The Cerebral Issue

That same year, while working various guest spots on TV and film, Kinney also landed the role that has, in retrospect, become the biggest move of her career (and presumably a major reason you’ve read this far): farmer’s-daughter-turned-zombie-ass-kicker Beth Greene on AMC’s ratings-juggernaut “The Walking Dead.” At the time, however, Kinney didn’t see the role as her “star” moment: “I saw it as a gig and approached it like any other job,” she says. “I was already a working actress. I was excited to work with [director] Frank Darabont; I’d seen some of the first season and I knew the show had a huge following. But I didn’t know it would become four years of my life. I figured I’d work on a few episodes, then move on.”

Instead, Beth evolved from a sui- her roots in poetry and creative this weird thing because I welcidal teen dealing with the zombiefi- writing. She wistfully recounts the come the audience … but when I cation of her friends and family to a moments big and small that define started writing songs it was more mature caregiver for the survivors and relationships and break-ups, while of a personal, private endeavor.” the show’s embodiment of hope in writing a love letter to the New Her eyes roam a space somewhere the face of despair, all while dealing York of her dreams. Expired Love is behind my head for a time, before some serious damage to the zombies hopefully romantic without feeling adding, “Music is precious to me themselves. And on occasion, she saccharine. in a certain way, but I don’t know sings. “Between Seasons 2 and 3 [the During her show in Decatur, if I was necessarily trying to keep producers] had seen me play clubs in Ga. just days earlier, she took time it separate [from acting].” Later New York, so they knew it was some- to discuss with me the veracity of on in our conversation she clarithing they could [add to my charac- the incidents/subjects in her songs; fies this by saying, “There’s someter] if they wanted,” Kinney explains. Kinney deftly confirms their truth thing personally fulfilling in writ“[Executive Producer Glenn Mazzara] while telling everybody she still ing a song and getting it out to called me and said, ‘I have an idea — builds on the original ideas with her the world. So if I have the opporthere’s so much action that we need imagination. She later tells me mu- tunity to get my songs to as many ‘down moments’ so I was thinking sic is “where I’m really honest. The people as possible … I want to do you and Maggie could sing a song, thing that makes me really happy is that, too.” because I know you sing.’” when I can say exactly what I mean.”

As the day progresses, she unKinney liked the suggestion — It’s no surprise then that fans feel a winds and becomes comfortable, “In Seasons 2 and 3 there aracting as if one of the crew en’t a lot of Beth scenes and — eating a slice of pizza “MUSIC IS PRECIOUS this was an instant way for in between lighting setups the audience to identify her” and joking around talking TO ME IN A CERTAIN — which has since resulted about mediocre nonsense.

WAY, B U T I D O N ’ T in Beth covering Tom Waits That starlet gloss still proas well as last season’s piavides a halo, but she might KNOW IF I WAS no-ballad version of Waxaas well be the girl next NECESSARILY TRYING hatchee’s “Be Good” while door. She’s made for this scouring a funeral parlor kind of success, but she TO KEEP IT SEPARATE with Daryl. That song also seems at ease doing, well, [FROM ACTING].” appears on Kinney’s cleveranything. “I definitely ly feisty solo album, Expired hoped [success] would hapLove, which was released in March personal connection to Kinney her- pen; it always felt like everything of this year. self, even if she also stresses a bit of was clicking,” she shares. “But if Expired Love does away with artistic remove from the Kinney in I didn’t work for a year and had the theatrical balladry and at times the songs. to work in a bar or something … fussy musicality of Blue Toothbrush “The Walking Dead” has un- it doesn’t scare me. I’ll always be in favor of intimate songwriting. doubtedly given Kinney’s music making stuff. I remember walking The new album is more direct and career a giant measure of visibil- from my job [at the coffee shop] earnest, while retaining Kinney’s ity, which she is thankful for, but to do one of my first off-Broadway gift for extended metaphor and she tells me she’d be fine if the shows and thinking, I’m living the picturesque narrative, evidence of intersection hadn’t occurred. “It’s exact life I wanted.”