"We're Craving These Authentic, Gradual Interactions": Sadie Soverall Discusses This Summer's…

      Sadie Soverall is a daydreamer. The magical summers she longs for were spent at her grandmother's bungalow in Guernsey, where she would find a warm spot on the floor of a worn-out greenhouse amidst the tomato plants, creating stories in her mind. "It felt like a magical place, my own little world. I talked to myself a lot as a child," she recounts, smiling at memories of her ten-year-old self. Chatting with me from her London bedroom on a hot day, we share a giggle as we both appear on screen in similar tank tops. Soverall still devotes considerable time to her imagination, mentioning, "Talking to myself helps me dive into my characters; I experiment with their voices and how they sound. I’ve even set up a little altar for one of the characters I’m preparing in the corner of my room." While she can't reveal the role just yet, it seems poised to be significant, considering her current trajectory.

      At 24, born in Wandsworth, Soverall is incredibly busy, recently wrapping a sold-out run of "John Proctor is the Villain" at the Royal Court Theatre, and now appearing in "Every Year After," a YA romance that has resonated so deeply that Prime Video has already confirmed a second season. She was still in school when she landed her first major role in Netflix's "Fate: The Winx Saga," quickly catching the attention of director Emerald Fennell, who cast her in "Saltburn" as Jacob Elordi’s love interest in college. Holding her own alongside notable actors like Barry Keoghan, Carey Mulligan, and Rosamund Pike, Soverall’s character Annabel exuded the privilege and style of the noughties. "I was really fortunate on that set since we were in the background for many scenes, allowing me to observe Barry and Jacob work. They both excel at their craft, and I became completely enamored with Alison Oliver [who portrays Venetia Catton, sister to Elordi’s Felix]. I believe she is one of the greatest actors of our time," says Soverall. The learning experience extended even behind the scenes. "It was interesting to see how innovative Emerald’s approach is. She would come up with small ideas on the fly or write new scenes overnight for us to shoot the following day. It was thrilling to have such a brilliant and intelligent woman leading the project."

      Soverall, who modestly deflects any praise with warmth, acknowledges that "Saltburn" felt like a pivotal moment for her. Her childhood aspiration to become an actress—ignited by a passion for the 1976 musical "Bugsy Malone" and nurtured by a primary school teacher named Mr. Vince, who crafted mini plays for her—was now becoming a reality. However, she shares that nothing has grounded her success more than playing Percy in "Every Year After," a sun-drenched, swoon-worthy adaptation of Carley Fortune’s best-selling novel. The story follows two childhood best friends who, after experiencing betrayal, are reunited in their twenties, creating a deliciously painful tension.

      This role is part of a trend of adaptations that have heightened our appetite for tales of longing, joining series like "The Summer I Turned Pretty," "My Life with the Walter Boys," "Heated Rivalry," and "Off Campus." With a passionate and vocal fan base already established for the story, does she feel added pressure? "I think it’s wonderful that these books and shows have such passionate followers, but I experience the same level of pressure as with any other character I play," Soverall responds. "While this is an adaptation, I see the book as perfect, and this is merely an expansion of that universe. Written narratives are personal—we each possess a unique vision of them in our minds that can never be replaced."

      Like many, she identifies as a lovergirl, intuitively grasping why young love stories resonate across all ages and are becoming the hallmark of this entertainment era. "Partly, they offer escapism and lightness, which we really need in the current world. But there’s also the impact of social media on how we connect, with its instant feedback. We crave those genuine, slow-building interactions," she reflects. "In my youth, nonchalance was viewed positively, which was challenging for me because I’m very open with my feelings. But now, it seems to be shifting back, which is wonderful. Expressing how we feel is a joyful aspect of being human."

      When preparing for Percy, Soverall drew heavily from Meg Ryan’s filmography. "I watched plenty of 'Sleepless in Seattle,' 'You’ve Got Mail,' and especially 'When Harry Met Sally,' since it encapsulates that unique feeling of reuniting with someone special after a prolonged absence," she explains. "Meg Ryan is my favorite queen of rom