There’s no better feeling than watching an actress in a single role and knowing that their name is about to become synonymous with excellence. They’re about to become a star—the one on every poster. The moment we learned that Emily Bader isn’t actually British and the accent she was playing with in My Lady Jane wasn’t hers, I was floored. Oh, she can do that? Well, she can pretty much do anything then, I remember thinking.
We’ve talked at length about My Lady Jane, but really, it’s time to sing praises for Emily Bader now. She was included in our Best of 2024 Performances, and now, with People We Meet on Vacation set to air in 2026, I don’t think people realize just what we’re in for.
Bader’s range is sensational. It’s as simple as that. How she’s able to tease and play on lighthearted emotions, then turn around and give us one of the most gut-wrenching scenes, is no small feat. It isn’t every actress who can touch on vulnerability and comedy at the same time, and that’s okay. Not everyone is meant to. But as Lady Jane Grey, Emily Bader does all of that, while taking a historical figure and completely making the role her own without ever once straying into the “too much” territory.
And that’s the thing with a show like My Lady Jane—if the writers weren’t careful, it could’ve been too much. Too farcical. Too meta. But that isn’t the case because not only was the writing captivating and thoughtful, but every performer felt tailor-made for the role. The series shines because of a leading star like Bader, who’s so exceptional in every scene that you come out of the show immediately wanting more of her. You come of it wondering what else she can do. You come out of it with the promise that you’re going to watch whatever she does next.
As a romance author and an avid reader, I was already pumped for the People We Meet on Vacation adaptation. But casting Emily Bader as Poppy Wright changes the game completely. The star’s prowess is obvious as Jane Grey, but I don’t think people are ready for the complexities she’s about to bring to life in this specific romantic comedy. Viewers often get frustrated with the friends-to-lovers trope because it’s so much easier to be on the outside looking in—to believe that you can just jump right in without worrying about the possibility of losing that friendship. That’s the crux of this story and every valid reservation that takes Poppy and Alex from one place to another. This story requires nuance and understanding.
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As an actress, Bader is especially good at showing viewers what’s going on inside her character’s head. Unlike the books, in the movie, we won’t be solely in Poppy’s head. We’re going to be in Alex’s, too. But what I’m confident in is the fact that Emily Bader is going to ensure that viewers understand Poppy on an intimate level that’ll show us the root of every decision. In order for a rom-com to succeed with all the levity and emotional beats in a perfectly choreographed dance, the stars need to understand not only their respective characters’ layers, but every character they share a scene with, and that’s something Bader has already proven that she’s great at. Pair her with an incredible actor like Tom Blyth, and we’re about to get something indescribable.
In other words, watch out, world. No one’s prepared for what we’re about to see. (Myself, included, even as I sit here and write this, knowing full well how much range both actors are clearly capable of.)
First Featured Image Credit: ©Daniel Escale/Netflix