Olivia Cooke on dying young

MANILA, Philippines - This is the story of three teens — Greg, Earl and Rachel. It is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of high-school senior year and all the crazy journey on finally getting to know themselves fully. The film’s head-on approach to the complex issues and emotions it tackles is not typical for teen movies wehre it is not just about first love or any of the usual things. It’s about a young man realizing what kind of person he wants to be and having to consider what could happen if one loses someone just as you’re getting to know them.

Headlining the cast of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl are young actors in the beginning of their careers: Thomas Mann as Greg, Olivia Cooke as Rachel, and RJ Cyler as Greg’s best friend Earl.

Rachel is an unusual girl even before her illness, and her troubles merely accentuate her singularity. “Rachel has never been focused on being popular,” says director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. “She is an artist and young artists are often outsiders, and now she’s maturing quickly. When you think that your life is about to be cut short, why not spend it with people as genuine as Greg and Earl?”

Cooke’s innate ability to inspire compassion made her perfect for the role, says Mann. “She just feels so right as Rachel. You automatically care about her as a person, which is what the character needs.”

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is now showing in theaters from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros.