Bella Murphy reveals how ‘roommates’ helped her overcome acting nerves

Bella Murphy is stepping into the spotlight on her own terms with Netflix’s coming-of-age comedy-drama Roommates.

The 24-year-old actress stars alongside Sadie Sandler, Chloe East and Jaya Harper in the film, which marks Murphy’s first major studio project independent of her father, Eddie Murphy.

Despite already appearing in Coming 2 America and Fairyland, Murphy admitted she felt unexpectedly nervous once filming for Roommates began.

Recalling her first days on set, the actress said she even asked director Chandler Levack for guidance about how to approach her character Amber, only to be told to simply “be yourself.”

Murphy explained that the advice initially caught her off guard, saying she struggled with figuring out how to naturally bring herself into the role.

Over time, however, she realized much of Amber’s personality closely reflected her own quiet and observant nature.

The actress described herself as the friend who notices things others may miss, adding that incorporating parts of her real personality into the character ultimately made the experience more authentic and enjoyable.

While the nerves were real at first, Murphy said the supportive environment created by her castmates quickly helped everyone settle in.

She revealed that the group formed a close friendship during filming and continued staying connected long after production wrapped.

According to Murphy, their group chat remains active, especially around major events such as the film’s April premiere, where the actresses exchanged outfit ideas and fashion advice ahead of walking the red carpet.

Looking back on the experience, Murphy said the project taught her an important lesson about trusting herself both on set and during auditions.

The actress admitted she once approached auditions with fear and anxiety but now views them as opportunities for growth and self-improvement.

She said she has learned to focus less on perfection and more on enjoying the process.

Murphy also shared that she remains open to exploring different genres in the future, whether it involves comedy like her father’s work or entirely different storytelling styles.

“I’m a little bit interested in everything,” she said, explaining that she is mainly drawn to stories that feel meaningful and relatable.

Roommates is currently streaming on Netflix.