Isabela Merced opens up: ‘Turtles All the Way Down,’ navigating anxiety, and more
us.hola.comIsabela Merced has played many characters, but none hit as close to home as her new film, Turtles All the Way Down. Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by John Green, who lives with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the film tackles anxiety and OCD through its 17-year-old protagonist, Aza Holmes, played by Merced.Directed by Hannah Marks,Turtles All the Way Down centers around Aza’s bond with her best friend Daisy, and her romantic interest in a boy named Davis, whose father is dealing with legal troubles.
As Aza and Daisy investigate a disappearance to claim a reward, Aza’s struggles with OCD intensify, affecting her relationships and her sense of self.
HOLA! had the opportunity to talk to Merced via Zoom ahead of the film’s release, where she opened up about her struggles with anxiety and why this film holds such a special place in her heart.
She sat down with her hair styled as a spiral in the front and spiral earrings, representing a theme in the film, “thought spirals.” It’s something Merced knows all too well. “Mine are very specific, in the sense that if I’m feeling anxious, usually it’s the last sentence that someone said before I started feeling anxious.
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