The funny reason why Tom Blyth was happy to not go blonde for Netflix’s new romance

by

Adapting a popular book for the screen is usually challenging, but the reaction to the upcoming film version of People We Meet on Vacation has been surprisingly positive. Fans overwhelmingly praised the casting of Tom Blyth and Emily Bader as Alex and Poppy, calling it spot-on, though, as is typical, some had minor reservations.

The book features characters with blonde hair, but the movie version gives them both brown hair. While some fans might notice this difference, it’s a fairly small change and likely not a serious issue.

Tom Blyth recently dyed his hair blonde for his role in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbird & Snakes, so he was glad he could return to his natural hair color for his new romantic comedy on Netflix.

What to Read Next

He playfully complained to Digital Spy that he’d lose his temper if anyone else suggested he dye his hair blonde. He explained that he constantly hears people say he’d look better blonde, which is frustrating because he feels he has to accept his natural hair color. He added, ‘It’s just…what I’ve got!’

Blyth hasn’t completely dismissed the idea of going back to blonde hair, but he enjoys being able to embrace his natural look for now.

If the only criticism of the upcoming Netflix movie, People We Meet on Vacation, is about the characters’ hair color, both lead actress Blythe and her co-star Emily Bader (who plays Poppy) would likely consider that a win.

Honestly, seeing the initial fan response to the casting really reassured both of them, and they felt a lot better about the movie knowing how people were reacting.

Bader shared with Digital Spy that her friends filmed her reaction to finding out she got the job, which she thought was a lot of fun. She was also relieved she hadn’t chosen a terrible outfit, since she had no idea they were filming.

When we revealed the project, we were a little worried about how people would react at first, hoping they’d like it. Thankfully, the initial response was positive, which gave us a great start. We did receive some comments about the characters not being blonde, but we hope we captured their essence well enough that it doesn’t matter.

Blyth explained that the reaction to the show has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from fans of the original book. He noted that people have strong memories of the character Poppy, specifically her blonde curls, and that the actress perfectly embodied that iconic image.

It doesn’t matter what your hair color is anymore, because you invested so much of your personality into the role that people will always associate that character with you.

I’m really excited about the People We Meet on Vacation movie! Emily Henry, the author, seems to think fans like me will love it too. She actually showed it to a group of us in December and said the reaction was really positive, which makes me even more hyped!

She admitted she was incredibly anxious, but not for herself. She personally loved the movie and had already seen it, but she worried about how the creators and fans would react. ‘It’s nerve-wracking to think about what they’ll think when they finally see it,’ she told Digital Spy.

Watching the film with an audience of readers and fans alongside director Brett Haley was an incredible experience – truly a highlight of my life. I felt all my anxiety melt away for the first time in a long time.

The film absolutely needs to be enjoyable and well-made, something people would want to watch even if they weren’t familiar with the book. But for me, and for Brett, it was crucial that existing fans of the book felt like this movie was made specifically for them.

People We Meet on Vacation is released on Netflix on 9 January.

The latest issue of Living Legends is out now, and it’s dedicated to the incredible Dolly Parton! You can find a copy of ‘Dolly at 80’ at newsagents and online for only £8.99.

Read More

2026-01-05 21:20