The Real Reason Zoey Deutch Avoided Rom-Coms For Years Before Starring In ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’

It may be tempting to assume that once Zoey Deutch conquered hearts and became streaming cinema’s darling in ‘Set It Up‘ back in 2018, with Glen Powell, she could not resist returning to the romantic comedy genre. However, contrary to expectations, the actress took a multi-year-long break from the genre, avoiding its clichés.

Now, with the release of ‘Voicemails for Isabelle‘ on Netflix, Deutsch makes her long-awaited comeback in an original movie that, unlike previous rom-coms, reveals its emotional depth and breaks out of the box imposed on it over all those years. This pause in her acting career reflects the way the actress is moving into the next chapter of her career, freeing herself from the anxiety of her youth.

Zoey Deutch Confronts Genre Hesitations

‘Voicemails for Isabelle‘ features a peculiar plot that revolves around Jill, played by Deutch, a young woman who is striving to become a baker, trying to cope with loss following the death of her sister, Isabelle, played by Ciara Bravo. Unable to deal with the separation from the sibling she had always been talking to, she leaves voicemails on Isabelle’s old number.

However, unbeknownst to her, she has called a number assigned to Wes (Nick Robinson), a real estate agent from Austin, who falls in love with her voice.

Related: The True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Voicemails for Isabelle’, Explained

Speaking of this movie, co-star Nick Robinson said he considered the cast extremely lucky to get such a good actress for their project, since the element of a strong bond between sisters was the most interesting part of the script, despite how vocal Deutch is about saying no to rom-coms.

“I’m, quite frankly, very hesitant to do movies of this genre,” she admitted during a recent interview with the People. “I was reluctant to do another one, for sure, but I feel super grateful and couldn’t love this movie more.”

An Unusual Concept Of Heartbreak Made Deutch Interested

It seems that Deutsch decided to avoid working on romantic scripts not by accident but for personal reasons, noticing how her vision of herself has changed dramatically over time.

“I’m not 22 anymore. I feel much more aligned and grounded, and I also feel like I’m in a second chapter or new era of my career. And I just feel really inspired and excited and a lot less anxious,” she added.

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Though the movie centers on a rom-com connection, it’s a deeply personal bond that ultimately lured Deutch back to the genre. Having cherished the script for over seven years because her own sister is her best friend, the actress chose the project for its unique departure from traditional formulas, noting that “it felt deep and about grief and about love after loss and about sisters.”

‘Voicemails for Isabelle‘ honors the beloved tropes of traditional romantic cinema while establishing a mature, emotionally intelligent blueprint—proving that true relationships often grow from the fragmented pieces we try to put back together.

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