Camila Mendes Shares How She Realized Her 'Work Crush' on Boyfriend Rudy Mancuso Was the Real Deal (Exclusive)

"It's really attractive to watch your significant other kind of direct a movie and lead in such a powerful way," Mendes told PEOPLE of working alongside Mancuso on 'Música'

Camila Mendes is opening up about when she knew she had feelings for her boyfriend Rudy Mancuso.

The Riverdale alum, 29, told PEOPLE at the New York City premiere of Upgraded on Wednesday night that her feelings for the internet sensation, 31, began as a "work crush."

"I obviously had a little crush, but I didn't know if it was just a work crush or if it was real," Mendes recalled. "And when I met him in person, it became very clear to me that it was real."

Related: Camila Mendes Says She's 'Still in the Honeymoon' Phase with Rudy Mancuso

The couple, who celebrated their one-year anniversary last July, first met over Zoom while working on the upcoming Amazon film Música, which is loosely based on Mancuso's life growing up in New Jersey.

Mancuso wrote, directed and stars in Música, and Mendes confessed that she was also drawn to him because of his leadership skills.

"It's really attractive to watch your significant other kind of direct a movie and lead in such a powerful way," she praised.

Related: Who Is Camila Mendes' Boyfriend? All About Rudy Mancuso

Later this year, the couple will star opposite each other in the romantic comedy centered on a man who constantly hears music in his head as he tries to figure out his future and his love life while balancing obligations in a Brazilian family.

Mendes rarely posts about her romance on social media, but on Wednesday, she jointly posted Amazon's announcement of the film, which will premiere at SXSW 2024 and be available to stream on April 4.

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Last summer, she posted a photo on Instagram showing her and Mancuso kissing with their arms wrapped tightly around each other.

She captioned the sweet snap: "Always in our own little world 💭 te amo so much. one year down, and many more to go 🤞🏽"

Mancuso simply commented, "Amoooooooooor."

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