Playing a character from a popular book or classic film can be a tough job for the actors who play them, and Marissa Bode, Iñaki Godoy, Nikki Rodriguez, Leah Jeffries, and Joy Sunday know a thing or two about intense fandoms.
The four actors joined Teen Vogue’s Culture Editor Kaitlyn McNab at Teen Vogue Summit 2025 for the Fandom Fueled, Character Driven panel discussion. All four performers have starred in films or TV series that have dedicated fanbases, several of which were based on beloved books. But unending loyalty is sometimes accompanied by harsh criticism. Fans can be even more protective of characters if the actors don’t bring them to life in the way they pictured, and are seldom subtle in their feelings.
The four all opened up about fan interactions, fan edits, and the moment that they realized they were part of something important. As the actors took the stage, Godoy noticed fans wearing straw hats like his One Piece character Monkey D. Luffy, illustrating just how connected people are to the characters.
Joy Sunday said it's important to focus on the art itself. "I think you have to make expectations for yourself,” she said. “I don't feel the weight of the world when doing my art, because it's my art, at the end of the day.”
Bode, who has had a whirlwind year promoting Wicked, said that surrounding herself with people who ground her is essential during such a highly publicized time in her life.
“It truly is just surrounding myself with people I love and care about and know that they will hold me accountable for anything,” Bode said.
As for Leah Jeffries, playing an established role like Annabeth Chase in Percy Jackson and the Olympians has brought on new pressure — particularly since she is the first Black actor to play the character and “also wear braids in the show.” Jeffries said her current braids are the ones featured in the show, which caused a round of applause from the audience. Outside of playing this character, Jeffries said she hopes to one day play a “deep” character like Rue from Euphoria.
“I really wanna do something that people really think about,” she continued.
Nikki Rodriguez is also in the midst of starring in My Life with the Walter Boys, which has brought an onslaught of dedicated fans who have a lot to say about the characters. “I think it's natural to feel a little bit of pressure, but I really just try to be truthful and authentic to however Jackie is feeling in that moment,” Rodriguez said. “But it's so great to see how opinionated people are.”
She continued: “It's really awesome that people are so invested in caring the way that they do.”
Godoy is also connected to the fans and said he uses fan art of his character as his phone background. He even learned Japanese to speak to fans of the graphic novels. Godoy is also a big advocate for recognizing the journey you've been on and giving yourself more credit for success. “It's not just luck because you build your own opportunities,” he said.
Marissa Bode entered mainstream notoriety after becoming the first wheelchair user to play Nessarose Thropp in the film adaptation of Wicked. The 25-year-old had been a stage actor before entering the world of film, performing in productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Mary Poppins. She is a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and was selected on the OUT100 List in 2024 and Variety’s Young Hollywood Impact List in 2025.
Iñaki Godoy is a Mexican actor who has found success with multiple roles across acclaimed Netflix shows, including One Piece, The Imperfects, and Who Killed Sara? along with Spanish-language films and series. At 22 years old, Godoy is just getting started with his rise to acting prominence.
Nikki Rodriguez is best known for her lead role on the beloved Netflix YA series, My Life With the Walter Boys. Rodriguez plays Jackie Howard, who is forced to move to a rural part of Colorado from her native New York City after her parents tragically died. The coming-of-age series has solidified Rodriguez as a YA starlet.
Leah Jeffries is an actor who started her career at age five with roles in Empire (2015), Rel (2018-19), Beast (2022), and Something from Tiffany’s (2022). But she’s most recently known for her role as Annabeth Chase in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. With her continued success in acting, Jeffries received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth two years in a row.
Joy Sunday is a professionally-trained and skilled actor who has risen in recent fame due to her part as Bianca Barclay in Tim Burton’s Netflix series Wednesday. The New York City native trained at the famed LaGuardia High School and later went on to graduate from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with an honors degree in Critical Studies. Her previous roles include Bad Hair, Sh*thouse, and The Beta Test.
