Mckenna Grace's Transformation Into Maysilee Donner: Everything to Know About Her Hunger Games Role

For Mckenna Grace, stepping into The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is more than another major acting opportunity—it is a dream role in a franchise she has loved for years. Grace portrays Maysilee Donner, a District 12 tribute whose story becomes closely intertwined with young Haymitch Abernathy during the brutal 50th Hunger Games. Further amplifying the narrative stakes, Grace is also playing Maysilee’s twin sister, Merrilee Donner, giving her an opportunity to portray two characters within Suzanne Collins’ dystopian world.

Ahead of production, Grace and the ensemble cast greeted eager fans in New York at the immersive Sunrise on the Reaping Experience, celebrating the next chapter of Panem in front of District 12’s weathered industrial facade.

Who Is Maysilee Donner?

Maysilee Donner stands as one of the most intriguing characters introduced in Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping. As a District 12 tribute selected to compete in the Second Quarter Quell—the 50th Hunger Games, which notoriously required double the usual tribute count—she steps into the Capitol’s arena alongside Haymitch Abernathy.

Although she initially comes across as confident, sharp-tongued, and somewhat intimidating, Maysilee harbors profound complexity beneath her tough exterior. Her uneasy yet deeply committed alliance with Haymitch becomes an essential heartbeat of the story as the two navigate the dangerous terrain, muttations, and ruthless psychological warfare of the Capitol’s arena.

Maysilee also possesses a deeply meaningful connection to the original The Hunger Games book series: she is the original owner of the golden mockingjay pin that eventually becomes Katniss Everdeen’s iconic symbol of revolution. For fans who grew up with the books and films, her narrative provides an emotional, revelatory backstory to one of modern cinema’s most recognizable emblems of resistance.

“The mockingjay pin is not merely an accidental token of revolution; it is an heirloom of survival, inextricably linked to Maysilee Donner’s tragic defiance.”

From Secret Fan Edits to Panem Soundstages

Grace has been a devoted admirer of The Hunger Games long before Hollywood came calling. She first devoured Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novels and watched the original films around the age of eleven, falling headfirst into the lore and fan culture.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Grace candidly shared the extent of her fandom, admitting that she used to make secret Hunger Games video edits on her laptop during her tween years—especially focusing on Peeta Mellark.

When the opportunity to audition for Maysilee arose, Grace was in the middle of shooting Regretting You and was sworn to total secrecy. When the confirmation finally came through that she had landed the coveted role, the emotional weight of the moment was overwhelming: Grace broke down in tears in her trailer with her mother by her side.

Reflecting on the responsibility of stepping into such a cherished role, Grace noted that she wanted audiences to connect with Maysilee on a human level, understanding that her sharp, abrasive exterior serves primarily as a shield against vulnerability.

For the actress, transitioning from creating online fan edits to collaborating directly with the filmmakers bringing Panem to life represents a rare, full-circle milestone.

Method Preparation and Arena Endurance

Grace approached the character with the precision of an investigative researcher. Before cameras rolled, she reread Collins’ novel multiple times, closely monitored fan theories, and studied the discussions surrounding Maysilee’s personality, allegiances, and tactical decisions.

Her dedication was evident from day one. During her very first week on set, Grace arrived at a creative meeting with director Francis Lawrence carrying an annotated copy of the book alongside a notebook packed with scene analyses and character details that dedicated fans would instantly appreciate.

Yet the preparation went far beyond intellectual analysis. The physically demanding production required weeks of rigorous tactical conditioning, agility training, and cardiovascular endurance to survive the film’s intense arena combat and action sequences.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Grace opened up about the emotional and physiological toll of filming in the arena, revealing that continually triggering her nervous system into fight-or-flight mode left her thoroughly drained even after returning home. Despite extensive weeks of athletic prep, she admitted the real-time physical intensity exceeded anything she had anticipated.

The Sartorial Inspiration Behind Maysilee Donner

Maysilee’s on-screen transformation is equally defined by a singular aesthetic identity. In an interview with E! News, Grace revealed that Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks was a central muse on the film’s costume mood boards.

The choice is an inspired stylistic parallel. Stevie Nicks’ signature blend of romantic drapery, bohemian silhouettes, diaphanous layers, and rock-and-roll mystique provides a poetic contrast to District 12’s stark, coal-dusted utilitarianism. Rather than leaning purely into heavy industrial workwear, infusing Maysilee with a bohemian rock sensibility grants her an individualistic, anti-authoritarian aura.

“Infusing Maysilee’s silhouette with the bohemian rock spirit of Stevie Nicks transforms District 12 utility into a poetic statement of defiance.”

Red Carpet Method Dressing: The Almée Couture Masterpiece

That seamless fusion of high fashion and character storytelling extended seamlessly onto the global press tour. Collaborating with stylist Molly Dickson, Grace embraced high-concept method dressing to bring the landscapes and iconography of Panem into the real world.

At the UK fan screening of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping held at Westfield London, Grace commanded the emerald carpet in a museum-worthy gown from Cambodian luxury fashion house Almée Couture. Designed by Sokhong Taing as Look 1 (“Spring Symphony”) from the Le Jardin des Rêves couture collection, the hand-beaded gown featured an intricate landscape bodice depicting rolling pastures, mountain ranges, and a swirling painterly sky reminiscent of Van Gogh, cascading into 3D floral and feather appliqués over a sweeping taupe mermaid train. The visual tableau mirrored the lethal beauty of the Second Quarter Quell arena and the film’s official promotional imagery.

To balance the dress’s breathtaking artisanal intensity, Dickson kept the neckline bare, accessorizing simply with Canary Atlantis drop earrings by Anabela Chan, crafted from recycled aluminium and lab-grown diamonds.

For fashion and film observers alike, Grace’s dual performance as Maysilee and Merrilee Donner promises a captivating new visual vocabulary for Panem. With her deep-seated reverence for the source material, meticulous physical preparation, and an inspired sartorial foundation, Mckenna Grace brings a devoted fan’s heart to one of the most anticipated characters in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.