WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — When Carly Chaikin is wrapped on the set, she picks up a paintbrush.

Ms. Chaikin, 28, is perhaps best known for her breakout role on the USA Network drama “Mr. Robot,” where she’s spent three seasons as Darlene, a ruthless hacker, alongside Rami Malek and Christian Slater. When the cameras aren’t rolling, this actress is more budding painter than black-hat coder.

On a recent morning, Ms. Chaikin dashed through the compound that she shares with her partner, the filmmaker Ryan Bunnell, a home that doubles as her painting studio. Dressed in a white blouse and washed-denim jeans, she was so deep in thought that it seemed she was in character.

“I have really bad ADD,” she said without a hint of irony. “Close those blinds. I can’t have any light.”