Kate Walsh Says Her Character on ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Was Supposed to Be Played by a Man

You probably recognize Kate Walsh from Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Emily in Paris and 13 Reasons Why. But did you know she also plays The Handler in The Umbrella Academy?

The 54-year-old actress sat down for a recent interview with PureWow, where she discussed the popular Netflix series and her partnership with Systane Complete Preservative-Free Lubricating Eye Drops. Although her Umbrella Academy character was supposed to be played by a man, Walsh revealed that the gender swap didn’t affect the script.

“I feel like that’s a great testament to how great Steve Blackman, who’s the creator who adapted the iconic graphic novel,” she told PureWow. “It’s just a testament to how a great writer and creative mind he is.”

Walsh continued, “It’s not about gender. It’s just about writing a great character. And I was really specific of like, ‘Don’t change anything.’ Because it was so good and working and powerful.”

The actress didn’t share any details about what’s in store for The Handler’s future on The Umbrella Academy. However, she confirmed that it’ll exceed expectations. “I feel like one of the great things about The Umbrella Academy or Emily in Paris or any kind of show on now is that every subsequent season gets better and better. And bigger,” she said. “Especially if you’re in any sort of fantasy realm.”

The Umbrella Academy season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

Stay up-to-date on all things entertainment by subscribing here.

Check out our new weekly podcast, Stream On, featuring reviews and debates about the best shows, movies and more!

RELATED: ‘Virgin River’ Theory: Fans Think Mike Is Actually the Father of Charmaine’s Babies