Pixar’s next hit is coming, this time in the form of Luca! The story about a young boy named Luca, who ventures beyond his home in the sea to a picturesque seaside village of Portorosso in Italy. There he meets a whole host of characters in the charming little village, but he and his friend Alberto must hide the fact that they are sea monsters from their newfound acquaintances. We spoke with Emma Berman who plays Giulia Marcovaldo, who lives in Portorosso with her father and befriends Luca and Alberto.

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s original feature film “Luca” is a coming-of-age story about two friends’ summer of unforgettable fun that’s threatened by their deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world.

Berman’s Giulia is an outgoing young adventurer. She’s curious, charming, friendly, and competitively determined. She spends her summers with her father in Portorosso and has developed a rivalry with the town bully, Ercole. She becomes fast friends with Luca and Alberto, who stumble into town not knowing anyone. The three decide to team up together in the local race and become a part of a team set on beating Ercole.

We spoke Emma Berman about playing Giulia and how that experience shaped her career and her love of acting. We also talked about creating Luca during a pandemic and what that looked like for the actors. Watch The Beat‘s exclusive chat with Berman below!

Luca starts streaming exclusively on Disney+ and in theaters on June 18th!