Jennifer Tong and Emilija Baranac Say Filming 'Fakes' Was Like Working 'With My Best Friend'

While Tong doesn't consider herself a badass, her character, Rebecca Li, certainly is. Teenager Rebecca navigates difficult family dynamics, crushes and friendships with a flair for style as she and her best friend - stressed out superstar student Zoe Christensen (played by 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before" alum Emilija Baranac) — inadvertently built one of the largest fake ID networks in North America. As their world explodes from the hallways of their high school to a luxurious penthouse and interactions with shady businessmen, Zoe and Rebecca find their strong relationship put to the test.

Baranac applauds that throughout the fourth-wall-breaking drama, the girls' connection still feels like "true friendship." She told POPSUGAR, "I feel like sometimes female friendships can be a bit stereotypical, or women are just opposite to each other, so it was really nice to see two girls who grew up together and really have a lot of love and support."

The love and support of their on-screen accidental criminal masterminds has also been transferred off-camera. The actors first met over Zoom at chemistry readings, but Baranac describes their connection as "effortless." Finding a connection through shared acting experiences — and, admittedly, a love of food — "I also felt like we'd known each other for so long. Even though we literally just met," says Baranac .

"...having someone to blow off steam or connect with who was going through the exact same thing as me was so nice."

"I think having someone, a partner to go through the filming process and everything was so crucial to me," says Tong. "It was our first two times directing a show, so having someone who is going through the exact same thing with me — and obviously that comes with its challenges and tribulations and all that — so having someone to talk to or connecting with someone who was going through the exact same thing as me was so sweet."

She continues, "It was just...I'll say it again, going to work with my best friend. That's how I felt." The feeling is mutual. Baranac replies, "It was a very special experience."

The first season of "Fakes" doesn't necessarily end with such a sweet exchange of friendship between the characters of Tong and Baranac, unfortunately. Zoe and Rebecca face the consequences of interfering in a dangerous underworld. "Audiences will wonder, 'How did we get here? And what will happen next in terms of friendship? Who is betraying whom? And how will their friendship survive?" laughs Baranac.

The women have "presented some ideas" for the making of a second season, if "Fakes" is renewed, Baranac says. They're also already equipped to continue handling scenes with a darker tone. Part of that comes from feeling "comfortable on set and supported by the cast and crew," Tong told POPSUGAR. "And I really felt that. So when we moved to, 'Yeah sure...