May 1, 2024, 10:10 p.m.
Movies
Turtles All The Way Down Cast & Character Guide
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Summary Romantic drama "Turtles All the Way Down" brings to life Aza Holmes' struggle with OCD and budding romance.
Isabela Merced shines as Aza, with Cree Cicchino's Daisy adding heart to the film's coming-of-age story.
The film explores themes of love, friendship, and mental health, offering a compelling and emotional journey.
Directed by Hannah Marks (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency), Turtles All the Way Down adapts John Green's bestselling 2017 young adult novel of the same name. Like Green's other works, which include books-turned-movies like The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down is a romantic drama. Both the film and novel center on Aza Holmes, a 16-year-old character who is still learning to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In particular, Aza finds it difficult to navigate her obsessive thinking — inescapable thought spirals that are often triggered by thoughts of microorganisms or germs.
...[Aza and Davis] are instantly drawn back into each other's orbit.
One day, Aza and her best friend, the Star Wars-loving fanfiction writer Daisy, learn that billionaire Russell Pickett has disappeared. It just so happens that Aza met Russell's son, Davis, at a grief camp for kids. Although they haven't seen each other in years, the two are instantly drawn back into each other's orbit. Constantly worried about the looming threat of infection, and still plagued by the loss of her father, Aza has trouble pursuing romance — until a TED Talk speaker she loves clues her in to the titular "turtles all the way down" metaphor.
Turtles All the Way Down Character Actor Aza Holmes Isabela Merced Daisy Ramirez Cree Cicchino Davis Pickett Felix Mallard Gina Holmes Judy Reyes Mychal Turner Maliq Johnson Professor Abbott J. Smith-Cameron Dr. Singh Poorna Jagannathan Holly Hannah Marks
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Isabela Merced As Aza Holmes
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Active Since: 2013
Actor: Isabela Merced, who was previously credited in early roles as Isabela Moner, hit it big when playing the titular character in 2019's Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Before then, she appeared in Transformers: The Last Knight, Instant Family, and Sicario: Day of the Soldado. The actor has also appeared in Let It Snow, Rosaline, the remake of Father of the Bride, Migration, Maya and the Three, and Madame Web. Additionally, Turtles' Merced will star in 2025's Superman as well as Alien: Romulus and season 2 of HBO's The Last of Us.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year Instant Family 2018 Dora and the Lost City of Gold 2019 Let It Snow 2019 Rosaline 2022 Alien: Romulus 2024
Character: Director Hannah Marks' adaptation of John Green's Turtles wouldn't work as well as it does without Merced's compelling central performance. Feeling at war with her own mind — and her thought spirals — Aza has a very particular way of going about the world. Aza doesn't enjoy anything new or unknown, and she is often ruminating on all the possible germs and infections that could cause her harm. Bolstered by her mother and her friends, Aza is able to navigate her OCD, though it becomes increasingly difficult as she tries to pursue her long-time crush.
Cree Cicchino As Daisy Ramirez
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Active Since: 2015
Actor: After getting her start on the Nickelodeon comedy television series Game Shakers, Cree Cicchino landed roles in Mr. Iglesias, The Sleepover, and even And Just Like That..., the sequel to HBO's Sex and the City.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year Game Shakers 2015–2019 Mr. Iglesias 2019–2020 And Just Like That... 2021–present Big Sky 2022
Character: A real emotional anchor in the coming-of-age movie Turtles All the Way Down, Cicchino's Daisy has a somewhat fraught relationship with Aza. On the surface, Daisy is a supportive best friend who understands Aza's compulsions, obsessions, and various symptoms. However, she also feels weighed down by life. Eager to reap the $100,000 reward that comes with finding Davis' father, Daisy encourages Aza to come along for the ride — and, later, pursue a romance with Davis. Warm, boisterous, and incredibly funny, Cicchino's character is the heart of the film.
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Felix Mallard As Davis Pickett
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Active Since: 2014
Actor: Like many Australian actors, Felix Mallard got his start on the Aussie soap opera Neighbours. In the States, he's best known for recurring roles in the Netflix shows Locke & Key and Ginny & Georgia. He has also appeared in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Happy Together, and All the Bright Places.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year Neighbours 2014–2019 All the Bright Places 2020 Locke & Key 2020–2021 Ginny & Georgia 2021–present
Character: The charming Davis Pickett is the son of a missing billionaire who intends to leave his fortune to a research project. Feeling like he can't stand apart from his father's name or legacy, Davis pours his feelings into a blog and, later, makes sweeping romantic gestures in an effort to help Aza pursue her collegiate dreams.
Judy Reyes As Gina Holmes
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Active Since: 1992
Actor: Actor, writer, and producer Judy Reyes is most well known for her Scrubs character, Carla Espinosa, though she has made waves more recently in the comedy-drama show Devious Maids. The accomplished TV star has also had notable roles in films, including Smile and Birth/Rebirth.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year Scrubs 2001–2009 Devious Maids 2013–2016 Smile 2022 Birth/Rebirth 2023
Character: Aza's mother, Gina Holmes, is still impacted by the loss of her husband and Aza's father. After that harrowing and sudden loss, Gina sent a young Aza to grief camp, which is where she met Davis. A teacher at Aza's school, Gina wants to be involved and protective, which sometimes gets under Aza's skin.
Maliq Johnson As Mychal Turner
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Active Since: 2013
Actor: Best known for starring in the Netflix shows Grand Army and When They See Us, Maliq Johnson has also appeared in feature films like Little Boxes, Little Men, and Knucklehead.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year Little Men 2016 Power 2018 When They See Us 2019 Grand Army 2020
Character: One of Aza's best friends, Mychal is an inventive artist and an eccentric personality. As the movie unfolds, he reveals that he has a long-time crush on Daisy, though is hesitant to act on it for fear of upending the trio's friendship.
J. Smith-Cameron As Professor Abbott
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Active Since: 1979
Actor: After making her Broadway debut in the 1982 play Crimes of the Heart, the Tony Award-winning J. Smith-Cameron went on to make a name for herself in the world of theater. In addition to film roles like Nancy, the actor has appeared in several big-name TV shows, including True Blood, Search Party, and Succession — the latter of which earned her two Emmy Award nominations.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year True Blood 2010–2011 Rectify 2013–2016 Nancy 2018 Succession 2018–2023
Character: A professor living in Chicago, Abbott is someone Aza admires from afar. Professor Abbott's TED Talk centers on philosophical ideas, and it's these notions that help Aza understand and navigate the symptoms and thought patterns of her OCD.
Poorna Jagannathan As Dr. Singh
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Active Since: 2004
Actor: Best known for her work in the drama miniseries The Night Of and Netflix's teen comedy Never Have I Ever, Poorna Jagannathan is a producer and actor who is able to move between genres with ease. In addition to her ongoing work in film, Jagannathan has had recurring parts on several TV shows, including Big Little Lies, Better Call Saul, and Ramy.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year The Night Of 2016 Big Little Lies 2019 The Wilds 2020 Never Have I Ever 2020–2023
Character: Dr. Singh is Aza's encouraging therapist who crops up throughout the film to help track Aza's relationship to her OCD. Insistent that Aza should take her medication regularly, Dr. Singh fills a similar role to Aza's mother.
Hannah Marks As Holly
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Active Since: 2005
Actor: After appearing in the 2006 feature film Accepted, actor-turned-director Hannah Marks went on to guest star on a variety of TV shows, including Weeds and Ugly Betty. Dubbed one of the artists under 25 who's apt to change the world by Rolling Stone, Marks eventually starred in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and went on to write and direct films, including Don't Make Me Go.
Notable Movies & TV Shows Year Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency 2016–2017 Mark, Mary & Some Other People 2021 Don't Make Me Go 2022
Character: Although Hannah Marks directs Turtles All the Way Down, she also has a small role as a character named Holly.
Turtles All the Way Down premieres on Max on May 2, 2024.
By:
Kate Bove
The above article is sourced from: Screen Rant
