When audiences are introduced to Ginny in Season 1 of “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” she’s quiet, hurting, and deeply traumatized after the death of her father. Instead of her reserved nature causing her to fade away into the background, audiences were drawn in due to the grounded performance by Mahina Napoleon. Now, in Season 2, Ginny is finding her voice and inner strength. We talked to Napoleon about the best advice she’s received on set, the evolution of Ginny and Hershel’s relationship as pseudosiblings, and more.
How did it feel to step back on set for Season 2 and dive right back into the chaotic and emotional world of The Walking Dead: Dead City?
It felt incredible to be back—not just on set, but reunited with the amazing cast and crew. It had been over a year since we last filmed, so it truly felt like seeing long-lost friends again. Stepping back into Ginny’s shoes was such a thrill, especially because this time, she’s like Ginny 2.0. She’s stronger, she speaks, and best of all, she’s got a bold new look with an awesome wardrobe and hair and makeup. It made the whole experience even more exciting!
Throughout the series, you get to work with veteran actors who have been in multiple franchises. Is there one tip or piece of advice you’ve gotten from one of your co-stars that you’ll never forget?
Yes, actually! Lauren once gave me a piece of advice that really stuck with me—she told me to fully feel the sadness and the anger and just let it out. She said it’s okay to overdo it sometimes because it’s always easier to pull back than it is to do too little and try to add more later. That perspective really changed the way I approach emotional scenes.
Ginny is a person of few words and keeps her feelings about situations close to the chest. As you prepared to step into her headspace when filming, did you keep a journal as Ginny, or did you have other ways of taking stock of how someone more reserved would navigate a post-apocalyptic world?
I kept a lot of mental notes, but I also wrote down my own thoughts on how someone like Ginny—who’s more about actions than words—would navigate a world like this. I thought a lot about how she bottles up her emotions and then releases them through what she does since she struggles to express those feelings verbally. It really helped me stay in her headspace and understand how she communicates without saying much.
From episode one of the new season, we see Ginny’s evolution as she voluntarily steps into the ring with Walkers. Do you see that moment as the signifier that Ginny will continue finding her voice and inner strength throughout the season?
Absolutely. I think that scene is a powerful way for Ginny to express herself through action. It marks a turning point where she’s not just surviving—she’s starting to prove, both to herself and others, that she’s strong and capable on her own. Stepping into the ring with the Walkers was her way of saying, ‘I’ve got this.’ It’s definitely a sign that she’s beginning to find her voice and inner strength as the season unfolds.
At this point in the show, Ginny and Hershel are pseudosiblings in a way, but they’re hiding things from each other and the adults they interact with. While filming, did you and your co-star Logan Kim discuss the evolution of Ginny and Hershel’s relationship and how they impact one another throughout the season?
Of course! Logan and I definitely had our own little writing sessions—lol. We talked a lot about how our characters’ stories could align and evolve throughout the season. There’s so much going on beneath the surface between Ginny and Hershel, and their dynamic is constantly shifting. But you’ll just have to stay tuned to see how it all unfolds!
In Season 2, Maggie, Ginny, and Hershel travel back to a place that holds a lot of trauma and bad memories for them. How does their environment ultimately guide Ginny’s decisions this season?
As you can see, Ginny is 100% focused on Negan—mainly because he killed her father. But there’s so much more beneath the surface that drives her. Returning to a place filled with trauma definitely affects her decisions, and the weight of those memories pushes her in ways we haven’t seen before. There are a lot of layers to her journey this season… so keep watching—you won’t want to miss what’s coming!
On a professional level, how has playing Ginny allowed you to grow as an actress?
Playing Ginny has helped me grow so much as an actress—especially in Season 1, where I had to rely entirely on facial expressions to convey emotion. It really taught me how to dig deep and feel things fully so that the emotion would naturally show on my face without needing words. On top of that, getting to work alongside incredibly talented actors like Lauren, Jeffrey, Gaius, Željko, and Logan pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. Their presence and experience challenged me to rise to the occasion and keep improving.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
If it’s something you’re passionate about—go for it! Why not? Acting is such a fun and rewarding experience, and if you ever get the opportunity to explore this path, take it. You only live once, so chase what excites you and give it your all!
