Olivia Holt and Jessica Biel Tap Into Complex Female Characters With Freeform’s ‘Cruel Summer’

’s psychological thriller in which Holt stars as Kate Wallis, a high schooler who goes missing. Her classmate, Jeanette Turner , is accused of being connected to her disappearance, which becomes the central mystery of the series, told in a nonlinear fashion over the course of three years in the mid-’90s.

Though Holt is barely into her mid-20s, the actor — who boasts nearly 5 million Instagram followers — has seen a progressive change for female characters, since she started out in the business as a pre-teen. In “Cruel Summer,” the whodunit plot is escapist and twisty, akin to the network’s smash hit “Pretty Little Liars,” but the subject matter digs deep. “There are some heavy issues we talk about, from gaslighting to manipulation and trauma,” says Holt.

Olivia brings these themes to life with sophisticated, nuanced choices that surprise at every turn. She had a huge hand in creating the Kate Wallis I now know and love.” She is also interested in dipping her toes into the producing waters, and spent time on set learning from the female forces about developing projects in her future. She specifically recalls her conversations with Biel, who told her that she was around her same age when she began to learn about producing and development.I remember growing up watching her. SBiel, meanwhile, is in awe of the maturity, confidence and fresh ideas her cast, including Holt, brings to the table.

“‘7th Heaven’ was a really particular show. It was one side of being a teen and being a kid,” Biel says. “It was much more protected and not really pushing boundaries; it was dealing with issues, but being really sensitive about them for families.”

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