Lola Tung Reveals Explosive Details on 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', New Horror Projects, and Her Meteoric Rise

In the inaugural episode of Variety's 'Up Next' podcast, Lola Tung, the actress who rose to fame as Isabel “Belly” Conklin in Prime Video’s 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', shared details about the upcoming film based on the hit series and her new horror projects. The actress, who has not yet seen the script for the film continuation, assures that conversations with showrunner Jenny Han are already underway. Tung expressed her enthusiasm for reading the script and shared her vision for the future of Belly and Conrad Fisher, imagining them in a long-distance relationship, with Belly in Paris and Conrad practicing medicine.

Tung, who has played Belly since she was 18, also addressed the debate between fans about Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah, revealing that she has her own preference based on the books, but prefers that Han reveal her true feelings at the appropriate time. The actress emphasized the impact the series has had on her life, stating that it gave her a career.

Beyond 'TSITP', Tung is generating excitement for her new horror projects. 'Forbidden Fruits', a witchy thriller co-starring Lili Reinhart and produced by Diablo Cody, is already being compared to 'Jennifer's Body' and 'The Craft' for its female-driven narrative. Tung praised director Meredith Alloway's creative vision, recalling a three-hour conversation about the complex dynamics of female friendships and the frustration and anger that comes with being a woman.

Additionally, she will participate in 'The Young People', a horror project directed by Osgood Perkins, director and writer of 'Longlegs', alongside Nicole Kidman, Nico Parker, and Tatiana Maslany. Tung described the experience as 'crazy, weird, and awesome', admitting that she got a little scared on set several times.

Tung also addresses the challenge of finding authentic moments amid the noise of sudden fame, recalling her encounter with Hudson Williams at the Gold House Lunar New Year party in February, where they were seen dancing. The actress highlighted the instant connection she felt with Williams, both young actors navigating the industry. During the interview, Tung revealed that she sent in her audition for 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' during her freshman year at Carnegie Mellon University, where she was studying drama; the audition was recorded in her college apartment and she received a call days later. She never returned to school to finish her studies.

Tung also shared that she continues to take voice lessons and has considered taking dance classes with friends, in addition to having made her Broadway debut in 'Hadestown', without ruling out a return to musical theater.

Tung recounted how she sent her audition for 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' during her freshman year at Carnegie Mellon University, where she was studying drama. The audition was recorded in her college apartment and she received a call days later. This event marked a turning point in her life, as she decided to prioritize her acting career over completing her university studies. Despite not having finished university, Tung expresses her desire to take classes again in the future, showing her commitment to her professional development.

In addition, Tung has expressed her interest in continuing to take voice lessons and is considering the possibility of taking dance classes with friends, demonstrating her desire to continue expanding her artistic skills.

The actress emphasized that the series changed her life significantly, providing her with a career. Before 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', Tung was a drama student at Carnegie Mellon University. After getting the role of Belly, her life took a radical turn, which led her to prioritize her acting career and temporarily abandon her university studies. This change of life not only opened doors for her in the entertainment industry, but also allowed her to explore new opportunities and experiences. The series gave her the platform to demonstrate her talent and establish herself as a promising actress.

Tung has expressed her gratitude for the opportunity that 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' gave her and recognizes the positive impact it has had on her personal and professional life.