Oregon’s Kaitlin Olson on playing a ‘very flawed, very mouthy’ character in ‘High Potential’

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA -- In her career, Kaitlin Olson has shown a talent for comedy, as fans of the long-running “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” know, as well as for nuanced blends of humor and drama, as Olson demonstrates with her subtle portrayal of DJ Vance, daughter of Jean Smart’s character in “Hacks.”

In the new ABC series, “High Potential,” Olson’s ability to be both funny and vulnerable takes center stage as Morgan Gillory, a woman who’s a mix of extraordinary gifts, and all-too-human complications.

In the show, inspired by a French series, Morgan is a single mother who works as a cleaning lady. She is also, as the pilot explains, “high potential intellectual,” with advanced cognitive abilities.

While Morgan is at work, cleaning a police office, she stumbles a case file, and, thanks to her gifts, instantly deduces that a woman the police think is a crime suspect is actually a victim.

Morgan’s gift -- or is it? -- helps a detective (played by Daniel Sunjata) and his boss (played by Judy Reyes) figure out the solution to a murder. Despite resistance from the detective, and Morgan’s misgivings, she agrees to use her abilities to help the police unravel mysteries.

In a recent panel at the Television Critics Association 2024 summer press tour at the Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena, actors and members of the creative team, including creator and executive producer Drew Goddard (whose credits include screenplays for “Cloverfield,” “The Martian,” and more), talked about “High Potential.”

Olson, who was born in Portland and attended Tigard High School and the University of Oregon, said, “I love comedy. It is one of my very favorite things to do. But I’m a theater person. I come from a theater background. I’ve done all kinds of stuff.”

Of Morgan, Olson said the character is “Very flawed, very mouthy,” but added, “this woman is very grounded. She is a very loving mother. I’m a very loving mother. That wasn’t so hard to jump into.”

A reporter asked Olson if she felt there was a “common thread in the characters you’ve been playing lately,” who may be underestimated, and whether she felt like there was a parallel in her career.

“Yes,” Olson said. “I love an underdog. I love a character who is so deeply insecure that they act out.” When she was in first grade, Olson said, “I just was a very insecure kid,” though she always knew she wanted to act.

“Then I discovered theater, but I was so shy that I never even attempted it,” Olson said. “I mean, in summer camps and stuff like that, but I didn’t audition for a play at school until high school. And so there was this inner weird balance between ‘I know I have this thing that I can do, but I’m way too shy and insecure to be vulnerable enough to open that up for other people to shoot me down.’ So, that’s always kind of been in there, so maybe that’s a little bit why I’m drawn to characters like that. I just also find a more layered character so much more interesting, with those complete opposites smashed into one person. I just like that.”

“High Potential” premieres Tuesday, Sept. 17 on ABC. Episodes stream the following day on Hulu.

— Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist

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