Annabelle Rackham,Cultural reporter
Many would love to play their favorite book character in a film or on TV â but Emily Carey has made that dream come true.
The 21-year-old stars in the teen drama Geek Girl, an adaptation of the book series of which she is a âhuge fanâ.
âI love these books, I think I read the first one when I was 10 or 11,â he told the BBC.
Carey plays Harriet Manners, a high-flying high school student who is the target of a bully, but accidentally becomes a supermodel.
He said he felt âlooked atâ in the main character.
âTeenagers are allowed to be imperfectâ
The book is based on a true story from its author, Holly Smale, who says seeing her book adapted for the small screen has been an âincredible experienceâ.
âI have dreamed of this for a long time, but you always worry that it will not quite meet your expectations,â she said.
The novel, first published in 2013, has been adapted into a 10-part series by Netflix, although it is not yet known whether the other five books in the series will also be adapted.
Smale said it was a deliberate choice to make the show different from other teenage dramas, as it tried to reflect her life experiences rather than the glossy TV version.
âWeâre all flawed in many ways and for me, regardless of what kind of character Iâm playing, itâs very important to show peopleâs reactions in a way that they either want to or say they donât want to,â Smale said.
âItâs human and itâs really important for teenagers to understand that theyâre allowed to be imperfect, sometimes theyâre allowed to not be liked,â he said.
Both Smale and Carey feel passionately about reclaiming the word geek and centering the show around characters who think learning is cool.
âI was bullied and teased for the same reason Harriet was on the show, because she wanted to try school and get good exam results,â Carey said.
Carey, who also stars in Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, said that now that sheâs grown up, she understands why teenagers feel that way.
âIt was fun and therapeutic for my daughter to play Harriet,â she added.
Smale also described the catharsis of writing the book, describing it as âa gift to my own sonâ.
âI was able to make peace with myself and accept myself in a way that I didnât when I was younger,â she says.
Ultimately, the show should be a great story, with Harrietâs struggles with school bullies and friendships interspersed with rising stars and exciting love interests.
The close family ties are evident, especially through Annabelâs supportive stepmother and Wilburâs caring modeling agent and mentor.
Smale says he âdeliberatelyâ wrote what he describes as a modern version of the fairy tale, having grown up in a world dominated by Disney.
âI played with stereotypes â you have a godmother in Wilbur and a stepmother (Harriet), we do not go down the bad trope (route), I want them to be inspiring, strong and compassionate women,â he added.
âI unmasked on setâ
Another important aspect of the show is the representation of neurodiversity.
Smale wrote Geek Girl before she was diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia, but has retroactively described Harriet as having both conditions as well.
He said the team behind the show were âincredibly supportiveâ when it came to setting the right tone.
âI donât have to worry too much because Iâm autistic, I have my own life experiences so I can have that voice,â she said.
Carey is also autistic and said that although she âlaughedâ at facing the part on screen, she âlearned a lotâ about herself through playing Harriet.
âI unmasked on set and then described that the camera was very new to me and sometimes difficult to navigate.
âBut the truth is, the character is so much more than autism â Harriet is so many amazing things,â added Carey.