Vaughan Murrae
Falling Into Fame: The New Chaos of Malcolm in the Middle
Interview: Emily-Grace
Words by: Anya Duncan
Images by: Justin Anantawan
Vaughan Murrae’s introduction into the entertainment industry is not one you often hear. The actor’s origin story doesn’t follow the typical narrative of relentless auditions and lifelong ambition. Instead, it begins with something far simpler: saying yes.
“I won’t say it was a spur of the moment decision,” they reflect, “but I was like, why don’t I give this a try? It sounds interesting. And I fell in love with it.”
There is something disarmingly honest in that admission. No pretence. No myth making. Instead, Vaughan presents themself as a young performer discovering, almost by accident, the one thing they could not imagine living without. While many in the industry find their way to our screens through years of careful planning, Vaughan’s motivation developed far more organically.
“I think I was always a very dramatic kid,” Murrae admits, laughing. “I just kind of fell into it, and I don’t think I can do anything else now.”
With the revival of Malcolm in the Middle, Murrae is not simply stepping into a role, they are stepping into television history.
As a non-binary artist, Murrae speaks about representation with a clarity that cuts through the noise of industry buzzwords.
“Non-binary people aren’t new,” they say plainly. “But in media, we’re still not where we should be.”
“I really want to strive for a place where non-binary characters can exist in media without needing to be the central point of their character,” they explain. “It can just be a thing.”
This perspective has already been reflected in Vaughan’s career. When Murrae won the Boccalino d’Oro for their performance in Before I Change My Mind, the moment was already surreal. What made it unforgettable, however, was something far greater than the award itself:
“They had changed the name of the award for me… to ‘Best Acting Performance,’” Murrae explains. “That was something that I just did not expect to happen.”
And yet, it did. In that moment, the industry shifted, quietly widening its doors to welcome a broader spectrum of identities.
That philosophy finds a natural home in their newest role. In Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, Murrae plays Kelly, the youngest sibling in television’s most chaotic family. A character once teased in the original series is now fully realised, and Murrae knew exactly what they wanted to bring to the role.
“I wanted it to feel like they were just part of the story without sticking out in any unnatural way,” they say. “Like they’d always been there.”
But do not mistake subtlety for softness.
“There were people worried that Kelly wouldn’t get up to any mischief,” Murrae laughs. “I want to clear the air… they definitely will be.”
The difference lies in how that chaos manifests. Vaughan focused on creating a dynamic that anyone with siblings will instantly recognise: one where the youngest is just far enough removed to avoid blame, yet close enough to enjoy the fallout.
“They might be a bit of a tattletale,” Murrae adds. “But watching their siblings ruin their lives? I think they enjoy that very much.”
Reviving a show as beloved as Malcolm in the Middle comes with enormous expectations, but Murrae believes the magic lies in its balance between past and present.
“It definitely feels like 20 years has passed,” they say. “But at the same time, nothing has changed.” That contradiction is precisely the point.
“The world is changing,” Murrae reflects, “but the people still stay the same.”
On set, that continuity was impossible to ignore. “They slipped back into it so effortlessly,” Murrae says of the original cast. “It was like no time had passed at all.”
For audiences, that familiarity will feel deeply nostalgic. For Murrae, it was something else entirely: an initiation into a family that existed long before they arrived. Through this experience, they embraced the challenge of comedy with a fearless creative energy, helping to shape the kind of unspoken representation they hope will one day become the norm.
For now, Murrae is content embracing the unknown.
“I’m willing to try anything,” they say. “I would love to do action… or something really nerdy like sci-fi.” It is a fitting ambition for someone who never planned any of this to begin with. Because if there is one thing Vaughan Murrae proves, it is that sometimes the most compelling careers are not built. They are discovered.
