Lola Tung, a 22-year-old actress who had only acted in school productions before landing a breakout television role, has become one of Hollywood’s most visible young stars as The Summer I Turned Pretty approaches its series finale.
Tung’s portrayal of Isabel “Belly” Conklin on the Amazon series launched her into the kind of mainstream attention that typically takes years to accrue. Her screen success has been accompanied by fashion partnerships with brands including Coach and American Eagle, runway and red-carpet appearances, a Broadway stint in Hadestown and two feature films already scheduled for release after the show ends. The series’ final episode is set to air Sept. 17.
Tung’s trajectory traces back to LaGuardia High School, the New York City performing-arts school that counts Jennifer Aniston and Timothée Chalamet among its alumni. A Long Island native born to a musician father and an actress mother, she said early exposure to theatre helped spark her interest. She has recounted seeing a Broadway show at age five and later playing the Tin Man in a middle-school production of The Wizard of Oz.
After graduating from LaGuardia with a drama major, Tung enrolled at Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama. She was spotted by her current manager during a virtual senior acting showcase and took a leave of absence from Carnegie Mellon in 2021 to film The Summer I Turned Pretty in North Carolina. The series, adapted from Jenny Han’s novels, premiered on Amazon in 2022 and quickly developed a broad and often fervent fanbase.
The show’s popularity produced both commercial upside and intense scrutiny. Fandom split into competing camps around the show’s central love triangle, commonly tagged #TeamJere and #TeamConrad on social platforms, and cast members have reported receiving hostile messages. Series social accounts issued a warning after some actors reportedly received death threats, noting, "The show isn't real but the people playing the characters are." Tung herself has spoken about the emotional impact of fans’ strong attachments, telling Teen Vogue that while she appreciated viewers’ passion, she found threats unsettling.
Industry figures point to Tung’s combination of visibility and perceived authenticity as reasons for her rapid marketability. Chad Teixeira, a public-relations consultant, told the Daily Mail that Tung embodies the ingredients of an emergent Hollywood star and predicted she could command six-figure deals as her career advances. Teixeira compared Tung’s momentum to the early stages of other crossover stars, saying the mix of social-media influence, a loyal fan base and on-screen charisma makes her attractive to major brands and filmmakers. He also cautioned that managing the intense spotlight and choosing varied roles will be important to avoid typecasting.
Tung has diversified her profile beyond streaming drama. She performed on Broadway in Hadestown, stepping into the role of Eurydice to positive audience response, and has described a desire to explore different artistic worlds. Her stylistic choices and street-style looks have drawn attention from fashion outlets and brands, and she has worked with stylist Britt McCamey.
She has two films lined up: Forbidden Fruits, an adaptation of Lily Houghton’s work that Tung described as markedly different from The Summer I Turned Pretty, and The Young People, both identified as projects in the genre of horror with release activity reported for 2026. Forbidden Fruits is said to include established performers such as Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti and Gabrielle Union, and Tung has spoken about learning from more experienced cast members during the shoot.
Tung has discussed the personal effects of rapid fame. In interviews with the New York Times and Vogue she said the role of Belly required learning on the job and that she had felt unprepared for the scope of the public reaction. Speaking to Cero Magazine, she reflected on how the character’s traits—confidence and impulsiveness—affected her own outlook, saying she had grown tougher and more willing to speak up in ways she previously might have overthought.
As the series finale approaches, Tung’s representatives and industry observers say the coming months will be pivotal. The combination of streaming prominence, stage experience and fashion visibility has positioned her to attract higher-value commercial opportunities, but advisers stress the importance of curating future roles and maintaining personal boundaries. Tung herself has signaled continued interest in a range of projects and said she wants to “dip [her] toe into everything,” a strategy that could shape whether her early momentum translates into long-term career stability.
Tung’s rise underscores both the speed at which young performers can be propelled into public life and the multifaceted demands that follow. Her path from LaGuardia classrooms to a leading television role, Broadway performances and brand partnerships illustrates the convergence of talent, timing and industry interest that defines contemporary breakout success.