Walking Dead actress dissects her twisted turtle-eating character

“The Walking Dead” ends the first half of its season Sunday night — and teenager Enid figures to be in on the action.

Enid, played by 16-year-old Katelyn Nacon, is one of four teens living in the gated community of Alexandria. Viewers first met Enid, a secluded loner, last season — and saw her break out in the second episode of this season. “That episode was really important because it opened up my character to people by showing what Enid went through before she made her way to Alexandria,” says Nacon, an 11th grader from Canton, Ga.

“People were saying she was so closed off and didn’t want to give anyone a chance. Enid does not want to let people in, because the last time she really got hurt is when she witnessed her parents being eaten alive [by zombies] right in front of her from the family car,” says Nacon.

“So she’s really closed off … not wanting to get close to someone and then lose them.”

Nacon auditioned for the role via videotape, and was called back with five other actresses. “This is my first major role, and what is so great is that my dream character is to play something of a psychopath because I feel like that would be so hard to connect to,” says Nacon. “It’s something that … makes this character really complex and hard to grasp.

“People are still trying to figure Enid out. For me, it’s not about the action but the mind games and [her] twisted personality.”

(In one particularly memorable scene this season, a starving Enid killed a turtle and scarfed it down raw, using its bones to spell out “JSS — or “Just Survive Somehow.” In reality the “turtle” was stuffed with chicken wings covered in red sauce.)

“Enid wants to survive but she wants to feel like she’s living,” says Nacon. “These walkers are not going to dictate her life.”

People are still trying to figure Enid out. For me, it’s not about the action but the mind games and [her] twisted personality.

This relates to her potential love affair with Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs), son of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). “Out of Rick’s group, Enid is closest to Carl but it is just a wait and see for them right now,” says Nacon.

And when it comes to Enid’s best chances of survival?

“Rick is a little crazy so I would go with Daryl (Norman Reedus) because he has the most experience and he still has a good head on his shoulders,” says Nacon.

As for Enid’s future, Nacon does have her own personal hopes. “I would like to see Enid figure out who she is and where she fits in this new world. I do sing on the side [in real life] but I don’t think they will have me singing on the show.

“Enid would probably sound like a screeching cat.”

‘Into the Badlands’ off to big start on AMC

AMC’s new drama “Into the Badlands” is off to a promising start with 8.2 million viewers tuning into its series premiere last Sunday.

The martial arts drama — which aired after the mega-popular “Walking Dead” — also averaged 5.1 million viewers in the “money” demo of adults under 50 (with three days of time-shifted viewing included).

In the key demo, that ranks “Badlands” as the No. 3 cable launch ever, behind AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead” and “Better Call Saul.”

“Badlands” centers on a ruthless warrior (Daniel Wu) and a young boy (Aramis Knight) who embark on a spiritual journey across a dangerous land controlled by feudal barons. — Andrea Morabito

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