The only date you need this Valentıne’s Day
The To All The Boys I Loved Before sequel hits Netflix this month. And while our Noah Centineo obsession rages on, it’s nothing compared to our Lana Condor crush…
eighteen months ago, Netflix dropped what could have been “just another teen romcom”. But by the end of 2018, To All The Boys I Loved Before had become one of the most re-watched original films of the year on the streaming service and is now one of its mostviewed original films ever. Star Lana Condor became an overnight sensation – as did her Instagram, which jumped from 100,000 followers to 7.7 million in a blink.
Relationship goals
Fans (read: we) went especially wild for the on-screen chemistry between Condor and love interest Noah Centineo’s characters. But if you think Lara Jean Covey and Peter Kavinsky’s relationship was goals, prepare to be floored by Condor’s IRL boyfriend, actor Anthony De La Torre. They locked eyes across a crowded bar at Condor’s first-ever showbiz party in Beverly Hills in 2015 and have been inseparable since.
“He writes me love letters all the time,” says Condor, who now lives with De La Torre in California. “He’s the freaking best. He’ll leave me little messages taped to my bathroom mirror on days I have to wake up early for work. He once picked up my favourite take-out food after work and served it up properly on our kitchen table, with little sticky notes attached to each plate saying how proud of me he is.
“He does flowers and cute things, like every day he’ll fold my PJs and put them under my pillow. Although, I just asked him, ‘Baby, what’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for me?’ and he said, ‘Be there for you emotionally and physically, because romance is a lifestyle, not an act.’ So, there you go!”
Work hard, play hard
While Condor says the TATBILB sequel is more introspective, dealing with growing up, failed friendships and heartbreak, the cast still found plenty of time to goof around on set. “We spent a day playing hide and seek, hiding all around the school in between takes. We got pretty creative. Noah hid under coats, but he’s a pretty big dude so he’s easy to find! I hid under four crew members and nobody could find me. Noah was ‘it’ and he was so genuinely confused about how I could have vanished.”
Keeping it real
When she’s not filming, it’s easy to imagine Condor schmoozing celebrities and hitting up glamorous Hollywood parties. But think again… When it comes to the person she’s been most starstruck by since becoming the reigning Queen of Netflix, she excitedly answers Tina Tchen, president and CEO of Time’s Up. “She is truly the most inspirational woman I’ve ever met in my life.” That is, alongside Michelle Obama, who Condor has spent much of her downtime working with, helping to empower young women through the former First Lady’s educational programme.
So when she’s not breaking Netflix records or doing charity work with two icons, how does Condor unwind? “I am a HUGE binge-watcher! I absolutely love New Girl, The Office and Parks And Recreation. I’ve seen all three shows probably five times.”
“He writes me love letters all the time”