Isabela Merced (Cleveland, 2001) says that she began reading the novels of John Green before she acted in movies like Sicario: Day of the Soldier (2018) and Dora and the lost city (2019), and before the writer’s first film adaptation was made, Under the same star (2014), the emotional film headed by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort.

“He is a very incredible author. I started reading his books in 2012, before that movie came out. There is no one who writes like him. “He has his own style and I think he translates very well to films and scripts,” he tells Worship via Zoom.

After having starred in another feature film in 2019 based on one of his books (White Nights), Merced takes on the main character of a thousand times foreverthe adaptation of the novel that Green published in 2017, which has just debuted on the platform Max. The story revolves around Aza, a teenager with obsessive compulsive disorder. who, along with her friend Daisy (Cree), becomes involved in the case of the disappearance of a billionaire. Along the way she falls in love and deepens her friendship and family relationships.

“I have a lot in common with Aza, although I am an extrovert. I also suffer from anxiety, but I don’t have OCD. I also have voices in my head that always speak to me, full of anxiety and worries,” details Merced, who describes her character as “very positive and intelligent, I learned a lot from her.”

In moments of doubt he counted on director Hannah Marks and John Green himself, who serves as the film’s producer. “As a producer I think he has a lot of talent., because he knows how to talk to actors. That is very important,” the actress points out that she will be in the new installment of Alien (Alien: Romulus) and in some of the most anticipated projects of 2025.

-Why do you think John Green’s stories generate so much fascination among his readers? What makes them ideal material for films?

John Green is a sweetheart, really. He’s amazing, there’s no way you can’t like him. He says that his favorite animal is humans. He has faith in humans, at a time, in times, where many do not have faith in humans. I believe our humanity is the most important thing. He has a book called The Anthropocene reviewed, which left me with a very strange, but hopeful feeling. He talks about everything: romance but also friendship.

-The movie Under the same star It spoke largely to millennials. How do you think a thousand times forever Will it connect with generation Z?

We talk a lot about not having money, and I think that is something very common in this generation, because there is a recession, because there are many economic problems. We also talk about mental health, it’s a very open conversation, (in the film) specifically between Aza and her therapist, but also with her mother and her best friend. I think it’s something new to have these conversations so casually in public. I think this is the first time that’s happened. They also talk about fanfics, Star Wars and Applebee’s, which is kind of iconic. I think that’s why this generation is going to feel like they have representation in this film.

-You filmed this movie in Ohio, where you were born.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, but I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s like four hours by road. I felt like it was a little different than Cleveland, because I think Cleveland is a very unique place and has a lot to offer. I really liked that place. This book takes place in the Midwest, that’s important, because those places have a certain energy that to me is a little nostalgic, but also hopeless. It is a place where dreams do not come true.

-How are you dividing your time between Vancouver (Canada), where you are filming the second season of The last of usand Atlanta (United States), where it is filming superman with James Gunn?

Well, trying not to go crazy. It is important to rest, eat, do my exercises and spend time with my family. I feel stressed, really, honestly… I learned something similar in this movie (a thousand times forever). Aza taught me that I have to be kinder to myself, because I deserve it. I deserve free time, I deserve rest, I deserve all that. That has really helped me a lot, that way of thinking.