist. Whether stepping onto a major franchise set or carving out space for her own stories, she approaches her work with the same confidence and care — making it clear that her impact is only just beginning. I believe there are many young girls out there with the same ambition and drive that Frances has utilized to carve herself a pretty amazing career, and I hope this gives you a little bit of inspiration to get after it. With all that being said, go watch the Knives Out films, they're killer.
