Kat Cunning

{{Infobox person

| name = Kat Cunning

| image = Kat Cunning at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival 2.jpg

| caption = Cunning at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

| birth_name = Kat Cunningham

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|12}}

| birth_place = Gresham, Oregon, U.S.

| alma_mater = SUNY Purchase

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
model
dancer
musician}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.katcunning.com}}

}}

Katrina Cunningham (born November 12, 1989){{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cinderella-company-xiv_us_56201a37e4b06462a13b6ba3|title=You've Never Seen A 'Cinderella' Quite Like This Before|last=Wong|first=Curtis M.|date=2015-10-16|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en-US}} is an American actor, model, dancer and musician.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/293b173b-c8cc-4296-a41f-fbc5f07544b2|title=Kat Cunning - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-24}} They performed in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2016),{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/person/kat-cunning|title=Katrina Cunningham {{!}} Playbill|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2018-07-24}} Cirque Du Soleil's Paramour,{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/cirque-du-soleil-paramour-cast-recording-photos_77651.html|title=Stars of Cirque du Soleil's Paramour Record Cast Album|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en-US}} and NYC's Sleep No More.{{Cite news|url=https://www.out.com/music/2018/7/21/13-queer-singers-you-might-not-know-about#media-gallery-media-2|title=13 Queer Singers You Might Not Know About|date=2018-07-21|work=Out.com|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en}} Cunning appeared in the recurring role of Christina Fuego in the later two seasons of The Deuce on HBO starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal.{{Cite news |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Kat-Cunning-Shares-New-Single-STAY-ON-THE-LINE-20180720 |title=Kat Cunning Shares New Single STAY ON THE LINE |website=Broadway World |language=en |access-date=April 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724213548/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Kat-Cunning-Shares-New-Single-STAY-ON-THE-LINE-20180720 |archive-date=July 24, 2018}} More recently, Cunning starred as the mysterious chanteuse Sabine in the Netflix series Trinkets based on the books by Kirsten Smith.{{Cite news|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/06/235045/is-sabine-trinkets-a-real-singer-songs-albums|title=Trinkets' Sabine Is A Real Singer, Which Explains Why Her Songs Are So Good|access-date=2019-06-14|language=en}} They play blackfishing white rapper Reina Reign in Issa Rae's Rap Sh!t.{{Cite web |last=Tinubu |first=Aramide |date=2023-11-06 |title=Issa Rae's 'Rap Sh!t' Moves Beyond Social Media for a Raw and Unfiltered Season 2: TV Review |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/reviews/rap-shit-season-2-review-1235762308/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Early life and education

Cunning was born in Gresham, Oregon and began dancing at the age of three. They are of Greek descent, and the middle of three children with two brothers.

They graduated a year early from Centennial High School in 2007 in order to start their career in dance sooner.

Cunning received a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase.{{Cite news|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/01/189433/kat-cunning-wild-poppies-music-video-premiere|title=Kat Cunning Spins A Queer Narrative In Her First Music Video|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en}}

Career

Cunning began their career by performing in Baroque-Burlesque Operas with Company XIV. Following their 2016 Broadway debut,{{Cite news|url=http://gomag.com/article/seven-minutes-in-heaven-with-femme-performer-katrina-cunningham/|title=Seven Minutes in Heaven With Femme Performer Katrina Cunningham {{!}} GO Magazine|date=2017-08-02|work=GO Magazine|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en-US}} they performed in Refinery 29's sold out 29 Rooms and opened for the sold out North American Tour for LP.{{Cite news|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/01/189433/kat-cunning-wild-poppies-music-video-premiere|title=Kat Cunning Spins A Queer Narrative In Her First Music Video|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en}}

Their singles "Baby"{{Citation|last=Kat Cunning|title=Kat Cunning - Baby [Official Audio]|date=2017-09-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28nCrj1_8I4|access-date=2018-07-24}}{{Citation|title=Kat Cunning - Birds|date=February 8, 2018|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/02/kat-cunning-birds.html|language=en|access-date=2018-07-24}} "Wild Poppies"{{Citation|last=Kat Cunning|title=Kat Cunning - Wild Poppies [Official Video]|date=2018-01-30|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=190&v=_UrDtPZHlqc&ab_channel=KatCunning|access-date=2018-07-24}} and "Stay on the Line"{{Citation|last=Kat Cunning|title=Kat Cunning - Stay on the Line [Official Single]|date=2018-07-20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_-BeOESx6I|access-date=2018-07-24}} have received praise for their overt displays of queer sexuality.{{Cite news|url=http://gomag.com/article/100_women_we_love_june_2016/48/|title=100 Women We Love 2016 {{!}} Page 48 of 98 {{!}} GO Magazine|date=2016-06-30|work=GO Magazine|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en-US}}

Cunning appears as Christina Fuego in The Deuce on HBO.{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/entertainment/kat-cunning-talks-about-the-deuce-on-hbo-music-and-technology/article/531442|title=Kat Cunning talks about 'The Deuce' on HBO, music and technology (Includes interview)|date=2018-09-07|access-date=2018-09-10}}

Cunning plays Sabine in the Netflix show Trinkets, and their original songs "Birds" and "King of Shadow" are featured on the show.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/is-sabine-from-trinkets-a-real-singer-katrina-cunningham-is-like-up-coming-lana-del-rey-17995664|title=Is Sabine From 'Trinkets' A Real Singer? Katrina Cunningham Is Like An Up-And-Coming Lana Del Rey|date=2019-06-14|access-date=2019-06-18}}

For the 2019 Hulu adaptation of John Green's Looking For Alaska, Cunning covered Alexi Murdoch's song "Orange Sky".{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/looking-for-alaska-soundtrack-track-list-8532590 |title='Looking For Alaska' Soundtrack Track List: Exclusive |last=Ginsberg |first=Gab |website=Billboard |date=October 11, 2019 |language=en |access-date=April 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011181829/http://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/news/television/8532590/looking-for-alaska-soundtrack-track-list |archive-date=October 11, 2019}}

Their single "For The Love" has been called a "rallying cry for hope and strength in the face of adversity" by Billboard.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8532331/kat-cunning-for-the-love-video|title=Kat Cunning Searches For Hope After Loss in Emotional 'For the Love' Video: Watch|last=Daw|first=Stephen|date=2019-10-07|magazine=Billboard}}

On August 20, 2020, Cunning officially signed with Lava Records.{{Cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=2020-08-20|title=Kat Cunning Signs With Lava Records – Hear New Single 'Supernova (Tiger's Blud)' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/kat-cunning-supernova-listen-1234740768/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

Personal life

Residing in Los Angeles, Cunning is queer and non-binary, using they/them pronouns.{{cite web |title=Kat Cunning Releases New Video & Track 'Confident' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Kat-Cunning-Releases-New-Video-Track-Confident-20210305 |website=broadwayworld.com |date=Mar 5, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Kat Cunning Signs With Lava Records – Hear New Single 'Supernova (Tiger's Blud)' |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/kat-cunning-supernova-listen-1234740768/#! |publisher=Variety |date=Aug 20, 2020}}

Awards

Best Actor. Nothing Serious. 2016 Trail Dance Film Festival{{Cite web |url=https://www.codaagency.com/artist/kat-cunning |title=Kat Cunning |website=Coda Music Agency |access-date=April 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725003104/https://www.codaagency.com/artist/kat-cunning |archive-date=July 25, 2018}}
Best Supporting Actor. Pepper and the Salt Sea. 2016 Damn! Series{{Cite news|url=https://filmshortage.com/dailyshortpicks/pepper-and-the-salt-sea/|title=Pepper and the Salt Sea / Fantasy // Daily Short Picks|work=Film Shortage|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en-US}}