Inde Navarrette is adjusting to an unexpected career breakthrough after starring in Obsession, director Curry Barker’s horror film that became a major box-office success. In an episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, recorded before an audience of around 500 students at Chapman University, the 25-year-old actress reflected on the attention surrounding her performance, the possibility of returning for a sequel, and her upcoming role as Rogue in Marvel’s X-Men reboot.
Navarrette described her rapid rise as a whirlwind, saying,
“I feel like I’m Dorothy in the tornado.”
The response to Obsession has placed her in awards-season conversations and made her a widely discussed new face in Hollywood. However, she says she is trying to stay grounded while choosing roles that allow her to demonstrate a wider acting range.
Before the film, Navarrette appeared in projects including 13 Reasons Why and Superman & Lois, following years of auditions and professional uncertainty.
How Obsession Changed Navarrette’s Career
Navarrette plays Nikki Freeman, a young woman whose personality changes dramatically after a supernatural wish makes her fall obsessively in love with her friend. The film was made on a reported $750,000 budget and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 before Focus Features acquired it.
Following its theatrical release in May 2026, Obsession became a remarkable commercial hit. Focus Features reported that the film had crossed $224.7 million worldwide by June, while its reception also helped bring Navarrette’s performance to a much wider audience.
The actress said she deliberately kept some of Nikki’s most intense reactions private during rehearsals, wanting to preserve their authenticity for filming. She also explained that she has been trying to understand storytelling more deeply by studying movies and anime, including Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer.
Navarrette is open to reprising Nikki if Barker develops a sequel. She believes the character would be beginning a difficult grieving process after the film’s traumatic events, particularly because Nikki loses control over her own autonomy.
The film has also influenced how Navarrette talks about relationships. She emphasized that love should not determine someone’s identity or self-worth, explaining that people should maintain their independence while allowing themselves to love others.
Her approach to sudden fame is similarly measured. Navarrette enjoys the memes and online attention inspired by the film, but says she reminds herself that not every public reaction needs to become her personal concern.
Marvel’s Rogue Is Her Next Major Challenge
Navarrette is preparing to play Rogue, also known as Anna Marie, in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men reboot, directed by Jake Schreier. She wants to honor the character’s history while bringing her own interpretation to the role.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she explained that she wants audiences to trust her with characters who feel fully realized, even when those characters are difficult or imperfect.
Navarrette is also interested in physically transforming herself for future performances, including a project titled The Waffle House Index. Rather than relying on the momentum of Obsession alone, she says she wants to make deliberate career choices and pursue characters that challenge her.
