Lola Tung

Lola Tung

on her debut role in “The Summer I Turned Pretty”

I grew up spending my summers on the North Carolina coast, and as much as I wish I could debunk the seemingly-overdramatized throughline of the stories set there — those summers are just as magical as they’re made out to be in the movies. Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is set in the fictional Cousins Beach, and this story so perfectly captures everything I loved about those summers spent at the beach growing up: romance, heartache, and friendship. This adaptation will make you remember what it felt like to be 15. You will fall in love with and root for every character. Lola Tung is Belly Conklin — I can’t imagine the character coming to life off the page as anyone else. And wow, don’t even get me started on the show’s soundtrack. Thank you to Lola and her team for coordinating this feature, and thank you to Jenny Han for writing the book that yielded the show of the summer. Read on to learn more about Lola: she shares her playlist for Belly, talks filming the last episode and what it was like on set, and reveals if she’s Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. ◇ 2022

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Cariann Bradley: I've been so excited to talk to you about this show. Me and my friend Madeline, who's also the creative director and designer of our sites, we watched it all. Binged it all in one night, obsessed! We are big fans. I have so many questions.

Lola Tung: [Laughs] Yes, please! I'm so excited.

Cariann: Maybe you can just tell me — how'd you end up with this role and how did it start for you?

Lola: It's funny, actually. I was in my first year of college at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. My now-manager had just reached out to me for the first time because she had seen me in my virtual high school showcase a couple of months earlier, and she had this audition for Belly. She was like, I think this would be really great for you, and I think you should totally audition for it. I was like, great. I'd love to, but I'm really focused on school right now. That's my main priority. I filmed the tapes in my apartment in Pittsburgh with my roommates and I submitted them. I heard back in a few days that they had wanted me to test for the role, which was incredibly exciting and a little scary too, because it was like, oh wow, wait a second. This is something that might happen now.

Then, for a couple of weeks, I did Zoom callbacks and chemistry reads and everything entirely online, which was so wild. I mean, that's all I've ever known, which is crazy too, I guess — virtual auditions. Then they Zoomed with me one day, it was Jenny Han and Jesse, one of the directors, and some of, I think the casting directors and producers. They told me over Zoom that I had gotten the part, and I was… shocked and excited and overwhelmed with emotions! I called my mom crying afterwards and was like, I got it! And we cried together. [Laughs]

Cariann: That is so cool.

Lola: It was really, really, wild and amazing, and I'm very grateful for it.

Cariann: Are you still in school or have you taken a break from school?

Lola: I took my sophomore year off. I took a little break for filming.

Cariann: Well, I'm glad that you did because I can't picture anyone else as Belly. [Laughs]

Lola: Thank you!

Cariann: How did you get into the role of Belly? How are y'all different? What did you relate to in the character of her?

Lola: She's a few years younger than me, so we're pretty close in age, and I remember very clearly being 16 and feeling all of the things that she's feeling. I still do feel some of the things that she's feeling — like exploring this newfound sense of independence, really discovering the person that you want to be, and creating your own path, and figuring out the dynamic. Belly and her mother, I guess, as she starts to become more independent and more of her own person, she's figuring out that she's not always going to agree with everything that her mother thinks. I think she's a really emotionally driven person too, and a heart-driven person — and she cares so much about the people in her life and her family members and about making them proud. I think I can relate to that too, a little bit. [Laughs] And I did some journaling and I think music was really a big factor of getting into character and prepping for scenes.

Cariann: What did you listen to?

Lola: So much different stuff! I have a little Belly playlist. There was some like Olivia Rodrigo for sure. Very helpful in crafting the relationships with the boys, especially. Taylor Swift, which is obvious. [Laughs] And then I love Japanese Breakfast. I have a couple of their songs on there, and Lizzy McAlpine has been a big one for me.

Cariann: Oh my god. I love her.

“It's this really magical unforgettable summer and then unforgettable first love. This love that's so strong that nothing else compares to it for her, you know? It was really, really beautiful and special and just dreamy and so much fun.”

Lola: Ah! She is so good! I got to see her in concert, actually, which was amazing. She's an unbelievable performer. I think there's some Jazmine Sullivan on [the playlist] too.

Cariann: Alright! That's a solid playlist. I think “Doomsday” by Lizzy McAlpine is the best song that came out last year. Hands down, number one. 

Lola: She's such an incredible musician and lyricist and singer, everything. Everything!

Cariann: So good. I loved that Lizzy McAlpine is on Belly's playlist.

Lola: Yes! She’s the best.

Cariann: Well, first let me say, I think it's really special how different this adaptation has been “To All the Boys I've Loved Before.” I feel like we really got to unpack some of the other characters and develop them more. Oh my god, I just feel like I rooted for and fell in love with every character. Belly's mom, I just fell in love with. I grew up with a single mother who is just the most badass, hardworking mom ever, and I was a little bit of an asshole as a teenager, so she's a saint for putting up with me. But just that beautiful relationship of… like when Belly's mom buys her the dress that she saw Belly love. Belly went with the other one because she knew that it would make Susannah happy. Moments like that are so special. The writing is just so beautiful.

Lola: Jackie, who plays my mom, is incredible and so wonderful — a wonderful human being. I'm very glad that I got to work with her and just explore that sort of mother-daughter relationship with her because she's awesome.

Cariann: I love shows that take on a lot of newer talent. I mean — I don't know much about acting further than talking to people like you, but it just seems like everyone was so good. As we were watching, even the last episode and there's a lot of emotion and crying, we were like, everyone is so good. Like… why is everyone so good at crying? I don't know. It was phenomenal. What was the experience like working with everyone and getting, I'm assuming, moved there for a couple of months to film. What was that like?

Lola: Honestly, it was one of the best experiences and the entire cast was so wonderful and so lovely; we all bonded very quickly. We were there for about three and a half months, I think. A couple of us went down to Wilmington a couple of weeks early to, I guess, begin to create that family bond that we're supposed to have. We really hadn't met each other in real life because everything was over Zoom! I'm so grateful for those couple of weeks because we just got to hang out and have fun together. I think we all instantly clicked and it made filming so much more fun, easy, and special because I think there is so much real love that we had for each other that I hope — I hope — comes across in the show. [Laughs]

Cariann: It does! At least for me. Madeline, our creative director, was sitting there in the last episode, when “Funeral” by Phoebe Bridgers is playing and we are just both crying, and I look over at her, and she's like, I just believe that they're a real family. I think that they're real. [Laughs]

Lola: [Laughs] Thank you! That really means a lot. Jackie and Sean are unbelievable. I love them both so much and filming those more emotional, more difficult scenes. It always makes it easier to have people that you're comfortable with and that will support you and that you feel safe with. That's how I felt doing those scenes. It was really nice.

Cariann: Was Jenny Han very involved in the making?

Lola: Yeah. She was super involved! She's so awesome because she was one of the showrunners and one of the writers on the show too. She was there practically every day and she is just the best. She was always there for us and if we had any questions about the characters — she was also just there for us as people, outside of the acting portion of it, because it can be a lot to work very long hours, try to take care of yourself, and make sure you're doing everything you can to have the energy to work those hours. I didn't want to let anybody down and she was so supportive and very helpful in calming me down and just being there for me! It was really, really great. It really felt like she was bringing the world to life in the way that she wanted to, which made me so happy, you know?

Cariann: I always feel like that's so special. I was a writing major in college, so I did a little bit of writing. I don't really write much anymore, but stuff like Harry Potter, for example — I was never a huge Harry Potter fan, but when they built Harry Potter World at Universal  — and I know JK Rowling is problematic now — but at the time I was like, that must be the best feeling, to have her world created in real life. That's probably so special as a writer to have something come together so perfectly. It's your baby, and it's coming to life, and you're getting to watch that happen. I bet that's absolutely beautiful to watch.

Lola: Yeah. I was so excited to be able to, I don't know, bring the character to life and see her bring it all to life. It was so magical. [Laughs]

Cariann: What was your favorite scene to film? I'm curious.

Lola: Oh gosh! There were so many, really. Every scene was fun to film! I think there were a lot of scenes in the last two episodes that I loved filming because they were bigger scenes where we got to just have fun. The Deb Ball was so much fun to film and so magical. There were so many moving pieces, so many people there, and it was the last week of filming! I loved seeing it all come together and getting to wear this magical dress. I felt so lucky because not only was it Belly's dream dress, it also felt like my kind of dream dress! It was just such an unbelievably magical experience and a great way to finish my first experience on a set and finish filming and everything. That was really, really fun. [Laughs]

Cariann: Yeah, I bet! I didn't even think about that — if you filmed it last, it really was like a final party you built up to. It reminded me so much of my own cotillion—

Lola: Really? Oh, did you do cotillion?

Cariann: ...growing up in North Carolina. Yeah, I did cotillion. My nana just really wanted me to do it. My nana was like, you have to be a southern bell. God rest her soul, but she wanted me to be, like, a tea party girl. I very much was not. But I did the cotillion — it was a full thing. I had to wear a dress, we did a dance, and we had a meal. They had taught us how to use cutlery and the right fork? [Laughs] Anyway, it was interesting. It reminded me a lot of that. I was like, these are just some genuine North Carolina vibes.

Lola: I'm glad it reminded you of that, though! I really didn't know. It was cool learning about debutante balls and stuff like that because I really didn't know that much.

Cariann: I also enjoyed the elements of class that were brought in and explored with Sean’s [Belly’s brother] character. That's a real thing. Being in something like that with a bunch of rich kids… my mom worked really hard to put me through private school or whatever. That was really interesting and it felt really authentic. I just loved it. 

My favorite scene in the whole show is at the Deb Ball — when Chris Briney's character is going to step in for the dance. Have you ever seen “The Vampire Diaries?”

Lola: I haven't! I've seen an episode or two, but I know everyone's been making comparisons to our show! [Laughs]

Cariann: Yes! There's a dance in that show where the other brother steps in and they do a dance. And I was like, oh my god, it's giving “Vampire Diaries.”  But when the Taylor Swift song started playing, I just fully dissociated from my body. It was the best. I loved it!

Lola: [Laughs] Oh, thank you!

Cariann: [Your PR] is probably like, I'm never going to schedule Cariann to interview anyone else. She is crazy.

Lola: [Laughs] No, that’s the best! I'm so glad that you liked it.

Cariann Bradley: It made me think about my own childhood and being a teenager. I'm 26. I'm about to turn 27. I'm young, but still, that feeling of an unforgettable summer is real and being able to jump back into that, I just think it's really going to resonate with people. That's such a special story to tell.

Lola: Totally.

Cariann: It's so endearing and heartfelt and that really comes through.

Lola: Thank you. No, I mean, it was really cool to be able to jump back into that too. Even though I'm only a couple of years older than her — I'm 19 — I felt old stepping into Belly's shoes because she's 15 or 16. [Laughs] It's this really magical unforgettable summer and then unforgettable first love. This love that's so strong that nothing else compares to it for her, you know? It was really, really beautiful and special and just dreamy and so much fun.

Cariann: I need to know if you are Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?

Lola: You see—

Cariann: You as a person, not you as Belly!

Lola: [Laughs] No. I know. I do get this question a lot and it's very hard for me to answer because… phew, the relationships are both so special! I'm sorry, but I do think I'm Team Belly. I'm for her choosing the person who she truly loves and whatever is best for her. I think both of the boys definitely have their moments to shine in the show and those moments where you do debate what side you’re on which is so wonderful! Chris and Gavin are both so great and so perfect in their roles which made it so easy to work with them. [Laughs]

Cariann: Okay, well, that's a really good answer. I'll allow it! It really is true. 

With the elements of grief that are brought into the show with their mother's character, what was that like to explore with the cast? Did you guys talk about it at all?

Lola: Yeah, a little bit. I think there were certain things that we each explored on our own with that. That, for me, is where journaling really, really came into play and music really came into play. That was really helpful in crafting for those scenes and, again, having that really emotional scene with Jackie and Sean. You know, before filming that scene, I remember we were just sitting in this room, waiting together in silence, but just being together and just being with them was so nice. Having the relationship that I did have with them and having a whole summer of memories and of filming with them — and with everyone really! Because then you start to create these real connections with all these people and have real love for everyone. It makes the scenes easier from an acting standpoint and then harder, also, because they're so emotional. I don't know if that makes any sense! [Laughs]

Cariann: No, it does make sense! And it came across that way. It came across genuine and heartfelt — whether it was Lola or if it was Belly, it felt real.

Lola: Thank you. That moment of holding Jackie and Sean and being able to hug them. Even that made me emotional because this is my summer family, and they're so special to me, and all these people are so special to me.

Cariann: That is so special. I think that, to me, the show brings up a lot of ideas of unconventional family too —it's these two mothers who are best friends and their kids, and the husbands are kind of not in the picture. Laurel's having some new love and it's really dynamic. And it fits! For that summer, that family, unconventional as it is. I suppose that's probably how it was as actors and as friends creating a little family.

Lola: Absolutely. I'm so grateful for Jackie and Rachel too, who played Laurel and Susannah, because they're so wise and wonderful. I had so many moments with them where they were sharing their wisdom with me and it felt like that bond of Belly, Laurel and Susannah. I always loved the scenes that I had with them because I think they're really special.

Cariann: They portrayed those characters phenomenally. Susannah, as a character, reminded me so much of my Aunt Suzanne, ironically, her name is Suzanne. They look a lot alike, they act a lot alike, and it just reminded me of that. To my Aunt Suzanne, I was kind of like the daughter she never had because she had a son. Me and her son are super close as cousins, but there were some things as a child that she really wanted me to do. She's all about pink and glitter, and I'm not really, but I would do it to make her happy because I love her so much. That's such a relatable theme.

Lola: Yeah. I think sometimes Laurel's character reminded me of my mom and it was really cool just to see that brought to life too.

Cariann: Has your family seen the show yet?

Lola: My mom and my sister have seen a little bit, we had seen some of the episodes before they were fully done, my dad hasn't seen any of it, and none of the rest of my family has seen any of it! [Laughs] I'm excited for all of them to see it. A lot of my family, more of my extended family, haven’t really seen me act much! I'm excited for all of them to see this.

Cariann: I just love being able to watch projects that are creating art in such a beautiful way and bringing these sorts of powerful themes of love and grief into people's homes and making them feel something. It's something that the world needs right now! I'm also very grateful that there's Asian representation on TV right now. Did that resonate with you at all? Did you guys talk about that?

Lola: Absolutely. I feel like having the opportunity to do this and just have our family be at the forefront of a story about love and teenagers… and working with an Asian writer and working with an Asian director too! One of our directors, Jeff, was Asian as well. Was just really, really, really wonderful. Then seeing Asian love with Steven and Shayla together too, because you don't always see that, I don't know, that was really cool as well. All of it was really wonderful and really magical — I'm very grateful for it.

Cariann: That's really special. I won't take too much of your time and I know I'm being a fangirl, but I really do appreciate you taking the time to talk to me about it. I think it's going to be the show of the summer. 

And I really do want to say, you were so phenomenal in this role, and I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it! I just wouldn't say anything at all!

Lola: [Laughs]

I just thought you did such an amazing job — it felt so genuine and so real. Whether you go back to school or keep doing this, you have a gift for portraying stories. I think a lot of people are going to feel seen and understood after watching this. I think that viewers and people who love the book are going to feel really proud that you are their Belly. I really do mean that. Thank you so much for your time.

Lola: Thank you. That means the world, seriously. This was the best. I loved being able to just have a conversation about it. Thank you.

photos by Grant Legan  / hair: Corey Tuttle   / makeup: Juliette Perreux  / styling: Andrew Gelwicks