The Walking Dead’s Emily Kinney Reveals Nixed Plan for Beth in Season 5



Longtime fans of The Walking Dead will certainly remember Emily Kinney as Beth Greene, the younger sister to Lauren Cohan’s Maggie and daughter of Scott Wilson’s Hershel. Originally introduced in season 2, Beth lasted a few seasons before she met her sudden end in the midseason 5 finale. Her demise came after several episodes’ worth of storylines where Beth had been held prisoner at a hospital by former police officers.

Per ComicBook.com, Kinney spoke about her final season on the show at Fandemic’s “Fallen Heroes” panel. She revealed how then-showrunner Scott Gimple asked her to shave parts of her head for her return in season 5 after having gone missing the prior season. At the time, Kinney was not aware her character was set to die that season, but still knowing that it was a possibility, she found it best to decline that request to give herself that particular hairystyle.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

“Scott Gimple talked to me one day about — I don’t know if you guys remember, but [Beth] had a big scar, when I show up in the hospital, something bad happened to [Beth] and I had a big scar. He had this idea of the scar being on my head and my head being shaved, all messed up — not completely shaved, but all messed up. I said, ‘Okay, sure, as the dedicated actress, I would love that. However, if you’re thinking we might kill her off soon, please, no, because I would like to get another acting job after this’ [laughs].”

Kinney says she made it clear that she was totally willing to shave her head, or parts of it as the case might be, just as long as her character would be sticking around long enough for that hair to grow back out. The actress probably knew it was a bad sign when the head-shaving aspect wasn’t in the final script, though she remained hopeful for Beth’s survival.

“Then it wasn’t in the script that I shaved my head. So then I was like, okay, I didn’t necessarily think I was going to die… But I’m glad that we didn’t shave my head.”

Related: Deceased Walking Dead Characters Reunite in Epic Photo

Emily Kinney Has Made Special Appearances Since Beth’s Demise

AMC

Following Beth’s death, Emily Kinney reprised the role when Tyreese (Chad Coleman) was killed in the very next episode, the midseason 5 premiere. While succumbing to a walker bite, Tyreese had envisioned Beth in the car with him, telling him it was okay to let go. Years later, Kinney made another appearance on the show for Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) final episode in season 9. While Rick was in a lucid state, Beth spoke to him and appeared alongside other corpses of people from Rick’s past.

Kinney has also appeared as the Bug-Eyed Bandit in the Arrowverse shows The Flash and Arrow. She has also appeared in other shows like Masters of Sex, Conviction, Ten Days in the Valley and Messiah. The singer and actress also appeared in the 2021 movie The Enormity of Life.

White Men Can’t Jump Cast Reunite for 30th Anniversary at the Oscars

Read Next

About The Author

Jeremy Dick
(5355 Articles Published)

Jeremy Dick has been a writer and editor since 2014. He is a self-professed horror expert, pop culture enthusiast, and Bob Saget fanatic.

More
From Jeremy Dick

You can view the original article HERE.

Release Date, Plot, & Cast
Release Date, Plot, & Cast
The 20 Best Films of 2025 So Far | Features
The 20 Best Films of 2025 So Far | Features
Release Date, Plot, Cast, & Everything Else We Know
Release Date, Plot, Cast, & Everything Else We Know
This Is Mackey to Me
This Is Mackey to Me
Al Pacino is the first movie star to have an audience with Pope Leo XIV
Al Pacino is the first movie star to have an audience with Pope Leo XIV
Isle Of Wight Festival 2025: Here’s the weather forecast
Isle Of Wight Festival 2025: Here’s the weather forecast
“I’m not gonna hang my ass off an airplane”
“I’m not gonna hang my ass off an airplane”
Kate Bush announces release of self-directed animated short film ‘Little Shrew’
Kate Bush announces release of self-directed animated short film ‘Little Shrew’
‘Die Hard’ Fans Need To Stream Daisy Ridley’s ‘Cleaner’ on HBO Max
‘Die Hard’ Fans Need To Stream Daisy Ridley’s ‘Cleaner’ on HBO Max
Jason Statham’s New Action Thriller Declared “A Classic” by Co-star Naomi Ackie
Jason Statham’s New Action Thriller Declared “A Classic” by Co-star Naomi Ackie
Denzel Washington’s Best Action Film Deserves a Sequel
Denzel Washington’s Best Action Film Deserves a Sequel
Bruce Willis’ Daughter Shares Update on Her Dad’s Dementia Battle
Bruce Willis’ Daughter Shares Update on Her Dad’s Dementia Battle
Jalen Williams scores 40, Thunder take Game 5 of Finals over Pacers
Jalen Williams scores 40, Thunder take Game 5 of Finals over Pacers
49ers’ Kittle advocates for TEs to get raises: ‘I want guys to get paid’
49ers’ Kittle advocates for TEs to get raises: ‘I want guys to get paid’
Red Sox trade Devers to Giants in 5-player blockbuster
Red Sox trade Devers to Giants in 5-player blockbuster
Cathedrals of the Game: Top 5 Soccer Stadium Picks
Cathedrals of the Game: Top 5 Soccer Stadium Picks
Jonas Brothers Announce More Dates For Their 20th Anniversary Tour
Jonas Brothers Announce More Dates For Their 20th Anniversary Tour
Lil Wayne’s Son Is Confident His Dad Wrote All of Drake’s Best Lyrics
Lil Wayne’s Son Is Confident His Dad Wrote All of Drake’s Best Lyrics
Robert Patrick Shares Father’s Day Hike And Gets Flooded With T-1000 Jokes
Robert Patrick Shares Father’s Day Hike And Gets Flooded With T-1000 Jokes
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon Look Stunning at ‘F1’ Movie Premiere
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon Look Stunning at ‘F1’ Movie Premiere
Best Comfortable Wedding Shoes for Brides, Tested by Editors
Best Comfortable Wedding Shoes for Brides, Tested by Editors
The Quiet Architect Behind New York’s Tastemaking Tables: Myriam Harrouche’s Impact on the City’s Culinary Scene
The Quiet Architect Behind New York’s Tastemaking Tables: Myriam Harrouche’s Impact on the City’s Culinary Scene
Leonard A. Lauder Dies At 92, W Magazine’s Starry TV Portfolio!
Leonard A. Lauder Dies At 92, W Magazine’s Starry TV Portfolio!
From Model to Mother to Founder: How Sol Ji Built elune mode with Purpose and Perseverance

From Model to Mother to Founder: How Sol Ji Built elune mode with Purpose and Perseverance

What Makes Life in Big Orange Guitar by Brickwall Jackson
What Makes Life in Big Orange Guitar by Brickwall Jackson