“They put a lot of vulnerability on the line, and that kind of went out of fashion a bit”: Emma Appleton, Laurie Davidson, Isabella Laughland, China Moo-Young, Ryan O’Sullivan and Matilda Wnek on The Road Trip

Set to premiere on Paramount+ on Boxing Day, The Road Trip, based on Beth O’Leary’s novel of the same name, takes the best elements of the romantic comedy and road trip genres in its six-episode run. From the chemistry between the leads to the challenges of filming in vans, actors Emma Appleton, Laurie Davidson and Isabella Laughland, alongside director China Moo-Young and writers Ryan O’Sullivan and Matilda Wnek, shared the journey that brought this heartfelt series to life.

Naturally, a key focus of the discussion was the relationship between the two main characters, with Davidson describing the dynamic between his character and Appleton’s as one of “intrigue”. Laughland also spoke about the strong sisterhood that developed between her and co-star Appleton, revealing that their bond extended beyond the screen. “Emma and I now have matching tattoos,” Laughland said, adding that there “wasn’t a huge amount of acting from my side when I’m sort of gazing into her eyes.” In discussing her character, Addie, Appleton reflected, “It was such a joy and an opportunity to play Addie freer in the past, and then seeing how that’s changed and affected her, because that’s a very human experience.”

Filming on location in vans across several countries – Bristol, Gran Canaria and a studio in Madrid – provided unique challenges, particularly given the confined space. “We were in a van the whole time,” Appleton said, adding that these conditions helped foster the on-screen chemistry, “which really lends itself to, you know, hilarity and losing our minds slightly, but also the pressure-cooker situation that you kind of see.” She also revealed an unexpected detail: “I didn’t actually know how to drive,” she laughed, adding to the humour of their on-set experience.

After praising the scripts as “brilliant”, Moo-Young spoke about her approach to crafting the show’s visual style. “I sort of compiled a big mood board of photography and film references from amazing road trip movies and romantic comedies, both classic and contemporary,” she shared. Drawing inspiration from genre-defining films such as Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and When Harry Met Sally (1989), as well as more experimental works like Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and Godard’s films, she aimed to create a distinctive tonal balance. “I wanted to think about it in visual terms,” she explained, particularly when it came to capturing the “then” in Spain and the “now” in England, despite only a two-year gap between the settings. Moo-Young also discussed the show’s costume design, saying, “We decided that Addie should be in reds and warm colours, and Dylan in blues, just to give them a kind of polar opposite.”

O’Sullivan, sitting next to his partner and writing partner Wnek, shared that the show’s central theme of timing in relationships resonated with them personally. Describing the leading characters’ relationship as “‘right person, maybe not the right time”, O’Sullivan continued, recalling how he had broken up with Wnek in the past and then gotten back together: “Sometimes that’s about overcoming circumstances and external forces, but a lot of the time, that’s just about becoming good enough for the other person. And that’s what road trips are.” 

Wnek added her perspective on the adaptation, saying, “I think there’s a classic feel to the novel and the show – because you don’t want to bring too much irony to a genre that’s actually about sincerity and putting a lot on the line.” She also praised the vulnerability the actors brought to their roles, noting, “The actors do that a lot as well – they put a lot of vulnerability on the line, and that kind of went out of fashion a bit.”

Christina Yang

The Road Trip is released on Paramount+ on 26^th December 2024.

Watch the trailer for The Road Trip here: