Sofia Carson, Connie Britton, and Sebastian de Souza Talk Self-Discovery and Appreciating Our Moms In Netflix’s The Life List
Alex Rose is floundering in life. When her mother passes, she uses her will and a trail of DVDs to guide her on a quest to complete her childhood bucket list. Pursuing these forgotten dreams takes her on a surprising ride of life, love, and self-discovery. Pop Culture Planet’s Kristen Maldonado spoke with Sofia Carson, Connie Britton, Sebastian de Souza, and the cast of Netflix’s The Life List at their premiere in New York City.
Ten years ago, we were introduced to Sofia Carson as Evie in the Descendants franchise and she’s continued to capture our hearts playing complex women in films like Purple Hearts and Carry-On. “It's the greatest honor of my life to be able to portray extraordinary women because I think women are the greatest force in the world,” Carson told me on the red carpet. “I hope that each of my characters makes even just one girl in the world feel seen or understood or maybe empowered.”
Based on the book by Lori Nelson Spielman, The Life List was inspired by Spielman’s own childhood list that she found while cleaning out a closet. “I had very simple dreams, so this has surpassed everything,” said Spielman about seeing her novel be turned into a Netflix film, especially one starring Carson. “I could not be happier. I'm a huge fan [of both] her singing and her acting. She's so talented and the perfect Alex Rose.”
Carson continued: “Being Alex Rose and to be able to portray this extraordinary girl who was unafraid to be so vulnerable and just all the colors of the rainbow was such an honor. She's a little bit of a mess, which I think is cool because we all are sometimes and it's okay. We're going to be okay.”
Not only does Carson bring so much heart to the role, but she’s a gracious leader on set. “She is a star. She is number one on the call sheet and that's a lot of responsibility,” said Luca Padovan. “She leads with such grace. She's kind to every single person on that set and it's really beautiful. It was hard to be mean to her ‘cause, I know, a lot of our scenes together, I'm not the nicest. I'm giving her a hard time.”
Meanwhile Sebastian de Souza found it easy to develop a connection with Carson as one of her potential love interests Garrett. “Sofia Carson is the key to finding any chemistry,” he gushed. “She's an amazing, amazing human being and it was a joy to even get a few days to work with her.”
Through the DVDs that Alex receives throughout the film, she is able to get more time with her late mother. That bond between mother and daughter is central to Alex’s journey — and it’s a relationship that so many members of the cast could connect with. “My mother passed away before I had my son and I so wish that I could go back to when she was alive,” said Connie Britton, who plays Alex’s mother, about a moment she would return to if she had the chance. “I have so many questions I would want to ask her.”
“[My mom] believes in me unlike anyone else in my life. She believes in me even when I'm saying that I can't do something and then she'll remind me that I'm capable and that it's possible,” said Maria Jung, while Rachel Zeiger-Haag added: “You see in the movie Alex's relationship with [her] mom and how important that is and life-changing. Any mother-daughter relationship is super, super important. My relationship with my mom hasn't always been easy, but it's been the most fulfilling relationship.”
While The Life List focuses on a heartwarming mother-daughter story, there are also impactful layers of fatherhood explored. “We had to have this relationship that was discovering itself. We were having to deal with each other as you deal with a child as they grow up. I couldn't have a better acting partner than Sofia. She was so present, so intelligent, and so welcoming. She made me feel so at home that we were able to literally be a father and a daughter. It was one of the greatest relationships on screen that I've ever experienced. I love Sofia and she is such an inspiration to me, as I'm sure to all of us,” said José Zúñiga about playing Alex’s father Samuel. “With Adam [Brooks]'s guidance, we were able to live through that. We lived it, so I'm very proud of that.”
Zúñiga’s own mother passed away as they were starting to film The Life List. “There's a lot of lessons learned that I brought to the film,” he shared. “[Lessons] that I even learned once again in just the experience of what tragedy can make you see and learn from those that are with you in the world now in your life.”
“We would watch a lot of stuff,” said Federico Rodriguez about his own late mother. “The movies and the TV shows that make you feel good, I feel like they're underrated. They show up in the darkest moments and they offer light. I really genuinely hope this movie can do that for somebody.”
The Life List hits Netflix this Friday.
