In Disney+ & Hulu's newest drama, Rivals. Cat Chandler enters the spotlight as a fierce, determined character navigating the cutthroat world of corporate power plays, personal ambition, and unexpected alliances.  Set against the backdrop of high-stakes competition, Chandler's character is a savvy, strategic figure whose every move is calculated to outmanoeuvre her rivals. With her sharp wit, charm and sometimes morally grey decisions, Cat quickly becomes a force to be reckoned with and a character you can't take your eyes off. In this gripping series, Chandler brings an emotional depth to her role, balancing vulnerability with strength as she battles her competition and inner conflicts that arise from her relentless pursuit of success. Rivals promises to be a thrilling ride, with Chandler leading the charge.

Hi Cat! Your career is skyrocketing! You starred in the FX feature film Pistols, and now you’re in Disney+ ‘RIVALS’ opposite so many big names, such as Doctor Who legend David Tennant, EastEnders star Danny Dyer, and comedian Emily Attack, to name a few. How excited are you that people are going to see this show?

Hi, it was so lovely to chat with you! That is so kind, thank you so much. It’s been such a joy to work with the names you’ve listed there. To go from watching all those amazing actors onscreen, to acting in the same room as them has been a surreal experience. I’m really excited. We wrapped filming in September 2023, so it’s been a bit of a wait; I definitely feel ready for the world to see it. I hope they love it as much as we all did when we were making it.

What drew you to the role of Caitlin O’Hara? 

The description of Caitlin when I got the tape through was special. I think she was described as precocious, mischievous and having acerbic wit. I loved the idea of playing a young girl with those characteristics. She’s not your average girl next door so I was excited take on a character that was clearly very unique. She’s so eccentric, so when it came to filming I had some fun taking on her quirkiness and individuality.

From what I can see in the trailer, the outfits, hair, and makeup look insane! What was it like stepping into this era of fashion?

It was actually so refreshing to put on clothes that we would never wear now! I remember the first day on set when we all came out the makeup and costume trailer one by one, and it felt like we had been put in a time machine and sent back to the 80s. Everything was so colourful and big and fun. They were not shy with the red lipstick or eyeliner and I adored how OTT everything was. Caitlin really represents the angsty teen from that era. She has a real passion for fashion and we wanted to make sure each item of clothing she wore had a specific reference to what was trendy back then. I’d like to think we nailed it because when I first showed a picture of my costume and hair to my mum she said “I used to look like that!”.

Do you have any funny moments on set?

There are lots but maybe one that sticks out is when we filmed the first scene in which you see the O’Haras and we’re driving into The Priory. Elliot the director was like Cat maybe give a little squeal of excitement. And it might’ve been a mixture nerves or just pure giddiness (that is a reoccurring theme when Bella and I were together). But without an ounce of self control I screamed at the top of my lungs and think burst the ear drum of poor John our DOP. I didn’t even realise I’d done it until looked over to Bella and she had tears in her eyes from laughing. I was so apologetic and mortified but looking back it was so funny because it’s just so silly and dramatic.

You’ve also got another project out on Channel 5 called ‘The Wives’. What can you tell us about the show? And how different is this project from your previous work?

The Wives is currently out on Channel 5 and it is a murder mystery following the death of one of… The Wives. This project was really different on a lot of levels. It was great for me to play a character that was a lot more dramatic and going through a negative experience. The filming was much more condensed as well, so I learnt a lot about how to maintain stamina during long working days. I was surrounded by incredible woman, the likes of Katie Clarkson Hill, Jo Joyner, Tamsin Outhwaite and Angela Griffin. It was such a female led show so it felt very empowering to be on a set with these queens of television. They were overflowing with support and advice for me and I’m really grateful for how they made me feel so comfortable to be living with them all in beautiful Malta. I still talk to them all now and just saw Tamsin in her play, she was a vision. 

Where would you like to see yourself in five years? 

Hmm, I don’t know what I’m doing next week never mind in 5 years! I hope I’m still doing what I love, busy working as an actor surrounded by close friends and family. Maybe with a little dog called Truffle that I can take to set with me. I’d love to have ticked some places off my travel list and hopefully landed a role that means I can take all my friends on a big shopping trip.

Are there any dream roles you would like to grip your hands on?

That’s a really hard one because who knows what’s out there. But I think a character that has attributes of Jodie Comer’s Villanelle. Funny, feisty, abnormal and complicated - with a fun accent.

RIVALS WILL PREMIERE ON FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2024, EXCLUSIVELY ON DISNEY+