Love Stranger Things and Euphoria? Netflix has new dark high school show that you need to watch

At 17, Sophia Lillis has achieved more than many actresses twice her age. She came to prominence as Beverly in the 2017 horror It and 2019 sequel It: Chapter Two, in which Jessica Chastain plays her as an adult. She also appeared as the younger version of Amy Adams’s character in the HBO thriller Sharp Objects and the titular sleuth in Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase. Her next project is darker still: a supernatural Netflix series in which she stars as Sydney, a teen struggling with anxiety, rage and familial grief. Ahead of the show’s premiere on 26 February, we meet Lillis to discuss filmmaker John Hughes, graphic novels and the golden age of complex high-school dramas.

I Am Not Okay with This is both a black comedy and a sci-fi drama. How would you describe it?

“Essentially, it’s about a high schooler trying to overcome the usual hurdles, juggling problems at school and at home. Then, she figures out that she has super powers which reveal themselves when she gets emotional or angry. She’s pretty angsty so it’s really not a good mix.”

It’s also about Sydney’s relationship with her friends Dina [Sofia Bryant] and Stanley [Wyatt Oleff, who you worked with on It and It: Chapter Two]. What was the casting process like?

“I auditioned, got a callback and got onto the project early. That meant I could do read-throughs with other actors, including for the Stanley and Dina roles. I got lucky because Sofia is great. While doing read-throughs, we talked in between and she was so sweet and funny. I feel like the casting people clocked that. Plus, I’m so happy I got to work with my friend Wyatt. Sydney and Stanley need to have good chemistry because they are so close, so having him in that role was amazing.”

Were you a fan of Charles Forsman’s graphic novel which I Am Not Okay with This is based on?

“I’d heard of it before I joined the project because I’d watched The End of the Fucking World [the show based on another Forsman graphic novel and created by I Am Not Okay with This’s director, Jonathan Entwistle]. Then, I went back and read both novels. I Am Not Okay with This is tricky to adapt because you have to balance the darkness and the humour. Jonathan is great at that.”

What were the biggest challenges when it came to playing Sydney?

“She thinks of herself as almost dysfunctional, but in reality she’s dealing with it all rather well. She is overwhelmed by her problems, so she shuts down and is in denial for most of the series. She’s also very awkward which makes her relatable. You can see she’s trying to do her best, trying to control her emotions, trying to live a normal life, but not everything goes her way.”

Sydney’s breakdowns are so intense and often difficult to watch. Were they exhausting to film?

“I think it’s so much harder for the crew than it is for me! When Syd’s having a breakdown and her powers make the wall crack open, the crew are the people who have to make sure the cracks open right on time and that all of it looks real. I’m just there acting and watching them work [laughs].”

The show is packed with pop-culture references. What did Entwistle share with you in advance?

“Jonathan said he wanted to add a John Hughes element to the show, so I watched Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. I also watched some [Italian film actress] Giulietta Masina films. Jonathan didn’t ask me to, but I like to watch her before starting any project. She’s my childhood favourite.” 

Complex, and sometimes dark, high-school dramas have dominated TV for the past few months—from Stranger Things and Sex Education to Euphoria. Why have they been so popular?

“I’ve seen bits of those shows, though I haven’t watched Euphoria yet. My friends keep telling me that I have to watch it. What I like about them, especially Stranger Things, is that they show kids actually playing their own age. I Am Not Okay With This does that too. It means there’s less of a disconnect, because as a kid watching the show you can actually see yourself in the characters. It’s so different from seeing a 25-year-old playing a 17-year-old. I used to watch high-school shows when I was in middle school and I would think, ‘I’m supposed to look like that and act like that when I’m older’. When I finally got to high school I thought, ‘Oh god, what happened?’ [laughs]. These shows feel more authentic, more real—except, of course, I don’t have super powers.”

The show also focuses on Sydney grappling with her own sexuality. Why was that important?

“It’s something so many kids go through in that period of their life. It’s a time when you’re trying to figure out who you are, so I think it needs to be in there and we need to talk about it.”

Will there be a second season of I Am Not Okay with This?

“I sure hope so! Besides that, I’ve got a few other things coming out: [the fantasy horror] Gretel & Hansel and [a comedy called] Uncle Frank. Last year I went from working on one thing straight into another and now it’s all coming out at once, so that’s really fun to see. After that, I have another project coming up, but I’m not sure how much I can say on the topic just yet—but it’s a Western!”

I Am Not Okay with This is on Netflix from February 26, 2020

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