Emily Bader from People We Meet on Vacation believes we should demand more from romantic comedies.

      When the casting news was announced in August 2024 for Netflix's adaptation of Emily Henry's hugely popular slow-burn romance novel *People We Meet on Vacation*, the internet exploded with excitement. After months of waiting, we finally got a glimpse of Poppy and Alex, the friends-turned-lovers couple that enchanted many readers. It didn't take long for the actress Emily Bader to start trending on X. With Emily Henry’s approval and a fantastic response from fans, Bader could finally relax—she had successfully navigated the first challenge. "As a book fan myself, it's always this kind of impossible thing," Bader shares from her hotel room. "Everyone will envision these characters in a way that is entirely unique to them."

      It’s early December, and Bader has already started her press tour for *People We Meet on Vacation*. Just days before our conversation, she, along with co-star Tom Blyth (from *The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes*) and director Brett Haley, surprised fans at the film's first screening at Prytania Theatre in New Orleans, where an enthusiastic audience cheered. Once again, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive; the second challenge was behind her. The final challenge will be winning over the broader Netflix audience when the film premieres on January 9.

      Many recognize Bader from her breakout role in the Amazon Prime Video series *My Lady Jane*, a 16th-century romantic comedy that was abruptly canceled after one season, provoking backlash from dedicated fans who campaigned to save it. It was a heart-wrenching experience for Bader, who forged lifelong friendships during the project. "Jane was a dream for me," she reflects. "Riding a horse in a custom corset gown down the ramps of Dover Castle in England, somewhere I had never been, felt like a fantasy." Although the disappointment of not continuing Jane’s story lingered, the fan support provided some solace. "Knowing that people will hold onto these characters makes it all worthwhile," she notes.

      Before Bader could officially take on the role of Poppy, it was essential that she and Blyth, who was already cast as Alex, had undeniable chemistry. They first met on Zoom with everyone present—Haley, the producers, the casting director, and even Henry. "The energy was palpable," Bader laughs. "It was really just 'I better not mess this up.'" Although a Zoom chemistry read is less than ideal, Bader explains, "you just try to reach through the camera as best you can and hope your Wi-Fi doesn’t ruin the opportunity." After an hour, the waiting game commenced, but Bader felt optimistic. "I really thought it went well with Tom, with Brett, with everyone, so letting go was hard," she recounts. Fortunately, everything fell into place rather quickly.

      At the New Orleans screening, Haley discussed the current landscape of rom-coms and his belief that the genre deserves recognition as cinema. When I posed a similar question to Bader, she echoed Haley’s sentiment, stating, "There’s an energy of yearning for more classic rom-coms." Bader firmly believes rom-coms hold a significant place in audience hearts, and for that reason, we should demand more from them. "I believe character-driven slice-of-life romantic films will always resonate and are experiencing a resurgence, with renewed attention on them. They might not always top the 'Letterboxd four,' but if we’re being honest, they are the films we watch the most. Every year, when you sit with loved ones and see, 'Oh, that movie is on halfway through, I’m putting it on right now.'" Among her favorites are *French Kiss* with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline, *Overboard* with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, and *Pretty Woman*. "I can’t even mention *When Harry Met Sally,*" she sighs, "because it’s Tom’s absolute favorite. He’s claimed it."

      Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be significant for Bader. *People We Meet on Vacation* kicks things off positively, and she mentions having several upcoming projects she can't reveal just yet. By November, she will celebrate her 30th birthday. When I bring it up, she rolls her eyes, expressing her dislike for birthdays in general but also shares that she is genuinely looking forward to her 30s and what this new decade will bring.

      Acting has always been Bader’s top priority as long as she can remember. She never considered pursuing anything else during her childhood. While most children dream of being doctors, teachers, zoologists, or astronauts, Bader was immersed in the characters from Hayao Miyazaki films. "All of his movies feature such dynamic young female leads. I would watch those films repeatedly," she recalls. Although she had no reason to believe she could pursue acting ("I