The Summer I Turned Pretty's Elsie Fisher explains why it was "important" for Skye to be nonbinary
24 July 2023, 17:37
Elsie Fisher joins The Summer I Turned Pretty cast
"It felt important to tell a story that didn’t feel forced and, I think, feels very true to how life works out."
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Elsie Fisher has opened up about playing The Summer I Turned Pretty's first nonbinary character and what it means to them.
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2 introduces fans to a brand new character named Skye who was written specifically for the show. Played by Golden Globe nominee Elsie Fisher, Skye is Conrad and Jeremiah's estranged and introverted cousin.
Skye also happens to be nonbinary and fans have praised the show for its genderqueer representation. For example, Skye casually corrects people who misuse their pronouns and they have boundaries that they make clear like not doing hugs.
Now, Elsie has revealed that they worked "closely" with creator Jenny Han to develop Skye's character in a realistic way.
READ MORE: Jenny Han calls out The Summer I Turned Pretty fans following Elsie Fisher bullying
Speaking to the LA Times about playing Skye, Elsie said: "I found this a really fun opportunity to [play] a character that could so easily fall into many conventions because Skye on paper could be a total stereotypical nerd, and there’s also the fact that they’re nonbinary and I think it would be really easy for that to become tokenisation."
Explaining why Skye's gender identity is so important, Elsie added: "For me, Skye being nonbinary felt important because I think trans people in general, but specifically people who don’t fit into ‘male’ or ‘female,’ can be portrayed as very ‘other than’ and don’t always have those happy endings or any sort of connection to others."
As it stands, Elsie hasn't publicly discussed their own gender identity or what pronouns they personally use. However, their castmates have referred to them with they/them pronouns in videos and interviews promoting the show.
READ MORE: The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3: Release date, cast, plot and book spoilers
Elsie ended the interview by saying: "It felt important to tell a story that didn’t feel forced and, I think, feels very true to how life works out."
We can't wait to see how the rest of Skye's story unfolds in season 2!
Read more about The Summer I Turned Pretty here:
- Here's who Belly actually ends up with in The Summer I Turned Pretty books
- The Summer I Turned Pretty fans are furious that Shayla isn't in season 2
- 25 major differences between The Summer I Turned Pretty show and the books
- Gavin Casalegno opens up about Jeremiah’s sexuality in The Summer I Turned Pretty
- QUIZ: Which The Summer I Turned Pretty boy would date you?
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