Actress Camila Mendes has shared insights into how she prepared for her latest role as a reality TV producer in the upcoming film Idiotka, set to release on February 27, 2026.
In an interview with People Magazine, Mendes explained that she watched extensively several reality shows to capture the nuances of her character, Nicol. She cited Project Runway as one of her go-to inspirations and added, “But also, the one that we kept referencing for this was The Hype. I watched that one quite a bit, ’cause, tonally, it felt like this is more DIY reality.”
Mendes emphasized that Nicol represents the cutting edge of reality TV, striving to innovate beyond traditional formats. “We’re not those cut and dry fashion shows, like we’re doing it differently,” she noted, aligning her preparation with her character’s inventive approach.
To deepen her performance, Mendes spoke with participants of fashion competition shows. She said, “That was a very helpful perspective to have. So then I wanted to get on the other side of that and think, ‘If I were a producer who really took what I did seriously, what would that look like?’”
Mendes added that her character’s manipulation in the film is grounded in genuine intentions: “Ultimately, Nicol is really trying to uplift Margarita and give her the platform to succeed. And she’s doing that by sort of planting a few seeds and being a little manipulative.”
Idiotka promises a fresh take on reality TV dynamics, with Mendes’ nuanced portrayal of Nicol at the heart of the story, captivating audiences when it hits theaters later this month.