Did either of you feel any added pressure knowing that there is a fanbase around the book already?
Chung: I don’t think I felt it when we were shooting, because this is just one version of what the story is. Every reader is going to picture it differently, and you want them to be happy with the result that we’re presenting, but it wasn’t until after [that] I’d be like, “Rachel, what do you think? Are the readers going to like it?” But at the time, we were making our version and having a wonderful time doing it.
Blanchard: Also, seeing the young cast, especially Lola [Tung] bring Belly alive, I could stare at Lola all day and watch her do her thing, and that gave me so much confidence. I was like, “She is Belly.” She’s an incredible actress, and you could see the world that Jenny [Han] had been creating jump from the page in large part because of the younger cast.
This was Lola Tung’s television debut as Belly. Was there any advice that you guys gave her going into it?
Chung: Rachel and I both were like, “If you ever have any questions or if there’s ever anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. And if you don’t feel comfortable, you can always ask us. We’ll always be here for you.” But she doesn’t need advice. [laughs]
Blanchard: Yeah, no. She doesn’t.
Chung: She instinctively knows what to do. She’s so present. She’s such an incredible actor, and she’s so composed and sure of herself, and she didn’t need any advice from us.
Blanchard: She seems to have a really good sense of self, which isn’t always the case with actors, especially at that age. That doesn’t apply to her. She’s so composed and really knows who she is, so she was ready.
Post source: The List
