Stylist: Tabitha Sanchez
Grooming: Sonia Lee
When The Summer I Turned Pretty debuted this past summer, David Iacono not only got to take on the role of Cam, the boy who tries to win over Belly Conklin (Lola Tung), but he also made friendships that will last a lifetime.
“I’ve probably said this before, but the people I got to meet and work with that quickly became great friends of mine is something I’ll forever be grateful to The Summer I Turned Pretty for. Additionally, to be able to work on a project that was so much fun yet still artistically fulfilling, the people I had the privilege of doing it with have become some of my closest friends, and no matter how cheesy it sounds, I got a new family out of this show. They have my heart,” the actor exclusively tells GRAZIA USA.
Though Cam doesn’t end up getting the girl in the end — Belly ends up being in a love triangle with her two best guy friends, Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) — Iacono hopes that Cam can return for season 2, which has already begun filming.
“I’d just want to see the guy happy — and maybe a little more comfortable in his own life. It’s interesting because he’s a character the audience only really sees through the lens of his relationship to Belly, so I’d be so interested in seeing him in a different context, more grounded in his own circumstances. But ultimately, I think he deserves happiness, whatever that means,” he says of what he would want happen to his character going forward.
Stylist: Tabitha Sanchez
Grooming: Sonia Lee
He continues, “I think getting into any character’s head for most actors is a jarring thing to do, but I definitely think the way Cam was written made it a little smoother for me. It presented less obstacles than doing so with a character that isn’t as similar as Cam is to me. We both love the ocean — albeit him a little more than me — and we both can be awkward sometimes. I didn’t have to stretch myself too far, especially because pretty much all of the decisions he makes in the show are very logical and justified by his circumstances. It’s always fun to play the underdog, too.”
The series, which instantly became a hit after it debuted on Prime Video, won over fans, and it’s something the rising star doesn’t take for granted. “It’s a really rewarding experience, especially because it feels like we got to deliver on the expectation so many people had, being fans of the book prior to the show’s release,” he notes. “The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy is so special to such a big community of people, so helping them see it come to life in the first place is an honor in itself. But to know that it only made the material more special to them makes me that much prouder of the work everybody involved with the show did. On top of that, it also makes me proud we were able to appeal to people who’d never even heard of the books. I think that’s just a testament to the show itself.”
Iacono isn’t sure which brother is going to end up with Belly, but he ultimately wants her with someone “who is going to make her stress less.”
Stylist: Tabitha Sanchez
Grooming: Sonia Lee
“It’s undeniable that Belly and Conrad have a tangible chemistry, but Jeremiah really deserves a fruitful relationship with somebody too. I guess I’d say I’m Team Conrad — but only if he figures out how to act,” he adds.
Iacono, who admits he has wanted to act since he was a kid, has also been presented with a slew of other opportunities, including starring alongside Rosie Perez in HBO Max’s series The Flight Attendant. “Working with Rosie felt like I was home! Getting the chance to act with such a Brooklyn legend felt so right, especially because of how welcoming she was on set the day I got there. I learned a whole lot from her thanks to her decades of work in the industry, which is something I greatly value. Working on The Flight Attendant in general was so dope, just because of how risky and original I felt the script was,” he gushes.
With two hit series in his pocket, Iacono shares that it’s “nice to see some results” now. “It’s never all for nothing, especially when your heart is in it, but having some actual proof that I have been working hard is good for me. I am very proud to just be able to tell stories that people want to watch,” he says of his career taking off.
Stylist: Tabitha Sanchez
Grooming: Sonia Lee
As for what’s next, Iacono would love to work with Jim Carrey, Bo Burnham, Adam Sandler and Kevin Hart, to name a few, in addition to exploring filmmaking even more. “Editing, writing, and directing all speak to me loudly, and I’ve dabbled in all of them. So, I can’t see a future for myself without those paths in it,” he states.
These days, Iacono is excited about his new flick Cinnamon, which was written and directed by Bryian Keith Montgomery. “It was my first lead role, and up until that point, I admittedly was apprehensive about taking on that responsibility. I was 100 percent ready and eager to begin, but naturally after years of supporting and guest star roles, there was a bit of anxiety within me to make that leap. Thankfully, I’m really proud of the work I left on the table for that project, which provided me with such beautiful material to work with. I can’t wait for people to see it, and I can’t wait to see it!”
