The Long Beach native, Anthony Keyvan stole hearts onscreen as Q on Netflix's newest hit XO, Kitty. If you haven't caught the series yet, it's your time to binge. Q is a star athlete and Kitty's newest friend played by To All the Boys I've Loved Before alumni Anna Cathcart. He's the person she turns to when moving half way across the world gets tough.
Anthony has a Filipino mother and Iranian father where he remembers growing up always around music and food. According to Preview PH, he "raved about his multicultural family, calling the food and music “magical,” and cited karaoke as his family’s go-to pastime." He's also not shy saying that he has the pipes to nail it on karaoke, but he also has the acting bug. Anthony began acting at 8 years old with booking a Disneyland commercial and a guest role on Lost.
His breakout role in Love, Simon as Rahim, a Muslim student who struggles with coming out to his religious family. His character Q is also part of the LGBTQ+ community and we see him grow his relationship with another student, Florian. Anthony also worked with the writers of the series to develop his character and add bits of his personality. Personally, Anthony also is an advocate for mental health and the environment. "I just feel that, as someone with a platform that can reach a lot of people, it’s important to use that influence for good and raise awareness for topics that need attention."
Catch Anthony now on XO, Kitty only on Netflix.
Cover Photo Credit: Anthony Keyvan Instagram
You'll be seeing a lot of Fil-Iranian actor Anthony Keyvan on your screen soon. The Love, Simon actor just landed a role as Q on the upcoming Netflix series, XO, Kitty. Anna Cathcart plays Kitty, who was the love guru in the franchise films, To All the Boys I've Loved Before. The rom-com young adult series will follow Kitty on her adventure for love in South Korea.
As Kitty moves to South Korea, she reunites with her long-distance boyfriend (Choi Min-yeong) and finds love isn't as easy as she thinks. With a new environment along with new people, it's an adjustment for her on all fronts. Luckily, she'll have her friends around for support. Anthony Keyvan is joined by Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Peter Thurnwald, and Regan Aliyah to star opposite of Anna Cathcart in this new series.
According to Deadline, production has started in Seoul with Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan, Pamela Romanowsky and Katina Medina Mora lined up to direct this season. Stay tuned for more character details and debut.
Cover Photo Credit: Anthony Keyvan Instagram
Asian American representation in media isn't where it should be today. The NBC News interview with the To All the Boys: Always and Forever dive into their Asian American experiences. Lana Condor, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, and Ross Butler recalls growing up in various family dynamics and their relationship with their identities. They also shared who their role models are that showed them representation is possible.
Janel Parrish mentions Lea Salonga as someone she looks up to as a theater fan. She remembers saying, "Oh she looks like me". While Lana and Anna both agreed it was Brenda Song who they admired because "she was on a popular Disney show and looked like us". Her character had nothing to do with her being Asian, but it was more normalized in the show. Ross mentions that Jackie Chan was a big influence especially on Shanghai Noon. It's the first introduction where he saw an "Asian guy in the Wild West being funny"...and something I could culturally attach to.
They talk about how much love they have for their cultures, but also appreciative they are able to share it. The cast also shared their love for the Asian cuisine that in its self is its own story. All of them are huge foodies! They are the role models now in mainstream media for young Asian Americans. The franchise has shown that our story is worth telling.
Catch To All the Boys: Always and Forever streaming now on Netflix!
Cover Photo Credit: To All the Boys: Always and Forever Facebook
