Emma Appleton Drives 'The Road Trip': Love, Chaos & Surprises in an Exclusive Interview

dress & boots DEL CORE

Emma’s new show The Road Trip from Paramount+, dropping December 26th, is all about chaos, love, and the surprises that come with life. Her character, Addie, goes on a journey of self-discovery full of wild turns, humour, and everything in between.

Addie sets off on a road trip to a wedding in southern Spain with her sister, but when her campervan is rear-ended by her ex, Dylan, and his friend, Marcus, she agrees to let him join. Together, they travel 1,500 miles back to where they first fell in love, facing unresolved tension and buried history.

Shot for the PIBE cover story, Emma Appleton stepped into the studio with a smile that instantly lit up the space and a kind of cool professionalism that comes naturally to someone who’s spent years in front of the camera. Her background in modelling and childhood passion for dancing give her an effortless confidence on set, but it’s acting that truly drives her.

In this exclusive interview, Emma gets real about life on set, creating electric on-screen chemistry, and the challenges that keep her inspired. With her signature blend of charm and groundedness, she opens up about what fuels her fire and why she’s only just getting started.

Left: dress & boots TOD’S • Right: dress TOM FORD

First of all, congratulations on The Road Trip premiering on December 26th. It’s such an exciting moment. How does it feel to see this project come to life, and what does it mean to you personally?

Emma Appleton: The life of a project is so strange because there’s a whole section of development and work that I’m not a part of, then the section post-casting and the filming and living in it, and then post-filming you say goodbye. Then there’s the whole section of being in post-production, which leads all the way up to now and its release. Which is always a humbling thought. It always feels so surreal when a project is finally going to be seen. It’s not something I ever really think about during the making of it and almost forget it’s going to (hopefully!) be seen by an audience.
Personally, I had such a great time making the road trip. Being away from home for four months means you kind of have to create a new life with a brand-new group of people, and thankfully that was so easy with the cast and crew on this. I’m also a die-hard romcom fan and think the way this story has progressed the classic romcom—by showing multiple relationship dynamics—is refreshing and clever and satisfying.

Addie’s road trip is messy, raw, and hilarious, a true journey of self-discovery. What do you think makes this chaotic adventure resonate with today’s audience?

EA: I think we are all consistently on some kind of journey of self-discovery. Life is chaotic. Love is chaotic. In all its forms. I feel seeing that chaos reflected makes it all feel a bit easier to manage. They are such universal human experiences, yet can feel so isolating to go through at times. And usually, with painful, tragic, or difficult circumstances, life does seem to be able to still give us moments of clarity, love, and hilarity, and I think it’s important to be reminded of that. 

The campervan is such a standout character in the story. Did you actually get behind the wheel, and what was it like driving and filming in such a quirky space?

EA: I can’t drive! I did attempt learning pre-shooting, but it turns out learning to drive in Brixton in two weeks is harder than I imagined. I’d be interested to know how many hours we spent in the van, actually. Thankfully, I look back only with really happy memories of filming in the van, but I’m sure there were moments when we all went slightly mad and never wanted to sit in that camper van again. It was pretty spacious, as we needed a camera in there for coverage and it never felt too cramped.

Left: jacket & trousers PAUL & JOE, earrings SONIA PETROFF, shoes MAFALDA • Right: jacket, sweater & trousers EUDON CHOI

The road trip takes us from the charm of Bristol to the sun-soaked vibes of Gran Canaria. How did these contrasting locations influence the story’s energy, and was there a particular place that truly stood out to you during filming?

EA: We filmed in Bristol first for a month. For me, that really helped give a sense of who these characters are, who they are in their hometown, how they operate in a place they know and is familiar to them. It felt grounding. A month later, we went to Gran Canaria, and it almost felt like a separate job, but having the foundation of who Addie was really helped. Although all the characters are going through different things, what they do have in common is geographical location, and they’ve all got to try and navigate that together, which gives them a common purpose. It’s interesting to see how they all handle that. The villa that is used in both timelines was a standout, but again, I think it’s because we spent so much time there we got cabin fever, and the weather was actually quite terrible.

The dynamic between Addie and Dylan is central to the series, filled with passion and love at first sight. With all the intense scenes, is it easy for you to create that kind of chemistry on screen? Do you find yourself acting in a similar way when it comes to love in real life?

EA: Chemistry is this really magical thing that will always evade me. I almost don’t want to understand it too much because I don’t think it really should be understood or quantified. It’s something you just feel, and if you feel it, hopefully that translates on screen and to an audience. Chemistry on screen and chemistry off screen are two separate things. On-screen chemistry, for me, requires a trust in each other to explore our characters, the scene, different choices, and not be afraid to try things or get something wrong. Sometimes that’s how you find the stuff that really works. I think you also just know when someone believes in their character and how that character feels for yours. It’s an unspoken but known feeling. It’s like two magnets being attracted to each other instead of being repelled, which can also work depending on the characters’ dynamic.

‘Play It By Ear’ really fits Addie’s twisty, unexpected journey. In real life, do you love the spontaneity of a road trip, or are you more of a planner?

EA: I’m both! I like a plan that can shift and move and allow room for spontaneity. I don’t like anything to be too rigid; that stresses me out. But I do like being punctual. If it’s by car, there must be a service station stop on the journey. And not just a petrol station, but a full-on service station like Beaconsfield Services, where you can have a Pizza Express.

Left: top & trousers SAKS POTTS, jewellery THOMAS SABO • Right: dress REJINA PYO, earrings SELF PORTRAIT

The show explores love, forgiveness, and timing, but with all the fun of an epic road trip. If Addie could send one postcard from the trip, what do you think it would say?

EA: I think it would start off with a few broken sentences; she hasn’t really got the words yet. And then maybe it just turns into a massive scream and eventually ends with her telling herself, or whoever it is she is writing to, to be open, trust the people who offer you love and support, and know that you don’t have to get through life completely on your own.

If you could take one of your past characters on a road trip, who’s coming with you and where are you headed? And in real life, who’s your ultimate road trip buddy?

EA: Maggie from Everything I Know About Love would be fun, chaotic but fun. A lot of car karaoke would take place, we might get lost a few times but accidentally happen upon a sea shanty rave or something equally mad and spontaneous. We’d probably want to go abroad but end up in Brighton because she’s temporarily misplaced her passport.
In real life, I’d like my core group of mates because everyone brings a special skill, which is key in the road trip journey. Some may be better planners, some better snack choosers, others world-class DJs, people who can actually drive, top navigators, etc. Everyone’s got something to bring to the journey.

Looking ahead, what’s lighting a fire in you, whether it’s a dream role, a new skill to master, or a personal challenge you’ve been secretly working on?

EA: I’ve come to realise there are a few creative endeavours I’d love to do, really have the urge to do, and I haven’t yet because I’m scared. Fear holds me back a lot when it comes to my own ideas of what I’d like to make/write, but I’m working on pushing through that, using the fear to push myself a bit further in the direction I’d like to go. Letting it fuel me rather than stop me. But also being patient with myself, which I find hard. I’m also getting the really strong urge to get back into dancing. It’s something I did for 10 years as a kid, and I find unparalleled joy in movement. It’s really good for my head. Oh, and I want to be great at making focaccia.

Interview / Lucas Pontidas, Managing Editor, PIBE

This PIBE exclusive has been produced by:
Photography / Iakovos Kalaitzakis
Styling / Joanne M Kennedy
Make up / Sharon Dowsett
using 19/99 Beauty precision colour pencil in Vas & Weleda
Hair / Sharon Robinson using Oribe
Talent / Emma Appleton
Production Assistant / Simon Alexa
Photographic Assistant / Ben Pike
Styling Assistant / Olivia Luke