Mikaela Hoover's Endless Summer

Features

July 22, 2026

Mikaela Hoover has been working with James Gunn since before most people knew where James Gunn was headed. A theatre kid from Washington who studied at Loyola Marymount, she auditioned for his short film Humanzee! in 2008, landed the title role in his series Sparky & Mikaela soon after, and has turned up in nearly everything he’s made since, Super, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad, a quietly devastating voice turn as Floor the rabbit in Vol. 3, and now Cat Grant, the Daily Planet’s gossip columnist, in Superman.

This past year, though, has been hers in a way none of the others were. She played Ava in the second season of BEEF, sharing some of the show’s tensest scenes with Carey Mulligan, and she voices Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece, a role she initially turned down without reading, and now calls the one that healed her. When we sent her our questions, her answers came back the way the best ones do: honest, a little superstitious, and very funny.

We talked about building Ava, slamming doors on Carey Mulligan, Wes Craven, and the shot she’d want to be.

Q: What do you remember most about filming the finale with Carey Mulligan? Was there anything she did in the scene that changed the performance you were planning to give?

Carey is the most incredible actress I’ve ever seen. Everything feels so real and true, it really sets the bar, and you can’t bring anything false to the table because it will feel extra fake next to her. I remember in the hotel scene, her character really tries to guilt Ava into helping Josh, and I found myself wanting to get out of the situation as fast as possible, which is why I kept trying to close the door so aggressively. That’s something that just naturally happened in response to Carey.

Q: You’ve spoken about the decision to have Ava be someone who lives in the present instead of dwelling on past trauma, which led to your choice for her to speak in a higher register. Walk us through making character decisions as an actor, how do you know when you’ve made the right choice?

First, I always talk to the showrunner and director and try to understand their vision for the character, and then I go fill in the blanks. I am often looking to find things about myself or people I know in the character, and once I find them, I can start adding backstory based on things that have happened to me or people I know. With Ava, she is all about having a good time and living an endless summer — which of course isn’t real — so it made sense to me that it’s all a cover to hide deeper pain.

Q: You’ve described Ava as someone who grew up believing in fairy tales and is searching for her Disney Prince Charming. Which Disney princess do you think she would relate to most, and which one do you relate to?

Probably Cinderella for both of us. I think we both can feel like we aren’t good enough, or when things are going well, get worried it’s all going to be taken away and it will turn back into a pumpkin at midnight.

Q: Ava is so funny, but you never seem to be playing her as if she knows she’s funny. How conscious were you of protecting that?

That’s something that Sonny and Jake and Kitao and everyone talked a lot about throughout shooting. To not reach for a joke, and play everything real, and trust that the situation will be funny. As an actor, it is so nice when the people calling the shots know exactly what tone they want.

Q: You’ve spoken quite openly about having what you call a “sixth sense,” including predicting things before they happen. Has intuition ever altered or influenced a major decision in your career — for good or for bad?

I believe we all have a “sixth sense” — it’s just up to us whether we want to pay attention to it or not. My intuition and drive kept me in this business. I don’t ever recall a time in my life when I didn’t want to be an actress. I always knew it would happen regardless of what others said. So my deep inner knowing, plus hard work and determination, is why I am still in this business.

Q: James Gunn first auditioned you for the short film Humanzee! in 2008, and that led to him casting you in the title role of Sparky & Mikaela. You’ve said you sensed very early that he was going to have an extraordinary career. What did you see in him then — and what do you think he saw in you?

James had an energy about him that was so magnetic from the moment I met him. In that first audition in 2008, he looked familiar to me right away — almost as if I had known him in a past life. I just knew the energy around him was special and could see he was going to be immensely successful. James said he cast me in that particular project because I was funny. The role wasn’t particularly funny, but the way I interpreted her was.

Q: In Superman, Cat made a real impression despite having relatively limited screen time, the fan edits proved audiences clearly wanted more. If James gave you the chance to pitch one perfect Cat Grant scene for Man of Tomorrow, what would happen in it?

Oh gosh, I don’t want to lose my relationship with DC! (laughs) Probably something with Clark. Cat loves Clark. She came from LA in hopes of a simpler life and then met Clark. He represents everything pure. Something between them would be nice.

Q: As someone who also lives with intense OCD, I’ve really appreciated how candidly you’ve spoken about it. Does performing offer relief from OCD, or does it follow you into the work in other ways?

Thank you for saying that. The only time I don’t have intense OCD is when I am working. I suppose it’s because I am playing another role and lose myself in that character. When I’m not, it really can be all-consuming, which is why it’s been so reassuring hearing from others with OCD. It’s important that we help each other feel not alone.

Q: You said years ago that Scream was your favorite horror film, and that you were extremely selective about horror scripts because you loved the genre too much to do one that wasn’t great. Is that still true — and what would the right horror role look like for you now?

Scream is still my favorite scary movie of all time. It’s my comfort film, and it takes me back to a time in my life where I needed to get out of my own head. To be honest, I don’t read a lot of horror scripts, and I wish I did. My voice has limited me from being able to immerse myself in that genre acting-wise. I hope some director reads this and thinks of me for a really great scary movie. That would be a dream.

Q: You initially passed on the One Piece audition because the material was so secretive you thought it was only a voice role, and you were focused on BEEF. What changed when you looked at it again — and what did you discover in Chopper that you hadn’t seen the first time?

I passed without reading it because it was presented to me as a couple-episode voiceover audition, and I had been tirelessly auditioning for voiceovers since Guardians 3 and not getting any feedback. When my agent said they asked for me specifically, I of course read the material. When I read the role, I couldn’t believe casting thought of me, because the role was so, so special. I had never auditioned for a little boy, let alone a reindeer. The sides were so incredibly heartbreaking but also so beautiful — I fell in love with him right away. Doing that audition healed something inside of me. Being able to play Chopper has brought my inner child out and healed her in ways I am so incredibly grateful for.

Q: Season 3 is coming. Is there a Chopper moment from the manga or anime — whether it comes in Season 3 or much later — that you would be especially excited to perform?

I have yet to read the manga or watch the anime, because I want to stay naive in my performance and not chase anything. I know the manga and anime are so beloved and highly regarded. But I am excited to see what new medical discoveries Chopper makes as the series unfolds.

Q: You’ve worked with some wonderful talent. Is there anyone specifically who has been a guiding light for you, or someone who has taught you something unexpected?

Rachel Brosnahan was incredibly supportive and encouraging from day one. She really “saw” me and lifted me up in ways I will forever be grateful for. And again, Carey Mulligan — not only is she an incredible artist, but such a grounded, good human being. They both inspire me to be better.

Q: What’s something you’re disproportionately excited about at the moment? A restaurant, a brand, a book, a strange new obsession — even something completely mundane.

I just read they are making another Freddy Krueger film, and I am so excited. I would die to be a part of it in any shape or form.

Q: What artist or album would you want to be the soundtrack to this period of your life?

Stevie Nicks.

Q: You trained in theatre before film and TV became the focus. Is there a musical or play you would have to say yes to?

I wish I could sing. And if I could, I would like to be in Wicked.

Q: Are you a part of any fandoms?

Wes Craven fandom, for sure. I would say most scary movie fandoms — but not the gory ones. I also really love Supernatural, so I guess I could be in that fandom.

Q: Has this period of your career felt the way you once imagined success would feel? Do you have any tips for staying present as things are happening?

Honestly, I still don’t feel like I’m truly successful. I live in the same apartment I have had since my 20s. I feel like I am only just scratching the surface of what I want to explore and express as an actor, so I am just trying to focus on the work and get better with every audition and project.

Q: Is there a story from your family history that you’ve always thought could make a great film?

My grandfather from Iran was a very successful doctor, and there’s so much about my extended family I want to know more about and research, from both my Iranian and Italian side. I would love to explore that in my work someday.

Q: If you were a shot in a film, which shot would you be? It can be from an existing film.

I would love to be the shot in the BEEF season two finale where Josh and Lindsay kiss in Korea. Finneas score and all. It’s perfect. I’m a romantic.

BEEF and One Piece are streaming on Netflix.