‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Star, 22, On Growing Up With Belly and Team Conrad Vs. Team Jeremiah

What’s it like to grow up in a Team Edward and Team Jacob world, and then go on to embody that kind of shipping mania as a young adult? Lola Tung, star of The Summer I Turned Pretty, knows all about it. At a recent “Escape With Prime” luncheon in New York City, the actress was joined by The Summer I Turned Pretty novel writer and producer Jenny Han to reflect on the journey Belly has taken over three seasons of the coming-of-age series. And, of course, the Team Conrad (Christopher Briny) versus Team Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) of it all.

Lola Tung Was Inspired by ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Pilot

Lola Tung and Christopher Briney as Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher, sitting on the beach and looking serious in The Summer I Turned Pretty — Image via Prime Video

Tung said that she was initially drawn to Belly’s zest for life, curiosity, and boldness. “I guess I don’t connect to her as much on that [last] part,” she mused, however. “I’m trying to be more bold. Learning from Belly.” The character may be wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, but not in a stereotypical way. She’s not naive. She’s nervous, but often in a good way. Her nerves actually drive her to live life more.

“I remember reading that last scene of the first episode in season one for the audition. The ‘to see about a whale’ line [as] she’s running away from Conrad to see Cam Cameron. I remember loving that scene so much because […] even though the night before, when they’re at the bonfire, it all went awry it was still new and exciting.”

That scene tells us so much about Belly as a character. Here’s this teenage girl getting a moment alone on the beach with Conrad, a boy she’s had a crush on for years, but she still gets herself up and leaves to see Cam (David Iacono), the boy who showed an interest in her first. In that moment, she’s not letting her feelings for Conrad or an embarrassing moment from the night before, as Tung pointed out, hold her back. She’s not doing it out of fear or as a tactic to make him jealous. She chooses to be brave and bold. It’s inspiring! It shows how she’s maturing in a way we don’t always see portrayed on screen.

Tung Has Grown up With Belly on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’

The actress was 18 at the beginning of filming the first season. At that time, she was three years older than her character at the start of her journey. “She turned 19 almost the last day of shooting,” said Han. “I said, like, your eyes look different to me now.” “I’d seen some shit,” joked Tung. Now, four years later, she teased that in Season 3, which filmed in 2024, the actress teased that for the first time on the series, she and Belly were the same age. (At the end of the third book, there’s a flash forward, and Belly is actually closer to 23 years old. Just something to think about! The end is coming!) She told the audience:

“I’ve had the privilege of growing with this character over the past four years and starting out in a sort of similar place to her, a similar age, and going through, not the same emotions (not a love triangle situation) but like just those really big feelings that you feel as a teenager and as a teenage girl sort of entering a new chapter of your life. I think with each season, I mean the writers and Jenny really are… the writing is so well done that it naturally just lends itself to the growth that these characters are experiencing. Then with season 3 we had a little bit more of a break. We had two years off because of the strike. I ended up playing my own age this year. So it was really interesting to come back to the character after being away for a while and to feel like I’d had a lot of personal time to grow and […] I had lived more life. I think that also helped me step back into the character [and] meet her where she’s at in her life now. I’ve been very lucky that my trajectory is a little similar to hers.”

It helps the actress recognize, she said, the similarities and the differences between her and Belly that much more vividly. “I start to see where I’m learning from her,” she said, “and where I bring myself to her.” One thing she and Han want audiences to take away from the character is that it’s alright to mess up and learn from it. This applies to fictional characters, especially protagonists, and all of us IRL as well. Give yourself grace. It’s a simple message, sure, but often easier said than done! “Mistakes are literally necessary in life,” Tung said.

The Love Triangle Can Be Scary on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’

As for the Fisher brothers in their romantic pursuit of Belly, even Head of Global Marketing at Amazon MGM Studios Sue Kroll, who moderated the panel at the luncheon, commented that “Are you Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah” was one of the first questions she was asked in a meeting when she started working for Prime Video. It’s a very, very big deal. “Sometimes I get a little scared,” Tung joked.

“I think it’s incredible that people are so passionate about it. I was talking to Chris and Gavin about this, like I remember being very, very young but hearing even in passing ‘Team Edward’ or ‘Team Jacob’ or seeing the shirts and it was just everywhere. And it’s cool to sort of hear people have that friendly argument– very friendly, all fun, all for fun. But I think as an actor, I really can’t pick sides. […] You want to root for your character. You want to believe in everything they’re doing, not in every decision they’re making but why they made the decisions that they’re making. So I think also because, you know, Belly has so much love for both of them. I’m truly Team Belly and I will say it forever because I have the most love for her and her journey. Thanks Jenny!”

What’s great about The Summer I Turned Pretty and the bond that all three of these characters share is that “Team Belly” does not necessarily mean choosing yourself over the two of them. It means hoping and trusting that whatever decision she makes is the right one for her. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 premieres July 16 on Prime Video.