Mahina Napoleon returns to the screen in the new season of The Walking Dead: Dead City, stepping back into her role as Ginny, a young survivor with a powerful story. After a quiet but emotional presence in season one, Ginny now begins to find her voice—both literally and figuratively. This season marks a turning point for the character, showcasing Mahina’s growing range as an actress. Known also for her work on NCIS: Hawai‘i, Napoleon continues to make her mark as a rising star in the world of television.

Hi Mahina! Thanks for talking to ReVamp. Can you tell us about your character in The Walking Dead: Dead City and what drew you to the role?

Yeah! I play Ginny, and honestly, she’s such a cool character to step into. In Season 1, Ginny went through a lot. She felt super lost and betrayed, especially by Negan. But now, in the new season, she’s kind of finding herself- she’s learning to be confident, which has been awesome to explore.

When it comes down to it, Ginny’s this teenage girl trying to survive in a totally messed-up, apocalyptic world, so tackling a character like her who challenged me to tap into so many ranges of emotions that I could not replicate in my non-apocalyptic life has been a truly unique experience. 

What’s wild is that Ginny is nothing like me in real life. At first, she didn’t know how to do anything on her own and didn’t really have anyone to count on. But over time, she starts to get stronger because of everything she’s been through. And even though she probably wouldn’t admit it, Maggie becomes kind of a comfort and a source of strength for her. Ginny finds support in people she didn’t expect to.

What was it like stepping into the Walking Dead universe, known for its intense and gritty atmosphere?

Omg, I love this question. I’ve been a huge fan of The Walking Dead since I could remember—I’ve always loved scary movies and creepy shows, so getting to actually be part of this universe was like, whoa… dream come true!

Working with legends like Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan has been amazing. They're both such pros, but also super nice and supportive. They've really helped me grow—not just as an actor, but as a person too. Watching them on set, seeing how they talk to the cast, the directors, the writers—it’s taught me so much.

This role was definitely a challenge, but being in this universe with such incredible people has made it the coolest experience ever.

Were you a fan of The Walking Dead franchise before joining the cast? If so, did you have a favourite character or moment?

Yes! I was totally a fan—I actually grew up watching The Walking Dead with my dad. It was our thing! And okay... Jeffrey and Lauren, please don’t hate me for this… but my favorite character was Daryl. I mean, come on—he’s just so cool.

When I met Norman Reedus for the first time, I had the most awkward fangirl moment ever. He came up to me to say hi, and I panicked and just blurted out “Hi” and ran away. I was soooo nervous! Hopefully next time I meet him, I’ll be able to act like a normal human and actually have a conversation.

What was the most challenging scene or moment you had to film for Dead City?

The hardest scene for me was definitely the finale of Season 1. There was so much emotion packed into it, and it was the first time I really had to connect how I was feeling inside to what I was saying on screen. That was super new for me, and honestly kind of intense.

But it was also a turning point—for Ginny and for me as an actor. It’s like the moment where her story really starts to shift, and it sets up a lot of what fans are going to see in Season 2.

How did you prepare for your role emotionally and physically, especially with all the action and suspense involved?

Emotionally, I like to keep things natural. I try to really feel what my character’s going through in the moment instead of overthinking it. It helps me stay in the scene and just be real.

Physically, Lauren was seriously the best! She helped me a lot with the fight scenes—like showing me a lot of the techniques she uses to really make the scenes come to life. I hadn’t done much of that before, so learning from her was super helpful. She's kind of a legend, so having her coach me through it made it way less scary.

What’s something behind the scenes from Dead City that fans might be surprised to learn?

Okay, this might surprise people—but the zombies on set are actually hilarious. Like, the second the director yells “cut,” they’re all just chilling on their phones or grabbing snacks. They’re just regular people... in terrifying makeup.

One super funny moment was when my Aunty Liz and cousin Alana came to visit me on set. It was a Friday—aka “Fat Friday,” which means amazing donuts. I took them over to the snack table, not even thinking about it, and I noticed they suddenly stopped walking. I turned around, and they were frozen because there were a bunch of zombies casually eating donuts nearby! I didn’t even notice because I’m so used to it, but they were freaking out.

I guess if there’s ever a real zombie apocalypse, I’ll be the chill one grabbing snacks while everyone else runs away!

How has being part of the Walking Dead universe impacted you personally or professionally so far?

Personally, it’s been a huge adventure! This was actually my first time living outside of Hawaiʻi, which was kind of scary at first. I definitely missed my family and friends a lot—it could get a little lonely being all the way on the other side of the country. But it was also so cool getting to explore new places, meet new people, and try all kinds of things I wouldn’t get back home. Like, we found this AMAZING Italian restaurant in Boston that had the best grilled octopus ever. Shout out to Dolce Vita and Uncle Franco —you’re the real MVP!

Professionally, this role really pushed me in a whole new way. Before this, I worked on NCIS: Hawaiʻi, which was super different. Dead City had a totally different vibe and way more emotional and action-packed scenes. It challenged me in the best way.

And getting to work with Lauren Cohen, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Vanessa Lachey? Total dream. They’ve each inspired me so much and have been awesome mentors. Honestly, every day on set teaches me something new, and that’s one of the coolest parts of all this.

If you could give your character one piece of advice to survive the apocalypse, what would it be?

Honestly, I don’t even know if I could give Ginny advice—she’s doing way better than I probably would! 

But if I had to give some general advice as a Walking Dead superfan, I’d say: find a solid group of people you can really trust, lock down a place with good resources, and whatever you do... don’t get bit. Like, seriously. That’s rule number one!

The Walking Dead: Dead City is now streaming on NOWTV & AMC.