Kaitlin Olson is known for her hilarious portrayal of Dee Reynolds, aka Sweet Dee, in the long-running sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. But recently, she’s been taking on a new challenge in the ABC and Disney+ series High Potential, where she plays a brilliant police consultant named Morgan. In a recent interview, Olson shared the differences between these two vastly different characters and how they challenge her as an actor.

The Dee Reynolds We Know and Love

Kaitlin Olson’s journey with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia began back in 2005, and for nearly two decades, she’s been playing Dee, the sharp-tongued, often misunderstood member of the infamous gang. Over the years, Olson has become so familiar with her character that she admits she doesn’t need to prepare much for Dee.

She told UNILAD, “I don’t need to really work on Sweet Dee at all.” This level of ease is a result of her long experience on the show. In fact, Olson explained that she doesn’t even look at the scenes until the morning of filming. A big part of the show’s charm comes from its improvisational style, so much of Dee’s performance is natural and spontaneous. With It’s Always Sunny, Olson is comfortable in her role, and it feels second nature to her.

The Brainy Challenge of Playing Morgan

On the flip side, Olson’s new role in High Potential requires a different kind of preparation. In this series, she plays Morgan, a cleaner-turned-police consultant with an impressive IQ of 160. Morgan’s high intelligence means she often spots things others don’t, making her an invaluable asset to the detectives she works with. But with this complex character comes a new level of challenge for Olson.

Unlike Dee, who requires little to no Kaitlin preparation, Olson finds herself dedicating a lot of time to getting Morgan just right. She shared, “I do have to prepare a lot for this show,” especially when it comes to memorizing complicated lines that involve complex concepts.

The High Stakes of Playing a Genius

Playing someone with such high intelligence is a challenge in itself, and Olson confessed that she often worries about getting the facts wrong. Morgan’s character delivers a lot of technical information, and Olson wants to make sure she gets it right. She admitted to double-checking facts with the writers, saying, “I don’t envy them. This has got to be such a challenging show to write, because you don’t want the police to look stupid or like they’re not perfectly capable of doing their job.”

Olson also Kaitlin pointed out that memorizing the technical dialogue can be difficult, especially when it’s something she doesn’t fully understand herself. In one scene, when Morgan gets excited about explaining a case, she speaks quickly, which means Olson has no room for improvisation. This can make the scenes tough to master, but Olson enjoys the challenge.

High Potential Captivates Audiences

Despite the challenges, Olson’s performance as Morgan has earned rave reviews from viewers. High Potential premiered on Disney+ in the UK on January 23, and fans were hooked right away. One viewer even tweeted, “Just started High Potential on Disney and I’m so angry they’re releasing it weekly, ‘cause I could binge this so easily. @kaitlinolson is a delight in everything she touches.”

The good news is that High Potential has already been renewed for a Kaitlin second season, so fans will get to see more of Morgan’s background and family life in future episodes. Olson is excited about the direction the show is heading, and it’s clear that her commitment to her role is paying off.

Conclusion

Kaitlin Olson’s transition from playing the quirky Dee in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to the intelligent Morgan in High Potential shows her range as an actress. While Dee comes easily to Olson, Morgan presents new challenges that keep her on her toes. Whether she’s improvising with her co-stars or delivering fast-paced technical dialogue, Olson proves that she’s always up for a challenge. Fans can look forward to more of her captivating performances in the future.