Skip to main content
Young Hollywood
YH Studio

Bella Thorne, Bianca A. Santos, & Skyler Samuels on the Meaning Behind 'The DUFF'

Bella Thorne, Bianca A. Santos, & Skyler Samuels on the Meaning Behind 'The DUFF'

5:08·By Gemma G
Featuring
Share

About this video

The YH Studio welcomes 'The DUFF' actresses Bella Thorne, Bianca A. Santos, and Skyler Samuels to tell us more about their intriguing comedy film and how the title can be interpreted in a variety of ways. They also tell us what they themselves were "designated" as in high school, plus they talk school crushes and their favorite places to think and/or make out!

CHAPTERS

KEY MOMENTS

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Read alongShow ↓
Young Hollywood

Looking at the three of you, I clearly didn't get the dressing up memo. Anyway, you look stunning.

Bella Thorne

I like your business.

Skyler Samuels

Thanks.

Bella Thorne

You felt like you had to say that, didn't you? No, no, I'm just kidding. But to clarify, when we're not, you know, like having work days and dressing up and like being grownups, she has regular clothes. We're dressing exactly like that. That doesn't make me feel like I look ugly. She looks beautiful. She's got her hair up and glasses. Just don't.

Young Hollywood

Girls, party at my place. I'm sure you've heard of it. Katelyn, can you make sure you get an insert shot of them opening it? Yep.

Bella Thorne

Oh yeah, I'm doing a video about the party for my YouTube channel.

Young Hollywood

Wow, wait, you're having a party on a Wednesday? On a school night?

Bella Thorne

Yeah, I can do that.

Young Hollywood

Damn, dude. All right. Well, yeah, we're in.

Bella Thorne

Ooh, um, Bianca, you have to have an actual invite to get in and I only have a certain amount. But, um, if anything changes, I'll let you know. Problem solved.

Young Hollywood

Oh, hey. Look at that. Wonderful. Can't wait. Should I bring anything or will? Okay. In high school, if you were to name yourself a designated something, what were you?

Skyler Samuels

I was the dog. D A W G. The designated awkward, weird girl.

Young Hollywood

Designated what?

Skyler Samuels

Awkward, weird girl.

Young Hollywood

Okay. How so?

Skyler Samuels

Um, I was a super, super nerd and then would also like mysteriously vanish for work and so I was like kind of in school, like I was always there, but I'd I'd come and go and I ate lunch in the library by myself doing homework most of my days and I think people were like, what is this person? Like, who is this?

Young Hollywood

But you were working and they people knew you were on.

Skyler Samuels

Yeah, but it's funny because a lot of people would ask me like, oh, I get to make high school just like so great because, you know, you made the TV and movie. Like people in high school don't like you.

Young Hollywood

So is it a jealousy thing or what is it?

Skyler Samuels

No, they just don't like they're like, ew, she's the so and so. I think they don't know what to make of you. Sometimes, you know, the things that make us different sort of freak other people out and that tends to sort of have them categorize us as being the side or whatever.

Young Hollywood

What were you, Bella?

Bella Thorne

I want to say the designated funny girl that eats too much. It's mostly of the kind of the feeling I get from set and everybody literally is like, oh my god, are you still eating? Legit. It's amazing.

Bianca A. Santos

To me, too. So many fun dates with her. We're rehearsing the scene and I'm like shoveling a cup of noodles or a slim jim or something.

Bella Thorne

No, no, no. It's not the quantity. It's like what, like Bella has like the craziest appetite. She'd be like, let's go to dinner tonight. And we have nachos with carne asada, we have chicken noodle soup, we have pizza, we have Cheetos, spicy chicken wings. Oh my god. I'm like, what is this? So deep. Cheeseburgers all day, every day. Oh. Oh. Cheeseburgers with bacon and avocado. And I don't want to miss.

Young Hollywood

What were you the designated in heights?

Bianca A. Santos

I was also the dog. D A W G.

Young Hollywood

So who did you guys have in your teen years high school like sort of a crush on or somebody that you couldn't speak around?

Skyler Samuels

Every year of high school it was different. I don't want to name their names because they might be watching.

Young Hollywood

Who was yours?

Bella Thorne

Can I tell you my current, like someone that I was just like, oh my gosh. Okay. Ryan Hurst from Sons of Anarchy. I just like, if I could work with him, I would die and come back to life and then die once again and then eat a fat cheeseburger and then.

Bianca A. Santos

I love him from Sons of Anarchy.

Young Hollywood

Can somebody get Bella some food, please? Seriously. Next time you come in here, we'll make sure we have your full meal set for you.

Bella Thorne

I expect that on my next film that I'm in here for an interview, I expect that.

Young Hollywood

So in the film there's this place called the rock where people go either to think or make out. Right. What's your place? To think or make out? Yeah. Either. But both.

Skyler Samuels

No, I'm just kidding. I have a tree. There's this tree up at school that has sort of like a a funny branch that's pretty low to the ground. So you sort of like pop up and sit and watch the sunset. Good to study. I haven't smooched anyone there. But who knows? I could. You never know.

Bianca A. Santos

I like to be in nature where I could just go away. So sometimes like if it's if I'm if it means going to the beach or hiking, whatever it is. Just get out.

Young Hollywood

The whole point of the movie is the designated ugly fat friend. We are all a duck at one point in our lives. One of you felt like a duck.

Bella Thorne

I think the duck is not just about, you know, the the title itself. Sorry, my stomach is currently growling. I'm just kidding. Um, I think it's more than than just the title. I mean, anyone can be a definite. It's not just the looks. It's like, you know, feeling it feeling like an outsider also. But, you know, anyone can be more athletic or richer than you or prettier than you or more better at this than you. Like, I think it's kind of with everything in life. There's always been There's always somebody that's always had.

Skyler Samuels

Or at like any given moment in life, we can feel like an outsider and it's sort of a matter of whether or not we decide to let that label define our behavior or if we're like, I'm weird, but I'm I'm just as incredible and awesome and weird, too. Yeah. Embracing the weird versus letting the weird sort of make you feel afraid and sort of outside and excluded from everyone else.

Young Hollywood

It was great having you guys here. This film. Thank you so much. It was so enjoyable. The performances are so much fun. I want there to be a sequel. Thanks again for coming.

Bella Thorne

Thank you so much. So much fun.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Bella Thorne

    Actress in 'The DUFF' and interviewee

  • Bianca A. Santos

    Actress in 'The DUFF' and interviewee

  • Skyler Samuels

    Actress in 'The DUFF' and interviewee

  • Ryan Hurst

    Actor Bella Thorne has a crush on

FAQ

Who are the actresses interviewed from 'The DUFF'?+
The actresses interviewed are Bella Thorne, Bianca A. Santos, and Skyler Samuels.
What is 'The DUFF' about?+
The film 'The DUFF' explores how the title can be interpreted in various ways, focusing on the idea that anyone can feel like an outsider or a 'DUFF' at some point.
What does 'DUFF' stand for?+
DUFF stands for 'Designated Ugly Fat Friend'.
Where do people go to think or make out in 'The DUFF' movie?+
In the film, there's a place called 'the rock' where people go either to think or make out.
Editor's Cut

MORE FROM YH STUDIO

View all →

Hand-picked by the Young Hollywood editors — the stories shaping YH Studio this week.