The Real-Life Love Story That Inspired Netflix's 'Voicemails For Isabelle'
Key takeaways
- Hollywood & Entertainment The Real-Life Love Story That Inspired Netflix's 'Voicemails For Isabelle'By Dana Feldman,
- McKendrick was emotional when discussing the inspiration behind what is one of the most beautifully written stories of love and loss in years.
- McKendrick said her love for her sister, Olivia Isabelle, was the driving force behind the script.
Hollywood & Entertainment The Real-Life Love Story That Inspired Netflix's 'Voicemails For Isabelle'By Dana Feldman,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dana Feldman is a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers entertainment.Follow Author Jun 19, 2026, 06:13pm EDTJun 19, 2026, 06:25pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Nick Robinson and Zoey Deutch in 'Voicemails for Isabelle' on Netflix.PHOTO BY DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX ©2026More than seven years before Voicemails for Isabelle debuted on Netflix, Leah McKendrick wrote the rom-com in a matter of weeks. In an interview ahead of the film’s release, she shared the real-life love story that inspired it, the chance night at a comedy show that set everything in motion, and the moment she nearly gave up on Hollywood altogether.
McKendrick was emotional when discussing the inspiration behind what is one of the most beautifully written stories of love and loss in years. In a genre often dominated by fluffy, feel-good meet-cutes, Voicemails for Isabelle stands apart. Its portrayal of overwhelming, gut-wrenching grief could easily leave its characters cynical about love. Yet it has the opposite effect, making their desire for connection feel even more urgent and profound.