In 2018, Condor became famous with the first part of "To All the Boys I Have Loved". After that, she will star and produce a new comedy for Netflix.
But first, after several years of intense work arrangements, she focused on her new life in Seattle with her boyfriend, actor Anthony de la Torre and her dog Amy. As she prepares to bid farewell to the role that has defined her career, Condor discussed what it means to be one of the few Asian American actresses to be the protagonist of a romantic comedy, and why she likes "To All I Have Loved Lara Jean in the third Always and Forever. The following is an edited excerpt of the interview.
At this time last year, you screened the second part of the trilogy "To All the Boys I Have Loved" at the Paris Theater in New York, and it surprised movie fans-this experience is very special under the current COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back, how did you feel?
That was really emotional, and it made me feel just overjoyed. I put too much energy into these movies because I love them and they have changed my life. But looking back, I was in a daze at the time, because I had to shoot movies one after another, and then I had to carry out large-scale publicity activities. I hope I can accept all this and enjoy it.
How did it feel for you to make the last movie in the "To All the Boys I've Loved" series?
I just want to finish it in a way that Laura Jane is super proud of. That’s why I kept telling the director, producer, screenwriter, and everyone with all my heart, let’s take a good show of "The heroine, as a young woman, chooses herself for the first time and stepped into this world."
This is a crazy emotional experience, because the biggest thing in my life in the past few years is to participate in this series. I felt tired after making the first movie. I love these movies, the friends I met in the movies, and the story-I love the color scheme and color scheme of our movies. So knowing that this is the last time I was in the bedroom, the last time I was in school, all these things that I have spent a lot of time on in the past three years are affectionate. I will miss this experience very much.
What is it like filming in Korea?
It was the typhoon season when we went. We were filming the location of a travel scene, so we took it as an ordinary tourist. Someone on the street recognizes us, walks into the camera, and tells us that they like our movie. We told them, "You are in our movie now."
How do you feel about the way Laura Jane’s story ends?
What I am most proud of is that she has never really lost her weird quirks and quirky traits, and she has never lost or changed her personality. When you were in high school, it was hard to be yourself. The Laura Jane we saw in the third part is a grown-up Laura Jane. Her difference is that she has life experience, but she never gave up the things that made her her own.
Do you keep any costumes?
Do I keep any clothes? You should ask, have I stolen the costume, haha. We spent hours making every piece of clothing and making it perfect.
In the third movie, they have a bowling jersey that imitates "Murder Green Toe", which I collected in my collection. I also took a pair of jeans, which are not exciting clothes, but it is really difficult to find a good pair of jeans.
These movies are based on Han Zhenni's book, and she has a cameo in each movie. This is very interesting. How has your relationship with her been in the past few years?
She is like my sister. We always talk for hours on the phone. When we talked for the first time a few years ago, she said, "I just hope you, as our heroine, as a young Asian girl, have the same opportunities as Jennifer Lawrence or Kristen Stewart." At that time we didn't know that it would be made into a trilogy. No one has ever said this to me, especially as an Asian American actress. After hearing what she said, I couldn't help asking myself, is this possible?
Did you consider the issue of representativeness when you made the movie? Is there any additional pressure added?
I read this book before the audition. At that time, I thought, I have to participate in this movie, because this is the story of an Asian American girl falling in love-this is what we need to see.
But when we were making a movie, I became one with the characters. Because in the final analysis, this is the story of a young girl falling in love, and it shows that anyone can fall in love.
We have written to the end what Han Jane wrote for Laura Jane. But do you think we might see this story unfold more, or you might play this role again?
I think, Never say never. For me, this is the end. But I really want to see Laura Jane and Peter in their 20s. Just like they went to college, I want to see how they perform at work. I have a dream, Laura Jane works in a certain field of literature, such as writing and living in New York. Because I personally feel that they will work hard in college, but they must grow up separately to be fully prepared to come together.
But I know the fact that they will get married and live a happy life. I just think it may take some time for them to become themselves. I would love to see them meet again-for example, she wrote an article in the coffee shop where she worked for the newspaper, and he happened to be there... They met again in a new way, and then they both grew better Myself-what a great thing this would be. Well, you have heard the story of the sequel.
Original丨https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/movies/lana-condor-to-all-the-boys.html
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