Amita Rao is making it very clear: she is not Issa. But honestly? She’s having the time of her life pretending to be her.
The actress, best known for her role in the upcoming project Adults, recently opened up about the joy - and the occasional identity confusion - that comes with stepping into a character so distinct that fans sometimes blur the lines between performer and role. It’s a classic Hollywood paradox, and Rao is leaning into it with a grin.
For those just tuning in, Adults has been generating steady buzz, and Rao’s performance is a big reason why. While the project’s release details remain under wraps and the studio has kept plot specifics close to the chest, the chatter around her portrayal has already taken on a life of its own. The character, Issa, has resonated with audiences in a way that feels almost personal, and that’s exactly where things get tricky for an actor.
“People come up to me and say, ‘Oh my God, Issa would totally say that,’” Rao shared in a recent interview, laughing at the absurdity of it all. “And I have to remind them - gently - that I’m just the one who plays her. I don’t actually have her life, her problems, or her wardrobe. Although, full disclosure, I might have borrowed a couple of her outfits for personal use.”
That playful admission sums up the strange, wonderful space Rao now occupies. She’s not complaining, though. In fact, she’s embracing the blur. To her, the fact that viewers see Issa as a real person rather than a scripted construct is the highest compliment an actor can receive. It means the work landed. It means the character stopped being words on a page and started feeling like someone you could run into at a coffee shop.
“The goal is always to disappear into the role,” Rao explained. “But when people start treating you like the character in their everyday conversations, you know you’ve done something right. It’s weird, sure. But it’s also kind of magical.”
The actress’s enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s easy to see why Adults has sparked so much conversation. Rao brings a natural, lived-in energy to Issa that feels less like acting and more like channeling. She credits the writing and the directors for giving her the runway to explore, but she’s quick to note that the character’s spark came from a deeply personal place.
“Issa isn’t me,” Rao stressed, repeating a point she clearly makes often. “But I understand her. I get her frustrations, her wins, her little private victories. She’s the version of any of us who’s trying to figure it out as she goes. That’s universal.”
That universality is likely why the role has struck such a chord. Issa isn’t a superhero or a detective or a CEO. She’s just a person navigating the messy, chaotic, often hilarious terrain of adult life - which, as the title suggests, is something nobody is truly prepared for. Rao’s performance captures that feeling of improvising your way through existence, and it’s resonating deeply with audiences who see themselves in her missteps and small triumphs.
Of course, being so closely associated with a beloved character comes with its own set of pressures. There’s the inevitable question of what’s next. If Issa becomes a cultural touchstone, will Rao be forever linked to her, the way some actors are defined by a single iconic role? She doesn’t seem worried.
“I love her,” Rao said simply. “If people want to talk about Issa forever, that’s fine by me. But I’ve got a lot more stories to tell. I’m not done yet.”
That forward-looking attitude is refreshing, especially in an industry where actors can sometimes get typecast by a breakout performance. Rao seems determined to keep moving, to keep finding characters that challenge her, and to keep reminding everyone that she is her own person - one who just happens to moonlight as Issa from time to time.
The role has clearly been a career highlight, and the reaction suggests it might be the kind of performance that launches her into a whole new stratosphere. For now, though, she’s just happy to be part of a project that makes people feel seen. She’s happy to be the one who gets to bring Issa to life, even if that means occasionally fielding questions about a fictional character’s hypothetical decisions.
“I think the best part is when someone tells me, ‘I felt less alone watching her,’” Rao reflected. “That’s everything. That’s why you do this. So yeah, I’m not Issa. But I’m really proud that I get to be the one who lets her out into the world.”
Adults is currently generating buzz among critics and audiences alike, with many pointing to Rao’s performance as the standout. As details about the project continue to trickle out, one thing is certain: whether she’s answering to her own name or someone else’s, Amita Rao is a name audiences will be hearing a lot more of. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter