Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Everything, everything about a romantic new movie
ALYSSIA BIRJALAL
IMAGINE not being able to breath the very air that keeps us alive, or feel the sun on your face, or being confined to a made-up space conducive to survival only.
Such is the life of Maddy, an 18- year- old, smart, curious and imaginative young women in the movie Everything, Everything.
Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Nicola Yoon, Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) has an illness and cannot leave the protection of the hermetically sealed environment within her house.
Directed by Stella Meghie, Everything, Everything, will be released nationwide on June 23.
It tells the unlikely love story of Maddy and her new neighbour, Olly (Nick Robinson).
The two young people separated by personal and family challenges find each other against all odds and risk everything for love.
Also starring are Mexican actress Ana de la Reguera, as Maddy’s nurse and closest friend Carla and Anika Noni Rose as Maddy’s loving but overprotective mother.
We spoke to De la Reguera about her character in the film and what movie-goers can look forward to. Why did you want to be a part Everything, Everything? The novel was wonderful and deservedly embraced by young people everywhere and it’s from an of interesting author.
I also love that it is a movie about all these different characters, including my character, Carla, who impact the life of this wonderful young woman, Maddy. Maddy and Carla, a nurse treating Maddy at home, become close. So I was very excited to portray Carla. Carla is Maddy’s nurse, but they’re also friends. How was that to play?
Carla has known Maddy most of her life – they grew up together. Carla is Maddy’s confidante and they joke a lot together.
I really wanted to make Carla less serious and bring more light and fun to her. She loves making Maddy laugh. What was the biggest chal- lenge in playing the role?
I wanted Carla to be relatable, and make sure the audience understands the friendship between her and Maddy. But I was careful not to make it look silly, and I really hope people enjoy Carla. What was it like acting oppos- ite the two actors with whom you worked most closely – Amandla and Anika Noni Rose, who plays Maddy’s mother, Pauline?
It was great. Amandla is a supersmart young woman who carries so much of the film on her shoulders. She was always prepared and professional. Anika and I became really good friends during production, and we still get together and have lunch. She’s very positive and has a strong personality, but with a very light sense, which I love. So we really connected, too. Looking back on the experi- ence of making the film, was there anything that was particu- larly challenging or fun to play?
It was exciting to play a scene where Carla arranges for Maddy to meet Olly. I knew that was the moment in the movie that everyone is going to be waiting for.
What do you hope audiences experience when they see Everything, Everything in the cinema?
I think audiences are going to fall in love with Maddy and Olly. They really have a special chemistry and they’re beautiful together.
I think that’s what you want in love – to find someone who you connect with. With just one look, something special happens. Everyone will relate to that because everyone has had a moment like that, or if they haven’t, they want to.
Everything, Everything is a beautiful love story about two people who’ll do anything for love. And who doesn’t love that?