Actress Aja King, seen on Blue Bloods, The Birth of a Nation and more, spills the tea on NBC's Grosse Pointe Garden Society and more
EXCLUSIVE! Actress Aja King Talks NBC’s Grosse Pointe Garden Society: “There’s Nothing Like This on Network TV Right Now”
Published on Apr. 30, 2025
If How to Get Away with Murder was your favorite drama during its six-season run, you’re sure to remember Aja King. The actress played the ambitious overachiever Michaela Pratt, leaving a lasting impression on avid TV watchers across the globe. The 40-year-old star has also been seen on numerous films and TV shows, including The Birth of a Nation, Four, Blue Bloods and her most recent NBC show Grosse Pointe Garden Society—one of my personal favorites so far this year
In the show, King plays Catherine, one of the four members of a local garden club that gets entangled in a scandalous murder. The show is fun and engaging, with all the right amounts of mystery and drama, making it one of the best shows of 2025! With season one still ongoing (with new episodes dropping every Sunday at 10/9c, Reader’s Digest caught up with King to get an inside scoop on her character, plus what fans can expect from the show going forward. King also sheds light on her experience as an actress, the advice she would offer her younger self (and to others), her current partnerships and so much more. And don’t worry, if you haven’t added the show to your watch list yet, there aren’t any spoilers—just pure behind-the-scenes tidbits that’ll make you want to watch it now.
So read on for our exclusive interview with King, because as her character Catherine once said, “Some secrets are too big to keep.”
This video interview took place on April 7, 2025, and has been edited for length and clarity.
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Reader’s Digest: Your character Catherine in Grosse Pointe Garden Society is so complex. I also think she’s incredibly stylish, which I believe you are as well. What drew you to the role, how did you prepare for it and do you feel as if Catherine is relatable to you?
Aja King: Oh yes, especially now that I’m a mom. I see so many things so differently—just understanding the pressure of motherhood, wanting to be perfect at it and wanting to be a “good” mom. [The pressure of wanting to be] the mom that makes sure her kid has this, that and the next thing. I could really relate to a lot of the kind of pressure that Catherine is under. But what I found really interesting about Catherine is that she is also creating a lot of this pressure herself. She is putting forth this image of perfection and wanting to maintain everything that her parents and grandparents have built in this predominantly white, upper–class area of Grosse Pointe. She’s created this gilded cage that she’s existing inside of. It’s become oppressive for her.
What I love about the show is that where we start with Catherine is so drastically different from where we end with her. We watch her unraveling over the course of this first season—really becoming more vulnerable and more true to herself. And I think what I love about all these characters is that they’re kind of in this this moment of tension where they’re trying to figure out how they want to exist in the world. That’s why I really wanted to do this show, because of what I read in the first episode. My first thought was, “This is so much fun.” There’s nothing like this on network TV right now. It’s such an escapist, dark-comedic drama. It has all of these amazing elements to it.
I knew she was going to look fabulous, being a boss and telling everyone what to do. You may start to notice Catherine doesn’t do a lot of the gardening herself. She’s management, she’s making sure everything gets done and then the way we go into her family life, the way we go into he relationship between her and her husband, played by Jocko Sims—what a generous acting partner that blew my mind. Like, if only every relationship could be this healthy and honest, but then we see that there’s still some simmering happening underneath that they have to work through, which is another thing I appreciate. I have so much fun with her. I can’t wait for people to see who is going to come and play on Grosse Pointe with us, and we’ll get to learn more about why Catherine is the way that she is.
Reader’s Digest: There’s a lot of drama and mystery in the show. The characters are so relatable, and this is definitely a show that you can just tap into. What is a moment that you’ll never forget when it comes to working on the show or your journey as an actress so far?
Aja King: Over the course of my career, I just feel so blessed because of the people that I have had the opportunity to work with. I feel like I’ve worked with some of the greatest actors in the world. They have lifted me up and made me believe in myself and just encouraged me and solidified for me that I am on my path and that I deserve to be here. That has happened to me countless times with all of the people I’ve worked with, from Viola Davis and Angela Bassett to Gabrielle Union and my castmates on Grosse Point. Every instance I have had and every person I have worked with, has filled me with so much love and belief in my acting ability and what I brought to this. It’s made me feel like I’m a collaborator, that I belong and that I deserve to be there, and that I am worthy. It means a lot when the community of actors around you believe in your gifts and your talents and want to collaborate with you. It’s the best lesson and the best gift.
I always tell younger actors, “You’re there as a collaborator.” You were there because of the number of people that had to say yes for you to be in that space. You were worthy, you belong and you deserve to be there. It’s so easy to not feel confident in those rooms with people that have been doing it for longer than you have. You have to remember that you are worthy and that you were brought here for a reason.
Reader’s Digest: If your character Catherine could give one piece of advice to viewers, what do you think it would be?
Aja King: Because Catherine works hard and she’s a perfectionist, Catherine would probably be like, “There’s no excuse.” There’s no excuse to not give it everything you have.
Reader’s Digest: One of your partnerships is with L’Oreal Paris for their Stand Up Program, which focuses on ending street harassment. Why is this initiative important for you, both personally and professionally?
Aja King: I think it became really important during the pandemic because street harassment reports about street harassment were just increasing so much. I think there was something about people getting to wear masks and feeling anonymous that made them feel even more bolstered to harass people just trying to live their lives.I have experienced street harassment firsthand, so I know how intimidating and oppressive that can be.  It really affects your day-to-day life in terms of how you choose to like go out into the world for fear of being touched inappropriately by a complete stranger, following you or saying disgusting things to you. They have a 5D methodology training that’s transformative. It’s a really quick and easy 10-minute online training that anyone can do. I love it because it has given me the tools to not only figure out how to to combat street harassment when I have personally faced it, but more importantly, it has given me the training for bystander intervention to be able to stand up and help someone else.
Not too long ago, I remember walking with my sister down the street, and we saw this woman being harassed. She kept telling the man bothering her that she’s meeting her boyfriend. I felt so bad for her, having to repeat this over and over again. He was practically on top of her. It was insane and this was in broad daylight. My sister and I went up to her, and we were like, “We love your jacket. Where did you get that?” She was able to stop and be like, “Oh, I think I got it from … ” He walked off, because the second there were witnesses around, it weakened him in some way.Â
Rapid response with Aja King
Want more fun tidbits about King? Check out her answers below.
Reader’s Digest: Dogs or cats?
Aja King: Dogs.
Reader’s Digest: Mornings or nights?
Aja King:Â Gosh, it used to be nights, but after having a child, mornings.
Reader’s Digest: Aisle seat or window?
Aja King: Aisle seat.
Reader’s Digest: What is your favorite comfort food?
Aja King: Pizza.
Reader’s Digest: Would you rather time travel to the past or future?
Aja King: Future.
Reader’s Digest: If you weren’t an actress, what would you be doing?
Aja King: I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I think I would be a therapist. (Chelsea Handler told us the same!)
Reader’s Digest: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Aja King: I would tell her, “You are so smart and so beautiful just as you are. You don’t have to pretend to be anything else for anyone. You are enough.”
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