Do you remember your first heartbreak? We do, and AnnaSophia Robb (she / her) is to blame. Way back in 2007, the actress sent us (and millions of other tweens) into a serious crying jag during her breakout film Bridge to Terabithia. Since then, the 27-year-old has sparked every other emotion in viewers, too: The Carrie Diaries made us jealous (hello, dream closet), Little Fires Everywhere made us enraged… and her new series, Dr. Death has us very, very freaked out.

(Yes, it is based on that “Dr. Death” who terrorized Texas patients until brave doctors and attorneys sent him to prison. Yes, Joshua Jackson is really creepy in the lead. Yes, we still want to jump him. Anyway…)

We asked AnnaSophia if she’s scared of doctors now, how she grew into her acting career, and what it’s like being on-set with Reese Witherspoon.

What was it like filming a show about terrible doctors during a global health crisis?
[Laughing.] Yeah, I know! It’s interesting promoting it, because it’s like, “It’s a bad doctor!” But then, the heroes of our story are 2 really good doctors and a nurse who called this guy out. They were like, “Hey, this guy is a sociopath. He needs to be stopped.”

You were recently in The Act, too, which is another eerie medical show. Do you have a tiny fear of hospitals now?
I mean, it’s nothing we already didn’t know. It’s a system sort of failing. We put our faith in it, and it’s corrupt because it’s bureaucratic and they’re prioritizing money over people. But I think what’s so important about these stories is continuing the conversation, so it’s not just about the people who’ve been hurt. It’s also preventative, and I know that’s really important for [the real life] Dr. Henderson, Dr. Kirby, and Michelle Shughart. I met them, and they’re like, “We’re so grateful the show is coming out, and we really hope it’s helpful to patients and patients’ rights. We want hospitals to be more accountable.” That’s their whole goal.

How did you balance giving your best performance while also respecting the real woman your character is based on?
I was able to meet with Michelle Shughart beforehand and interview her. I remember [our showrunner] Patrick MacManus said, “Oh, she’s so nice.” I thought, “Really, Patrick? She’s a prosecutor?” As soon as I met her, it was like, “Oh, this is exactly what the script is,” so I wanted to stay as close to that as possible… She’s really fascinating because she’s not your run-of-the-mill prosecutor. I asked her, “Have you always been kind?” And she was saying yes and how she wants to treat every defendant the same. She told me, “I can still be nice to you and put you in prison.” [Laughing.] That kind of sums up who she is. So talking with her was really influential in playing this character.

You played a teen Reese in Little Fires Everywhere and a teen SJP in Carrie Diaries. How do you approach playing the younger roles of these iconic actresses?
The Carrie Diaries was very different in tone than Sex and the City. I watched SATC religiously because I loved it. But there was a certain spirit I tried to bring that wasn’t the emphasis of the show. But with Little Fires, I just watched Reese. I came on set and I studied her. Of course, I didn’t want to do an imitation. So it was Reese, but then it was also what character is she playing? What is she doing in this younger version before she’s solidified as that older Elena?

Even outside of Carrie Diaries, you’ve always had enviable style. When did you first become interested in fashion?
I remember on Bridge to Terabithia, I had great costumes and they were really inventive. Once I finished that, I started cutting up tights and wearing them as shirts and tie-dyeing, and I wanted to make things and use ribbons and tie stuff. That’s when I was interested in the playfulness of fashion. Once I was in The Carrie Diaries, being exposed to name brands and living in New York and going to Fashion Week, realizing that it’s wearable art was really exciting. And that you can change the way people perceive you through fashion based on if you’re wearing some grungy sack dress and have tousled hair, or something that’s really elevated and preppy. You can sort of morphe into a character.

A lot of us first met you in Bridge to Terabithia. Was it difficult transitioning from child star to adult actress?
It definitely was a challenge. We were really thoughtful—I say “we” because it never feels like just me. I have a whole team of people, and we’re all working together. I think if I was by myself, it would be scary… For me, it’s always been about picking good material. Thankfully, I feel like I came of age at a time when there are a lot more roles that are three-dimensional. Little Fires Everywhere was a really fantastic opportunity to play a teenager that’s 18-19, and then play a mother. I felt like that happened because it was Kerry [Washington] and Reese [Witherpsoon] telling this story. Those are the kind of projects they’re trying to tell, that are representative of all women of all ages. So that’s the goal… But it’s been a long journey. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years! It makes my head spin, but it’s been a fun ride, for sure.

Have you always wanted to be an actress?
Yeah! It’s strange, my mom tells me stories of when I was 2, just pointing at the TV. I was kind of obsessed with it when I was growing up, and then I started taking acting classes, so I got right into film and television. But for me, when I went to college, it was a deeper dive into why do I love storytelling and drama and theatre? These more theoretical questions [like] what is representation? How do we tell stories that are showing new ways of being or different types of people, so that someone who lives in a bubble can see a story very much outside themselves and empathize? I think that’s a really important way of communicating ideas and starting conversations.