Taste Test
What is “good taste” anyway? Allow your favorite actor, musician, celebrity, or comedian to let you in on what they’re watching, reading, and consuming.
Stephanie Suganami likes to joke that she was made for her role in Opus, A24’s latest horror movie that showcases her as an influencer invited to an intimate retreat. It’s Suganami’s first prominent role in a horror film, but she’s been in the industry since 2010, when she moved to Los Angeles to become a dancer. Soon after, she nabbed a highly coveted job as Kim Kardashian’s assistant, eventually becoming chief operating officer of KKW Brands and a friend of the family before joining the cast of Mark Anthony Green’s film. “I’ve been doing field research for the last six years,” Suganami says with a laugh.
In Opus, Suganami’s character Emily Katz joins two music journalists (Ayo Edebiri and Murray Bartlett), a television host (Juliette Lewis), an old enemy turned friend, and a longtime paparazzo to meet a pop icon played by John Malkovich and hear his long-awaited album. While it’s clear that something sinister is going on at this encampment, the twists that hit, especially for Suganami’s character, are next-level. She continues to surprise off-screen too: Suganami’s actually a comedy fan at heart.
Light spoilers ahead for Opus, in theaters starting March 14.
In Opus, you play an influencer invited to this exclusive weekend event with a pop star. What did you think when you first got this role? Did you know where that character would end up?
I first learned about the role in 2019, so it’s been a long time coming to get to this place, which is exciting and a little bittersweet because when you’ve been invested in a project for so long, it’s hard to let it go. After I read the script, I was like, I absolutely have to do this, especially with the twist at the end. What I got to do as an actor was really exciting. I don’t want to give away too much, but I thought her journey in this film was really interesting.
We have to talk about that twist. But first, I want to know if there were any influencers you looked to to inspire the role or if people in your life gave you feedback? It could have gone so many different ways.
Mark Anthony and I were joking that I’ve been doing field research for the last six years. I definitely pulled from people that I knew and experiences that I had, but we didn’t want to make her so stereotypical that you didn’t like her. I knew exactly who Emily Katz was. To me, she’s not a nepo baby, and she works to get there. When you think about someone’s motive and where they’re coming from, it’s different when it’s someone working to take care of themselves and make something of their life. I think that she understood the power of her youth, her social media, and what she could do with it. I don’t think she was necessarily liking it for all of the stereotypical, vapid reasons that one might think an influencer does what they do.
Your character has this terrifying body-horror moment that, without spoiling, is the craziest scene in the movie. What was it like to film that and use those prosthetics?
Logistics-wise, it was probably two days in the chair. It was mind over matter, because they were putting the stuff over my eyes and my lips, so those first 30 minutes in the chair, it was like, You’re okay, you’re not claustrophobic, you can do this. It was all mental. I didn’t know where I was, I didn’t know what everyone’s costume was, I didn’t know north from south. It was very disorienting. But the physicality of it really was the thing that I was most excited about, because I have a dance background. That was the easiest part. And it was the coolest experience. When John pulls me up against the bookshelf and he’s about to walk out of the room, he improvised that line, “You’re still so pretty.” It took everything in me not to chuckle, because I was like, God, you’re so good.
That was one of my favorite lines. Okay, spoiler alert … Were you actually inside the beanbag?
I got into it from the bottom. And there was a seat that Ayo sat on top. We didn’t have that many takes to do, because I had to rip the fabric to get out of it. But it was really fun.
Your characters as of late have been having a lot of health issues. In Doctor Odyssey, you guest-star as Kelly during “Singles Week.” What was it like to play that character?
They are all having health issues, and what is that saying about me? I had so much fun. It was just one episode, but I got to know the cast and the crew really well. It’s such a big-budget production. I was blown away by the sets and the costumes that we got to wear. It’s an actor’s dream to get to shoot something in L.A. that’s right down the street from your house. If they would have me back, I would love to come back. I would love to work on another Ryan Murphy production. I think he’s one of the greats.
What’s a role you’d want to take next? Or where do you envision your acting career going?
I would love to do any type of sci-fi or fantasy movie. My mom and I would always watch those action films growing up, and that would be cool to get to use the martial-arts training I’ve had, and the dance training. I want to revisit dance in some way. I don’t know if that’s a musical or something, but I miss it. I was talking to my friend the other day, and if I ever was given the opportunity, I would love to play Jeanette Lee. She’s called the “Black Widow of pool,” and she’s this incredibly gorgeous, powerful Asian woman. Her story is really interesting.
Do you play pool, or would you have to learn?
I did when I was younger. My mom would have people over the house and we always had a pool table in the basement. That sounds very midwestern. I think I could be good at it, and I love a challenge.
Where do you get your best cultural recommendations from?
My two best friends, Jessica Currie and Aaron Harvey, are probably the most creative and untapped resources ever. I’m so lucky that I have them on speed dial, because they have their finger on the pulse and know what’s cool. I don’t ever make a decision without the two of them. And then I love a Pinterest board. I feel very inspired by the minimalistic and simplicity of the ’90s. I have a lot of those boards for hair, style, home, everything. I tend to gravitate toward the ’90s era.
I’m curious too, because you frequently attend fashion shows: Is there a fashion era that you get inspiration from? Is it the ’90s as well?
I love the ’90s, Calvin Klein. Tom Ford for Gucci just completely changed fashion. I got to meet him, and he’s the one person that I have ever really been starstruck over. Everyone kept asking me while filming Opus, “Have you ever met a celebrity?” And I’m just like, I don’t care. There’s no one that I would be moved by. But I met Tom Ford at a gala, and I just felt so moved to say hi to him. I went up to him at the valet, and I was like, “I’m so sorry to do this, this is so weird, but I just wanted to say …” I don’t know what I said, 2004 maybe, “Your 2000-something collection meant everything to me,” and I just started to cry. Everyone is a descendant of him; in some way, shape, or form, they have been influenced by him. I’m just really impressed when someone is the best at what they do. And he was so calm and warm and gave me a nice handshake. He was just like, “Oh, honey.” Basically, Get it together. He’s an icon. It’s crazy, I never do that.
Not for anyone else?
Never. I’ve been thinking about this because Opus talks so much about celebrity culture and fanaticism and fervor. I got starstruck by Will Ferrell one time when we were on a flight. But other than that, there’s no one.
What five celebrities, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party? Or I guess in this case, maybe a weekend retreat, Opus style?
Kristen Wiig. She’s just so hilarious. Issa Rae, because I feel like we would just laugh the whole time. Ilana Glazer. Bowen Yang; everything about Bowen is awesome. And Lucille Ball. I’m just gonna go with comedians because I want to have a good time.
What is the worst thing someone can do at a dinner party?
Ugh. Blow their nose in a napkin. It’s not what it’s for. I don’t know why people think that’s okay. Or even putting your cloth napkin on your plate after you’re done. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. Like, why are you putting your cloth napkin on your spaghetti marinara?
Do you host a lot?
Yeah, I do, and I use linen napkins. Hosting dinner parties with friends is one of my favorite hobbies. Luckily, no one blows their nose into napkins at my house, but I feel like I see people do that at restaurants all the time. So rude.
Speaking of pet peeves, what is something that crosses the line for you? Was there a moment in Opus that would have made the real you be like, “I’m done. I’m out of here”?
I’m the person who’s just down, and I’m a little oblivious, to an extent. The bread scene is a bit weird. I probably would have done it. In real life, if there’s a line, I’m not gonna wait. There’s no world in which I’m gonna stand in a line to get into Barney’s Beanery. I don’t need to go that bad.
What is the last meal that you cooked?
I just made chicken noodle soup for a friend last night.
Were they sick?
They’re just down bad. You can send flowers and stuff, but sending something homemade just feels good when somebody needs a little love, so I made chicken noodle soup. I made the broth myself.
I’m a little sick now, so I wish I had that. What is your comfort rewatch?
I watch The Office every day. To end my day, I like to put on an episode.
Is there something you’ll never watch?
I’m not a murder girl. I don’t like murder. [Laughs.] I mean, people do. People love these unsolved kid-murder mysteries, and I don’t like true-crime vibes. My husband will put on the local news every night, and I’m just like, Must we go down this road again? It’s just so sad, and I can’t handle it. True crime or murder stuff is not for me.
What’s the best piece of gossip you’ve heard?
Oh my God. My group chats are constantly filled with so many fun things. Isn’t that what they say in Mean Girls? They’re like, “That’s why our hair is so big, because it’s full of secrets.” That’s me. But I couldn’t share.
But do people tell you a lot of gossip?
I know where all the bodies are buried, and I will never tell. I’m a vault.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My mom would say this to me every day when I would walk out the door — my friends in high school knew it was coming, so they would all kind of mouth the words as we were leaving the kitchen: “Remember who you are.” I would be like, “Okay … thanks.” As a teenager, you’re like, “Oh, God, you’re so embarrassing,” but now as an adult, that’s great advice. Every day when you step out into the world, just remember who you are.
What about the worst?
“Just do it for the check.” I feel like that’s empty. Obviously, we all have to have money and we need to work, and there are times when you have to do that, but I don’t love that being the motive behind choices that you make in your life.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
