Amazon’s hit drama The Summer I Turned Pretty is currently available for streaming. It’s the third and final season and with it comes a fresh face: Zoé De Grand’Maison. The Canadian actress, known for her roles in Orphan Black and Riverdale, steps into Cousins Beach as Agnes—a medical student at Stanford who becomes a surprising new confidante for Conrad (Christopher Briney).

For Zoé, joining the beloved series at its peak was both thrilling and intimidating. “I love the TSITP world. I was hooked after watching the first episode. Summer beach house and a steamy love triangle? Sign me up!” she says. “Obviously, stepping onto a set when they’ve already all shot two seasons together can be a little intimidating. But everyone was so lovely and really made an effort to have all the newcomers feel welcome.”

Meet Agnes: Conrad’s New Confidante

Agnes isn’t just a background presence—her role gives viewers a rare window into Conrad’s inner world. “She’s befriended Conrad at school, and now acts as his sort of confidante. He’s really comfortable and relaxed around her, so she can often get him to open up in ways he might not with other people,” Zoé explains. “She asks him the hard questions, and he answers them. This is great for the audience, too, because they’re FINALLY getting some real insight into what he’s thinking and how he’s feeling.”

Zoé describes Agnes as “loyal, driven, and goodhearted.” Her relationship with Conrad brings out a softer, even playful side of him that fans haven’t always been privy to. “She teases him a lot, but it all comes from such a loving and caring place,” she adds.

The Heart of TSITP

One of the show’s strengths has always been its mix of nostalgia, heartbreak, and coming-of-age honesty—something Zoé says resonated with her deeply. “The show is SO emotionally dynamic, but manages to remain so grounded at the same time. I think that’s why the show has such a loyal fanbase; so many people feel represented to some degree. Heartbreak, first loves, grief—these are all such relatable themes, and the show explores them with a great level of depth and honesty.”

And while Agnes isn’t tangled in the central love triangle, Zoé hopes fans recognize the value of the friendships she represents. “I hope people are reminded of the importance and value of friendships, especially those that challenge you and push you to become the best version of yourself. Friends are crucial. I consider my real-life friends to be my soulmates.”

From Cults to Cousins Beach

Zoé is no stranger to memorable TV roles—many fans first discovered her as Gracie in Orphan Black or Evelyn in Riverdale, both of whom were tied to cult storylines. “So weird that I played cult members in them both,” she laughs. Stepping into Agnes, however, allowed her to flex a different side of her artistry. “It was so fun to portray a character that’s relatively normal! I tend to be cast in pretty dark, heavy roles, so it was exciting to finally play someone with a sense of humor, someone the audience can actually root for.”

Her approach to character building remains grounded in curiosity and creativity. “I sit with a character, build their world, and spend some time getting to know them/getting to understand their perspective. I often do this through journal entries,” she says.

Beyond the Screen

Acting is only one part of Zoé’s creative world. Off-set, she paints, writes, and finds inspiration in both nature and the people she loves. “I’ve really fallen in love with writing over the past few years, and hope to produce one of my own scripts someday soon,” she shares. “Inspiration can come from anywhere. My boyfriend Alex inspires me a lot because he’s one of the most talented artists I know. But I also find myself immensely inspired by nature—sun-kissed, mossy forests are the most creatively stimulating places in the world.”

What’s Next

With The Summer I Turned Pretty serving as her most buzzworthy role to date, Zoé is ready for whatever comes next. “I really want to work on more independent films,” she says. “I love working with people who create out of absolute necessity, regardless of whether they have access to fancy studios and big budgets. I can really relate to the need to create.”

For fans who fall for Agnes this season, there’s plenty of Zoé’s past work to catch up on—including Orphan Black, Riverdale, Wayne, and Fortunate Son. And of course, she keeps it lighthearted with her Instagram handle: @zomato_soup. “I like tomatoes, and I love a good pun!”

As The Summer I Turned Pretty prepares to close its chapter, Zoé De Grand’Maison brings a fresh spark to Cousins Beach—reminding us that even in the midst of first loves and heartbreak, friendship can be just as transformative.