Inde Navarrette has explained why she deliberately avoided forming close friendships while filming Obsession, saying the decision allowed her to stay focused on the demanding horror role. During a recent conversation with writer-director Curry Barker, Navarrette discussed how she approached playing Nikki and why maintaining professional boundaries initially helped her performance.
The discussion took place at a special Obsession screening hosted by Focus Features in Beverly Hills. The conversation was reported by The Hollywood Reporter, with Barker also praising Navarrette for bringing a different energy to Nikki than he originally envisioned.
Inde Navarrette Wanted the Focus to Stay on ‘Obsession’
Navarrette revealed that she entered the production with an unusual rule for herself. Rather than trying to become close with the cast and crew immediately, she decided that concentrating on the movie needed to come first.
“Something that I’ve never done on a set before was, I went on Obsession and I was like, ‘I don’t want to make any friends,’”
Navarrette said during the discussion. She clarified that the decision was not about being unfriendly, but about making sure personal relationships did not interfere with her performance.
The actress explained that she viewed Nikki as an important opportunity to demonstrate a wider range as a performer. She worried that becoming close with people on set could make it harder to step away from the group when she needed time to prepare emotionally for particularly intense scenes.
Navarrette ultimately found that Barker supported that approach. She said their working relationship allowed her to ask for time alone when necessary without worrying about hurting anyone’s feelings.
Curry Barker Praises Navarrette’s Take on Nikki
Barker also revealed that Navarrette changed his initial vision for Nikki during the casting process. He had originally imagined the character as more of a sweet, approachable girl-next-door figure.
According to Barker, Navarrette brought a noticeably sassier personality to the role, which changed the dynamic between Nikki and Bear, played by Michael Johnston. He explained that her interpretation made Bear appear even more firmly trapped in the friend zone.
Obsession has since become a major breakout success for both Barker and Navarrette. The horror film was produced for a reported $750,000 and became a box-office phenomenon after Focus Features acquired it following its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. Recent coverage has placed its worldwide gross above $500 million.
Navarrette’s performance has also helped propel her career forward. Following Obsession, she landed the role of Rogue in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men movie and has continued adding major projects to her slate, including Apple’s The Waffle House Index.