Yes, all jokes about her resemblances to other actresses aside, Alba Baptista did an amazing job embodying all the different parts of this character. Honestly, I think we do kind of get distracted by how hot she is, she is very much the typical pretty thin white lead, for sure, and as you said, when she dresses up or is all serious like in the cool girl walk after taking off the habit, it’s right there, BUT, Ava is a freaking dork.
Everything she thinks and feels is right there on her face, and a lot of that is just curiosity or naivete and she’s just cute in those moments. And come on, nobody who makes those puns and then like, wiggles her eyebrows to make sure she gets a laugh is a Cool Girl.