Molly Kunz

American actress known for NBC’s The Irrational and the feature films Widows and The Wolf and the Lion

Molly Kunz

Name	Molly Kunz
Birth Date	1994-01-01
Birth Place	Madison, Wisconsin
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actress
Years Active	2010–present
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (’14)
Known For	The Irrational, Widows, The Wolf and the Lion, Wild Eyed and Wicked
Website	https://www.instagram.com/molly.kunz

Molly Kunz is an American film and television actress best known for playing **Phoebe** on the NBC crime drama The Irrational and for starring roles in the studio feature Widows (2018) and the Franco-Canadian adventure drama The Wolf and the Lion (2021/2022). She headlined the indie fantasy-horror feature Wild Eyed and Wicked (2024) as Lily Pierce, a modern-day “knight” who confronts inherited trauma and a literal monster, a role that required extensive broadsword and armor work.

Kunz grew up in Wisconsin and trained broadly in the performing arts—choir, show choir, piano, and dance—before earning a UW–Madison degree and relocating to Los Angeles to pursue screen work.

Early life and education

A Wisconsin native, Molly Kunz has described a childhood “full of music,” encompassing choir, show choir, piano, ballet, tap, and jazz—early experiences that later informed roles requiring on-camera musicianship. She has publicly celebrated her ties to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, which profiled her work on The Wolf and the Lion in its alumni channels; UW-Madison notes list Kunz as a member of the Class of 2014. In a 2022 interview, Kunz said she had moved to Los Angeles for her career after growing up “on the lakes” in Wisconsin, underscoring the Midwestern roots that shape her personal identity and on-screen authenticity.

Career

Early screen work

Kunz began appearing on screen around 2010 with roles in shorts and indies such as The Penny and Something Better Somewhere Else, followed by Stephen Cone’s acclaimed drama The Wise Kids (2011). She then played **Amy March** in the contemporary TV film re-imagining The March Sisters at Christmas (2012). Early television credits include appearances on Battleground, Finding Carter, Colony, Swedish Dicks, and Doubt, building a résumé across drama and dramedy.

Breakthrough in Widows (2018)

Kunz appeared in Steve McQueen’s ensemble heist drama Widows (2018), portrayed as **Siobhan**, an aide to Chicago power broker Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell). Critics singled out the car-argument scene between Mulligan and Siobhan as emblematic of McQueen’s formal daring and the movie’s political bite.

The Wolf and the Lion (2021/2022)

Kunz’s first top-line feature role came with The Wolf and the Lion, a Franco-Canadian family adventure from director Gilles de Maistre. She plays **Alma**, a young pianist who returns to her late grandfather’s island cabin and becomes caretaker to a wolf pup and lion cub who grow up together. Filmed over two years to accommodate its animal leads, the production relied on real wolves and lions, with Kunz spending months in Québec and training with renowned animal specialist Andrew Simpson to build a genuine relationship with the animals. The film premiered at the Zurich Film Festival and later saw a U.S. release via Blue Fox Entertainment; UW–Madison’s alumni magazine spotlighted Kunz’s star turn and the film’s unusual production.

Series regular on NBC’s The Irrational (2023–2025)

In 2023, Kunz joined NBC’s procedural drama The Irrational as **Phoebe**, a conscientious graduate student and research assistant who works alongside behavioral-science professor Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin). Across two seasons, Phoebe’s arc expanded beyond the lab, including a season-two storyline about academic ethics and whistleblowing that Kunz discussed in multiple interviews. The show aired on NBC and Peacock from September 2023 through March 2025; its cancellation after two seasons was widely reported in trade and TV-production outlets.

Lead role in Wild Eyed and Wicked (2024)

Kunz stars as **Lily Pierce** in writer-director Gordon Shoemaker Foxwood’s genre-bending indie Wild Eyed and Wicked (Gravitas Ventures), released in 2024 (often listed with a 2023 festival year). Reviews and interviews emphasize Kunz’s physically demanding preparation—broadsword practice, fencing sessions, and training in armor—to portray a protagonist who literally “puts on armor” to confront her demons. Several outlets noted the film’s mental-health themes and Kunz’s performance anchoring an ultra-low-budget production.

Television guest roles and recurring appearances

Beyond her series-regular work, Kunz has appeared on network and cable series including Chicago Fire (as **Sara McBride**), The Resident, Finding Carter, Colony, Swedish Dicks, and Doubt. A franchise wiki entry for Chicago Fire also documents Kunz’s character and episode appearance.

Craft and screen persona

Molly Kunz’s work often marries approachable, grounded naturalism with physical and musical talents developed from a multidisciplinary childhood in the performing arts. In The Wolf and the Lion, she performed much of the on-screen piano herself, aligning Alma’s love of music with real-life musicianship; her interview recollections describe the production’s two-year timeline and close, trust-centric rapport with the film’s animal stars. In Wild Eyed and Wicked, Kunz modernizes the archetypal hero’s journey, mapping literal sword-and-shield imagery onto an interior story of grief, recovery, and self-possession—a performance she prepared for through fencing lessons, broadsword training, and time in plate armor. As **Phoebe** on The Irrational, Kunz embodies an ethically serious academic whose curiosity, loyalty, and courage deepen across cases; season-two press materials focused on the character’s whistleblower storyline and her evolving mentorship dynamics.

Public image and outreach

Kunz maintains an active presence on Instagram, where she highlights set life, advocacy for humane animal handling, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from The Irrational and her films. Her bio playfully reads, “Mother of wolves. Yes, literally,” a wink to her time with animal co-stars in The Wolf and the Lion. She has also amplified her alma mater’s coverage of her work, sharing UW–Madison alumni features on social media.

Filmography

30em

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	The Penny	Kate Carter	Short; early screen credit
2010	Something Better Somewhere Else	Lauren	Feature/anthology
2011	The Wise Kids	Brea	Feature; critical acclaim for ensemble
2012	The March Sisters at Christmas	Amy March	TV film (Lifetime/UPtv); contemporary Little Women retelling
2018	Widows	Siobhan	Feature; dir. Steve McQueen
2021/2022	The Wolf and the Lion	Alma	Feature; filmed in Québec; U.S. release Feb. 4, 2022
2024	Wild Eyed and Wicked	Lily Pierce	Feature; Gravitas Ventures release

30em

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2012	Battleground	(guest)	TV appearance (Hulu/Mockumentary)
2014–2015	Finding Carter	(guest)	TV appearance
2016–2017	Colony	(guest)	TV appearance
2016	Swedish Dicks	(guest)	TV appearance
2017	Doubt	(guest)	TV appearance
2018	Chicago Fire	Sara McBride	Guest role
2021	The Resident	(guest)	TV appearance
2023–2025	The Irrational	Phoebe	Series regular (2 seasons, NBC/Peacock)

Notable scenes and reception

• In Widows, reviewers highlighted the tense in-car confrontation where **Siobhan** (Kunz) pressures Jack Mulligan to “man up,” a moment cited as emblematic of Steve McQueen’s incisive political staging.
• The Wolf and the Lion drew attention for using real animals and for Kunz’s on-screen musicianship—she performed much of the piano playing seen in the film.
• Wild Eyed and Wicked earned praise in niche-genre outlets for Kunz’s physically rigorous lead performance and the film’s metaphorical treatment of trauma and recovery.

Personal life

Kunz keeps much of her personal life private. Interviews place her professional base in Los Angeles while affirming her Wisconsin upbringing. On Instagram, she jokingly calls herself “Mother of wolves”—a nod to her extended work with animal co-stars in The Wolf and the Lion.

See also

• The Irrational
• Widows (2018 film)
• The Wolf and the Lion
• Wild Eyed and Wicked

External links

• Molly Kunz at IMDb
• Molly Kunz at Rotten Tomatoes
• Molly Kunz at TV Guide
• Coverage at NBC Insider