How Annie Murphy’s new character was inspired by her most iconic: ‘I brought a little Alexis Rose’

Annie Murphy brought “a little suitcase of Alexis Rose”, her most iconic character, to her new role in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.

Murphy, most affectionately known for portraying celebutante Alexis in the hit series Schitt’s Creek, has leant her instantly-recognisable voice to the character of Chelsea in the new animated flick Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.

Like Alexis Rose, Chelsea has an air of fabulousness about her, she’s utterly glamorous and commands attention wherever she goes.

But despite these similarities, Murphy insists the characters are also unalike in many ways.

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Alexis Rose

“Chelsea and Alexis have an overabundance of confidence and love all of the attention to be on them,” Murphy explained to 9Honey.

“But where they part ways is that there is no shred of evil [in Alexis], and Chelsea is basically purely evil,” the actress laughs.

Watch the video above.

The film tackles universal themes of teenage awkwardness, vulnerability and acceptance against a mythical, action-packed backdrop. 

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Ruby Gillman

When asked what advice she’d give her teenage self, Murphy says, “You will grow into your eyebrows, and they will one day get you a job that will change your life.”

“Also it gets better and be kind to yourself, please.”

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, set to hit theatres September 14, is a coming-of-age story that follows the awkward teen Ruby Gillman (played by Lana Condor) through her life-altering discovery that she is not only a Kraken, but a descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her grandmother (Jane Fonda).

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Annie Murphy

The Krakens have a centuries-long feud with the other most famous mythical inhibitor of the sea: mermaids.

While on a mission to conceal her Kraken identity from her classmates, Ruby Gillman befriends the new, mysterious and uber-popular girl Chelsea… who herself is concealing her mermaid identity. The pair then form a secret and forbidden friendship.

Despite playing a mean girl in the movie, and a reformed mean girl in Schitt’s Creek, Annie Murphy is anything but.

“I hope that’s not people’s perception of me!” she laughs.

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“Mean girls suck, so much, and they do a lot of damage.”

As for Alexis Rose, Murphy says “it remains a mystery” as to whether or not she’ll ever get a chance to revive her beloved character.

“I would love for Alexis to return to the screen … we’ll see.”