Your next Netflix obsession just got even better. According to Deadline, Kate Walsh has joined 13 Reasons Why , a new young adult series based on a YA novel by Jay Asher and executive-produced by Selena Gomez. The series follows a boy, Clay (Dylan Minnette), who receives a box of cassettes from his classmate, Hannah (Katherine Langford), who recently committed suicide. Hannah left instructions for Clay to hand out the cassettes to 13 people, and each tape explains how those classmates contributed to her suicide. Does it sound dark? Absolutely, but it is sure to bring out a powerhouse performance from Walsh.
Walsh plays Hannah's mother, and watching her grappling with her teenage daughter's suicide is going to be powerful. Netflix could not have chosen a better actress for the role. Walsh has always proven to be a wonderful comedic actress in The Drew Carey Show and Bad Judge, but it was her multifaceted role as Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice that truly allowed Walsh to show off the full breadth of her talent.
As Addison, Walsh was called upon to play a character who could be icy and abrasive while also possessing a vulnerable and compassionate heart. Addison entered the world of Grey's Anatomy as Derek's wife and the woman who could potentially end Meredith and Derek's romance, but fans loved her anyway. In 13 Reasons Why , Walsh will face an even bigger challenge as she taps into both the grief of losing her daughter and the desire to understand why Hannah chose to take her own life.
This is not the first time Walsh has been called upon to play the mother of a famous YA character. In 2012, Walsh took on the role of Charlie's mother in The Perks of Being a Wallflower . Charlie is a character who struggles with depression and repressed memories of abuse. Walsh's role in the movie wasn't a large one, but she did prove she's more than capable of playing the mother of a child who is battling serious issues.
In 13 Reasons Why, the series will allow Walsh to play Hannah's mother both before and after the suicide, which is sure to give Hannah's story even more depth. 13 Reasons Why is largely going to be driven by its young performers, but knowing Walsh will be there to give an adult perspective on such a heartbreaking story should have you excited for this show.
Walsh has proven she does not need to be at the center of a story to provide it with a powerful heart. 13 Reasons Why is in good hands with Walsh on board. The former Dr. Addison Montgomery is sure to be an invaluable asset to Netflix's new young adult drama.
