‘Nine Perfect Strangers’: Here’s Why Zoe Marconi Looks So Familiar
Nine Perfect Strangers, Hulu‘s new limited drama series, launched its first three episodes on Aug. 18. The show, which takes inspiration from Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name, features a star-studded cast, including Melissa McCarthy, Nicole Kidman, and more.
Among the Nine Perfect Strangers stars is young actor Grace Van Patten, who portrays Zoe Marconi. Zoe’s story has already shown plenty of depth, but some viewers have found themselves distracted by one question: “Where have I seen her before?” Here are some of Van Patten’s previous works, plus her thoughts on Nine Perfect Strangers.
Zoe Marconi and her parents head to Tranquillum House in ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’
Nine Perfect Strangers tells the story of nine city residents who come together at Tranquillum House, a renowned wellness resort, where they attempt to better themselves and find inner peace. The resort’s leader, Masha (played by Kidman), has become known for her ability to completely transform Tranquillim House guests. However, the guests might soon learn that Masha’s methods have a dark side.
Van Patten’s Zoe Marconi is a teenaged girl attending the 10-day retreat with her parents, Heather (Asher Keddie) and Napoleon (Michael Shannon). The family trip comes in the wake of the third anniversary of Zoe’s twin brother’s death.
In an interview with Vogue, Van Patten said she discussed “the Marconis’ family dynamic” with Keddie and Shannon to prepare for her role.
“We got into really deep conversations about the Marconis’ family dynamic, how they existed before tragedy, and how they were changed by it. That gave the three of us a ground to work from,” she explained. “Our characters are all dealing with grief in such different ways, to the point that they’re not able to connect. Zoe lost her brother, but she also kinda lost her parents. The point of them coming to Tranquillum House is so they can reconnect again.”
Here’s where else you might have seen Grace Van Patten
Van Patten grew up in the world of show business. Her father, Tim Van Patten, has directed shows like Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. The young actor entered her first role at just 8 years old, appearing as Ally Pontecorvo in The Sopranos in 2006.
From there, Van Patten appeared in films like The Meyerowitz Stories, Central Park, and Tramps. She also guest-starred in Boardwalk Empire and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Fans of Netflix’s Maniac might also recognize her as Olivia Meadows.
In addition to Nine Perfect Strangers, Van Patten is set to appear in another Hulu drama, Tell Me Lies. Speaking to Glamour, the actor revealed where she’d like to go career-wise after these shows.
“A comedy! A good old knee-slapper! I need that. I need that for my soul,” she said. “I tend to be drawn to internal characters, and I want to push myself out of that. I love comedy so much, and I would love to be a part of something like that and go for it. After this job, I need it.”
Van Patten says ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ was ‘life-changing’ for her
Nine Perfect Strangers could very well become Van Patten’s biggest role. During her interview with Vogue, the actor said her life felt changed from the experience.
“Seeing a name like Nicole’s attached was already too good to be true. I was such a huge fan of her and David E. Kelley’s other shows,” Van Patten said. “I got an email about the audition and just thought, Well, I guess I’ll give this one a shot…”
