Emily Henry Shares a Surprise Encounter with the Director of People We Meet on Vacation at a Barcelona Beach
Author Emily Henry Recalls Unique First Meeting with Director Brett Haley
In a recent interview, author Emily Henry shared the memorable details of her first encounter with director Brett Haley during the filming of the Netflix adaptation of her bestselling novel, People We Meet on Vacation. The two met on a nude beach in Barcelona, where the crew was shooting a pivotal scene.
Henry describes her journey to the set as a whirlwind experience. "They picked me up from the airport and drove me straight to the beach where they’re shooting," she recalled. "I walk out onto the sand and the loungers are set up for Tom and Emily to come do the scene that’s recreating the book cover." The film stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth, following the story of two former friends, Alex and Poppy, who embark on one last trip together after years apart.
The episode took a humorous turn as Henry found herself at her first-ever nude beach. "And 15 feet on either side of that shot, there’s a little roped off area. And beyond the rope is just a lot of naked men," she said, slightly overwhelmed by the spectacle. Henry met Haley moments later, describing the day as "pretty memorable," especially given her severe jet lag.
Haley echoed the unique circumstances of that day, acknowledging the pressure of directing under such unusual conditions. "It was one of the most pressurized directing moments of my life, surrounded by naked people," he said.
Despite the comedic circumstances of their introduction, both Henry and Haley shared a profound commitment to accurately capturing the essence of Henry’s story on-screen. Haley envisioned People We Meet on Vacation as a “classic, all-time Mount Rushmore-type rom-com.” He emphasized, “I was drawn to this because of the strength of the story and the characters. I think it’s a universal story about love and loving yourself and finding the courage to love and be loved.”
Haley also expressed a keen awareness of Henry’s dedicated readership throughout the production process. “I had a healthy fear of the Emily Henry fandom because I put a lot of respect on their names,” he said. “They were always top of mind when I was making this film.”
Henry reflected on seeing her characters come to life, praising the performances of Blyth and Bader. "When Emily Bader cries, you just want to weep. There’s just something about her eyes that just cut me straight to my heart," she remarked. "Tom is so good at being the straight man in the funniest way."
People We Meet on Vacation premieres on Netflix on January 9, marking a significant moment for both Henry and Haley as they bring this beloved story to the screen.
