First-time co-stars admit “shy meets shy” dynamic, say real connection grew naturally, not forced, in upcoming Netflix series.
Two shy actors, one love story, and no shortcuts to chemistry.
That was the starting point for James Reid and Kathryn Bernardo as they teamed up for the first time in the series “Someone, Someday,” where they play best friends since childhood.
“Well, like I mentioned earlier, this is our first time working together. So, unlike with Ate Maj (Maja Salvador), you know, we have a clean slate to work from,” Reid said during a media gathering on Tuesday night. “And to be honest, going into our roles as best friends since childhood… jumping right into that wasn’t easy.”
Bernardo echoed the same sentiment, admitting their real-life personalities didn’t exactly help break the ice. “On first impression, I expected James to be really shy. And I was right. He’s very shy,” she said. “I’m the type of person, it takes a while for me to warm up… So, the problem with us, who will break the ice? I’m shy, he’s shy. So, how do we do this?”
Instead of forcing familiarity, the two leaned into the awkwardness, allowing their on-screen connection to grow naturally over time, with help from the cast.
“We had a lot of help from the whole cast actually to help break the ice,” Reid shared. “And to really help build the relationship between Billy and Jordan, because it’s such an important relationship throughout the whole series.”
For Bernardo, resisting the urge to manufacture chemistry was key. “We didn’t force anything. Because I think anything that’s forced, the audience will see it,” she said.
The actress described how their dynamic benefited from taking things slow, both on and off camera. “That’s what’s good about being in a series, you have time to create and to get to know each other,” she said. “Now, I know James. Not so much, still,” she added with a laugh. “It’s hard because we don’t have common friends… so James is very unfamiliar with me.”
Still, that unfamiliarity worked in their favor. “If you’re too familiar with a person, you don’t know how to look at them,” Bernardo explained. “So, I think it helped.”
To bridge the gap between strangers and lifelong friends, Bernardo said she built a clear distinction between their real selves and their characters. “I tried to create a world of Billy and Jordan. So, when we are on set, and then when the director says action, it’s like, okay, this is Billy and Jordan talking. And then once it’s cut, back to James and Kath,” she said.
Reid, for his part, found grounding in Bernardo’s process. “Being able to work with her on the show, how much attention she has to the details, to the story—the perfectionist in Kat, I super appreciate,” he said. “Especially with this project and it being my first project in so long.”
He also recalled a particular moment that helped ease their initial tension. “For me, it was the one in the car… the scene that we have in the trailer where Billy is like racing,” he said. “That scene was so fun. It was a nice icebreaker.”
As their working relationship evolved, Bernardo said she grew to appreciate observing Reid’s approach. “When I look at James, he’s like, okay, that’s how he is. He’s prepared for a role. He processes emotions. And it’s nice to witness that during taping,” she said.
“So, you get to see Kat and James today,” she added. “And then on Friday, you get to see and enter the world of Jordan and Billy.”
“Someone, Someday” will start streaming on Netflix on Friday, July 24. It also stars Maja Salvador and Dimples Romana, and is directed by Chad Vidanes and Dolly Dulu.
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