Lola Tung, the breakout star of Amazon Prime's hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty, has opened up about the surprisingly awkward reality of filming romantic scenes with her on-screen cousin, Gavin Casalegno.
In a candid interview, the 21-year-old actress admitted that their close off-screen bond made certain scenes far more uncomfortable than fans might expect. "We grew up together in the show, so filming those moments felt... strange," Tung revealed.
Behind the Scenes of Cousins Beach
The coming-of-age drama, based on Jenny Han's bestselling novels, follows Belly Conklin's (Tung) summer romance with two brothers at the fictional Cousins Beach. What viewers don't see is how the cast navigated the unique challenges of their characters' intertwined relationships.
- Tung and Casalegno had instant chemistry as friends but struggled with romantic scenes
- The cast developed "family dinners" to build authentic connections
- Directors used creative camera angles during intimate moments
From Awkward to Authentic
"At first, we'd just burst out laughing," Tung confessed about filming with Casalegno, who plays her character's love interest Jeremiah. "There's this one scene where we're supposed to be having this intense moment, and I accidentally elbowed him in the ribs."
The young actors eventually found their rhythm by focusing on their characters' emotional journey rather than the physical aspects. This approach helped create the authentic, heartfelt performances that have made the show a global phenomenon.
What's Next for the Cast?
With season three in production, fans can expect more dramatic developments at Cousins Beach. Tung hints at "big changes and tough choices" for Belly as the love triangle intensifies.
The success of The Summer I Turned Pretty has catapulted its young cast to stardom, proving that sometimes the most challenging scenes lead to the most compelling television.
