SPOILER Magazine Top Interviews of All Time Part 1

Almost Dead is a postapocalyptic horrordrama adventure about triumph, growth, and the resiliency of the human spirit. With their cinematic comic book series which depicts vicious and visceral events in a raw yet beautiful way, Galaxy has redefined the genre and

nearly invented one of their own. Infusing the perilous and unexpectedly exciting journey with absolute horror and an attention to detail that’s rooted in and dedicated to realism, the creator and writers have established a nexus point between exhilaration and terror.

Editor-in-Chief

Galaxy

Design and illustration Supervisor

Ronald Garcia

Design Manager

Zerologhy

Copy Editor

Dr Mary Riley

INSIDE OUR UNIVERSE by Galaxy

Hello readers, both old and new! Welcome to our special Top Interviews of All Time of SPO!LER magazine!

Staff Writers

The Greatest Writing Team in Our Universe

Ethan Brehm

Tom Tormey

Matthew Mclachlan

Vanessa Bellew

Robert Napolitano

David Grand

Phuong Pham

Natalie Reade

Moses the “Gamer”

Bjoern Kommerell

Joshua Amber

Social Media Manager

Thor the all mighty Advertising Ads@SpoilerMagazine.com

Sponsorship Sponsorship@SpoilerMagazine.com

Press Please send all press releases to: Press@SpoilerMagazine.com

Please send all review material to: Review@SpoilerMagazine.com

Subscriptions

For all subscription enquiries please contact: Sub@SpoilerMagazine.com

Check out our website for details on how to get our DIGITAL EDITION

Circulation

Do you want this magazine at your local book store, comic book hangout, toy shop, or anywhere else for that matter? Let us know, we can make it happen. circulation@SpoilerMagazine.com

SPOILER Magazine is published by Spoiler Media Magazine Publishing. Nothing in this magazine can be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure all information in the magazine is correct, details may be subject to change. All photographic material is copyright to the relevant owner and appears with their kind permission. Visuals are used in a review context and no copyright infringement is intended. All rights reserved.

SPOILER Magazine is printed in the USA

SPOILER Magazine

7095 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood, California 90028

“Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening” - Galaxy

Inside these pages you’ll find some of the most amazing interviews from the past couple of years. We’ve curated a perfect sample of the best that SPO!LER has to offer.

You’ll notice the massive size of this issue, which was done to fit the most content possible. It’s so massive that we had to divide this issue into two parts, so those of you who love our celebrity interviews can navigate the pages with ease. All theses amazing interviews were hosted by yours truly, the conductor of our universe.

Among the fabulous celebrities interviewed here are The Boys’ Jack Quaid, Stargirl Brec Bassinger, The Walking Dead’s Eleanor Matsuura, the man with the stash Tim Rozon, Cobra Kai’s Martin Kove, and Johnny Lawrence himself William Zabka. Plus many more amazing interviews, over 800 pages!

fi

In addition, you’re going to nd a few feature articles sprinkled in, including our very popular comic book reviews and a quick glimpse at some pop culture to get you ready for 2023

I hope your 2022 was everything you hoped for. And your New Year’s wishes for 2023 comes true. So, remember no matter what, we’ll always be here for you to provide a slight distraction from all the hustle and bustle of your hectic lives.

Look out for our special mini issue spotlighting all of our winners from this year’s SPO!LER TV & Movie Awards That should be coming out in a few weeks as we’re still tallying the votes

Thank you, once again, for taking a peek into what we’ve been up to these past few years. We hope you have a great Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year!

Have fun and stay safe!

Love you all

BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

After speaking with Billy Zabka, it’s

hard to get too excited when Ralph Macchio crane-kicks him in the head at the end of 1984’s The Karate Kid. Billy’s character Johnny Lawrence is the antagonist in the generationdefining film, but the actor who plays him is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth dudes on the planet.

No matter where you stand on the “Johnny isn’t really the villain” argument, fans of the original series have been undoubtedly enjoying his redemptive arc in the hit TV series Cobra Kai, now readying for its fourth season. The show, which serves as a sequel over 30 years later, has a shift in focus to Johnny’s point of view, giving the character the sympathy that many fans have long felt he deserved.

The actor sits down to chat with Galaxy about this particular perception of his character, which has really gained steam in recent years, and reflects on his prolific career, including a 2004 Oscar nomination for his own short film Most. He tells us how he fell in love with the industry, dating all the way back to his time going to set with his father, who was an assistant director for TV and film. He also shines light on the late Pat Morita’s impact on Cobra Kai and his friendship with the actor, lamenting how he never got to enjoy meeting fans at conventions since his passing in 2005 was still a few years prior to the Comic Con boom.

Billy has never let the fame of Karate Kid affect his mindset in this business, mostly because he’s a true creative who finds sincere joy in just being able to create his art, whether behind the camera or in front. “If no one ever saw Karate Kid it would have still been one of the best times of my life,” offers the actor, who admits that even though Johnny has always been a shadow that’s followed in his peripheral, he’s always been able to find a separation between his personal life and his work, of which the goal should very well be to have a lasting impact on culture: “That’s what it’s all about.”

INTERVIEW

William Zabka/YouTube/Getty/IMDb/Sony Pictures Television/YouTube Originals/Netflix

interview interview

SPOILER: What have you been up to lately?

WILLIAM ZABKA: Well, we wrapped season 4, coming out sometime this December. Trailers will be dropping soon. [I’ve been] staying in my training, staying in shape, keeping my karate up, and riding this wave, man. And we just got a really great exciting Emmy nomination for the show for Best Comedy, so we’re doin’ some promotions for that and just doing some press and radio, talking to you guys. I went to a couple of Comic Cons in the last couple weekends which was great, having been locked down for so long, to get out and meet some of the people. So many great kids and families and all

on these kids’ faces—all the little kids in karate outfits, all the little new black belts, all the young adults that are finding strength in the Cobra Kai dojo. I’m constantly signing the backs of shirts and initiating people into Cobra Kai. It’s been a really great experience with the show, and all of Karate Kid, from the time I started back in the original film and now with Cobra Kai being fresh and relevant, and with people binge watching it especially over this last year which was pretty much locked down, and to be able to serve something up just around the world on Netflix now—people just embracing the show, embracing the characters and finding some inspiration and solace in entertainment and comedy—all that’s awesome, man. And hopefully we’re around for a little bit longer

of people in the audience—a couple thousand at least. And it’s a relationship. It’s really awesome. And we all feel that way—Ralph [Macchio] feels that way, all the cast. So we’re having the time of our life, man. And in my down time I try to spend time with my family and do my dad duties and my husband duties, and then prepare for what’s coming next and the balls are flying at me. There’s the short answer [laughs]. So the nutshell version is, “Nothing much.”

SPOILER: Let’s go to The Karate Kid real quick. You play a teenager who’s the most popular kid in school, and then all of a sudden this wimpy kid comes from another town and starts macking on your girl. And you respond. What did people expect you to do? You stood your ground and defended your honor, and yet everyone portrayed you as the bad guy. I don’t think you did anything wrong.

WILLIAM ZABKA: Listen, that’s a nice way to look at the story. One thing I loved about playing Johnny and the reason why I was able to play Johnny was the very ending where he hands him the trophy and says, “You’re alright, LaRusso,” and the moment before that when Kreese says, “Sweep the leg,” and Johnny has this check, [when he realizes] he doesn’t trust his mentor anymore. So Johnny, if he was on his own he probably wouldn’t have taken it this far. He did kick him down the hill off a motorcycle—that wasn’t really called for. He’s a champion black belt unleashing weapons on somebody who’s defenseless. So

that makes him the villain. He is the villain in that sense. But the real villain is the thinking and the world view of the karate he was taught, which is really reflective of when Miyagi says, “There’s no such thing as a bad student, only a bad teacher.’’ So here’s Johnny who’s, in a sense, a victim of Kreese because he had a really bad teacher. If he had a Miyagi, he would have been a different kind of person.

What I love about the end of Karate and the beginning of Karate Kid , was when Kreese tells Johnny he’s a loser and proceeds to choke him out and Johnny drops to the floor, it’s Miyagi who comes in to save the day. So the goodness and the right way of doing martial arts is you learn it, not to be aggressive, but as a defensive art. So there’s a lot of lessons and layers in there. Viewing Johnny as a human being, that’s how I processed it. So from my point of view, it was exactly as you described—it was a kid stealing his girlfriend, and at the end he wakes up and realizes his teaching was wrong. This is how you know Johnny’s the villain: Back when that movie played in the movie theater, when that crane kick happened for the very first time, you’d never seen 300 people jump to their feet at the same time. Nobody was out there practicing getting their head kicked back [like Johnny]—they were all doing crane kicks in the parking lot. They were happy to see Johnny go down [laughs]. But what a great movie, right? What great storytelling, which is all great fertilizer for what we’re doing now with Cobra Kai

SPOILER: Were people bugging you back then when the movie came out?

WILLIAM ZABKA: It was a slow burn for me. In those days, you had movies like Top Gun that were overnight blockbusters. Karate Kid was released in small theaters, limited theaters, but word of mouth made that movie spread. And it ended up in the theaters for like six months. It was a few people looking at me at first, and then slowly it became more, and then all of a sudden my life started changing in terms of becoming exposed.

SPOILER: Is that what got you into martial arts?

WILLIAM ZABKA: I was trained by Pat Johnson. I was a wrestler, so I was limber and in shape—but to take somebody from scratch and make them convincing as a black belt in a movie, I was on a fast track. So I’m a second green belt, but my training is mostly for film. And it was that movie and other karate movies as well. But after Karate Kid, it became such a part of who I was that I continued training with Pat Johnson privately and then into Roger Lacombe’s karate studio in Thousand Oaks, part of Chuck Norris’ system. In recent days, I’ve been training with Simon Reed, who’s another master.

I was very much a marked man in karate. When I was testing for my green belt, I had a couple black belts I had to spar with—they were all going after my head trying to knockout Johnny Lawrence. I’m like, “Come on, dude! I’m just an actor!” [laughs]

SPOILER: you are this nostalgic dude. Everyone loves you. You’re in your 50s still doing this.

WILLIAM ZABKA: the Johnny Lawrence skin and give him some depth and humanity. I’ve had so many men come up to me and go, “Man, you’re me right now; you’re fighting through it.” That was my one contingency on doing I met with the three creators: Josh

William Zabka/Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Television/YouTube Originals/Netflix

[Heald], Jon [Hurwitz], and Hayden [Schlossberg]—the three amigos who took me out to lunch and pitched it to me. My main concern was that [Johnny] was gonna take a proverbial crane kick to the face by the end of the series. He’s gotta have a redemptive arc, layers, depth, humanity. And they really assured me of that, and they’re writing amazing material. This is a different Johnny Lawrence in a sense. The first time we met him he was 18-years-old with that life experience. Now, 35 years later, with all the life that’s happened from then to now, there’s a whole new bag of experiences to draw from—in real life and as an actor being in the film business for so long. It’s awesome and I really appreciate the embrace I’m getting from the fans. When I turn into Johnny Lawrence, Billy Zabka just kinda vanishes for a few months. And it takes maybe a month or two for me to come back and feel like myself again [laughs]. I really am living this character and putting my heart out there. It’s a vulnerable thing to do, but to know that it’s resonating with fans and inspiring or entertaining somebody, or making them feel like they can better themselves—that we’re a work in progress—that’s what Johnny Lawrence represents, and I think that’s why people are responding to it.

SPOILER: Your dad was one of the directors on The Tonight Show during the Johnny Carson era. Did you ever meet Johnny and did any of that inspire you to want to get into show business?

WILLIAM ZABKA: My dad was the associate director and my mom was Johnny Carson’s brother’s assistant, so my parents met on that show. But I don’t think he was still working on that when I was a kid. But my dad was an Emmy Award winning staff director for a soap opera called The Doctors and did lots of different television stuff in New York. So when I was a kid, I lived in Long Island, and my dad would get me on the train with him when I was five-years-old

and take me to NBC in the city. I got to walk around the sets, I got to see the control rooms. I was fascinated even back then by it, to walk onto the soundstage, and walk into what you think is a hospital room, and open up the door and it’s just a bunch of sticks holding it up and you see all the props everywhere and all the cameras. It was just something I grew up with.

And I never met Johnny Carson, but I met many other people because we moved to California when I was 10 and my father ended

up working on tons of shows, such as The Love Boat and this and that. Then he worked with Clint Eastwood for a long time. He worked on Midnight Run and Chuck Norris’ Forced Vengeance. So I was around all that and I think, just by osmosis, it was something that was very natural for me to want to do. So after high school I went to film school. I wanted to be a filmmaker. I always dreamed of being an actor, but if I really wanted to be an actor I think I would have gone to Juilliard or some acting school. Meanwhile, I

William Zabka/Sony Pictures Television/YouTube Originals/Netflix

was auditioning and got The Karate Kid. So I pulled out of film school and then the roles started coming in. And then I realized I was learning more on set actually doing it than I could ever learn in school. And now I’m producing and acting on [Cobra Kai]. I’m just as happy doing [either]. If I’m behind the camera I don’t have to worry about getting in the makeup trailer. I love to create. I love to be the conductor and not just the guitar sometimes.

SPOILER: So you like being in front of the camera and behind the camera equally?

WILLIAM ZABKA: Equally. I produced a short film that I wrote and we shot in Europe that was nominated for an Oscar back in 2004, and that may have been the most fulfilled I’ve ever been as an artist. It gathered every part of me together. I was actually supposed to be in the movie, but I realized that I didn’t want to put myself on my own canvas. I just felt like I’d be violating some law.

My father used to say, “Find something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” If no one ever saw Karate Kid it would have still been one of the best times of my life; one of the highlights of my life.

SPOILER: Did you ever find yourself trying to separate yourself from Johnny Lawrence in the eyes of fans?

WILLIAM ZABKA: I’m sure a little bit. I really didn’t pay much attention to that. Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid is always gonna be and always has been in my peripheral. It’s been a shadow that’s gotten bigger because it went from the theaters to VHS to DVD and now online, so it’s always been played constantly. I didn’t really care too much to change anyone’s mind or opinion. That’s my art. I put that out there and if they’re talking about that, that’s great! They are two separate things. I have my private life and I know where that is, and then I have my art which is projected out and hopefully people are talking about that. If people are stirred by

my work that had a chance to get out there for enough people to see that it made some sort of cultural impact, then that’s what it’s all about.

SPOILER: Beyond cultural impact... WILLIAM ZABKA: [laughs] Well yeah, that’s right. It’s interesting how it’s come full circle and I’m getting to do some of the best work of my career where I started, and that’s a super sweet spot; that doesn’t happen. And it’s a very rare thing to take a known villain in a film and turn him into an antihero. It takes the right people, the right creative team, and a magical time, and they all have to come together. And it has. Ralph and I talk about this all the time, how lightning struck twice. And that goes back to John Avildsen, director of Karate Kid, and how he cast us all— he picked the chemistry, and now it’s just as potent as ever. The director is like an artist, they pick colors.

When Ralph and I stepped on the set for the first time [for Cobra Kai] and did our first scene when he walks in the dojo and says, “I heard you picked on some kids,” and I say, “What kids?” [laughs]—that was the first time that Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso were together again after all these years. And we didn’t know how that was gonna go. Ralph and I had been friends over the years, but now we’re playing these

characters again. And as soon as they said “cut” on that scene, there was sort of this silent reverence and we felt, ”Wow, there’s something here again.”

SPOILER: Do people on set ever bring up Pat Morita?

WILLIAM ZABKA: Yeah, he’s with us. He’s constantly talked about. I think Daniel mentions Miyagi, I don’t know how many dozens of times, throughout the first season. Listen, if there’s no Pat Morita and Mr. Miyagi then there’s no Cobra Kai, let alone Karate Kid. He was the Yoda. His spirit is in the show: his philosophies, his thinking, his comedy even. I miss Pat. Pat was a dear friend, we talked all the time. On Karate Kid he kind of adopted me as his nephew. He called me BZ and I would call him Uncle Pat. He was so funny and endearing. He was so great, I wish he were here because they would have found a way to make Miyagi so relevant and so cool and hip today. It’s really a shame. And the Comic Con world kind of blew up after he passed, sadly, so he didn’t get the chance to enjoy that as we do. The kids would’ve loved him, the fans would’ve loved him, and he would’ve fed on it. But we do our best to honor him and pay tribute to him and to the character. It’s a big part of this show and in all of our consciousness. And the writers, this studio, network, everybody—we have a lot of reverence for Mr. Pat Morita.

SPOILER: Have you noticed a difference in this show between the first season, which was on YouTube, to now being on Netflix?

WILLIAM ZABKA: It’s interesting. The first three seasons were all produced by YouTube, even season three which was exclusively released on Netflix. But nothing’s changed except we’re on a bigger stage. It’s the same formula, it’s the same team, the same actors. So as far as the production and the quality goes, it’s the same. Netflix took a bold risk and released seasons 1 and 2 first, even though we were likely going to make people unhappy who were

waiting for season 3. But that didn’t happen. It was like all the people who had watched it on YouTube were finally able to get their parents to watch it or their friends to watch it. So I think they enjoyed it being released on Netflix so that everyone got to catch up to speed. And then they dropped season 3 and that was our big explosion.

SPOILER: Season 3 brought everybody back!

WILLIAM ZABKA: Yeah, and season 4, which we just finished, goes even deeper and wider and on and on, and it’s great!

SPOILER: Any juicy tidbits from season 4 that you can share that won’t get you into trouble?

WILLIAM ZABKA: [laughs] No, there’s nothing I can share that won’t get me into trouble. But keep your eyes peeled for the trailers and teasers. The first one revealed that Terry Silver’s

back. We know at the end of season 3 that Danny and Johnny are teaming up, so we have that to look forward to, and a gauntlet thrown down by Kreese. So the stakes are high. It’s an exciting season. It’s big, it’s deep, it’s unexpected. These writers keep you on your toes. People are always trying to figure out what’s coming next, but there’s really no way to do that. Even as the actor playing the character, I think I know what’s coming, but then I get the pages and I’m constantly thrown off balance and surprised in a good way. It’s great storytelling and it’s a lot of fun. It’s gonna be a brand new fresh Cobra Kai.

It’s marching on.

By: Matthew McLachlan & Galaxy

Clive Standen may have played all sorts of rough, tough, mean, and exceedingly badass characters throughout his acting career, but the second you talk to the guy, you see how truly sweet, funny, and annoyingly charming (in the best possible way) he actually is. In fact, it’s almost unfair how great the guy is while also being a 6ft 2in hunk of muscle. There should be a limit to how many abs you’re allowed to have with a great personality like that. #balance. Typically known for his portrayal on The History Channel’s Vikings as the morally flip-flopping, always shirtless, and definitely not a threat to your relationship character of Rollo, Clive has since moved on to star in several brand-new shows such as Mirage, Council of Dads, and more. We were lucky enough to catch up with him on a lazy Saturday to ask him some questions about acting, cartoons, Robin Hood, wasps, his man-crush on Viggo Mortenson, and the graphic novel he’s currently working on:

Even on the boats! It was ridiculous, we’d even have fights on the boats. They’d bring these little lunch bags or snack bags onto the boat because we’d have, you know, maybe thirty rowers and then all the crew and the actors who were on each longboat and they’d bring these little brown paper bags that’d often have a granola bar, an orange or some piece of fruit, and then maybe half a sandwich just to keep you going, but they often became little food fights in the middle of the ocean or the lakes because people would be getting oranges or something thrown at them from across the boat (laughs). Really childish stuff.

Which of your roles was the most difficult for you to capture?

Looking back on your career, what would you say was your personal favorite performance?

Well, I’d say without a doubt now it’d be Rollo from Vikings, because I’ve been able to develop him over 60-hours of TV which has been an incredible privilege to do that. He is such a formidable character to get beneath the skin of because he transforms himself nearly season to season, so it’s always been refreshing for me to kind of wipe the slate clean with that character and kinda go in a different way each season. So it was exciting to get to be a part of that journey. Definitely that character.

What’s the most random and funny story from your acting career you can think of? I know everyone has one.

Well, we had many during the filming of Vikings. It was a very big, practical jokes kinda set. Travis Fimmel is our lead actor and he’s quite a prankster.

Just to survive on set of Vikings you’d have to kind of get your prank-hat on and everyone had to try and beat the last one. I remember one of the memorable pranks we did was covering all the crew member’s cars from top to toe in Saran wrap all the way around the car and then spray it all with shaving foam, so it was a big white mess. It was there until we finished work.

We would take people’s phones and duct tape them to the top of the studio where you’d need a cherry picker or one of those giant cranes to get up there to take it down. You’d have to have eyes in the back of your head, because someone was always trying to prank you or was out to get you. (Laughs) It was all fun and games, though. When you’re on the top of a mountain, in hailstorms, and the freezing cold all day, no one really takes themselves seriously when you’re jostled around with pranks and the fun of that.

The most challenging kind of transformation for me was a film I did called In Like Flynn in Australia based on a young Errol Flynn. I played this character Charlie who was a cross between Robert Shaw, Donald Pleasance, and a homeless man I grew up with who was quite a character who had a big presence. I was playing a fifty-five-year-old man and I was only thirty-five at the time, set in the 1930s and I had these big mutton-chops and put on loads of weight trying to capture this alcoholic crazy sailor who’s got imaginary friends and all sorts of stuff. The day in and day out of that was tough because I gave him gout in one leg, transformed the voice and it was this weird hybrid of the original “British Empire coming over to Australia” so it’s kinda half British half Australian accent, I mean there was a lot of time involved in getting under the skin of that character, took me a long time. Luckily, I had enough prep time. Very proud of that one. And really anything that scares me a bit, I like to take on the challenge.

Is there a role you have not played that you would like to play someday?

In the theatre world there’s the role of Chris in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. Henry V is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid and saw Kenneth Branagh performing it on screen. If they were remaking Highlander I’d love to play Kurgen because I can guarantee that I wouldn’t mess that up while also keeping the legacy of Clancy Brown’s Kurgen alive. So, that would be a good role to play. Even Jack Reacher would be great. I know Tom Cruise played him in the films, but now they’re doing a television series based on the actual books, which I think would be fantastic, I think that’s a great character to get underneath. And, of course, James Bond is every British man’s dream to play. (laughs) But we’ll see. Oh! And Escape From New York! Snake Pliskin! One of my all-time heroes. Even my dog’s named after him. But I think I’d do a great job of a 2020 version of Snake Pliskin.

What makes you smile and what scares you the most?

My children. Every day. My youngest son’s outlook on life makes me laugh all the time.

Let’s see. Dad jokes. Bad puns. Little moments of perfection. Ones that no one else shares that are just for you to see for a second, like the world has opened up just for you. I love those little moments when you catch yourself going, “No one else can see this but me,” and it gives you a little smile on the inside. And what scares me? Wasps. (laughs) I generally don’t like wasps. Spiders are fine, anything that is in the room that usually scares people, I’m fine.

As long as I don’t go near it. But little wasps that buzz around your head and you can’t get rid of them and they’re in your ears, that’s the kind of thing that freaks me out. (laughs) If there’s a big spider or a big snake, or a crocodile, as long as it’s over there and I can see it, it doesn’t freak me out. If it’s up to me, I won’t go over and touch it. But wasps are my kryptonite.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Viggo Mortenson as Aragorn. (laughs)

I think if I was in the presence of Viggo Mortenson, that’s the one person I wouldn’t know what to say. I would get completely star struck. I think he’s an incredible actor and all the characters he plays. And I’m a massive Lord of the Rings fan. The person who plays Aragorn will always be my hero.

What’s your biggest pet-peeve?

People that are late. So many actors think that the world revolves around them and they’re late for everything. I think it’s such a bad habit to get into. Even doing Comic Cons! When you do them, you’re at the hotel with all these different actors and they tell you to meet down in the foyer at 9. But they’re actually intending to leave at 10 because there are always those actors who are so late that they tell everyone to meet at 9 because they expect everyone to be an hour late! So, I get there at 9 and realize I’m waiting around for an hour for these actors who couldn’t be bothered to get up in the morning (laughs). I’m even thinking as a fan as well, they’re at those Comic Cons, standing in line for a very, very long time and then not only was that person supposed to turn up at their booth at, like, 10am, they’re strolling up at 11:30 and they’ve got a coffee in their hand. And you see those guys at Comic Con all the time! And everyone’s probably in a queue for one actor and they’ve got a panel to go to a couple of hours later and they’ve planned their whole day out, but because some actor wanted extra bacon and eggs or couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed or set his alarm in the morning, those people’s whole Comic Con day is put into disarray. Drives me up the wall.

In one sentence, describe your job.

I get to go to work and do my hobby. It’s the old saying, “it’s not a job if you’re doing what you love.” The other answer is I get to lie for a living. (laughs).

Have you ever had a moment where you were talking to a friend and you thought, “Whoa, i just did the best scene of my life!” but it was in reality?

You have this thing as an actor, you don’t always “get it.” You start at the beginning and get to the middle and the end of a scene and you don’t really know what you did because you were so in the moment that you’re not monitoring yourself, you’re not monitoring your performance, you’re not monitoring the other actor and the nerves, the fear, it’s gone. You get to the end of it and you have no idea what you did! That’s usually your best take. That’s usually your best performance because you just

leave yourself alone and are in the moment. It’s very hard to know until it comes out or until you get people turning around to you saying, “That was great!”

It’s usually when you get to the end of a scene and you’re feeling like it’s actually a great scene, it probably wasn’t. That’s when you get all these comments and notes. Because you were too hard on yourself, you were monitoring yourself, you weren’t quite entirely present. So, it’s a very hard question to answer because I often feel that the best performance I do is when I get that moment where I wasn’t monitoring myself, I have no idea what came out of my mouth, what I did, because I was just listening and I was entirely present. Especially in theatre when you get off stage, people say, “That was an incredible performance!” and you’re like, “Was it?! I have no idea what I did! (laughs) I was just riffing!” But that’s the best feeling in the world.

What cartoon do you still like to watch if you still watch any?

(laughs) Well, I’ve got 3 kids, so I haven’t stopped watching cartoons. There are certain cartoons that when your kids want to watch them, you’re like, “Oh, not again. I can’t watch that. I can’t watch Frozen for the fifteenth time.” But Finding Nemo I can watch over and over again. SpongeBob SquarePants. The Simpsons. My young son is into all of these animes like Bleach and things like that. But I like the old-fashioned cartoons. Tom and Jerry still makes me laugh. (laughs)

We heard that you’re currently writing a graphic novel!

I am, yeah! I’m working with a wonderful producer, Barry Levine, who produced Oblivion with Tom Cruise and we’re making the graphic novel in the hopes of turning it into a brand-new TV show. It’s set 4 years from now, with a war in America, and there are seventeen states left that remain and it’s very… complicated (laughs). But, yeah, we’re hoping to turn it into a TV show. It’s called American Carnage.

Did you ever read comics growing up?

Oh, yeah! I love comic books. My favorite, actually, because I’m not sure if it was ever made it to America, but there was an old comic called Toxic when I grew up with a guy called Marshal Law, who was a superhero who killed superheroes. After the Vietnam War, there were lots of super-soldiers given powers and lots of the veterans were now going around using those powers to rob banks and become supervillains. As soldiers they had a lot of genetic testing done, so, for instance, Johnny Flame was in so much pain all the time because he was literally on fire. So, these people were nasty, horrible superheroes, and Marshal Law was employed by the government to wipe out all superheroes. Kind of the anti-superhero song, so I used to love that comic book. I’ve always thought Marshal Law would make a really good film! My brother is four years older and he was always on the forefront of all these things, so I’d always get his hand-me-downs and was always a few years behind, but that was one of them.

Clive Standen/Council of Dads/Taken

NBC/Vikings/History Channel

You actually grew up and worked in Sherwood Forest! Is that in Nottingham? Is that a true area?

Sherwood Forest is all the land surrounding Nottingham, which is exactly where Robin Hood came from. In the center of Sherwood Forest, there’s a ginormous tree that now needs ballasts to hold up the branches it’s that big. It’s called Major Oak which is where they believe the real Robinhood probably slept. But, yeah, I lived about fifteen miles from Sherwood Forest and I remember Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was at the cinema and I was about fourteen years old and they wanted to do the

tales of Robin Hood to capitalize on the money the film was making, so they were casting for different roles and I was really young so they were looking for Little John’s son and that was my job. It was like a live reenactment where tourists would be taken on adventure walks and I would be in a tree saying, “Quick! Get off the road, the Sheriff’s men are coming! The Sheriff’s men are coming!” And then men would gallop by and grab me, throw me on the back of their horse, and gallop off. And then Robin Hood would turn up and say, “Where’d they take him?” And Little John would say, “Where’s my son?!” The tour would end up around Major Oak and there’d be a massive skirmish and Robin and his men would fight the sheriff and his men to get me back. We’d have jousting, we’d hit cabbages with swords, all sorts of stuff (laughs). But I was doing that when I was fourteen years old. Because it was more fun than working in a clothes shop or a McDonald’s or something like that. It was cash in hand, and I had no idea I wanted to be an actor at that point, I just really loved dressing up and having fun! Getting paid to have fun for a living! Which is still what I do! (laughs)

Did you go through any special training for that? Were you an athlete?

Back then, these guys would make their own armor underneath their costumes and we’d just smack each other with metal swords, like, real steel swords! (laughs) Which were just blunt but there were still all sorts of injuries. If there was a health and safety officer, we would’ve been closed down overnight, but back then, we’d camp in the forest, get up, put on a big show for the tourists, and get paid cash in hand by the Sherwood Forest boys. Back in those days, you didn’t seem to care so much about health and safety (laughs).

Who was your favorite Robin Hood leading star?

Oh, it has to be Errol Flynn! I mean the swashbuckling! (laughs) I will always be a fan of Errol Flynn. That’s actually another character I’d like to play is Errol Flynn in the later years of his life. I mean, no one

turned up to his funeral and he was such an amazing guy and in Hollywood they laid out all these chairs thinking this major movie star was going to have all these fans turn up to his funeral and no one did. I mean, it was such a sad end. It was a little bit like Elvis Presley dying on the toilet.

What are your top movies you would like to maybe star in.

Escape From New York

Circuit

Jack Reacher

A serious pirate film, it would be wonderful.

Alien or another Aliens. Something set before Aliens and Alien 3.

What’re some of the things you like to do in your spare time?

My passion really is scuba diving, I love the ocean. Any time I can get a little time off or I can go somewhere, I love to get in the ocean and just be underwater and see as much as I can. Anywhere I can go where there’s whales, dolphins, and sharks I’m generally a happy person.

What do you feel about celebrities who date fans?

(laughs) I don’t know! I’ve never met anyone who has, but to each their own, love is love, I suppose! At the end of the day we’re all human beings, no matter what we do for a living. I always think as well, people always ask, “What do you do for a living?” and that’s one of the first things you ask when you meet a new person and I always thought it would be better to start a conversation with, “Are you happy?” Ya know? “What makes you happy?” And that’s the most important thing. And if two people love each other, that’s all the matters.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

In the fandom world, you can’t get much bigger and

much more revered right now than Katherine McNamara. After making huge waves from her starring role on Freeform’s Shadowhunters, based on The Mortal Instruments book series, Katherine came aboard the CW’s immensely popular Arrow during its 7th season as the titular character’s daughter and became a fan favorite instantly.

At the end of the series’ 8 season run, her character, Mia, took over her father’s reins as the Green Arrow and there are plans for her to be the main character on a purported spinoff series, with Arrow’s penultimate episode serving as the backdoor pilot for the potential series. While there’s a virtually unanimous consensus that’s clamoring for this spinoff to come to fruition, there’s a little thing called the coronavirus pandemic that seems to be standing in its way...for now. The Arrow fanbase is strong, and Katherine’s talents and popularity are unstoppable, so hopefully it’s only a matter of time.

But the actress’ popularity isn’t just due to her talents on screen, but her personality off screen. Her magnetism is undeniable and her kindness is completely and absolutely genuine, with fans fortunate enough to experience her charisma each year at a variety of conventions.

Graduating from college at 17, Katherine’s intelligence is that of a woman much older, but her exuberance and youthful charm establishes a balance that keeps fans wanting to know

Dianne Doan/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia/ Bryan Carr (photographer)/Richie Lubaton (photographer)

even more about her. Well spoken and incisive, the actress has such a perspective for living in the moment and appreciating both the little things in life as well as the huge opportunities that she has, making the most out of both as the optimist that she is.

With us, she’s able to reflect on the current state of the world and the industry as a whole, and looks at both the good and the bad with a healthy positivity that we all need to have, especially right now. Perhaps it’s the same outlook that’s allowed her to mine for the silver linings in life and help guide her towards the massive success she’s been able to garner.

At only 24-years-old, Katherine has already made tremendous strides in her career, with the momentum still moving forward, even despite everything going on right now. Hopefully, we’ll get to see her in action as the new Green Arrow soon, but for now, we can rest assured that she has a long, long career ahead of her.

SPOILER: I know nowadays you get to go to so many conventions throughout the year, but how did you feel at your very first convention?

Katherine McNamara: It was proba-

bly one of the most surreal experiences of my life. It was New York Comic Con. We had just finished shooting Shadowhunters literally the night before. Alberto Rosende, who played Simon Lewis on the show, and myself had finished the final scene of the first season, then we jumped on a plane with the rest of the cast and flew to New York City and the next morning was New York Comic Con. I had never been to a Comic Con before. I didn’t know anything about it and the show hadn’t even aired yet. So the first experiences of audiences seeing anything that we had shot was actually directly before our panel. they aired the first seven minutes of our pilot episode for that panel audience. First of all, it was already overwhelming, because we got there and they said, “Oh my gosh, you guys, we can’t believe it—the panel is sold out! There’s standing room only.” Most of us had never even done a Comic Con panel before or anything like it, so we were already in over our heads and so excited to show the show to people, but we had no idea what to expect. And I will never forget, we were standing behind the stage—and we had never seen this footage either—and we were watching the first seven minutes of the show as a mirror image behind the screen, getting

to listen to the audience’s reactions for the first time. It was so magical. I remember I was shaking. And then we just went right out on stage and had the warmest welcome and the best panel. It was such a family from that moment forward and it was just so wonderful.

SPOILER: Even before the Shadowhunters pilot released to the public you had all these fans already falling in love with you? Do you feel the Shadow community is incredible?

Katherine McNamara: It really is. And it really speaks to the spirit of the Shadowfan, as we call them. They are such an incredible community and have taken everything, kind of, beyond the show, beyond us, beyond these characters, and really have created this amazing community of love and acceptance. But it all stems from the book series. I love YA books and I grew up reading them, and when I read The Mortal Instruments series, that’s what struck me most about it—it’s a message that we carried forward in the show as well: no matter who you are, no matter who you love, no matter if you have angel blood, demon blood, or something else in your veins, it’s the choices you make that make you a hero, and it’s love and the family you create that’s most important.

SPOILER: You’re named one of Vanity Fair’s Breakout Bunch, you’re a singer-songwriter, you recieved the 2018 People’s Choice Award for top female TV star for your role on Shadowhunters, you got a Teen Choice Award, etc. How does it feel being you right now?

Katherine McNamara: It’s very odd this year, honestly. But above anything, I’m just so grateful. You know, I grew up thinking I was going to be an economist and I never even knew that being an actor was a job. And then I started doing theater and I absolutely fell in love with storytelling. And just the fact

that I’ve been lucky enough to play some really, really wonderful characters that have changed my life and been able to touch the lives of other people, and been a part of some really wonderful work families and amazing fandoms. I can only hope that my career will continue to have a similar trajectory and I get to keep telling amazing stories and living all these different lives.

SPOILER: Shadowhunters took you on this path and opened many doors for you. Then Arrow, I think, solidified you as that badass person who can do anything. Both, elevating you to this iconic realm in our universe. Did life change after you were on those shows?

Katherine McNamara: Arrow was such a gift. Coming off of Shadowhunters, I didn’t think I would be part of another story that was that iconic. [Shadowhunters] had such a mythology and legacy to it, and the cast and crew and the fandom were such a family, I didn’t know how I was going to process that. But luckily I ended up booking Arrow and was able to throw myself right into another family and another very intense show with a legacy and a mythology. And it sort of distracted me from not having Shadowhunters in my life on a daily work basis anymore. But I was so grateful to be thrown into a show that was at such a precipice. Stephen [Amell] and Emily [Bett Rickards] had built up these two characters of Oliver and Felicity for so many years and had done so with such nuance, and built the relationship to such a beautiful point, that getting to be the result of that relationship was such a huge honor. And when I auditioned for the show, I had no idea that that’s the role they were looking for. Obviously, they were keeping all of that under wraps. The actors are often the last to know about these things [laughs]. But I didn’t even know that I was auditioning for Mia Smoak until after I had booked the part. I got a call from the showrunner, Beth Schwartz, and she called me and said, “Hey, congratulations! We’re so happy to have you

part of the show and can’t wait to start working with you. By the way, everything you know is a lie. You’re actually Oliver and Felicity’s kid and we don’t even know what your name is yet, but we’re going to figure that out.” [laughs] So I went, “Wait a second, wait a second, what is happening?!” And I knew immediately, having been in the world of Comic Cons and fandoms, I knew what a big deal “Olicity” was and how beloved it was to the fans. I knew it would be such a huge responsibility, but I was

ready for it. It’s exciting. I went back and I watched the entire series and I tried to pull as much as I could from the two characters and see what the amalgamation of the best and worst of Oliver and Felicity would personify as and I tried to put that into me, and I think the writers did an amazing job of giving me the tools and the backstory to do that.

SPOILER: I remember this one post, you said you didn’t even know about your role on Shadowhunters until

Dianne Doan/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia/ Bryan Carr (photographer)/Richie Lubaton (photographer)

you found out on Twitter, and then the same with Arrow. Like you said, actors are often the last to know, but that is a weird coincidence. Does this happen to you often?

Katherine McNamara: I think that’s kind of the nature of the business. It all seems very glossy on the surface, but really behind the scenes, things happen so fast and everything’s constantly changing. Especially right now in film and TV, even before 2020, with all this new media and so many new opportunities with all the streaming platforms, and also socially what’s happening. I came into this whole world of fandoms right at the time where there’s this huge resurgence of complex and interesting and badass and empowered female characters. Those were the characters I always looked for as a kid. Mulan and Pocahontas were my favorite Disney princesses because they were the ones that stood up and fought their own battles. But now, moving forward, being part of the community of all of these roles and this resurgence and this questioning of the norms of everything in the industry, it’s a very exciting time, but it also leads to a lot of last-minute things. But hey, we roll with the punches. The show must go on and we figure it out as we go along.

SPOILER: Do you think Hollywood is opening its doors to strong, well-rounded female roles?

Katherine McNamara: I do, actually. I see it happening more than I even realize. And it always takes me by surprise in the most wonderful of ways. It’s the simplest thing. You would think that if we are humans telling human stories that diversity would be a given—whether it’s diversity in gender, or sexual orientation, or race. But for some reason it often isn’t. I mean, I don’t think there’s anything to blame, but I think the most important thing to focus on is the choices we make moving forward in seeking out those opportunities, even if it’s a story or time period where the roles seem limited, or the gender roles and norms are not as

open as they could have been—how do you subvert that? And how do you take it and make a new play on it that someone might not have thought of? I was having a director’s meeting for a film the other day, and I was talking to these directors and producers—they all happened to be men—and we were talking about this role that I was discussing with them, and they were the ones who brought it up—and I had already been thinking about it—and said, “You know, this role could be seen one way, but we are thinking about giving it this spin and this twist that’s not necessarily in the text, but we want to subvert what people might see on the surface of this character.” And I was so pleasantly surprised by that and so wonderfully astounded, and I really am seeing a turn in this industry. I’ve fallen into this world of sci-fi/fantasy where I’ve gotten to play roles like Sonya in Maze Runner and Clary in Shadowhunters and Mia in Arrow, and I’ve only had the most wonderful of experiences. I give the showrunners and the writers [a lot of credit], particularly because I’ve lived with Mia and Clary for much longer, they took so much care to make sure that neither character was ever stagnant and that Mia and Clary had so much room to grow, and every season I would look back and go, “Wow! Something happened here. She changed. She grew as a person, and there’s so much depth to her storyline and her journey beyond

what’s happening around her.” And I’m so gratified by that.

SPOILER: Do you feel, from when you first started to now, a lot of things changed in Hollywood, and do you think it’s easier these days to get on shows like Shadowhunters?

Katherine McNamara: That’s a really interesting question. I don’t think anything is ever easy necessarily, but this industry is a lot more open than it used to be. I’ve been very lucky in a lot of my experiences. In the time when I started in this industry, compared to a lot of the stories I’ve heard, I think a lot of things were already in motion to change. But it’s a really nice period of time right now to see the industry being more open to unorthodox ways of getting media out there and stories coming to fruition. You have people from all ends of the industry and parts of the world and walks of life, who are coming in and getting their shot to have their story told and their voice heard. And I think that’s the beautiful thing about art, and that’s sort of why I do what I do, and what I think the role of artists is. Especially in times where the world is troubled, it’s our job to hold a mirror to the human experience and to allow people to cathartically experience the human life cycle, and also to escape at times. And there’s all these varying different things that art and storytelling serve. We live in a world where so many people are looking for the perfect selfie and Instagram likes, and striving for these almost inhuman standards of perfection, but what I love about being an actor, in particularly a lot of the roles that I’ve gotten to play, is we get to highlight the broken and imperfect and sometimes ugly parts of the human experience. When you’re covered in tears and crying over the loss of someone you love, or fighting for something that you’re going through, or struggling through any kind of human experience, hopefully it allows people to relate and to realize that everybody has ups and downs in their life, and we all have the strength within us to get through them somehow.

SPOILER: Which one of the characters that you play do you feel you’re most similar to?

Katherine McNamara: I would say Clary, for sure. When you play a character, you pour blood, sweat, and tears into them. They become a little piece of you and you become part of them. So there’s a little bit of me in every one of the characters I play, and that’s something that instantly drew me to Clary. As soon as I read the pilot, I felt a part of her and connected with her on a level that I never really have with a character. In retrospect, my journey as a human being and Clary’s journey in the story were very much paralleled. Clary was a girl who turned 18 and got thrown into this world that she knew nothing about and had to form a family and find her power and figure out how to be part of this new world. I felt very much the same. I was 19 when I started Shadowhunters and 23 when I finished it, and I found a family. I have friends and brothers for life now because of that show. I grew up and learned so much about myself and about life. So many things happened to me during that show that it’s an experience that will be very near and dear to my heart.

SPOILER: I know you’re a great traveler and you’ve been all over the world. What is it that you love so much about traveling?

Katherine McNamara: I always learn something. I never thought I would leave Kansas City as a kid, and now that I have the opportunity to travel and to learn so much about the world and about other cultures and countries and people, I’m just so fascinated by humanity. I think that’s why I’m an actor. I love seeing all the beautiful places in the world and learning about the people who live there and how they view life and how they live life. I always find it to be so fascinating. It makes the world feel simultaneously larger and smaller. You feel more connected to humanity as a whole, but also appreciate how big and beautiful our world actually is.

SPOILER: Who is your celebrity crush?

Katherine McNamara: [laughs] I dunno, I grew up watching all the old movies from the ‘40s and ‘50s, so I guess my first celebrity crush was probably Fred Astaire. Growing up as a dancer, and as somebody who just loved watching this sort of grace and ease that he had. Gosh, I don’t know if I could pick one. I haven’t thought about that question in so long. Well, you know, if you say something, they’re gonna think you like them or something like that [laughs]. [laughs] Well, maybe it would help me. I am single ya know.

SPOILER: You’re such an inspiration, but who inspires you?

Katherine McNamara: Oh goodness, that’s sort of a twofold question. To pick one, for example, actresses like Viola Davis. She always uses her platform to speak about things that she cares about and really important social movements and causes. But also as an actress, she’s done so many diverse media and roles, and in her work itself, she always has this ability to go from the strongest and most powerful woman in the room to the most human and vulnerable person in a matter of seconds, and I just find that to be so inspiring. I love Sam Rockwell’s work as well because he’s played every kind of character, from lovable to vile and everything in between, and yet somehow always finds a way to humanize every person he portrays with such a specificity that I aspire to. But aside from that, I feel very lucky to have grown

Sup in a family of really strong women who are passionate about what they do and so invigorated to educate themselves and to learn about the world—and they’re also dedicated to their families. I meet a lot of women who grew up with this sort of dilemma of, “Do I have a family or do I focus on my career? What do I do?”

And that was always such a puzzling question to me because growing up, it was never family or career. It was always, “If you work hard and dedicate yourself to the things you care about, you can make your life whatever you want it to be.” There is no one set path. There is no choice that you have to make. I grew up surrounded by women who had done just that; who had chosen “and” instead of “or.” And I’ve always been inspired by that. I’ve seen the women in my family go through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and always come out with a smile on their face and love in their heart, and

that’s always something I’ve always aspired to.

SPOILER: Everything you do, you do it with a smile. I heard that you’re one of the kindest people on set, and off set as well. Why does everyone always say you’re so nice?

Katherine McNamara: I don’t really know. I just was raised to treat everyone with the kindness and respect that you would want to be treated with. Especially on set, it’s something that I’ve always really loved and respected about this industry, that every single person in every department is an artist and an expert in their own realm, and we really, truly could not create the stories and the worlds that we create without every single person on that set doing what they love and creating their art to the best of their ability. That’s something that I knew of already, but I really learned and saw on Shadowhunters, which is why that show will always

be so special to me. I’ve never been a part of a set where every department works so seamlessly and so symbiotically together and every single person there is excited to tell this story and make it better and to push each other. I have countless memories. The prop department made our cast a table on wheels that would wheel from set to set—this round table that we all sat at, and the crew would come hang out with us there too. I mean, we spent 10 months a year making this show and we were in the trenches together—in the rain; in the snow; in the cold; at night; at 6 in the morning; when it’s the beginning of our day; or when it’s the end of our day—but I have so many memories of being around that table with somebody from the stunt department, and a writer, and half the cast, and somebody from props and costumes, and set deck, and we’re all talking and brainstorming and workshopping ideas, and giving each other ideas about everything. And there is no ego involved. If somebody has a creative idea that could serve the betterment of the story as a whole, it was fair game to say it and not feel weird about it. That’s something I found so beneficial, because then everybody was feeding off of each other’s energy and building this world together, which is why the show was so seamless. So I would try and take that with me, and I was lucky to have the example of people like Isaiah Mustafa and Harry Shum Jr., who had been in the industry for so long and had been part of huge legacy shows like this, who were able to show me the ropes on how to take that leadership position. I was 19 when I started Shadowhunters. I had no idea what I was doing as far as being a lead of a show. Not only being on set all the time, but also making sure everyone was happy and comfortable and feeling like they were a part of something.

SPOILER: Everybody knows about your fandoms. They all know about Shadowhunters and Arrow—you can’t get much bigger than that; they’re on everybody’s TV sets all around

the world. You must be so busy, what do you do with your spare time?

Katherine McNamara: Well, I don’t like spare time, I’m very much a workaholic [laughs]. I’ve had to learn how to use spare time—this year especially. In a normal world, I travel in my spare time because making memories and learning are my favorite things in the world. But this year, I’ve been doing a lot of hiking and exploring the natural spaces around where I live. I bake a lot. Something I did at the beginning of quarantine is I [laughs] did sort of a reverse trick-ortreating sort of thing—baking is very therapeutic for me—where I baked a bunch of cookies and a bunch of other baked goods when LA was still in major lockdown and I had to get out of my house. So I got in my car and I drove to all my friends’ houses around LA and dropped little bags of cookies at the end of their driveways and just waved in my mask from my car and jumped back in and drove away. And just to get to see somebody’s face that was not on a screen, and be outside in LA and do something that was safe and just a little bit therapeutic, that was probably my favorite thing I’ve done all year.

SPOILER: Has COVID affected you tremendously, or have you been able to find positivity from it?

Katherine McNamara: I mean, look, it’s been really tricky. It’s something that everyone has been able to find ups and downs in. I’m a stubborn optimist and I always look for the silver lining despite anything. But I think what COVID has done, and this time on our own, has forced all of us to look at ourselves and pull all of the skeletons out of our closets and really look at it as a clean slate—not only individually, but as a society— where we can kind of take a step back and go, “Okay, what are the bad habits that we’ve gotten into and what are the things we’ve let slide for far too long? And how can we be better and how can we fix that? And how can we move forward in a way that’s going to make a real difference in making this world a better place?”

It’s been really amazing to see that. I’ve done a lot of soul searching personally and professionally, and it’s given me time to do even the silliest of things. I made a home office for the first time in 10 years. I built a bookshelf and made a space for me to actually work from home, which has been amazing. And I’ve learned how to do so many different things, and I’ve read books that I’ve never had the chance to read and gone through and seen films that I would have never ever gotten the chance to look at otherwise. I think for me, it’s made me realize that ultimately, connection and understanding and

human interaction is what feeds my soul. And again, I think that’s why I do what I do for a living, because that search for true connection is something that has kind of been the driving force in my life, I’m realizing. Ultimately, I always try and leave people with this: I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my life, but I got to this point where I realized that life is all about choices. And no matter what you’re going through— whether you wake up feeling great or wake up totally on the wrong side of the bed—life is all about the choices that you make and the perspective you choose to have. Everyday we

Olivia Cheng/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

have the opportunity to choose to have a great day, or to choose to have a terrible day. And it’s all down to having the wherewithal and the strength to make that choice. And it’s not always easy. Everybody has bad days, and everybody has moments where they feel like the whole world is against them. What I think another thing this year has made us all realize is that we’re all in this together and this world is a weird, crazy, topsy-turvy place, but the more we can project kindness and love and unity and positivity into the world, the better everyone is going to be in the long run.

SPOILER: I know you probably don’t think you’re a celebrity, but do you ever get used to being a celebrity?

Katherine McNamara: Oh no, I really don’t think of myself as a celebrity, nor do I think I ever will. I think the moment that I think of myself as a celebrity is the moment that I have a real problem. To me, I’m just an actor; I’m a storyteller. I just want to keep being a weird

little chameleon and telling stories and being able to touch people’s lives and remind people what it means to be human—whether I’m in front of the camera or behind the camera or on stage,

I just hope that it makes someone feel something and

I can make someone’s day just a little bit better.

SPOILER: You’re on a very fine list of celebrity redheads—do you feel honored to be on that list?

Katherine McNamara: [laughs] I do, actually. Whether it’s Jessica Chastain, Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams, all these amazing people in this world, I’m always astounded to be among them. We shot Shadowhunters in Toronto, and there’s a thing called the Toronto International Film Festival that happens every year. And it’s always exciting when you’re sequestered away—although I love Toronto—but when you’re there for 10 months and you don’t really get to be around the rest of the industry a lot, it’s exciting when the industry comes to Toronto. I think it was my first

TIFF, I remember I was at some event for In Style magazine, and I looked around: Nicole Kidman on one end of the room and Amy Adams on the other end of the room and I was somehow between the two of them, and I went, “Oh my goodness, I don’t even know how to feel right now because I’m in the presence of the greatness of the redheads.” [laughs] You know, I love changing my hair color, but I always will be a redhead inside. There’s a spiciness to it, but I love it.

SPOILER: Have you ever nerded out seeing someone you love and admire?

Katherine McNamara: I grew up doing musical theater and absolutely love it, and I had a chance to do A Little Night Music on Broadway for a year. And when I first got to New York, I was this bright-eyed, 14-yearold from Kansas City who just moved to New York. And A Little Night Music is, of course, a Stephen Sondheim show, and Stephen was having a party at his house for the cast and crew. And I wanted to not be the first one at the party because I was still new, so I decided, “Okay, I’ll go 15 minutes after the party’s supposed to start.” And I get to Mr. Sondheim’s home, and they show me to the room where the party is, and the only people there so far are myself, Stephen, and Angela Lansbury. And I’m going, “Okay, Legend #1, Legend #2—what

am I supposed to say—a 14-year-old from Kansas City?” But we ended up having a lovely conversation. I think I just started talking about the cheese board until I could figure out what my brain was doing. Ultimately, what it comes down to is, I find the people who have had the most success, and the people who I’ve had the pleasure to meet who are legends in their own right, are still the most kind, human, down-to-earth people, because that’s how they’ve managed to deal with all the ups and downs that the industry can throw at you. They’re still themselves and they’re still human beings at their core and they’ve maintained their feet firmly on the ground. And I think that’s the most important thing no matter what happens.

SPOILER: Do you feel all these old actors—even ones from the ‘80s and ‘90s—are being neglected? Because we had some amazing talents that rocked the world. This was a time before Instagram and Twitter. You have to imagine, these people made it worldwide without social media and platforms like that. Do you think we take them for granted?

Katherine McNamara: I’m not sure.

I’ve always appreciated the classics, so I have really been influenced by all of those forces regardless. I’m not necessarily up on what all the kids are doing and saying [laughs]—I’m still figuring out TikTok—I have no idea. It’s one of those things where I think it’s up to us to continue to celebrate those classics and continue to honor the work that’s been done and the people who have paved the way and paved the path that we’re lucky enough to continue. It’s something that I loved so much about Arrow even though it’s a very different situation—but the fact that Stephen had sort of built this legacy for so many years, and created the character of, not only Oliver Queen, but the character of the Green Arrow and what the Green Arrow stood for, and, as the hero, being the sort of lone wolf that opens up to a team, and yet still very much is an independent, sort of dark anti-hero—I felt so much responsibility to stay true to that in Mia and to carry that forward. And if I’m lucky enough to get to continue to play Mia, now that she’s officially the Green Arrow, that’s something I guard very closely.

SPOILER: What was it like to work

with Stephen Amell? He was so perfect for that role. Arrow could have gone on forever and nobody would have ever gotten bored with it.

Katherine McNamara: It’s true. Stephen is so smart and working with him, I learned so much. I always appreciate actors who take such pride in their work and have such a specific work ethic to care and be so detail-oriented about the story. And that’s the thing about Stephen—he remembered everything from every episode, and every detail of every storyline ever. And the fact that he would apply those things and continue to hold the show to a very high standard and make sure that everything was done in the best way that it could possibly be done, everything was in his power. Getting to work with him and learn from him and fight alongside him, he really was a dad to me on that show and was so wonderful every step of the way, in guiding me and passing the quiver, as it were. But everybody on that set was so great. And being a part of that story, and even, if you’re a fan of the DC TV shows, getting to be part of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” it’s one of those moments where you have to just pinch yourself and go, “Wait a second, I’m sorry, I’m at work right now, and there’s a couple of Supermen, and Batwoman, and Supergirl, and the Green Arrow, and the White Canary, and the Flash, and all of these incredible characters in their super suits and I’m in my super suit,

and somehow we get to all fight bad guys together? What is this? This is far beyond anything I could have possibly imagined for my life.”

SPOILER: Did you ever in your wildest imagination think you were gonna be part of one of these franchises?

Katherine McNamara: I never ever thought I would have the opportunity to do anything like this. And I think it’s so cool. I grew up loving all these things. I watched the Justice League cartoons every weekend as a kid. You never imagine that it’s possible for your life, because I’m just me. You know, I’m just this kid from Kansas City who likes to tell stories and is a huge math nerd. But getting to be part of these worlds and tell these stories, it’s amazing and it’s so much fun! To be able to go to work everyday and have a blast with the people that you really care about and make such incredible friendships, and really be able to tell stories that also mean something to people and touch people’s lives and help people through, whether it’s just a distraction from their hard day at work or helps them sort through real dilemmas that they’re having in their lives, it makes me feel grateful everyday to be able to do what I do for a living and just have these opportunities, and I’m just so thankful.

SPOILER: Outside of being Mia Smoak and the new Green Arrow, what other superhero would you like to be?

Katherine McNamara: I always say I’d love to have the power to heal. Just because I feel like, when you have a superhero team, everybody always picks, like, “Oh, I wanna fly, or I wanna have laser vision, or I wanna do this or that.” But ultimately, if you’re gonna be out there saving the world on a superhero team, somebody’s gonna get hurt, somebody’s gonna trip on something—probably me—and somebody’s gonna need to be patched up, so you gotta have somebody on the team who can fix that and keep going. So that’s the role that I would love to fill.

SPOILER: Aside from being an amazing actor, I know you’re a singer. What would be the theme song of your life right now?

Katherine McNamara: Oh, that’s such an interesting question. My brain is spinning. I’m thinking about “Seasons of Love” from Rent [laughs] I don’t know. It’s been such a retrospective year, that it’s really just highlighted the fact that life kind of is a journey and it’s all about these moments, and all about the people who crossed your path and the things that come into your life. That

song has been part of my life for so long. It’s certainly one that we used to belt out on our singalong nights on the Shadowhunters set. So yeah, I’ll say “Seasons of Love” from Rent [laughs].

SPOILER: What would you like people to remember about you?

Katherine McNamara: I think, ultimately, if I’m to be remembered for anything, I want to be remembered for working hard, being a good person, doing something to make the world a better place, and for telling

Olivia Cheng/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

katherine mcnamara

good stories. I would hope. I dunno, I love what I do, and I like to work hard, and hopefully something that I’ve put out into the world is meaningful to someone and leaves the world a little bit better than when I came to it.

SPOILER: If you could dress up as anyone for Halloween, who would it be?

Katherine McNamara: I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I mean, I love Halloween, and I actually have a trunk of costumes and prop pieces in my house that I tend to pull things out of when I need a costume. I think I’m just a couple pieces away from a Michelle Pfeiffer classic Catwoman situation, which is probably, if I were to dress up, what I would go with. Just ‘cause it’s fun and I miss running around in leather all the time [laughs]. But I dunno what I’m doing this year. I’ve got some friends that are part of my quarantine pod and we all happen to love horror movies, so maybe we’ll get together with some food and some movies. Or maybe

we’ll do some of my reverse trick-ortreating again.

SPOILER: What celebrity would you rate as a perfect 10?

Katherine McNamara: I would say somebody like Viola Davis. Or Kristen Bell. They’re just these individuals who just tend to spread light wherever they go. And they tend to just bring other people up with them and make other people feel loved. Aside from that, they tell amazing stories and seem to have incredible work ethic. They’re people who I look up to.

SPOILER: What is one message you would love to give to your fans?

Katherine McNamara: I think the biggest message I could give to anybody who’s been a follower of my work or a fan of anything that I’ve done is, “Thank you.” I pour my entire being and my

blood, sweat, and tears into every role that I play; every story I tell; every job that I do. And the fact that there are people out there who get excited about it and look forward to it and appreciate it and are moved by it in any way, whether it’s just entertaining or they take some deeper meaning away from it, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do what I love for a living if it wasn’t for each and every one of them. And doing these Comic Cons and traveling all over the world, I’ve gotten to meet so many incredible individuals and people with the most strength I’ve ever seen and the most incredible stories and the most interesting lives. It’s brought so much to my life and it’s been such a gift that I have eternal gratitude and awe and respect for each and every one of them.

So Adriyan, what are you doing in your spare time during the crisis?

I’m doing a lot of home workouts. A lot of meditating, reading and honestly a lot of work for the craft. A lot of acting classes, writing classes, research and also a lot of interviews.

I know I was your first interview, how many do you have in the bag now?

I want to say at least twenty. Now be honest with me, was my show maybe the coolest?

Your show was amazing, really. And you definitely made me feel comfortable especially for it being my first interview ever. You guys made me feel like I knew what I was doing ‘cause you guys know what you’re doing so it was really great and I’m very grateful I got to have you guys as my first interview.

We’ll brag about that don’t worry. So everybody wants to know, would you ever date a fan?

I mean my criteria for dating doesn’t go based on a fan or actor or any type of career or category like that. It’s more based on the person, their character their energy and how we interact and, you know, build and get to know each other. That’s more so what I base my dating on... Also I want the guy that I date to be my biggest fan.

With that said how would someone get your special attention? Humor. Humor is like the gatekeeper to me. Even the people in my DM’s, it’s really nice when you guys send really nice messages and things like that, but it’s always the DM’s that have humor in it where the guy’s trying to hit on me, but he has a really funny line that actually gets you like, “Oh, maybe I’ll at least say hi cause that was a really good joke”. So it’s humor.

Since your show came out [Vagrant Queen] have you seen a change in your social media?

I have more followers which is cool. More engagement. With Twitter I used to never have any posts or anything to tweet or any engagement and now I have a lot of that which is really cool and I get to interact with a whole bunch of new people, new and old. And also

my social’s cool because people are getting to know me as a person on my social. They watch Vagrant Queen and they’re like, “that was cool”, and then they come to my social’s and they get to see the aspects of me as a person and are like, “oh wow I didn’t know you were like this, this is really cool”, and we get to engage and actually talk as people rather than Elida and fan.

Who is the messiest person you know?

(Laughs) He’s gonna kill me. I’m just gonna say his name is Patrick and he’s the messiest person I know, but the most sweetheart amazing person as well.

Who would you be for Halloween?

I really wanna be Harley Quinn. Nice, and I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of Vagrant Queens running around out here.

That would be really cool to see.

Oh it’s gonna happen, trust me. What sports do you like watching?

I love watching football. Hockey is great to watch as well. I like contact sports to watch, and a little weird fun fact, I really like to watch curling. The game that’s in the Winter Olympics, it’s so cool to me.

Do you like pickles?

I love pickles. Oh my gosh I really

love them, but I hate sweet pickles. Only Dill.

If you owned a boat what would you call it?

I would call it The Queen.

I know you probably haven’t done this yet, but once you feel that you could afford this item what would you want your craziest purchase to be?

I would want to purchase an island. That would be baller!

Do you know how to cook?

Yes I do.

What is your favorite dish to cook?

I make a really good lemon pepper chicken with kale greens and angel hair pasta.

Do you sing in the shower?

Yes, all the time. It’s a concert. (Laughs) Sometimes it’s Beyonce, sometimes it’s Adele just depends on my mood.

What’s the weirdest question you’ve been asked ever?

Ones that you’ve asked me. (They laugh.) No, you mean in an interview or from a person?

From a person, an interview, anything.

I’ve been asked some really weird things, but I think the weirdest is when someone asked if they could smell my skin. I really didn’t know what to say to that.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Science, hands down.

What was your favorite game that you played as a kid?

My favorite was don’t let the balloon hit the floor. It got real intense, we were doing ninja

tucks, jumping over stuff, it was really serious.

[Laughs] So with that what’s the dumbest way you ever got injured?

I decided that I was going to rollerblade outside and I was rollerblading and I seen some rocks and it was drizzling outside, I was very young, and I said to myself, “The rain is dodging the rocks on the ground so I can too.” So I would skate over these rocks and a rock got stuck in the rollerblade of course, I go forward, a rock goes in my knee and then I’m just there by myself and crying, then my mom who is an apartment manager, her maintenance man comes and picks me up off the ground like I’m in a movie and I’m just crying for bloody murder. My mom asked what’s wrong and I said “I couldn’t dodge the rocks.” That’s the dumbest way I’ve gotten injured, thinking I could dodge rocks like raindrops.

What’s your most annoying habit?

Cleaning.

So you’re one of those?

Yeah, I’m obsessive about cleaning, it’s like I annoy myself and others. So sorry.ry. Especially with the crisis? Well that’s the thing, everything that everyone’s doing has been my normal life. I mean I didn’t go out in gloves and a mask, but I never touched buttons, I never touch door handles. You know when people are at the cross walk and they hit the button I was always the person to kick it with my foot and people were like, “You’re so extra”, and I’m like, “actually I’m not, that button has like poop on it and, you know, lots of bacteria and viruses.” Now everyone gets it.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My mother.

If you could visit somewhere right now where would you visit?

Somewhere warm where coronavirus can’t thrive. I would say if there was no crisis and I wasn’t breaking any rules or laws and I wasn’t putting anyone in danger, just let that be clear, I would love to go to Turks and Caicos again.

You’re gonna have a long life, a very amazing career, what would you like to be remembered for?

I hope that they remember that I touched their life in a positive way and that I helped them get through and showed them different perspectives of things that they could think about and made sure that they felt uplifted and encouraged. Things like that.

If there’s a language you could speak, a second or third language, what would it be?

I’d love to know French fluently. It just sounds so beautiful, someone could curse you out in French and I’m like, “I love you too.”

What’s your favorite song right now?

One song I’m really into right now would be an Instagram song that’s going around with the challenge, but it’s called “don’t rush” and it’s really good. What do you feel about Tik Tok?

AMy team recently asked me if I wanted to get one and I was like, “No, not feeling it”, and then these things came out about how it was sold to this old communist in China and there was all this conflict around it. I do think it’s cool that everyone is finding a way to entertain and stay uplifted and happy in the midst of everything that’s going on with Tik Tok. I think that’s cool for sure.

What are your top five stay at home movies right now that you recommend people to watch?

Hitch, I love Hitch. Contagion, and then... Hmm, I mainly watch shows rather than movies.

Oh so let’s mix it. Movie and shows, top five.

The Office for sure.

Oh you knew that one right away.

Yes, I love The Office. Vagrant Queen, Hitch, The Outsider, Succession.

That was a good one. What’s the most useless thing that you can do really well?

I can twist my arm all the way around. I guess it’s not useless if someone tried to apprehend me I could get out. I think it’s my elbow that’s double jointed cause it’s the lower end of my arm I can twist it all the way around.

What’s a good accent that you can do?

I can do a pretty good British accent.

Let’s hear it.

No I can’t do that one, no. (She says in her very convincing British accent).

There you go! So Adriyan, what is your biggest pet peeve if you have one?

Mouth sounds.

Oh my God that’s mine too, I hate it. Sometimes it cringes me and I wanna like choke them. Is that how you feel?

(Laughs) Yes. That and fidgeting, like when people tap pens incessantly, they don’t

even realize it. They click them, click, click, click, click, click, click. I just wanna judo chop the pen out of their hand, it makes me insane.

Now this one’s a little messed up, but if you could miss a body part, which one do you least mind losing?

Let’s see, I need all my toes, I need my legs, need arms. I guess I could get rid of a boob since I have two of them. Or a nostril. Or one ear. I would get rid of something that I have two of and I’d get rid of one. Except for eyes, need those.

Were you a good student?

Excellent student! Graduated with a 4.0.

For the last one I’m gonna give you two questions and you pick the one you like the most; Were your parents strict? Or what was your favorite toy growing up?

Can I answer them both?

Let’s do it.

My parents were very strict growing up. So strict that I was the girl that wasn’t aloud to wear

Rmakeup, I wasn’t aloud to get my eyebrows done, I wasn’t aloud to watch Harry Potter cause it was witchcraft. So yes my parents were very strict. And my favorite toy growing up, this was the nerdiest thing ever, but it was my microscope (laughs) it honestly was. I used to find anything I could and try and put it under the microscope. My mom got me a little one cause I loved science since I was tiny and it came with a piece of onion, and now I know you can look at an onion and see mitosis really well. So it came with a piece of onion that you could look at the slide for, it came with a bee wing that you could look at the slide for

and then I used to go out and look at grass or dirt, I used to put whatever I could under this microscope to look at it closer. It was my favorite toy.

We wish you a billion percent good luck and we hope you rise to the stars.

Tune in to new episodes of Vagrant Queen Thursdays at 10/11c and go follow Adriyan on Twitter & Instagram @AdriyanRae

INTERVIEW: GALAXY INTRO: ETHAN BREHM

Jack Quaid is such a real dude

The kind of real you can’t hide, no matter how hard you try. Growing up around Hollywood, Jack has such a great finger on the pulse of pop culture, but even more so on humanity. The actor has made a bang in the fandom world with his starring role on Amazon Prime’s The Boys, based on the comic book series, bringing that ultra-affable and down-to-earth personality to the character of Hughie.

The Boys is a show about superheroes, but with a twist: They’re all corrupt. Hughie, who doesn’t have

any powers himself, joins a vigilante team of fellow mortals that fights back against the “supes.” Jack can sell you on the premise much better than we can. The show has one of the best opening sequences we’ve seen in a long time, which instantly drags you into this crazy world.

What surprised us most is how similar Jack’s sense of humor is to Hughie’s. But what makes it more admirable is how he doesn’t ever seem to know he’s that funny. His keen comedic instincts and quick wit are absolutely natural, fitting in with the

wry tone of The Boys. He also gifts us with impressions of his parents, Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd who is just as bummed as we are about the lack of in-person Comic Cons this year. A comic book fan, himself, he’s itching to play a character with actual superpowers. Personally, we wouldn’t mind if Marvel chose to cast him as Reed Richards in their planned upcoming Fantastic Four project.

We get to talking about his brand new show, Star Trek: Lower Decks, an animated comedy which takes place circa Next Generation (the series is named after a TNG episode of the same name), and try to snag a few plot points for season 2 of The Boys. We got some nice teases.

He fills us in on his love for Back to the Future and Jaws, how Billy Joel made his way into a pivotal scene in The Boys, and what it’s like being raised by two megastars. This guy is so easy to talk to, which helped make this interview so much fun. We’re excited to help you get to know a little more about Jack Quaid.

WireImage/Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images/ Alamy/DFree/Shutterstock.com/IMDb

spoiler

The Boys is an amazing series. Amazon knocked it out of the park. What’s your experience like on that show?

JACK QUAID

Oh man! It’s just been one of the greatest creative experiences of my life. First of all, I grew up as just a huge nerd. I’ve always been a huge superhero fan. Growing up, they came out with the volumes where they collect all the earlier issues. Like an omnibus. And I just wanted to be a part of a [superhero] project, and the fact that this thing came along, which is so subversive and so

cool and so not what you would traditionally expect from a superhero project, it just blew my mind. When I found out I got the part, I think I was happy for about 6 months straight. It just kept me going. The project has been so amazing to work on. The entire cast are incredibly talented and incredibly nice people. We’ve just formed this little family shooting in Toronto. Season two was like coming back to summer camp to see all your old friends again. I think it’s better than season one.

Obviously, I’m the most biased person ever, but I think we’ve gotten even deeper with the characters. You find out what makes them tick. We still have those crazy moments that people—their jaws are gonna be on the floor. I guarantee you for this season your jaw is gonna hit the Earth’s core. It’s so insane.

spoiler I was able to see a screener for part of season two, it’s fabulous. Season one rocked, but season two kicks butt and I was like, “Ugh! Now I gotta wait to watch the rest.”

JACK QUAID

Yeah, I’m so excited. I can’t discuss anything specific with you, but I’m glad you saw it [laughs]. And I think

you know what I’m talking about.

spoiler

Yes, they told me they’d cut my fingers off if I said anything.

JACK QUAID

That’s how we run things! People are losin’ fingers!

spoiler

A lot of people are intrigued with you, both off and on screen, which is very rare these days. Every now and then when I hear you talk, your dad’s voice comes across. I’m the biggest fan of your dad, and of course I love your mom as well. I know it’s

cheesy, but how was it like growing up in a household with Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan?

JACK QUAID

It’s really weird because, to me, as a kid, I didn’t really think anything of it. I think it was only until I got a little bit older where I started to realize like, “Okay, my situation is slightly different than the norm.” Because when I was a very, very, very little kid, what they did was just like any other job to me. And then once I got to around 4-years-old, I was like, “Oh, they like, do this thing and everyone sees them do it.” Everybody knows that they do this occupation. So, to

me, it wasn’t that much different than growing up anywhere else, but later I was like, “It very much was.” But it was great! I really can’t complain about anything. My parents are good at what they do and were able to put food on the table. But in terms of my dad’s voice, I feel like, if I just kinda go a little bit deeper, I feel like I can kinda do, like, “Ah! Hey everybody!” I can kinda do a Dennis Quaid, but my mom’s voice is slightly different. My impression of my mom is her going to my friend Marty’s art show and being really impressed by everything. It’s just like, “Marty! Oh my God!” I don’t know if that’s good, but that’s my impression of her. I love them both and it was great growing up with them.

spoiler So you learned early on, “My house is not normal. My mom is America’s sweetheart and my dad is the coolest dude in the universe.” Did your friends start bringing it up? Or was it your friends’ parents?

JACK QUAID

It was interesting. The one odd part is, sometimes I would have my friends in my class try to be friends with me because of who my parents were. And it was just like, “Wait, this is weird. You don’t really like me for me. You’re sixyears-old and trying to get in good with my parents.” Which is so odd. So that was kind of my first crash course in that. And then I

just got very good at knowing who was genuinely my friend. I call it my BS detector.

spoiler

I always tell people, regardless of who your mom and dad are, you still have to grind in Hollywood. It’s not easy. You still have to be good at what you do. Do you think having them as your parents opened doors?

JACK QUAID

It probably has opened doors for me and I don’t even realize it has. I’m not gonna try to pretend that any kind of privilege doesn’t exist. However, what I’ve experienced has mostly been people assuming I’m going to be a prick when I enter a room because I am a son of famous people. I remember I was going into this audition once and the casting director was like, “Oh, that was actually, like, really good!” And I was like, “Oh! Thank you!” She was like, “I thought you’d come in here and expect it all to be handed to you and

just be a jerk.” And I was like, “No, no, I work hard and I want this, but okay.” I was like, “Uh, I’m not a jerk,” but I don’t wanna hafta say that, because that just seems like a jerky thing to say.

spoiler

I can tell when someone is a really cool person. You just come across as this very cool dude and that’s why the world is loving you.

JACK QUAID

Thank you! That means a lot.

spoiler You’ve been on some pretty cool film projects. Are there any celebrities that you’ve worked with that you got starstruck with?

JACK QUAID

The Rock on Rampage. I remember when I first saw him—and this doesn’t happen to me a lot, but when it does it’s very real—but seeing him in real life was like, “You’re watching a screen right now.” Because I was just so used to him being on a movie screen or on my TV, and I had never actually met him in real life. So it was just this weird, “Is this real? Or am I watching a movie that I’m in right now?” It was just very strange. I remember being super awkward around him initially because I didn’t know what to say [laughs]. I dunno, I was just completely and utterly starstruck.

Jack Quaid/Lars Niki/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly/Comic Con/Harrison Hill/USA Today/Maarten de Boer/Sharp Magazine

Creedence Clearwater Revival/Craft Recordings/The Boys/Amazon/ Sony/Dynamite Entertainment/Instagram

spoiler

Is he as big in person?

JACK QUAID

He’s huge! I’m tall, but I don’t have the discipline and the muscles that he does. And I think he’s also taller than me too. But it was like watching Superman walk into the room. Like, the real life Superman that everyone told you doesn’t exist, but actually does exist, walk into the room. That was the feeling seeing him for the first time. And also, on The Boys, Simon Pegg plays my dad, which is insane. He is genuinely my hero. I think he’s such a great actor. I love the fact that he’s written

most of the movies that have kinda brought him to where he is now. He’s a guy who does it all and couldn’t be a nicer, more affable, kinder guy. He’s the absolute best. I know that’s no surprise. But that’s another one where I was like, “Oh, this is just awesome!”

spoiler

He’s just one of those people where you just want to hug him.

JACK QUAID

And I did! Constantly. I didn’t want to bother him, but I did want to hug him a lot.

spoiler

You think he wants to hug you back?

JACK QUAID

Yeah, maybe. I dunno if he was thinking, “The son of Dennis Quaid is hugging me! What a day!” But he was just the best. It was a dream come true getting to work with him.

spoiler

I’m not gonna ask you how you got into acting, but—

JACK QUAID

Yeah. What got me into acting was actually, I did a play in middle school. The thing is, with my parents as actors, it was like proof that it was possible. Like, seeing them do their job and be good at it and be successful. It was never a case of my parents being like, “Why would you go into acting? That doesn’t seem practical.” They can’t say that because they’re doing it themselves. The proof that it could be done was there. But I think I got my first laugh on stage when I was like, 13, and I was like, “Oh man, this is great!” And also I formed relationships with other kids and became kind of a theater nerd, and a lot of the friendships I made on that play when I was 13 are still friends of mine today. The community, the joy of doing it was amazing.

spoiler

Would you ever do a movie with your parents?

JACK QUAID

Yes, I absolutely would do a movie with my parents. I think it just has to be the right project, but I’m not closed off to that idea at all. In fact, I did kinda work with my mom already. She directed a small independent movie that I was in a few years ago called Ithaca. And I was actually an extra in The Alamo, which had my dad in it. So I kinda worked with them in the past, but if something great comes up in the future, I wouldn’t be opposed to it at all.

spoiler

Would you ever do a reboot of any of your dad’s movies?

JACK QUAID

Oh man, I’m gonna say no. Only because I think, obviously he nailed them, and that always gets into dicey territory a little bit when the son plays the dad’s former role. It’s worked in some instances. Like O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ice Cube’s son, is such an incredible actor. Him playing his dad in Straight Outta Compton, it was just great. I always thought a movie my dad did that was really good was Enemy Mine with Louis Gossett Jr. I think it’s a really good movie and today could be a really good remake, but I would probably stay out of the remake. But I think they should remake it, period.

spoiler

Right now it’s all about The Boys Season one is amazing, it gave people the true side of how superheroes might act in real life, because they can’t be perfect all the time. When you got on set for the first time, what were your feelings?

JACK QUAID

I think the first scene I ever shot was the scene between Butcher and Hughie in the pilot when But-

cher is trying to convince Hughie to go into the Seven tower. I mean, I was so nervous. Just because it was my first day and this was a big project and I didn’t wanna screw anything up. I didn’t wanna be fired and recast within the first week [laughs]. So I remember we were doing the scene—and this is what clued me in that this project was gonna be awesome—I’m doing the scene and I was encouraged by our amazing pilot director, Dan Trachtenberg, who did 10 Cloverfield Lane, he said, “Just go ahead and improvise anytime you want. If it doesn’t work, whatever, but if it works, we’ll use it.” So I improvised this thing about how Hughie’s favorite musician is James Taylor, so it means he shouldn’t be good at infiltrating a tower. And [showrunner] Eric Kripke came out and was like, “That was great! Make that a list. Make it James Taylor, Simon & Garfukel, Billy Joel.” And something about Billy Joel stuck. And it became Hughie’s favorite musician, and we put him on Hughie’s t-shirts, and the next day we shot the scene where Robin died, and originally

Jack Quaid/The Boys/Amazon/Sony/Dynamite Entertainment/Plus One/ RLJE Films/Today/NBC/Gage Skidmore/Jenna Greene/Instagram

the line before she died was, “We can’t keep waking up in your childhood bedroom staring up at a Led Zeppelin poster.” That was changed to Billy Joel. I mean, Billy Joel just became this huge part of Hughie’s character all based on this improvised thing that Eric and I worked out. So the fact that Eric is so collaborative with all of his actors, especially during that time when we were all figuring out who our characters were and what made them tick, I will forever take my hat off to that. He is so incredibly good at what he does and I think the show benefits greatly from his supervision and his writing. So I’m just giving a big ol’ shout out to Eric for being awesome. And Dan as well.

spoiler

I don’t know if a lot of people know this, but Seth Rogen is involved as one of the executive producers. What was it like meeting him and working with him?

JACK QUAID

That was another being-super-starstruck moment. I actually met him during my audition, which was so nerve-racking because, like Simon Pegg, I’m in awe of that dude. He’s so funny and such a great performer, but also writes a lot of the stuff that he does and is so good at that as

well. And he and Evan Goldberg, his writing partner, were in the room, and I’m a huge fan of his as well. [Seth] actually read for Butcher in my audition, which was one of the more surreal moments of my life. Like, Seth Rogen’s voice doing hardcore Cockney slang. It was just so surreal and weird, but it was incredible. So I jumped at the chance to work with him, and the fact that I’m still working on a project with him is so incredibly cool.

spoiler

You work with a cool cast and crew on The Boys. Which one of your co-stars really fits the character they’re playing?

JACK QUAID

In terms of looks, all of the superhero actors look perfect for their roles, and I would say that for The Boys too. What’s interesting is,

we’re all pretty similar to our characters. I mean, obviously for the superheroes, they’re not evil. But I think Laz Alonso is kind of the perfect Mother’s Milk, because he has a tendency to be a little bit OCD like Mother’s Milk. He carries around wet wipes and hand sanitizer. I don’t even know if the OCD came from, “Hey, Laz, do you want your character to have the same particular ticks that you do?” or some cosmic meeting between the two. But that would probably be the best pairing for me. He’s absolutely perfect. One of the most rewarding parts of the show, for me, is actually Hughie and MM’s relationship, which I think we get into a little bit more in season two. I just think it’s really fascinating because Marvin, his real name, is who Hughie wanted Butcher to be. Butcher is a guy who gets things done, albeit in a crazy way, but he actually fights for what he believes in. Mother’s Milk does the same thing, but he does it in a more logical way that actually thinks about the human cost of what he’s doing. And exploring that relationship with Laz was really great.

spoiler

Hearing you talk about The Boys with such passion tells me that this show means a lot to you.

JACK QUAID

Absolutely. It’s like my family. A lot of things wrapped up in one. You spend so much time with people that you get so attached. I feel very lucky to have this thing

that’s been coming out over the past two years that I’m just so proud of and I get to share with such incredible people. Not only that, but everybody’s friends with people in my life and groups are getting crossed. My girlfriend is friends with everybody in the cast. It’s just cool. It’s become my whole thing.

spoiler

Let’s get a little into Hughie’s character for those who haven’t seen it yet. Who is he and what is he doing with these superheroes?

JACK QUAID

As I kinda spoiled earlier, Hughie Campbell is just a mild-mannered dude who works in an electronics store and exists in a world where superheroes are real and are fighting crime. Everybody loves them. They’re kind of the equivalent to our most famous actors and biggest sports superstars combined. And one day, [Hughie] is closing up shop and his lovely girlfriend, Robin, comes in and they start walking down the street and he asks him to move in with her. And he’s very excited about it. He’s a guy who would just be happy living out his days with this girl. Not really amounting to much, but as long as he’s with her, he’s okay. And all of a sudden, she steps one step into the road and a speedster superhero, akin to The Flash, runs through her accidentally and basically atomizes her into a cloud of blood right before his eyes. He’s left there holding her severed hands. The superhero rushes off and all of a sudden Hughie is in this world where he is so caught up with revenge. He gets recruited by this mysterious figure named Billy Butcher, who is a guy who takes down superheroes and, as he puts it, “spanks the bastards when they get out of line.” So it’s a show about revenge. A show about absolute power corrupting absolutely. And it’s so friggin’ insane.

spoiler

That scene is so crazy. That’s a reaction that would actually happen if this were real life.

JACK QUAID

It was an insane day. That was my second day on set. I always mention that scene, because when I was originally trying to elevator pitch the show to my friends, it was hard to pitch because there are so many elements happening. But if I just describe that one scene, they got it immediately. They were like, “Oh! Okay! Superheroes are bad. There’s collateral damage and it’s about the people trying to take them down.” You just kind of understand based on that one scene.

spoiler Do you think if superheroes actually existed there would be people trying to take them down?

JACK QUAID

Absolutely! Just that scene with Robin, I’m like, “Yeah, of course if The Flash actually existed he would run into somebody… like, eventually he would have to make that mistake.” There are so many people walking around on the street. And I think there’s a reason why, in some iterations of The Flash, you just see nobody on the street when he’s running around. I think that whether or not their intentions are good, superheroes are still human and they’re gonna make human mistakes like that. And there are also people who, if you give them power, they become very, very corrupt. And that’s the case with the character of Homelander, who’s the most powerful being on earth. So why would he care what we, mere mortals, think, and what we consider to be moral and good?

I feel like a lot of superheroes we know from comic books, it’s kind of assumed that they have good intentions and are

Jack Quaid/Tommy Garcia/Glamour Magazine/Instagram

good people, and then they get powers. But this is saying, “Okay, you don’t necessarily have to be somebody who’s a good person to have powers.”

There are gonna be people who are straight-up evil. There are gonna be people who are indifferent and use their powers for their own selfish means. There’s more of a grey area and I think this show is a pretty accurate version of what it would actually be like if superheroes existed in our world. Another thing Eric said about the show, which is really interesting, is that it’s a show about masks. It’s a show about people showing different sides of themselves to different people. With the supes, they have a public persona, and then they have who they are on the inside that they don’t really show. I think the only two characters who we can see don’t have a mask, or don’t wear them initially, are Hughie and Starlight.

Starlight eventually learns to put something on. She grapples with that. Like, “Should I be doing this?” And Hughie, there’s no way he can put on a mask. He just kind of has to be himself the whole time. So it’s an interesting show, especially when you view it through that lens. Everybody has a side that they show the world, and has a side that they keep to themselves.

spoiler

You and your crew are vigilantes with no powers, but you guys are ballsy dudes. What do you think a person like Hughie is thinking?

JACK QUAID

The whole thing with The Boys is they have to outsmart [the supes]. Sometimes they do that via blackmail. Sometimes they’re trying to really research the heroes and find out what their weaknesses are. We have a hero named Translucent in episode 2 of season 1 who comes to a bitter end. I don’t wanna spoil too much, but we figure out exactly how to take him down. It’s bloody, for sure. But we kinda have to outsmart him and figure out a way around his powers in order to kill him. We basically have to think and plan and be willing to fight dirty.

spoiler

There are a lot of cliffhangers about The Boys and The Seven and Vought. What can you share without sharing to much.

JACK QUAID

I think the one that most people are super excited for is what’s the deal with Becca and Homelander’s son. What’s going on with that? What is this house? I’m not gonna say anything about it, but we get into it for sure. We’re not gonna leave you in the dark. Something I’ve always wondered about is what’s gonna happen with Hughie and Starlight now. She basically broke up with him, and rightfully so. I think Hughie feels super bad about lying to her for that entire season, but she basically lets him go. I dunno. Is there still a

romantic thing? Are they just done? Are they gonna ever see each other again? We answer those questions too. So, I dunno. I think I just spoiled a lot of the end of season one for anyone who hasn’t watched it [laughs]. There’s definitely a lot of lingering questions from season one, but I think we address all of them.

spoiler

A lot of times with these secretive shows, the showrunners might not tell the actors too much ahead of time. Is that true?

JACK QUAID

I knew about some stuff that would happen with my character, but I really didn’t know about a lot of the cliffhangers until I read the first script. And I’m like you guys. I’m like, “Oh my God! What?!” every time I read one of them. [The showrunners] know everything and every time I’m in an interview setting with Eric, I feel so much more comfortable because he can say what he thinks is appropriate and I can just chill and not have to answer those questions [laughs].

Jack Quaid/Plus One/RLJE Films/Getty Images/Michael Buckner/David Needleman/ Instagram/Lars Nicki/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly/Comic Con

spoiler

Things are going very well for you with the show and the movie projects you have coming up. Does it get nerve-racking sometimes?

JACK QUAID

This is basically my therapy, where I’m always like, “Oh man, when’s the other shoe gonna drop?” I just feel incredibly lucky to be on these shows, but also just in general, I feel lucky to do what I do. So I always fear that someone’s gonna pop out and be like, “It was all a lie!” But I think every time I feel that, I just reflect on how I feel genuinely blessed and lucky to be a part of projects that, not only are fun to work on, but I genuinely love and would watch even if I wasn’t involved.

spoiler

Do you feel like you don’t go to as many auditions anymore?

JACK QUAID

It’s weird. I had a few auditions over Zoom, which has been really interesting. It’s like doing a scene that you would normally do with another person in a room, but just over a computer. It’s just so odd. But definitely possible. Oh, actually, there’s another thing I have at Comic Con this year. I have a cartoon called Star Trek: Lower Decks. I’ve been doing some lines that we missed, basically from my closet—we’ve kind of converted that into a little voiceover studio. So I’m still acting, but there’s an itch that’s not getting scratched. And I know a lot of other performers who feel the same way right now. But mostly I’ve just been playing Fortnite with Jesse T. Usher, who plays A-Train (on The Boys), so it’s been great!

spoiler

What can you tell us about Lower Decks?

JACK QUAID

It’s an animated Star Trek show. A comedy that focuses on, not the bridge crew or the captains or the first officers, it focuses on the ensigns who are on the lower decks of the ship. And they’re the ones who basically have to do all the dirty work. They have to repair the ship when it’s broken. They have to fix the food replicators. They have to take out the trash, basically, in the holodeck. And it’s great! I really love the show because it’s set in the Star Trek world, and it’s a comedy, but in no way is the show making fun of Star Trek or people who like Star Trek. It’s a show that hopefully audiences can laugh along with. Occasionally there will be a weird aspect of Star Trek that we touch

on and I hope that fans can go, “Oh! I recognize that as being an odd thing in that universe,” and laugh along with us. Mike McMahan is the showrunner. He was a writer on Rick and Morty and he co-created Solar Opposites with Justin Roiland. And he’s the ultimate Star Trek nerd and taught me so much about that universe. I was a big Star Wars fan, and now I feel like Star Trek and Star Wars are kinda tied for my affection. He told me all the best episodes to watch of The Next Generation. Our show is actually set in that era. Before the events of Star Trek: Picard, but I think after or during the TNG era. To be a part of this universe is such an honor and such a responsibility because this show has been such an institution for so long. And the fact that I get to play around in that sandbox is really a dream come true—even if my character is a lowly ensign who is not

that high in rank. Much like Hughie on The Boys, where I’m on a superhero show and don’t get superpowers, I’m on a Star Trek show and I’m not on the bridge. But I’m having a blast!

spoiler

Between live-action or animation, which do you prefer more?

JACK QUAID

I love both so much, but if I had to choose I’d choose live-action just because you get to interact with a whole crew full of people and you’re just in the trenches with people. I love being on set, it’s such a great experience. Animation is super fun and super great, but you’re only in there for like a day or so. You don’t really get to meet everybody involved in the project. And one of the things I love most about acting is the sense of community that you build. And you make friends, sometimes for life. So if I had to choose, I’d choose live-action, but animation does hold a special place in my heart just because I grew up on cartoons. And just being a cartoon, period, has been such a dream.

spoiler

You said you’re into comics. If you could be a superhero in a DC or Marvel movie, who would it be?

JACK QUAID

That’s the one thing about being on The Boys: I’m in a superhero show but I don’t have any superhero powers [laughs], which is like, “Ughhh!” I know I’ve been tagged on Instagram as The Flash. I would love that. He would be really great. The other one though, because I’m lanky and I read the Fantastic Four comic books when I was a kid, would be Mister Fantastic. I feel like I could be a stretchy superhero. And I mean, Spider-Man has always been my favorite and I think I could be at least a good Peter Parker in that sense, but I’m not trying to take anyone’s job. Everybody who’s playing these superheroes now are perfect for the roles, so maybe there’s something that will come along that I’ve never heard of that will be perfect. Much like The Boys. I didn’t realize it was based on the comics, but there it was. Stuff comes along, and I would

absolutely not be opposed to playing a superhero.

spoiler

You sound like a fan and you think like a fan, which is why you’re always gonna give them the best version of yourself in everything you do.

JACK QUAID

Totally, thank you! it’s weird because I feel like if I wasn’t on [The Boys], I’d be at Comic Con just as a fan. I’ve been to San Diego Comic Con a few times before I was on The Boys and it’s just cool to be in a group of people who are just all into the same stuff you are. I’ve been to New York Comic Con as a fan, too. And I went to Dragon Con last year with Karl Urban, and that was one of the best times I ever had. Atlanta was incredible. The Atlanta nerds at Dragon Con are just incredible and amazing. I miss that too.

spoiler

How did it feel going to your first Comic Con as a celebrity?

JACK QUAID

It’s really odd. Because in my head, I’m like, “Why are you waiting to meet me?” But I think just talking to everyone was incredible because you just get to know the fans face-to-face, which is such an incredible experience that I’ve never really had on any other project. Just getting to talk to people who are fans of the show one-on-one. And sometimes I’ve had really deep discussions about, like, anxiety, or people

would tell me stuff and I was very happy to listen and get to know them a little bit. Especially at Dragon Con. Everyone was just so cool. I know this sounds cheesy, but I felt like after they left my table I genuinely made a friend of some kind. It’s been really interesting. I did a convention in Valencia, Spain right before everything shut down. And even there, I felt the same. These conventions have such a positive and incredible vibe to them. You can’t help but leave feeling very refreshed and very connected to everyone, to humanity, in an interesting way. I know that’s from a very narrow, comic book convention lens, but it’s very nice and I miss conventions during this time for sure.

spoiler Do you believe in ghosts?

JACK QUAID

Yes. There has to be. I’m in my apartment right now and I think there’s a ghost in here. I swear to God, there’s like a certain

energy from one part of the apartment. I don’t think it’s bad. I don’t think it’s negative. There was one point where my girlfriend went out of town to visit her family and I was watching her cat at my place, and there was one room of my apartment that it would just go into and just start meowing out of nowhere. And things that I’ve never seen this cat do before. I dunno. I also grew up going to this place in Montana a lot, and there was kind of a cabin there owned by this dude, Warren Oates—he was like a Western movie actor. And everyone who ever stayed in that cabin would hear footsteps or had a sense that somebody was there. There’s gotta be something because

I think as you live a life, you kinda leave behind energy. And at some place it can be so strong that it can carry over, even after you die. That’s what I think. And I might be wrong. Call me crazy, but I’m into it.

spoiler

Have you ever experienced anything paranormal on set?

JACK QUAID

I personally haven’t while filming, but I know there was an area—and I don’t wanna give away too much about season 2—but there was basically a hospital or old asylum somewhere in Ontario that other members of the cast—not me—shot at. And everyone came away from

it being like, “Okay, it’s haunted. There’s something there.” People were just kind of experiencing a presence while on set.

spoiler

If you had a time machine, would you go to the future or the past?

JACK QUAID

Oh my God, I think I would have to go to the past and warn someone about something. Just to like, maybe make sure the present’s a little bit better. That’s what I think I would do. Also I’m a huge fan of Back to the Future and going back to any time period in the past just seems fascinating. Also, I would bring $100 and

it would be like, $1 million back then. Where would you go?

spoiler

I would go back in time to some big historic situation that I kind of think didn’t really happen and try to see if it was real or not.

JACK QUAID

You know, I’d see if aliens really did crash in Roswell. That’s what I would do, for sure.

spoiler

What’s the one movie you remember seeing as a kid that’s affected you today?

JACK QUAID

I mentioned one of them a second ago. Back to the Future, I think, was the movie I watched at every sleepover for a very long time. It’s just such a fun, incredible—funny, but also heartfelt, and it has a sci-fi element to it. Actually, I remember when I first started talking about the role of Hughie with Dan Trachtenberg—in the first episode, we mention Marty McFly. Marty’s a little cooler than Hughie is, but he has that kinda vibe to him. We were trying to bring that into the character. The other movie I watch at least once a year is Jaws. I don’t know what it is about that movie. The characters are great. I like the story about how it was made and how difficult it was to make the animatronic shark work in salt water, so they had to film around it, which is why you don’t see the shark for the first 75% of the movie. I just think that’s so interesting that it was such a stressful shoot for everybody, but if that movie hadn’t gotten made, or if they failed to make it the way that they did, we wouldn’t get all the other great Spielberg movies and all that stuff. So much came down to Jaws. It changed everything. The summer blockbuster was formed out of that and it was such a grind to make it. So I just find that movie endlessly fascinating.

spoiler

What is the most memorable or exciting thing you’ve seen onset?

JACK QUAID

I can’t give it away. There’s something that happens in episode 3 of season 2 of The Boys that’s just the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my entire career. And I just think nothing’s ever gonna top that. You’ll know it when you see it, but it’s just the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life. You’ll know it soon enough and you will not be able to forget it.

spoiler

If there’s one message you can pass to your fans, what would that be?

JACK QUAID

“Thank you. Fans of The Boys, thank you so much for coming on this journey with us. We are continually in awe of you guys. You guys have the cosplay, the fan art. Just the love from all of you, it’s felt and it’s deeply appreciated. We just genuinely could not do this show without you guys, so thank you so much. And also, thank you for hanging in there and being patient with us and allowing us to finish the show, edit it, and get it to be the best possible quality for you guys. And just thanks for being fans.”

interview interview

INTERVIEW

BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

BY: GALAXY WRITTEN BY ETHAN BREHM

CONCEPT

If nothing else, Andrew Koji knows all about the rewards

of being patient. Ready to quit acting altogether prior to landing the starring role in HBO Max’s Warrior several years back, the actor is now starring in the upcoming David Leitch film Bullet Train, alongside Brad Pitt, and also the most recent entry in the G.I. Joe cinematic universe, Snake Eyes

Andrew plays Storm Shadow, the title character’s friend-turnedarchnemesis. The latest movie hopes to breathe life back into the world of G.I. Joe with several more sequels and spin-offs in the works as well.

Of course, the actor still stars as Ah Sahm in Warrior, which recently got

greenlit for season 3. SPO!LER has been nothing but supportive of the show since its debut, and is absolutely thrilled to see its transition to the streaming service a successful one. An actor’s actor, Andrew is very much along the lines of that old school, Heath Ledger, Marlon Brando, Daniel Day Lewis mentality, where he simply wants his acting to speak for itself. Although, he also acknowledges that—in today’s world especially—he has to play the game. Preferring the one-on-one interactions with authentic fans over an extravagant red carpet event any day, he can’t wait for the return of conventions, where he will undoubtedly be a big hit with countless fans finally getting to meet him for the first time.

Andrew chats with us about his latest role in Snake Eyes, his fears about aging, and of course, Warrior season 3.

Andrew Koji/Snake

Eyes/Viacom/Hasbro/Paramount

Pictures

interview interview

interview interview

SPOILER: I remember last time you had talked about how you were thinking about quitting acting prior to Warrior. And now you’re starring in the newest G.I. Joe movie! What’s been the biggest transition you’ve had to make with this increased notoriety?

ANDREW KOJI: I’m not very good at the social media stuff, man. I tend to shy away. I had to hire a publicist for the first time for the G.I. Joe movie, which feels weird. I’m not very much into self-promotion [laughs]. It’s weird because it’s part of the industry and the business. I’m learning that if people play the publicity game in their career they can get further ahead. Whereas if you’re very talented but don’t play the publicity game, you won’t get the same opportunities. I always thought, “Nah, I want my work to speak for itself!” But you’ve got to play the game sometimes, don’t you? And then they’re talking about stylists and groomers and stuff. I’m just like, “Don’t touch me with that!” [laughs] It’s part of the territory though, I’m learning. I guess that’s the showbiz world rather than the acting world. Essentially after the film’s shot, you become a spokesperson for the film. I always thought, “I’d rather not do that.” But I’m getting comfortable speaking out.

SPOILER: It’s funny because people tend to take that the wrong way. But someone like you, you just want people to see your talent for what it is. You’re a pure actor in that sense. This is a job for you.

ANDREW KOJI: Yeah, what I’ve been told is, “It’s part of the game so just play it like a game.” And then hopefully along the way you’ll meet some genuine souls and good people. But it’s an interesting time.

SPOILER: What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened so far now that you’re being noticed for Warrior?

ANDREW KOJI: I’ve only been back in England now for like a month and a half. A good friend and I walked around London, and I didn’t know how Warrior was received in England. And I’ve got short hair now, and I’m getting recognized out and about. I didn’t think that would happen in England.

SPOILER: How does it feel when that happens?

ANDREW KOJI: Umm, it’s weird. I don’t know how to describe it. I guess you feel a little bit like your anonymity isn’t there. It’s gonna be interesting after these films come out and further down the line. But I guess it’ll just take time to get used to it. Sometimes it’s nice actually. We got into a nice bar the other night because the bouncers recognized me—they were martial arts guys. Because of the nature of the show, I just think someday someone might come up to

me and go, “Can you really fight?! Let’s go!” [laughs]

I’m waiting for that. I hope that doesn’t happen.

SPOILER: I think after these movies it’s only going to get even bigger. Kids are going to be looking up to you for years.

ANDREW KOJI: Yeah, that’s fun. It’s interesting because my friend and I were talking about social dynamics and your perceived social status in a certain industry, and being treated in a slightly different way. And I think the main thing behind that is, if it helps me work with different people and progress and grow and learn, and hopefully bring good contribution to the work I want to do, and help greenlight things I want to see made—that’s the thing I’m excited about.

SPOILER: I remember when we were talking hypothetically about a season

3 for Warrior, you were saying everything has to be right for it to happen. Do you think everything’s in order for this next season?

ANDREW KOJI: I hope so. I’m definitely already planning to go back even stronger and more evolved. All the people behind it, Jonathan Tropper the showrunner, the producers and the writers, they all really wanna go back to Warrior I think pretty much all of the cast is confirmed to come back. I spoke to some of the cast, Joe [Taslim] and Dean [Jagger], and we feel like now we know the importance of the show—the fact that we almost lost it. A show where—and this is very rare—it feels that we’re uniformly on the same page. We all have this very minimal selfishness about the whole show. I think the way we’re talking about it now is that everyone’s hungry to go back for sure. What would you like to see in season 3?

SPOILER: What I would like to see is more of the problematic stuff within the city between the different sectors. I know it’s messed up to say, but it’s part of the history back then. It’s what really affected the times.

ANDREW KOJI: I do wonder. In the show we’re just a couple years away from the Chinese Exclusion Act, so I do wonder if we’re ever gonna get to that. I wonder if we’re gonna acknowledge that gap. I think I’ve hardly ever seen it covered that much [in TV or film]. But thank you for the support, man. It probably wouldn’t have come back if not for you guys and the fans.

SPOILER: You’re very welcome. We’re gonna do something even bigger for season 3! So tell us about

Andrew Koji/Snake

Eyes/Viacom/Hasbro/Paramount Pictures

G.I. Joe. You play Storm Shadow, who is Cobra Commander’s right hand man. How does it feel going from playing the good guy in Warrior to the bad guy here?

ANDREW KOJI: Well this is an origins story. You can’t have Snake Eyes without Storm Shadow. We started off with him as a good guy. He’s still got his strong ties to the Arashikage. I did really enjoy exploring that status of entitlement. He sacrificed his whole life to train and go on missions and serve the Arashikage in Japan. It was about trying to layer in his psyche slowly breaking as people get the better of him and all that. So towards the end is when he will become the Storm Shadow that people know. [The film is] the origins of Storm Shadow as well. It was interesting thinking about what makes someone snap.

SPOILER: Was it hard playing Storm Shadow? Did you have to change your voice?

ANDREW KOJI: With [my character] Tommy, he’s Japanese, and we had this backstory where he’s been educated but he’s also born and bred in that Japanese warrior culture— very stoic. But then Tommy has this air of nobility to him. So he’ll be

stern, with a soft Japanese accent, but the darkness comes out with the voice, hopefully you’ll hear, trying to be noble and polite but then sometimes he’ll lower his voice.

SPOILER: What was the hardest part about playing Storm Shadow?

ANDREW KOJI: I think, from my limited experience working on a blockbuster film—Warrior is a tightknit family, smaller production, making 10 hours of TV for half the budget—so I think the hardest part is having all these “chefs,” and then having to dilute that. You don’t know what the film’s going to be like when you’re making it. You don’t know the tone, the music—much like Warrior in the beginning. So with this, it’s figuring out how to play this guy as honestly and truthfully as I can. And then I think about how I can make him entertaining in the world that it’s set in.

And then the fight scenes are filmed very differently. In Warrior, there are very specific shots and angles that we use. There’s almost no change from the final version of the rehearsal to the filmed product.

Whereas on G.I. Joe, there are 20 cameras everywhere and you just

do the fight scene from beginning to end. That was tricky, because sometimes you wanna know which camera you’re playing to. Also stamina wise, Henry [Golding] and I were exhausted for most of it. The real hardest fight scene was the fight in the rain, because that was freezing cold rain! Then you’ve got a wetsuit underneath that restricts your movement. And then you’ve got water flying in your eyes and you’re still trying to look like you know exactly what you’re doing [laughs].

SPOILER: Did you watch G.I. Joe as a kid? Was that your era?

ANDREW KOJI: In England it was called Action Force. But no, it wasn’t big for me at all. I think my only experience with G.I. Joe was the first two films. I was very much aspiring to be Daniel Day Lewis, Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and so when I saw those, it wasn’t for me at the time. Louise Mingenbach, the costume designer—she’s a lovely, lovely woman who did the previous films as well—I had a lot more input collaborating with her than I thought I would, down to the ninja tabi shoes and all that stuff. At first I think there were different drafts where it was a lot more modern. And through this weird process, we all went to this really almost traditional Japanese samurai warrior style. And when I put it on, it felt custom-made—it felt nice [laughs]. It felt like [Storm Shadow].

SPOILER: Did you feel invincible?

ANDREW KOJI: Yes and no. Yes because it was good for general movement—the lower part of the body, the legs and all that. But the shoulder pads made it very hard to lift your arms. And when you’re doing the sword action and you can’t lift your arms, it makes it a bit harder. Also, another fun fact for ya: The sword’s behind you, and you actually can’t reach up and grab it. So they have to always [make a] cut. You get that first shot where you go to grab it, and then they cut to taking it out. [laughs] Because you can’t literally

grab it. But I really like what Louise did with that costume. If a sequel

moments you will see it. I think it’s an origin, in a different time period, of a Bruce Lee story.

SPOILER: Yeah, how did you have such nice hair coming off that boat?

ANDREW KOJI: [laughs] I do wish that he was dirtier coming off the boat.

SPOILER: Do you know when season 3 is coming out?

ANDREW KOJI: I actually don’t know. We’re going to find out very soon. A lot of the producers are on different shows. But I keep hearing that we’re going to film it in the spring or summer of next year. And then hopefully it will come out at the end of next year.

SPOILER: Would you want to be part of it if it keeps going after that?

ANDREW KOJI: Oh yeah, I would have to. It does fill me with a lot of fear, because if they did seasons 3 and 4 back to back—I’ll be 34 next

year, so I just think I’ll be a bit old to get in that kind of shape and stamina needed to film a TV show.

SPOILER: So are you getting back in shape already?

ANDREW KOJI: The gym just reopened about a month ago so I’m back in training. It took a while. You know, we got all the big muscle groups, but then all the tiny little tendons, those felt really rusty. I forgot my form. Metabolism’s okay [laugh].

SPOILER: Maybe if you had had this succes a decade ago, you wouldn’t have the same maturity to handle it mentally.

ANDREW KOJI: Oh yeah, I was the typical actor personality: troubled,

tormented soul. And I think it wasn’t until the past 3 or 5 years ago where I was able to break free of certain demons and have perspective. Absolutely, if it happened 10 years ago, it would’ve been a different story [laughs].

SPOILER: If Snake Eyes blows up and becomes a super huge series and that spirals into other things, how are you going to manage that? You’re becoming a TV star and a movie star. Down the road will you have to choose between those two worlds?

ANDREW KOJI: I’ll work my ass off [to make it happen]. I live for my work. It’s kinda sad to say, but I could do it every single day and I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t have a break. But I haven’t heard plans for the G.I. Joe universe. I think they’re going to start branching out all the different characters. But no one knows at this point. The film industry is in such flux right now. It’s really hard for people to gauge if a film is popular because people like it or because of the lack of new content right now. I do like Tommy. There’s more to discover with him for sure.

SPOILER: You haven’t really done a real red carpet event yet. Are you ready for that?

ANDREW KOJI: It’s gonna be weird. All the red carpet and showbiz stuff doesn’t appeal to me. I just don’t wanna wear a suit and pretend like I’m the coolest thing in the world [laughs]. But I’m gonna eventually have to do that.

SPOILER: Are you practicing poses right now?

ANDREW KOJI: Nah, I’m gonna be the opposite. If you remember Heath Ledger back in the day, he was just himself on the red carpet. He didn’t do any of that. He was just like, “Whatever,” [laughs] and that was it. That’s gonna be my style.

SPOILER: I can’t wait for you to start doing the convention circuit. Do you think it’s cool that fans are so close to their favorite actors?

ANDREW KOJI: I think so. It works for me because I’m more of the quiet introvert. Panels and all that stuff make me want to just close up. But now we can converse one-to-one. I

hope it’s less filtered and just more honest. Also, with all those press junkets, you’re selling hype. But when you’ve got a good journalist, it’s more just honest and personal. You don’t have to go, “Yeah! This is the most kickass thing in the world!” [laughs]

SPOILER: What else is in the works other than Snake Eyes and Warrior?

ANDREW KOJI: Well when we were talking last time, I was doing Bullet Train with David Leitch, Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon—it was

Andrew Koji/Snake Eyes/Viacom/Hasbro/Paramount Pictures

surreal, man. I was like, “What’s my life??” I’m not really too much into celebrity culture, but it’s probably the closest thing to becoming star struck. But Brad Pitt, I was like, “Whoa, I never thought I’d be talking to you and discussing scenes.”

SPOILER: Did you tell him that?

ANDREW KOJI: Oh yeah. For me he’s a legend. The work he does producing as well. So many great films, diverse films. Every time I see a film that I love and at the end it says, “Plan B Entertainment,” I’m like, “You did it again, my guy!” [laughs] But I really, really enjoyed Bullet Train and working with David and the cast. David gave me so much freedom to play that character. He’s still a Japanese character, but he’s very different from Tommy. I think that’s coming out at the beginning of next year. I also just produced my first short film in a while. That’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to make it in this industry here so I can eventually develop and direct my own films. So I managed to come back from LA to England and help produce and invest in a friend of mine’s short film that he and I acted in; helping get something made that wouldn’t otherwise get made.

SPOILER: How does it feel producing?

ANDREW KOJI: It’s surreal, man. I was hustling for so many years, and then suddenly I’m a big dog on a set [laughs]. But that’s the thing, all this celebrity, or perceived status, is very transitory. So it’s nice to be able to do it when I’m doing it. I’m very grateful that I managed to be in a position where I can help make that film possible. Hopefully I can do it more.

SPOILER: Anything else you got in the works?

ANDREW KOJI: Well I might be working with Robert [Schwentke] again, the director of Snake Eyes, on a different independent film. Don’t know how much I can say about that, but it’s a nice role. And then I’m just in the edit for the other film. I’m being very selective [right now].

SPOILER: Is there anything you wanna say to the fans?

ANDREW KOJI: “Thank you for supporting. I hope everyone’s well. The main important life lesson: Don’t be a d-i-c-k [laughs]. That’s my current philosophy. Just be a good person.”

Andrew Koji/Snake Eyes/Viacom/Hasbro/Paramount Pictures

Tim Rozon saw the end of Wynonna Earp this

past April after its four-season run. The series in which he played Doc Holliday had its fair share of setbacks since its debut back in 2016, but became a benchmark for the power of fandoms as their own “Earpers” rallied behind the series and helped get the fourth and final season greenlit, with closure for their characters and an ending that they deserved.

Of course, Tim has been staying pretty busy over the last two decades. As much as he would very much love to come back and play Doc if the opportunity presented itself, he’s also landed his first lead role on Syfy’s SurrealEstate, debuting this past month, where he plays Luke Roman, a real estate agent for haunted houses.

With a potential hit on his hands, Tim looks to be leveling up once again in his long, prolific career. As much as he fits so well into the Doc Holliday character with the iconic mustache and the wry humor, the actor’s ability to immerse himself into any role that comes his way is on display once again with his latest series.

Perfectly balancing insanely-cool and downto-earth, Tim is one of the most satisfying people to talk to. The actor admits that not much has changed in his outlook throughout life. He’s still the same positive, motivated, grateful dude that he was when he was younger. However, with the birth of his son last year, he admits that he now has a new way of prioritizing the roles that he takes. And he misses his family very much when he’s away filming.

Tim takes time away from being on set in Italy to talk to us, where he speaks on his new responsibilities as a parent and his latest show, and also a little bit on his career as a writer.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Tim Rozon/Manfred Baumann/SurrealEstate/Syfy/Blue Ice Pictures

SPOILER: How was it taping that last show of Wynonna Earp?

TIM ROZON: It took us almost 5 years to film 4 seasons. It wasn’t easy. We almost lost the show at one point and then we got it back. We filmed about halfway through the season when the coronavirus pandemic hit, and then we had to leave. Then, who knew if we were ever gonna come back and finish. But we were one of the luckiest shows because we were the first to go back to filming. There were all kinds of hurdles in that sense because there were a lot of eyes on us. It was also the first time we ever filmed Wynonna Earp in the summertime. So I had this feeling going in that this could very well be the last time I was gonna get to play this cowboy. I was just aware

of that and I tried to enjoy every minute for what it was. I tried to enjoy the time I had with the cast and crew, but it’s just such a great character. What a gift I got to get Doc Holliday—the story that Emily Andras, our showrunner, and those writers gave me over four years, it’s just epic. It was fun, it was hard, but I kinda knew maybe that this would be the end.

I’ll tell you this, if any show is capable of ever coming back after being told they’re done, it’s this show, because that’s already happened too. I was just preparing myself just in case.

The live tweet during the finale, I had to wake up at 4 a.m. Italy time just to be a part of it [laughs]. There was no way I was gonna miss it. Anyone who saw that finale,

the way we wrapped up the show was beautiful—just perfect. What a way to end the show. Don’t get me wrong, man, if you called me tomorrow to come back, I’m in. But I am proud that we got an ending. A lot of shows don’t get an ending, they get cut, like Vagrant Queen. I loved Vagrant Queen, but we didn’t get a second season. That’s just the way it is sometimes. For any fan of that show, we didn’t get any closure. It ended on a cliffhanger. But at least Wynonna Earp wrapped up all the stories beautifully. The Earpers got an ending.

SPOILER: Vagrant Queen was a great show. I thought it was gonna go at least three seasons.

TIM ROZON: That’s just the way it goes sometimes. It was a network show, but unfortunately we weren’t pulling in network numbers. I was really proud of that show and I think a lot of people would’ve liked it if they actually watched it. It’s a fun show and I thought it was really wellwritten.

SPOILER: You’re in a show called SurrealEstate that’s coming out.

TIM ROZON: I just saw the first episode finished and I was blown away. I can’t tell you how excited I am for people to see this. I’m gonna call it now: I’m not nervous about not getting a second season. It’s so good, man! It’s got the right level of thriller, creepiness, comedy—it’s got everything. We sell houses, but we don’t sell normal houses. We’re paranormal investigators, and some of us may or may not have some sort of supernatural connection to the other world. But it can also be really scary. I was just really proud of the way it’s shot. It’s got its own vibe, it’s own feel. The comedy, you’ve got Sarah Levy from Schitt’s Creek—she’s hilarious! Our creator, George Olson, is a very, very smart man and a really good writer. And that really comes across.

SPOILER: You play this character named Roman who deals with ghostinhabited houses. Is it pretty scary?

TIM ROZON: I think so. I mean, I was scared of the pilot. The cool thing is, we got the right people. We got Paul Fox as the first director—this guy loves The Exorcist and The X-Files, so he brought that vibe right away. And then our other director, Paolo Barzman is from Wynonna Earp, and also Melanie Scrofano from Wynonna Earp, who not only directs two episodes, but also guest stars. As sad as I was that Wynonna ended, two months later I was working with Melanie anyway! And then we got Danishka [Esterhazy] from Vagrant Queen, who is just one of my alltime favorites. She’s not only director but also co-showrunner. If I could work with anybody, it would be her. She just understands all these [elements]: the thriller, the comedy. She’s just so good and such a kind person. She’s just my favorite.

SPOILER: I’m so excited about this new show. The company who produced it, Blue Ice Pictures, they’re really coming up with some cool projects.

TIM ROZON: Oh big time! I did Vagrant Queen with them in Cape Town, South Africa. We were filming [SurrealEstate] in Newfoundland,

which is a little island off the east coast of Canada. And there’s actually no COVID there. The protocol that they had to get on and off the island was pretty strict. It was weird because I went from working in Calgary, Alberta doing Wynonna Earp, where the numbers were really high, to then shooting in Newfoundland where restaurants were still open. Don’t get me wrong, on set our protocols for COVID were really strict—as it should be. But there were just no cases there. It was incredible!

SPOILER: It’s like those apocalyptic

movies where people try to find some island to escape to.

TIM ROZON: Go to Newfoundland, Canada!

SPOILER: How many seasons do you predict SurrealEstate going for?

TIM ROZON: I don’t know. When I signed the contract, I signed for four years. If it goes for four years, I’ll be the happiest guy in the world. If it goes for ten years, I’ll be even happier. I like to work on certain shows and this is one of them. I like to be on shows that I like to watch. Wynonna Earp is one of them, Vagrant Queen is another, Schitt’s Creek is another. I love being a part of those shows because I love watching them. Lost Girl was another one! I’ve been lucky, man. I’ve been on some cool shows that I really like.

SPOILER: How does it feel being you right now with all these cool projects that have come your way?

TIM ROZON: [laughs] Just gratitude, you know? Humility. I’m just grateful. It took time. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. It wasn’t always like this. Now that I’m working a lot, I’ll never take it for granted. I’m happy

Tim Rozon

Tim Rozon/SurrealEstate/Syfy/Blue Ice Pictures/Smallz & Raskind/Getty Images

just to work and be on set. I’m on set right now in Italy. I’m grateful to be working on a project—I can’t talk about what it is [yet]—but if I can keep working I’ll be the happiest guy in the world.

But good news, the comic book creator of Wynonna Earp, Beau Smith and I just started working on something comic book-wise. We’ve got a lot of different things we wanna do, so right now we’re just trying to figure out which one we wanna go with. Working with Beau, nothing beats it, man. Just collaborating with him, I think he gets as much of a kick out of it as I do, that’s why we love it. It’s just a cool way to work and create and write comic books. He’s one of the guys who started Image Comics. He’s been doing this for a long time. To have him as a mentor and learn from him, and not only that, but to know that I inspire him from time to time—it’s the best feeling in the world.

I have one more thing I’m working on writing and I can’t say anything about it, but I want to so bad!

SPOILER: In a few years, you’re not just gonna be, “Tim Rozon, the actor,” but also, “Tim Rozon, the author and comic book creator.”

TIM ROZON: I don’t think about any of those things, man. I just enjoy the moment. I’m grateful that I get to create and I get to work. Sometimes I forget, and I’ll be at home and find a graphic novel that I wrote [laughs], and I’m like, “Oh s**t, I wrote a graphic novel!” And then I think about what that means to me throughout my life, just growing up on comic books and knowing that I created my own graphic novel. It’s just overwhelming. But most of the time I just gotta go with the flow.

SPOILER: You’re so good as an actor and get so immersed in these roles that we forget that it’s you under there.

TIM ROZON: That’s just the job. I’m an actor and it’s my job to become

the characters. You need to commit to these roles. One of the reasons why Doc resonated with people is that I just had that Doc Holliday look. It was important for me to grow the real mustache. I would have it eight months out of the year. Plus, I couldn’t do too many other projects because nobody wants to hire you with that freakin’ mustache! But I think it was worth it. It helps get into the character. People don’t even believe that I’m that guy. The fans do, but I’ll show other people pictures and they’ll say, “That’s not you.”

SPOILER: In 20 years in this industry, has acting changed your outlook?

TIM ROZON: I don’t think I’ve changed too much. I still watch the G.I. Joe cartoon. I still watch Transformers and don’t know why they killed off Optimus Prime. Nothing’s changed too much in how I view life.

SPOILER: What else are you up to besides the project in Italy?

TIM ROZON: Well the main thing in my life right now is fatherhood. I became a father last year. My family, who I’m not with right now, I miss. My wife and I are really good friends, so we’re able to have a relationship that, before, if I had to go somewhere, or she had to do her thing—she’s a professional equestrian—it was just very cool. But now we got the little guy and I miss him. It sucks. I couldn’t fly them out to Italy because of the pandemic. I was very fortunate that for SurrealEstate I was able to fly them out to Newfoundland and they stayed with me the entire time. I’m never not gonna take a job that I wanna do, but now I gotta think about how long it is and how I can get them to be with me at some point. This movie here is about a month, which is very quick for a movie actually, but I think that’s a perfect amount of time. It’s just different now. I miss my family more than ever.

SPOILER: Were you nervous with him being born during the pandemic?

Tim Rozon/Manfred Baumann/SurrealEstate/Syfy/Blue Ice Pictures/Parade

TIM ROZON: Well he was born three months before COVID, and thank goodness for that. For people who had to go through childbirth during the pandemic, my heart goes to them, because it’s already a hard thing to go through as a human being. It’s crazy. I was fortunate that we were able to be together. It was a real blessing because when COVID hit during Wynonna Earp, we went on hiatus for four months and I was home that whole time. I’ve never been home four months straight in over a decade. So in that sense, the pandemic was a real blessing for me. I was home the whole time and I love that. I was very fortunate to have that time. And hopefully things will get better and we can get back to the way things were before.

He’s at that age where he doesn’t talk too much. It’s gotta be difficult for children who are a little bit older. See I didn’t know these things before, but now that’s all I think about. There’s a massive amount of stress for people with kids. It’s not easy.

SPOILER: Are you gonna be more careful on the roles you choose because you wanna be a good role model for your kid?

TIM ROZON: I mean, yes and no. But at the same time, if I’m gonna play a villain in a DC or Marvel movie, I’m doin’ it!

SPOILER: Are you scouting out one of those projects?

TIM ROZON: I’m not scouting, but I did go out for something in that ballpark not too long ago. I’m waiting to see if we get greenlit for season 2 of SurrealEstate—that’s where my head’s at. I’m ready to do it, and that’s more than enough for me. To get to do a movie now in between is incredible. I’m very lucky. But if SurrealEstate doesn’t go, I’m down to do whatever.

SPOILER: What do you compare it to?

TIM ROZON: I’ve never seen anything like it before. This is something different. You ever see the old movie by Peter Jackson, The Frighteners with Michael J. Fox? Incredible movie, by the way—very underrated. I got some Frighteners vibes with this show.

SPOILER: Are you confident that things are getting back to normal?

TIM ROZON: I don’t know, man. It’s hard. Don’t forget, I’m Canadian. You guys are doing great with your vaccine rollout, but we’re not. We’re nowhere near having the amount of population vaccinated yet. But I hope so. I have other businesses that have been greatly affected by COVID. I’ve been busy, but other parts of my life have been affected quite negatively by COVID. I do all these sci-fi shows, but this global pandemic is even

crazier than the things we’re doing on these shows!

SPOILER: Are you planning on heading to Comic Con?

TIM ROZON: It depends on the vaccination and what I’m allowed to do and what the rules are. But that’s my goal, to actually see people. I’ve had some offers to do the virtual cons. And I did a couple as a charity event to help the first responders. But it’s tough for me to do a virtual con on the weekend, which is the only time I’ve got to learn lines. With acting, you gotta do the work, that way you can play all week. I’m that kinda guy. I’m never gonna be unprepared for my week of work. I take it very seriously. It’s not fun, but that’s what you gotta do. So I’m ready to get back and be in a room with people for real. Right now I’m signing up for all the cons that are real, but many of them are for 2022 right now. But my goal is to be there in the room with people. I can’t wait! There’s gonna still be Earp Cons. Just because the show ends, doesn’t mean the fandom ends.

SPOILER: Well that makes us feel even more special that you’ve taken the time on a Sunday to talk with us. Is there anything else you wanna say to your fans?

TIM ROZON: “I’m not saying, ‘Goodbye,’ I’m just saying, ‘Thank you.’ I’m forever your cowboy. I’m always an Earper. Earper for life. Nothing changes for me. Nothing.”

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

if you ask any actor or actress, they’ll tell

you that getting the title role on two different TV shows is like getting struck by lightning twice. And before she even turned 21, Brec Bassinger had already starred as Bella in Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs and now as superhero Courtney Whitmore, aka Stargirl, in DC’s Stargirl, whose second season debuted on The CW back in August. Brec joins the short list of actresses to ever do so—let alone this young.

And this success doesn’t go unnoticed by the actress, who’s constantly counting her blessings and looking to improve in her craft. Brec speaks with the incisive clarity of a veteran twice her age (after all, she’s been in this industry for nearly a decade now), offering some great advice for aspiring young actors, speaking on the value of acting classes and always being willing to learn. But she also shares with us the tougher aspects of auditioning and the amount of rejection she’s faced despite her two big breaks.

Always so humble and with a great head on her shoulders, the young star is only in the sunrise of her career, of which Stargirl will undoubtedly level up even higher.

Starring in the upcoming films Saturday at the Starlight and The Man in the White Van, Brec continues to look ahead as she chats with Galaxy about what it’s like being part of the DC lineage, as well as her similarities to her character and how she handles being a role model.

SPOILER: How does it feel being Stargirl?

BREC BASSINGER: It’s so surreal. I don’t think in my wildest dreams I ever thought I would get to be a superhero. It’s something that’s so special. It’s like your name gets put on this list. I’m forever part of the DC Universe. It was also so much more fun than I was ever expecting.

SPOILER: And this is the first ever time Stargirl has gotten her own show.

BREC BASSINGER: Yes! There have been two other actresses who have played Stargirl very quickly on other series [in Smallville and Legends of Tomorrow]. But there’s never been a show where she’s been celebrated and highlighted. I personally think she is so underrated. Even the JSA as a whole—which is a big part of Stargirl—they’re the first superhero group ever in comic book history. So it’s been so fun to be part of a show that brings these underrated,

underappreciated characters to the forefront.

SPOILER: What’s it been like working on the show?

BREC BASSINGER: It’s a lot of hard work, but it is very rewarding! I have met some of my best friends who I believe will be in my life forever.

SPOILER: Do you miss them when you’re not filming?

BREC BASSINGER: Yes! Especially now since I’m not living in LA. But I do see them some! Yvette [Monreal] and I actually went on vacation over this past hiatus.

SPOILER: Season 2 is called “Summer School,” and it highlights these characters in a way that’s so relatable.

BREC BASSINGER: Growing up, one of my favorite superheroes was always Spider-Man, specifically the Tom Holland Spider-Man. The

first one came out when I was graduating high school, so I just loved seeing this guy balance high school while simultaneously balancing being a superhero. And Stargirl has so much of that. This group of kids who weren’t necessarily the popular kids— misfits you could say—coming together and becoming a group of superheroes. So you have someone to relate to, whether it’s the parents of these kids or the kids themselves.

Season 2 has a tonal change. It’s a lot darker. It still has the heart that makes our show, but there is a new horror aspect that the first season didn’t have.

SPOILER: It’s a very wholesome show as well.

BREC BASSINGER: Our showrunner Geoff Johns, he created the show in honor of his sister, Courtney Johns, who passed away. So obviously this show is very important to him, but he wanted to create a show that brought people together and didn’t have a lot of negativity. And interestingly enough, our season 1 came out in the midst of the pandemic last May, and [the pandemic] was very scary, and is still scary, but all people wanted was new content to watch. They were just sitting at home with their families. And I had so many people reaching out saying that they looked forward to it every week and they would sit down and watch it with their kids, and it was a show that their kids liked that [the parents] could actually enjoy as well. So I think it did exactly what Geoff set out for it to do, probably even more so than he was expecting.

SPOILER: Do you feel a lot of pressure?

BREC BASSINGER: Yeah, of course I feel pressure, because Geoff means so much to me and the show means so much to me that

I want to do Courtney justice and what he sees of her legacy. And he’s so lovely. I’ve had these open, candid conversations with him and he always makes me feel like I’m doing what he wanted and how he envisioned it. And throughout the first and second seasons, I feel like I’ve gained this confidence.

SPOILER: How did it feel when you first became Stargirl and you started getting all of these fan messages and fan art and everything like that?

BREC BASSINGER: Well, I came from a Nickelodeon show, so I already kinda had a taste of getting recognized when I was going out, getting fan mail, people drawing pictures of me. And I’m not exaggerating, but just in the past month I’ve noticed I’m no longer getting recognized as Bella from Bella and the Bulldogs, but I’ve been recognized as, “Oh my gosh, you’re Stargirl!” and it’s been so fun to see the transition of the different audiences and the different demographics.

SPOILER: What does it feel like playing this role model that everyone looks up to?

BREC BASSINGER: I love it. Even in my personal life, I’m a very goaloriented person and I like to help people achieve their goals. And I feel like Courtney has a lot of that, so I pull from my own life. But even me as Brec, I pull things from Courtney. The way she sees the best in people regardless of circumstances. In playing her, I feel like it’s a constant reminder to do that in my own life. And also, I have to give so much credit to Geoff. Even from the beginning, he sat me down and said, “Brec, you have a responsibility on our set to be a leader. Not only on the show, but for the other cast members.” And he helped guide me so much throughout this process.

SPOILER: Do you feel pressure with that aspect as well?

BREC BASSINGER: I definitely feel pressure to perform and stay on top of my game, because it is hard. The

hours we work are not for the faint of heart. But I think one of my best attributes is my self-awareness, so I’m also very good at not putting too much pressure on myself for the roles I play, because there’s only so much I can do as Brec. I mean, I’m not a superhero in real life, so I try not to give myself too big of expectations [laughs].

SPOILER: You get to work with these legends as well. Your mom and stepdad are played by Amy Smart and Luke Wilson.

BREC BASSINGER: I remember the first time I met Luke Wilson, I was so nervous. Legally Blonde was one of my favorite movies growing up. I remember when Geoff was hoping to get him, he said, “I couldn’t envision anyone else to play Pat.” So

when we finally got the deal signed, I was over the moon. And then on set, I feel like I’ve learned so much from him. And Amy as well. She is just so humble and respectful and really just a beautiful artist, the way she balances her outside life and her artistry. I look up to both of them, not only as artists, but also as people.

SPOILER: For those who haven’t seen the series, what is the premise of Stargirl?

BREC BASSINGER: A teenage girl, Courtney Whitmore, gets picked up and moved from Los Angeles with her blended family. She gets a new stepdad and stepbrother and they move to Nebraska. And she stumbles upon the Cosmic Staff, and she learns about her stepdad’s

Brec Bassinger/Shannon Wright/Jack Junk/Manfred Baumann/Stargirl:Warner Bros.;DC Comics

history with the superhero group the JSA. And the Cosmic Staff hasn’t worked for anyone since Starman died, and it now works for her. So, she takes on the responsibility of becoming Stargirl. And she starts a new Justice Society of America, but with different kids from her school. Her stepdad has a giant robot, and he makes him her sidekick, which is a really fun dynamic [laughs]. But also, there’s this coming-of-age aspect from the high school and this beautiful heart from the family. And we go against super cool villains of course.

SPOILER: And I love how the series allows its heroes to fail and isn’t afraid to show their humanity.

BREC BASSINGER: Yeah, well, we’re all new superheroes; we are all rookies, especially in the first season. We don’t have teamwork skills, we barely know how to use our new powers, and we’re going up against a group of villains who have been doing this for years. So, I think it’s only reasonable that we get beat and have to learn. But I think

it makes our wins that much more deserved and that much more fulfilling, even for the viewer. It’s a bigger payoff.

SPOILER: Do these scenes ever linger after they yell cut?

BREC BASSINGER: I think it depends on the scene. If it’s an emotional scene, it will stay with me for the rest of the day, because I feel like I have to put myself in a place both physically and mentally where it’s very difficult to snap out of it really

quickly. The comedy scenes, which have made up most of my career up to this point, I just let them go with me. I think it’s fun once we get on a roll on set and we just keep that going once we’re off.

SPOILER: What are the most memorable scenes you filmed?

BREC BASSINGER: The first Stargirl versus Brainwave fight in season 1—it was my first time wearing the suit on the show! Also, season 1, episode 11, when I give my dad the necklace—it was such an emotional scene for Courtney’s story and really impacted her, and was also very memorable for me. And then season 2, episode 6, the fight against the Injustice Unlimited. That fight scene was by far the biggest we’ve ever had and there were so many fun and crazy moments while filming!

SPOILER: Do you ever feel like people confuse you in real life with your characters?

BREC BASSINGER: [laughs] I feel like most of the people who watch our show are old enough to understand the difference. But even on set, sometimes people will call me Courtney—no one ever calls me Stargirl—and I’ll just turn around [and respond]. I mean, it’s hard though.

We have three names for almost every character: We have our real-life name, our character name, and our supername. And God bless our crew, because they have no luck [laughs]—there’s a lot against them.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in Courtney?

BREC BASSINGER: One hundred percent. Courtney and I have a lot of differences, but I feel we have even more similarities. My quirky sense of humor definitely sneaks through some. Also, our overall belief in good. I do believe people are good, and I feel that’s one of the things that makes Courtney, Courtney.

SPOILER: Have you been to a convention yet?

BREC BASSINGER: That was one of the things I was most excited about when I was cast as Stargirl. I was like, “I’m gonna get to meet people who watch the show and are fans and it’s gonna be so fun!” But since our show debuted at the beginning of the pandemic, I have not gotten to go to a convention yet. It breaks my heart. It’s actually a conversation I’ve had with my loved ones because it weighs heavily on me. I haven’t really gotten to meet very many people who watch Stargirl, so sometimes I’m like, “Do people actually watch it??”

SPOILER: They do!

BREC BASSINGER: [laughs] I know they do, but when we’re working 80 hours a week, I’m like, “Are people actually watching what we’re working hard on?” But I cannot wait for the day when I can finally go to one. From a writer’s perspective, the slow burners always have the best payoff and storyline, and I feel like that is my life with conventions right now. I’m just waiting and it’s such a slow burn for when I’m gonna go. And when I finally get to go to one, it’s just going to be that much more fulfilling.

SPOILER: What got you into acting originally?

BREC BASSINGER: I wanted to be an astronaut until I was about 6, and when I found out the moon wasn’t made of cheese, I didn’t wanna be an astronaut anymore. And at the time, I was in natural beauty pageants, and we had a talent portion, and I did ventriloquism. I did a little sketch with my puppets—I know this sounds really silly, but it’s the truth—and I just loved performing in front of people. So around six-yearsold, I told my mom, “I’m gonna be an actress.” And after that, anytime anyone would come up to me and ask what I wanted to be when I was older, I would say, “I don’t want to be anything. I’m going to be an actress.” And so finally my mom put me in an acting class when I was 10, and I took acting classes like crazy for three years. And when I was 13, I went out to LA for the very first time to test out the waters. I had gotten an agent who told me to go out for a week to see how it goes. And it went really, really well. So I went back for a month, and I ended up booking The Haunted Hathaways, which was a really strong recurring role that kept bringing me back to LA, which allowed me to continue auditioning. And then I booked other stuff and the rest is history!

SPOILER: Was it hard getting into this industry at only 13?

BREC BASSINGER: I was so excited! The hardest time I’ve had so far in my career was getting an agent. I could not get an agent to save my life. I was sending out my headshots every month to every Texas agent for probably two years. We would never hear back. And so I’d spend more money on more headshots. And I told my mom, “I don’t care if I’m the girl on the swings in the background, I just want to act!” I just loved acting so much and I just wanted to do it. So in LA, just getting an audition felt like a win.

SPOILER: What advice would you give to someone trying to get into this industry?

BREC BASSINGER: I always like to ask my fellow actors, “How did you get into acting?” And I find the main

Brec Bassinger/Shannon Wright/Jack Junk/Manfred Baumann/Stargirl:Warner Bros.;DC Comics

consistency among all of us is “acting class.” We were all working on our craft, training, being around fellow actors, and through that, you meet people, you learn, and that’s where I finally met my manager who’s still my manager today, who finally helped me get an agent, which is the reason I came out to LA.

SPOILER: Did you face a lot of rejection early on?

BREC BASSINGER: I would say I book probably only one out of every 100 auditions I go on. About two weeks before I got the audition for Stargirl, I had screen tested for an Amazon show, and it was between me and one other girl. And I just thought, “This is gonna be my career! I’m moving to New Zealand! It’s gonna be such a wonderful experience.” I loved the script and, I kid you not, it was the best audition I ever had. I went in and I went, “Okay, this is mine.” And I didn’t get it. And at that moment I thought, “Well, maybe acting isn’t my thing.” It was the first time I had ever put it into question because I was always so sure. But that one kind of just broke me. It hurt a lot. And then I got the audition for Stargirl two weeks later, and I wasn’t even super excited about it. I was just being a Debbie Downer, a little negative. That being said, the audition was very secretive. There were like, fake names and they didn’t tell you where it was going. So I was like, “Just another audition. I don’t know what this is.” But I ended up going and doing it, even though I was like, “I’m probably not gonna get it anyway,” which is so unlike me. I’m annoyingly optimistic [laughs]. But good thing I went and persevered for those two weeks.

Brec Bassinger/Shannon Wright/Jack Junk/Manfred Baumann/Stargirl:Warner Bros.;DC Comics

SPOILER: But the grind never stops, does it?

BREC BASSINGER: Oh yeah. Like the film I’m on right now, I auditioned for it, I chemistry tested, I screen read—it was a whole process. I will say I probably have more opportunities now, but I’m still very much having to grind.

SPOILER: How do you get yourself in the right mindset before an audition?

BREC BASSINGER: I get extremely nervous. I’m a very nervous person in general. So definitely some deep breaths to calm myself. I say a little prayer, and then I go and do it.

SPOILER: What is your favorite food?

BREC BASSINGER: Pizza... No, no, no, wait! Steak.

SPOILER: What is your perfect date?

BREC BASSINGER: “April 25th: not too hot, not too cold, all you need

is a light jacket.” That’s a quote from Miss Congeniality [laughs]. But I’d say the perfect date is something adrenaline-filled. Like I’ve gone bungee jumping on a date. That was awesome!

SPOILER: If you could do anything right now, what would it be?

BREC BASSINGER: Take a walk along the beach.

SPOILER: Do you believe in ghosts or the paranormal?

BREC BASSINGER: Absolutely. My friend and I were messing around with this app that made recordings go backwards and we were saying “murder” to try to get it to say “redrum,” which is “murder” backwards. And it wasn’t working because the sound isn’t like the spelling, and so we just started making noises—and I was only 13 and was being so stupid. And at the very end of this recording, there was this whisper. And I kid you not, I still have the recording, and it just went, “Redrum, redrum.” And we looked at each other and we just started

bawling. We were just terrified.

SPOILER: Do you like Halloween?

BREC BASSINGER: I love it. One of my favorite holidays.

SPOILER: If you could be on any show other than Stargirl, what would it be?

BREC BASSINGER: Peaky Blinders

SPOILER: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

BREC BASSINGER: I would want to be able to teleport. I value my time more than anything else and being able to skip traffic or travel would just be awesome!

SPOILER: If you could be Stargirl in real life, would you do it?

BREC BASSINGER: Absolutely! I want a Cosmic Staff!

SPOILER: Did you learn anything new while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

BREC BASSINGER: Weird answer, but I have learned how to better care for my curls. They wanted Courtney to rock my natural curls, and our hair department has taught me so much about how to care and emphasize naturally curly hair.

SPOILER: Do you rather play the hero or the villain?

BREC BASSINGER: Funny enough, I’ve always wanted to play a villain! Most of my career I have played the “girl next door” or “team leader,” and I think it would be so fun and really push me in my craft to play a villain.

SPOILER: Do you think social media has helped the superhero genre?

BREC BASSINGER: Most definitely. Social media has given a way for comic book fans to connect. It’s like a giant comic book club!

SPOILER: If you were in a zombie apocalypse, what would your weapon of choice be?

BREC BASSINGER: A cast iron skillet. I’m gonna have a Tangled moment.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

acting seemed like a natural choice for

Sylvia Hoeks, star of the Apple TV+ series See, where she plays the tyrannical and murderous Queen Kane in a world where everyone is blind. The Holland native grew up in a town with a population of about 3,000, managing to be the only member of her family glued to the TV set.

Working as a model prior to attending drama school, Sylvia is more than just a pretty face, and intends to bring depth and nuance to each character she portrays just the same. So perfect in her villainous roles with her willingness to unhinge, she also taps into the psyches of these antagonists in a way that only the best performers are able to do. Also starring in one of the biggest films in recent years, Blade Runner 2049, the actress has made quite a name for herself in the fandom world.

Able to get incredibly deep while also showcasing her genuine joy of life, Sylvia is truly on another level. She’s one of the few celebrities who doesn’t shy away from her own authenticity, and yet still has such a jovial spirit that simultaneously embraces and defies modern cynicism. The conversation with the actress ranges from delightfully unpredictable to incisively insightful as she talks to Galaxy about all things, including See, which just finished wrapping its third season, and the importance of maintaining your identity in a modern world of subconscious emulation.

Sylvia Hoeks/See:Apple Inc./(cover image): Sylvia Hoeks/See:Apple Inc./ANP

SPOILER: You started modeling at 14. Was acting on your mind at that point?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Yes! I actually never really wanted to be a model. I was always a little shy, so the modeling did help me with presenting myself outwardly to people. I think if I hadn’t done the modeling, I would have never gotten into theater school, which I auditioned for when I was about 18. And I did four years of that. 19 was my first film experience. I really fell in love with the camera and the idea that you don’t have to do a lot for people to really understand what you’re feeling or sensing or thinking.

I always wanted to act. I was the only one in my family who was watching TV all the time [laughs]. It made me feel like I understood myself and the world better.

SPOILER: For fans out there, what is See about?

SYLVIA HOEKS: See is about a world 600 years in the future that has become blind because of a virus. And it’s been blind for hundreds of years until now, when twins are born who can see, and that changes the whole scenario.

SPOILER: Is it hard playing a character who’s blind?

SYLVIA HOEKS: In the beginning, there was a little bit of adjusting, but I actually really like it right now. When I do movies in between filming See, it’s actually pretty weird to look at the other actors [laughs]. It is interesting what other things come to you when you’re playing somebody who can’t see. The other senses become much more important, so it was actually really fun to learn.

SPOILER: What is it like playing Queen Kane? How’d you come up with that voice?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I have a lot of fun with Queen Kane. She’s so much fun to play. She’s just ridiculous. I don’t know how the voice happened [laughs]. I was watching an interview with Lou Reed from back in the day and he was just kinda f**king around with journalists, and I kind of just took his voice and the way he was pronouncing stuff, and I sort of ran with it and that became the voice of Queen Kane.

SPOILER: How much of yourself is in Queen Kane?

SYLVIA HOEKS: [laughs] I think anything you can’t really sort out in real life because there’s too many

consequences, you just do it on set. I think in real life I’m maybe too nice of a person. Setting boundaries is hard, so I think just messing around with this character on set is just so much fun for me. It’s always fun to play a character that’s a long way away from you.

SPOILER: Do you think your character, Luv, in Blade Runner 2049 is a precursor to Queen Kane?

SYLVIA HOEKS: [laughs] I never thought of that, but I guess they both like to f**k around with people a little bit. Even though Luv is a robot, there are things that are a little bit f**ked up with her; there are some errors there. And with Queen Kane, I think there’s definitely some errors there, though they’re human. I just love to define how far I can go with that. With Luv, there were some opportunities to touch on that a little bit. And then with Queen Kane, who’s much more vocal, it has gone much further with the craziness. It’s a different way of portraying that. It definitely has been a study in mental illness I think.

SPOILER: Do you ever get exhausted at times?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Oh yeah, definitely. But it’s always so much fun. And I’m genuinely interested in the psychology of the characters. I think if I weren’t an actor, I would have studied psychology. And I think what I always try to do is take people who, in our society, aren’t so easily understandable, and make them a little bit more understandable. That’s always my journey and I think that’s very important. Mental illness is something that’s not talked about enough openly. And that’s why it’s always so important for me to bring some sense of humor to the role of Queen Kane instead

of her only being an evil queen. Because, despite her wrongdoings and the way she thinks, I think it’s important to show young girls that women don’t always have to be sexy and smart to be interesting.

SPOILER: What advice would you give someone trying to be an actor?

SYLVIA HOEKS: These days, with social media, we’re driven so much by being seen and being heard. It’s like your virtual life is more important than your actual life. And I think what’s most important for young people is to also take time for yourself and not only be on TikTok or Instagram, but just be in your own life and notice what you notice, and have your drive be through the authenticity of how you look at the world instead of only looking at what other people think of the world through social media. I think it’s really important to find that within yourself. I think the only way you can be happy or give to other people is by your own authenticity. And it sounds like a cliché, but that’s the way they go. We always want to look like other people, but the most interesting thing is your own authenticity.

SPOILER: What makes you smile and what scares you the most?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Well, my dogs crack me up every day because they are the most ridiculous animals. With COVID, they got me through that whole year of having to be inside. I’m really happy that they were with me.

And what scares me the most is losing my loved ones. Not dying myself, but losing people while I’m still alive.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite type of movie to act in?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I would say something like Dogtooth by Yorgos Lanthimos—all of his movies—I’m really a fan of his. Or Wes Anderson. Or Denis Villeneuve, who I’ve worked with [on Blade Runner 2049], he’s just one of the best.

Sylvia Hoeks/Bastiaan

Van Musscher/See:Apple Inc./Alamy

SPOILER: If you could work on any project, what would it be?

SYLVIA HOEKS: If they ever did a remake of The Piano Teacher with Isabelle Huppert, I would love to be in that. Or I’d love to play Ripley in a new Alien remake. What I love about Ridley Scott is the humor he brings in. And he always portrays strong women. I just love him.

SPOILER: Do you like sci-fi the most?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I do like sci-fi, but I also like more arthouse movies. I love to freestyle; I love to improvise.

SPOILER: Do you ever just sit in awe of the amazing production design on See?

SYLVIA HOEKS: If you find yourself on set and you’re able to just pretend that you’re someone and just roll with it, that’s just fantastic. When I was young, my parents had a big garden and I would play in the trees and make my own treehouse and make my own little storylines. Now I’m doing that, and I get paid. It’s

ridiculous if you think about it. So I’m very lucky and I’m very grateful to get to do what I do. When you look at these big sets and you get to work with all these great actors and directors, it’s a dream come true really. I’m living my best life I think—is that how you say that? [laughs]

SPOILER: What was your first experience like at a convention? Did it feel surreal to have people waiting in line to meet you?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Yes, that always is a surreal feeling. You always end up feeling like, “Are you talking to me?” and you look behind you if someone’s standing there [laughs]. Because you’re always yourself and you’re always still that little girl from a little village in Holland. So it’s always a bit surreal because you love playing these characters, but you never see yourself as those characters. It’s interesting.

The first time was with Blade Runner, and it was just crazy how many people were so loving. The lines are so long. It feels weird. I’m always like, “You want a coffee?” [laughs]. I love that people are so enthusiastic. When I was a kid, I

loved watching movies and going into that different universe. I understand that feeling and I’m so happy that people are excited about See or Blade Runner.

SPOILER: Did you actually have to shave your head for Queen Kane?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Yes! That was actually my idea. I kinda wanted to make it more punk rock. I wanted to do it a little bit differently [from the typical evil queen]. Especially since it’s a blind world. And you know how a lot of people shave their heads after something traumatic happens to them, as sort of a new beginning? I wanted to have her be like that because a lot of s**t happened to her before we meet her in the first episode. And I had told my husband about this, but I think he was a little bit distracted when I told him [laughs], and I came home from set with my head shaved and his face just dropped. He was pale. He looked at me like I had done the worst thing in the world to him [laughs]. Like, for a full year he couldn’t let it go. He was like, “You didn’t tell me!” and I was like, “I did tell you!” With actors, if you’re stuck with something when you play a character, like if you have to gain weight or lose weight or whatever you have to do, your family also goes through that same thing.

SPOILER: How did it feel getting your head shaved?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I had fun! I really wanted to see what that character would look like. First, we tried a mohawk, which I found to be a little bit too much, and also it’s not practical—why would a blind woman have a mohawk? So then we went

with a shaved head, and I loved it. You can feel the wind on your skin. But I also learned how much guys are about hair [laughs].

SPOILER: Do you believe in the paranormal?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Yes, but I’ve never experienced anything paranormal. Or I always just think that the sounds are coming from my dogs. I’m also not a person who would go and play with Ouija boards, because I do believe in it, so I won’t mess with it.

SPOILER: Of all the actors and actresses you’ve worked with, which one would you say made the biggest impression?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Just being on set with Harrison Ford, I was really peeing my pants. He’s just so funny, he made it so easy to work with him. Such a great guy. I had to really come to work because he was Harrison Ford! But he was just so wonderful. And another person I would say is Robin Wright. I had a scene in Blade Runner where I killed her. She’s such a badass lady. I grab her hand and I break that glass that she’s holding inside her hand. And I had been training for months, six days a week, six hours a day—I was all jacked up, I was really strong. So I just kept asking her, “Am I hurting you?” and she was like, “No, no!” I mean, I can’t believe I didn’t hurt her, but she was such a great sport about it.

SPOILER: What’s it like working with Jason Momoa?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I haven’t met anyone like him. He just keeps surprising me with who he is. He has so many sides to him. He’ll be so enthusiastic about a scene and so [into] it that it’s so much fun to play with him. He’s such a great guy. He always gives his all to every scene, and that’s really just the best when you’re on set with someone who’s there 100%.

SPOILER: Would you ever want to meet one of your characters in real life?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I would love to meet either Queen Kane or Luv if there was a glass wall in between us [laughs] so I could ask them questions. That would be interesting. I just wouldn’t want to be killed by them necessarily—that’s always the risk. But I would love to meet Luv because I would want to understand more about what model she would be and if they were actually human genetics that created these human emotions that she has that she doesn’t know how to deal with.

SPOILER: Do you ever sing in the shower?

SYLVIA HOEKS: Oh yeah. And what I do, which my husband finds very annoying, is I keep repeating the same line over and over because I don’t know the words to the rest of the song.

SPOILER: What is the weirdest question you’ve ever gotten asked in an interview?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I was at a premiere once, and there was a presenter from some random program about sex who was [there asking questions], and I had no idea who he was. And I was expecting a question about the movie I was in, and they started asking sex questions on camera, like personal stuff. So I just backed up and showcased my dress and said, “Really nice, huh? This is made by…” [laughs] That was my only way out. I was very young, so I didn’t know how to deal with that. I was too nice.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food? SYLVIA HOEKS: Lasagna.

SPOILER: Is there anything you want to tell the fans out there?

SYLVIA HOEKS: I just want to thank them for watching See. It means a lot that there’s such a big following. We’re so excited and happy that you love it, so thank you all so much!

Sylvia Hoeks/Dirk-Jan van Dijk

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

There may be nobody in

Hollywood happier than Harold Perrineau. Sure, it could be due to his ageless looks or his massive résumé that would make any actor jealous. However, the New York native claims he’s always been this way, and often his roles have become informed by his own personality on the writers’ end as well.

The jovial actor has been featured in iconic projects such as Lost, The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, The Best Man, Zero Dark Thirty, Romeo + Juliet, Oz, and 28 Weeks Later, just to name a few. Now he’s starring in the lead role in From, a sci-fi/horror series on EPIX where he plays the sheriff of a mysterious small town that imprisons anyone who visits.

Harold is also one of the nicest dudes you’ll meet. Gracious enough to chat with Galaxy about his latest series, the actor also discusses the reversion of release trends in recent TV and examines how he’s persevered over the past 35 years in this industry.

Harold Perrineau:Chris Reardon/From:EPIX

interview interview

SPOILER: You’ve been doing so many interviews for your new show From. Does that get tiring?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: [laughs] Sometimes it gets tiring. But other times, we’re just having a conversation, so I’m definitely cool with it. I’m glad we’re having a conversation about something I actually like. From is a show that I actually like, so I’m glad to be having that conversation.

SPOILER: I love From. You guys get right into it with that story. There’s no wasting time.

HAROLD PERRINEAU: This is the landscape of TV right now. We don’t have a lot of episodes, only ten. So we have to get right to it. We don’t have time to build it. We want you to know what we’re about and what the show is about. And know that these stakes are really, really high so you don’t ever forget this is life and death. Listen, you can die on this show, if you’re an adult, a child, a dog. We let you know how dangerous this town is.

SPOILER: What made you pick this project?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: Well, I don’t always get to pick stuff. Yeah, I’ve been out there for a long time, but there’s still an amount of grinding. And it’s because I’ve had a really varied career. So I don’t always get to pick. But with this one, my man Seth Yanklewitz, who’s a friend of mine, is the casting director, and he gave me a call and said, “Hey, I have this project. I think you are this guy. I wanna talk to the producers about you, what do you think?” He told me a little bit about the project and I said, “Yeah, cool! Who are your producers?” And he said, “Jack Bender and Jeff Pinkner from Lost.” I was like, “Oh! Absolutely!” But then they said, “Nah, we don’t want anyone from Lost.” [laughs] And Seth was like, “No, I still think you’re the guy.” So he went back and talked to them. Then I read this script.

The script is so good, man. I was into it right away. I was concerned for this character Boyd and wanted to know why he was so sad. The way that John Griffin wrote him, it’s like [this character] is walking around as a ball of pain. And after Seth talked to [Jack and Jeff], they

were like, “Well, let’s all meet and have a conversation.” After we talked, I was really secure about how they would handle the show and they were really secure about how I would play the character. And then we had some fun.

SPOILER: You were on the show Z Nation I got so invested in your character, but then you left! You tricked us!

HAROLD PERRINEAU: [laughs] I still apologize for that to this day. They were like, “Everyone’s gonna think you’re the lead and then we’re gonna kill you!” I was like, “That sounds like fun!” So, I did it, and ever since people have been like, “Come on, dude!” [laughs]

SPOILER: You’ve been on so many different projects. How does it affect you? Do you have to make a lot of adjustments internally?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: It really just depends on the project. For some jobs, like The Matrix [Reloaded and Revolutions], I could turn that on when I got on set and I could turn it off when I got home. There is so much to that world that relied on being on that set, on the Nebuchadnezzar, and interactions with Morpheus and Trinity. Those things depended on the cast and the characters.

But there are some other projects where I have things to walk around with, like with Boyd. Anytime anybody feels bad, they wanna do whatever they can to stop feeling bad as soon as possible. And because we had to go through ten episodes, I did everything I could to stay in this place of feeling bad all the time. So it was really tricky when I went home. I have kids and I don’t want to put it on them, so sometimes it becomes a real magic show; you just gotta slide in and then slide out. But that’s only when there’s something that’s overwhelming that my body doesn’t want to do nonstop—but the character needs it.

SPOILER: It seems like everything you’re in always does so well. Is there a formula to picking these projects or are you just really lucky?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: It’s not a formula. And while luck is a big component of it,

if you look at it, I’ve been doing this for a long time. And it really is a thing I love. I just stay in the game no matter what. There are a lot of misses in there too, but I still keep going. I had a number of years where nothing worked out, or it’s just a one-episode role. But I just stay on top of my craft and what’s happening out there. I stay connected to myself. I remember old actors used to say, “Take everything!” And for a while I was trying to do that, but then that didn’t always feel good. That’s how I started getting really picky, picking things that I really responded to. And with that, I’ve gotten really lucky.

SPOILER: Do you think being on a smaller platform like EPIX gives From more of a cult status?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: I think we’re at the right place. EPIX is a network that’s really emerging. They’ve got a bunch of great things on there, Godfather of Harlem, Chapelwaite. They spend the money and they spend the time to develop really good projects. And I think with From, they’re willing to put in the effort to make it a really big deal. There are other networks where there is so much content that you end up being just another show that they put out. Especially networks that put out entire series all at once. It comes out and you either watch it or you don’t watch it, and they move on to the next one. At EPIX, they really dig our show and have been really supportive. Michael Wright, who runs the network, is really behind our show. He’s willing to spend the effort to get the word out.

SPOILER: A lot of streaming shows now are moving back to the one episode per week release strategy.

HAROLD PERRINEAU: We’re doing it like old school appointment TV. It’s gonna be one episode every week for 10 weeks, every Sunday. It’s not a gigantic commitment, but it is a commitment to come back. And I like that. You watch the episode, and you have a whole week to talk about it—talk to your friends and come up with theories. You’re getting yourself

set up for next week. You’re already set up and tantalized. You can go back and rewatch and notice things you didn’t see the first time.

SPOILER: Who is Boyd Stevens?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: Boyd Stevens is the town sheriff. He’s a man of service. He takes pride and works really hard at it. He’s unwavering in his commitment to getting these people to safety. And if you get in his way, you’ll regret it. He’s a character of sometimes-questionable choices. You wonder, “Do I like this guy? Do I not like this guy?” And he’s struggling because he has a recent heartbreak that’s devastated him,

and it’s the reason why he and his son aren’t connected anymore. And that’s on top of all the scary stuff that’s happening in the town as well. There are two parts to this town that both have to work together. Sheriff Stevens runs the township. There’s another place called the Colony House, where their approach to this tragedy is a little more hedonistic—do what you enjoy in life, and try to stay alive, but enjoy your life. They don’t have the same kind of rules. And Sheriff Boyd has agreed to let them have their side, and we have our side. And you’ll see how the terror in the woods is handled by these two different approaches,

Harold Perrineau:Chris Reardon/From:EPIX

both on their own and together. It’s an interesting social experiment. It’s stuff that we’re feeling, even these days—as coincidence. I don’t think it was written for this pandemic era, but it certainly fits. We all know what it feels like to be stuck in a place that you wanna get out of, but you can’t because there’s some evil thing that could kill you, but you can’t really see where it’s coming from.

SPOILER: We heard a lot of these sets were made just for this series.

HAROLD PERRINEAU: That’s exactly true. They built the entire set just for the series, and they built a town that is a town. The diner is a diner. The walls don’t move or any of that stuff. It doesn’t have working gas, but it has all these pieces. And it really helps you as an actor to lock into where you are.

SPOILER: From has such a huge cast. You tend to get a lot of those types of projects with large ensembles. Is it different working with so many actors as opposed to a smaller cast?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: I like it because I like to reflect the world we live in. There aren’t many people

who live in isolation. Can I do it? I certainly could. But I really like the interactions we all have, the different personalities that people have and how they coalesce with each other, or don’t. I love the clashing and the coming together, the joy and the anger. All the things that living has to offer. I love recreating those things on screen. You’ll find me in lots of ensemble pieces because I like the collaborative way that we work together. No one gets to say, “Hey, this show is great just because of me.” It’s a community effort.

SPOILER: You are so ageless. How do you keep yourself looking so young?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: [laughs] I don’t know, man! I got lucky with my genetics. Luckily for me, when I was young, I looked super young and I couldn’t really get any roles. I was dancing at the time. And so, when I got old enough to look like I could play someone who was 25, I was old enough to actually pull it off. I understood more. It gave me a little more insight into the characters that were of those ages. It’s been a real blessing for me.

SPOILER: Does that affect how you approach choosing your roles?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: It definitely does. There are roles that I can book now that I couldn’t book before. Guys who have a certain kind of gravity about them, a groundedness. Definitely dads or people who have been married for a certain amount of time or in a career for a certain amount of time. There’s a weight to these roles now.

SPOILER: Early on in your career, you played a lot of really happy characters.

HAROLD PERRINEAU: [laughs] It

was something my dad used to say to me, like, “Boy, every time I see you in something, you’re laughing.” I was like, “Am I??” It really was a thing. Probably part of it was, I played a lot of guys who were more carefree and lighthearted. In The Best Man, Julius is carefree. The biggest problem was he couldn’t keep a secret [laughs]. But Augustus Hill in Oz, he wasn’t smiley, but he wasn’t as beat-up and grizzled as some of the other prisoners. I could get away with it. I think the writers probably took a lot of their impression of me and wrote it into the roles. I’m a light-hearted person. I try to enjoy my life and enjoy the people around me.

SPOILER: Do you ever get in your head about making a new project as good as the last?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: Galaxy, I’m gonna tell you the real truth. Every project I take, I go, “This time I’m gonna suck at it! There’s no way I can pull this off.” [laughs] I have an acting teacher I used to go to with every project, and after about the sixth time, she’s like, “Harold, every time you show up, you say the exact same thing: ‘There is no way I can do it, Barbara, I need your help!’” But I think that fear keeps me on the grind: I don’t know how to do it, but I’m gonna figure it out. I don’t wanna get to the place where it’s [not challenging], and then I wind up being bored.

SPOILER: What can fans expect from this series going forward?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: These guys are master storytellers. You can expect to get whatever it is you might be looking for in a horror/suspense. If you’re a real fan of the gore and the blood and guts, and jump scares, you can expect all of that. Or if you’re a fan of the peoplewatching; how people get through these things. I’m a big fan of going, “Oh man, if I were in that situation, how would I get through it?” And you

can totally expect to find a character that resonates with your personality. Like you said, there are a lot of people in this show, so that means there are a lot of personalities. A lot of humanity, and a really scary, desperate situation. It’s pretty scary.

SPOILER: And it’s a different kind of scary.

HAROLD PERRINEAU: You find out early on that the people are trapped there. Every road leads back into town. There’s no way out. And the monsters just look like normal people, and they don’t run at you—they walk. They don’t chase you because, where are you going? They got all the time in the world. That’s creepy.

SPOILER: Is there any scene from this series that stuck with you?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: The very first thing you see in this show, as a dad, you never wanna see. It sticks with me, and when I’m in that performance, I’m me. And when you see it, it’s harrowing and heartbreaking. I think about it, unfortunately, all the time. I literally pulled a gun on a dude in that scene and it wasn’t in the script—that was just my instinct [laughs]. The director said, “Keep it!”

SPOILER: Is there anything you wanna tell the fans before you go?

HAROLD PERRINEAU: “Thanks for participating in all of this. There’s none of this for me if you guys aren’t there. So, thank you for coming to check out From and telling your friends. I love you guys and I appreciate all that you do! And I’ll keep trying to push it if you guys keep coming through.”

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

For Margarita Levieva, the toughest part

of her career may already be behind her. Coming to America from Russia held its own set of challenges, especially when aspiring to become an actress. Involved in dance and gymnastics from a young age, Margarita first moved here as a child, eventually earning her degrees in economics and psychology. It wasn’t until after that when she started taking acting classes.

With early spots on shows such as Law & Order and Vanished, she eventually landed parts in films like Adventureland, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Knights of Badassdom. But it was her role in HBO’s The Deuce that really took her career to a new level.

Her latest series In From the Cold, where she stars as an ex-Russian spy now living a secret life in the US, almost feels autobiographical. The Netflix show released its 8-episode first season this January.

Margarita is generous enough to sit down with us to chat about the series and the amount of stunt work she’s put in—and the number of times she’s landed in the hospital because of it—but also reveals the insecurities she had when she first started out in this industry, and how she overcame them.

SPOILER: I first became a fan of your work in The Deuce, but now you’re starring in In From the Cold. Totally different. You’re an action star now!

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I always have been! I just don’t think anyone knew it until now [laughs].

SPOILER: Why did you choose to do In From the Cold? Did you audition for it?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I did audition for it. It was one of those funny things where, as an actor in my position, I get offered things sometimes but not all the time. For this, I got a call from my manager and he pitched the project to me. I thought, “This sounds so up my alley. Send me the script.” So, I read it and thought it was great, but then got to the end of the script and there was this sci-fi element to it, and I thought, “Oh s—t. Alright.” And then I read the script for episode 2 and thought, “I

don’t know if I can do this,” because it sounded a little bit far out there with some of the elements involved. But I auditioned, just to see how it went. I started working on the character and thinking about the supernatural part of the story, and thought it was actually really cool, and I could tap into it emotionally on so many levels. And I was really excited to audition. I met the whole writing team before the audition, as well as the creator of the show Adam Glass. There were many steps that led to me getting the job, but when I did, I let one of my friends read the script, and she was like, “Did they write this with you in collaboration?” [laughs] She said, “Because the voice and so many of the story elements just sound like they’re out of your life. It’s wild.” So, it was one of those perfect fits. Obviously, it’s not all me, but so many parts of Jenny Franklin’s character and so many things that

she goes through in this story, even including the supernatural stuff, I really identify with. It feels like such a gift because I’ve been acting for a long time and been in a lot of projects, many of which I’m really proud of and loved being a part of, but to get to play a character that is so multidimensional, and that allows me to tap into things that I carry inside of me which are unique to me—whether it’s having grown up in Russia and now being in America for a long time; pretty Americanized and also pretty Russian, which is something that Jenny deals with a lot. Being an athlete and a dancer and a gymnast, with the training that I got back in Russia—I felt like it was telling my story a little bit.

I keep up with a lot of people in this business and have friends on both sides—some they have made it really big, and some are still struggling. And I think that’s the problem with all artists. You’re like, “I have that great role in me, but I just never got the opportunity. If only people could see that in me.” And I feel like this is one of those roles, to show people what I’m capable of.

SPOILER: Who is Jenny Franklin and who is her alter ego, Anya Petrova?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I’m two people on that show, and I feel like we’re all two people in life [laughs]. But eventually Jenny and Anya are the same person. Anya is a young woman who, as a little girl raised in Russia, was trained by the Russian system, was beaten into something that she didn’t really want to be a part of. Her training, which was brutal, ultimately made her as good as she eventually became.

And Jenny Franklin is the person who escaped that life and the identity that Anya Petrova eventually took on in America. Jenny, on the surface, is the opposite of anything that Anya

ever knew or embodied. So, the thrilling part about this show itself, and even for me as an actor to play it, is telling a story about a woman who has two women inside of her, and going, “Okay, who’s the real her? How much of her past is influencing her future and her present? How much can she really escape the past and go back to who she was and be forced to do things as she did them 20 years ago?” All of those questions that the show explores were part of the challenge and the adventure of taking on that role for me. Anya Petrova is the Whisperer, the spy. Jenny Franklin is a mom—a “good citizen” of New Jersey [laughs].

SPOILER: In the series, you’re asked to do a lot of challenging things. What’s the biggest challenge for you?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: It’s challenging figuring out the severity of the scenes. The goal is always to get to the truth and make it as believable as possible. So I was like, “How am I gonna get this FBI agent to believe that I’m not who he really says that I am? And how am I gonna skirt that line of being a strong, assertive mom, and also not revealing the possibility that I could be a spy?” That was a very delicate dance.

And then with my daughter [on the show], I’m basically living through eight episodes of doing everything in my power to prevent her from getting hurt. But then, here I am hurting her myself. What is the truth in that? How do I find that and make that real, and not just something on the page?

SPOILER: Did you ever hurt yourself doing all these difficult physical things?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I full-on hurt myself. I had to go to the hospital at one point because I did most of my stunt work, which is so fun! And I’m so grateful that I was allowed the opportunity. I had a great stunt double who was fantastic. And obviously, getting hit by a car and flying many feet, insurance reasons didn’t allow for me to do something like that [laughs]. But I did most of the fights you see on the show.

There’s a scene in a cemetery where I fight this young man, and when I went to punch him in the chest, he was wearing a protective breastplate, which I didn’t know at the time. But we kept shooting the coverage, and I kept hitting him

and wasn’t holding back, and didn’t wanna stop the scene and tell them that I was hurting my hand—possibly because of a little bit of pride getting in the way [laughs]. And by the time we were done with that scene, my entire hand was completely swollen. It was purple and bruised up, and they were like, “We gotta take you to the hospital.”

There’s another episode when I’m in a hotel room and I have to punch a mirror. It was a breakaway mirror, but you’re still supposed to punch lightly. And I punched a little too hard and I cracked my knuckles a bit [laughs]. I was proud. I felt like a real fighter.

And then emotionally, we were shooting during COVID in Madrid, where they were still pretty locked down. So we were in a bubble, testing every day. Working with such

dramatic material, it was definitely taking a toll at one point.

SPOILER: Would you want to do more of this kind of genre in the future?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: Absolutely. I was a rhythmic gymnast since the time I was three and danced my whole life. Acting is definitely a physical art form. But also getting to use some of the physical elements that I have excites me in a different kind of way, and I would love to do more of it. I love working with stunt teams. And our stunt team is so incredible and supportive. I have done stuff here and there in the past, but having to work so extensively on fight sequences and choreography, and to really feel that camaraderie—I worked so much with the stunt team on this project that, on the day of filming, I almost felt like I wasn’t as connected with the directors because I was more focused on my stunt team—we were a unit. We were this family. It was really special.

I love doing drama too. After I did this series, I did a miniseries for ITV that will be out this fall. It’s called Litvinenko. It’s very dramatic, it’s based on a real story. I play a real person. To tell a story that’s so powerful and relevant, I’m so proud of that job. It taps into a different muscle and I love that.

SPOILER: Is it harder to get these kinds of roles early on?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: For sure. I didn’t start acting until, one would say, later in life. Because I had immigrated to America and then didn’t speak English for a long time, and because I went to study economics in college because I had to do something very real with my life—or at least according to my family. So, the idea of being an artist or an actor or a dancer was unfathomable. I got my college education before I went to acting school, so it felt like I was starting

late. And when I was starting out, as much as a part of me really wanted to get that massive break—that huge movie that would get me discovered—I kind of knew, even at that time, that it was gonna take a while for me to really develop and hone in my craft, and really trust myself as an actor. I trusted myself as a dancer, but it took a while for me to really feel like I knew what I was doing, because I had so much insecurity about not being from here. And feeling like I didn’t really deserve to be an actor because I didn’t start until after college. I had a lot to prove to myself first. I’m really grateful. I feel like the work I’ve done over the past 15 years was preparation for the work that I’m able to do now. And I hope I get to do a lot more of it.

SPOILER: Do you think there’s too much access to celebrities these days?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: When I grew up in Russia, with actors, we didn’t want to know anything about their lives. Nobody knew anything about their lives because their job was to transform. The theory was, the more you know about someone the less you can allow them to transform, even in your mind. You’d be coming

in with preconceived judgment. But now, everything is so exposed all the time. It gets trickier.

I so appreciate my fans and love their support. I’m so grateful for them. But even with Instagram, DMs have become the new version of a fan coming up to you in the street and being like, “I really enjoy your work.”

SPOILER: Has In From the Cold been renewed yet for season 2?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I think we’re still waiting. The big thing over at Netflix and other streaming services is not just about tuning into the show, but getting to the end. I think they’re just waiting for [everybody] to get to the end. It’s a process.

SPOILER: Have you ever been to a fan convention?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I have. I’ve been to Comic Con in San Diego. I was in this very trippy film called

Knights of Badassdom [laughs]. It was their fantastic idea to send Peter Dinklage, who’s in the movie, with me, among many other wonderful people, Summer Glau, Jimmi Simpson, Danny Pudi—it was a fun project.

SPOILER: How did you like it?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: I loved that. It’s so different than anything that I grew up in. Walking through that place is a thrill. I love how excited and passionate people are.

SPOILER: If you could choose Marvel or DC, which would it be?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: Oh, come on, don’t get me saying that! [laughs] It’s tricky. There are movies from both that I really love. But there are movies from both where I’m like, “Coulda done better on that one.” [laughs]

SPOILER: What is your dream role?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: Al Pacino’s

role in The Godfather. No, I’m just kidding [laughs]. But if you’ve ever seen the French film Un prophète if I could play the lead role, which is played by a man—I remember watching that movie and going, “Oh, I would die to do this!” I’m sure there are some Van Damme movies I could remake.

SPOILER: What’s one scene from In From the Cold that really pops out for you?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: The bathhouse fight scene is pretty epic.

SPOILER: Was that tough to film?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: It was only tough because that came after I hurt my hand, and there was talk of them not allowing me to do that scene. And I had worked for months prepping that fight. The choreography was so extensive—five different rooms, and we break so many things, and we’re fighting in

Margarita Levieva:Subtitle Talent/In From the Cold:Netflix

the pool and the sauna and on the stairs. But I was like, “I have to do this scene.” So there was a lot of negotiation and persistence on my part to be able to do that on the day, which I did. I love that scene.

I also love the end of that scene. If you remember how I end up killing my opponent—spoiler alert—killing a woman by shoving tampons in her eyes. I read that and was like, “This is ridiculous. We have to change that.” And the genius that Adam Glass is, he said, “We’re gonna do something in this scene that we haven’t seen before.” And the stunt team just found a way to make that work. And it worked! I’m so proud of that last moment.

I also love the last scene of the season.

SPOILER: What made you want to do a lot of the stunts yourself?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: Adrenaline. Again, I think just being an athlete— when I do anything physical, anything that makes me sweat a lot, I really enjoy that. In the first episode that I do, there’s a roll kick and I knock the gun out of the guy’s hand. It’s the first fight that I do. Adam Glass saw that [type of] kick on YouTube and was like, “I think she could do that kick,” and they were all like, “We don’t know about that. That’s like, serious martial arts.” So, they told me about it and I said, “I wanna learn that kick. I wanna challenge myself.” And when I was able to actually do it that

first time—the high that I got. We thought for Jenny that she would know all these different fighting styles. And we incorporated all those elements, so I had to also learn that stuff. We did different things every day to get that into my muscular memory. To me, that’s just so thrilling.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone out there who wants to follow a similar path as you to become an actress?

MARGARITA LEVIEVA: First and foremost, if you believe in hard work—there’s this idea of instant gratification, but I’m very old school and I do believe that things that are worthwhile take time. Be true to yourself, excavate whatever you can to find out who you really are, and fight for that. Not compromising or trying to be anyone else, or comparing yourself to anyone else. Because that’s a big waste of time. I wasted a lot of time doing that unfortunately, especially when I first moved here. I thought I had to be someone specific to make it in America. And then I realized, “Oh, no, I just have to be seen for who I really am.” But that takes a while to get to.

What does an 18-years old actor

do when his massively successful television show ends? He goes to college. Stanford, no less. And who can blame him? David Mazouz, who played Bruce Wayne on Gotham, a prequel series to the DC Comics Batman stories, is no stranger to acting. In fact, he’s been doing it his whole life, which is why it makes even more sense that he would want to spend four short years attending the university of his dreams. The young star has always had a passion for education. In between fight sequences with a young Joker, he was learning calculus with a tutor on set. Recognizing the importance of a good education, Mazouz admittedly desires to return to acting once his time at Stanford is complete, but knows his current investment will pay dividends down the road.

David’s smarts go far beyond the books. Now 19-years-old, the collegian is wise beyond his years, utilizing the national halt due to coronavirus as a way to continue broadening his horizons, even when the two things he loves most—school and acting—are put on hold. Like some of us, he’s taking the time to learn new skills and hone others, work on passion projects he otherwise wouldn’t have the time for, or simply discover new passions he never knew he had. When we’re busy with work and school our whole lives, it can be tough to have large chunks of time where we can do something fulfilling—even when the form of education is masked behind informative YouTube videos. David is definitely making the most of this strange opportunity, always planning for the future while living in the moment. For a teenager to have that kind of vantage point is quite impressive.

Among other things, we talk with him about his show, which ended last year, the influence Christian Bale’s portrayal had on his own, and the depths of which Bruce Wayne is buried into his soul. From the sounds of it, the actor favors the side of the argument that views Batman as a superhero, not just a “hero.” And he’s got us convinced (not that we weren’t already). Bruce Wayne’s mentality and philosophy are still influencing and guiding him along in his everyday life. You can see that David truly loves and admires the character he embodied for five seasons and that it likely won’t ever leave his side.

spoiler

You won the Bruce Wayne Week poll that was featured on the Comic Con Radio Instagram page. You beat every Bruce Wayne by a landslide, from Adam West on forward.

David Mazouz

[laughs] Yeah that’s awesome!

spoiler

Over the whole week you got over 100,000 votes. For that many people to vote in a week, that means our fans care about you being Bruce Wayne.

David Mazouz

Wow! That’s crazy.

spoiler

So what have you been up to lately? Are you just relaxing? I know you were on Gotham for over half a decade, what’s the plan?

AYeah, I was on the show for 5 years, and it happened to coincide that it ended in the middle of my senior year of high school. I’ve always been an academically inclined kid. I’ve always liked school. I’ve always tried hard in school. And I got into the college of my dreams and I didn’t want to give that opportunity up. So I’m in college right now. Not because I don’t want to act later in life. That’s all I want to do. That’s where I primarily see myself the rest of my life. But when it was looking like the show was ending and I had college in front of me, I was conflicted and thinking about a lot of things, and I was talking to Ben McKenzie on set, who played Jim Gordon on Gotham. He said, “You should reach out to Fred Savage. He was on The Wonder Years from the time he was 12 to 17.” And I was on Gotham from 13 to 17. And he

David Mazouz

went to Stanford after, and I was looking at going to Stanford. And it turns out we have the same lawyer. So I called him and talked to him for about an hour. I asked him, “Did you ever consider not going to college?” And one of the things he said that really stuck with me was, “I saw myself as being in the entertainment industry as an actor, as a writer, as a director, as a creative, for the rest of my life, and to take four years off of that to do something that will only give me knowledge and experiences that will aid me in being that creative person in this industry for the rest of my life is a trivial amount to take off.” Like, four years is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Especially with COVID, it makes it so much easier to take time off from the entertainment industry because nothing’s happening right now. That’s a very long way of saying I’m in college right now [laughs], which is my primary focus.

spoiler What are you studying?

David Mazouz

I’m intending a major in economics and a minor in psychology and computer science, but we’ll see. I’m not set on any of those.

spoiler So you’re at Stanford?

David Mazouz

I’m at Stanford, yeah. But in quarantine, I’ve been working on a couple of scripts, working on the music just for fun, but who knows, if it’s any good I’ll put it out. A couple of voiceover things I’m not sure if I can talk about right now. A couple of things in the works. I was working on a podcast with one of my really good friends, Cameron Kasky.

spoiler

How’s the podcast going? Did it take off or is it still in the works?

David Mazouz

We put out something like 7 or 8 episodes. We took a little break just because Cameron and I were busy with stuff and we took a couple weeks off. But it’s called The Bad Place. It’s on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It’s just us and our friend group talking to cool people we find interesting and having conversations that we like.

spoiler

How did it feel going to university? Basically Gotham finished and then you started school. Were people crowding around you or were you incognito?

David Mazouz

Most people didn’t care. I think also, the show is very regionally popular, which I’ve noticed. Places like New York are a Gotham hotspot. Or Brazil, too, from what I’ve heard. There are certain regions where the show is super popular and I get recognized a lot. But in California I definitely get recognized significantly less. Every once in a while I’ll go to the bookstore or something and there will be a big group of tourists visiting the campus that will recognize me, and when that happens it’s nice. It’s funny. I definitely had a few friends at school who recognized me. Usually it just comes up naturally, like, “Yeah, I was on this show.” I never kept it hidden, but I also just tried not to bring it up because my number one priority is to make people feel comfortable talking to me, like a normal person.

There was a girl in my dorm who was a big fan of Gotham and whenever I was around her she would get a little nervous. In those kinds of situations, I always want to make sure the person knows they should feel comfortable around me. I always think about what’s the line between celebrity and person. More for people I look up to. I find myself reminding myself that the people I idolize and take every word as gold aren’t prophets, they’re just people, just like I, myself, am a person. We’re all capable of mistakes and emotions. Sorry to be philosophical on you [laughs].

spoiler

Gotham isn’t one of those shows that happened and people just moved on. Basically everybody in that show is excelling in their career. Everyone’s still hot and making the push forward. Gotham lasted over five years and a lot of people were upset when it was over. Do you feel the show ended too soon and could have gone on a little longer?

David Mazouz

I think it absolutely could’ve went on a little bit longer. We knew it was our last season the whole time

we were filming it. So emotionally and creatively we were very much able to prepare ourselves for the end of the show and I think the writers did that excellently as well. Of course I think the writers would have done an excellent job if we got 2 or 3 more seasons to make it an even more rounded out story, but the 100 episodes we have serve perfectly on their own. They’re not missing anything. And because of that, content wise, I can’t say that it ended too soon.

spoiler

The last time I interviewed you, it was right before season 5. Your social page showed a more serious David, with constant posts about Gotham. These days it shows a more carefree David. It’s amazing seeing an actor your age not really succumbing to the stresses of the industry. Would you say this is the best time of your life right now?

David Mazouz

Yeah, absolutely. There’s always that part of anyone—especially me because I over think a lot of things—that’s focused on the next

professional opportunity. But the way I see it, at this specific stage in my life, especially because of COVID, there aren’t many opportunities in general in the industry. So any opportunity I’m gonna give my 100%. Because it’s summer and there’s the virus, there’s not much else I could be doing with my life other than just living it to the fullest.

Acting is very much dependent on collaboration. If you’re an actor, you cannot create a product on your own. So I want to start honing in my skills as a writer, as a music creator—different creative things—so that I can start projects on my own and see what I like doing. I love acting, but I started at 5-years-old. Intensely at 8-years-old. From such a young age, I wasn’t pushed into this thing, I wanted to do it, but I feel like now is really my opportunity because the world is at a halt, and personally with my career because I’m going to college. And it’s given me an opportunity to look at myself and figure out: What are some other things that I’m good at? What are some other things that I like to do? What are some other things that I’m passionate about? And I don’t really have any answers yet. I feel like I’m very much at the beginning of that journey, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

spoiler

What kind of things would you like to produce in the future?

David Mazouz

MAny story that I feel connected to that I want to tell, and I think those can come from anywhere. I find myself thinking about things a lot and just kind of pondering ideas. I find myself on YouTube rabbit holes late at night just watching different people talk about different random things, from social issues to beekeeping, from history to pool. So I like taking those concepts and putting them into stories. Honestly, I’m just doing whatever feels right at the moment.

spoiler

You’re at that age where you can do anything you want. Coming off an amazing TV series that’s loved by so many people. Going to Stanford. You have the world at your fingertips. Do you feel sometimes that there might be a lot of pressure? Or do you feel relaxed that you have choices?

David Mazouz

A little bit of both I guess. I know there’s a lot of people who got to know me from Gotham and want to see more. And I want

to give them more. So in that sense, I feel a pressure to serve my fans and keep giving them content and creative things I’m working on. This is just the “College Chapter” of my life [laughs].

spoiler

Speaking of fans: Would you ever date one?

David Mazouz

I don’t see why not [laughs].

spoiler

A lot of people don’t know that your birthday and Bruce Wayne’s birthday are on the same day.

David Mazouz

Actually, I didn’t know that until my first birthday on the show. I remember seeing on Twitter, “Happy birthday, Batman.” And it was also my birthday. It was awesome! Just fate I guess.

spoiler

Did you know that Bruce Wayne Manor from Gotham was also in Batman Forever.

David Mazouz

This is literally my first time hearing that. I had no idea! Wow! [laughs] That’s crazy. I know that the exterior of the Manor is a Naval Architectural Institute in Long Island.

spoiler

If you could have anything you want to eat, what would it be?

David Mazouz

Definitely just a jar of Nutella with a spoon. That’s it.

spoiler

If there was a most memorable moment while you were on Gotham, what would it be?

David Mazouz

Great question. The first thing that comes to my head is the hall of mirrors episode (“The Gentle Art of Making Enemies”) in season 3 where Jerome kidnaps Bruce and it’s really the first time we see Bruce take an active role as a good guy instead of just fighting back as protection. I just remember shooting that scene where Bruce is beating up Jerome, being in the hall of mirrors in this crazy costume and makeup, I’m pretending to punch the crap out of Cameron Monaghan while his fake prosthetic face is falling off. That image will forever be seared into my mind. Whenever I think of Gotham that’s one of the first moments I think of. I was so overwhelmed with joy and pride and accomplishment— not for me, but really for Bruce. Bruce was, has been, and is very much a part of myself and my soul and I was just so proud of the character in that moment for standing up for justice.

spoiler

I remember that moment. That was a real changing point for Bruce.

David Mazouz

That moment was huge. I think it was the catalyst for him to realize he was capable of stopping evil. The first time he actually brought down a bad guy with skills he learned from Alfred in his quest to seek out justice and fight evil. After that point, he only went further down that path to eventually become Batman.

spoiler Do you ever use any Bruce Wayne moments in real life?

David Mazouz

Literally all the time. If I’m ever scared of doing something, I just think to myself, “Bruce would do it.” And then I’ll do it. I always ask myself, “What would Bruce do?” One of the very first scenes Bruce had in the pilot with Jim Gordon, he said, “I’m learning to conquer fear.” That’s Bruce Wayne’s M.O. His thing is, “I’m going to get over all my mental defenses that stop me from accomplishing what humans don’t usually accomplish. I’m going to

become superhuman because of my will power.” It’s will power that rides him like a van through fear, anxiety, perfectioniSPOILER, all of those things that stop us from achieving greatness. He takes a machete and perfectionism them in the face.

spoiler

Do you think a lot of David was in Bruce Wayne?

David Mazouz

Oh yeah, absolutely. I don’t think I’ve ever played a character that didn’t have a ton of David in it.

I need to base the humanity somewhere and the humanity I know best is my own. Of course, there was inspiration from Christian Bale, from Greg Capullo and Scott Snyder—that Batman comic series was a huge inspiration for me. It’s kinda cool to know

that there’s a version of Bruce Wayne out there that’s, like, 60% David, 20% Christian Bale, 20% whatever else, it’s kinda cool to think about how that Bruce Wayne exists.

spoiler

You went through all these scripts and memorized all these lines, which probably still, to this day, helps you out in life because you have these amazing quotes and blurbs you can use. Do you ever just stop yourself and say, “Oh wow, that’s a line from a script and I just used it in real life”?

David Mazouz

All the time. It was a big part of my education. I grew up in this industry and reading scripts. So much of what I know about the world is from reading scripts— and from Gotham writers. During my most formative years I was reading these scripts and performing them, so it undoubtedly has changed how I perceive the world around me and given me that lens.

spoiler

If you could say something to your younger self, what would you say to the young David who first walked onto the set of Gotham all those years ago?

David Mazouz

“Believe in yourself. Even though you’re entering a world where you don’t know what to expect, throughout your journey, absorb as much from the things that you learn and the people you meet, but also know that you, within yourself, have the tools to succeed. If you trust yourself and have good instincts, then you’re going to be good.”

spoiler

When you’re on set, you get to be with people from all walks of life, and each person brings with them different knowledge and experiences. Were you just soaking it all in as you were growing up on Gotham?

David Mazouz

Even before Gotham, when I was 10 to 12, I was on another show (Touch) and I was going to Fox Studios on a regular basis and that was my 9 to 5. Being 10 and working with adults seven days a week for months at a time, it taught me so much about what it means to be a person. I never really had the opposite experience of not acting and not having the knowledge I had from being on sets at such a young age.

spoiler

If you could say something to your classmates at Stanford to understand you a little bit more, what would you tell them?

David Mazouz

“I’m just a guy who looks at the world with wide eyes and wants to know more about it.”

spoiler After being on a rabidly popular series like Gotham, do you now miss waking up in the morning and going to set?

David Mazouz

Of course I miss it, but I also don’t wake up in the morning and agonize about missing it. Because I see it as something I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life, hopefully. So of course I miss seeing the cast and the crew everyday and being on something that millions of people are excited to see

every week, but school is just a temporary interval right now.

spoiler

I know you’re in school and your busy studying all the time, but will you be going to conventions in the future?

David Mazouz

I definitely intend to be going to conventions all around the world.

spoiler

If you could pick a theme song to describe where your life is at right now, what would you choose?

David Mazouz

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

spoiler

If you could pass on a message to your fans around the globe, what would it be?

David Mazouz

“Thank you.” Just a really, really big fat “Thank you.” “Thank you for being a fan. Thank you for supporting me. Thanks for liking Gotham and for liking my Bruce Wayne enough to follow me into doing other things. And thank you for your patience while I’m in school. And thank you for your loyalty.”

One of the things I’ve noticed about my fans, and comic book fans in general, is that they’re the craziest, most insanely loyal people in the world. Which is so unlike a lot of other fan bases. If they like you, then you have made lifetime fans and it’s such a powerful thing. It means so much to me.

Everyone needs to know who Jay Ali is

Like, right now. Not only did he blow up in Marvel’s Netflix series Daredevil as the noble, but torn apart, FBI agent Ray Nadeem, but now he joins the cast of Amazon Prime’s fantasy series Carnival Row as a main player for the upcoming second season. While there is no current release date yet for season 2 of Carnival Row, fans are champing at the bit to see what’s in store for Vignette, the rest of Black Raven, and how Ali’s Kaine will fit into the equation. He did incredible work on Daredevil, especially considering he was one of the rare main characters in a comic book adaptation with no actual comic book origin, so it’s exciting to see how he levels up the already-gripping Carnival Row.

Ali has such a great outlook on life. He’s a level-headed dude who knows what’s truly important in life. He loves his job, but recognizes it’s just a job (and a pretty cool one, at that). Where he really starts to gush is when talking about his son, Remy, and the awesome experiences and memories he’s been able to share with him because of his career. Always his biggest priority, Jay is definitely a dad first and foremost.

A lover of ‘80s pop culture, the actor tosses around retro references, such as Mr. T, Dianne Wiest, or Over the Top, like only an ‘80s kid can truly understand. He also fills us in on what it’s like to work on a show with such breathtaking, almost old school, set design as Carnival Row, how opportunities can come and go in the blink of an eye in this business, as well as his views on the current state of the TV industry as a whole.

spoiler When did you start acting?

Jay Ali

I didn’t start acting until later in my life. I was playing cricket. I thought I was going to be a cricket player but then realized I wasn’t good enough to become a cricket player [laughs]. But I always wanted to act, even from a young age, but I was kind of, I dunno, doing other things. Then I guess when I got older, I was like, “Look, if this is something you want to do, give it a shot and go full on into it and see what happens.” I’ve always been someone who’s said, “Don’t die wondering.” I was willing to go into acting for it not to work out and say, “Well, I tried.” But thankfully things worked out. Really, I got into it when I was 27 when I moved to LA. The first acting experience I had was when I moved to LA with a backpack and did that.

spoiler

You were on a TV series that rocked the world. Unfortunately Daredevil is no more. It’s all politics, business and all that. But Daredevil is a show that could’ve been on for a long time. How was the experience on that show?

Jay Ali

A

It was just the most amazing experience. From start to finish, it was unbelievable. To be honest with you, I was in LA when I got the call to say I was flying to New York to do the screen test. And just that, for me, was amazing. Then to get the call to say, “You got the role and you’ve got to move to New York,” and I was shooting within a week, It was all really unbelievable. And then to do such an amazing show that has such a huge following, and to play a character who was so well-written and so thought-out—it was a role of a

lifetime, really. To go into a show which was established, really, and to play an integral part in the storyline of it, it would be really hard to beat that. From top to bottom, the show was just unbelievable—the writing, the cinematography, the directing, the acting, the action sequences. I mean, it had everything. Everyone was saying it was the best season of Marvel television ever made and I truly believe that. And it couldn’t happen to a

better bunch of people. Everyone worked so hard on that show and everyone put everything into it. Even though it finished, I think everyone’s quite satisfied that we went out on such a high.

spoiler Daredevil is one of those instances that Marvel television went beyond expectations. You rocked the last season. That’s the entire memory of Daredevil now. It’s you and the Daredevil just battling it out and that’s it. I know you said it’s one of those sets that is huge and can’t be replicated, but what do you think about Carnival Row? That’s a pretty big show.

Jay Ali

Yeah, it’s a huge show. In terms of the production, I mean Carnival Row is probably about three or four times the size of Daredevil, with the cast and crew and makeup and stunts—it’s huge. The Row itself is a set. They built a city. In terms of that, it’s way, way bigger than Daredevil. It’s got a huge fan base already and it’s a great show to be a part of.

Telling a story that it’s telling and playing a character that I’m playing, it’s doing a really great job of keeping up there with Daredevil. And it happens that Erik Oleson, the showrunner on Daredevil, is doing the second season of Carnival Row, so there’s a familiarity with that, because he runs an amazingly tight ship. He has a lot of the same writers that were on Daredevil, so I think a lot of people who enjoyed the first season will enjoy the second season even more, and I think new people coming into it, especially if you love Daredevil, will really, really enjoy it because it’s got the same themes. Eric Oleson is a very smart guy and has his fingers on the pulse of what’s going on in the world at the moment, and he likes to translate that onto the screen, so it’s gonna be something that’s really huge.

spoiler

When I saw Carnival Row, I knew it was gonna be a hit. A lot of people underestimated Amazon Prime at first, but are now realizing, “Wow, they’re coming out with these mega shows.” Do you think you’re going to be working more with Amazon in the future? Or is the future not on the deck yet because of what’s going on in the world?

Jay Ali

JI mean, I think the best shows are the streaming shows at the moment, whether it be Amazon or Netflix or Hulu or anyone like that. I think they’ve just got a lot more freedom to explore story lines and push the boundaries than some of the network shows. In terms of storytelling, yeah, this is something I really want to do. Netflix wet my appetite with that with what they did with Daredevil, and you just look at the other shows they’ve done as well. You look at what Amazon is doing also, not just with the shows they’ve got out at the moment, but the shows on the slate—I mean, you’ve got The Lord

of the Rings coming out, you’ve got The Wheel of Time coming out. Who knows what the future holds. At the end of the day, you just wanna keep working, but you wanna make sure you do good stuff. And that, for me, is Amazon. They’re doing probably the best stuff at the moment. Look at The Boys and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel—great shows. Their slate is just unbelievable and I’m very fortu-

nate to be in the Amazon family and I’d like to stay there, of course. I’m very lucky to be part of Carnival Row and working with Orlando [Bloom] and Cara [Delevingne] and the rest of the cast who are all so brilliant. And we hope that we can start shooting soon and just finish off this season.

spoiler

Filming hasn’t started back again at all?

Jay Ali

No, no, we haven’t started yet. Everything’s up in the air. We’re still waiting to see what the word is. It just changes every week. There’s a lot of things that need to go into place to make sure it’s a safe environment for everyone. A show like Carnival Row, on average, we have about 200 extras on set when we do those Row scenes and they all have to have makeup and prosthetics. It’s very close proximity work, so they have to figure out how they’re going to get around that. But we’ve got six episodes in the can, so we’ve only got a few more to shoot. Hopefully we’ll get back soon and finish it off and everyone will get to see how good this season is. Carnival Row already has such a big following, but I think this season is really gonna put it on the map.

spoiler Would you ever date a fan?

Jay Ali

Um, I don’t know! Look, as long as you’re a cool person, that’s all that matters to me. Whether you’re a fan or not a fan, I mean, it doesn’t really bother me. I mean, that’s not the only reason you’d be dating me [laughs], because I’m also cool. Because I’m not Ray Nadeem or Kaine in Carnival Row, you know? Some people can get really disappointed when they meet the person outside the character [laughs]. I’m super boring. I’m not like my characters at all. The question should be, would a fan date me?

spoiler How do you handle pressure on set?

Jay Ali

I don’t really feel it, to be honest with you. I think that we’re really lucky to do what we do. No one’s lives are on the line or anything like that. At the end of the day, we’re there to entertain people. But no, I don’t feel pressure at all. You know, I’ve done shows that have been cancelled. Been on shows that I thought would do really well. But I think the pressure comes from, like, if the show gets cancelled, what do I do next? You suddenly have this security and then that security is taken away. So I think that can sometimes get to you a little bit, when you’re like, “Alright, well now I’m out of work.” And it could take you a week to find new work; it could take two years to find work again. I think that’s where the pressure comes in. But in terms of when I’m actually working, that’s when I feel the least amount of pressure because it’s solely about your work. And when you’ve gotten to that point, you should know how to act. It’s like asking a teacher, “Do you get nervous when you teach students?” No, that’s what you do. The pressure is off of me once I’ve got the job. I’ve got the role, that’s who they want, and it’s up to me to come up with something now. That’s where all the fun begins!

spoiler

What is the most memorable thing you’ve ever experienced on set?

Jay Ali

There were so many things on Daredevil that were really exciting and memorable. But I’d have to say that, recently, the one that’s sticking out in my mind is the first time we walked onto the Row [on Carnival Row]. We did a shot where Cara and I walked down an alleyway and onto the Row. But we didn’t see the setup because we were around the corner getting ready for the shot. They called “action” and we turned the corner and onto the Row. It was the first time all the extras were there and the whole place was set up and all the cameras were up and there were hundreds of people there. When the show comes out you’ll know what scene I’m talking about, it’s the first time you see the Row in the second season. And it was unbelievable. Because you literally get transported into a different world. There were pucks, there were trolls, there were fairies flying in the air. And for that brief two-minute scene, it felt like you were in a different world. That’s what storytelling is, being transported into a different world, a different life, and for me, that was what happened right then.

spoiler

I’m sure it’s amazing to close your eyes and go back to that moment in your imagination.

Jay Ali

Yeah! Absolutely! And you never get bored of it. We’ve done a lot of scenes since. We’ve done some night scenes, and just when everyone’s on the Row and the lights are there. It’s just unbelievable, man. Just really, really magical. That scene was in the first episode, but even when we do a scene like that in the sixth episode, it still blows your mind. Totally blows your mind. That’s when you sit there and you’re like, “This is amazing. What I do is unbelievable.”

spoiler

Is it easier for you to get creative because the sets are so amazing? Or do you have to do anything to get into that mindset?

Jay Ali

No, it’s all there! As soon as we get there, we go into hair and makeup, and our wigs are put on, our costumes are put on, our wings are put on. You slowly get into it. Then you walk down to set and onto the Row and you see all the extras. They’re sitting around their little fires and little huts and you get into it straight away. You feel like you’re in that world and it’s just amazing. I remember the first time Remy, my son, ever came to set, seeing his eyes just in awe and wonder of this world being created. It was amazing seeing it for him. That’s probably what I looked like. His eyes were just huge and he was taking in everything.

spoiler

That’s got to be such a proud dad moment.

Jay Ali

Yeah, it was the first time he’d ever been on set. When I did Daredevil, Marvel had a closed set and no one’s allowed. So [Carnival Row] was the first time he came in. And I remember, we were shooting a scene and he walked in and—oh man, it was amazing! Finally, he can see Dad’s not making it up [laughs]. He loved it and I think I got a few daddy cool points, mostly because I was mates with Orlando and Cara, but he really did love it. And it was real special for me. I’ve waited 12 years for that moment, for him to walk on set and see Daddy doing his work.

It was just amazing because they really looked after him and put him behind the monitors. He actually directed one of the scenes, it’s really funny. There’s a scene with me and Cara. I didn’t even know he was directing it and we were about to start shooting and then I heard this [sounding like his son], “Cameras rolling... action!” And I was like, “That’s my son.” We do the scene and I look behind the monitors and Remy is standing there with his earphones in and then he called “cut.” It was amazing. He just had the time of his life. You know, it’s really lovely being able to provide for him and do all these things, but for him to have experiences like that, he’s never gonna forget that. That was really, really cool.

spoiler

Does that give you this kind of great energy to knock it out of the park?

Jay Ali

Of course it does! You always want to do a good job, but especially when your kid’s there, you don’t wanna suck and forget your lines. People getting frustrated because you’re taking so long, but luckily I had a good day. I’m sure him being there played a huge part of it. He relaxes me anyway. Sometimes things can get a little bit tense [when you’re shooting] and then you look over and see your kid there, staring around in bewilderment and you’re just like, “Yeah, everything’s fine.” I remember when I was struggling to get work and stuff, or I tested for a show and didn’t get it and I’m broke and that job could have really helped. And then he’d be like, “Hey Dad, um, how’s it goin’?” And I’m like, “Yeah, I’m alright.” And then he’d be like, “Cool...Would you like to watch me play with my toys?” And I’m like, “Yeah, yeah, I would totally love to watch you play with your toys.” And it just puts everything in perspective. So I think I wouldn’t have had such a healthy—well I don’t know if it’s healthy—but as healthy of an outlook on the industry if it wasn’t for him because it kind of just puts everything into perspective. And as long as your kid’s fine and safe and healthy, then everything falls away. As long as they’re alright, then everything’s alright in the world.

Aspoiler Is there any fictional character you wish you met in real life?

Jay Ali

I met him! Mr. T! He was my hero. I turned into an 8-year-old kid when I met him at a Ralph’s grocery store. Especially in what we do, we always meet people. Like Johnny from Karate Kid, another one who really blew my mind when I met him. But then, at the same time, you get used to it pretty quick when you meet people you grew up watching. I did a movie with

Dianne Wiest, and I remember Dianne Wiest from The Lost Boys, which was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. And it’s really cool! I mean, if you told 15-year-old me you were gonna do a movie with Dianne Wiest in 10 or 12 years, I woulda been like, “You’re crazy.” But that’s what I think about a lot.

I remember when we were shooting that scene when me and Charlie were doing that shootout scene in Daredevil, I remember sitting there going, “Wow. If you told 15-year-old me— even 25-year-old me—that in a few

years time you’re going to be doing this shootout scene in New York on a huge Marvel show,” I’d be like, “You’re crazy!” But that’s the beauty of what we do. Your life can just change in a heartbeat. Sometimes it takes a bit longer, but as long as you’re heading in the right direction, man, there’s no cap on what you’re doing or who you’re working with.

Even last year, if you told me I was gonna be working with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne on an Amazon show, I’d say you’re crazy, even after doing Daredevil because you just don’t think that stuff happens, but it does. One minute you’re doing nothing, sitting in your underpants watching Over the Top on YouTube, and then the next minute you get a call from your buddy, the showrunner on Daredevil, saying, “I’ve written you a role in Carnival Row.” But that’s how it happens. That’s how mad life can be. And that’s a true story. I was sitting in my living room. I had just got back from New Orleans shooting The Purge and I was sitting there on YouTube and they had Over the Top, the Sylvester Stallone arm wrestling movie—you remember that one? I used to watch it as a kid. And then Erik called me and he was like, “Alright dude, I need you to go to Prague.”

spoiler

You know what’s crazy? You and I liked so many of the same things as a child. I don’t know if it’s the time frame we grew up in. Over the Top was one of my favorite movies, too. And then Mr. T.

Jay Ali

Galaxy, we’re brothers man!

spoiler

It’s a wonderful world. There are so many people with the same likes and dislikes, but are from different areas of the world.

Jay Ali

It’s amazing, mate. Look, at the end of the day, we’re all just fans aren’t we? It’s really great to be able to do this. I really enjoy it. Everything has a fandom now. I mean, you wouldn’t say Breaking Bad was a geeky show, but you just get this fanbase.

. All these things now. TV has really transcended so many boundaries now. A lot of people think when you say “fandoms” you’re just talking about the comic books, but it’s not. Like Carnival Row, they have a fandom. Everything. It’s amazing that people are so passionate about these shows and these shows are touching people in these ways. It’s a really amazing thing to see. When I did Daredevil, just getting messages from people all around the world saying, like, “You know, I was going through a really rough time and this show came along and it really lifted me up and I’m in so much more of a better space.” They wouldn’t say, “You did an amazing job,” but, “Thank you for helping me through a difficult time,” and that’s amazing. Without even knowing this person or what they’re going through, you’ve helped them. At the end of the day, that’s what you wanna do. You want someone to watch your show, and for that half hour or hour, they’re happy.

spoiler

If you could pass on one message for fans out there, what would it be?

Jay Ali

“Just be good to each other and be happy. Enjoy the shows that you watch and do things that make you happy.” That’s what I would want everyone to do. Just love and enjoy everyone and be grateful to have the opportunity to be able to watch these shows. There are a lot of people in the world who have no idea what we’re talking about because they don’t have access to these amazing channels of entertainment that we have. “Thank you for all the support that I’ve ever gotten from you guys.

It’s amazing. I read everyone’s messages and try to get back to everyone. You make a huge difference to my life and I’m very, very grateful for every single one of you. Just thank you for everything.” That was a lot of stuff. I didn’t say one thing, I said a lot of things there. But there’s so much to say to these people, because really without you guys, it’s nothing.

Or Ozark

GALAXY

BREHM

Listening to Matt Gerald speak, it’s obvious he puts so much thought into his every word. A former municipal bond trader, and now in some of the biggest film projects of all time, the incredibly incisive actor could also give a great TED Talk if he really wanted to. Don’t let his towering stature and meathead exterior fool you, this dude is extremely intelligent. Earning his degree from an Ivy League school, Matt welcomes your low expectations. He loves being underestimated because he’s confident he will prove you wrong. Although he remains humble about his reputation in high school, he was that incredibly cool, only-in-the-movies type of guy who would stick up for the nerds who were being bullied. Speaking on behalf of nerds everywhere, I think it’s safe to say we all wish Matt Gerald could’ve attended our schools back in the day to put a few notable bullies in their places.

Matt imparts so much of his wisdom on the current state of the world, as well as New Zealand, of all things. He also gives us a glimpse of his upbringing in Miami during the late-’80s when the town was bustling with culture and activity—a pocket for entertainment that not enough people talk about these days for some reason. But Matt was there. He lived through it all. He grew up among Miami’s dance scene and laments the current state of dancing. Long gone are the days of teen discos and battle crews, at least to the extent which Matt experienced it. The actor has had an incredibly interesting life—one you could write a movie about. But the craziest thing is, he’s just getting started. With the slating of the (FOUR!) upcoming Avatar movies, his notoriety is undoubtedly going to explode, whether he likes it or not. Matt keeps it hush-hush on Avatar 2, mostly because the powers-that-be don’t tell him much, but you can’t blame us for trying.

spoiler

You are in the new Avatar movies, 2 and 3. I know they’re being filmed simultaneously, how does it feel?

Matt Gerald

How does it feel to be in the films? It’s great. How does it feel to be on hiatus right now in this climate that we’re in? It’s a rocky road. But yeah, to be part of the project, it’s the highlight of my career.

spoiler

You’re in many movies, and TV shows, I get your passion and love for the business. How did you start in the acting universe?

Matt Gerald

I didn’t come to it like a lot of other people, other young actors who studied in school

and came up post-college and started acting, or even before college. I had gotten a finance degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. I was a financial analyst and municipal bond trader early on in my career. I did that for about 4 or 5 years before I realized that it’s not the way I wanted to spend the rest of my life: sitting in a chair, staring at a computer screen, speaking on the phone with clients. It felt like it was a level of monotony that I didn’t think I would derive a ton of happiness from. I had

Matt Gerald/Dexter/Showtime/Daredevil/Marvel/Netflix/ABC/AP Images/ Shot Caller/Saban Films/Sue Schneider/Gotpap/Bauergriffin.com

a friend who was an actress at the time, living in Miami Beach and she was doing a play and she asked me to help out. I helped out as a stage hand and really just fell in love with the whole theatrical world and decided that this might be something I was interested in. I started taking an acting class locally in Miami and it just lit a fire for me. Literally two weeks later, I packed up my stuff, moved to Los Angeles and started studying acting immediately. The rest is history. That was 1997.

spoiler

So was it love at first site?

Matt Gerald

A friend of mine had already moved out to LA and was a production assistant for a really big Hollywood producer. After a bout a year and

a half, he ventured out on his own and produced his own movie, which made it to Sundance—I think this was like 1995 or ‘96—and I went to Sundance for the first time and I got an up-close and personal view of the inner-workings of Hollywood. I met a bunch of writers, I met a bunch of actors, I met a bunch of directors, and I found them to be profoundly more interesting than the Wall Street people who I’d been hanging around with. I’d always been a fan of the arts. I’m a huge music fanatic. I loved film growing up, my sister was in children’s theater. But I was just so heavily into sports that I never thought of a career in the arts. It just never crossed my mind. It was the last thing I ever thought about. So once I sort of sat in the office long enough to realize maybe this wasn’t the place for me long term, the world of theater and film became a completely refreshing environment where I was challenged both intellectually and creatively, and inspired creatively in a way that I never had been before. And I just felt like, if the rest of my life is sort of a new and different pursuit everyday, with one day that

never looks identical to the previous day, I thought to myself, “That’s the kind of life I’d want to lead.” The idea of going to the same office, sitting in the same chair everyday, and just being an automaton with that level of monotony—that just felt deadening. The contrast in the theater world and the film world was just so enormous that I felt like if I didn’t pursue it I’d forever regret it. And so I just made the move and fell in love with acting. I fell in love with filmmaking, and I started writing as well. I sold my first screenplay in 1999. I got my first job as a writer in 2003 or so when I wrote a movie for Paramount. I fully dived in, both from an acting standpoint and a writing standpoint. I just felt, for the first time in my life, that this was where I belonged and I don’t know how else to characterize it.

spoiler

When I look at you, I see a very strong, tough person. Is that what you want people to see you as? Or is there more complexity than that?

Matt Gerald

I mean, I’m obviously, in my life, not a single noted tough guy. I have been tough in the past. As a younger man, I was certainly a lot tougher, both physically and probably emotionally than I am now. But no, that just happens to be the roles that I’ve been able to secure, I think partially due to my physicality. I come from the world of sports, I spend a lot of time in the gym, I have a shaved head, naturally people are going to see me in a particular light. But they don’t get to see my education, they don’t get to see my writing, they don’t get to see how I get on socially.

spoiler

But I think it plays to your advantage.

Matt Gerald

I’m often misunderstood and often underestimated, especially intellectually, but you know what? It’s a world of low expectations. I don’t mind having it out there in that regard, but I think I have a lot of career left where I can explore, maybe, some of these roles that my youth and vigor prevented me from landing earlier in my career. I still want to play roles as the teacher and the father and the husband and the intellectual. And I still think there’s time for that. I’m still evolving. I still think I’m just getting started in this business, I really do. I think there’s a lot left to be explored in my career and hopefully I will have the chance to explore some of those roles.

spoiler

What inspires you?

Matt Gerald

Man, I’m inspired by so many things. I’m inspired by kindness. I’m inspired by intelligence. I’m inspired by compassion. I’m inspired by genius. I’m inspired by bravery. I could go on and on. I’m inspired by my children every single day. I’m inspired by hardship. I’m inspired by overachievement. I’m inspired by laze. I mean, there’s inspiration everywhere you look, unless you’re walking around in a daze,

and that’s not me, so I’m inspired by almost everything around me all the time.

spoiler

What is the most memorable or exciting thing you’ve ever seen on set as an actor

Matt Gerald

The most impressive set I’ve ever worked on was Melvin Potter’s workshop (from Daredevil). The level of detail and exactitude that was brought to that set, the first time I stepped on it, I was instantly transformed, and I don’t think I’d ever felt that way before. On Avatar, it’s sort of a sparse set, most of the environment is built digitally, so there’s a lot left to the imagination and a lot of things that we have to create for ourselves as actors that don’t exist there in the environment on the day. That wasn’t the case in Melvin Potter’s workshop. I mean, there were so many things I found in there that I hadn’t included as a part of Melvin’s

Mworld because how can you be privy to all of it? And production design did such an amazing job building out, to infinite detail, that space. And it was really impressive and mind-blowing and inspiring, for sure. There’s so many things that go into the preparation for a performance. When you first meet Melvin, he’s faced with a set of challenges that are very unique to him. And just to be able to ground it so physically in that space was just really helpful for me. Another set like that was Ray Speltzer’s maze on Dexter. The first time I saw that, I was literally scared. I was frightened. That was another set that really played into the psychology of the character and helped me delve into his inner life. Same with Melvin. Those two really stand out.

Matt

spoiler

It would be wonderful if Hollywood opened some major studios in New Zealand.

Matt Gerald

New Zealand is already so underrated. People don’t talk about it enough. The people are wonderful, the food’s incredible, the weather is amazing. There’s so much to do and see. There’s so much fun to be had. An extreme sports mecca. There’s beaches, there’s mountains, there’s water kayaking. There are so many talented people there. There’s great music. New Zealand is one of the great underrated places on earth and I’m pretty happy that Jim decided to shoot the Avatar movies there. I couldn’t think of a better place.

spoiler

Isn’t that amazing? A whole island country is COVID-free.

Matt Gerald

I mean, New Zealand is already a Garden of Eden. There are no poisonous snakes or predators there, which is amazing. That’s a little known fact. And now that it’s completely COVID-free, while the United States has become a plague state, I imagine that, if they haven’t started already, there are a lot of people who are looking to either relocate there or move their businesses there as much as possible. And I think New Zealand is going to be a thriving country for a long time to come. That’s what happens when you have great leadership.

spoiler

Everyone’s trying to adapt, but it’s so hard—especially for adults, changing even the simplest things can be challenging.

Matt Gerald

It’s definitely difficult. In my house, we talk about it from a militant standpoint. Like Marines, we have to improvise, adapt, and overcome. There’s a new set of circumstances that has presented itself and we’re going to adapt to find happiness within them. Whatever it takes, we’re gonna make the best of it. As an industry, there are so many great, inspiring, intelligent people who I think will come together collectively and find a way through it. I’m optimistic, somehow, long term. I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but I’m optimistic that we’ll make it work.

spoiler

What was it like working with Sir Anthony Hopkins on the film Solace?

Matt Gerald Working with Anthony Hopkins was certainly another highlight of my career. And part of the reason he was so impressive to me was

his level of humanity, his concern for my wellbeing as a young actor. There were some forces on that set that were potentially causing obstacles for me as a working actor, and he recognized them. He really took the time to lend me a hand emotionally, and look out for me, and make sure that I felt safe, and was in a position to put my best foot forward. That, in conjunction with how lovely he is as a human and how enjoyable he made the set day-to-day, all lends to the culmination of that being one of my finest work experiences. Even though the movie didn’t turn as great as I would’ve liked and didn’t do as well as I may have liked it to do, that experience with somebody of that caliber—an actor and a human—certainly resonated with me for a long time.

spoiler

I can sense there must’ve been some major things going on. I hear it in your voice.

Matt Gerald

Yeah, there were some things going down. That was a unique situation on that set, and I won’t get into detail, where things were made difficult by some people. I don’t think anyone was trying to sabotage anyone else, but I think sometimes you have people working on a set who are looking out for their own interest, and they don’t realize that, in doing so, they’re trespassing on other people’s interest. And it happens. I try not to take it personally and Tony helped me get through some of that. It was an important experience for me and I really grew both as an artist and as a man. So I thank him for that.

spoiler Would you want your kids to get into acting if they were interested?

Matt Gerald [laughs] If my kids came to me and they were serious about pursuing a career in the arts, I would 100% support them if I saw a level of dedication and devotion that was mixed with a discipline and acceptance of the level of hard work it would take to succeed in that endeavor. But I would certainly caution them that this is one of the most difficult roads you could possibly take in life, that of an artist. The struggling artist who doesn’t have a regular income at times, who may not have the job security that we find in other industries. There are so many people worldwide who would love to do what we do, so the level of competition is huge, so I don‘t know that I would encourage it, but I would certainly support it in my children if I found it in ripe and veracious form. Who am I to stand in their way? And also they would have a slight advantage in that I have some experience in the business and may know a person or two who can help them along the way. I could lend them any wisdom that I’ve been lucky enough to gain over the years, so it would give them a little bit of a leg up. Take any

advantage of every opportunity you get in this world, they’re not gonna present themselves that often. But I don’t think I’m going to suggest it to them. It’s not for the faint of heart. To really pursue a career in the arts, you have to have balls of steel. It’s not for everyone. You have to be willing to struggle, willing to starve, willing to outwork the next guy. And it never ends. Like boxers, actors take a beating—an emotional beating. Constantly being confronted with rejection and failure over and over again. Constantly interviewing for a new job and new position.

Constantly trying to impress people with the craft that you worked so hard to develop over the course of your career. And it never goes away. Unless there’s some level of a sadistic streak in you, it’s gonna eat you alive. Actors are unique individuals. And to go through that struggle and take those licks like actors do, I have a lot of respect for the struggling artist man. Most people don’t understand how difficult the struggle truly is. All the more reason to believe in yourself and build that strong foun-

dation from the inside out so you can endure some of the stones that will be cast in your direction. But you know what, buddy? I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way.

spoiler Did you ever get bullied in school?

Matt

Gerald

No, in fact, I was the anti-bully. I spent a lot of time with the nerdy kids, and I also spent time with jocks. And whenever I saw the jocks bullying my nerdy friends, I took it personally. And pretty early on in life, I made it my business. Yeah dude, I don’t like bullies. Never did. Bullies need to get dealt with.

spoiler

I’m sure girls really dug you, man. What would a girl have to do when you were younger to get your attention?

Matt Gerald

[laughs] I grew up in Miami in a really special time and special place. And if a girl couldn’t dance, it was a non-starter, brother. If she couldn’t dance on the dance floor, it was a wrap early on. I think even if I was single today, the same would hold true. Can’t date a girl who can’t dance. My wife’s a phenomenal dancer, among other things.

spoiler What’s your favorite kind of dancing?

Matt Gerald

I’ll just tell you this, the first movie I ever wrote was a movie for paramount called Break Boys, it was a breakdancing movie. And back in the mid-‘80s in Miami, we were b-boying a lot. I sort of grew up with hip hop. The first time I heard Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock,” it was a life changer. I spent a lot of time in record stores, I spent a lot of time on linoleum floors and cardboard mats. We danced a lot growing up. It was a big part of our youth. And it was important to us. We started with disco, then we got into b-boying, then we got into house and electronic music. I grew up going to teen discos and clubs in Miami and Miami Beach. Aside from sports, we danced a lot.

I had a crew. We did birthdays and weddings and bar mitzvahs. We’d go to the mall and battle. We’d battle in arcades. Between 15 and 16-yearsold, there was a lot of b-boying going on in Miami. There was a big music and dance scene down there. Miami doesn’t get a lot of credit for being part of the early hip hop movement. And I kind of feel sad for kids these days, they don’t dance like they used to. Boys and girls don’t dance anymore. They certainly don’t square up and dance face-to-face, and I think it’s something we’re missing badly as a society.

spoiler

Oh man. Did you ever wear Z Cavaricci pants and a leather jacket?

Matt Gerald

Not the leather jacket, but I had parachute pants, I had turtle shoes with the belt buckle, I went full sweatsuits.

spoiler I’m sure you’ve got some incredible stories from back then. What was the craziest thing you did in school?

Matt Gerald [laughs] Aw man. I mean, if you were in college while I was in college at the same school, there’d probably be a few stories you’d take away about me while I was there. I’ll say I got into a legen-

dary fight in college that ignited a 130-person lynch mob to come to my house with tennis rackets and hockey sticks, chanting my name in unison, “Gerald’s goin’ to jail! Gerald’s goin’ to jail!” It was eventually broken up by police in riot gear that made the front page of the paper. If you can ever find somebody who was there for that—and there were plenty of people around—you’ll probably get a better account of that story. Listen, I came from a city that was unique on the globe at that point in time. Miami was the drug capital of the world, the model capital of the world, it was the party capital of the world, all in the late ‘80s. Sports were huge with the University of Miami and the Dolphins. So you know, I grew up in a highly charged environment, both physically and sexually, and then I took that attitude with me to an Ivy League institution and let’s just say, I was a fish out of water for quite some time. Took me a while to adjust. Think about this, my first day at the dorms, I was bringing like, a 2 Live Crew mixtape and everybody else was playing Grateful Dead and Cat Stevens. It was like, Billy Joel and Neil Young. 2 Live Crew wasn’t well-received.

spoiler Did you go to the movies a lot growing up?

Matt Gerald

Big time. I was a movie fanatic from a really young age. I had friends on my block whose dads had these big VHS and Betamax libraries too.

spoiler

Do you think a lot of things in your career are luck or a combination of luck and your hard work?

Matt Gerald

I mean, luck is when opportunity meets preparation, right? So, sure, there’s a lot of luck involved, but I think in that formula of opportunity and preparation, if you remain focused, over the long term you’ll start to feel lucky. Luck will start to find you a little bit if you remain focused and dedicated, and resolve to continue to improve and move forward with whatever undertaking you’re pursuing. Rarely do I think to myself, “Wow, what a lucky person I am.” More often I’m thinking, “You know, I’ve really worked hard to get to where I’m going.” I could always use a little more luck [laughs].

spoiler

RI know you probably don’t call yourself a celebrity, but what does it feel like to be that person?

Matt Gerald

I mean, the idea of celebrity has always made me slightly uncomfortable. It’s one

Matt Gerald/Getty Images/Escape Plan/Summit Entertainment/Shot Caller/ Saban Films/Avatar/James Cameron/Disney/20th Century Studios

thing to recognize somebody for their work. It’s another thing to put them on a pedestal. So I find that slightly discomforting. I’m a private person, so I don’t necessarily think, because of the work I’ve chosen, that I need, necessarily, to share my private life with the public at large. However, I take great pleasure from the pleasure that others derive from experiencing the work that I and we do. Us actors are artists and that is very fulfilling to me. The only Comic Con I ever did, when I saw the level of joy it brings to the fans and the audiences, that’s as fulfilling as anything I’ve ever accomplished. So that aspect of celebrity is wonderful for me. Dealing with the public has generally been a positive experience from me. Most people are awesome. As you know, I don’t consider myself a celebrity. Only because, generally, I’m allowed to navigate the world without being harassed day in and day out. I can pretty much walk around as an average civilian and I don’t have to deal with what maybe some of the bigger celebrities have to deal with on a daily basis: the loss of their privacy, everybody always wanting something from them, having to live with the expectations that people have of them. Celebrity, for me, has been mostly enjoyable.

spoiler

I’ve heard rumors that Avatar started filming already, is that true?

Matt Gerald

Listen, they don’t keep me updated. You’d be amazed. Marvel does the same thing. I do know there’s a crew back in New Zealand and they’re shooting some stuff, but I have no idea what it is. They’re lucky to be in New Zealand right now, which is COVID-free. And that, in and of itself, is marvelous.

spoiler

I know Avatar 2 and 3 have to be filmed at the same time because of how huge the projects are. Are you preparing for all the craziness once Avatar 2 comes out?

Matt Gerald

No, I never prepare for those things. Early on in my career, you would start to have an idea of what a particular project might do for your career or how it will be perceived, and rarely did the future event meet the prediction in the moment. So I sort of just let those things fall as they may. It’s tough to prepare for something in the future that you can only guess as to what it’s going to look like. I don’t know how the fans are going to receive it or how the film’s going to turn out. I don’t know what the

landscape’s gonna look like. I’m hoping for the best; I always prepare for the worst. I just worry about today and what I can do now as an artist and as a father to make myself better. And that’s really where I keep my focus, man. It’s kinda boring, but I try not to think about that as much as possible. For me, the work itself is the amazing experience. What happens after that is only a guess. So for me, I revel in the work itself and the experience that I have with Jim [Cameron] and Jon [Landau], the producer, and the amazing cast I get to work with. Those are the things I’m gonna take away from it, not necessarily how the audience is gonna receive it. I take away the day-to-day interactions and the level of enjoyment of the work I get to participate in.

spoiler

James Cameron is steps ahead. When I heard he went to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, I was like, “Is there anything that this man can’t do!”

Matt Gerald

Whoever’s reading this article, if they haven’t seen the documentary of James Cameron diving in the Mariana Trench in a submersible that he designed with his brother and a team of engineers, I invite you to do so immediately. It’s one of the best pieces of television I’ve ever seen. He’s an explorer of the highest order and a pioneer on so many levels.

spoiler

Do you sometimes miss the world being like it used to be where you could go to a convention and have that connection with fans?

Matt Gerald

I don’t know what the future’s gonna look like for the world of film and

television, or the Comic Con world. Any place where people gather, there’s gonna be a new set of rules that we’re gonna have to live by. Everything has changed, and I don’t think we ever go back to the world we once enjoyed, and the longer it takes us to accept and realize that, the more unsettled and stressed out we’re going to be as humans. Once we sort of accept that we’re living in a new world, a new paradigm, the better off we’ll be. But yes, I definitely will miss being among the people and among fans, not being able to

Mget close to those fans, I think it’s a great loss for both sides. For both the artist and the fan. Hopefully we’ll find ways around this and be able to come together on some level, but I’m not holding my breath, man. I think we’re in a whole new world.

spoiler If you can pass one message to your fans, what message would that be?

Matt Gerald

“Stay true to yourself. There’s only one you in this world and the closer you stay to that, the better off you’ll be. If you start letting other people get into your head and sway you in a direction that is away from the core of who you are, you will find yourself floating in the ether without two strong legs to stand on. So by being true to yourself, you give yourself a base and a foundation to build upon.”

And I think that is probably the most important thing right now, especially in the arts.

Matt Gerald/Avatar/James Cameron/Disney/20th Century Studios/Freelancers/Lionsgate

SPOILER

Karen, I have had the pleasure of chatting with you on several occasions on my talk show and I have seen you go from Legacies, to Fear the Walking Dead, to many other shows, and now you’re rocking your own projects, look at that.

Karen david

You know, I’m very grateful for these different sorts of milestones and chapters in my life, but it’s all about timing and finding the right timing. You have to go through this journey, as we all know, through the ups and downs, twists and turns. Goodness knows, as an actor, for me, I’ve certainly faced my share of gazillions of rejections, or coming so close to something so big that could be life changing but then it didn’t go my way [laughs]. You know, paying your dues, being the struggling broke actor out of drama college. But I think it goes for anything in life, you do what you do because you love what you do. And as long as you have that passion and focus, and you have a good head on your shoulders, and you have perspective—I think those are tools that my teachers and my parents and my mentors have instilled in me, and that has held me in good stead with navigating this journey we call life. I had always wanted to produce, but it was a question of timing. Opportunity comes when the timing and preparation meet together. The stars kind of aligned when I met Jess, and Jess introduced me to Yetide. I just love everything about this project. What it represents. What it stands for. That it’s inclusive and

diverse. And it’s been a great learning curve for me as a producer. Then to act in it was such a bonus. To play such a beloved character who is just so snarky, it has been so thrilling and so much fun.

SPOILER

If it wasn’t you in that role in In Hollywoodland, and Yetide writing and starring in it, and Jessica directing, it wouldn’t have been the same.

Karen david

You’re absolutely right. The stars truly aligned, and everything happens for a reason. I couldn’t agree with you more!

SPOILER

How did the name come across “In Hollywoodland”?

Karen david

Working with such hard working women who never fail to amaze me with their patience, their tenacity— Jess and Yetide—the attention to every detail, the care and the thought to everything, I just admire their work and their work ethic so much. They certainly have taught me so much in this process as well. Coming into this project, when I read the script, it wasn’t In Hollywoodland. It kinda went throughout different transformations. Ideally, we loved the name La La Land, but that was taken obviously. We didn’t want that. We wanted our short film to have an identity of its own. So we were kinda thinking, then, Hollywoodland. When we think back to Alice in Wonderland, we wanted to find something in there that would mesh into the idea that these are the trials and tribulations of a young woman of color navigating her way through the ever-changing tides in our industry. And personally, it’s something that I completely

relate with, which is why I wanted to come on board and be a part of this project. So we were trying to go through names, and we were stuck with Hollywoodland. We were quite happy with that, but then we remembered that there was a movie called Hollywoodland too. Then we thought, “Well, if we add ‘In’ Hollywoodland, because it’s like Once Upon a Time IN…” So we thought, “Okay, we could say that because we’re kinda paying homage to the fairy tale opening from the storybooks that we read when we were children.” But we finalized with In Hollywoodland. It’s not really as glamorous an answer, but we definitely had to go through the administrative boring points of finding our identity which still captures the essence of what our story’s all about.

SPOILER

I heard that you and Yetide are such talented producers. Jess thought you two were pros, but this is your first producing gig. Has all your acting experience helped you to learn the right and wrong way to produce a project? Or is it the camaraderie that you have that makes you want to go above and beyond?

Karen david

It’s a bit of everything. Jess is extremely kind and very giving. Definitely one of the hardest working producers and directors in the making that I know. I’m so excited about her future. She’s working on some very exciting projects. I learned a lot from Jess’ amazing examples that she set while going through this process. And Yetide the same. Definitely being on set, I love to watch and observe. And I studied journalism and a bit of film and TV early on before I went to

drama college, because I wanted to know what was entailed behind the camera, below the line. I’m constantly in awe of all the hard working crew members from different shows that I’ve worked on. And I watch and observe. I see my showrunners, I see my producers who are putting together something so magical and they make it look easy. But really, behind closed doors, it is blood, sweat, and tears. And it’s trying to keep all the fires burning at the same time and multitasking on a whole new level. My showrunners from Galavant, John Hoberg and Kat Likkel, were such great mentors for me for my first time producing. One thing they did say was being a producer can sometimes be a very thankless job [laughs], but our job is very much about keeping everything going, moving forward, making sure everyone’s happy and comfortable, and making sure that if there’s any challenges or problems that arise that you deal with them with a very open mind

and think about the greater good for what you’re making and what you’re producing. That’s some of the best advice that they gave me. [They also said] that if there’s something bugging you about a shot, you’ve gotta speak up, because if you need another shot just in case, get that extra shot if you can so that you’re not struggling in the editing room. And it’s just little things like that that they were so wonderful about in my sort of “Producing 101” [laughs]. And having someone like Jess and Yetide as well. One thing I will say is that throughout this process, communication was key, and we were communicating with each other night and day, day and night, 24/7 on every detail especially because I was in Austin filming or in Atlanta filming, and Yetide was

in Toronto filming, so we were in different time zones. So that made it even more challenging. But Jess was so great about just reining things in and keeping everything organized. She was very much the nucleus of Yetide and me, and our ever-changing filming schedules, so we were able to get there in the end. It’s been such a thrilling experience. To see the fruits of our labor with everyone involved, to this point now where we’re going from different festival to festival, I cannot even begin to express how magical this experience is. My heart aches that we can’t be at these different festivals physically, because it’s one thing to be a first-time producer going to these festivals, but it’s another to just be at these festivals and be surrounded by a creative community and fellow filmmakers physically. It would’ve just been so wonderful to be in that energy, but we had to do it virtually this year. And hats off to all the film festivals, from Bentonville Film Festival to American Black Film Festival, Catalina Film Festival, and Hollyshorts—everything’s going to be virtual, and they have worked so hard around the clock to create such such an enriching experience virtually where we’re all on Zoom getting to know each other. I’m so grateful to these film festivals for their hard work and organization, to be able to organize something virtually and to bring female filmmakers and filmmakers from all over the world in this virtual realm.

Karen David/Shuttershock

SPOILER

Do you feel like you didn’t reach your full potential because of coronavirus and its many restrictions and rules?

Karen david

This goes for everything in life, when we are presented with challenges— and certainly this pandemic has really challenged each and every one of us to the core—mentally, emotionally, physically, financially—it’s been really, really tough. And more tough for some others as well. My parents have always told me that in this moment that we find ourselves in, we have the power to pick ourselves up and make a choice of how we react to what is happening, and there is no wrong answer to this because everyone reacts differently to what is happening in this pandemic. Certainly in the beginning it was very overwhelming to try and wrap your head around, and try to digest everything that was happening. It felt a bit surreal. And then to have to quarantine—none of us had ever been through this before. So that fear and anxiety that was building up amongst everyone of the unknown and the uncertainty and not knowing how long this was going to be around for, it doesn’t help. In regards to film festivals, Jess, Yetide, and I, before that we had taken a slight break. We had applied to a bunch of film festivals, but then we stopped initially because we didn’t know [what was going to happen]. And certainly the film festivals had a lot to navigate and digest, as well, to figure out how they were going to move forward. So when we found out that we got accepted to these other

wonderful film festivals and saw what they were doing, that really gave us hope that this year is not cancelled. This year is very much happening, but it’s happening in a very different way. And that’s called survival. That’s how we rise to the occasion and we show the resilience of humanity. That truly is so inspiring for me to see how communities, neighbors, friends, families, loved ones, have all come together to move forward, and move forward with purpose. Because right now more than ever we need that with everything that is happening. And 2020, I know a lot of people want to cancel it, but I refuse to cancel it because it is a year that has humbled me even more. 2020 has been a year of very valuable lessons. As painful as it has been to see so many innocent lives lost, it is a year that has certainly brought more humility, more gratitude, and more purpose to my life, and more clarity to what truly matters.

I feel that health, as well—my mom has always said from the start as little girls, “We are nothing without our health and that is something to celebrate every day, and thank our bodies every day for the miracles that our bodies and our glorious brains are doing to keep us healthy. And then everything else is truly a bonus.”

Looking at this whole festival route and everything that we’re doing, yes it’s virtual—okay, it might not be the same as being at a festival—but we’re so grateful that it’s happening, that we are adapting, and that we are making it work. And we continue to inspire and help one another in our amazing, creative community.

SPOILER

What’s the message you’re trying to convey with this movie?

Karen david

With our short film, I think it’s for any person who feels marginalized or excluded. It is a celebration of inclusivity and diversity, and how that should be the norm. It shouldn’t be a topic or an issue. It should just be representing the fabric of our lives and representing the world that we live in. I can relate to the storyline very much, unfortunately, and I know a lot of men and women in any industry in the workplace who have experienced either verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse or harassment. It’s sad. 2020 is the year where we’re ripping off the Band-Aid and starting to heal these wounds, and starting to have these very important and necessary and uncomfortable conversations. I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom being an actor in our industry. I’ve met some of the most incredible human beings in my life and I’m a better human for it. But like anything in life, you’re going to meet some great people, and sometimes you’re going to meet people who are not so great. And I find that, as I grow up a year

Karen David/Getty Images/Shuttershock/IMDb/ Galavant/Once Upon a Time/ABC/Disney

older each year that goes by, I now gravitate more towards compassion and empathy, trying to understand where those that create trouble and problems—where is it coming from? It has to be something that is happening in their lives that is taking away from them living their best versions of their lives and of themselves. And that makes me very sad for them. But at the same time, we need to have these conversations about some of these experiences, and know that the main important message in this is to not be afraid to use your voice to be your authentic self and to love yourself for who you are. There is only one version of each and every one of us. And that is all the world needs. One. One of each and every one of us to be the change that we want to see in this world. And the timing of the release of our film could not have happened at a more important time with BLM, with everything happening with the division that we have politically, with climate change, with everything. This is the time that we need to find our authentic voices and to find that clarity and to use this year of 2020 as hindsight truly. And to be able to move forward with no fear. To move forward with purpose, with compassion, with empathy, and with patience.

SPOILER

Is producing something that’s going to be happening in the coming years for the three of you? The world can learn a great deal from films like In Hollywoodland.

Karen david

I’m writing a lot at the moment. I have some wonderful mentors who

are helping me with some scripts and I’m really excited to get it into pitch motion and begin to create stories with inclusivity and diversity. To see change happen, we have to be part of it. And it’s so important that each and every one of us remember and remind ourselves that our voices are so important and so powerful. With voting, the elections, some people might think, “Well, I’m just one vote.” No, you are one very powerful vote. I’m so in awe and inspired by today’s youth and seeing how woke they are and how aware they are of what is happening. Just seeing them becoming more instrumental in wanting to create fundamental change; in wanting to be part of the change that they want to see in the world today. That gives me so much hope and fire and determination with everything that I do in my life. I want to be part of this global community that wants to create a better world for each other. And that starts with the stories that we tell as well. I want to see more inclusivity and diversity on screen and to tell their stories. So that drives me as a producer, and I’m so excited to get cracking with that as well. I’ll still do my acting. I love my acting. I’m so grateful to be a working actor, and as long as there are those great roles, I should be so lucky and so blessed. But in the meanwhile, I’ll also include this producing hat and writing and wanting to be a part of creating content—hopefully meaningful content that will inspire others to do the same.

SPOILER

I remember seeing you in many smaller budget movies from the UK. To go from those movies into all these amazing TV shows you’re in now, and then producing, this has been such a long and prosperous road for you.

Karen david

Yeah, it’s been a long night as far as paying your dues. But it’s something I’m really proud of and, I know it sounds very cliche, but I’m glad I went through the struggle. I’m glad I know what it’s like to struggle. Facing adversity and challenges like that starting out, it just makes you hopefully a better and more compassionate human being. And as an actor, it’s all about empathy in telling this beautiful story of the character that you’re playing. It’s funny because, some people who may not know my backstory, they immediately just assume that it happened [so easily]. And I can honestly say it didn’t. It took many years of hard work and just loving yourself and having faith in yourself. Also having faith, as my dad said, in letting go and letting things happen the way they do because the most important thing is just to focus on your joy, on your peace, on your happiness, and continuing to thrive and grow, and constantly learning. You do those things and everything else tends to fall into place in your life. Growing up, that was really hard for me to commit to—to understand what my dad was saying. But certainly now, in hindsight looking back, he was absolutely right—annoyingly so when our

parents are right about all the things they taught us. It’s so true. You have to kinda just trust that everything will fall into place as long as you put in the good work and have a good attitude on your shoulders. And to know the difference between constructive criticism and criticism. Because often those who really care about you are the ones who give you the hardest time in the most productive and positive way. So I’m really blessed to have such good people in my life, and hopefully I can continue to do more good projects and work with more inspiring people in our community.

SPOILER

If there is anything you can express to your lovely fans, what would it be?

Karen david

I adore my fans. they are so giving of their time; of their energy. And they’ve done it continuously for years. I have fans who have followed me right from the start of my journey and they’re still here cheering me on. And I just love them and adore them. I want each and every one of my fans to know, and I always tell them, that I am cheering each and every one of you on. And to be able to have my followers as part of this community on my pages—I’m so proud of them because they’re so patient with one another. Even when they disagree, they are kind to one another. They’re very compassionate and empathetic. They help each other. They uplift

each other. And I could not be more proud of my community of fans on all my social media pages. Because that’s what they do. They are rays of sunshine. I’m so honored to be able to witness—even in a small way through social media—their journey, and I’m certainly honored to have them on this journey that I’m on. I can’t imagine not having them on this journey with me. They make it so much more worthwhile and continue to teach me and inspire me each and every day. So I’m very grateful for them and it’s so wonderful. As Josh Gad said about, God rest his soul, the wonderful Chadwick Boseman, “Chadwick was a next-level good human.” And my fans—I’m so proud of them because they’re all next-level good humans. They are spreading a pandemic of kindness and that’s what I want. People mistake kindness for being weak. People mistake niceness for being weak. There’s so much strength to those who are nice

and kind. And so much strength to those who are compassionate and empathetic. You can look at Chadwick Boseman, I think this is why we feel the loss of his life even more so, because he truly was a superhero in front of the camera and off camera. And if there’s anything we can learn from Chadwick it’s to raise our voices for good purpose. Like the great John Lewis—God rest his soul as well— said, “Good trouble is good.” [laughs]

Karen David/Getty Images/Shuttershock/IMDb

Yetide Badaki/American Gods/Starz/Lionsgate/Freemantle (Right Page)

by Galaxy

SPOILER

In Hollywoodland is the short film everyone is talking about, and you wrote it. I did not know you’re a writer.

Yetide badaki

[laughs] Yes, it’s been a wonderful, incredible leap onto the other side after quite a few years in front of the camera, and getting to do it with these ladies has been a gift. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to do it. Everybody’s been speaking about working on the other side of the camera for quite awhile. I know Karen has been very interested in producing for quite awhile, and Jessica in directing, as well as producing. But this was a wonderful microcosm to look more at the production company side of things that I’ve been searching into, and actually putting out into the world for the first time something I’ve written. It was exciting, nerve-racking, all of the feelings, but it’s been a joy.

SPOILER

The entire team of In Hollywoodland is wonderful. Karen is one of the nicest people in the universe. She’s extremely talented. Jessica is very talented, nice and caring as well. This trio happened in the heavens, do you feel that?

Yetide badaki

[laughs] Absolutely. This was also— there are very specific things that I think added to this alignment. There

are many similar things that we care about. There are a lot of things that we’re seeing that we’d like to be a part of changing. So all of these things brought us together. As you said, something made in the heavens it feels like. It’s something that occurred because we not only wanted to work on the other side, but there was a very specific way that we wanted to be involved. We’re looking to create the change that we want to see. I think that’s really the thing that pulled us together to create together—those aligned ideas.

SPOILER

Each of you bring such uniqueness to the table. You are sending such a

good message to everyone during these times.

Yetide badaki

It’s actually interesting the way that festivals are adapting and evolving in this strange and different time we live in. A lot of them are creating these very specific streaming platforms for their content. So in a lot of ways, some of these films are reaching even more people because it’s not localized in just one space. There are people from many different areas who get to view this all at the same time. Again, it’s back to the peaks and valleys that we’re living in. It would have been wonderful to get together and see people again. Remember that? [laughs] But this was a deeply personal and deeply cathartic experience writing it. And I think especially now, there is such an importance in individuals realizing the power of their voice. And knowing it doesn’t have to be a lion’s roar; it doesn’t have to be this really grand thing. It’s just taking that moment to own your voice, and we exemplify that within the film—that last moment when Zodwa looks straight at you and says, “Enough.” It’s not screamed; it’s not yelled; it’s just stated. And there’s the power in the simplicity of that.

SPOILER

Do you feel that a lack of inclusion is still happening?

Yetide badaki

Yeah, what’s been interesting is this came from a space of writing what

you know, and also because, in discussing with Jess and Karen, and lots of people within the industry, you hear these echoed concerns. But what continued to interest me is—it’s back to that microcosm—it’s not just Hollywood. It’s across platforms. I remember having a conversation with someone from aerospace and there were many similar concerns. Scientists; technologists; businesspeople; across the board, these concerns of inequities that have not been fully addressed. And what was inspiring about playing with it within the realm of Wonderland was that you could point out the absurdities by placing it within this world. But these absurdities occur within everyday life— whether it’s pay inequity, or opportunities offered to individuals. If you really were to look at them on paper, they’re completely absurd. So we got to play with that with In Hollywoodland and got to approach that. And to see people’s responses and to see how it’s received, it feels like it’s reso-

nating, which is incredibly exciting. Getting people to directly address the absurdities, it is adding to this change that we are hopeful for.

SPOILER

You teamed up with a fabulous multicultural team in hopes of breaking barriers. It’s so lovely. Yetide

badaki

That’s one thing that gets me so excited. You have the incredible Karen David, the incredible Jessica Sherif, and then on both sides of the camera, in every area, there’s so much beautiful inclusion. There are moments where Jessica would call “cut” and I’m looking out on the other side and I’m seeing this myriad of beautiful tapestry of what I see of the world when I walk out the door. I wanna go through a whole bunch of things. Like, Rose Fadem-Johnston, our incredible cinematographer. I also love Rachel Lee Payne-Darrow who

did our set design, and Arula Ratnakar who did that. That incredible design for our credits at the end, and also she was a concept illustrator. Joshua [Cole], who was incredible as our editor. And I’m not even getting to all of these. And then we’re talking cast. Jen Richards, who I adore. Dom Burgess, who, I mean, that man is brilliant in every single way. Luke Youngblood, the same. All of them brilliant, all of them I adore. It gives me so much joy to look at this team. It’s exactly the kind of thing that Jess, Karen, and I were hoping for. To see that kind of beautiful tapestry.

SPOILER

Are you gonna keep pushing this to film festivals in 2021 so that it has the opportunity to be seen?

Yetide badaki

Yes! Because when we talk about this team, it also includes these individuals who also made us happen,

Yetide Badaki/Getty Images/IMDb/American Gods/Starz/ Lionsgate/Freemantle/Erin Simkin/Syfy/Shuttershock

which is this incredible fan crew. A lot of people who heard about the concept and said, “You know this is a crowd-funded film?” We literally could not have done it without the participation of everyone around us. So one of the things that became incredibly important was ensuring that there were as many ways as possible for also this whole group to see it, and for everyone else who it would resonate with to be able to see it. So the festivals are an incredible way, because of the streaming services that they have, to put it out into the world, and it’s also a great way to meet others who are very like-minded, who are also working to create that change. But in the end, yes, because the hope is to share something that resonates. While we are going to continue this wonderful joyful journey through the festivals, we will have it so that it’s able to reach as many people who want to see this as possible.

SPOILER

When you wrote In Hollywoodland, did all three of you sit down and write and go over ideas?

Yetide badaki

This was actually written years ago. I wrote this when I was still an apartment manager in North Hollywood. That was my survival job [laughs]. As an actor, there are a lot of long moments of struggle before you get on a set. I realized I was becoming a really good apartment manager. Like, really good. And there was this initial moment of frustration because I didn’t come to LA to be a really good apartment manager. What was wonderful is that Jess and I became friends quite a few years ago and there was a time, about two years ago or so, that we would meet up for coffee and just

talk about the state of things. And she was an inspiration. We started talking and I said, “I have a couple of things that I wrote.” And she said, “Send them to me.” So I sent this one and she said, “I want to direct it.” And from there, it was incredible because, as you know, she’s really good friends with Karen. And she asked Karen if she would be interested in reading. Karen was incredible. As we started going forward, Jess would say things like, “Okay, what are some things you could do in the writing to make it more practical for doing a really short shoot?” since we were all working in so many different places. I was doing American Gods at the time and there would be rewrites that would happen, and it was great because not only in that process did we get to collaborate, but afterwards when we had to try and edit, we were all in different places. I was in Toronto, Karen was in Austin, I believe, and Jess was in Los Angeles. This was before Zoom. I think it was on FaceTime. And Josh would be on there as well. And we were going through all this footage we had and piecing all of this together. I think a great example of that was the incredible scene with Dom Burgess as Caterpillar, and he had given this incredible performance. There was so much beautiful imagery laid out as our DP, Rose, was

able to create, but there was so much more that we wanted to do with it to further elevate. We just worked it between the three of us. Notes from every single side. Trying it in many different ways. Adding more effects. Putting sound under certain words. And out of this beautiful, collaborative process, this really chilling, but deeply resonant scene came about. Again, it’s been a gift to be able to work with such collaborators.

SPOILER

You wrote this years ago, but maybe if this came out years ago, it wouldn’t have the same impact. Do you think “Hollywood” will accept this?

Yetide badaki

One of the earliest things that I said about this piece is that it is actually

Yetide Badaki/Getty Images/IMDb/American Gods/ Starz/Lionsgate/Freemantle/Shuttershock

a love letter to Hollywood. It’s a love letter because it’s saying, “I love you, and I also want to tell you some of the things that we may want to look at.” If that wasn’t the case, it’s not even a discussion. The people know that these are characterizations and amalgamations of many different people experiencing different frustrations and inequities. Most of the people that I spoke with who worked in the movies in these different roles recognize those moments. They know it’s not a person. It is a literal characterization of that inequity. And so people have actually been very open to it, and have been very responsive, going, “Yep, that is one area that we do see issues.” And that’s the whole feel of the piece. It’s not only hopeful, but moving into a space of action and inviting everyone who views it to move into that space of action as well. And that’s why at the very end, Zodwa looks directly at the audience and uses that moment to connect and say, “Okay, now we can collectively say, ‘Enough.’”

SPOILER

Do you feel you’ve been incorrectly labeled as “just an actress,” and are you hoping with this short film to start to show the many different sides of Yetide?

Yetide badaki

Although there is some truth to the idea that even the journey of this further led to an evolution—a growth—I think you hit it right on the head when you said that there are so many more sides of me. And I hesitate to speak for the other ladies, but I would think that’s another unifying idea, that there’s so much more that we, as individuals, have to offer, and so many parts that when people get to know us they become privy to. But on this journey, we get to shine a light on this and get to share the many different sides that make up the whole of each of us.

SPOILER

The topics you’re covering in regards to this project are completely fascinating. You’re expressing things in such artistry and you’re tapping into something that you probably haven’t before.

Yetide badaki

Oh my goodness, I don’t know why that just made me emotional. But I hope that people do find resonance, and from the resonance feel agency. The ability to create…in whatever way. When I say “create,” I’m not only talking about visual arts that’s specifically related to our traditional senses of artistry. I’m saying “create,” whether it’s creating a space for something, or creating more seats at the table in whatever industry. Inspiration means the world to me because I know as an individual how important it is and how much it affects me when someone shares something that makes me feel like I have agency; I can do something; my voice matters. That is of utmost importance to me and I hope that we are actually able to share that.

SPOILER

I want your projects to succeed because you’re teaching a wonderful lesson. I hope everyone who reads this article can sense that, and these lessons are what’s going to help form the future. It’s artists like you, and Jessica, and Karen, that will create change. I’m so happy our industry is changing because of people like yourselves. It’s like a new frontier. Again, caring and being compassionate and nice is not weakness, because you are not weak. You’re powerful.

Yetide badaki

Thank you. Oh my goodness, thank you. I’ve always said about coming up in this business, “I will get there,” but what was even more important to me

was how I got there. And to see this mirrored with this whole group of people—with Karen, with Jess, every single actor and crew member on this team—I think it’s incredibly important that people realize that love is not passive. Remember that. A lot of people take it to be, as you said, weakness. But the most powerful things I’ve seen occur are all deeply rooted in love. And it doesn’t mean that it’s a smile all the time, but it does mean that you’re willing to get in and do the work. I’ve been lucky to be able to find a team that’s ready to do that.

SPOILER

Aside from In Hollywoodland are there any other projects that you’re working on?

Yetide badaki

Third season of American Gods is coming out January 10th. We did a panel for New York Comic Con in October. It’s been fun to diversify. I’ve been doing more writing. But I also got to do an audio book by Akwaeke Emezi, who wrote The Death of Vivek Oji, which has been getting great feedback from New York Times, NPR, Oprah’s Book Club, it’s been a fascinating journey and been really personal for me to be able to be a part of something that speaks very specifically to the queer Nigerian experience, which I hadn’t been able to do before.

SPOILER

If there’s one thing you can tell your fans, what would you tell them?

Yetide badaki

That I know things are very strange right now, but I hope that they’re finding their inspiration, and I hope that they’re finding their voices, and I hope that they’re feeling the power that is within themselves.

Yetide Badaki/Getty Images/IMDb/American Gods/Starz/Lionsgate/ Freemantle/Shuttershock/The Magicians/Syfy/Lev Grossman

Jessica Sherif (Right Page)

SPOILER

Jessica how did the project get conceived?

Jessica sherif

This originated in Yetide’s mind. She wrote the story. We’ve been friends for a long time, and she was on break after American Gods season one and we met for a coffee and she was telling me about this story—how this is an allegory of being a black woman in Hollywood. And immediately as soon as she was telling me about this, I was like, “Can we make it??” I got so excited. And she was immediately like, “Yes, let’s do it!” And then the two of us were talking and wanted to bring in someone else. I’m also friends with Karen, so we talked about it with her, and she was immediately on board. She had wanted to get into producing, so she jumped at the opportunity and it’s been the trio ever since. It’s been an absolutely wonderful working relationship. I’m so thrilled. It doesn’t happen a lot in this industry when people just come together and treat each other with kindness, with respect, and work really hard and believe in something—especially for something like this, right? It’s a passion project. And it’s just been fantastic and lovely. Also women working together—oftentimes, behind the scenes, you’re the only, or one of two, women in the room, so it was really lovely to have this different vibe. It was really fun!

SPOILER

Is In Hollywoodland your first indie project?

Jessica sherif

No, my background is in news and documentary. I worked for years in New York City directing, producing, and writing news and doc. I was

always in love with scripted filmmaking, especially genre, but I didn’t grow up in an entertainment-related family, so it wasn’t even a possibility in my mind to work in the industry. To me it was more a matter of luck, and honestly, I didn’t even see myself as a filmmaker because the women representation I saw—even though there were some at, say, the Oscars or something—were acting and costume design. And I tried both those things for a split second and was like, “Nope! Not for me!” So I still worked in TV, but I was working in news and documentary. I worked with Dan Rather for several years and learned everything I know about writing, directing, and producing from him and his team. And I eventually saw women in these different positions and just decided that this is something I’ve always loved. I wanted to get into something scripted as well without giving up documentary, which is still a huge love of mine. So I moved to LA. I did the jump and I started with short films. I’ve done several short films before this one. Started out producing, writing, and directing as well, and then I’ve been focusing solely on directing now. And I love it. Like most directors, I started in [short films], and then the next step, when things reopen, will be features. I’m also looking at TV directing. I’ve shadowed a number of shows. Before the pandemic hit, I shadowed an incredible director, Stephen Cragg on the series finale of How to Get Away with Murder. So that’s the next step.

SPOILER

What was it like working with Dan Rather? It must’ve been nerve-wracking.

Jessica sherif

Not really actually [laughs], it was kinda the opposite. It was the most thrilling thing. So Dan, how I met him, I was in grad school for journalism. I had worked at MSNBC, CNN, a couple of different places, and then I worked on this local news show in New York and—we’re talking, I think, 11 years ago, 10 years ago—and I wanted to do a story about the evolution of journalism, even back then. I mean, it’s a completely different story today. And I really wanted to sit down with Dan because I grew up watching him and loving him—in Canada, we still watched American news [laughs]—and I pursued him for the better part of 6 months. And he said yes. He came to our little studio in Midtown Manhattan and we shot a sit-down interview, and the next day he called me in and offered me a job on the spot. And so that’s how

Jessica Sherif

I learned. Oh my goodness, my first week, I flew to Missouri for a story. It was nuts. I was learning from him and a lot of amazing producers who were with him from CBS and moved over with him—this was Access TV. Mark Cuban basically financed it and really, truly let us do real investigative journalism. So I got to experience the journalism of the ‘70s and ‘80s, without network control or the consumerist aspect of the news that’s sort of happened [over the years].

SPOILER

You have to have a certain mindset for investigative journalism, in regards to creative filmmaking does it help to have that experience?

Jessica sherif

I actually think both are incredibly complementary to each other. And I think you see it more and more with directors who do both—I mean, Scorsese does both—but you know, also directors, especially with investigative journalists, there’s a minutiae of things—you need to be aware of so many things. You’re—even though I hate this word—multitasking in a way. You need to be in a constant state of alertness and be aware of so many moving factors, and that’s exactly

how investigative journalism is as well. And also there’s an attention to detail I definitely got from working with Dan, and that is something that is also so beneficial to directing. I definitely learned tools that you wouldn’t think applied to scripted, but actually really do. To me, at its core, it’s storytelling.

In journalism, you really, really learn to understand people and to talk to people, because these are real lives. These aren’t actors portraying things. So you’re being very mindful of being accurate, of being kind, of being compassionate, but also upholding your standards. So all these details are then skills that you’re able to use on set on such a different level with your crew, with your actors, with the studio, with the network. I think it’s the skill set that’s completely compatible between one and the other, even though the final project has certain differences and the way of making the film might have differences. You see with Ava DuVernay also—I truly believe great directors are able to go in both, because those kinds of skills are able to move between documentary and scripted.

SPOILER

Was filmmaking something you wanted to do early on, or did this develop later on in life?

Jessica sherif

I fell in love with films at a very, very

young age. I loved the old school Batman movies with Jack Nicholson. I loved Alien—Ripley was my hero [laughs]. I mean, Jurassic Park—just growing up in the ‘90s. I was born in Majorca, a little island in the Mediterranean. My mom’s North African, so I had family in Algeria. And then my dad was a diplomat at the time and worked in Africa and Europe, so they kinda selected Majorca as a little island in the middle of everything. So growing up there, it wasn’t even something where I put two and two together. Nobody in our family or our circle of friends worked in entertainment, so it wasn’t at a very young age, “Oh, I’m gonna be Spielberg.” First of all, because all the directors or filmmakers that I would see were males, so it doesn’t even cross your mind when you’re a child, especially as a woman because representation is so important. But my love of film was always there. When I was a teenager, as one of my best friends Christina always reminds me, I used to tape over my parents’ family videos. I would write really, really, really bad versions of Dawson’s Creek, of really dramatic scene stuff [laughs], as I was going through that myself, and then shoot that with my dad’s camera. It didn’t even cross my mind that this could be something that I could do professionally. So it’s not like ever since I was a kid I was like, “Ooh, I’ll be a director,” because that wasn’t even a possibility. And that’s why I’m so, so big on representation. Because I think that that’s where it starts.

So the next kid who’s like me, right now, she gets to look up and see the Patty Jenkins of the world. And Patty Jenkins was working back then, it’s just that they weren’t visible. So she sees that, and all these other incredible women she can look up to and be like, “Wait, this is what I want to do.”

SPOILER

In Hollywoodland is such a cool name. What was the genesis of that?

Jessica sherif

There was a whole name saga [laughs]. I believe the first draft I ever read was called Hollywoodland, which is the title of a Ben Affleck movie from back in the day, and then we changed it to Wonderland for that reason. I’m a huge preparation person. Pre-production is one of the biggest parts of filmmaking, but as you’re on set, no matter who you are, where you are, what you’re doing, the project will take on a life of its own. And as we were shooting it, we realized, “Wait a minute. Wonderland is half of our story.” Half of the story is Wonderland, half of the story is Hollywood. So then we wanted to go back to the original Hollywoodland title. But because it already existed in a feature that had come out relatively recently, we kinda took a step back and were like, “Okay, what is this movie? What’s the title?” And I can’t remember who pitched it, but In Hollywoodland almost felt, “Yes, this is perfect.” Because “In Hollywoodland,” it almost has movement to it. It’s not just the name of the place. You’re dropping into it; you’re physically in there. But those were discussions the three of us kept having and immediately it clicked. And we were like, “Yes!

That’s it!” And it’s the perfect mix between those two worlds, which was Yetide’s initial idea and this allegory of how Hollywood can feel like Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland [laughs] if you think about it.

SPOILER

What is the film about?

Jessica sherif

It’s a dark fantasy short following Zodwa, an actress who gets this once in a lifetime audition, and then stumbles into Hollywood, which is not exactly what she thought it would be, filled with all these characters that represent different figures that we know from filmmaking. For example, the Rabbit is her agent, the Queen of Hearts, who is Queenie in this case, is a casting director, the Caterpillar is this head of studio who we call Donald Craps, and the director, who we call Hatter, is the final step when she finally lands the role. That’s the part that’s really cool about doing a dark fantasy, at least for me, is we leave it up to you of whether it’s real or not. I like to think it’s real. This is the world that Zodwa is in. Hollywoodland is this place that is an inspiration, this mashup of Hollywood and Wonderland, but what she’s going through is very real. And as she has these different moments with these different people, whether it’s the agent telling her, “You have to change your name. Let’s make it more ‘white girl’”; whether it’s the studio head sexually assaulting her. You have all these different levels of it that we got to reference and kind of work through. And because of the magic realism and the dark fantasy, we got to do it in a way that’s more heightened than it would be otherwise.

SPOILER

I know the three of you probably went through all kinds of stuff creating this film. But as the director, there’s a lot that falls on your shoulders, not to mention being friends. Did you feel tremendous pressure?

Jessica sherif

The friends part is so interesting, because they always say, “Don’t work with your friends.” So the only nerve would have been, “Oh no, these are friendships I value. I hope this goes well.” But that part, my goodness, I’m so happy. We really lucked out and truly worked so well together. And sometimes you hear horror stories of friends working together. So that part was amazing. If anything, it didn’t create a source of stress, it created a source of support. In terms of the actual directing of it, the fact that it’s a dark fantasy, the fact that this is magic realism, the fact that the rules of our world don’t apply here is so exciting for me as a filmmaker, but also means that, obviously following the script, you’re the one setting the visual rules for this. It allows so much freedom, but at the same time you’re starting on a blank slate, so there’s a lot more to

Jessica Sherif/Star Wars/Disney/George Lucas/Shevenge/Pixie Propaganda

cover. We really talked to a lot of people. Our cinematographer, Rose Fadem-Johnston, is incredible, and she has a background in a lot of sort of fantastical elements, and a brain that just—we were pitching ideas to each other and just getting so giddy about it. So to me, and this is appli cable for this film, but for any other film as well, it’s truly [about] your creative vision. But then it’s, “Who do you surround yourself with?” Because creative vision is all well and good, but if you don’t have these people who can help you put it together, then you’re not going to go anywhe re. And so, the cinematographer, our production designers, Rachel [Lee Payne-Darrow] and Tammy [Trinh], our costume designer, Jacqueline [Garvey]—they all truly went above and beyond to create something that, again, our rules don’t apply here. It’s a lot more work in that sense, but it’s also a lot more creative freedom. And so everyone kinda sunk their teeth into it and everyone was super open. Yetide as the writer was so open to all

these ideas that we were throwing at her. The final scene, we shot Yetide on a green screen, and then we shot a model of that room, so it’s actually not real. And this was an idea of our cinematographer, who was like, “Hey! What if we did this?” It was not the budget and our production designers totally killed, and I don’t know how they did that. And I immediately jumped up and went, “Yes! This is amazing!” And so did Yetide and Karen. A lot of people don’t even realize it when they watch it the first time. She wakes up in the quote-unquote real world, but I wanted it to feel not that real so that, again, you’re not sure which part is real and which part is not, and which part is she really dreaming. And this idea also that sometimes in LA and in Hollywood, you’re like, “Wait, is this really real or is this hollow? Is this plastic? Is this not reality?” So that’s a great example of all these brains coming together and everyone having each other’s backs and being so encouraging to people’s creative ideas. And I think, again, that’s what makes my job as a director so thrilling is that all these incredible humans really support you in accomplishing your vision.

SPOILER

Are you nervous that the public is going to receive the film in a certain way that is not the actual message you are sending?

Jessica sherif

movie watching is so subjective. Different people are gonna interpret it in different ways. So anytime at festivals, when they ask, “What was your intention with this?” I always reply with the same thing: “Well, my intention is ‘one thing.’” And Yetide’s intention; and Karen’s intention is one thing. How people receive it and interpret it is completely removed from [our intentions], because [their reception of it] doesn’t just have to do with the project that we put out. It has to do with their own experiences, with their background, how they feel things, how they react to what we made. Losing sleep? No. Nervous? No. At the end of the day, I’m trying to put stuff out there. I’m still learning. I’m still at the beginning of what will hopefully be a long and awesome, hard working career. I just put it

out there and then kinda see what happens. I think that’s part of the excitement to me. That’s one thing that I like about film festivals is hearing different people’s reactions. And if it’s going to be something negative, so be it. That’s how life is. Not everyone’s always gonna like us. We just keep moving, keep our heads down, and keep doing the work.

SPOILER

You’ve worked with some of the best talent in the world, which might be just as valuable of an education as your schooling.

Jessica sherif

I agree with you. You learn by making. My sister’s an incredible writer and she went to one of the most prestigious writing schools. And yes, obviously it helped shape her writing. But she always says, “You just gotta keep doing it, and that’s how you keep growing.” And I agree with that 100%. I’m excited for the future. The way I look at it is, right now, I consider myself very lucky that I’m able to work during this lockdown and pandemic. I’m working on my first feature documentary. We’ve been editing and I’m very excited for that, but I can’t say what it’s about yet. And then just writing towards being able to, hopefully after we get safely through this, doing my first scripted feature as well.

SPOILER

Is In Hollywoodland the first of many projects for you three as a team?

Jessica sherif

I mean, in this industry, unfortunately, it always comes down to money. And stories about underrepresented voices, whether it be women, people of color, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, it’s just not where a lot of people put in their money. If tomorrow someone came in and was like, “Hey, here’s a couple million, let’s make the feature version,” the three of us would jump in headfirst of course. I think another big thing for me, especially as a director and storyteller, is to tell stories that I see around me; to have people on screen who represent the life as I know it. And even though, yes, there’s been MeToo, there’s been Time’s Up, and our country’s in the middle of complete madness right now—there’s some progress, but at the same time, in our industry, it’s still very male, very white, very straight, for the most part. Yes, there’s some changes. And here’s the thing, we need those stories—we need white, male, straight stories, but just as much as we need all the other stories, which right now are being lumped into this other thing. So to me, another part of this project, and of all the other projects that I’ve been doing, is how can I start putting money where my mouth is and telling the kind of stories that I want to hear more about? And telling the kind of stories that I can speak about? And this is very much a story about being “others.” About people who don’t fit in a certain thing. Whether it’s as an immigrant—I’m Arabic, I’m a woman—whatever it

might be. And for Yetide and Karen, also their own. And tons of other people involved in the film. I think it’s very important for me to dive deeper into all these other experiences and showcase them in the work that we do, and use our voices in that way. To me, that was also a very important thing. And to Karen and Yetide, just as much. That was one of the first things—even when we chose our cast and our crew, we were committed to diverse casting and inclusivity, both in front and behind the camera. And I’m so glad that we did. Again, diverse inclusivity doesn’t mean “no men” or “no white people.” It means that everyone is equally represented and everyone has a voice and everyone

is respected in the same way, and it just creates such an amazing work environment. I just want my sets and my projects to reflect the world as I know it. Just because a story is about a certain voice doesn’t mean only people with that same voice will enjoy it. I think Black Panther is the best example of this. A film can be both something that represents something specific and more strongly to a certain demographic, but the rest of the demographics can relate to it, can understand it, can appreciate it. The power of movies is incredible. The power of TV; of storytelling. And when you give people like Ryan Coogler the money and the trust, and go, “Yes! Go for it!” then you create something that transcends ethnicity; that transcends gender; transcends anything else. Everyone, including my old white dad [laughs], loved it. And many more. I think it’s exactly that. At the end of the day, yes we still need to make an effort to include those voices. We still need to make a point of giving more chances to all these people who are “others” in this industry. But when the project is out, just look at it for its merit; look at it as a fun ride; look at it for its visual artistry. And that’s hopefully where we will get to one day.

SPOILER

We wish the three of you great success with this film and future films. If you can share one dream of yours with the fans what would it be? And is there anything in the books after In Hollywoodland? jessica sherif

I mean, my secret dream is to have a Judd Apatow-like Justice League of powerful, badass female talents. Honestly, this is such an amazing experience. I would jump at the opportunity to work with both of them in any capacity again. I know we’re all crazy busy. I know they’re both on set. We don’t have anything in the books right now, but when the opportunity presents itself, I would love to work with both of these incredibly talented humans. I wanted to say one last thing: For two people, who this was their first go around producing—I mean, Yetide has been writing for awhile, along with Karen, but this was her first produced screenplay—both of

them knocked it out of the park. The grace, the patience, the professionalism with which they came at their producer duties was just fantastic. And I’ve worked with producers with experience who couldn’t hold a candle to these ladies. It’s something I like to tell them: “You realize how incredibly you handled this?” And if they wanted to—I mean, producing—they are definitely very, very well-suited for that. We premiered at Bentonville, at Geena Davis’ film festival, which was amazing! And the bittersweet part of having our release this year is that all of our screenings and festivals are online. All of these fests are amazing and they’re still doing a lot of panels. And at Bentonville, it legit was a love-fest [between myself, Yetide, and Karen], and the moderator also was like, “Oh my goodness, we can tell you guys love each other!”

Jessica Sherif

lochlyn munro played one of the most twisted

sinister characters on the CW’s teen drama Riverdale, but in real life Lochlyn’s calming presence has made him a favorite among his co-stars and fans alike. His brilliant character acting for over three decades has helped him become a real actor’s actor, and someone who we can always rely on to give us something great on screen. In fact, his comforting demeanor is perhaps one of the reasons why he worked so well as the villainous Black Hood—a John Doe-esque psychopath who tries brainwashing his young daughter—our heroine.

Working in this industry since the ‘80s, Lochlyn feels that he is still getting better as an actor, and we see it too. With a supporting role on a show with a stacked cast—including a who’s who of veteran stars from the ‘80s and ‘90s—the Canadian, time and time again, gives us some of the best performances and most memorable moments of the series, especially during his time as the infamous serial killer.

Lochlyn has such a mellow speaking voice, but there’s so much joy underneath his cadence. Able to flex between ultra-stoic and downright irreverent, the actor has been able to maintain a storied catalogue in both drama and comedy roles. Cutting his teeth in the fandom world with both Riverdale and 2003’s Freddy vs. Jason, Lochlyn has yet to appear in a superhero movie. We at SPO!LER think he would make an incredible Captain America—he even has the look for it.

The way Lochlyn understands the fan experience is the way every celebrity should approach their meet-and-greets. A big NHL

fan growing up, he empathizes with the dos and don’ts of fan interactions and has the ultimate goal of making sure they walk away feeling important themselves. His realism and compassion has made him into the ultimate fandom celebrity.

Down to earth and one of the coolest dudes we’ve ever interviewed, Lochlyn doesn’t possess any of that Hollywood phoniness you hear so much about, nor does he give anything away that isn’t part of who he truly is as a person. Much like some of his biggest characters, there are layers to unfold, and we were fortunate enough to be able to dig a little deeper.

SPOILER

How did you start acting and why did you choose a career in the arts?

Lochlyn Munro

To tell you the truth, I was really hoping to play pro sports. I played hockey my whole life, so that was where I was headed. I was a musician in high school. I used to play in high school rock bands and what not. I broke my femur pretty bad playing hockey, and while I was laid up, I got back into playing music, decided that’s

a route that I wanted to take, and as I was playing music in little pubs and places around where I was at the time—Vancouver, British Columbia—I started to meet people who were getting involved in the film and television community and I kinda got the bug from that. I started out somewhere around ‘86 or ‘87, and

Interview by Galaxy

Intro by Ethan Brehm

Lochlyn Munro/Riverdale/The CW/Warner Bros./Archie

Comics/Getty Images/Death Valley/Cinematic Pictures

the first role that I booked was on the first year of the TV show 21 Jump Street, so that’s kind of how it started.

SPOILER

Look at Canada now, it’s like a farm growing Hollywood stars. Can you say that you were part of a group that paved the way for the Canadian Hollywood scene?

Lochlyn

Munro

When I started out, the circle of guys with me—Jason Priestley was in that group, so I would say he was definitely the first guy who broke out with 90210. But definitely, there were a limited amount of actors in Vancouver at that time. That group of guys, we all were just able to get a really great start cutting our teeth in the business by all the productions shooting in Vancouver at the time. And we were able to go down to Los Angeles with a resume and a bit of work under our belts, so it worked out really good. And now they’re hiring the leads for American TV shows right out of Canada, so it’s come leaps and bounds since 1987, that’s for sure.

SPOILER Why comedy?

Lochlyn Munro

I didn’t actually start out in comedy. Most of the stuff that I did was drama. I feel like I always had a good sense of humor. Growing up, my father

had a good sense of humor—my whole family—and it just lent itself well to doing the comedy stuff. I really don’t know. Once I started doing comedy—the problem with Hollywood, is then they think that’s all you do, so that’s all the stuff they want you to do [laughs]. There is a lot of dramatic work around the comedic films that I did, it’s just that the biggest films lent themselves more to comedy. Which I enjoy. It’s all about story and creating characters, whether it be drama or comedies, but neither one do I really gravitate towards. I just enjoy telling stories and creating characters.

SPOILER

One of the movies that stands out to me is White Chicks. You were hilarious. What was your experience with that?

Lochlyn Munro

White Chicks was the second movie that I did with the Wayans family. I did Scary Movie with them first. I just remember Marlon getting a hold of me and asking me if I’d be interested in doing this film that they’d be doing. And I said, “Well, what is it?” And he said, “Shawn and I are going to be these white women in this film” [laughs]. Whenever they say stuff like that, I just shake my head and I go, “Yeah, sign me up man, I’m in.” You know, the great thing about working with the Wayans family in general is that they’re so open to improv and about bringing ideas. And if they work, great. If they don’t, you just pick up and try again. They never make you feel afraid to go big, and that’s what I really enjoy about working with them because you can absolutely just make a fool of yourself.

SPOILER

Which movie do you think was that breakout movie for you where you felt, “Okay, now I think people know me”?

Lochlyn Munro

I think doing Dead Man on Campus, because it was the first MTV/Paramount co-production, it got tons of exposure. Just from when we were promoting the movie, we

Lochlyn Munro/IMDb

were doing so many MTV things back when Carson Daly was hosting. I find that definitely was something that gave me a lot of exposure. And then Paramount took me from that movie and then put me in A Night at the Roxbury, and from there I went on to Scary Movie. So Dead Man on Campus and then Night at the Roxbury were definitely the ones that gave me the extra push over the hump.

SPOILER

When you hear the theme song from A Night at the Roxbury, do you shake your head?

Lochlyn Munro

[laughs] Definitely when I hear it, all those memories come. Sometimes we’ll be in the car and that song will come on and my kids will just kind of glance over at me and have this little wry smile. It’s interesting to be part of something that’s such a cult hit. I gotta tell you, everywhere I go around

the world when we do Riverdale promotions and conventions, people always want to talk about White Chicks or Night at the Roxbury

SPOILER

When I see you on screen, I see this seriousness in your face, but then when you smile, everybody’s like, “Okay, okay, he smiled, everything’s okay.”

Lochlyn Munro

[laughs] I never really thought about that.

SPOILER

Riverdale is doing really great. It’s a hit, and it’s gonna stay in TV land for a long time. What’s your experience with that series?

Lochlyn Munro

You’re shooting a little bit more page count per day. Other than that, creating characters—whether it be

TV shows or film—it’s the same. You’re trying to create dimension in the character, you’re trying to create these backstories, you’re really trying to evolve what you’re creating. I must say, the talent on our show, right from the young kids, up to the parents of course, is pretty amazing, so it’s an easy show to work on because everyone’s so talented. It’s a lot of fun to create scenes in that show, just for the fact that everyone brings their A game. It really raises the bar.

SPOILER

I want to see you in a superhero series. If there was one brand, Marvel or DC, which one would you lean towards?

Lochlyn Munro

Ahh, you know what, man, I’ve always wanted to be Captain America [laughs] so that would be fun. Spider-Man would be a great character to play as well, so that kinda shows you where I’m leaning. I don’t really have a Marvel or DC—you know, they’re both pretty interesting to me, and I enjoy them. My son is 14, so I see all of those films with him,

Lochlyn Munro/Riverdale/The CW/Warner Bros./Archie Comics/Getty Images

and they’re a lot of fun. It’d be really interesting to be on a movie of that scope. I’ve never been on a movie of that scale with a lot of green screen and action and visual effects.

SPOILER

Has your son ever suggested you doing a superhero movie?

Lochlyn Munro

[laughs] Not really. I mean, we’ve always talked about Captain America and stuff, but he’s never actually outright said, “Hey, Dad, you should be in one of these.” My kids don’t really look at me like that. To them, I’ve always been an actor right from the day they were born, so they just kinda know what I do for a living. My daughter’s 17, and every once in a while she’ll suggest certain projects that I should gravitate towards [laughs]. Once in a while, when I’m on the road or having to send something to a director or a studio, like a taped audition or whatever, it’s in-

SPOILER

Have your kids ever thought about getting into acting?

Lochlyn Munro

I don’t think it’s so much about acting. Definitely my daughter would be interested in the filmmaking process. She does a lot of short films at her high school. She directs and writes those, and they all act in them as well, but she’s more towards the storytelling aspect of the business, so that might be a route that she takes. You never know. Maybe my son [would lean] a little more towards the performance end of things, but they’ve never really come out and said, “Hey, we wanna be actors.”

SPOILER

What would you say to them if they did?

Lochlyn

Munro

[laughs] Well, you know, it would be kinda hypocritical if I said “no,” right? The

only thing that I would suggest is to make sure they have a couple years of college and education under their belt just in case. I think my success was that I was just too naive to even think that I wouldn’t be successful, so that’s either a good thing or a bad thing. I’m pretty fortunate that everything worked out the way it did.

SPOILER

Have you seen a difference in Hollywood since you started?

Lochlyn Munro

Well, a lot more people make decisions. Back in the day, when I would test for TV shows and stuff like that, you’d meet, hypothetically, with Aaron Spelling and Duke Vincent, and they’d go, “Yeah, we like this kid.” Then they would say, “Hey, we’ll meet you at Fox tomorrow. We want you to test for this show.” And then you’d go over to Fox and there’s the head of casting for Fox and Aaron Spelling and Duke Vincent, and you’re sitting in an office performing auditions. But [these days], they’ve gotta

teresting, my daughter actually reads off camera for me now. That’s a little more surreal to me than anything because she’s actually pretty good [laughs].

go, “Okay, the producers like you. You have to go test at Touchstone.” So you go over to this theater at ABC and test in front of 50 people, and those people go, “Yeah, we kinda like him, let’s bring him in for the execs for ABC.” And you go back to that theater, and instead of 50, there’s 100. It’s weird. And out of 100 people, is everyone gonna go, “That’s our guy”? Back in the day, decisions were made by the creative people. Now, they’re made by the business end, because all those people who run those studios aren’t necessarily people who came out of making films. They’re people who came out of law school and things like that. So that’s a big difference. Another big difference is, back when I started out, you were either a TV actor or a film actor. Now, there’s no line there. People are doing everything, so that’s

interesting. Other than that, there’s a lot more content out there. At first, when everything was going digital and there were all these television networks and stuff, people were a little worried about where it was all gonna go. But it’s just created so much more content for actors and the percentage of employment is so much higher. When I started, there was pretty much just CBS, NBC, and ABC, and Fox was kinda the new kid on the block. So now there’s much more opportunity.

SPOILER

Do you feel all these people involved nowadays can affect the quality of the project?

Lochlyn Munro

Yeah, I think a lot of times decisions on casting are not a creative choice. Now, you’ve got all these other

things that lend to it, regarding social media numbers and weird things like that. So yeah, it’s a lot different. With there being so many more outlets, too, the budgets have come down because everything is about advertising dollars, right? So the more that the advertising dollar has to be stretched around, the more the budgets come down. And then what that means is budgets come down for setting aside whatever you have alloca-

Lochlyn Munro/Riverdale/The CW/Warner Bros./Archie

Comics/ Getty Images/IMDb/Death Valley/Cinematic Pictures

Lucky Eight Pictures/Charmed/Warner Bros./ CBS/A Night at the Roxbury/Paramount/SNL

ted for cast. A lot of times, number one and two on the call sheet get paid a lot of money, and the rest of the people on the call sheet are a take-it-or-leave-it situation.

SPOILER

Do you feel like you have to do more for less these days?

Lochlyn Munro

Sometimes, which doesn’t bother me. I understand the business side of things as well. I know where I am in the pecking order of actors. And yes, I feel like I have recognizability, and I feel like my work gets better and better as I get older, and more confident and creative. But on the business side, I understand what they need and how it works. So if it means that I work more, then that’s fine with me.

SPOILER

You don’t look like you aged a bit. Do you eat healthy or is it genetics?

Lochlyn Munro

[laughs] Well, what I always tell people when they ask me is that I grew up in the northern part of Canada. So basically half my life was spent in cryogenics. I was frozen pretty much half my life [laughs]. That’s what it is.

SPOILER

What has life been like for you during COVID?

Lochlyn Munro

My industry shut down for six or seven months, so that affected me. Just day to

day things like every other human being is dealing with. My kids are pretty active, so it’s been tough for them with no sports and the way they have to do school is different. But I feel like our industry is starting to get up and running, and I think they’re taking the necessary steps to keep everyone safe. It’s important to be as strict and do whatever they can do— testing, face masks, however you have to do it—because we have to try to have as clean of a record as we can when we try to open up the industry, and it will only do great things for everyone involved. So I’m really excited for everything to get up and running again.

SPOILER

You have four projects releasing this year— Dead Voices, Broil, Sniper: Assassin’s End, and The Color Rose. Is it difficult working on so many projects simultaneously?

Lochlyn Munro

Once you get on set and immerse yourself in the story, you fall into the characters you’re playing and the directors carve the path on how they want to tell the story, so

I don’t find that hard whatsoever. I quite enjoy kinda going from one type of film to the next and playing different characters and exploring. It keeps it kinda fresh and exciting. The part I hate the most is wardrobe fittings—that’s the worst.

SPOILER

Do you enjoy going to fan conventions?

Lochlyn Munro

I gotta tell you, I used to get asked a lot way back, sort of after Freddy vs. Jason. And at that point, I was like, “I sit at a table and I sign stuff for people? It seems kinda odd to me.” And I finally did one and I realized I enjoyed it way more than I thought because the people who would come up to the table are just such film fans or TV fans. They love it and live for it and they’re so knowledgeable in their filmographies. So I found it a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. And of course with Riverdale, we do a lot more conventions and it’s just interesting to see how excited people get just to come and meet people from their favorite TV shows. Mind you, doing Riverdale, the conventions are lovely, but they’re also filled with 14- to 17-year-old females tryna get their hands on Cole [Sprouse] or KJ [Apa]. Those ones are a little strange for me [laughs], but I love kids and my kids are kinda in that age, so I totally get it and totally understand it, so it’s fun to interact with the younger kids. And then when we do the horror conventions, it’s interesting to see people come in cosplay. It turned into a whole different world than I thought it was, so I actually enjoy it.

SPOILER

How did it feel at your very first convention?

Lochlyn Munro

It was a little odd, because you just think of yourself as like everyone else—get up in the morning, grab my coffee, put my pants on, go to work—but the way that I try to treat the fans is to remember what it was like when I was young and I would meet an NHL hockey player, and if they took time to talk to you and ask you questions, I just remember how exciting that was and how it made me feel that they would take their time to just be interested in what’s going on with me. So that’s what I try to do whenever I’m approached by anyone, whether it be conventions or airports or whatever, I try to give them the time because I understand it. It’s

an exciting thing. Yes, I’m just a human being, but I’m also a guy who comes into these people’s living rooms once a week, and now they have a personal connection with me, so I try to go out of my way to give people the time because I know how it made me feel.

SPOILER

Are you doing any virtual conventions?

Lochlyn Munro

I did a couple. We did a couple for the South America fan base.

Lochlyn Munro/Riverdale/The CW/Warner Bros./Archie Comics/Getty Images/IMDb/A Night at the Roxbury/Paramount/SNL/Secret Liaison/Lifetime Television

Riverdale is really big in Brazil and those types of areas. I’m still scheduled to do in-person appearances next year for, I believe, Paris and Germany, but if they need to do those virtually, we can do that as well. We’re just trying to reach out to as much of the fan base as possible, whether it be a little Zoom chat or whatever. That’s kind of a fun thing for fans to have a 5 minute chat with some of their favorite people from their favorite TV show. So whatever I can do to help out to kinda keep the fan engagement going, that’s what we’ll do.

SPOILER

Do you believe in ghosts?

Lochlyn Munro

Yeah, I think I do. I believe there’s a parallel universe.

SPOILER

Do you think they’re another version of us?

Lochlyn Munro

Yeah, I would tend to think it’s more of another version of us. It sounds more interesting [laughs]. I’ve never actually experienced it, but it’s the same as extraterrestrials. I’m always open-minded to the fact that there’s no way it can just be this planet in this universe.

SPOILER

Any new projects coming up?

Lochlyn Munro

I just finished doing a really interesting arc on the TV show The Good Doctor and I just finished an action-thriller with Bruce Willis called Apex. I have a really wonderful family drama called When Time Got Louder based on a family that has a non-verbal autistic son. Really wonderful story. Willow Shields plays my daughter. Elizabeth Mitchell plays my wife. Just fantastic actors; really wonderful human beings. And a few things that I’m hoping to start up here before Christmas. Just keep pluggin’, man. My kids eat a lot [laughs].

SPOILER

Your social media game is on point. You have a pretty good following on Instagram!

Lochlyn Munro

Yeah, I think that most of my following are people who just hope that I’ve smoked Cole Sprouse’s cologne or my elbow’s touched KJ Apa. The social media thing—I wish I was better at it. Do I need to post my new headshot on my Instagram and do all that stuff? I dunno. You know, I’m a guy in my 50s, man. The social media aspect is really hard. I understand that it’s necessary

and the studios and networks want you to do it, and I do enjoy the fan engagement whenever it’s necessary, but I don’t really need to post what I eat for breakfast. But some people love it.

SPOILER

Isn’t it crazy these days, people get judged based on their social media page?

Lochlyn Munro

I think you have to take it all with a grain of salt. Being a performer, you’re setting yourself up. Doing what I’m doing for a living, some people are going to like what Lochlyn Munro does. Some people are gonna think he’s a hack. It’s like, if I put on my social media that I’m a Democrat, then I get killed by the Republicans; if I put that I’m a Republican, then I get killed by the Democrats. You just have to have a thick skin. It’s like anything. It’s probably why most performers shouldn’t read what the critics have to say about their movies, right? You just live your life and try to be the best human being you can. How I judge myself is definitely not by social media. That’s just a platform. There’s certain things you can stand up for because of that platform, and I have no problem with people doing that, but maybe I’m wrong—maybe people want to see all the random things that I do. I dunno, should I video myself taking my garbage out to my

curb? People find that interesting [laughs]. I try to do little snippets on sets from shows because that’s a world that not everyone gets to live and I kinda take it for granted and get jaded by that because it’s something that I’ve done for so long. But I do understand that the fanbase gets really excited when they see you on set on a different show, working with other actors that they know, so I try to put that out there. But I also don’t wanna be the guy who, every show that I’m on, hafta let everyone know how much that I’m working. I don’t wanna be that guy—that’s kinda weird. I get aspects of it, but I should be a little better. It’s definitely humbling that that many people are waiting on bated breath to see what you post. I do think about that stuff when I’m working on projects. If I’m able to post stuff from that project, then I will as much as I can because I know people get excited about that.

SPOILER

It’s been wonderful chatting with you Lochlyn. Can you give a tiny Season 5 Spoiler?

Lochlyn Munro

I’m hoping for some interesting twists and turns for Riverdale season 5, so let’s leave it at that. Here’s the thing about Riverdale—I’m sure the cast would be more than willing to share the things that we do, but the thing about the Riverdale writing team and the showrunners is they keep everything from the actors until the day of the table read for the next episode. We have no idea. I had no idea I was the Black Hood until I became the Black Hood. They were like, “By the way, your character is now this guy.” And I’m like, “What?!” You just never know over there, but it keeps it kinda fun. And it also keeps us on our toes and surprises us anytime you read a script. Just really good people over there and I enjoy doing that show. And I hope I get a chance to be a bigger part of it—we’ll see.

MLochlyn Munro/Riverdale/The CW/Warner Bros./Archie Comics/ Getty Images/IMDb/Badge of Honor/Hollywood Media Bridge

Triton Films/Jurassic Predator: Xtinction/K2 Pictures/Inner Media/Leverage Entertainment

a certain actor and his character on a fandom show: They tend to get killed off. Rick Cosnett had two very popular roles on two massively popular shows. On The Vampire Diaries, he portrayed Dr. Wes Maxfield, the antagonist from the fifth season who met a grisly fate. Despite his menacing role, audiences couldn’t get enough of Rick.

On The Flash, his character Eddie Thawne was beloved. Eddie sacrificed himself for his friends’ lives. His death rocked the characters within the show, as well as fans at home. Barry Allen, who was good friends with Eddie, was so shook up that he spent the following months working alone. The fandom was arguably even more devastated. Fortunately, since his exit on the series back in 2015, fans have been able to catch Rick at conventions to mend their still-aching hearts. However, this year it’s a lot trickier with every physical convention getting cancelled.

Always keeping himself inspired and busy, Rick might be one of the few actors who actually started a project during the global pandemic. His Instagram microseries, The Vaucluse Daily, was created during COVID with fellow actor Adam DeLaunay, and has formed a nice following. The pairing has been playing these satirical characters for years, but has now introduced them to a new media.

The success of The Vaucluse Daily is hard evidence that Rick’s popularity goes beyond just these mega hit fandom shows. With an attitude of a man who always seems to be enjoying life, the actor’s magnetism is radiant and his charisma undeniable, no matter if his characters are good

Intro by Ethan Brehm

or bad. Fans just can’t get enough of Rick Cosnett. The Zimbabwean native teases us with a couple of projects in the works.

SPOILER

You have so many fans out there, from The Vampire Diaries, The Flash and so forth. Do you feel all that love?

Rick cosnett

there can be an unfortunate side effect of loving C

Yes, I do. I feel so overwhelmed, to be honest, that I have been lucky enough, for whatever reason—I can’t explain the rules of the universe, Galaxy, but something has led me to be in these specific shows that people go absolutely crazy for and have such a heart connection to the story, to the background. And they couldn’t be more appreciative of the fact that I put my heart and soul into them as well. From my angle that I’m coming

from, which is acting, which I’m so in love with—and then I become in love with the story too and it’s just a really big love fest—I’m constantly overwhelmed with messages that I get from people asking me all these different questions. Most of them are [laughs] about when am I coming back to The Flash. That’s a big one, which I’m always so flattered by. Not to mention, all the Vampire Diaries family—these people all over the world. It is absolutely insane. I was at a Comic Con in Rome a couple years ago and all these people were just screaming, “Reeky, Reeky, Reeky!” [laughs] And I love that. I love the adoration, I’m not gonna lie, but it’s also wonderfully entertaining for this little boy from the middle of the bush in Zimbabwe, where I come from originally, and it’s very overwhelming being in all these different places all around the world where people know who you are. It’s very gratifying when you put a lot into your work. It’s really wonderful that people are so involved in the story and really have a connection inside of themselves to all the different parts of that story. It’s really exciting.

Interview by Galaxy

SPOILER

Talking about Flash, that was one of the first shows I saw you on. I was like, “He’s gonna go forever.” But I realized your character wasn’t a character that goes on forever. And that’s the issue I think a lot of fans can’t deal with, because you come out as a favorite and people fall in love, but then the character is gone.

Rick cosnett

I think it’s also such a beautiful tragedy, isn’t it? And something that for me, and also the fans, it’s so genuinely sad and bittersweet that it sort of makes it beautiful in a way. It’s like that sweet sorrow sort of thing, which is both hurtful and loving at the same time. There’s something in that that’s kinda beautiful.

SPOILER

After your death on the show, did you get a lot of mail from fans who were devastated?

Rick cosnett

I still do. Grown men saying, “I’ve never cried before, until you died.” [laughs] It was a team effort, the killing of Eddie Thawne, so I can’t take all the credit for it. But it was definitely an event in all our lives.

SPOILER

The first time you went to a convention and you spoke in your true accent with your fans, were they shocked that it was so posh?

Rick cosnett

Yes. I think one of the first ones I did was in England. I mean, I don’t really have any connection to England, but I do sound British, go figure [laughs]. I’ve always kinda wanted to be in a British period drama because that’s what I know all about is English period dramas. I’m absolutely obsessed. Always have been [laughs]. Actually, Michael Malarkey, who played Enzo on Vampire Diaries, and I, we did a panel together in Birmingham and we were just both on fire. And we were suddenly just doing—I don’t know what we were doing— all these different characters. We were doing [Absolutely Fabulous]. [Michael is] an American who has a British accent on the show, and I’m a Zimbabwean-Australian who has an American accent on the show, so I think they were all very confused and hopefully wildly entertained. Because I know how fascinating it is for me. For example, I’m obsessed with Toni Collette, the actress, to almost stalkery levels [laughs]. I’ve only met her a few times. Keep her well away from me. The Queen needs to be left alone [laughs]. I know how fascinated I would be, just seeing stars from shows I love. I can’t get enough detail

about the way that they are in real life and how different they are from their characters, and all their delicious stuff. So I hope people get a kick out of it with me.

SPOILER

In 2020, you made this big announcement on Instagram and the world did a double take. How did that go with all your fans?

Rick cosnett

That was really, really great—the response, and I guess, the surprise. Because we’re all human and we go out in this world as it is right now, with certain social conditioning. There’s still so much stigma around being homosexual, being different, not fitting into the mold of the people around you—the society you grew up in. And there’s so many things that are the same in different countries. Even though I was in the middle of nowhere in Zimbabwe, it was similar to what people have been through in so many different countries around the world. Some more severe than others. Also, I was terrified because I cared so deeply about my acting career, to be honest. I had come out when I was at drama school, because it was important at drama school—we

Rick Cosnett/DevinShotMe

were really getting to the truth of ourselves and doing all that crazy, wonderful, emotional work. But when I came to Hollywood, my agents would say, “What are you gonna do? What do you think you should say?”

So I noticed that it was a thing. You also want mystery in the minds of your viewers to be able to go to all sorts of places in your characters where they’re not thinking about you personally. They’re thinking about the story and the character, which is the most important thing to me when you’re creating stuff. So I was terrified, but I love it when I’m terrified, because it also means that there’s something to break through into a new realm. I was definitely ready because I felt like I was really censoring myself in my career. There was something holding me back, so I was like, “Let’s just clear all the airwaves.” Instead of one day, when no one remembers me and I’m 95 going, “I’m gay in my personal life,” [laughs] and they’re like, “We don’t care anymore.” I certainly was surprised that I was suddenly on CNN and the New York Post. It was

SPOILER

Afterwards, were you relieved and happy with your decision?

Rick cosnett

I was so relieved. I felt so free. I felt very good afterwards. It was like this huge relief. I didn’t realize how much I was holding myself back by not being able to just “be.” And also my work, which I care about so deeply, is a state of being, where you get to a place of truth where you can just be and you don’t have to put anything on top. Just existing as you are, as nature made you—whatever that is. Putting labels on it, as well, is kinda harsh too, but I suppose we have to to get it to a place where there are no labels. I feel authentic. I feel a part of this world, if that makes sense. I feel worthy of sitting here, of talking to you, of doing great films, great things, because I am just what I am, and that is one of the most important things you can do in life.

go wrong. I’m having a life coaching moment with you here, Galaxy.

SPOILER

A lot of wine companies owe you for their 20% increase in business, because that night, when you announced this, all these women went out and bought four bottles of wine and were crying.

Rick cosnett

quite something. My sister texted me the next day and she’s like, “Ooh, making headlines.” And I was like, “What??” Because I sort of made the video and I was like, “Alright, here we go. Here’s a little somethin’.” And then kinda forgot about it. But I’m also very inspired by so many people who have written to me that I’ve given them courage. I’m so inspired by people like Miriam Margolyes, the British actress who’s so wonderful, and she’s a lesbian and she just gives courage to other people. And I love that. I want to always be courageous and always follow in the footsteps of such wonderful [people].

I always want to be on the cutting edge. I always want to be ahead of the curve. I don’t want to be archaic and regretting things in life. You really have to run with it. You couple that with hard work and really working on what I think is good stuff. I really can’t

[laughs] To be honest, from the women in particular, I felt so much love and support. It almost became that they liked me even more. A lot of my hardcore fans—I have this one great fan, Emmaline, for example— some of these French girls, they’ve been following my career for awhile. And I dunno, they seem to love me even more [laughs], which is so great because it makes me just adore them too. Because there was obviously some kind of connection they had with me [before]. I’m not that naive to not know that they said they were attracted to me on screen. But it’s all a projection. At the end of the day, it’s just a fantasy anyway, right? I was really pleasantly surprised how much more they liked me after that. I think it’s really cool. I like people to like me [laughs]. As much as I can say I don’t need it, it is nice when it happens. People have just outpoured their love of me after doing this and it’s such a wonderful reward when you start to be more of yourself and people

Rick Cosnett/The Flash/DC/Warner Bros./The CW/The Vampire Diaries/CBS/Warner Bros./The CW/Getty Images/Shuttershock/IMDb

reward you for it. It’s so encouraging. I feel very honored that I got, like, all these fireworks.

SPOILER

Obviously, you haven’t really been to any conventions this year. What do you think conventions are going to be like in 2021?

Rick cosnett

It’s gonna be so fun! I was supposed to go all over, like on a tour this summer. I was going to St. Louis and Philadelphia. I’m hopefully going to Wales next April, but we’ll see how things go. It’s going to be so incredible, isn’t it? It’s gonna be really exciting.

SPOILER

Fans have always loved you! There’s gonna be five lines for you now at every convention.

Rick cosnett

My first big [TV] show here was The Vampire Diaries, and before I’d been on the show, there was just a picture of me released saying I’m gonna be playing X-character on the show. I had a Twitter account, and I was with my sister and we couldn’t refresh— we couldn’t scroll fast enough with people just saying, “I love you.” I was really taken back by that. It put everything into perspective as well.

I’m honored to be part of something that is already so established and people are already on board with 100%. It was like, “Y’all better watch out. I’m comin’ prepared!” I was playing Dr. Wes Maxfield on The Vampire Diaries and I went down to Rio, which was my first convention, with Ian Somerhalder and Kat Graham, and one of the first girls who walked into this little private signing room, she looked at me and just burst into tears, just flowing out of her eyes. And that really, from the get go, just struck me, like, “Wow!” There’s really nothing like it. I just adore all you fans out there, thank you so much for all your love and support. As much as I’ve given to my work and working towards being on these shows, which did take me a long time in drama school and struggling, it really is an incredible way to be welcomed into the hold. I’m very grateful for that.

SPOILER

I found out recently that you’re a cousin of Hugh Grant. Does that come up a lot?

Rick cosnett

No, but I’m determined for the day when people start asking him. When people go, like, “I heard Rick Cosnett’s your cousin.” [laughs] That’s basically my life’s goal because he doesn’t know who I am…yet. We’re like third cousins. But his first cousins I actually met when I was doing a play last year in Scotland, by total coincidence. Isn’t that crazy? Like, we were hanging out with them while I was doing a play all month because they were doing a play next door at the festival. Turns out, they’re my third cousins too, and Hugh’s first cousins. It was just quite spectacular. And we also have other people who know him. It was one of those things where, when we were kids, there was a tiny picture

of him in a magazine before he was even famous, and we were screaming because my dad was like, “That’s our cousin!” We were telling everyone, “Our cousin’s in a magazine, guys!”

SPOILER

And look at you now, Rick.

Rick cosnett

[laughs] Ugh, look at me now! I’m in a magazine now.

SPOILER

Are there any upcoming projects people can look forward to?

Rick cosnett

There are, but I can’t say exactly what it is. But yes, now that things are opening up. You can follow me on Instagram and I’ll let you know. It’s more TV stuff. I’m also doing this little Instagram series called The Vaucluse Daily. It’s @thevauclusedaily and it’s basically these two South African housewives, Jill and Sue, and the goings-on in their harbor-front property in Sydney. And I play Jill, and my very good and talented friend, Adam, plays Sue. We’ve been playing these characters for over 15 years now, and they’re finally seeing a different light of day on Instagram, in this medium. We only started 2 or 3 months ago. People are obsessed, it’s really cool. It’s really fun. I’m really proud of our work on there. It really cracks us up, if nothing else. I mean, we cry and

scream at it. It’s very specific white women from South Africa who have moved to Australia. Australians really get it, and everyone else is getting it too because they can also relate. There’s people like that all over the world I think. And hopefully we’re making a lot of social commentary on there too. We’re tryna bring that satire.

Jesse Martin, from The Flash, and I are still really good friends. I’m hoping we’re gonna collaborate on something bigger very soon. Because we did the short film The Letter Carrier a few years back with a lot of The Flash crew, which was really cool. I would love to continue that. There’s something in the works there. There’s also another character who I have called Kitty Cosnett—a lot of my fans know what I’m talking about. Carlos [Valdes], who was on The Flash actually named her. There will be a show coming out with Kitty. We’re just putting the pieces together right now, so maybe by the time this comes out, I might have a

little something up. Just wait for Kitty, people. Just wait!

SPOILER

I feel you have a wonderful imagination and always doing something creative.

Rick cosnett

We’re only limited by our imaginations, and those are really infinite. I think what’s so great about all these comic book shows and sci-fi shows is that the imagination gets ignited

in such a deep way in us. It’s such a driving force beyond, for example, The Vaucluse Daily, and a couple of things that I’m also developing on the side. It’s all about getting into that space; into that creativity, and really going for it. For a lot of people—with The Flash, for example—comics get ignited in childhood and then it continues through. I remember Thundersub, which is this anime cartoon. I was obsessed with it. I had such a deep,

deep love of it. And I think, a lot of the time, what connects the fans to us and to the story is their own experience in their own lives of growing up with it, or connecting to their imagination in that way.

SPOILER

If you can share one message to all your fans around the world what would you tell them?

Rick cosnett

I just wanna say, “You guys, stay fabulous and wonderful. Keep the faith during this time. Really just do whatever you need to do to get into your imagination and really enjoy living in the moment. And more importantly, just being who you are underneath all of it, and feeling comfortable in that. I give you the courage to do that every day as you give me the courage.”

Rick Cosnett/The Flash/DC/Warner Bros./The CW/The Vampire Diaries/CBS/Warner Bros./The CW/Getty Images/Shuttershock/IMDb

Fans of The Karate Kid undoubtedly know Martin Kove

from his role as Sensei John Kreese, but the New York native has had a long, illustrious career that’s spanned nearly five decades. With an early role in The Last House On the Left, and later on in the popular procedural drama Cagney and Lacey, Martin eventually became a household name and icon for anyone who grew up in the ‘80s, starring in the aforementioned Karate Kid in 1984 and then Rambo: First Blood Part II the following year. Born in Brooklyn, Martin dons a filmography that consists of over 200 credits in both TV and film. His prominent features and intimidating glare earned him some early antagonistic roles in action flicks. With his first bit of notoriety in 1975’s Death Race 2000 and later that same year from White Line Fever, Kove got a big break and made a turn as the honest detective Victor Isbecki in Cagney and Lacey, showing us all that he can easily play both sides.

The actor’s ability to play both good guy and bad guy throughout his career has not only been so profitable to Kove himself, but has infused his performance of Sensei Kreese, making him the quintessential ‘80s antagonist. Nowadays when villains are written to have much more depth,

Kreese translates perfectly, as he was constructed ahead of his time. And the nuance of the Karate Kid reunion series, Cobra Kai, has been justified by the quality of the films it’s based on.

Martin has had such a resurgence in recent years with his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and his return as Kreese on Netflix’s Cobra Kai—first with a surprise appearance in the finale of season 1, which turned out to be just the beginning. Kove not only became a regular in season 2, but a significant pillar of the series as a whole. His presence takes the show to another level. After all, he basically is Cobra Kai. Now with its third season coming out on in January, Martin analyzes the unbelievable popularity of the show and why the property still resonates with people all these years later. Cobra Kai didn’t invent the

‘80s/’90s reunion series, but definitely set a trend for HOW to bring back a franchise.

The actor also reflects on his own career and how much he’s grown as an actor and as a person. He admits that he didn’t always have the discipline for the job, but has learned an immense amount of tenacity and integrity over the years with his craft. In his personal life, he explains how he’s learned a lot from his character John Kreese, for better or worse. Once willing to channel all of his traits at full force, he’s now become master over his alter ego and found a way to mine only for the good parts off screen.

Martin is still inspiring us, even during these times of isolation. Early in quarantine, Kove issued what he refers to as the Cobra Kai Challenge, which is quite simple, but so important. He urges us to be as creative and as productive as possible while we’re alone and utilize this time the best we can, so that when this is all over, we can all go out and apply our growth and just take life by the horns. And the world will be even better for it.

As he says, “Fans love to hate John Kreese and hate to love John Kreese,” but Martin Kove is a different story. The incredibly charming and humble man who plays the nuanced antagonist just might be what we need during these times. Evoking nostalgia for the past and providing a silver lining for the present, the world could always use some more Martin Kove in their life.

Interview by Galaxy

Intro by Ethan Brehm

GabboT/Albert L.

SPOILER

John, there are debates out there, so let’s hear it from you. Was The Karate Kid one of your biggest movies at the time? Or was it Rambo II?

MARTIN KOVE

Well, I did them back to back. And I was doing a TV show called Cagney and Lacey. That was really a big, classy show. I was doing that for about six years. And then I was able to go off and do different projects. One of the interesting projects I did was an action picture called Steele Justice that I starred in. That was fun because it was my first romantic lead. Yet, it was an action picture. It was very enjoyable to do. But I would say Karate Kid made so much noise. We never knew it would be as successful as it was. And Rambo, I remember reading Rambo in my dressing room on the set of Cagney and Lacey,

and it was 85 pages of nothing but mayhem [laughs]. And I realized this movie would make equal to Karate Kid, which at that time had grossed around 100 million. This was 1984, and I said, “Wow, this is really interesting. What a follow up. I better do it.” And it holds up today. I think they’re both memorable for different reasons to society, to kids, to people of that age, to adults today. They have different meanings but they both hold up and it’s really my pleasure to be a part of them.

SPOILER

After The Karate Kid, did everyone look at you like you were this martial arts master?

MARTIN KOVE

My introduction to karate was, we were going to do a movie called Lion of Ireland, which was a book written by Morgan Llywelyn about the Vikings, about Brian Boru, who unified all the tribes in Ireland to fight the Vikings in about 1080. It was a fascinating book and we were all

training and I was to be the Viking adversary. We were working out with Shihan Tak Kubota and his dojo. Shihan Tak Kubota trained the police academy. He’s been in a multitude of movies from The Killer Elite to The Mechanic to anything. He’s a brilliant shihan. He’s a wonderful sensei. I was working with him and we were using plywood axes because my character was an axeman. The style was right out of Conan. It was the first time that people would start doing movies, instead of wielding an axe or a sword like in the old Viking picture from 1958 with Kirk Douglas, we were going to do a style of Taekwondo. It was all going to be Kendo moves and it was very rich and very much involved with learning the foundation of karate. So I had to work out every other day. And then unfortunately the tax laws changed in England and they lost the movie. They couldn’t make the movie. A month later I had the audition for this film called The Karate Kid. I didn’t know what to expect. To me it was just another heavy. That character was so well structured by Robert Mark Kamen, the writer. I think the star of that movie was the writer. I really do. I believe we all would not be in the position we’re in—Ralph [Macchio] or Billy [Zabka] or myself— if it had not been so articulately and meticulously written. Like Cobra Kai, our show is so terrific because the writing is so good. Our show is about us 30 years later, but if the writing wasn’t on the money, it wouldn’t work and people wouldn’t love Cobra Kai.

So to answer your question, I became the sensei and the person to look up to and all, but not until later on did I really start studying and going to the dojo and working out. You get to do a lot of black belt moves in movies, even though you haven’t studied as much as you should have as a black belt. And I have honorary black belts and regular black belts from different styles. But the honor of it all is the discipline, and the people you meet and the devotion they have to karate, and the devotion they have to Taekwondo and Shotokan. And I’m a black belt in Okinawa-te. And it’s just fascinating to be considered that. But God knows, there are so many people out there who are further down the line who could make Sensei Kreese just crawl [laughs]. But it’s great. The respect I get is enormous and I don’t take it for granted at all. I’m quite humbled about it. People out there just love to hate John Kreese and hate to love John Kreese.

SPOILER

Since the last time we spoke, your Instagram page has exploded beyond belief.

MARTIN KOVE

You know, there’s a lot to write about, and my son assists me with that. During COVID-19, it was a little depressing because I had a Western and two other movies postponed and it’s been tough. But yet, the silver lining of all this is you get to spend more time with family. We waited with bated breath to see how Netflix would handle it. We knew they would do a good job because they promote

very well. And I think Netflix is just terrific. Not only is the show such a big hit, but the way they handle us and the promotion and the publicity, and giving the care to the actors, and making sure that when you want to run with the ball you can do it—they give you freedom. It’s just been a very pleasant experience. Just terrific. I’ve been very happy. It works for us that everybody’s home now so they can watch the show, but I think it would do very well even if people were going to their jobs and coming home and watching Netflix.

SPOILER

Cobra Kai is a massive hit. I was on board with it instantly back when it first released on YouTube Red. And now it’s on Netflix and has become one of their biggest shows ever. People absolutely love it. What do you think attributes to that success?

MARTIN KOVE

Nostalgia works now for a couple of reasons. One, times are hard and people want to feel good, so it’s hard to feel good about a vampire show. But you watch Cobra Kai and you remember exactly what you were feeling like in the ‘80s, but as an adult.

And then as an adolescent, there are so many references to the problems that our younger stars are having on the show, and they’re all identifiable. And it’s all gray. Nothing is white hat/ black hat. So the writers are writing that way and it’s quite identifiable for people nowadays. Everybody’s tastes are far more sophisticated than they were when I grew up. It was different. I’m a big Westerns buff, and if you make a Western now you gotta have it really gray and interesting because people’s tastes have changed. The same thing goes for shows that were hugely popular back in the ‘80s. You do them now, you gotta approach it differently. And I think the writers on Cobra Kai have approached it masterfully.

Martin Kove/Karate Kid/Columbia Pictures/Sony/Cobra Kai/Netflix

SPOILER

Your career spans decades, and you have so many amazing projects under your belt, but The Karate Kid just had this explosive popularity. I know you said last time that you took the project on a whim and you weren’t sure it was going to be any good. And now here you are decades later still involved in these stories. Isn’t that mind-boggling?

MARTIN KOVE

Let me tell you, it’s amazing that any movie ever gets released in the theaters. It’s just amazing that a film gets made from the inception of the writer. I had an exact example of that. It was a movie called VFW that I did last year in Dallas. And the cast was brilliant. It was Stephen Lang, William Sadler, guys who have done so many things. And then you have Fred Williamson and David Patrick Kelly. And it was all about this bar, this VFW, where all these characters are alcoholics, and were great comrades during Vietnam, but now they’re in the twilight of their lives. But it was very violent. It made The Wild Bunch look like Disney. And I just said, “Do I really wanna do this?” And my son

said, “Dad, you gotta do it.” My son Jesse is a wonderful actor and is like my mini manager. He said, “The casting’s great. It’ll be a good movie.” And everybody loved this picture and it did so well, because of the cast; because of the camaraderie that happened with all of us. The camaraderie that was generated by veterans as actors—all of us. It was the director’s third movie, and between the four leads, we had 500 films between us. And we knew what we were doing. We did lots of improvisation. And Dallas [Sonnier], who is a terrific producer who did Bone Tomahawk and Dragged Across Concrete—and I’m trying to do a Western with him. And to answer your question, there’s a lot of things you don’t think will work out. We thought Karate Kid was just another Bruce Lee-type movie, in a sense, from the title. And I couldn’t have told you that 35 years later we’d be saying, “No mercy,” “Sweep the leg,” “Wax on, wax off.” You say, “The force be with you.” You say, “Play it again, Sam.” You say, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” But you

don’t think that an action-karate movie, 35 years later, we’re still saying [these things]. But it meant so much to so many people over these 35 years and still holds up!

SPOILER

I recently saw this picture on your IG, you have a pose with your hand up, like you’re playing air guitar or something.

MARTIN KOVE

Originally, we sat down and worked with a photographer just to do some fun stuff for some t-shirts—some silly stuff. If it was up to me, I would do photo sessions on a horseback with six shooters and a Winchester, but it doesn’t work with Cobra Kai. It works with Yellowstone—I wish I was on Yellowstone. But we were just playing and we did it all at the house. All of it is just what John Kreese would do in the enjoyment of life when he wasn’t in the dojo trying to make everything perfect. It was stuff that would go on the t-shirts. I’m thinking of doing my own line of clothing, but I want a new slant. That commercial I did for QuickBooks, which was really interesting, where I play John Kreese—they handled it so well. They gave him enough of an edge there where it didn’t seem like you were doing something silly because you were getting a paycheck. There’s just a lot of people interested in these characters, and they’re fun. You just kinda go with it. And sometimes people still wear the same old t-shirts from back in the day. When I was with The Last House On the Left cast and we were doing Chiller Theatre—an autograph show

in New York—I had never gone to an autograph show before. This was about 10 years after Karate Kid was released. There, again, all these people showed up on my end of the table with “No Mercy” shirts, spewing the lines from the movie, and I just couldn’t believe the popularity of it. It was the first time I saw the popularity of it. I sold all of these pictures, but I was still just a new guy on the block. But I realized the potential of this movie, and it was brilliant. What people adhere to when it’s meaningful emotionally is quite surprising.

SPOILER

So many people want a Sensei Kreese shirt. Have you ever thought of making a Sensei Kreese apparel line?

MARTIN KOVE

We’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but just haven’t done too much about it [laughs]. You gotta pick artwork, and it’s hard for me to make a decision about this stuff because I wanna do it tastefully. And yet my true love is going out there and, “Make it a Western!” So doing a t-shirt, you gotta lay it on someone who knows what they’re doing. And it’s gotta be lucrative. I’ve had several offers, but I’ve never found one that’s

blown me away where the artwork is great. That’s what those silly little guitar pictures came from.

SPOILER

You have this incredible stare, when you’re looking at the camera. What’s going on in your mind at that moment?

MARTIN KOVE

It’s all real. In other words, it’s never just blank. It all has to do with the moment, I think, as an actor. There’s so many movies I did because I liked the character, and I probably should not have done the movie because the movie was, say, a fair script. But you’re arrogant enough to think that you can improve the movie by your performance. I don’t think that anymore. The most fun for anything now—and I wish I’d paid attention to this more when I was starting out—is you have to do your backstory. You have to pay more attention to where this character came from. What was it like for him as a kid? What was his relationship for him with his parents? And can jot these ideas down, and then you don’t refer to them a lot. You just kind of read them every once in a while. I do. When you see these moments when I’m holding my lapel—I took all those moves from my instructor Pat Johnson, who was great. He taught all of us. He taught Pat Morita, he taught Ralph, myself,

all separately. And you just encompass the character. You just go into that character when you do that homework and you do the backstories. So even the simple stance in the front of the class, telling them to forward punch, you really have a reason why you’re there and what you’re trying to communicate with them. Because these writers write me pontifications—these giant speeches all the time—and I’m standing in front of the class and I’m delivering them, but I’d love to be doing something vulnerable. They love writing for me on the dark side. So you have to have an inner life going. It’s never just holding the lapel. But these writers—Hayden Schlossberg would not let me hold the lapel in any other scene other than the end of season 2, episode 10—that’s the only place in all the episodes. Every time I wanted to do it in the dojo he said, “No, we’re saving that.” Because he loved that body language. So you make every moment as real as you can for you.

SPOILER

Everyone’s probably bugging you about season 3. Are you getting tons of messages about it?

MARTIN KOVE

I don’t mind it. I went out the other day. There was a movie shooting right outside of my house. I went outside and went up to this prop

Martin Kove/Karate Kid/Columbia

Pictures/Sony/Cobra Kai/Netflix/YouTube/Getty/

IMDb/Alamy/Steve Dietl/Mirit/Once Upon a Time In Hollywood/Quentin Tarantino

truck and said, “Do you have a rake?” [laughs] and he said, “Yeah, I got a rake.” I said, “Can I borrow it for a minute? I have a grandson and I bought a little pool and I want to level the ground.” And just somehow I never bought a rake. I brought the rake back about 15 minutes later and the guy said, “Will you sign my broom?” I said, “Sign your broom?” He says, “Yeah, I got a broom and I really want you to sign it.” So I signed his broom and he said, “Will you write, ‘No Mercy’ on it?” I said [laughs], “Okay.” I had never signed a broom before. He watched the show on YouTube and he said, “I love the show and you are the iconic character.” And it was just charming. You get all these kinds of feelings now, especially since people have great feelings about the show because it’s nostalgic. We all need to feel good now in this COVID situation. We all need to latch on to great memories and feelings we had. And we remember what we feel like when we see some of the outtakes, some of the flashbacks from the movie. It’s good memories and good timing.

And people ask about season 3 constantly. You know, we finished season 3. It’s been in the can for a long time. It’ll air after the first of the year, and it’s such a rich season. There are so many surprises. It makes season 2 look like Bambi. It’s very exciting that people appreciate it and look forward to it. And it’s not that far. It’ll be sometime early 2021. And then people will go, “When’s season 4??” Because season 3 encompasses a lot of wonderful elements in all the characters.

SPOILER

Do you think if Cobra Kai had been released on Netflix first it would have been as big?

MARTIN KOVE

Netflix is just set up so well for a show like this. The publicity department is just so rich. Not only do they watch you and make sure the show gets represented so well, but they really play an important part in what you’re doing individually as an actor. I’ve done four or five TV series and the network always only paid attention to the show. They never really did anything to the actor. Even if the actor stood out, it was all about the show. With Netflix, it’s about everything. It’s about getting it out there, keeping it secret, representing

Kthe actors well, making sure you run all of your PR through them and letting them look at it—but not in a way where they need to control it in a negative way—it’s just that they have an ultimate plan. And the plan for season 3 is enormous—bigger than 1 and 2. And the pictures they use, the artwork, it’s so superior to anything we’ve had before. That picture of Billy and me in front, where I’m looking at him and he’s in profile, it’s on that opening page of Netflix. I watched it just to look at all the promos, just to see the presentation. And it was done very well. It’s set up well. If it

Sony/Manfred Baumann/Rick Krusky/Rambo/First Blood/StudioCanal

had not gone to Netflix… Netflix had 193 million viewers. YouTube had 20 [million]. YouTube left the writers alone to write their little masterpieces, so that was really appreciative. But maybe things would have been different if we had started out on Netflix. Who knows? The essence of the show might have changed. I’ve been part of those kinds of shows too. I couldn’t do Karate Kid III so they had to rewrite the part, putting in a character called Terry Silver, because I got a TV series called Hard Time On Planet Earth. And they had to revamp everything and ultimately the movie didn’t do as well as it should have. You can’t disenfranchise the villain. You can’t disenfranchise Darth Vader from Star Wars. And here, they disenfranchised me only because of the rewrites. There’s a structure that’s in every screenplay and creates the characters so richly so that the audience loves them, and the star of all three of our movies is Robert Kamen. He wrote all of that. The star of our TV series is not Billy or Ralph or the kids or me, it’s the three writers: Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald. They’re the guys.

They study us and make sure that what goes on works. It’s all gray. You can’t write white hats and black hats anymore. To answer your question, you have to play it by how the chess game falls. There’s no winner, there’s no loser. It’s just a matter of being patient. And it’s hard, especially in COVID-19, to be patient and wait for the success, because we’re not all out there functioning. And the silver lining is we are learning to be patient; we’re learning to be a family more; we’re learning to cultivate our scripts because we have time to sit on our ass. I think we all have to make the best of what’s going on, and Cobra Kai has been a great recipient of that time, where people can watch the show—several times—and learn all about it. And then, BOOM! When season 3 comes out, they’ll appreciate everything a lot more.

SPOILER

Do you think if Pat Morita was still with us Cobra Kai would’ve been even greater?

MARTIN KOVE

That’s a very difficult question. I think Ralph has somewhere to go with the absence of Miyagi. And the entangle-

ment between Cobra Kai and Miyagi, initially being represented by Billy against Ralph—that competition, that rivalry—I think is clear without Pat Morita. The rivalry I would have had would present itself differently. I think the adjustment was masterful. I think [Pat] would have loved the show if he was around. I’m sure he is watching from up there. He would’ve loved the show because all the values of Miyagi-Do are out there, especially in season 3. They’re really out there. And they’ve never violated what Pat Morita would’ve done if he was alive. Ralph carries it on religiously. Johnny is a misfit and gets caught between John Kreese and trying to make sure that his students have a fair shake and are not dominated by what the “no mercy” concept is from his point

Martin Kove/Karate Kid/Columbia Pictures/Sony/Cobra Kai/Netflix/YouTube/Getty/IMDb/ Alamy/Manfred Baumann/Jarod Harris/Rick Krusky/Rambo/First Blood/StudioCanal

of view. I loved Johnny Lawrence as my own son. He’s like my stepson; my godson. But I love Cobra Kai more—the integrity of Cobra Kai—so Johnny violated that, and he just got lost for a little while. But I’ll bring him back. He’ll thank me for taking over the dojo. And with Pat Morita there, it might have been a different dynamic. It would’ve been, you know, siding going a little more towards Pat’s side, and Pat and Ralph together. There would’ve been an imbalance I think. I don’t know if it would’ve been any better, because they just wrote such good stuff as it is.

SPOILER

Johnny Lawrence is kinda the good guy now. Everyone, including myself, is rooting for him to succeed. Do you feel like that’s the popular consensus?

MARTIN KOVE

You have to understand that people somehow always root for the underdog. Johnny’s a misfit. He changes all the time. He doesn’t know which end is up. He’s kind of a lost soul because he comes from an environment where I was the father figure and then I violated that by breaking the trophy and disappearing for 30 years. And then I came back and tried to be the father figure again and that didn’t work out because I was trying to keep the integrity of Cobra Kai, certainly in his absence. We always root for the underdog. You know the romance we all had with American gangsters? I did enough research and played enough gangsters. They

were the vermin of society. These people, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, they had no sense of humanity when it came to killing someone. Like the Vikings—I used to love the Vikings—and they just pillaged and raped and did all this. But we really thought they were cool because they were great warriors and all that. But it isn’t cool. The public does like the darker characters, and they do it here with the villainy if the villainy is done with taste. Some of the greatest characters—Klaus Maria Brandauer in the Bond movie—I loved him—and Christoph Waltz from Inglourious Basterds—wonderful. The smoother the bad guy, the more interesting. And Billy and I, we really cook on film. Two people with such a history. People love to watch the history. And Ralph does a terrific job. When I’ve had scenes with Ralph, it was just rich because we don’t get a chance to act much with one another. So Ralph’s gotta pick his ass up and get in there with us. And he does. But there’s such a history from the movies that you do root for Billy because he’s caught in the confusion of the John Kreese world and the Miyagi-Do world, which is a kind and decent world. It’s the offensive sport

Tthat John Kreese represents, and Miyagi represented the defensive art. And Johnny’s caught up in that. So it is normal to appreciate Johnny the most and, I think, the relationship between Johnny and my character is rich.

SPOILER

When everyone saw you in the series for the first time, they went nuts! I think they love you because you have this particular old school personality. Do you think so?

MARTIN KOVE

Well I think I said it in that diner scene. It’s interesting because I have this conflict within my personal life, we have to stop giving trophies to people who participate. We’ve got to only give trophies to people who win—1st or 2nd place. And I think of that a lot. Because kids who don’t have the prowess to come in 1st and 2nd, whether it’s karate or little league, they really try hard. I personally, as Martin Kove, have a conflict there. But John Kreese has no conflict. He states it very well in that diner that society is soft and we don’t need to give trophies to kids just because they participate and their head’s not into it. “If their head’s into it, they’re champions. There’s no pain in this dojo. There’s no defeat in this dojo.” And that’s what he feels. And there’s some value to that, there truly is. Technologically, kids are just too

reliant on cell phones and computers. Interpersonal activities are at a minimum, and that’s got to change in society, I believe, or else we’re gonna get lost. Personal attention is just imperative, whether you’re an actor or whatever. You need to have attention and instruction from someone on a personal level, and then you can maintain “Mercy is for the weak.” The weak don’t get it. If you don’t seek it out then you don’t get it. If you’re not tenacious in whatever your plan is for life, no one’s gonna give it to you anymore. Competition is too hip. There’s too many really hip people who are knowledgeable about so much for you to just luck into something. That might’ve happened in the ‘50s, but that’s not gonna happen now. You have to do the work. You don’t do the work, you’re not gonna get what you really want.

SPOILER

Isn’t it exciting to know that your grandkids will one day watch you as Sensei Kreese in The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai?

MARTIN KOVE

My son, he lives up in Monterey and is an educator, he has a 5-year-old, so she’s learning about Cobra Kai now.

life event that happened in Pointe du Hoc. But he understands the value of it, and he understands the value of the business.

I always feel like people say, “What’s your break?” But I don’t feel like I had the break. I haven’t done a Raiders of the Lost Ark yet. I haven’t done The Searchers. I haven’t done my vehicle yet. And one day, maybe I will. But it’s all a school of hard knocks. If you don’t spend the time to work it out and do the work in class... These kids say, “Should I go do theater? What should I do?” And I always say, “Go do theater. Do as much theater as you can, because when you get called to do a movie or a TV show, it’s what you learned in theater that’s gonna make the difference.” I don’t get the chance to do a play as often as I like, but it’s hard work. They have me a year older than I am on IMDb, but you look at this stuff and you function a little slower because you savor the integrity and the grace that God has allowed you to be this lucky—even down the line at my age. I’ve seen all this game in the ‘80s. I was in Rambo, Karate Kid,

Cagney and Lacey, Wyatt Earp, Steele Justice—all this stuff. And it goes as fast as it comes. So you have to really enjoy it for what it is, because it’s a tough game out there. Cobra Kai—I hope it runs forever, but you have to be realistic about it. It’s in the writing, and then everything else comes. You have good writers, boom, you have a good show. It’s just the way it is.

SPOILER

Can you share one amazing experience from The Karate Kid or Cobra Kai?

MARTIN KOVE

The beginning of Karate Kid II was written as the ending of the first Karate Kid. We were waiting to do my big fight scene with Miyagi at that van. And we waited outside for three hours. And finally [producer] Jerry Weintraub and [director] John Avildsen decided that they would cut the scene in the tournament. And I said, “Great!” Three years later, in the same parking lot, we were starting that scene—and I practiced a lot with [stunt coordinator] Pat Johnson, who was incredible—he ran with Chuck Norris and was his partner in the ‘60s and ‘70s. So we do the scene and it’s a lunge punch over Miyagi’s right shoulder through the van, break the window… But the window never breaks. I hit the window in all the rehearsals. It’s supposed to shatter. Never shattered. The charge in the

My grandson with my daughter, he’s three—he’s very precious, he reminds me of what Paul Newman would’ve looked like at three—so he doesn’t really know. My son, who’s 30, really knows the value of it. He’s done several movies, we’ve done movies together. Did a wonderful picture called D-Day with Weston Cage, his good friend from high school—Nic’s kid. And it’s all about D-Day, 1944, right before D-Day happened, the real

Martin Kove/Karate Kid/Columbia Pictures/Sony/Cobra Kai/Netflix/YouTube/Getty/IMDb/ Alamy/Manfred Baumann/Photostream/Zimbio/Rambo/First Blood/StudioCanal

window didn’t go off. It wasn’t done properly. So finally I say to myself, “Oh boy, this is gonna be a problem.” And of course the show must go on, so you can’t cut the scene. It was a very important scene. So I did not lunge, I just snapped the punch. The special effects fella swore it was gonna work this time, and I believed him. And then, boom, I snap the punch, it doesn’t work. I go right through the window—shards of glass sticking in my hand. I break the window—not the gunpowder charge. And I have to pull out, and we bandage me up and put new skin on and we did the scene again. And still, he swore it would break, but it didn’t break. I met the window with my fist and it didn’t break it this time because I held back a bit. I turn to John Avildsen and I said, “John, this isn’t the hand of the Terminator. This isn’t Arnold’s hand. This is the real hand of Martin Kove.” So he looked around at everybody and said, “Alright, we’ll use the one we just got. That’s a wrap.” So whenever you watch that movie, going in is real big-time smashing glass. And the next day we shot the other part, pulling out and the remainder of the scene. But it was real, and I always try to look at that and see, “Can you tell?” There’s blood all over, but it’s fake blood because it was the next day. That was dangerous because I could have really severed

veins, but you get into the adrenaline of a movie and you just do what you gotta do.

SPOILER

Were you a little upset when the glass didn’t break?

MARTIN KOVE

I was a little upset. But he tried everything. He was feeling so bad himself, because this was a special effects man who was experienced. Over the course of the movie they bought me hanging bags to work out and sent them to my house. They were very generous, it was a good department. I couldn’t get angry at them. I was just somewhat disgusted. The director, this guy was really just ashamed. He was suffering enough. He didn’t have to catch the wrath of John Kreese.

SPOILER

Are people intimidated when they first meet you because of the sensei persona?

MARTIN KOVE

I have really changed a lot because that character comes up; that arrogance comes up when someone says “no” to me. In the past, I’ve had six breakups with my lady, and I’ve only recently put it together. And the only reason we have ever broken up in the past is because that character comes up when someone says, “Sorry, can’t do it,” or they violate you or people come up short. And it isn’t Martin Kove, but all of a sudden John Kreese comes up. I don’t get physical with anybody, but the intensity of the look… You know when you really

want ice cream—you have a passion for ice cream—and you go to the little ice cream shop and you knock on the window and they say they’re closed? This whole thing comes over me and I wanna do a spinning crescent kick right through the glass. Because John Kreese, that sense of, “You can’t violate me”—and it’s John Kreese, it isn’t Martin Kove—it comes up because the character’s celebrated. The character’s been around a long time, and somewhere in my past I’ve clicked in to some sort of repulsion, some sort of, “Oh God, someone’s saying ‘no’ to me,” and somewhere in the back of my upbringing it’s triggered by John Kreese. Those emotions get triggered. So to answer your question, yeah he comes up. But doesn’t come up much anymore because I’m really in control of it. There’s not a lot of integrity [behind it] when it comes up. It’s an integrity exercise when the camera’s rolling. Life’s tough enough, you don’t wanna beat up everybody with your eyes and emotionally. You don’t need to do it.

SPOILER

Any final words for the fans out there?

MARTIN KOVE

“You’re all going to be so pleasantly surprised and excited about season three. And the presentation by Netflix is gonna be awesome. And the writing is awesome. If you truly enjoyed one and two, not only should your expectations be escalated by what I have to say, but you will truly feel so much part of Cobra Kai when you see season three. You will have the need to just go to the dojo and work out.”

Interview by Galaxy Intro by Ethan Brehm

one of the biggest fan favorites from the past couple

seasons of AMC’s The Walking Dead is Yumiko, played by Eleanor Matsuura, who joined the series in season 9 and has since become a regular on the show. Eleanor is unbelievably cool, with a wicked wit and wry sense of humor, which inevitably exudes from Yumiko as well. Heck, she even smacked Carol in the face and got away with it!

You can tell Eleanor has such a knowledge and passion for all things Walking Dead, which makes talking to her feel like talking to a fanatic of the show.

Unfortunately, the series is coming to an end after its eleventh season, consisting of 24 episodes which will be aired over the course of two years, but audiences should still see a ton more of Eleanor and Yumiko for a long time to come. Season 10’s interim finale, which got pushed back six months, finally airing this past October, left a lot of fans anxious and curious about what the future holds for the characters. Yumiko and her new crew are left with a huge cliffhanger. However, with six more season 10 episodes set to air in the upcoming months, fans can rest easy that they will soon get some answers.

Premiering a decade ago and creating this tremendous change in the entertainment industry and the world in general, The Walking Dead in the live-action medium isn’t going away any time soon. With all the current and upcoming spin-offs, along with some anthology stuff in the works, the franchise has its own universe now. The momentum is still going strong.

It’s always such a pleasure to sit down and chat with Eleanor. You can always count on her for a fun, unpredictable interview, and to go along with Galaxy’s madness. Here, she discusses and analyzes her show, her character, and what she’s been up to during this pandemic.

SPO!LER

Eleanor, welcome to SPO!LER! The last time we spoke was in March and you were a guest on my show.

ELEANOr matsuura

Oh my gosh, was it March?

SPO!LER

Yes, March 23. The pandemic hit. You had a glass of wine and you were like, “I don’t know what’s going on.” And now we’re here almost a year later.

ELEANOr matsuura

Well, you know what, that’s really blowing my mind. Because really nothing has changed. I’m still here with a glass of wine. It’s not the same one. It’s a fresh one. But I feel like

that’s almost the same [laughs] for the past few months. But that’s insane. When we last spoke things were just starting to happen—in the UK anyway, lockdown was just officially starting to happen. I guess I thought that by now things were going to be kinda back to normal again. And here we are.

SPO!LER

I want things to go back to normal. Back to the same old world as before. What do you miss from life pre-COVID?

ELEANOr matsuura

Everyone misses so many things. For me it’s just sort of a longing for things. The missing of people, the missing of work, missing shooting, and killing zombies, and doing my job. And that didn’t quite kick in until recently. I was kinda like, “Okay, we’re doing lockdown. The year is different but it’s fine.” I took it quite well, even though it was hard. But there’s something about the seasons changing in the UK and it being autumn now, and I dunno, something about it which has just got me all kinds of longing now for all the things I miss. I’m starting to miss hugs, I’m starting to miss real people, I’m starting to miss the buzz of living in a city like London. But it doesn’t feel like London. It feels like an empty, strange place right now. I miss that. I really do. It really hits me hard.

SPO!LER

You have become such a fan favorite since the last time we spoke. We know the future is unknown, but one thing that is for sure it’s the final season of The Walking Dead. Which will be spread over two years, so according to my calculations you are not gonna go anywhere for at least three years.

ELEANOr matsuura

You’re right. It’s so funny, we keep joking about that. Like Khary (Payton), who plays King Ezekiel, keeps saying to me, “We’re all so sad, of course, that it’s gonna be the last season, and we’ve been away from each other for this whole year, so everyone’s really missing each other and eager to get back to work. But actually, it’s an extended season. We’re gonna be shooting together for the best part of two years, plus post-production, plus promotions. We’re gonna be so sick of each other at the end.” [laughs] Like, “Okay, we really need to take a break.” It was all nothing and then it

was all something. Extreme to extreme [laughs].

SPO!LER

Why are you such a fan favorite? Why do the fans love you so much?

ELEANOr matsuura

Oh wow, that’s a really nice thing to say!

SPO!LER

Don’t be humble [laughs].

ELEANOr matsuura [laughs] It’s crazy to me. First of all, that is really a nice thing to say. And I’m not just saying this to be humble. I’m saying this because of the year that this has been in particular. Where the season has been with The Walking Dead and where my connection with it has been, because I haven’t felt like I’ve been in my house, at home, begin a mom, not going out, not filming, so it does feel very, very far away. My life in the UK is so disconnected from Yumiko and The Walking Dead. I never have to deal with any kind of intrusion or fans. I never get recognized. It just doesn’t happen. I lead a really, really regular, normal life, thank goodness, so it’s very easy for me to kind of switch off from it. So first of all, it’s really lovely to say the fans are connecting

with my character—I love that because I love Yumiko so much. I love playing her; I love her as a character. She holds such a special place in my heart, so to know people get that and people are also having a connection with that character somehow makes me so happy. If I can survive punching Carol in the face and not be completely torn apart for it [laughs], that’s a good thing. Yumiko, in that moment, was completely caught up and felt like that was what she needed to do. I knew there was gonna be some backlash [from fans]. That was a really intense day. Melissa [McBride] was so awesome and so fun to shoot that with. She’s the best. That was one of my favorite days filming—not because of that hit, but just because of who I was filming with and how much everyone was bringing their A game that day. Everyone was so in it. It was really, really extraordinary to do. It’s great. I’m so thankful that people are connecting with Yumiko and of course connecting with the show, but to be honest, I miss it! I can’t wait to feel some of that connection in person. I haven’t done a lot of conventions and I miss even the idea of it. All these people being together in one place; getting to meet people and talk about the show, and talk about what they love—I miss all of that.

SPO!LER

If fans ask you to recreate the Carol smack scene, what would you do? “I want your autograph, but I want you to slap me in the face too!”

ELEANOr matsuura

I mean, I can’t sit around smacking people for money.

SPO!LER

Yes you can! If they want it, give it to them! [laughs]

ELEANOr matsuura

[laughs] If they want it… I guess everyone’s gotta make a living right? Fine. I’ll do it. Who cares? Put it on the record, I’ll do it [laughs]. If both parties are in agreement, that could be quite therapeutic. Maybe this could work for me too. Okay, I’ll definitely give it some thought.

SPO!LER

The last episode, a lot of people were really frustrated because they waited almost a year. Your crew, you went on a journey to find this new town. Then all these people come out and you’re like, “OMG, what’s goin’ on?” A lot of fan theories are floating around. From your mouth, what’s going on? What can you share?

ELEANOr matsuura

Wowww, what can I share?? Ummmmmmm, [laughs] I can’t share anything! Don’t be ridiculous!

SPO!LER

[laughs] Angela, are you listening?

ELEANOr matsuura [laughs]Yeah, you gotta be careful because [showrunner] Angela [Kang] will take you down! Okay, here’s the thing, it’s a finale, first of all, so of course there’s gonna be cliffhangers. I mean, it wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t leaving lots of people with lots of questions. I loved the finale so much. I really thought it was worth the wait. I was starved for so much Walking Dead content for such a long time and then I watched it and was stunned by everyone. I thought everyone was just brilliant in it. I thought it was really funny and really moving. And Carol’s journey in the end with Lydia, I just thought was so gorgeous. The cliffhangers have to be there because it’s the finale and you’ve got to give the people what they want. But what this really means for our posse

and where you find us, it is the end of season 10, yes, but shows that there’s a huge door opening into a possibility of the next season. If you follow the comics, you know about those crazy stormtrooper guys—I’ve got to figure out a better name for those...

SPO!LER

In the season finale of The Walking Dead you’re running around with your new posse—the King, Eugene, Princess, and you—what a unique crew.

ELEANOr matsuura

You’re right, it’s a really weird combination of characters. We talked about it a lot on set. To be honest, the four of us are really an unlikely squad, because I’ve never really done much work with—obviously Paola [Lázaro] is new. We sort of meet her along the way, pick her up and carry on the journey with her. Princess has been on the road for a very long time. Josh [McDermitt], as Eugene, I’ve never really worked with him at all. I’ve had maybe a couple of crossover scenes with him in the past few seasons I’ve been on the show. And same with

the king. Our paths have crossed in ways of the community, but not in a personal storyline way. So having us all come together to go on this journey is really bizarre, but also really gorgeous in the sense that everyone is running away from their own separate path. Everyone’s running away from something. I’ve split up with Magna. I’ve kinda got a clean slate in front of me. I don’t feel like I’ve got anything left to be useful for with Hilltop having to burn, and I just feel like I need to go—go searching for something where I can put my efforts and my skills to better use. That’s Yumiko fundamentally. She just really wants to help. She’s naturally a leader and really wants to help other people and help find other communities. Obviously Eugene had made this connection with Stephanie. He’s left behind Rosita and any sort of possibilities with that relationship and any connection he had with Alexandria. He’s forging forward with a new potential relationship. The king has got this trouble with the cancer being on

his throat and his relationship ending with Carol. We’ve all had something happen to us where we’re like, “You know what? We’re good. It’s time to move on. It’s time for a new chapter. We’ve gotta turn the page.” So that’s really the common thread that unites us all in this moment. And so it becomes this sort of unlikely group, but we all have this same unified mission which is to go and find something better, and go and connect, and find something new. That takes us out on this journey and there’s this lovely moment in the finale when Eugene, who’s been waiting there for a while, realizes that Stephanie isn’t going to come, or she might not be there yet, or whatever the reason is, and we all make a decision collectively to go, “Well, we’re not going back. We’ve got nothing to go back for. We’ve gotta go forward.” And what that does for our characters in the Walking Dead universe is open the door to what that could be. The world is big out there. It’s bigger than the universe that we’ve known for the past ten seasons. Anything could happen with these crazy stormtroopers. They are

the gateway into—if you follow the comics—the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth, from what we know from the comics, and we don’t know yet how closely the show is going to follow this, but the comics show the Commonwealth, this entirely new community. And it looks, for the moment, like those soldiers are very much from the Commonwealth. So I guess we’ll have to see what unfolds in season 11.

SPO!LER

There are so many spinoffs and different possibilities with the storyline. Even though The Walking Dead is coming to an end, the TWD universe won’t be coming to an end anytime soon. I think your character is going to get a spinoff. I feel it. Am I right?

ELEANOr matsuura

[laughs] I don’t know either, man!

SPO!LER

Say it! Come on!

ELEANOr matsuura

Honest, honest, honest, hand on heart, at this moment in time, I don’t know. I’ve heard rumors and I have some ideas. But they’re just ideas. Until I have a script in my hand and I’m acting out that scene on set, then I’m not being held to anything. I’ve gotten used to doing that with this show. Things change, storylines change, and there’s just no way of being like, “This is definitely going to happen.” In a way, I’m glad I don’t know. I can’t deal with that level of responsibility and secrecy, it’s just too much [laughs].

SPO!LER

You’re gonna eat forever. Ten years from now fans are still gonna be just as excited as they are now.

ELEANOr matsuura

I really hope I do. I think, you’re right, the universe from The Walking Dead clearly isn’t going anywhere. There’s so many spinoffs. I think it really is going to be something that runs and runs. But you’re right to sort of say that this season has to end. I think it’s so natural that it will, but we also have this extended season. We’re going to be around for awhile. I know that all of the cast just feels like, with that information and with that knowledge, everyone’s gonna go diving into season 11 wanting it to be the best that it can be. And everyone I think is going to just feel so grateful to be back and working because we’ve missed it so much. I have a really good feeling about the final season. I think it’s gonna be amazing, I really do.

SPO!LER

I’m sure you already know this, but your hair is much nicer than the comic character.

ELEANOr matsuura

[laughs] She has a severe cut. I get a lot of good love for my hair. It’s kinda nice. I’m like, “Thanks, guys!” That’s props to our amazing—AMAZING— hair crew, and our makeup crew, they’re just extraordinary—Taylor [Knight] and Tiff [Simpson], just a big shout out, because they’re the best.

SPO!LER

Hairstylists are gonna survive, you know why? Because they know how to use scissors. They’re gonna stab the zombies in the neck.

ELEANOr matsuura

Halfway through season 9, I remember Angela saying about me and Magna and Luke and Connie and Kelly, “You’re representing an eclectic, sort of European, group, that needs to feel new and fresh and like you’re from a different place.” So she let us have different haircuts. She let us keep our jewelry in. We didn’t have to abide by previous rules that would be like, “There’d be nothing left. No one would be wearing jewelry. Everyone would be in certain types of clothes.” They wanted us to look like we came from somewhere different, so we kinda started moving things forward in that way where we could like, keep some bits of our costume and jewelry and hair stuff. Basically just still keeping it fresh even during times of the apocalypse. You just never know who you’re gonna run into [laughs].

SPO!LER

A lot has changed since you and your folks walked on last season. I’ve noticed the dynamic of that crew has changed. Do you feel friendships have been lost or is it because you’ve entered into this place that has so many different characters that you have to take your role within them moving forward?

ELEANOr matsuura

I love this question because when I first joined with the crew, it was such a big thing to join as a family. So many people join in the show in these little pockets of other people. It’s very rare to have people like Paola who’s been completely on their own as a loner who’s come in. And we made sure, behind the scenes and off camera, that we welcomed her as Paola and made her feel completely comfortable and made sure she had an easy time fitting it. Because it’s

Eleanor Matsuura/IMDb/Getty/The Walking Dead/AMC/Into the Badlands/AMC/AP

really hard, like joining anything as a solo person. But also as characters, like Yumiko started in the show with this little family. My crew was like my family. We had this motto, “Ride or die.” We were a proper crew; a proper unit. And throughout the last season, whether it was in really overt ways, like me and Magna splitting up, fighting, falling out, clearly going our separate ways, or it was more subtle, like Connie’s kinda doing her own thing with Daryl. She and her sister are still really close, but they’re moving in different directions. Luke’s got this interest going on in Oceanside and doing his own thing. There’s definitely been fractures in the group, that are not bad fractures—I don’t think anyone is hating on each other, apart from me and Magna— but it just sort of naturally started to loosen and expand and infiltrate into other groups and communities. There’s one episode which I thought really portrayed it well. It was when Luke decided to head off to Oceanside on a mission and I was sort of left back at the community. And they had me stand off at the side in the distance at the back of Hilltop watching while the convoy set off, and everybody was saying goodbye, and they had me separate and apart from the group. It was really strange, because the writers started planting the seeds early on that I was kind of graduating on from this group, and we were all outgrowing each other. They used really subtle moments like that, like keeping me apart within the scene, to show that maybe I was

moving in a different direction. And to film it kinda felt like that. I was like, “Oh man, I really feel far apart from my original crew.” And there’s a sadness to that, which is good because it’s very real, and it’s exactly what Yumiko’s feeling. But I think there has to be a little bit of outgrowing each other and a little bit of saying goodbye and letting go in order for me to go on and have this, hopefully lovely new adventure and a whole new existence and storyline to take me on something completely separate. That’s what it seems to be setting up for anyway. I mean, who knows what will actually happen, but I think she’s ready for it.

SPO!LER

Outside of The Walking Dead, what’s going on with you?

ELEANOr matsuura

Well, things are starting to roll again. The industry is definitely picking up. Things are starting to shoot again in the UK. I can’t really travel. Obviously things are a little bit more precarious with traveling internationally to shoot stuff. I’m shooting stuff here in the UK. There’s a couple of TV shows going on, which are very, very different from The Walking Dead,

so it’s kinda nice. I get to sort of flex a different muscle and be a different character for a little bit, which always feels fun. And I’m writing a lot. I’m really trying to use this time to carry on writing and creating my own stuff, and creating my own show. I’m very much in this sort of embers of that creative process at the moment, so it’s still baby steps. But it’s pretty awesome. It feels nice to be creative again, to be perfectly honest. For such a long time over lockdown I wasn’t. And I couldn’t because I’m a mom and I’m running all around with my toddler a lot of the time [laughs]. But I kinda got my juice back for it, so I’m really enjoying creating my own stuff. Who knows what will happen with that. Maybe it will just be for me, or maybe we’ll get it made and it will be a really cool show. And maybe we’ll be back in SPO!LER Magazine talking about that!

SPO!LER

Is this something you can share or we gotta wait for that?

ELEANOr

matsuura

I think you’re gonna have to wait for that. It’s honestly baby steps right now. I don’t wanna spoil any baby ideas before they’ve found their little wings yet. Maybe next time, a few drafts in, I’ll be able to share a little bit more of what I’m working on.

SPO!LER

Do you believe in the paranormal?

ELEANOr matsuura

I believe in ghosts, witches, spirit guides, hexes, spells, science and Mother Nature. It’s a real party in my brain

SPO!LER

Has anything paranormal happened to you during quarantine?

ELEANOr matsuura

Something happened the other day. It’s not paranormal, but I’m quite superstitious, and I’m very good at noticing coincidences and reading signs, and—this is gonna sound completely insane [laughs]—I’ll often look for signs from the environment on where to go or what to do, or a feeling, you know? For example, we have a lot of cats in our neighborhood. I have two cats and there are a lot in our neighborhood that run on the street. And there was this one time where I needed to go and have a difficult conversation with a neighbor, and I was like, “Is this a good time? Should I go out?” And when I really wasn’t sure if

I should do it, I remember getting out of my car outside of my house, and suddenly it just started raining. Like REALLY raining. The skies opened and this rain was just pouring down. I was like, “Mmm, okay, this looks like a sign to go home and just chill.” So as I walked past my neighbors house thinking, “Is this the moment to go have this conversation?” there was this cat—one of the cats from the neighborhood. He’s like the meanest cat, he’s like a real a**hole, and he was sitting in the rain, on the doorstep of this neighbor’s house—and it’s not this neighbor’s cat—just looking at me, really glaring at me, giving me the evil eye. And I looked at that and was like, “Okay, there’s the sign. I’m not going in. Everything’s telling me that’s a bad idea. Don’t go there. Go home.” So it’s not paranormal, but I am trying to clue into signs and signals and the environment around me that tells me, “Yeah, do that,” or, “Maybe don’t do that,” or, “Yeah, that’s safe to go there,” or “Actually, maybe don’t walk down there.” I’m very tuned into that kinda stuff. Do I sound mad? I can’t handle really, really scary things, but love hearing about other people’s experiences and I really believe it. Why do we love the paranormal?

Eleanor Matsuura/IMDb/Getty/The Walking Dead/AMC/Into the Badlands/AMC/Invision/AP

SPO!LER

Would you ever go into a haunted location?

ELEANOr matsuura

Yes but only with 20 friends. Five to stand in front of me, five behind me and five on either side at all times to provide a sort of buffer between myself and anything creepy that might suddenly jump out.

SPO!LER

Are there any cities in this world that spook you out?

ELEANOr matsuura

Venice. Once you’ve seen Don’t Look Now you can’t visit that city and not s**t your pants.

SPO!LER

Ok, answer the next questions as quickly and randomly as possible: Would you ever leave The Walking Dead for another series?

ELEANOr

matsuura

Oh sure! But sadly they make you sign a contract in blood which clearly states in clause 1984 that if I decide

to leave of my own volition then they withhold the right to hire a professional assassin to take me out. So I’m not sure it’s worth the fuss tbh especially as it’s the finale season.

SPO!LER

Did you plan on being part of The Waking Dead or did it just happen?

ELEANOr matsuura

It just happened. My agent called me one morning and said he had an audition for me that was so top secret, no one actually knew what I was auditioning for! I had to sign three NDAs and wear a large hat and a mask—which I know is all the rage now but this was pre-COVID times so it was really quite unusual. Turns out it was for TWD of course! I was disappointed not to get to wear the hat and mask as Yumiko in the show.

SPO!LER

Were you a fan of the zombie genre prior to The Walking Dead?

RELEANOr matsuura

I can’t watch horror really. I am rather scared of a lot of things and don’t need to add to the fear.

SPO!LER

What got you started in acting?

ELEANOr matsuura

I’ve always wanted to be so rich and famous that I just completely lose touch with reality. There seemed to be a few paths I could have chosen to achieve this but acting seemed like the easiest.

SPO!LER

Was it hard breaking into the American acting scene?

ELEANOr matsuura

Nah. [laughs]

SPO!LER

How hard is it for someone from the UK to become an actor here in Hollywood?

ELEANOr matsuura

It’s easy. Just act more British than ever. Hollywood loves it! I speak super posh when I’m there. I also tell everyone I ride a pony and that I only drink “cuppas” or “pints.” Oh, and

that I once dated Prince Harry.

SPO!LER

Does your family support your career?

ELEANOr matsuura

They think it’s hilarious I have managed to make money from pretending to do jobs that I am in no way qualified to do in real life.

SPO!LER

You said that you rarely get recognized because you live in a small town in the UK. Do you sometimes wish you lived in an area where everyone noticed you?

ELEANOr matsuura

Yes. I imagine being hugely famous will fill the empty void inside. [laughs]

SPO!LER

Are you getting excited for 2021 in the hopes that you can get back to a normal working schedule and hopefully go to conventions all over the world where you can meet your fans face-to-face?

ELEANOr matsuura

I’m excited and worried in equal measure. I haven’t been around large groups of people in so long. I’m worried I might just burst into tears or spontaneously combust.

SPO!LER

If all of your fans from around the globe read this article, what message would you give them?

ELEANOr matsuura

Wear a mask. Vote. But not for that guy. Be kind to animals.

SPO!LER

I know Andrew Lincoln was a person that everyone on the series looked up to. Since he left who is the one person you look up to is the series?

ELEANOr

matsuura

Cailey Flemming. No joke. If we’re lucky she will run the world one day and it’s not worthy of her.

SPO!LER

If you can change anything about The Walking Dead universe what would you change?

ELEANOr

matsuura

The accessories. Yumiko needs sunglasses in the summer and a woolly hat in the winter.

SPO!LER

By the time The Walking Dead the series is over including the spinoffs, movies, etc., etc., almost a decade of your life will be dedicated to it. How do you feel about that?

ELEANOr matsuura

[laughs] Old. And a little tired. But mostly old.

SPO!LER

What would you say is the best part of being in The Walking Dead?

ELEANOr matsuura

The cast are great and all, but have you ever heard of craft services? Free coffee and snackies all day!

SPO!LER

Any final words for your fans and our readers?

ELEANOr

matsuura

“Thank you so much for your patience. It’s been a hard year for everyone. I know the finale being stalled was really hard for a lot of people who are diehard fans of the show. You guys are the best. Your loyalty is incredible and I hope you love the finale as much as I did. I want to promise you that this final season will be incredible. I can’t wait to hear what you think about it all. And once this is over, I can’t wait to meet you all in person. I really can’t. I’m so excited!”

Lesa Wilson/Angela Murray

lesa wilson is an amazing spirit

You talk to her and there’s just a joy in her voice. She’s been on such a unique path that began with American Idol and beauty pageants as a young adult, leading to her current career as an actor, which is just starting to bloom.

With dreams of being in show business ever since watching The Little Mermaid in the movie theater as a little girl, Lesa couldn’t have asked for better results. She’s seen ups and downs throughout her young career, but she has no regrets whatsoever. Each experience has helped mold her and put her in a position to thrive, which is exactly what she’s doing now.

Fresh off stints on two DC shows, Doom Patrol and Stargirl, this is only the beginning for Lesa. Her character Bobbie on Stargirl is a fan favorite who will hopefully make a return in the second season.

Lesa’s passion and enthusiasm for life is impossible not to notice. We were fortunate enough to talk with her about her childhood, her favorite foods, her preference on Chris Hemsworth’s hair, and her crazy experiences with ghosts, all topped with her amazingly infectious laugh.

spoiler How was your childhood?

lesa wilson

My childhood was wonderful. I often joke and say I was raised in the Brady Bunch because we were so happy. I was born in Rome, Georgia with my three siblings. I have two brothers and a sister. My parents are still married. They still live in our family home back in Rome and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s in the middle of the woods. I grew up on a farm. We have 24 acres of land. My childhood was a lot of fun. I was a tomboy. I think that’s kinda like the thing that happens when you grow up in a country town like that. I just loved running around barefoot and acting like I was the king of the world. And it was great because my siblings always did it with me. So it was like I had these three awesome cohorts in crime. It was fantastic!

interview: galaxy Intro: ethan brehm

Lesa Wilson/Angela Murray/Coins for Love/Swirl Films/TV One/Stargirl/Doom Patrol/DC Comics

I know you’re a singer and you were Miss Georgia, but when did acting come into play?

lesa wilson

I’ve always wanted to be in the arts. I knew when I was a little kid that I had a really strong interest in it. I always say that I blame it on Ariel and The Little Mermaid. My dad took me to see that film when I was a little girl and I think it was actually the first film I had ever seen in the theater. I fell in love with Ariel and I wanted to be a cartoon voice. So my first interest was in being a voiceover artist. I think I was like 8 or 9-yearsold at that point. From there, I stayed engrossed in stories. I was an avid reader and loved anything that was otherworldly. Anything science fiction was my jam. I did theater class when I was in school, and really enjoyed doing musical theater, specifically. But acting in film and television didn’t come until later because I didn’t really realize it was an option for me. I think that I had to go on the path that I’ve been on to realize it was a viable option for a career. That came about in my mid-20s. And then I just pursued it like it was the only thing that mattered.

spoiler

The pageantry—when did that start?

lesa

wilson

That started in high school. I was on the homecoming court and I was first runner-up to Homecoming Queen senior year and I loved being in gowns and dressing up. I think that was early preparation for red carpet life. And then I did a few stair pageants and got into modeling. I was on a modeling job and met the director of the South Carolina USA pageant and she came up to me and told me she thought I would be perfect for the Georgia pageant, since that was where I was from. And she wanted to connect me with the director. Right about that time, I had made it on American Idol, so the contract kept me from being able to compete for Miss Georgia USA. So I was doing this music thing and then when the contract ended, they were calling me each year. Probably two years had passed from when I had made it on

American Idol and could compete for Miss Georgia. It was the last year before I was going to age out and wouldn’t be able to compete again. So they called and they were like, “Hey, this is it. This is your final chance. Do you wanna go for it?” And I said, “Yeah, absolutely!” So I went for it and I wasn’t expecting to win. I go into everything with the mindset of, “What can I learn from this and how can I become better?” So my goal was to really work on being more refined because I knew I wanted to stay in media and be on camera, so every opportunity I got to refine that, I took. And then I ended up winning and made it to second runner-up in the Miss USA pageant. And it was just the most amazing experience I’ve had. I loved it so much.

spoiler

These are multiple careers typically given to multiple people, but you’ve gotten all of them. You’re a multi-faceted artist. What led you to American Idol and how was that experience?

lesa wilson

It was presented to me by my vocal coach at the time. I was a waitress working at Chili’s in my hometown and she called me at the restaurant and told me she wanted me to go to these auditions being held in Atlanta the next morning. It was the first season of American Idol when I initially auditioned. I was just so tired and didn’t think that I would even be able to make it happen. I knew I would be getting off work

wat midnight and then traveling to Atlanta the next morning. And then actually being fit for anything to be able to perform, it was just a little bit daunting. And on top of it, that was my first audition ever. But my brother was my roommate at the time and I told him what was happening. He was so adamant that I go to the audition that he offered to drive me. He woke me up at 4:30 in the morning and I slept all the way to Atlanta. And he stayed with me the entire day while I was working on trying to even make it through the first cut. I got into that audition after waiting 6 or 7 hours. So I go in and there are like, four other people in the room with me. It was my turn and I literally couldn’t get a sound to come out of my body [laughs] as if someone had taken my vocal chords and just squeezed them. So I left there with my tail between my legs, so upset. But I had the audacity to

sit around and wait until the end of the day to see if I made the cut [laughs]. Because there was a part of me that really believed that that was supposed to be a part of my path. And so then obviously I did not make the cut the first season of American Idol and I went home and felt like an utter failure and cried myself to sleep as my brother consoled me. The next year, I was watching it on TV with serious anticipation of trying again. But I had more experience under my belt at that point. I had been performing, I had been on stages, I had been working on making music with friends. I was no longer afraid of auditions. So season 3 rolled around and I was on a modeling job in Hawaii. Once again, American Idol auditions were coming around and they were in Oahu two days after my job. So I just extended my stay in Hawaii. I was still working with the same vocal coach, so I called her

Lesa Wilson/Stargirl/DC Comics/DC Entertainment/Warner Bros./Bluff City Law/NBCUniversal/Pretty Funny

and told her what I was doing. She was very excited that I was going to try again and that I hadn’t let defeat stop me. So I went and I made it through the first cut, and I went back the next day and made it through the cut again. And I think I made it through four cuts before I got into the room with Paula, Randy, and Simon. And then I got the Golden Ticket. I was going to Hollywood. And it was the most crazy, surreal experience to be in that room with them and to be doing something that was associated with my dreamscape—with the things I could see myself doing in my life—and for it to actually be tangible and happening. So I went to Hollywood a few weeks after that and I made all the cuts there. And my final performance was the one where I got kicked off the show. So I was in the final 32, and it was such a wild ride. But it opened so many doors for me.

spoiler

American Idol is huge right now, but back in season 3, it was the biggest thing in the universe. That’s the year Fantasia won. So if you had won, there would be no Fantasia. It would be Lesa.

lesa wilson [laughs] Well, I believe our paths unfold as they’re supposed to. I believe that I was meant to take the path that I’ve been on and I’m so happy about it because I was able to do so many other things.

spoiler

What song did you perform in the semi-finals?

lesa wilson “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge. Yeah, I’ll never forget that song. Burned into my memory because I blew my voice out and it’s like, the only thing you can find on YouTube and it was so terrible [laughs].

spoiler

After American Idol, you got a big singing contract, but now you’re acting. Do you think you’re right where you’re supposed to be?

lesa wilson

Without a doubt. I think the best is yet to come. I think about my career path and how I’ve gotten to where I am at this point, and I am so excited for how much bigger and better it can be. Because it tells me that little girl who was

dreaming in the movie theater watching Ariel and The Little Mermaid was not wrong. I would not say no to a record deal in the future, but music, I think, is just supposed to be an accessory to what I’m doing. I don’t necessarily believe that it’s the path. I’m a storyteller and I’m meant to tell stories that move people and that’s my purpose spoiler

Do you think the current situation with COVID has put a halt to your plans? Or has it lit a fire under you to push forward?

lesa wilson

I think that it’s giving me the opportunity to prepare for 2021. At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, I had done so much work that it positioned me to where, this downtime, I’ve been able to focus on gathering my materials and really solidifying my team and focusing on the next steps. Coming up

with a strategy to go from where I’m at in my career and level up. Because now it’s a strategy game. Up to this point, it’s been, “Show how talented you are. Show how much range you have and how much you can do so that people understand that you can do the job.” It’s kind of the name of the game at the beginning of your acting career. It’s proving you have the chops to be there and stand across from A-list actors and do the same job they’re doing and have been doing for decades. So that’s the challenge I’ve had up to this point. But now we’re switching to a place where we are focused on, “How do I get to where I’m in the position of the A-listers?” So I would say COVID has offered me an opportunity to focus without having to worry about the details of creating characters. I have been writing during this time and that’s been really great, and I’ve had projects that have fulfilled me creatively, but as far as moving forward after COVID, I think that this downtime has been extremely valuable.

spoiler

You have been on two DC television shows, Doom Patrol, and now CW’s Stargirl, which is an amazing series. I think it’s one of the best filmed and written shows right now between all the DC shows. A lot of people don’t realize that a lot of the shows from DC are done by the same team, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, and all those people. How does it feel working with DC and Warner Brothers and CW and that whole team? And where do you see yourself with DC in the future?

lesa wilson

It’s a huge privilege. I feel like everything that I’ve done up to this point led to being able to be here and be a part of these projects. And I don’t take it lightly. For me, it’s such a highlight and I’m just so thankful to have been a part of it. Moving forward, my hope is that Bobbie [in Stargirl] is

back in season 2. My mind goes wild with where the story can go, but I kind of want her to join Shiv and become an evil person, I really do [laughs]. Because how interesting would that be? She’s so brainwashed and so pitiful. For her to switch and become so empowered, it would be fun for me to play, and I can only hope that Geoff could see the storyline going that way. So we’ll see what the future holds, and I’m just gonna continue exercising gratitude in knowing that even what I have done up to this point is a dream come true. So I’m just going to stay in that thankful place.

spoiler

You’re character from Stargirl is becoming a fan favorite. Everyone loves Bobbie. You’re gonna be one of those action figures that no one buys at first, but then becomes the most expensive one in the whole catalogue. Do you sense that a lot of people are leaning towards your character in Stargirl?

lesa wilson

I do. You know, I’ve received so many messages from people who have told me how they would love to see my story play out. And how they want Bobbie to be in the rest of the episodes. So I have felt all of the love from the DC Universe fans. It has just been overwhelming and amazing. I love that people can see themselves in Bobbie and see elements of her that they want to cheer for and root for. She’s a tortured soul. She’s definitely in a place where she needs love, but she’s also one of

Lesa Wilson/Angela Murray/Coins for Love/Swirl Films/TV

the most interesting characters because she kind of stands out. It’s almost like she’s the one who doesn’t necessarily belong, like you can tell she has been stripped out of her life. It’s really cool to play a character like that and see her come to life and be so accepted and loved by the fans.

spoiler

I know season 2 is already signed and I believe there are even talks about season 3. The show is just so good with so many good actors on it. Other than yourself, there’s Luke Wilson, Amy Smart, and the main actress who plays Stargirl, Brec Bassinger.

lesa wilson

The casting for this project is just spot-on. Everybody is exactly who they should be. It’s Geoff’s comic, so it’s so cool to see it come from the comics to a script. Then you see the people who they’ve chosen to play it out in real life. And then, once we’ve gone through hair and makeup and we’re all in costume, it’s like, “This universe makes sense! It matches the comic book!”

spoiler Would you ever date a fan?

lesa wilson

Uhhh, I don’t know. Everything is based on the person. I feel strange about the fan thing, because I never want to be in a relationship with someone who constantly puts me on a pedestal. I wanna be with someone who I can just be a human being with and live my life and not have to worry about cons-

tantly rising to certain expectations. So that’s kind of one of those things I feel like’s a slippery slope. I dunno. It would be hard for me to be in a situation where I would be dating a fan.

After American Idol, I had a stalker who found out where I lived and it was so scary. And he was leaving love notes at my house every couple of days. There was this one letter—we actually turned it over to the police because it was getting really weird—but basically he left this yellow ribbon inside the envelope and was like, “If you want to meet me, then hang this ribbon on your mailbox between these hours on this day and I’ll make sure to drive by to see it.” And I was like, “Should I be waiting with the police during that time instead? Because this is really weird!” So that was really scary. And he eventually went away, but it was such a weird experience to have someone actually seek out where I live and leave me handwritten love notes.

wspoiler

You must’ve felt so uncomfortable, because that’s your space. Especially at night time when you’re sleeping.

lesa wilson

It’s one of the reasons whenever I pick a place to live, I tend to find gated communities with security, and you have to be buzzed in, like, fifteen times sorta thing [laughs].

spoiler

Who is your celebrity crush?

lesa wilson

Chris Hemsworth, hands down [laughs]. Zero question about it. Listen, if I’m ever on set with him, and especially if I ever play his love interest, I’m gonna need counseling [laughs]. No, I’m just kidding! He’s married and he has a beautiful family.

spoiler

Hemsworth with long hair or short hair?

lesa wilson

I tend to go for a little bit of the clean cut short hair look.

spoiler

I love Chris Hemsworth, he is a great actor, but Thor has taken him to another universe.

lesa wilson

He was obviously a fantastic actor before he landed the role of Thor, but seeing him as Thor, it’s just a totally different level. There’s something about being a superhero that just elevates your status. So pretty much anything he does moving forward is pure gold because he’s Thor. And he will always be Thor.

spoiler Are you single now?

lesa wilson Yes I am!

spoiler

How would someone get your special attention?

lesa wilson

Don’t be a creeper [laughs]. Because you get a lot of messages on Instagram and on Twitter, and I’m totally fine with it, but it’s a bit of an echo chamber. A lot of the same stuff over and over again. And you can’t really engage in a lot of conversation, because it’s

just like, he eventually goes to another level. But I dunno. Be interesting. Be kind. And don’t be a creep. I’m all about making friends, but I get a little bit weirded out when people come at me in fan style, you know? So just be a real person.

spoiler What’s your biggest pet peeve?

lesa wilson

Cigarette smoke in close proximity to where other people are sitting or eating, or in a place where they can’t get away from it. I’m not a smoker. I’ve never been a smoker, and cigarette smoke makes my throat hurt really badly. So anytime I’m around someone who’s smoking like that, it makes me so upset. If that’s what you wanna do, just don’t do it around me.

spoiler Do you work out on a daily basis?

lesa wilson

Not daily, no. But I do workout about 2 to 3 times a week.

spoiler

So you’re one of those people who just naturally looks fit. You can eat a big cheese pizza and a couple of hamburgers, while other people have to work out 5 hours a day.

lesa wilson

[laughs] I try to avoid eating that badly, because really, truly maintaining your physique is mostly done in the kitchen. So as long as my diet is dialed in—and I’m not perfect, especially during COVID I have gone off the rails a few times with ice cream and all of the things that I love the most that I don’t allow myself to have on a regular basis. I’m just like, “What does it matter? I’m not gonna be on film for a while, so I can just get it back together towards the end of quarantine!” [laughs] I just find it really important to make sure you’re putting good food into your body so you don’t have to worry about killing yourself in the gym five, six, seven days a week in order to maintain your physique. I get really sore and really tired if I work out too much, so I try to conserve my energy as much as I can and just do workouts that I enjoy and make sure that I’m staying physical in some way.

spoiler

What’s your favorite food?

lesa wilson

That’s a hard one because I love food. Hmm…angel hair pasta with marinara sauce. It’s so boring, but I love pasta. I’m an Italian food lover.

spoiler Do you like the pasta to be wet with sauce, or a dryer pasta with just a little bit of sauce?

lesa wilson

I like a happy medium between the two because if there’s too much sauce, then it becomes about the sauce and you miss out on the pasta. Sometimes I’ll even eat pasta by itself. I don’t want it super dry, but I want it to have some good flavor.

spoiler Do you believe in ghosts?

lesa wilson

I do, wholeheartedly. I lived in this apartment that was haunted. I came home from work one night and I could hear music blasting from outside the building. I thought it was very curious. I’m like, “Why is my neighbor being such a jerk and playing music so loud?” So then I get upstairs to my apartment door, and the music is coming from my apartment. I was like, “Nobody has been here.” So I push open the door and jump back, like I’m afraid someone is gonna come out and attack me. I turn on the light and furniture had been moved around as if there had been a fight in my living room. There was a chair that had been smashed into the wall and there was a hole in the wall behind the chair. And this music was just raging on the

radio. So I turned it off and I called my roommate, who was the last person who had been there. I asked her if she had turned the radio on, and she was like, “No, I turned everything off when I left.” So that was the first thing that happened. But then, after that, my roommate would wake up and go into the kitchen and dishes would be moved around and our cabinet doors would be wide open. I came home another day and our back door, which was deadbolted from the inside—and my roommate was out of town—that door was wide open and flapping in the wind.

And there was one night—this is mega creepy—where I was in bed and woke up feeling like there was something on me and choking me. Like, trying to kill me. I managed to fling myself out of bed and started army crawling. And it literally feels like something is pulling me backwards. I got to the door and opened it up, and it finally releases. And I just lay there sweating bullets because I have no idea

what just happened to me. This was the creepiest thing I’ve ever experienced. The temperature in my room skyrocketed. It was so hot. I was pouring sweat. The next morning, I go to tell my roommate about it—and mind you, we share a wall—and she said, “Something really strange happened to me last night. My room was like an ice box.”

She told me the time she woke up and it was like, 3:30 in the morning, which was the time I was having my issue. And I asked her if she heard anything when she woke up and she said, “No, I heard nothing.”

She heard nothing! So after that, we decided we were gonna move out. We broke our lease and moved to a new place down the road. And I haven’t had any kind of experiences like that since. I have had experiences where I’ve felt things or seen

things pass me, but nothing to that extent. That was the craziest thing that has ever happened to me. I was like 19-years-old.

spoiler

Which celebrities do you feel are most influential?

lesa wilson

I think as far as environmentalism, Leonardo DiCaprio. For women in the film business, I’m gonna say Reese Witherspoon. They are the two that, in my sphere of influence, have the most authority.

spoiler

If you could say one thing to your fans, what would it be?

lesa wilson

“I’m so grateful. I’m so grateful for the support. For everyone who has been cheering for me along the way and wants to see me continue to grow and be more successful, it means everything to me. And I’m just so thankful.”

BY ETHAN BREHM

WHEN DISCUSSING CHILD ACTORS WHO’VE MADE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION INTO

an adult career, few people throw Ethan Hawke’s name into the conversation. Before turning 18, he starred in Joe Dante’s 1985 cult hit, Explorers, alongside River Phoenix. The film failed at the box office, even though it found success in the rental market and has become beloved over the years. As a result of its infamy at the time, however, the movie’s reputation made Hawke quit acting temporarily.

He spent some time studying acting at Carnegie Mellon University prior to getting a major part in 1989’s Dead Poets Society, which has become one of cinema’s paradigms of the teacher-student drama. The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and the actor’s performance earned him recognition across the board, and is still his highest-grossing film to date. Before its release, Hawke was debating returning to college, but saw the film’s warm reception as a sign to pursue his career in the industry.

After that, he found success in the comedy Dads alongside Jack Lemmon and Ted Danson, but it was

1991’s White Fang where he got his first solo lead in the adaptation of the Jack London novel. During this time, Hawke appeared in several other projects such as Mystery Date, Alive, and even had a cameo in Quiz Show. He also had his Broadway debut in 1992 in Chekhov’s The Seagull

However, it would be the generation-defining Reality Bites in 1994 that would solidify the actor’s place in modern Hollywood. Starring alongside Winona Ryder and Ben Stiller (who also directs), Hawke plays a brooding musician trying to make sense of his failures amidst his newly-waning confidence. The film saw Hawke leap over the possibility of any teen heartthrob pigeonhole

and established credence in him as a serious actor worthy of our attention.

He stepped into the director’s shoes for the first time with the music video for Lisa Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You),” which was featured in Reality Bites and became the first number-one single by an unsigned artist ever.

Cinephiles everywhere couldn’t wait to see what the actor would do next. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long. In his first teamup (of many) with director Richard Linklater—another filmmaker who helped define mid-’90s counterculture—Hawke co-starred with Julie Delpy in 1995’s Before Sunrise, which many consider to be

Ethan Hawke:Neil Grabowsky;Montclair Film;Nicolas Genin;Avenue Magazine/(cover image):Ethan Hawke:Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

amongst the top romance films of all time. Where his slacker character in Reality Bites felt more inscrutable, viewers rooted for and fell in love with him and Delpy’s relationship in the European-set drama.

1997’s Gattaca was the actor’s first foray into the sci-fi realm since his 1985 debut. While considered a box-office bomb, the dystopian film has remained relevant over time for its high concept and darker atmosphere—one we hadn’t quite seen Hawke inhabit at that point.

Then, the actor went from one intriguing modern-day adaptation of a literary classic to the next. First, he starred alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert De Niro in Alfonso Cuarón’s Great Expectations, and then he upped the stakes once again in the even-more unprecedented, tech-heavy Hamlet transposition where he plays the title character.

2001 was a huge year for Hawke. Other than appearing in two Richard Linklater pictures (Waking Life, Tape), he had his feature film directorial debut with Chelsea Walls, starring Kris Kristofferson and Uma Thurman. If that weren’t notable enough, he also starred in arguably his most famous film of all, Training Day. His performance was met

with widespread critical acclaim and garnered the actor his very first Academy Awards nomination (his co-star Denzel Washington won an Oscar for his role in the film).

A few years later, Hawke and Delpy returned for Before Sunset, a sequel to their 1995 classic. This time around, both actors co-wrote the screenplay with Linklater, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The actor also starred in a loose remake of John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13 in 2005.

Throughout the next few years, Hawke continued to refine himself as he matured. He found more controlled intensity in his next few performances, even though he knew how to rein them in when necessary as well. In 2007, he appeared alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei in Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, which would

turn out to be legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet’s final picture. That same year, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in The Coast of Utopia on Broadway. And then in 2010, the actor starred in his first horror film, Daybreakers, a unique vampire thriller that sadly flew under the radar, yet has garnered its own fair share of fans over the years. Later that year, he was a standout in the ensemble cast of the crime drama Brooklyn’s Finest.

In 2012, he leveled up his successful run with Sinister, another horror film, and one that found surprise success, directed by Scott Derrickson and produced by Jason Blum. He then co-wrote and starred in the third Before installment, Before Midnight, which earned him another Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2013 and reaffirmed the trilogy as one of the greatest romance stories ever.

That same year, he starred in The Purge, which was very successful and has gone on to be a franchise all its own (albeit without Hawke’s involvement). And then in 2014, the actor got his second Oscar nomination for acting with his role in the unprecedented Boyhood, directed by Linklater and filmed over the course of 12 years. Boyhood starred Hawke as the father of the titular boy and was met with a great deal of critical acclaim and nominated for Best Picture.

Thus began a trend that saw the actor in a good deal of highly-touted performances, including Good Kill, Maggie’s Plan, Born to Be Blue, In a Valley of Violence, and Maudie. Then he gave what some consider the best performance of his career in Paul Schrader’s 2017 film, First Reformed, for which he received an Independent Spirit Award. Since that time, the actor has well navigated the projects he’s been involved in. Never shying away from bigger-budget studio films, Hawke has always seemed to prefer the low-budget indies, and he chooses them well. In 2018, he had a pair of highly regarded movies: Juliet, Naked and Blaze, the latter of which was directed by Hawke himself (his third). In recent years, he’s also starred in Stockholm, Adopt a Highway, The Truth, Cut Throat City, Zeroes and Ones, and had the title role in the Nikola Tesla biopic, Tesla. 2022 is gearing up to be the biggest year of the actor’s career. Along with a role in the highlyanticipated Knives Out 2 and Robert Eggers Viking epic The Northman, Hawke portrays the archnemesis of Moon Knight in the newest Marvel series of the same name. This is the actor’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one of the few times he’s played a villain in his career.

Since his debut in 1985, Ethan Hawke has always managed to make the right career moves. Never have more than a few years gone by where he didn’t do something of note, let alone something good, or at the very least, interesting. Famously staying out of Los Angeles, the actor has always done things his way, allowing his talent to speak for itself, always dedicated to improving his craft every step of the way.

Ethan Hawke:Brigitte Lacombe/Stand By Me:Columbia Pictures/Batman Forever:DC;Warner Bros./ Independence Day:20th Century Studios/The Lord of the Rings:New Line/Doctor Strange:Marvel;Disney

STAND BY ME (1986)

ETHAN’S MISSED ROLES

Following his debut in Explorers, Ethan Hawke auditioned for a slightly more famous ‘80s flick: Stand By Me. The young actor tried out for the part of Chris Chambers, which eventually went to his former Explorers co-star, the late River Phoenix.

BATMAN FOREVER (1995)

Back in the ‘90s, Joel Schumacher really wanted Hawke to play Batman in his upcoming film, Batman Forever (a role that eventually went to Val Kilmer). However, the actor was wary about starring in a superhero project, fearing it went against his goals as a young actor. He later admits regretting his decision, implying that it may have led to him accepting the role in Moon Knight, which star Oscar Isaac personally invited him to be a part of.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996)

One of the more unfounded rumors was that Ethan Hawke and then-wife Uma Thurman were both set to be cast as Faramir and Éowyn, respectively, in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy (Thurman was previously offered the role of Arwen). However, as the story goes, after the actress dropped out to focus on raising the couple’s new baby, Hawke followed suit.

Will Smith’s role in the 1996 summer hit nearly went to Ethan Hawke instead. 20th Century Fox, the studio behind the Independence Day, was adamant about Hawke starring as the lead, fearing that Smith was too unproven, seeing that he’d only been in his titular sitcom and Bad Boys by that point. Ultimately though, director Roland Emmerich went to bat for the Fresh Prince and got his vision made. But according to Hawke, he wasn’t a fan of the script in the first place.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2001)

DOCTOR STRANGE (2016)

Having teamed up with Scott Derickson in Sinister, the actor was on the short list for the director’s breakout Marvel flick, Doctor Strange. Following frontrunner Joaquin Phoenix dropping out of contention, the studio was close to nabbing Hawke as their Sorcerer Supreme before the role ultimately went to Benedict Cumberbatch.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Olivia Cheng was born to be in the entertainment industry.

With an innate need to tell stories from such a young age, the Canadian-born actress had one of the coolest learning curves you could ask for. Her first major project was the award-winning miniseries Broken Trail, where she was able to study from acting legend Robert Duvall first hand, learning techniques that she still implements to this day. Olivia is truly an actress’ actress. It’s obvious she’s not only in love with her art, but the craft behind it.

Starring in HBO Max’s hit show Warrior as Ah Toy, the brothel Madame in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1870s, Cheng is continuing to make a name for herself. She’s paid her dues and worked so hard for so many years, and she knows it. The actress not only deserves to be well-recognized, but the world needs to know who she is. And they will.

The lifelong comic book fan is able to nerd out with Galaxy about what comics have meant to her throughout her life and even dives a little into the Marvel vs. DC debate. She also tells us about how she got into acting, her dream collaborators, and her newfound pandemic life as a plant parent.

Olivia not only nails the perfect balance between sincerity and her jovial sense of humor when she speaks, but truly understands what it means to tell a story, both as a performer and just in everyday conversation. Here, she gifts us with some of her storytelling skills firsthand as she rants about her utter disdain for shopping vacations (we can’t blame her), and details her time spent taking an art course in Paris (we’ll let her tell you that one). This interview was a fun one.

Olivia Cheng/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

interview interview

SPOILER: You’re on a TV series that I love a lot. I’m very vocal about it. Warrior is very underrated and everyone needs to watch it. I’m excited for you. You’re one of the stars. How’s your experience been on Warrior?

OLIVIA CHENG: Warrior has been such a blessed, enhancing experience. Not only does it trip me out to know that I’m part of the Bruce Lee legacy in some significant way, but just in terms of the materials I’ve had to do artistically. It really resonated for me culturally, it resonated for me as a woman, and I got a brand new family out of it. I got to create something from scratch with a great group of people who I’m still in touch with to this day. Warrior is the bee’s knees and I’m so glad you found it and are spreading the Warrior word on our behalf.

SPOILER: You play Ah Toy, a brothel owner. No spoilers, but I gotta tell everyone you’re a badass on the show. You do amazing things with your sword. Do you have martial arts experience? Because you look like you do.

OLIVIA CHENG: I don’t. I mean, I do in a sense that I was on another show called Marco Polo on Netflix. That show was very much martial arts influenced, and that was my real first experience in training martial arts. And in that case it was really only jumping into choreo to sell the fight sequences. I’m a gymnast. I was a gymnast when I was younger. I was exposed to martial arts because I was in a Mandarin bilingual program in Edmonton, Alberta. But because I was already in gymnastics, training 20 hours a week, I didn’t have the bandwidth or the time to also add martial arts onto it. I was always interested in it, but it was just never something I had the opportunity to really dabble in. And I use the word “dabble” because I have legit respect for martial artists after the last five years of where my career has taken me. By the time I got to Warrior, I wasn’t completely starting from scratch like I was with Marco Polo. Because of Ah Toy’s fighting style where she knows she’s a woman so stealth, surprise, and efficiency is her fighting language, she doesn’t have time, nor does she take the chance to toy with her opponents. She gets the

job done and then she’s out. So my choreo on Warrior was actually quite simple and quick, and I actually had a lot of time to train for the first time in three years, since sort of being introduced into this action genre. And obviously because I’m Asian, it’s inevitable that someone’s gonna go, “Let’s use her for martial arts!” So thank you for saying that, and no, I cannot claim to be a legit martial artist in life.

OLIVIA CHENG: We were very much the landed immigrant story. I think because my family comes from a past of fleeing from war and war-induced poverty and homelessness, I think my upbringing in Canada, for them, was incredibly affluent because I had access to universal health care and education. Part of what they wanted for me was, they realized that, “Okay they’re growing up in white-bred prairie town Canada. How do we instill in our children a sense of pride in their culture?” So my dad actually went through the Edmonton phonebook and found every Chinese family he could, and just cold-called everyone and pulled together a group of parents, and found the first teacher for what became the Edmonton Mandarin Bilingual Program. So absolutely, in terms of conservative Chinese families, my parents would have loved me to live the 9 to 5 dream with steady paychecks, benefits, a corporate ladder to rise in. And that totally makes sense, right? I think that anyone out there reading this who comes from parents who always wanted better for their children, for them having come from where they came from in terms of poverty and lack of resources, totally makes sense that they’d want me to almost have a desk job of some sort [laughs].

But acting, it was always just something I naturally gravitated towards, even before I had the words. I would bring these Christian Bible plays to school, because my dad bought them for me, and I would cast my friends to read them. So

basically doing table reads in Grade 1 at recess. Instead of doing essays, my teachers would give me special permission to make short films on the topic instead, or write a play and present a play [laughs]. So it was already there, but it didn’t even occur to me that acting was something that I really wanted to make a livelihood or career out of. It was just so far out of the possibility of my reach at the time. You know, I’ve been scammed by quote-unquote agents [laughs], and “Get Discovered” kinda events that are just money-grabs, you know? I’ve been through all that. But I guess a real turning point was

when AMC’s Broken Trail came to Alberta, and they were specifically looking for five Chinese actresses at the time, and the pool for Asian actresses at that point was probably even smaller than it is now. So Robert Duvall, who was one of the executive producers, and Walter Hill, the director, they were willing to look at kinda non-actresses who didn’t really have experience. By this point I had been an extra on Christmas movies that would come to Edmonton, and Edmonton would stand in as some small Midwestern city or town, but I’d never really done anything significant. But I got cast in this and I

SPOILER: Why did you get into acting?

Olivia Cheng/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

had to quit my job at the time, and I got to be on set for upwards of three months. It was my first lightning in a bottle experience of what was possible as an actor, and once that experience bit me–the acting bug bit me at that point–I didn’t want to go back to what my life had been in Edmonton, so I kinda made the jump and moved forward–moved to Vancouver and pursued acting from there.

SPOILER: That show with Robert Duvall was highly acclaimed and awarded. You must’ve learned so much from being on set with such a legend.

OLIVIA CHENG: I did. I mean, now I look back and think about how splendidly naive I was. I call him “Bobby D.” He made us call him that. He went out of his way to build rapport and chemistry, because he understood that we needed to be comfortable with him on screen and chemistry was something that was built in-between scenes. He was like a surrogate uncle or grandfather to us. Now I think about it, I’m like, “Oh my God, I would never have the balls to do this now,” [laughs] but I remember I would just walk up to his trailer at 6 in the morning and knock on his door and just be like, “Hey, what’re ya doin’?” [laughs] And he’d

be like, “I’m learnin’ my lines. Come in, come in.” And he’d pour me tea and I would just sit there and watch him learn his lines. There were just so many things on set where I now understand the wisdom of what he was doing with these really simple instructions. I didn’t know at the time, but there was a point where my character in that movie–I was really, really stressed out because there was so much I had to convey in one look. My character was someone who’s been incredibly traumatized. It dealt with the part of Asian American history where young girls were trafficked over from China and that was America’s introduction to Asian women, through these horrible human trafficking rings. The ideas of prostitution and hypersexualization of Asian women, it comes from this tragic part of history, and Broken Trail touched on that. There was a scene where a horse gets injured and has to be put down, and my character sees the quickness of this death and is fascinated because she’s suicidal. She’s been abused and wants an escape. It was the tiniest foreshadowing and the tiniest way to convey where her psychology was at that moment. I’d never had a proper role, and I’m like, “How am I supposed to say all that?” I felt so much pressure

to have this big emotional response on screen and I think Bobby could see that I was panicking a little, so he said, “Just look at the horse and think, ‘What a pretty horse, what a pretty horse.’” And now I realize that’s an actual technique that’s taught, which is mantras–to have a thought in character and just repeat the mantra in your mind because it gives you something to ground yourself in emotionally, life-wise, and then the audience can project what they think is going on and project their emotion onto the character. So in all those little ways, I learned a lot from a legend. And that’s why I look back and I’m like, “Man, that was lightning in a bottle! First time out.”

SPOILER: Do you feel like Warrior has given you an audience where you can expand tremendously?

OLIVIA CHENG: I hope so. I think it’s going to be really interesting. Warrior is in this really strange spot because there was a media acquisition where I believe AT&T bought out a number of networks, including HBO and Cinemax. HBO and Cinemax are actually the same network. And we have been lost in the shuffle and the politics of the acquisition, and if not for the intervention of, I think, Vanity Fair writing an article about Warrior saying, “What do you mean we’re not going to be able to see Warrior on HBO Max when it ends?” then that would have been it for Warrior. There are all these

fantastic Cinemax shows whose fates are up in the air and there’s a big question mark above them, and my heart goes out to them because that’s where we sat before the Vanity Fair article came out. So moving over to HBO Max, getting to join that streaming family, this exposes us to potentially millions of viewers who otherwise wouldn’t have discovered us on Cinemax. So I hope that Warrior catapults all of us to a different level of public consciousness. At the same time, I think I’ve been in the game long enough to not be skeptical and not count on different things, because there have always been moments in my career where I thought, “Maybe this is it. Maybe this is that big break that levels me up.” And things never quite go as you expect, both good and bad. So I really hope so. I think there is the possibility for sure, and I’m very, very, very curious to see what happens.

SPOILER: If there was any one person in this acting universe to emulate, who would that be?

OLIVIA CHENG: That’s a tough one. The first person who pops into mind is Charlize Theron. I’d really like to do comedy as well, and I’m thinking of her in Long Shot recently, and she had that recurring character in Arrested Development a few years back. And I guess she’s in dark comedies with Young Adult and Tully. So I think I’m feeling like some Charlize Theron vibes today.

SPOILER: Have you noticed she never ages?

OLIVIA CHENG: You know, a goddess is a goddess is a goddess. And speaking of ageless, because she played an immortal recently in The Old Guard, maybe that’s why she’s really top of mind for me. The action in that, for me, I’ve done so much action in the last 5 years in my career, so I always appreciated stunts; I always appreciated action, because there’s always a level of athleticism involved. I think Charlize Theron is the queen when it comes to female action. Can you think of someone else right now on that level where entire productions are built around an actress playing the lead

role of her own action franchise? Like, Milla Jovovich has hers. I know Olivia Munn is shooting a new action movie I can’t wait to see. So right now Charlize is kind of, I feel like she’s up there.

SPOILER: Do you think clothing makes the person?

OLIVIA CHENG: I have a friend who says, “Dress how you feel.” So I think I dress more based on, “Okay, I’m feeling kinda laid back and casual,” which is most of the time. I roll around in a lot of athleisure, and then sometimes it’s like, “I feel like I’m feeling myself today, so maybe I’ll amp it up a bit more.” But I don’t think I’ve ever got up in the morning and felt, “I want to emulate this person or this character, so let me open the tickle trunk and see what pieces I have.”

SPOILER: Have you ever tapped into Ah Toy to get out of a situation?

OLIVIA CHENG: You know [laughs] I thought about that. I thought about what would happen if I channeled, like, Ah Toy or Master Gao [from Deadly Class], or just any of the characters I’ve played the last few years, and I’m like, “I just think it would be a lot.” Because part of what makes Ah Toy “Ah Toy” is her costumes and her makeup and the power of her presentation. And without those things, the character is 90% not there. But in terms of her wit and her ability to just look right through people, it’s funny, because I think that would be so unsettling. I’m not saying I’m not above using that, but I haven’t yet. But I have thought about it. I’ve thought about, “How would Ah Toy be out in the real world?” Some of her quick-witted banter–I mean, if I had those Warrior writers in my pocket writing me dialogue for life, I’d be killin’ it. I’d always have a zinger.

SPOILER: Do you have a celebrity crush?

OLIVIA CHENG: I know I’ve had celebrity crushes. Somebody asked me the other day who my first character crush was, and I said Astro Boy. At first I thou-

ght they meant a real person, but the example they gave was a comic book character. So then I was like, “Oh, okay, so if we’re going in terms of comic book or animation character, then I would say my first crush would be Astro Boy.” But I’m trying to think of who my celebrity crush is right now, I’m drawing a blank right now. I’m sorry, I just came out of stunt training so I think my brain is a little fried. I’m drawing a blank.

SPOILER: What inspires you?

OLIVIA CHENG: My gosh, it could be anything. I’m building a new character right now for a project I’m on, and I want to tune in and watch this reality show that I heard about on Netflix. And I have no idea if I’m gonna find the inspiration that I’m looking for, but sometimes just even that thread of possibility and curiosity, you always have to investigate it. I don’t mean to sound so lame, but over this pandemic I’ve become a total plant parent. I’ve gotten so much

joy–this is so lame–being like, “Oh my God, there’s a new leaf today!” That plants around me are thriving and growing–and when you’re home enough, like over the pandemic, I was able to track growth day by day. It can be something as simple as that, to seeing someone walk by on the street and I love their fashion, I love their style, to obviously a great movie or a good book, or sometimes you overshare conversation. I mean, it could even be the weather. When it’s sunny out, I feel different. I think there are so many sources of inspiration out there if you’re open to it.

SPOILER: If you could pick a theme song to describe where your life is at right now, what song would you choose?

OLIVIA CHENG: Ohh, these questions feel hard today, Galaxy! [laughs]

SPOILER: [laughs] Maybe I should ask what your favorite color is.

OLIVIA CHENG: [laughs] I have no idea why, but I’m getting flashbacks to high school–”Eye of the Tiger” was like our high school’s theme song. [singing] “Risin’ up!” You know? That’s just what kinda came into my head. I was like, “What’s a song that’s like a bit of a fight song, but gets you into a ‘Yeah!’ kinda mode?” and “Eye of the Tiger” just came into my head [laughs]. It’s such an old song.

SPOILER: I know you have a lot of fans out there that want to meet you. When COVID’s over and the conventions restart again, I’m tellin’ you, Olivia, you better get yourself out there and go to conventions. The energy is exhilarating.

OLIVIA CHENG: See, that, to me, is really crazy. Because I have never cracked conventions. I’ve never been asked. The one time was just a publicity thing. Even before Marco Polo came out, Netflix booked some time in Brazil, but nobody even knew who we were or what the show was. They just showed the clip of where I do the naked fight scene in episode 2 in season 1 and the crowd went crazy. And then we did a panel to answer questions and we were out of there. But other than that, I have never experienced any convention, and maybe I should take you up on that. I don’t have a convention agent. I’ve never cracked that world. It’s a funny thing, when season one [of Warrior] came out, we were all actually in South Africa filming season two. And now that season two’s come out, it’s COVID. So we’ve never had a red carpet event. We as a cast have never had a chance to celebrate the opening of Warrior in person together. We had one event where, I think, maybe four of us from the cast were able to make it, but we’ve never had a proper red carpet or a party, even for ourselves, let alone any kind of event that puts us in the same room live with people who know our show

and are interested. So that would be a really interesting thing for us to actually get to meet and mingle.

SPOILER: What is your dream collaboration if you could create one?

OLIVIA CHENG: I’ll just say who popped in my head right away. Like a director, I’m trying to think if I’ve worked with a female director. I’ve had three female directors come in on a few episodes who I worked with on a short term basis, but I’d be really curious to see what it would be like to work with a female director on a feature film. People like Ava DuVernay, Lulu Wang, who did The Farewell with Awkwafina. He’s not

female, but I’d have to throw Steven Spielberg in there because he’s just an all-time great film director. I loved Ready Player One, and to be able to do something epic on that scope would be incredible. In terms of other actors I’d want to work with, there’s just so many great actors out there right now.

SPOILER: Whether it’s Warrior, Marco Polo or Deadly Class, you always stand out and do an amazing job. The world needs to see how talented you are.

OLIVIA CHENG: Aww, thank you! I so appreciate that. Thank you. Even just feeling your energy alone, I apprecia-

te you. I hope, I really hope. I’ve been at this so long that I really do feel happy to be working, and I don’t know if after this project ends–I’ve gone up to two years without working. I don’t work more than I work. And that is how it happens with most working actors. You’ve got to be smart with your money and you have to budget, because even if you make a lot of money in one chunk, you never know how long you have to stretch it out for before your next job. You always wanna be trying to make a smart career move, or at the very least a lateral career move. It’s really common for so many actors where sometimes you do have to do a job for a paycheck and not for a shiny gold star on the resume. And that’s been most of my career in terms of not really knowing what’s around the corner–the inconsistency being the consistency. I would be really curious what life and my career would look like if it really blew up. I don’t know what that would be like. Let’s do it! I’m ready!

SPOILER: What would you purchase if you had unlimited funds?

OLIVIA CHENG: I have thought about this [laughs]. I think at this point, I would love to buy a home. Is that boring?

SPOILER: It’s not boring. A leopard or a giraffe would be a bit more exciting, but a home is a great purchase.

OLIVIA CHENG: Listen, I had a friend who, after his first big job, bought a $9,000 wristwatch, and I was like, “I mean, look, it’s beautiful. But why?” So I’m not built like that. I’m all for treating myself. But at this point, I’m technically based in Vancouver, and if I could finally crack that motherf***ing housing market, Galaxy, that would be dope! It’s so expensive to get into the housing market there. I’d not only love a house, but I’d love a house or a yard big enough that I could put crazy cool sculptures around. That to me would be a splurge.

SPOILER: I know some people who are so rich, all they bring is a bac-

Olivia Cheng/Warrior/HBO/HBO

kpack on vacation and they buy everything once they arrive at their destination, then throw it away afterwards.

OLIVIA CHENG: You know what?

I know some people who, every year they go to Utah and rebuy everything. Like brand new skis, ski suits, and are so averse to buying anything on sale. But to me, what would be annoying is just the time. I have a 2 hour shopping limit. So when I go shopping I need to kinda know what I’m looking for, and I know I have 2 hours before I hit a wall and have to take a nap. I love shopping in short bouts, and I’ll get in moods where I love shopping, but I’m not… I’ve got some girlfriends who–there was one of the worst friend trips I’ve ever been on–I was in Edmonton at the time, and a few of us flew to Vancouver and it was awful. All we did was go from shopping mall to shopping mall to shopping mall–like 8 hours of shopping. Two days of shopping until the stores closed. And I was like a petulant temper-tantruming child because I was so mad that this was what I flew to Vancouver for. Vancouver is so beautiful, there’s Stanley Park, we have beaches right in the middle of the city, we have a national history rainforest, we’re surrounded by islands and world class ski resorts and hiking trails, and amazing restaurants. And yet all we did was hang out in malls. It was a nightmare for me. I love those girls, and we stay in touch to this day, but I’ve never gone on a sho-

Spping trip with them again. To me, that’s cool, you can roll off the plane with a backpack, but then you gotta go buy your underwear, some socks, a change of pants, at least a couple shirts–I mean, how long are you in town for? That’s a lot of shopping.

I think what I realized in traveling with people is, you have to be able to travel with people–this is what an acting teacher, Veena Sood, said to me, and she meant it in terms of working with people and collaborating on projects or deciding whether or not to, say, mount a play together or getting into some kind of production together—she said, “Don’t work with anyone you wouldn’t want to be high on a mountain with.” And

I think that’s pretty smart advice. Don’t travel for days at a time with somebody you wouldn’t want to be high on a mountain with. Because you’ve gotta be able to travel with people and either be into the same things, the same interests, or you

have to be cool to be like, “I’m gonna go do this. Let’s meet up later.” The way I travel is I start researching what’s happening, sometimes just hours before I land in a city–this was pre-COVID when I was traveling a ton and didn’t have time to [plan months in advance]. I’m a little more fly-bythe-seat-of-my-pants. I tend to want to see cultural things. I want to see art events.

SPOILER: See! Your fans are getting to know you so well right now.

OLIVIA CHENG: Actually! That’s where I splurge. You were asking me earlier what would be the first thing I would purchase. I know I said a house earlier, but it might even be travel related. I remember when I first started not scrambling as much financially when I started booking bigger projects that just give you months of work versus days. And that’s when jet setting Olivia really came to the table to play, because

I wanted to see the world. One of the trips I’m most proud of–it was such a bucket list thing–but for eight years I had wanted to take a painting class in Paris. I came across this little company, run by a man who is like the third or fourth generation artist in his family. His family is Romanian lineage and they live in Paris now, and their whole philosophy was, “What better way to come to know Paris than to paint it?” And every day you meet, two locations a day you paint Paris. You learn how to paint and you paint Paris. So that was a big splurge of mine. He was so French too, he would show up hungover every morning, late–wine hangover. At one point, we were at the Louvre, and he was too tired to walk so he had this woman push him around in this wheelchair [laughs]. I’m like, “This is amazing. The temperamental grumpy French artiste.”

SPOILER: [laughs] That is so funny! Imagine seeing that: a perfectly well person being so tired that they wanna be pushed around in a chair.

OLIVIA CHENG: There was nothing wrong with his legs. He was just too tired to walk. He was a perfectly healthy gentleman in his mid-30s [laughs].

SPOILER: And he gets paid to do this, that’s the cool part [laughs].

OLIVIA CHENG: [laughs] Yeah, and he was actually a fantastic teacher in a lot of ways, but yeah, it was pretty funny.

SPOILER: The best ones are always kooky like that.

OLIVIA CHENG: Yes, he was kooky. I just sorta took it as part of the experience. If this had been someone who, say, I had for an entire semester then they would’ve been a problem [laughs]. But for five days in Paris, I was like, “This is hilarious. What are we painting today? Will he show up today? Oh! There he is! He made it” [laughs].

SPOILER: If you had a choice to be in a superhero project, which would you choose–Marvel or DC?

OLIVIA CHENG: Marvel. I grew up with Marvel. Like, I grew up with a little bit of DC too, but for me, I was

a Power Pack kid. I loved X-Factor. I would go to comic book conventions and was a little obsessed for a little bit with buying different drawings of Wolverine. So I’ve just been in a Marvel universe from such a young age. I mean, I think Wonder Woman with Gal Gadot is the best movie out of the DC world franchise, so obviously I love aspects of the DC world as well. But all those first characters who introduced me to comic books–actually I was thinking about it today, comic books taught me a lot of life lessons. A lot of storylines I was thinking about growing up with. I was like, “Wow, that story was about compassion; that story was about learning how to care for someone if they’re in trouble and your superpowers can’t do anything to save them from that situation–what do you do then?” Yeah, I think first to market in my mind was Marvel. I signed with the Agency for the Performing Arts in Hollywood, and one of the reasons why I signed with them–because after Marco Polo, I finally generated some interest in Hollywood and went agent shopping, and APA was one of the agencies that took a meeting with me. And I remember, I sat down with Dan Baron and Paul

Santana and Brady Torgeson, and we sat at this conference table and they were one of the only teams–the other teams had been selling themselves, but not a lot of them had been asking me what I wanted. And they asked me, “What’s, like, a dream role for you?” And I said, “Well, from the time I was a kid I always wanted to play a mutant. I always wanted to be in a comic book franchise.” And without missing a beat, I remember Brady said, “Marvel or DC?” [laughs] Eventually I chose this team and they were like, “Marvel is these characters and these characters, and DC is these characters and these characters.” They weren’t like, “That’s nice, that’s sweet,” and then patted me on the head. They listened. And one of the casting offices that has been so kind to me is Sarah Finn’s casting office, and she does everything for Marvel, so finger’s crossed. Maybe one day.

SPOILER: We’ll see you in X-Men. OLIVIA CHENG: That would be dope. I guess it would have to be–what? Reboot number three? I think the only Asian female character I’ve been aware of–I’m not saying there’s not more–but the only character I can think of is Jubilee.

SPOILER: There’s Silk. Colleen Wing. I can go on and on for you–I’m a nerd. But I’m a cool nerd!

OLIVIA CHENG: I think I’m an undercover nerd. I don’t think people expect it. I don’t think people expect that, yeah, I had a cubby hole too at my local comic book store where my subscriptions would come in–you know, in the plastic bags with the cardboard backings, so nothing gets bent. Then when you open it, you’re ever careful in turning the pages, then you put it back and store it in a cardboard box with a lid on it so nothing gets wrecked. …Did I sell it? Do I still have my Power Pack collection at home?? Anyway, moving on.

SPOILER: If there’s one thing you could tell your fans right now, what would it be?

OLIVIA CHENG: That it would be amazing to, you know, just everyone party together in crowds again–like, safely! Not now, guys, not now! But in a post-pandemic world, I just so look forward to all of us frolicking at house parties and backyards, out in the streets, out at conventions like Comic Con without everything that’s going on right now.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

For Jason Tobin, Warrior signifies even more than just an opportunity

to tell an amazing story. The actor, known for his work in iconic films like Better Luck Tomorrow and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (and becoming a fan favorite in both), sees the HBO Max series as a second chance. Once on the upward trend in Hollywood, Jason eventually found himself on the back end, taking a lot of odd jobs and side hustles to make ends meet. But now he’s reaping what he sowed, starring in the hit drama.

Playing Young Jun, heir to the Hop Wei Tong, in a show that was concei-

ved decades ago by the late Bruce Lee, who also just so happens to be Tobin’s childhood hero, the circumstances really couldn’t have been more perfect.

Young Jun is hugely important for the series, and for the trajectory and dynamics of the story it tells. The character has this macho attitude, but still possesses a heart underneath his brutal exterior.

A fan favorite once more, Jason recognizes the serendipity of it all. Justin Lin, whom the actor has collaborated with several times in the past, including the two aforementioned films, serves as an executive producer on Warrior and can vouch for both his talent and his professionalism.

Jason’s enthusiasm is palpable and we can’t blame him. This is not just another acting job, but an opportunity for him to prove that he not only still belongs in this industry, but is a serious force to be reckoned with.

interview interview

SPOILER: I have asked every cast member this question. How’s your experience with the show?

JASON TOBIN: Things are going great! Obviously, we’re living in this crazy time. But on a purely selfish level, one thing that’s helped me get through this period is Warrior season two coming out. We filmed it last year and had to keep it a secret from a lot of people. Couldn’t get out any spoilers. And finally now that it’s out I can talk about it and it’s really put a pep in my step, even though we’re not shooting anything, to be able to see the fans’ reaction and to watch the show again for myself and re-experience it. It’s been a beautiful thing.

SPOILER: Are you excited to meet the Warrior fans? We obviously didn’t have any conventions last year, but when they return, it’s gonna be amazing!

JASON TOBIN: Yes! I can’t wait! I love Comic Con. I was dying to go [last year]. But it’s gonna happen.

SPOILER: When you heard about Warrior, did you get excited?

JASON TOBIN: Absolutely. Actually, I had heard about the project a few years before it was actually filmed. Maybe about three years prior to shooting, it had been announced in the trades. And I remember thinking, “Oh, that’s a cool project.” But I didn’t really think that I would be in it. I thought maybe I would get an audition, but I didn’t really think about it. And a friend of mine posted the link to the article about it being in the works and posted it on my timeline [chanting], “Tobin! Tobin! Tobin!” I’m like, “Yeah, whatever” [laughs]. Fast forward three years later, I get a call and, long story short, I got to work on it. And there’s so many great things about the show. For an actor, to be working, that in itself is a massive win, so I’m very, very grateful for that. But then on top of that, to be part of a great show, to have a great character. A great show that speaks volumes about what’s going on today that reflects back, but through the lens of Bruce Lee and martial arts and a different period in our history. People ask me if I feel a responsibility to Bruce Lee. And yeah, I mean I

do, but I also feel a real responsibility to history; to the people who came before us. In particular, season 2, in episode 9 called “Enter the Dragon,” you know, when I shot that, like Young Jun, I felt that same kind of responsibility. We’re speaking about a real injustice that never got answered for. And yeah, it’s truly an honor and a blessing to not just be working as an actor, but to be part of something important.

SPOILER: Watching the show feels like taking a time machine to that era. What’s it like on set?

JASON TOBIN: Just talking about this right now I’m getting goosebumps. When I walk onto the backlot, the Chinatown set, I’m transported, man. The cobbled streets, the buildings, especially when you start filming, when the lighting’s there and the set’s decorated and filled with actors in their costumes, and horses and carriages, you are taken back. Part of your job as an actor–most of your job is using your imagination, but when you get dropped off at the set of Warrior, they’re doing half the work for you. I often felt like I was in a time machine too. Especially during those night shots. I remember during season two, there’s a scene where I’m in the back of a carriage, and it’s night time, transporting molasses to this hiding place, and it’s not a scene with any dialogue, it’s just us cruising along Chinatown road, and that is as real of a time machine as you’ll get.

SPOILER: Those moments must be so exhilarating for you.

JASON TOBIN: Look, if I’m gonna be honest, Galaxy, every actor has their own cross to bear, so to speak, and my career has had a lot of ups and downs. I’ve had a lot of downs where I never ever thought I’d be back doing this. When Warrior came, it really came at the right time for me. I have three children, and before I was doing Warrior, I was working literally ten different side hustles. I didn’t even have a main hustle, everything was a side hustle, just to keep the family going. I was acting, but I was doing all sorts of other things to keep us afloat. Even doing, like, police lineups [laughs] just lining up with a bunch of people. It’s funny, as an actor, you want the job, normally, when you’re auditioning. But in a police lineup, that’s the only time as an actor when you don’t wanna be

picked [laughs]. So Warrior is such a–I’m not a religious person, but I feel that the word “blessed” or “blessing” really feels appropriate when I speak about it. Because I just feel so lucky to be part of it. It came at the right time and, like I said, there’s been so many times in my career where I felt like I was down for the count, and galaxies away from my dreams. And to be making this show now is just a dream come true.

And the other thing is, I was a diehard Bruce Lee fan, like a crazy, fanatical guy. I remember when I was a teenager, I would literally [laughs] walk around Hong Kong wearing my kung fu pants and kung fu shoes–like, that was my normal wear. And I wasn’t doing kung fu, that’s just what I wore. There was a time where I really believed I was the reincarnation of Bruce Lee. This man, I’ve often said that he got me through my childhood, in the sense that, I’m this Chinese kid and traveled around a lot as a kid. My dad’s an English guy and I went to boarding school in England and got picked on a lot as the smallest kid, as well as being the only Chinese kid, but also the smallest kid in the school I got picked on a lot. And someone like Bruce Lee, who my dad introduced me to, Bruce gave me something to look up to, something to aspire to, and can honestly, genuinely say that he helped me get through my childhood. And I say that often. But recently I’ve come to realize that with Warrior now, he’s helping me get through my adulthood [laughs]. I’m a dad now

Jason Tobin/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

and Warrior could not have come at a better time. It’s such a sweet, sweet experience, and I could not say enough good things about it.

SPOILER: You perform your character so well. I think without you this show wouldn’t be the same. There are a few characters like that on every series, but especially on this one. Do you feel that?

JASON TOBIN: Absolutely. This show is absolutely 100% an ensemble piece. There’s so many fantastic performers and actors and artists throughout all different departments. It’s such a well-oiled machine, creating this high-level artistry. Obviously we’re a Cinemax and HBO show, but nevertheless we’re doing more with what we got. It’s even better than the resources we have. Everyone’s elevated their game, and when you bring that all together, it just becomes better than the sum of its parts. Going back to what you’re saying about the cast, when I first got cast in it, I hadn’t read a lot of the script, I had just read the scenes I was auditioning for. And at the time, I thought, “Oh, well how many Asian characters are there gonna be on the show?” Generally speaking, if I book a drama film or a movie, especially an American production, chances are you may be one or one of the few Asians on the show, you know? But

when I walked up to Cape Town to film the first season, I’m like, “Oh my God.” I saw my cast members, I’m like, “I’ve never seen so many Asians on a set!” It was awesome. And everyone delivers. It’s such a fantastic cast. I’ve learned so much from watching everybody. There’s this thing that Bruce Lee said, it was to “honestly express yourself.” And I’ve really adopted that thinking and that philosophy when it comes to being an actor. My colleagues on Warrior, everyone is expressing themselves honestly. Everyone is doing their own thing. Every actor on Warrior practices Jeet Kune Do of acting. Each one has their own style and way of doing it. Watching that unfold in front of me–it’s thrilling.

SPOILER: Do you think there’s a little bit of Young Jun in Jason Tobin?

JASON TOBIN: [laughs] It’s 100% acting. I have never done any of those things, Galaxy! Don’t get me in trouble, Galaxy, alright? [laughs] You know, it’s funny because people who’ve known me, friends, whatever, maybe if they don’t really know my work—and I tell them the sort of characters that I play, they won’t believe it. Like, “Really? You? I can’t see you doing that.” And then people who only know me from my films or Warrior, they think that’s me. During season one, I remember there’s a scene where Ah Sahm comes back from jail and we’re at Ah Toy’s celebrating. And I’m standing there and I’m poppin’ off champagne bottles, spraying everybody with champagne. Hoon [Lee] who plays Chou says, “You look like you’ve done that before” [laughs]. And the truth is, I haven’t, but come on, who doesn’t want to do [that in real life]? I think I got the camera wet [laughs].

SPOILER: If you haven’t experienced these things in your real life, at least you get to experience them on set.

JASON TOBIN: Totally! That’s why I love acting. It’s why as soon as I was bitten by the acting bug it’s just never left me. And I’ve been pursuing that high ever since. It is pretend. It is using your imagination, but if you commit to it, it’s just as good as experiencing it for real. Being an actor is a job that allows me to go places I don’t get to go in real life. I remember when I was preparing for Young Jun–and you’re not given a lot

Jason Tobin/Warrior/HBO/HBO

in the beginning. Now I’ve done 20 episodes, so I know Young Jun inside and out. But it’s episode one, and I get there, you’re playing a character but you don’t know what lies ahead yet. You’re given some ideas but still have a lot left to discover. So the first thing that I do is I think about, “How does Young Jun walk? How does he stand?” And then once I started getting the strut and the vibe–the shoulders back and the crick of the neck and the cocky swagger–then I started to really feel like him. But dude, I cannot walk around like that

in everyday life! [laughs] I mean, if I walked around like Young Jun, right now, I would look like the biggest a-hole. Hong Kong, where I lived, is a very cramped city, so can you imagine me walking with my arms doin’ the billionaire strut? I mean, come on.

SPOILER: There’s probably people that are actually like Young Jun in Hong Kong.

JASON TOBIN: [laughs] That’s actually a good point! I grew up in Hong Kong, and I grew up in England and America, and spent so much time in

all these places, and I really feel like my influence as an actor is from all those places. I’ve always loved Hong Kong movies–obviously Bruce Lee movies–but Hong Kong cinema, and Hong Kong movies and Hong Kong people and performers, they can be very broad and big, and I really loved that aspect of Young Jun. At one moment I can be big and broad, but then I can also bring it in really tight and keep it subtle and internal. That’s what I love about this show because I get to do everything. As an actor, I get to play the whole range of emotions and feelings, and physically I get to do that as well, as a martial arts performer too.

SPOILER: Did you train in martial arts for many years?

JASON TOBIN: Yes, actually as a kid I trained in martial arts from the age of 9. And when I was 18 I moved to Los Angeles to become an actor and I signed up at the Inosanto Academy. Dan Inosanto was Bruce Lee’s right hand man, teacher, friend, student, and especially as a young actor in LA, I wasn’t working much and had a lot of time on my hands, so I would spend all day long at the Inosanto Academy and I would just take every single class they taught. And I got really into it. But I always kept my love of martial arts and love of acting separate. Because I didn’t wanna fall into the martial arts film world at the time. There’s kind of a stigma, if you’re a martial arts actor, you get put in that category. I didn’t keep it secret, but I kept it separate. By the time Warrior rolled up, I kinda thought that maybe acting and martial arts films–maybe that opportunity had passed me. And it was fine because I’ve done a lot of other great films and stuff, and all the while I did have an itch to do some martial arts in a project, but I was getting to that age, like, “Maybe I won’t get the opportunity.” But then Warrior came along and all of a sudden I can now, finally, bring these two passions of mine together and come out of the closet, so to speak, with my love of martial arts. And to be able to act and perform on an amazing show

with fantastic writing, great acting, AND do amazing choreography and martial arts? Bro. I remember when the contract came through for Warrior, in my head I was like, “Man, I would pay to be on this show” [laughs]. I was thinking, “Do they know if they just paid me five bucks I would say ‘yes’?” [laughs]

SPOILER: You tricked ‘em! Low and behold they’re paying you.

JASON TOBIN: [laughs] Exactly. Another thing–I mean, I keep counting all the positives–on top of everything, we get to film in Cape Town, South Africa, which is just this unbelievably beautiful part of the world. Oh man, I really fell in love with the outdoors. I’ve never been a hiker really. My wife’s a big hiker, [laughs] and when she would ask me to go hiking, it would require all the best acting work I would do to muster up the enthusiasm for it. But now, after living in Cape Town, I can honestly say I’ve caught the bug of walking the earth.

SPOILER: Your wife must be so happy that you do all these crazy things on screen and not in real life.

JASON TOBIN: Totally! Let me tell you a quick story. Before Warrior, when our first daughter was born, maybe six weeks later, I got a job and in one of the scenes I had to kiss this girl. And it was a very tame kiss, it wasn’t a passionate kiss, it wasn’t tongue action, it was just a silhouette. Me and the other actor were totally in profile and it was just our lips meeting. But my wife had just given birth and when she saw it, she flipped out and was sooo pissed at me. And I totally understand why because she’s emotional and now

her husband’s kissing some other woman, and she had just had a baby. But from my perspective, we just had a baby and we needed money, so I’m not gonna turn it down. Long story short, fast forward to Warrior a few years later, now we got three kids. And I get the script for episode one. And I flipped through it and one of the first scenes I got is a sex scene. I turn to my wife and I’m like, “Honey, umm, so there’s this sex scene I’ve got in episode one,” and she turns to me and says, totally serious, “I don’t care. Just bring home the bacon” [laughs]. After the third kid, she’s like, “You better brush your teeth, shower, wear clean clothes, don’t be disgusting when you meet the other actresses in the scene.”

SPOILER: I’m guessing after three kids, you ain’t goin’ nowhere. JASON TOBIN: [laughs] She’s like, “Get outta here! Go to work!”

SPOILER: I know that you first auditioned for Ah Sahm, but the producers decided you’d fit Young Jun better and they brought you back for that.

JASON TOBIN: Yeah, that’s right. So the casting had contacted me in the

Amiddle of 2017 and they had me audition for Ah Sahm. I think if you ask a lot of Asian actors, they will tell you that they auditioned for Ah Sahm. They spread the net wide [laughs]. Anyway, I auditioned for Ah Sahm and thought that I had done a decent job; I thought I did a professional job as an actor. That they would watch it and be like, “Oh yeah, he’s a good actor. He’s a professional.” But sometimes you get a feeling–and you’re not always right–but I got a feeling after I did the [audition] that I didn’t think I had done enough to be quite right for the role. You can’t win them all, right? But at the same time, I had this instinct. I’m like, “Man, I bet you there’s a role in this script that I would just be perfect for.” Sure enough, I didn’t hear back from them at all [laughs]. Months and months go by, I’d forgotten about the project, and all of a sudden I get a call in the middle of the night and it’s from Justin Lin–you know, the director and the godfather of the Fast and Furious franchise. I’ve worked with him on Better Luck Tomorrow and several other films, and he’s telling me that he wants me to read for this character “Young Jun” and I say, “Yeah, I’d love to.” Then I get another call from

Jason Tobin/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

casting, and another from Jonathan Tropper, the showrunner, and they’re all keen to have me audition for Young Jun, but all three of them were VERY adamant about giving me the note of, “Don’t go crazy with this guy. Just play it chill. Please don’t go overboard. Just keep it chill.” And so I was like, “Okay, that’s not how he read to me in the script, but I’m a professional and I’m gonna listen to them.” So I did the audition in a real chill way. It was literally like Marlon Brando from The Godfather, just super chill and low-key. It didn’t feel right, but I did it anyway. And I remember going home that night, and I sat in the dark in the kitchen, thinking to myself, “What the hell am I doing? I do not know what the f*** I am doing,” just totally dejected, not feeling happy at all about my performance. The next day, Jonathan Tropper called me and goes, “Dude, no, no, no, we need to see the energy of this guy.” And I’m like, “Of course you do.” So he gave me an opportunity to reshoot my Young Jun audition, and then all of a sudden I basically heard Bruce Lee’s voice. He goes, “You’ve got to honestly express yourself.” And I thought, “You know what? If I’m gonna be so lucky to be able to play this character over the next several years, then I better do it in the way that I enjoy it.” So I threw out

all the notes that they all gave me and I thought, “I’m gonna honestly express myself in this role and I’m gonna have a great time with it.” So I did this scene and reshot it, and even threw in a couple of improvised lines. I think I only did a take or two and smashed it together, and sent it off, and it felt like within a half an hour we were talking about contracts and two weeks later I was off on a flight to Cape Town.

SPOILER: Do you feel like this was the role that opened the door to making it big?

JASON TOBIN: I don’t wanna say, “making it big,” because, man, I’ve been in this game for so long and I thought I was gonna have a fantastic year in 2020, and then everyone in the world’s been having a tough time, so I don’t wanna like, “poor me,” or anything like that. But to answer your question, what I think [Warrior] has done is, everything I’ve worked for, everything I’ve trained for, every little bit of experience has come to this moment. I was born for this.

SPOILER: The way this series is building is phenomenal. I don’t really consider Warrior a martial arts series. I see it as a wonderful drama.

JASON TOBIN: I absolutely agree

with you. I grew up loving martial arts films, and still love them, and I mean this in no disrespect, but it isn’t often that the gap between great writing and great acting and great storytelling meet–-in martial arts as well. It’s rare when it happens, and when it does happen, it’s even more amazing. And I feel like Warrior really steps it up in every department. It’s such a good show and really bridges the gap between drama and martial arts. It’s weird, if you had said to someone, “Hey man, we’re gonna make this show that’s like Gangs of New York, but Peaky Blinders, but it’s got martial arts in it.” You’d be like, “Huh?” It almost feels like oil and water, but it mixes so well! And when you watch it, you’re like, “Yeah! Of course! This is just like a delicious cocktail.” It just really hits the spot.

SPOILER: What’s next for you?

JASON TOBIN: In terms of work, I’m also in the new Fast and Furious movie, which was supposed to come out in 2020, but has been postponed to this year. And obviously I’d like to continue to work on that franchise. And I would love to work more on Warrior. I feel like now that we’re on HBO Max, we’ve opened up to a much bigger, wider audience, and now we stand a much better chance of being greenlit for another season. If that happens, then fantastic, because this is truly a dream job. But in terms of as an actor, in what I wanna do, there’s so much stuff I want to cover. Episode five of season one, that Western that Andrew [Koji]

and I shot, there’s no reason why a cowboy movie starring two Asian American cowboys couldn’t make it. Because we’ve literally done it. So I’d love to do some of that. I’d love to change pace and currently, at the moment, have a real itch to do comedy. I would love to do a half hour comedy or something like that. I’m just gonna see how it unfolds. There’s a lot of opportunities. I’m actually closing on a deal right now to do a film, if things go to plan, later this year. But I can’t talk about it much right now because of contracts.

SPOILER: Warrior is on HBO Max now and the show is blowing up there. And for good reason. I think season three is inevitable.

JASON TOBIN: Yeah man, I’m feeling a lot more positive about it. I’m really confident about it. Bro, I can’t wait to cut my hair and sport that suit again. I’ve got that surfer look now [laughs]. And man, I so appreciate your support. And to all the fans out there, the response has been incredible. I’ve talked to the other cast members and we’re feeling so much love, from critics, from fans on social media, so thank you so much. Acting is one of those things, you make this stuff because you want people to see it. Even if you make incredible work, it’s not satisfying for it not to be seen. So for the world to see it and to be part of it, it’s incredible. So thank you for the support.

Amidst the high-flying kicks and martial arts mastery happening around

him, Officer Bill O’Hara on HBO Max’s Warrior is just trying to get by. Preferring brute force over technique (not by any choice of his own), the head of the Chinatown police squad may be in over his head.

Officer O’Hara is played by Kieran Bew, a brilliant actor (and accomplished fencer in his own right) who mines for nuance within his complex character who seems, on the outside, to just be a sort of everyman surrounded by a group of larger-than-life superheroes. However, Kieran’s own obsession with learning about his character from every angle, including the ones not seen on screen, is what makes Bill feel totally lived in.

Growing up in England, the classically trained actor’s blend of Shakespearian roots and natural talent has helped imbue his performance with the depth and relatability required for this sort of audience surrogate. While O’Hara isn’t always the most likable character, he still manages to be a fan favorite on the series.

“We’re fans too,” says Bew, referring to Warrior. The actor perfectly sums up the unanimous sentiment we’ve heard by everyone involved with the series. And he plays a crucial role in making the show what it is.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Kieran Bew/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

SPOILER: Kieran, what has your experience been like playing Officer O’Hara on Warrior?

Kieran Bew: Warrior is probably—not to do down any of the other work I’ve done—but probably my favorite job in 20 years in this business. Incredibly fulfilling and a lot of fun.

SPOILER: We need a season three, do you agree?

Kieran Bew: We talk about it all the time. I talk about it with the fans on social media almost every single day. I get messages constantly asking me if I know any information. Just so you know, as a cast, we all still speak to each other daily. There’s a cast message group, a cast email. Everybody’s living in each other’s pockets, albeit in different parts of the world, and we all talk about season three and beyond. I’ve been talking with [executive producers] Jonathan Tropper and Brad Caleb Kane just this week about that as well. There’s a lot of hope, and there’s a lot of excitement, and there’s a lot of ideas. So

we’re here, just as excited as everybody who asks us. We’re fans too, which is weird because we’re making it [laughs].

SPOILER: On set do you ever get swept away to a different time in history. Kieran Bew: Absolutely. For a start, we’re all away from home, we’re living in Cape Town filming it together. So we’re all away from our families, and we travel to the studio and they built this incredible Chinatown. Not just Chinatown. Parts of Irishtown and some of the other well-to-do areas on the lot. So when you go to work, you’re literally walking into this incredibly detailed world that the art department put together for us. I personally was obsessed with the TV show Deadwood. And I’ve done many meetings over the years with people who, in the meetings for jobs have said, “This is going to be like Deadwood.” And I have to say that none of those jobs turned out to be like Deadwood. Whereas going

to work on Warrior, for me, was exactly like walking into the world that I’ve obsessed with—this part of American history—that was brilliantly portrayed by HBO. And in a way, all I’ve ever wanted to do was to be part of that. So playing Bill in Warrior, for me, I used to pretend that I was doing exactly that. We couldn’t have had a better team to build that world for us. They make it really easy for you as an actor when the dialogue’s that good, when the world building’s that good, and when everything’s that detailed. It’s such a pleasure.

SPOILER: Warrior is such a well rounded series, I heard discussions started almost a decade ago.

Kieran Bew: We filmed the pilot in the end of 2017, which feels like 10 years ago right now [laughs] with everything that happened in the world. But 2017, we were in Cape Town in October, and even before that, I think Justin Lin and Shannon Lee had been discussing this as far back as 2011. And Jonathan and the team before that. You can go even further back to Bruce Lee’s treatment and his notes on it. This show has been a long time in the making.

SPOILER: Imagine Bruce Lee sitting at his desk in the ‘60s, writing ideas for this show. And now over 50 years later Warrior is viewed by millions.

Kieran Bew: It’s insane. Obviously when you audition for a job, I look at who’s producing, who’s making it, I look at all those sorts of details. And you just get excited about everything, because I just love doing this for a job and getting to transform myself and put myself in different worlds. And to see Bruce Lee’s name on it was a huge adrenaline rush, and to read Bill’s character on the page, and see how kinda funny he was, but also how complicated he was, being a character who is, of course, racist but has a moral compass, trying to do good but also messes up constantly. And I was really excited to do it. I traveled for the pilot in 2017 and we all got there and had a read through in one of the huge hangers in Cape Town Studios.

And they put our scripts on the table. And next to the script was a pack that had been sent by Shannon Lee, and it had Bruce on the front in red, kicking. They each had our name on it too, and we opened them, and it was a welcome letter from Shannon, who couldn’t make it to South Africa, and it was also part of her father’s notes on the series. And I didn’t know until that moment that Bruce had conceived the character of Bill. He was originally a character called Big Bill Walker [laughs], this drunk and conflicted character that Ah Sahm would help out and they had this strange and unruly friendship. Seeing that, it definitely inspired me, but for a moment I was really frightened. It felt like a lot of responsibility but also this incredible opportunity. Magic, really. That’s the kinda magic in the business that never goes away. When I walk on set it always feels like I won the lottery.

SPOILER: You play Bill O’Hara so well. You are made for that character.

Kieran Bew: I love it that you think that. When I auditioned for this part, my understanding was that I was about 5 or 10 years younger than the brief actually said. And Big Bill was supposed to be about a foot taller than me too. So I guess when I read for it, I felt like I had a bit of an outside chance because I wasn’t those physical things on the page. So in preparation for going to Cape Town, I grew my beard. And when I got there, there was this big debate about, “No, the cops all have to be clean shaven.” And I was lobbying to keep Bill’s big beard, mainly because I knew he was gonna fall apart and I was like, “I just want this guy to get worse and worse. I want him to look a certain amount of stress in a cop who’s had a long career and is a veteran too. And when he gets the job in Chinatown I just want him to sort of fall apart.” And I was talking to Justin Lin about my beard and he was like, “Yeah, I think we’re gonna get rid of the beard.” And I sort of jokingly said to him, “No, I’m like James Harden,

dude, I’m better with the beard. You can’t get rid of the beard.”

SPOILER: You do look 7 feet tall on the show. I think your beard makes your character look taller for some reason.

Kieran Bew: A combination of things. Some of it is camera angles, and some of it’s physical commitment to eating pizza. When I first got there, Assaf Bernstein, who directed the first episode, said to me, “Kieran, we have to do something about the way you look. You look like Yoga Bill. We need you to look like Big Bill.” And I was like, “Well, the guys are all training and learning kung fu and boxing, so I’ll just eat pizzas” [laughs]. So I had a really good time. I put on a lot of weight for Bill, and when I came back for the second season I said, “I can’t do that again. I can’t eat like I did for the first season.” And so I used a combination of clothing and various things the second season, I didn’t quite eat as much. I just wasn’t used to being that heavy. Nothing wrong with being heavy set, but for me, I was used to being light. Daniel Day-Lewis and the other guys, when they put weight on for roles, it’s well publicized, and I started feeling like, “I don’t think anyone really cares that I’m doing this. And I don’t feel great. I think I’m going back to yoga.” Look, the reality is, Bill is a gambler and a drunk, he’s using constantly, he has PTSD, he’s frightened, he’s got a really busy family. The guy is stressed all the time. And you’re watching him have a rock bottom over 20 episo-

des, and I was like, “He’s not gonna look good.” But I think my family members were like, “Are you okay?”

SPOILER: Does playing a character who’s so stressed all the time ever mentally affect you?

Kieran Bew: I had an injury actually. I tore a muscle in my left glute training during the first season, and I just used that. If anything, it mentally affected me because all the guys were training so hard, and I did get to the point where I just did want to join in. And I thought, “Now I’ve gone too far and I feel physically terrible.” But of course, Brett Chan, our fantastic stunt coordinator, just looked after me and helped me with my injury. I used to shoot hoops in the gym often when people were doing other types of training. The guys are so

amazing. The team works for, not just the stunts and the physical aspects of the show that you see that are flashy, but the physical aspects of the show that are subtle. Things like Buckley’s injury and other things like that. The detail there, that’s all worked on as well in the gym, that’s all worked on in the detail behind the scenes constantly.

SPOILER: The limp adds a good layer to the character, I was like, “How brilliant!” But, now we know you actually had an injury.

Kieran Bew: Yeah, well the thing is, Bill gets pretty severely beaten in episode 4. I have family members who are cops and they get bashed up, it’s part of the job. I used to try and track, for me, the true timeline of where Bill was when each episode arrives. When you see him, where has he just been? Has he had breakfast? Where was he the night before? Was he gambling? Drinking? With his family? When was his last fight? And

we were tracking bruises and things like that with Amanda Ross-McDonald, who does the makeup, and it got insane. It got to the point where the whole cast were just covered with bruises [laughs]. We were like, “I think we’ve probably got to let some of the bruises go.” If you contemplate those things, those guys at the time were doing a very difficult job. It was a brutal world and there’s some fantastic books on the history of San Francisco that I read. There’s a great one called The Barbary Coast, which talks about the creation of San Francisco and how many militias and uprisings they had by local businesses and things, and how the police force was formed and how many police were actually on the streets, and the creation of the Chinatown Squad, which was a real thing. That existed. Of course, our show Warrior cherry picks from history. We’re not an exact replica or an exact detailed period drama—we are our own standalone show, but we stand on the history.

One of the reasons why I was determined to try and make it as real as possible from Bill’s perspective was that I just thought there was a lot of responsibility with a character that’s a police officer who’s a sergeant and a father, and doing a really difficult job, who could just come across as a two-dimensional guy who’s just racist and not very nice. Jonathan never wrote that on the page. It was always three-dimensional. [Bill] was always a guy who you could empathize with. I was just really determined to try and make a human being who, although you might disagree wholeheartedly with the decisions he makes, you might see that there is a human being making the decisions and not just discount him as a monster. There’s a scene in episode 3 where he puts the thugs in the cell with Ah Sahm, because Leary puts pressure on him to do that. And it’s a terrible thing for him to do, and he leaves and he changes his mind. By the time he gets back down, of course, Ah Sahm has dealt with the guys easily, but from that moment

on, that’s a great example of showing somebody having a real experience of doing something that is quite clearly a disgusting thing and trying to change, trying to do something different, even though he’s not necessarily consistent. It’s a lot of fun in that. It’s a very interesting type of role. It’s hugely challenging.

SPOILER: Did you add many of your own ideas to the role?

Kieran Bew: I did add a few things like, talking about the beard, the beard was a thing about stature. How can I make him feel bigger? I have this thing about all the props. There’s a joke I always make that I’m ruined without my props. All of Bill’s props—his gun, his cigarettes, his matches, the constant sort of fiddling with things, that was all stuff that I brought and added because I wanted him to feel completely lived in and completely real, that this guy is basically distracted all the time and under pressure all the time. There were occasional times where Jonathan or Brad would say, “If you’ve got a line or a joke, or an insult, that you can throw at someone...” One of my favorite things about Bill is his cynical sense of humor. A sense of humor that is also a shield so that he never really has to tell the truth.

SPOILER: Bringing a character to life is so much more difficult than we think.

Kieran Bew: But this is it, isn’t it—if it’s well-written then it’s always relatable. I trained as an actor at LAMDA in London, which is a drama school. I did three years there. And I didn’t really read plays or books really before I went there. It completely changed my perspective on things. And I remember one of the teachers saying, “The reason why Shakespeare was so good is that the characters were all contradictory and hypocrites and human beings and fallible. They would say one thing and then do another thing. And they all had their own individual language.” So I always look at Bill in Bruce Lee’s notes say that this guy’s a drunk. Now, you could say that I’m playing a stereotype. I’m playing a cop who’s a drunk, who likes to eat, and his boss shouts at him

a lot. And the truth is I’m playing a guy who has a drinking problem. So if you understand what it is to have a drinking problem and why the guy might be drinking, or the consequences of what the drinking is, or the fact that he can’t stop drinking, he can’t stop gambling, and he can’t stop lying, but he didn’t start there. He started somewhere else.

I had some fans saying to me, “I really like the fact that he’s redeeming himself with his wife at the end of the series.” And I find that really interesting that people think that he was trying to redeem himself, because this is a guy who’s begging his wife to come home, and I think in that moment he means what he’s saying, but he’s lied to her consistently time after time. Bill is a liar, he’s an addict, he’s not well at this moment in time. Lots of fans are like, “We want a see season three so we can see Bill on the straight and narrow.” I’m like, “How is he gonna get better? I’d like to see him try, but how?” For me, when I talk to the writers on set about stuff, and I was like, “You got any ideas about where things are gonna go?” And the guys would often just laugh and smirk and go, “I think we’re just gonna keep torturing you. It’s just really fun. We just like seeing you stressed” [laughs].

SPOILER: It’s difficult to not share spoilers about Warrior. Kieran Bew: It is tricky. Because I live in London, and the show didn’t come out here until like 2 or 3 weeks after it aired in America, and it’s impossible to protect fans who like the show, who found the show from those things on the internet these days. You can’t do that. But now we’re on HBO Max and the show is being seen by a hell of a lot more people in America. We’ve had so many more messages. It’s like the show has come out again, really. I’m looking forward to HBO Max kinda getting itself established in Europe so it kinda occurs again here, in Britain. Because I still think the number of people who’ve actually managed to see the show is pretty small [over here]. We haven’t really done a press push here. It’s gone out and I had some wonderful messages

from people I’ve worked with over the years who saw it and said that it’s not quite what they expected. They start watching the show feeling like it’s an exciting action series, and then a few episodes down the line you realize that this huge ensemble story has all the layers to it that are dark and interesting and relevant.

SPOILER: I‘ve noticed the show really doesn’t have any continuity mistakes or goofs in the production. You can tell that there’s so much care taken in the production details.

Kieran Bew: Well we do talk about everything on set. We do talk about all the characters, the detail, the storyline, and discuss where problems might be. If you’re not seeing any continuity mistakes in there, that’s our fantastic continuity supervisor Aparna [Jayachandran], who is one of the best in the business I’ve ever worked with. She looked after us in terms of any kind of visual mistakes you might see. But storylines and stuff, we’d often talk about what we felt was real, what wasn’t, what was heightened. There are certain things in the show that are—I suppose people use the term “graphic novel like”—that are a heightened reality to things. We have this incredible sequence in season 2 with [director] Loni Peristere where there’s the red on the Fung Hai headquarters and we used so much firepower as a police force going through the door— and we shot that whole thing in one shot—and me coming through the door with a shotgun into a room that’s already been fighting and fighting through with all the cops—we shot that in one [take]. And Jonathan Tropper ran to me and said, “Keiran, we can’t use it in one, we’re gonna have to edit it up because you look like

John Wick,” [laughs], “It’s too slick!” Honestly, Brett Chan and Loni and I and the team worked incredibly hard to make sure every single angle for the cameras worked for one take. It was really tough. That episode we used so much firepower as a police force that by episode 9, when we have to transport the carriage with Jacob in it and we get set upon by the mob, I was really concerned that we’re not gonna look like a credible outfit or police force because you’ve seen us, how we can operate with firepower, and then you’re seeing us transport a guy who killed the mayor, and we don’t have enough firepower to subdue this mob. And I was concerned that it would seem unreal, and yet, life is a crazy thing and you get to see things sometimes in real life. And as episode 9 came out, it worked perfectly. Officer Stone, played by the brilliant South African actor Robert Hobbs, he’s a really mean dude in our show. He uses his gun willingly and often. And at that moment, we choose not to enforce our power and the consequence is that the mob overruns and goes into Chinatown, and we were directed that way and it was right. I said, “But why wouldn’t we shoot them?” And they said, “Because they’re Irish, so you’re not gonna do that. You’re gonna try something else. You’re not gonna use any kind of force.”

Episode 9 was directed by Dennie Gordon, who’s a brilliant director. She was juggling so much because, when we filmed those last few episodes, we were double-banking, so we were filming four episodes at once. And we also had a fight unit, so we actually had five units running. And we also had a pickup unit running from earlier episodes. So everybody was pretty busy right then and Dennie managed to pull it off—

Kieran

often people say they love episode 5 from season 1, and then episode 9 from season 2 is everyone’s favorite right now.

SPOILER: I know you’re not a kung fu or martial arts practitioner, but you are in a lot of fight scenes. Do you enjoy them?

Kieran Bew: One of the things we talked about is, Bill’s a veteran of the war. He’s not just some kid who came over from Ireland. And he acknowledges in season 1, “If everybody could fight like these guys, we’d be f**ked.” We talked about the fight in my house in season 2. We never wanted the choreography to be reminiscent of any of the stylized fights of Ah Sahm and Leary, where you can see the articulation of the moves. You can see the chess game that’s going on and different styles that all the fighters have. In the house, we talked about it being more of a visceral experience for the viewer where you don’t know what’s happening exactly, you’re not literally seeing everything, and there’s a panic. With everything you’ve seen of what the Fung Hai guys are capable of, you think there’s no way that they’re gonna be able to hold them off. So it was more about trying to convey a sense of horror and anxiety, really.

SPOILER: You all carried out that scene so well. Even though it was total chaos.

Kieran Bew: That’s what it was. Whatever I do, I just want it to look like I’m really struggling. One of my favorite actors is Harrison Ford, and when you see him do stuff in movies, he always looks like he’s struggling [laughs]. He always makes stuff look really tough. He may pull it off, but he always looks like he’s just [barely] doing it.

SPOILER: Did you ever feel like you were not as believable because you’re not this martial arts expert?

Kieran Bew: Look, I love seeing people who are highly trained and move with this sort of confidence and proficiency, and of course it’s amazing seeing that. But I wanted it to be as relatable as possible for everybody. All the time. Every bit of violence that I have as Bill, it’s more important that people feel something than necessarily admire a technique. The technique is that it’s supposed to be messy and relatable.

SPOILER: Do you feel like you have to get into a certain mindset to play Bill?

Kieran Bew: Yes and no. I wouldn’t say I’m a method actor in that I sort of become the character and then you can’t call me “Kieran.” I come from a school of training which is, “You’ve got to keep your third eye open and you’ve got to be safe,” and also that the best position to be in as an actor is to be playful. So I do a lot of work on a character, and a lot of thinking, and a lot of detail, which sometimes for directors and producers can be really annoying, because I might ask a detailed question that they’ve never thought of because it’s not relevant. Like, I had a question for the producers about whether or not Bill had volunteered to be in the Civil War or whether or not he had been [drafted], because it was an important thing for me to know. And they were like, “Why is that important??” And I was like, “Uhh, it’s just something that I thought about.” And that’s been me. I try to keep a lid on it for actors and directors around me because I’m obsessive, but the mindset for Bill—the most important thing for me—is that the guy is hyper-vigilant. He’s frightened, he’s jumpy, he’s trying to project that he’s in control and he’s capable and he’s strong. When actually he’s frightened and he’s weak and he’s looking for an excuse to hide. So it wasn’t necessarily a mindset, it was just trying to look at what the guys had given me and mine the script for clues as to how I could reveal that

to the audience, but not reveal it to the people around Bill. The camera can see one thing while you’re doing something else to the people around you, so that’s basically what I was trying to look at.

The thing about doing a lot of work on your own is that you can get obsessed, and then you can come to work and all you’re doing is transmitting to everybody, “This is what my thing is”—which would be a huge shame, because all the other actors and artists on set, you’re a team, and if you’re not able to listen while you’ve done all that work,

Ayou’re gonna miss the magic, because people will always do something to surprise you, and if you’re available to listen then you can find new things you haven’t done in your homework. So to get a character like this who is complicated and has so many different masks, the mindset is trying to stay relaxed.

There’s a scene, I think in episode 8 in the first season, where we’re going around Chinatown at night, and Bill is walking around and keeps seeing visions of the debt collector, Jack Damon, who he beat to death a couple of nights before, and he

Kieran Bew/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

keeps having these flashbacks. And while he’s doing that, people are setting off fireworks and he’s having all of these flashbacks to the American Civil War, and to his job as a policeman—he’s been a policeman for well over a decade—and he’s completely freaking out, and it results in him beating up the guy in the alleyway and having a fight with Lee. What’s really brilliant about being on set and the way they created that world is it was so busy, it was populated with people, there’s all kinds of things going on. I’m like, “I don’t have to do a huge amount of acting.” It’s all happening, and if you can listen and respond to it, the gifts are all just there. Aw man, I really miss being on set [laughs]. They’re the best team, man.

That’s one of the things about going to work. Where we film it, in Cape Town, the crew members are often local and they’ve made all these other great shows over the years. They’ve worked on Strike Back, and they worked on Black Sails. Brad Caleb Kane, who’s our producer, also produced Black Sails, so we inherited Brad, and we inherited our makeup

department, our cameras department. There’s all this experience, and these guys are an amazing team. Then you put on top of it Brett and his stunt team, and then a bunch of actors who, as far as I can tell, everybody just felt like they’d won the lottery getting a part on this job, and that kind of gratitude at work is infectious. It’s a really good kind of energy and formula to have if you’re gonna go to work and beat each other up every day [laughs]. Wanting to be there really helps. Because you’re covered in blood and you’re cold and you do often accidentally punch each other [laughs].

SPOILER: Is there any one scene that shouts out at you?

Kieran Bew: There’s a scene with Tom Weston-Jones and myself in the pub at the end of episode 4 in season 1, when Bill’s had a really hard time and he goes to have a drink, and Lee comes to apologize, and they have this little philosophical chat at the bar. And that was one of my favorite days of filming. And David Petrarca, who directed it, just said, “Just be really, really quiet.” This pub

is so quiet, there’s no one in it. And Lee apologizes to me, and Bill gives him some cynical philosophy back and then goes off to gamble some more. That was a scene that doesn’t sound very flashy but just, for me, was such a pleasure to do, because it was small and it was subtle, and they let us occupy a space that you don’t often get. The guys really cared about the details—those quiet moments in a show where we do have these big, bombastic sequences, like the opening of episode 6 where there’s the Chinese parade and the lions are all coming around and we’re following through and the fireworks are going off. Or episode 3 where the house gets raided. I always liked filming in the town hall. The police station is actually in the town hall in Cape Town where Nelson Mandela made his speeches when he left Robben Island, so we got to work in this historic building. There’s a locker room and then we come through the corridor, then there’s the police station, and then Flanagan’s office at the bottom. Tom and I like to do walk-and-talk. We used to call it, “We’re doin’ a West Wing,” and they used to string scenes together deliberately so that we could have a steady cam and we would walk around the police station. So if you watch

the show, there’s scene after scene of me and Tom walking through the police station. They kept writing more of them for us because it worked well and we liked doing it. We’re like, “Let’s show the set off.”

And there was a scene with me and Ah Sahm in episode 3. So me and Andrew Koji, we’re sitting on a bench and Bill is basically releasing Ah Sahm after he’s been released from the judge. And Bill advises Ah Sahm to go out the back entrance. So we’re rehearsing the scene and we were talking about it and I was saying, “What’s to stop Ah Sahm from saying, ‘I don’t trust you. You sent three guys to beat me up’?”

And doin’ it with Loni directing us was amazing. He comes up with that line, “Well, what if you got somebody waiting for me down there?” And Bill says, “Well, it would take more than three, wouldn’t it?”

And that came out from a discussion about the characters. Bill’s trying to atone for having tried to kill a guy. And it’s a terribly awful ra-

cist thing that Bill only really treats Ah Sahm like a human being once he knows he can speak English. It’s not a nice quality, but Bill does atone for the fact that he’s done something wrong when he tries to help Ah Sahm. And as it turns out, the person who was waiting for him was Chao, because Bill and Chao have got a really good personal relationship. People might not notice that because it might happen rather quick. And I don’t get another scene with Andrew until midway through season 2—which was such a fun scene to film: Me and Andrew at 4 o’clock in the morning in a dark alleyway, and I’m smoking, and it was a funny scene because it’s just a conversation, but God is it a fun conversation when I tell him to f-off. I said to the lads that morning, “I actually pulled a muscle in my neck acting that morning.” I don’t know how I did it [laughs]. I was like, “What was I doin’?? I must’ve really been chewing the scenery that morning.” Koji was standing up higher

than me and I was looking up, but I didn’t really deserve having a pulled muscle in my neck. It’s not like I was doing anything like he was.

SPOILER: Well, Kieran, it is a pleasure as always. If you can share a final thought with the Warrior fans, what would it be?

Kieran Bew: “Thank you for watching and tell your family to watch the show; tell your grandmother to watch the show; tell your cousins to watch the show. And talk about it, because we seem to be a strange show that’s been put out deliberately to be found through word of mouth [laughs]. So thank you for watching it and sending us messages because we really do appreciate it.”

Kieran Bew

Kieran Bew/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

To most of us, Bruce Lee is almost mythlike.

However, to Shannon Lee, he’s her father. Yet since he passed away when she was only 4-years-old, she’s also able to share in that larger-than-life view of the martial arts legend who changed the cultural landscape in America, as well as the world, forever, and made a huge impact on how our society viewed Asian people during a time when they were being relegated to stereotypes in movies and TV.

Warrior, on which Shannon serves as executive producer, is aiming to make a similar impact. The HBO Max series is largely based on the writings of her father back in the 1970s, a project that got “denied” by Hollywood, yet repurposed into another series called Kung Fu without the actor’s involvement. Somehow the producers back then felt like Bruce Lee would not be able to carry the project due to his ethnicity.

Shannon discusses how Warrior is not only a victory for her father and his legacy, but also for Asian Americans who now get an amazing story told about their past— one that has been seemingly buried in the history books. Since this is no doubt what Bruce’s intention was all those years ago, it’s very much a victory for him on another level as well.

Shannon also opens up about what it’s been like to be the daughter of one of the biggest cultural icons in the world, as well as the possibility of her making a cameo in season 3. Let’s make it happen.

SPOILER: I know you’ve been hearing this all your life about your dad, Bruce—there’s not a lot of people who I look up to in this world, but he’s one person I do look up to. Ever since my teachers would send notes home in the ‘80s saying, “Your son’s buying too many Scholastic books based on Bruce Lee” [laughs].

Shannon Lee: [laughs] Can there be too many? [laughs] But thank you. I do not ever get tired of hearing that. I think it’s such a wonderful and phenomenal thing, the amount of impact and reach and excitement that my father has put into this world.

SPOILER: I know Warrior was created in the mind of Bruce Lee many years ago, and now it’s come to fruition. But what does Warrior mean to you?

Shannon Lee: I think that it’s a huge victory in a lot of ways—if I can use that word—in the best way possible. My father came up with the idea for the show, he created a treatment for it over 50 years ago now. He pitched it to Warner Brothers. They were considering it, but ultimately they said, “We can’t cast you because you’re Chinese and

you have an accent. And US audiences are not going to rally around a Chinese man of a lead of an American TV series.” So he was turned down and it was really a big blow to him. Ever since Green Hornet, he had been trying to get another good role in Hollywood and make his mark and show his culture and his martial arts background in an authentic way to audiences in Hollywood, but just not getting anywhere with it. So this treatment went into a box and, of course, my father passed away, and then over many years I had always heard about this treatment and knew of its existence, but never put my fingers on it until I started looking after my father’s legacy. And even then, there was a lot of work to do. At the time, I had not been producing—I had been acting. Really important to me always, in everything I do, is to represent my father in the best possible way, in the most meaningful way and who he was as a human being, so I wasn’t just gonna let anyone do this show.

Cut to Justin Lin giving me a call saying, “Hey, I’ve always heard this story about this treatment that your father created for this TV show, is that true?” I said, “Yes, it’s

true.” And he said, “You wouldn’t happen to know where that is, would you?” [laughs] I said, “Umm, yeah, actually I do. I have it right here.” And he said, “Oh my gosh, can I look at it? Would you ever want to make this?” And the thing that made it perfect with Justin and the show that we currently have, and why I call it a victory, is because it started out with the absolute best of intentions, that Justin said to me, “We should make this show, but we should only make it if we can really do it justice; if we can honor your dad and really create a meaningful and impactful story, and do it the right way. Otherwise, we just shouldn’t because it would just spoil the whole thing.” So we started with that intention and I really believe that we followed through. The show is in some ways a victory for my father, for finally getting it made, but also for having him be recognized as the creative that he was. And that his ideas and his storylines were really good.

One of the things that I think was really interesting was that anyone who read the original treatment of my fathers’, whether that was executives or writers or directors, they all were like, “Wow, this is actually really good,” as though they were surprised [laughs]. So for him to be recognized for his creativity, and for this show to find its way to the screen in the beautiful way that it did with such an amazing cast and crew and characters and storytelling, I really think it’s a victory in a number of ways.

SPOILER: I’ve gotten the chance to speak with the entire cast, and they all love being on the show. It’s phenomenal the kind of enthusiasm I’m hearing—that basically doesn’t happen on this level with other shows. You get the sense that this doesn’t even feel like work for them.

Shannon Lee: There was such a sense of family and camaraderie and positivity on the set and all

throughout the process. It was really a beautiful thing to see and be a part of. And it’s true, even now, to this day, even though we’ve finished filming season 2 over a year and a half ago, everybody still keeps in touch with one another and is so excited about the show and, in a heartbeat, would come back to keep doing it. Everybody involved, not just the Asian cast members, but everybody, we all kinda felt like the spirit of my father was watching over everyone.

SPOILER: Why do you think season 3 should happen?

Shannon Lee: For a number of reasons. First of all, the show is phenomenal. The only reason there’s not a season 3 is, quite frankly, it was just circumstance. Cinemax got caught up in the Warner/HBO merger. There was a decision made on the corporate level to cancel all of the Cinemax original programming across the board, and we just got caught up in that.

We were renewed for a season 2 before season 1 was even done filming. There was so much excitement for the show. It’s a landmark show in a lot of ways. There’s not another series in the one-hour dramatic television format that has such a beautiful and large Asian cast, and that is telling this authentic American and Chinese American story that we tell. People love it—we’ve been on top 10 lists for all the episodes. Season 2 just really amped up the show and it started to really delve into complex issues and conflicts, and we just got sorta cut off for literally no reason other than just a corporate decision. And I do give kudos to Cinemax and all of the people at Cinemax who helped get our show on the air—they were such champions of Warrior. We did a phenomenal job with what we were given to create this show. It looks amazing and we did everything we could to make it spectacular. I just think it’s a shame that this series, which is just so good and ripe with representation—a unique voice in the television landscape—is being shelved for no good reason, in my opinion.

SPOILER: People have compared Warrior to Cobra Kai because of how the two series have been given an increase in viewership within their platforms, but obviously Warrior is a period piece and not even close to the same show as Cobra Kai.

Shannon Lee: I’m a huge fan of Cobra Kai. I grew up in the original era of The Karate Kid, so I love the show, it’s super fun. But Warrior is nothing like that show. It’s a historical drama, a political drama, martial arts action, Western vibes and tropes. There’s really something for everyone.

SPOILER: People want you to make a cameo in the series. Maybe if season 3 happens you can come in and kick some butt.

Shannon Lee: [laughs] I’ll tell you a little secret. They started to talk about having a small cameo for me in season 2, but the season had already been written at that point and there wasn’t really a role that had been thought through that would be meaningful for me to occupy. So we were just joking around, they kept asking me, “Would you do it?”

And when I was down there in South Africa on set during the filming of season 2, I was talking to Brett Chan, our amazing choreographer and coordinator for the show, and they were trying to get him to also make a cameo. So I looked at Brett and went, “Alright, if you do one, I’ll do

Shannon Lee/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

one. We can even fight each other in season 3.” And he said, “Fine, I’ll do it if you do it.” So we made this little pact that we were gonna have a small cameo and fight each other in season 3, which is also why we need a season 3 [laughs].

SPOILER: Well if people haven’t written to HBO yet, they’re definitely writing to them now.

Shannon Lee: If the decision were mine, we would already be working on season 3, but it’s not my decision, so there is some convincing that needs to be done. We need to find a champion who believes in the show, and we also need to create that buzz. We’re so grateful that they put it on HBO Max, because originally there were no plans to do that. So kudos to HBO for doing that. And the show is very successful so far on HBO Max, but we need to create a real ground flow of enthusiasm and we’re working on coordinating efforts to do that so that we can demonstrate to them that it would be a good decision and that people would want it. So we do need as many people to request to HBO Max that you want this show, through social media channels, through direct messaging, emailing them, petitioning, all of that. So hopefully those corporate minds will be swayed.

SPOILER: Do you feel a lot of pressure to keep Warrior going because of

your father?

Shannon Lee: Because we didn’t know that there was the potential of the show being cancelled, we weren’t sort of wrapping anything up from the story standpoint. So there’s still a lot of story to tell, and we’re excited to tell it, and I think it deserves to be told. It is a Chinese American story. When I tell people that the show takes place at the time of the Tong Wars and the Chinese Exclusion Act, literally 9 out of 10 people say, “What’s the Chinese Exclusion Act?” Just right there, I know our show is a martial arts show and it’s a drama and action show, but it is shining a light on part of our history that I think people should know about. And maybe if they encounter it in this form, they can be educated and informed and entertained at the same time, and start to dig deeper into the story of Chinese Americans in this country. Look, I’ll never stop pushing for it. So even if it doesn’t happen, in the back of my mind I’ll always be looking for an opportunity to tell this story again in some other way, or through some other medium. And I know the cast feels similarly. It will always be a child of mine, if you will, and I’ll always want to do it justice. And I hope that we get the opportunity to.

SPOILER: We’ve had fans say things like, “My life is over if Warrior doesn’t get season 3,” and so forth. Do you

get messages like that too?

Shannon Lee: I do. I get moving comments on social media and people reaching out in various ways saying, “Oh my God, I love this show! I’m begging for a season 3!” A lot of people, I think, if they’re not totally on top of what’s happening with the show and they’ve just encountered it, I get a lot of messages where they say, “When is season 3 coming out?” And the message I want to put out is, “We don’t have a season 3, so if you want a season 3 you gotta let people know!” [laughs]

SPOILER: I know you’ve had a lengthy career prior to Warrior with acting and martial arts and various endeavors. How has life been for you being the daughter of Bruce Lee all these years?

Shannon Lee: [laughs] Well… How long do we have here? [laughs] Obviously I’ve been Bruce Lee’s daughter my whole life, and it’s meant different things at different times in my life. And I couldn’t be more proud to be my father’s child. He was phenomenal in so many ways and his love was actually very beautiful. He died when I was 4, which is a very young age, and I don’t have a ton of memories of him—like visual, audial memories. But what I do have is, I remember so clearly the feeling of him—his energy, his love, the safety of that and the power of it and the purity of it, and I have to say that has sustained me my whole life. I’m not

Shannon Lee/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

in any way, shape, or form complaining, because I would have to say that any of the negativities that I experience of that is mostly stuff that I’ve done to myself—pressure I’ve put on myself to feel like I’m not living up to some imaginary level that I’ve concocted. I mean, he lived life at such a high level. I would say that it’s hard not to over time as you’re a child, and then an insecure teenager, and then a young adult trying to find your way, etc. My own insecurities and what I’ve done to make myself feel less than or feel like I’m not good enough, is really all mine. That’s not to say that there aren’t people who say terrible things to me and all that, because people have their judgements, whatever, but I really try my best to do everything with the best of intentions and when I make mistakes I try to correct them and learn from them. At the end of the day, it’s the least I can do. And now where I sit as a, by the way, 51-year-old woman [laughs], I’ve lived enough of my life and gone through enough in my life and worked hard enough at understanding different aspects of my life to finally be at a place where I feel just grateful for my life and my life’s circumstances, and I’ve stopped putting so much pressure on myself and I’m trying, like my father did, to just live my life to the fullest. I’m proud and honored to continue to promote his legacy, because it’s been meaningful and healing and motivating to me in my life, and I know it has been for so many others. And I’m still working on who Shannon Lee is and what she’s gonna do next.

SPOILER: Isn’t it wild that your dad’s legacy is still relevant nearly 50 years later? At any moment of the day, there are people all over the world talking about him and referring to him, with the greatest of admiration.

Shannon Lee: It’s amazing. It’s almost incomprehensible. I’ve traveled a bit and there’s no place that I’ve ever been in the world where people don’t know my father and people aren’t fans of my father. And I’m just amazed by it. By living his life and being the most cultiva-

ted version of himself, and just putting himself out there and being the best that he could, was just so impactful. He was a warrior through and through in his own right, and people can see that and feel that, and it continues to inspire them.

SPOILER: What else is in the works for you that you can share?

Shannon Lee: I just wrote a book recently called Be Water, My Friend, which talks about my father’s philosophy. It’s part memoir, part biography, and part self-help book. That was a long journey and that came out at the end of last year. I really would encourage, whether you’re a Bruce Lee fan, a martial artist, or just a regular person going through life who doesn’t know a lot about Bruce Lee, this book is for you no matter who you are, to give people an insight into the things that made my father so phenomenal and how you, as a human being, can adopt them into your own life. That’s one thing I’m extremely passionate about, which is passing on his wisdom and injecting it with some wisdom of my own.

I have a number of other projects that are in various stages of development right now. But some very exciting things: feature films and TV. Right now we are creating like crazy, so I will be producing some more in the near future. I do plan to write more. I do have the Bruce Lee Podcast, which is in a new season right now. We’ve been doing interviews with some of the cast members from Warrior, as well as athletes and actors and musicians, all about their relationship with Bruce Lee. Previous seasons have been all about the philosophy. So we’ve got a few more episodes to go in this season, and then we’re gonna take a little break and come back with something all new and exciting in the Spring. And we may be doing some special Bruce Lee Podcast features on Warrior itself, so everybody can get to really hear from all the creators, and the process that we went to to bring the show to reality. There’s really no end to what can happen.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

A 2020 was a great year for Chen Tang. He had a major role

in Disney’s live-action Mulan remake, and became a series regular on HBO’s kung fu Western, Warrior. The show has recently gotten the opportunity to broaden its audience, which means even greater things for the actor.

Even though Warrior didn’t need a spark, they still got one with Tang. He plays Hong, a new recruit of the Hop Wei Tong, one of the rivaling gangs in San Francisco’s Chinatown district in the 1870s.

Chen caught the acting bug late in life, but it’s easy to see that he’s gonna be a lifer, and his recent successes are a sign of great things to come. Like everyone else in the industry, this last year saw a lot of sitting at home and reading scripts. The actor admits that he’s been extremely fortunate to land two major roles back to back, and is utilizing his success to allow him to be picky with his next projects, as he should be. The self-proclaimed Trekkie, I’m sure, wouldn’t mind getting his shot as a member of the bridge staff, but he’s also got his eye out for the perfect captivating indie drama.

Coming to Warrior in the second season has given the actor the opportunity to become a fan of the series first. Chen and Galaxy get to nerd out over the show, whose popularity and visibility is really booming in recent weeks since its move to HBO Max.

SPOILER: Let me tell you something, Warrior is on my personal Top 5 TV shows in the world list. I love the show, the premise was great, the cast, and you’re kicking butt in season two. How’s your experience with the show?

CHEN TANG: First off, thank you so much for the support! We have a small and strong and mighty fan base. We love our fans. I’ll second it, not only is this show highly underrated, but it’s just a great show and I’m thrilled to be on it. With [the culmination of] the second season we’ve moved to HBO Max, so hopefully more people will see it. Aside from just all the stunt work and all the fighting and all the action and everything, I’m really just so proud of the second season–we’re proud of the show overall, but really the second season, because you can really feel it, from the top down–from the producers all the way down–this was just a labor of love for all of us, and I really think it shows.

SPOILER: I love your character Hong, he’s full energy. What has this show meant for you on a personal level?

CHEN TANG: Two words: Bruce Lee. Bruce freakin’ Lee. First off, as an Asian American, seeing Bruce Lee for the first time on screen, it

was the first time I felt proud to be an Asian American. And now to be part of that legacy and to be able to work with his daughter–she’s our executive producer–and to do it justice and do Bruce proud, this is one of the greatest experiences of my life. When I started working on it, I was just like, “Wow, it’s not just a martial arts show. This is a stylized fantasized version of actual historical events.” And for me, as a Chinese man, as an immigrant to this country, this part of American history before the Chinese Exclusion Act is unfortunately highly, highly underrepresented. And to be able to do a deep dive into something like this—basically in American History, you might only get a paragraph about what happened. But these are human beings, man. These are real stories. And to be a part of it and live in that world for a while, it’s a dream come true.

SPOILER: Cinemax is a great brand, but I’m so glad Warrior is on HBOMax now.

CHEN TANG: The world is moving towards streaming too. So we’re really excited to be part of that. I love HBO and I love Cinemax, they’re incredible to work with, but we are so over-saturated right now with stuff. Some days I’m like, “There’s so much stuff, I don’t even wan-

na watch anything,” [laughs] if that makes sense. The show is already great, but it’s like that old parable, “If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, did it make a sound?” Don’t get me wrong, Cinemax has an amazing fanbase, but unfortunately Cinemax is moving away from original programming and is just going to be doing movies, so I’m just excited for the world to see this show. I’m biased too, but I’m also honest–it’s a good show. It’s a very well-made show. And I can’t be proud enough.

SPOILER: Warrior is underrated to the max, but it’s okay because being on HBO Max now, it’s gonna blow up. Do you feel that?

CHEN TANG: God willing, man. With streaming nowadays, everybody loves to binge stuff. For me, I don’t know about you, but I can’t stop at one. I don’t know how I used to do it when I was younger to wait every week for a show. I’m a big Simpsons fan–a huge Simpsons fan–and I remember waiting for Fox. I was like, “Aw yeah, it’s a new episode!” And I’d watch it and come to school and just talk about it. How is that possible? I don’t know how I had that much patience back then. Because now, I remember watching this British show called Rome. I watched it in three days. That’s me. I have a very addictive personality. Especially, I think, with Warrior, it’s very bingeable. It’s like a rolling train. In preparation for season 2, HBO gave us the entire first season. And it happens… Sometimes it’s 10 o’clock at night and you’re like, “Okay, I’ll start.” And then before you know it it’s 7 o’clock in the morning [laughs] and you’re like, “I can’t believe I just watched the whole thing.”

SPOILER: The show is based on the writings of Bruce Lee. But, what is Warrior for the fans that don’t know anything about it?

CHEN TANG: One of the things I like to joke is, our show is Peaky

Blinders with kung fu [laughs]. It’s like a pulpy Tarantino-esque fantasized version of 19th century Chinatown San Francisco gang wars, in a nutshell. It’s a martial arts drama, but the martial arts is just a highlight of it. A big part of it is race relations in the late-1800s America Wild West. It just so happens that [in Warrior] a lot of people are Chinese, Asian, because, well, there is a Chinatown there. It’s a Chinatown story, but it doesn’t just stay in Chinatown. It goes to the perspective of the law, the politicians of the time, the Irish, the white people, other minority groups. Because the cast is so large and diverse, each faction, in a way, has their own first person view and what’s important to them. So that way it’s not just a Chinatown story. It’s an American story with some kickass kung fu.

SPOILER: Another project you’re on that did well recently is Mulan. What is Mulan to you?

CHEN TANG: I am Chinese. And Hua Mulan is like our Joan of Arc. This is a part of my childhood; this is a part of my culture. To be part of a global movie like this, again, it’s another one of these greatest experiences of my life that I’ll remember until the day that I die. It’s an honor. It’s a fun movie; it’s a really cool movie. It’s big and vast and massive, and to be able to sort of be not only an extension of my own culture’s folklore, but also an extension of–for me, I love the cartoon version too–to be an extension of that, that’s cool, man.

SPOILER: I want the readers to know that you are one of the nicest people

around. You’re on this great path, and it’s just the beginning. You’re also on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and other shows. Is the superhero and fantasy genre your career goal?

CHEN TANG: Believe it or not, I’m actually not a huge superhero movie fan. They’re fun, I like them. But I lean towards more pure sci-fi. I’m a huge sci-fi nerd. I love it. The harder the sci-fi, the better for me. But specifically as an artist, as an actor, I really gravitate towards indie dramas, character-driven dramas. Stuff like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the old French film called Le Samouraï, one of the classics of the neo-noir movement. Stuff like that, just interesting characters for me. I love going into another person’s life, living in another person’s skin for a while. It really changes who I am and really expands my horizons. It really turns me on as an artist. But as a fan, sci-fi, all the way. I’m the biggest Trekkie. My dream, one day I would love to be on a Star Trek show. And one of our producers is now on it. But regardless, Discovery is cool because everything’s so real and new and glossy, but for me I’m such a sucker for all the older Star Trek from the ‘90s. Deep Space Nine. I could talk about Star Trek all day. But one of my biggest dreams is to do a really good sci-fi film. It doesn’t have to be Prometheus or something, but I would love to just live in a world in the future. One of my favorite sci-fi films is Blade Runner. I could live in that world for a while.

SPOILER: Every kid who’s gonna be born for the next thousand years is gonna watch Mulan at least once. How does that feel?

CHEN TANG: Wow, that’s a lot of pressure, man! [laughs] It’s surreal. The other day, someone said, “It’s Yao! You’re Yao!” But it hasn’t quite hit me yet to be honest. That’s the beauty of film and TV and what we do. It’s forever. If you’re fortunate and lucky enough to get a wonderful role on a wonderful project, it’s part of you forever and it’s part of the cultural landscape forever. It’s a great honor. That’s the only way I can describe it.

Chen Tang/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

SPOILER: When did you realize that you wanted to become an actor? When did you get the bug?

CHEN TANG: To be honest, it never really was in my mind growing up. I kinda got into it a little later. I was 19, in college. Before that I actually wanted to join the military. I have a military family so I just always wanted to be a soldier. Long story short, it was 2006 and I was going off to college, and I was thinking, “I’m not going to college. I’m gonna join the military.” And [my mother] was like, “Do you know what year it is?? We just entered the Iraq War. Why don’t you take a year and just try college? Just try it. You don’t have to stay. You can always join later with my blessing, but just try it.” So I did–I went to the University of Miami, I’m a proud Hurricane–and I had to take a fine arts class. I was like, “Acting, that sounds cool.” I did it and the teacher said, “You know, Chen, you’re pretty good at this and seem to really enjoy it. Why don’t you try and audition and see if you wanna do this?” And I did and I got into a show. It was a musical. It was my first experience on stage. And even the whole process, the rehearsals, it was just fun. That was the first thing that really got me hooked to it, just how enjoya-

ble it was. And it really is. It’s playing make believe, really. Advanced make believe is fun [laughs]. And I think I literally woke up one day and said, “You know what? This is fun! I can’t believe people get paid for it. I wanna make this my career. This is something I could really throw my whole life into.”

And that’s really how it got started. Every time I get this question I feel kinda bad. I wish that I had one of those stories where you were like, “The muses descended from the heavens and struck me with a creative thunderbolt!” But it wasn’t. It was

very pedestrian. I simply fell into it. This is just something I enjoy and was fortunate enough to find something that I was passionate enough about. And to [be able to] give your whole life to something [you’re passionate about], it really is rare to find that I think. So I’m grateful to have that opportunity.

SPOILER: Do you find acting challenging sometimes?

CHEN TANG: Oh definitely. A big part of the challenge as a profession is you have to be really good about not being in control. And if you’re okay with that, it’s okay. And you really never are in control in life, right? But especially it’s much more highlighted in the entertainment industry because you just never know what’s gonna happen. Every day you wake up and it could be completely different. It’s like, “What’s the next thing? Are you gonna get this job?” What I think the biggest challenge, that I know from myself personally and from a lot of people around me in the industry, is the psychological and emotional difficulty of it. If you love to do something you wanna be doing it all the time, but if you get the great fortune to be able to be working on a great project, that’s not really within your control. All you can do is keep showing up and keep doing the best you can, and keep pushing “Play” in a way, and hopefully something lands. Listen, there’s a difference between saying, “It will happen when it ha-

ppens,” and really doing your best, but also surrendering control too. Because all we can really control is ourselves, and what we can control is actually doing the very best that we can—if you do anything. It could be sweeping the floor or something, but if you really do it with your all, with your heart and soul and do it 100%, that’s all you can control. And then let the chips fall where they may. That’s the other side of it. I’m waxing spiritual here, but that is a big thing. We are never really in control. All we can really do is do our very best.

SPOILER: Do you have a martial arts background?

CHEN TANG: Actually yes! I have over 7 years of experience in kung fu and Wushu. But, with that being said, I cannot sit here and speak honestly and compare it to some of the people I’ve met, especially on [Warrior]. Like, the stunt performers and some of the martial artists who have been doing it for their entire lives, I cannot sit here with a straight face and be like, “Yeah, I’m a martial artist” [laughs]. No way. I mean, there’s Saiyan and there’s Super Saiyan [laughs]. I have a background in it and I can definitely move. The physical action comes quite easily to me only because I have an athletic background, but we were made to look amazing by the talents of other talented people. The stunt team on our show–especially our stunt coordinator Brett Chan, I’m always throwing love to him, man, because the stunt performers are beyond world class. Some of our stunt team were on the Olympic teams for, like, Taekwondo or something, for Korea. And to be able to work with them and just be like, “Wow, you guys are making me look extra good here,” I can’t take credit for that. That’s all them. I was just talking about Joe Taslim and, you know, he is a world class judo fighter. He was on the Indonesian national team for judo, like World Championships and stuff. And when you’re next to a guy like that and you’re just an actor–I mean, I can fight and definitely hold my own and move–but when you’re next to a

world class athlete, you see just how vast the difference is. The difference is an ocean [laughs]. I can’t talk enough about them. They’re incredible, what the human body can do.

SPOILER: I’m telling you, our readers need to watch Warrior right now! I don’t vouch for a lot of shows, but when I do it’s because I know it’s worth it.

CHEN TANG: I really appreciate that, honestly. Believe me, we’ve had a lot of love from so many of the fans. I’m feeling the love for the show, and to hear you say that, I’m genuinely grateful, man, that means a lot. I’m so excited for fans and audiences to see Hong on Warrior go through the whole season. By the time you guys get to episodes 9 and 10, it just gets crazier and crazier [laughs].

SPOILER: I know you haven’t experienced conventions yet. If conventions were open this past year it would’ve been bonkers for you. You’ll see how passionate the fans of these projects are. They have a lot of love to give.

CHEN TANG: Oh, I can’t wait! I have a small secret: I’ve never been to a Comic Con. But from your mouth to God’s ears, because I will say this–I’m saying this truthfully–the fans are who we do this for. You guys save us. Because it’s a pure love. People get dressed up because they love it, simple as that, full stop. And to see that purity of enjoying something, how often do you see that in life? Very rarely. So to be able to be in that presence, I’m so looking forward to it and I welcome it, and I’d love to attend. Hopefully we get back and healthy again soon.

SPOILER: What else do you have in the works right now?

CHEN TANG: The truth is, right now, especially in 2020, this industry has really pushed the pause button. So right now it’s been sort of cocoon time for me. I’ve been looking at a lot of scripts and I’m always constantly working on my craft and right now, what I’d really love to do for my next project, if not sci-fi, it would be an indie character-dri-

ven drama. What I love most about acting is the ability to transform, so for me to go into something like that, it would be a dream come true. So I’m looking at a lot of scripts right now, but I’m willing to wait for the right thing. I don’t believe in being productive for its own sake. You’ve gotta love what you do. It’s a wonderful time right now. People are sending me scripts here and there, but I’m thinking whatever hits me in my soul is gonna be the next thing. It will probably be something cool, a really cool character.

SPOILER: Have you noticed since Mulan and Warrior doors are opening easier?

CHEN TANG: Yes and no. Yes because the projects that I’m going out for now and the level of the roles I’m going out for now, it’s all good stuff. It’s easier to get into doors. But throughout the entire summer, even if you wanted to work and audition, you couldn’t [laughs]. So it’s hard to say. You’ll have to get back to me next year and I’ll give you a clearer answer.

SPOILER: You ever think you’re gonna cut your hair?

CHEN TANG: [laughs] Never! Let me tell you something, 90% of my acting is just hair. Hair and facial hair. People always say, “You look like a totally different guy.” And I’m like, “It’s just hair” [laughs]. With Hong, the cool thing about entering with a new character and also working with HBO and Cinemax, they are so cool to work with because they’re literally like, “We want to meet you halfway. What kind of ideas do you have? How do you wanna look? Do you wanna be fat? Do you wanna be buff? Do you wanna be skinny? How do you want your hair to look? What do you want to wear?” And it’s so creatively fulfilling. The story with my hair, everybody’s ribbing me about my little bob as Hong [laughs]. My hair was already grown out for Mulan, because we had wigs, they had to attach it. The longer your hair, the easier it is to attach. So I grew my hair out down to my chin, and by

the time I got to South Africa to film Warrior, they were like, “We kinda like your hair as it is. Can we keep it as sort of this soccer mom bob?”

And I was like, “Yeah, it’s so silly, let’s keep it!” [laughs] And if anything, the hair is getting longer.

SPOILER: Ah Sahm [on Warrior] came off the boat looking all GQ like he got a haircut at a trendy parlor or something. You on the other hand came off the boat all shaggy.

CHEN TANG: [laughs] I give [Andrew Koji] s**t about that too! I was like, “Man, you came off the boat looking like you went to Supercuts!” In that day and age, the journey was like 4 months on the boat, and I was like, “Where did you get your haircut?” So I wanted to get as sloppy and dirty as possible. That’s what I asked for. I can’t imagine Hong with Ah Sahm’s hair. You’d take away my powers [laughs].

SPOILER: Is there anything you want to tell the fans of Mulan and Warrior?

CHEN TANG: “I love you guys. You guys make what I do so worthwhile. We do this for you guys. At the end of the day, in the entertainment industry, you wanna put out a great project, but you also want people to enjoy it. And that’s what really got me into this world, and to be able to be part of stuff that people enjoy, and to see you guys’ passion and love, it’s a life well lived. So thank you.”

Chen Tang/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Since the ‘80s, Dustin Nguyen has starred in and directed a

number of films and shows, both in America and overseas in Vietnam, and has made a career out of his gritty and heavy roles. Now the actor gets to bring his talents to HBO Max’s Warrior as Zing, the unflinchingly brutal leader of the Fung Hai Tong.

Having a recurring role in season 1, Dustin was brought back as part of the main cast for season 2, with Zing now a crucial part of the series. His character, along with his tong, adds a wild card spontaneity to the show that keeps the matters between Hop Wei and Long Zii always in a state of instability. The other gangs are

ruthless, but it’s typically within the context of the story. However, Zing and Fung Hai show the merciless reality of how many of the tongs really were back then. And it’s the veteran actor’s talent of understanding character and how to inject depth into his performance that makes Zing not just another antagonist.

The Vietnamese-born actor has a great energy both on and off screen. Dustin is a very real dude and has an appealingly nuanced turn of phrase. He’s a man of perspective and practices what he preaches. He truly knows the blessing of this opportunity he’s had with his life in show business, and despite his worst days, still realizes that he’s currently living out his dream.

Here, Galaxy gets to sit down and chat with the actor about his role in Warrior, along with where his unfaltering professionalism comes from, and how he’s managed to translate that into an honest appreciation of life in general.

interview interview

SPOILER: You joined Warrior in season 2. Your character made season 2 so lively. How’s it been working on the series?

Dustin Nguyen: The most miserable group of people I’ve ever dealt with [laughs]. You know, I have to joke like that because, I’m sure you’ve interviewed a lot of people and listened to a lot of interviews, and a lot of actors will say, “I love working with them,” and stuff, and unfortunately some of that isn’t that impactful anymore to some readers, but I truly had the time of my life on Warrior It’s just one of those things where everything comes together for an actor or anybody who works in this industry, where you have the creative content that you’re very excited and passionate about. And on top of that, you have a group of people, in front and behind the camera who are just as passionate as you are, and good human beings—and you don’t get that a lot. Not saying there’s a lot of awful people out there, but just sometimes you just get people whose personality doesn’t quite gel or they’re having a bad year or something, and you’re working with them and it just makes things very difficult and unproductive. In this case with Warrior, we have the best of all of those things, so when I come onto a show like that… And then you get to play a character like Zing who [laughs], he doesn’t care about anything. He’s got, like, no redeeming qualities whatsoever and just causes all kinds of havoc, which is a lot of fun to do as an actor.

SPOILER: You directed and starred in Warrior, even double banking! How did you juggle all of that?

Dustin Nguyen: Double banking was what we did during season 2, shooting multiple episodes at the same time—which is nuts! I mean, it was an experiment, and everybody came through it with flying colors, and you know the result with season 2. But the logistics of it was—not to pat ourselves on the back—just incredible. Imagine you’re shooting episodes 7 and 8 at the same time, and somewhere across the lot you’ve got episodes 9 and 10, which are huge episodes to begin with, shooting at the same time, while I was prepping episode 6, which I directed. So you’ve got this machine that’s going and at any given time, just the continuity for the actors and crew to keep up with. You know there’s a lot of blood and scars and bruises on the show. Imagine the makeup and hair department has to keep everything in order—what comes first, what comes second. So there’s a lot of continuity issues that [arise]. An incredible amount of workload. Honestly, I don’t think anybody wants to do that again [laughs]. You just try to focus as much on what you’re doing at that moment. If you try to look at the big picture too much you get kinda overwhelmed. You just cowboy up and you do it. And I think, again, the passion and the enthusiasm for the show helps a lot, because sometimes, you’re a professional and they pay you to do a job, but certainly when there’s passion and love behind it, it gets you a long way.

SPOILER: Warrior is on HBO Max now and there are a lot of eyes on it. It would be awesome if the fans get a season 3. This show needs a season 3. Dustin Nguyen: I’m proud of a lot of things I’ve done throughout my career, but I rarely say, “Money back guaranteed” [laughs]. I usually kind of downplay it because everyone takes it differently. You don’t wanna be one of those guys who says, “Everything I do is the best!” But truly Warrior is a show I can comfortably say is a money back guarantee.

It’s got a little bit for everybody. It’s got historical elements, it’s got action, it’s got sex, it’s got amazing sets to look at, it’s produced well and well put together. It has all the elements to entertain you, but at the same time there’s a bit of integrity behind it, and to hear your enthusiasm is just great because, yes, we still run into people who are discovering the show for the first time and they go, “Aw man! Where have I been?” It was on a smaller platform and a lot of people couldn’t reach it.

SPOILER: I see Warrior as a drama more than a martial arts series. What do you think?

Dustin Nguyen: I agree with you, Galaxy. I would say it’s a drama first, because of the content and the wonderful writing that Jonathan Tropper and the team put out, and then I think the action martial arts aspect of it surprises people. I don’t think if you were to come across a trailer for Warrior or hear about Warrior, “Okay, it’s a dramatic show with martial arts action,” and frankly we’re not the first to do that. There have been many shows on the air who have [both elements], but I think what surprises people is that the martial arts aspect is done quite well. But for me, it’s the drama first, and it’s clear. Martial arts fans tune in for the action of course, but that can only go for so long. If you got no drama, no heart behind the action, it’s just a bunch of people fighting, and I can imagine after 5 or 6 episodes it can get a little bit weary. So in our case, sometimes it can get neglected to mention that it’s really the drama stuff that’s driving Warrior and making it memorable.

SPOILER: I hate to bring it up, but you’re almost 60 years old, man. But you’re out there looking like you’re 25. You’re absolutely kicking ass. What do you do to stay in shape?

Dustin Nguyen: Well if you had Joe Taslim beating down on you, you have to keep in good shape [laughs]. You know, I guess I’m blessed with some decent genetics, and I enjoy life and try to live a clean life. Early

on, from the time I was a teenager, with the martial arts training and having discipline in life—not to the point where you’re boring and stuff. But I think just keeping fit and clean living, and again, passion. I get up every morning and I’m one of the happiest people because I just think I’m so lucky to be doing what I’m doing. I’ve got a great family. My children and my wife are what drive me. All of that works together, but certainly, I look back at where I started as an actor to now, it’s just amazing I’m still doing it and doing it in a way where I love doing it. You talk to enough

cast members and it’s like bootcamp everyday. You look around and it’s these young guys, and they get you excited, you’ve gotta step up.

SPOILER: I see a lot of pictures of you from Warrior and you always have this smirk on your face. What is that about?

Dustin Nguyen: It’s like, “Holy sh*t! I’m doin’ Warrior!” [laughs] Not only do I get to act in it, but I got cool people around me, I get to direct it. It’s like the Zing smirk. He sorta has this big plan inside of him that he’s trying to execute and a lot of peo-

Dustin Nguyen/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

ple on the outside like Mai Ling and others are sort of underestimating him. You know, he’s quite a cocky guy. He’s gone through the ranks and paid his dues. But that smirk is sort of like his devil may care type of attitude where he thinks, no matter what, he’s gonna come out on top. I try to have that sort of spirit with characters like Zing. There are many ways to go about that, and there’s no correct way. But I just felt like I didn’t wanna do this dowry, evil, serious bad guy all the time. I took the character seriously, but I didn’t want him to be so one level or predictable. So you make some choices that hopefully the audience likes, but that’s kinda where it comes from.

SPOILER: I remember on the cast panel, you shared a story when you hurt your leg and they offered you a wheelchair and you said, “Zing wouldn’t use a wheelchair!” [laughs] What’s the full story?

Dustin Nguyen: Prior to me directing episode 6, we were shooting episode 5, which is the big fight scene between Joe Taslim and myself. And for two days, from morning to night, we would just beat the crap out of each other because we were so into this fight scene. And unfortunately towards the end–literally we were like 5 or 6 moves from finishing the fight–remember when I get thrown into the bookcase and it comes crashing down and I get back up and lunge at him and we start fighting again? In the last take–it’s usually the

last take–but what happened was there was a bunch of debris that had fallen off the shelves and some of them were shot glasses, but made out of copper. And while I’m lunging forward towards Joe, I step on one of these and I lost my footing. But there’s so much momentum going forward and I had to correct myself midair and, of course, it tore my ACL and my meniscus. I had the same situation with my right knee years ago, and you know the sound when it pops [laughs]. And of course I couldn’t get surgery right away because I had to start prepping episode 6 as a director. So I was wrapping it up and hopping around all the time and had to get through episode 6 before I could have surgery. That was a situation where the producers wanted to make sure I’m okay, so they thought of having a wheelchair for me and someone was gonna push me around, and I was just thinking, “No, man! Death before dishonor” [laughs]. Not that I was tryna be a hero or anything, but luckily for me, once the swelling went down after the first two weeks, I wrapped it up and was able to walk around. But you get so excited about the work, and during episode 6, at one point I had literally forgotten that I’m working with a torn ACL, and a few times I got too excited and popped out of a chair or something and it reminded me, “Hey, man, it’s torn down here! Take it easy!” When I’m directing I love running around talking to the actors. I don’t like just sitting behind

the monitors too much. You get so excited working and getting caught up in the energy of the day, and it’s great. So after I wrapped up episode 6, a few days later, I went into surgery.

SPOILER: I hope you’re feeling better.

Dustin Nguyen: Yeah, I’m okay now, but it’s a bummer, because the recovery period can be quite long. A lot of it’s psychological. When you’re used to being so active and all of a sudden you can’t move around, and you really have to be disciplined with rehab. But it is what it is. I went through it with my right knee 20 years ago, but back then I had youth on my side [laughs].

SPOILER: Zing is such a ruthless character. I know Warrior is partially fictional, but do you think there was really someone like Zing back then? Dustin Nguyen: Well I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s such a dog-eat-dog world and the competition to control the heroin business. Any immigrant situation, the Italians, the Greeks, of course the Chinese, had that kind of mentality, I wouldn’t be surprised

at all. When you have a group of guys like the Fung Hai Tong who are known establishments coming from the Mongolian descendants, there had to be someone like that. Because the other two gangs, they’re pretty badass, so to go up against them, you have to bring it on and step up your own gang. There’s a certain theatrical element to it, but in real life, in this world, I’d imagine they were actually a lot more brutal than what we portray on screen.

SPOILER: What do you do to prepare for a character like Zing?

Dustin Nguyen: Well I didn’t do any research per se, because there weren’t any personalities historically that it was based on–at least the writers didn’t give me anything. For me, what was written on the page was a good start. But I did the research on the tongs in general and the way they were doing business and interacting with each other. And the battle for supremacy and territorial rights. You put yourself in that world where, not only do you have all these internal conflicts going on, but you have this society where, outside of Chinatown, you were essentially nonexistent and meant nothing, which for sure creates a sense of rage and anger and resentment. And for somebody like Zing, someone who came up in the ranks–if you remember when I was introduced, I was sort of a lieutenant, my own boss–a guy who was not unlike Mai Ling and Young Jun, trying to have his footing in society as a person to be taken seriously, but the hunger for the power, the control for what he perceived as something that would validate him in a society where he doesn’t mean anything. So you go with these premises and these feelings that are very believable and go from there. I had some backstories about Zing that I did [on my own], and not something that we’ve seen on screen–not yet anyway, hopefully in the future. But you just project those feelings and situations. What I normally do is say, “What are some of the things for a character like this that have been done before? What are some of the things that would make a character

like this predictable?” and I try to avoid those choices if possible. Sometimes you can do that and sometimes you can’t. Not that you’re trying to reinvent the wheel, but you’re trying not to make this character flat. When you’re playing an antagonist it’s very easy to fall into these traps. Some of these cliches are actually not bad–they’re cliches for a reason. At least for me personally, I try to put a new spin on it if possible. I’m a big fan of humor, even in the most dire situations, the most dramatic situations. I’ve been there, and there’s always some humor there if you’re willing to dig deep enough. And some of those moments can be very nice for a character to counter a very dramatic scene.

SPOILER: It’s wild to see what everyone went through back then. It was tough, man. Do you think you could’ve survived living back then?

Dustin Nguyen: I like to think so. I like to think all of us [could]. Whenever you’re sitting here and it’s all hypothetical, but human beings are made to adapt. If you don’t adapt you’re gonna die. So I like to think that you adapt and you make the best of it. One of the things that needs to be said is it’s a piece of history, yes, but for the writers there’s not a lot of information that’s available on it. It’s a piece of history that’s almost like a little footnote in history and a lot of people don’t even want to acknowledge it. So with the very little material the writers had to work with, it just goes to show what a wonderful job and how much work they put into it. You take facts, historical facts in this case, and you have to make it entertaining and theatrical and put your spin on it to make it an entertaining show. With what they had to work with, I think they did a wonderful job. It’s not just the Asian characters. Life was tough for the Irish too. You watch this show and you really feel for the Irish. As horrible as they were in some of the episodes, just because of the nature of them feeling threatened by the Chinese labor taking the jobs away, they were starving too, and they were scrapping everyday just to make ends meet. So everybody was, in a way,

a victim of this really harsh environment. In the meantime you’ve got people like the politicians in the show, they’re living the high life and making policies. It’s just a wide range of perspectives that the writers on Warrior have presented. It’s a very Asian-centric show, but I know there’s a lot of other colors that should be appreciated as well.

SPOILER: Warrior should be on the HBO Max top 10 series list. I see some of the shows on the top 10 list and I’m like, “What’s goin’ on?”

Dustin Nguyen: [laughs] Yeah, look, I too can’t help but think, “If we had started on HBO or Netflix or CBS, the reception would have been different.” But sometimes that’s how things work. I’ve yet to see Cobra Kai, but I’ve been hearing so much about that too starting out on a very limited platform and very slowly got the recognition that it has at the moment.

SPOILER: I hear people comparing Cobra Kai and Warrior all the time. I love Cobra Kai, it’s a great show, but they’re so different.

Dustin Nguyen: It’s like saying an enchilada and an egg roll are the same because they’re wrapped, but the taste is completely different. But it’s a challenge when you have a limited platform. Even when you hear Warrior is a drama/martial arts show. It doesn’t really tell you a lot until you actually sit down and watch an episode or two.

SPOILER: Do you think directing and acting on the same series is an advantage or disadvantage?

Dustin Nguyen: On Warrior, I’ve yet to have to direct and act in the same episode, and frankly it’s not something I want to take on. I’ve done it on feature films I’ve done in Vietnam for financial reasons. And one thing I’ve learned from doing that—I had to do it twice—is it’s not something you wanna do because it really is incredibly draining, exhausting, and nothing good can come out of it because you’re just too scattered and pulled in so many different directions.

On a show like Warrior, or on a series [in general], if you’re lucky enou-

Dustin Nguyen/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

gh where they let you direct, you have the luxury of riding around that. They knew that in episode 6, the particular episode I was going to direct, they would ride around it to make sure that Zing is not in it. You can kind of work around it to make sure that it’s not overwhelming for the director. But it’s tough. If you happen to do both, it’s very difficult because directing is arguably 40 times more intense than acting. When you’re an actor, you’re one of the colors of the painting—be the best red or the best yellow you can possibly be—but the person doing the painting has to make so many decisions about what goes into it and so on. Directing is so exhausting. You’re handling all of this and then you have to be in front of the camera. When you’re acting, you’ve gotta flow, man. You can’t be thinking about anything else. But if you’re directing and you’re acting, I’ve been in a scene where the camera’s on me, and while I’m acting I’m thinking about what I’m gonna do when I turn the camera around on the other actor [laughs] because I’m seeing adjustments that I need to make. I’m doing a closeup and I’m thinking, “Oh man, in two hours the sun’s gonna go down. I gotta figure something out.” So you can’t quite possibly do your best when you’re

directing and acting. You do the best you can and you get through it. But to get to do both, listen, I’m not gonna sit there and complain. I’ll take it anyway. I’d rather do that than digging ditches [laughs]. Not that there’s anything wrong with digging ditches, but it’s like, “You’re a lucky bastard, man! Don’t complain!”

SPOILER: I know being a director is no joke, it can get very hectic at times. But you give off this very calm and laid back energy.

Dustin Nguyen: That’s just my nature. I truly believe that’s how it should be. I think very early on, or maybe the background that I came from, or I’m fortunate enough that my parents and different teachers who have come in and out of my life have instilled in me that one of the most important things is perspective. And it sounds cliche and philosophical, but at the end of the day it comes down to perspective and where you’re sitting and how you’re looking at things. Because no matter what—I’ve been through some hard times, as you have, Galaxy, and everybody sitting here—but there’s always somebody who’s having it a lot harder than you, you know? And I guess I’ve trained myself, no different than the martial arts training or

training a muscle, the default thing I always try to go with is perspective: “This is my situation, but there are people right now at this moment who are having it a lot worse than what I’m going through.” And it’s not just a justification or a philosophy that you can just masterbate with—to use that language—but it’s true. There are times when I’m on a film set, and you’ve got days when everything is going wrong and you’re stressed out of your mind, you don’t know if you’re gonna make your day, and you’re cranky and you might’ve said some things and you might’ve lost your temper, and you’re feeling miserable. And then you go home that night and go, “Wait a minute, yeah it was a tough day, but I’m making a movie, man,” which was a dream of mine from the time I was sitting in the cinema when I was kid, “and I’m actually living my dream!” And not too long ago, 15, 20 years ago, I was diggin’ ditches, and I was doing construction work, and a lot of other work. And it’s just perspective and you hafta remember that and go, “You know what? I should be really happy that I’m having this kind of stress.” So that’s how I’ve gotten through life so far, and I’ve trained and conditioned myself to do that. Truly, Galaxy, it really comes down to that. You’re always gonna run into stuff in life but, man, there’s people out there who are having it a lot

worse. I gotta say, bro, when I hear actors complain, my blood just boils—successful actors. “Aw, it’s such a pain in the ass!” I get all of that and I’m sympathetic to it, but when people complain, especially successful actors, I just got no time for it, man. I just think sometimes they need to get their perspective right. Not that I’m perfect or a saint, but that’s just how I feel. It’s a slap in the face, but I think more importantly, you’re just doing a disservice to yourself and what God gives you. There’s just no other way to say it. You really gotta take into account what God gives you–or whatever you believe in. Even when things are bad, if you look really hard, you find something that keeps you going because there’s always somebody worse off than you. That’s just the way it is. And you and me, tomorrow, we can get caught up and forget about stuff too, but you try to check yourself and put things into perspective. We’re human beings after all, but society

these days, it’s very easy to spin out of control. And sometimes I read certain things, and I try not to judge because I’m not God, but you read certain news items and people are complaining about this and that, and showing off their $100,000 Gucci watch or whatever. Not that there’s anything wrong with material things, but I’m like, “You actually have articles about this, man? Come on, there’s sh*t goin’ on right now! You’re kickin’ it in your $2 billion yacht when people are starving on the beach?” There’s nothing wrong with having nice things in your life–I mean, God bless you–but it’s the way you promote it and the way you present it in an insensitive way when there’s other people struggling.

SPOILER: What was your favorite scene in the entire two seasons?

Dustin Nguyen: The first thing that comes to mind is Hoon Lee. I love his character, and he’s such a wonderful actor and human being. I had

a few scenes with him that are very memorable, so it’s tough. But I guess I would have to say, only because of the nature of it, it’s the scene with Joe Taslim, where we’re talking a little bit before we started trading blows in episode 5 of season 2. If you recall, I say something to the effect of, “After I kill you, I’m gonna go see Mai Ling…” and said some over-thetop delicious lines to him that you could never say any other time in life [laughs].

SPOILER: If you can share a final thought with your fans, what would it be?

Dustin Nguyen: I wanna thank them, if there are some fans out there of my work and of the show in general, I sincerely thank them, because there are a lot of choices these days for people to watch. And in this particular case, I’m very grateful that we have a following at this show. If you’re a fan of the show, I really wanna thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s the kind of stuff that keeps me going as a performer, as a filmmaker, as a storyteller. I just genuinely wanna express my gratitude because I know, when I turn the TV on, there’s so many choices I don’t even know where to start, Galaxy. Unless someone refers me to something or recommends something. I don’t know about everyone else. So in this case, if someone really happens to dig Warrior, like you or some of the fans we have, I truly thank everybody for that.

interview interview

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

If listening to Perry Yung speak doesn’t get

you hyped up about Bruce Lee, then I don’t know what will. Perry owes his career to the martial arts icon and has somewhat of a personal connection to the actor himself, not only coming from the town where Lee had his first kung fu studio, but learning martial arts from Jack Man Wong, who once had a highly-publicized feud with Lee. The Oakland native sheds light on what it was like growing up in the city during the height of the Bruce Lee craze, and how his ubiquitous presence in society helped make an impact in the inner-city, perhaps more than it did anywhere else. Yung saw the Lee’s success as a sign that anything is possible.

Being in this game for a while, Yung has such an important point of view and has seen, first hand, the consequences of poor Asian representation in Hollywood for decades. Moving to New York in the ‘90s to pursue a career in theater, the actor

shied away from film and television for years because of the grossly limited roles for people who looked like him.

A man who knows well his culture’s history, Perry recognizes more than anyone the opportunity for Warrior to tell these stories which have been inexplicably buried for decades in this industry, and has been empowered even more by the very existence of the series.

His role as Father Jun is that of the patriarch of the Hop Wei Tong. A master diplomat, the big boss runs his tong with an iron fist, but also with a brilliant mind. Like Vito Corleone, Father Jun is the gangster of all gangsters.

Along with trying to put the enigma of Bruce Lee’s popularity into words, Perry also shares with us how he got into acting, and Warrior’s role in this ever-changing cultural landscape of Hollywood.

SPOILER: Perry, what does Warrior mean to you?

Perry Yung: Oh man, it’s amazing! But first, I’d like to say thank you so much to you and the fans for supporting the show. It’s amazing to see this response. Working on this show is a dream for someone like me who’s Chinese American, born in Oakland, California where Bruce Lee had his first kung fu studio. Bruce Lee was like the hometown boy who made it big when I was a kid. He was the person I looked up to and said, “Look, he got out of Oakland. He made it.” Boy, did he make it. No one else from Oakland came close to what Bruce Lee did. He was my hero. I can say with 100% honesty, being an Asian American actor, I would not be doing what I’m doing. He was my inspiration. He saved my ass. Growing up in Oakland in the ‘70s, it’s not an easy city. Oakland has a reputation. It was an urban city with a lot of racial issues. It’s the home of the Black Panthers. It’s really progressive. It was multiculturalism way before the word came about. The city is full of Latinx, Black, Asian–Oakland is like Queens in New York City where there’s like 28 languages spoken. So back in the day, if we left Chinatown, we could feel all the eyes on us. We didn’t stray too far from the border [laughs], we’d get shoved around a bit. But after Enter the Dragon came about, we got some respect. We had people looking at us goin’, “Hey! You know that stuff? Show us some of that stuff!” Before that it was like, “Hey! Give me your lunch money!” So Bruce Lee saved our asses. It was amazing.

SPOILER: Even if you didn’t know kung fu, you had to give off the perception that you did.

Perry Yung: Exactly! It was, “Either act like you know kung fu or get your money taken.” [laughs] There was no choice. But I saw that we got a lot of respect from those people who said, “Show me kung fu.” They really meant it because they were so excited about kung fu. This new form that happened at a time when African American culture kinda needed a different role model like everybody did. One that Hollywood never offered. So when kung fu hit

the theaters, it was like, “We wanna be like that!” It was something that Hollywood didn’t offer before that was not white. So here was this form, here was this hero, here was this guy who fought oppression. And everybody in the audience in Oakland at that time, predominantly people of color, could identify with what Bruce’s message was.

SPOILER: Did you ever get a chance to go to Bruce Lee’s original school? Perry Yung: Well when he was doing his stuff I was only about 5 or 6. I was born right in Oakland when Brandon and Shannon [Lee] were also. But you know the famous fight with Wong Jack Man? There’s a famous fight [between him and Bruce Lee]. Jack Man Wong was my teacher. When I started studying with him I was about 7, 8 maybe. The only reason I went to study with him was because my two older brothers went to study with him and they had to babysit me, so they dragged me along. I was too young, I just remember him yelling at me all the time [laughs]. I couldn’t stand still. I couldn’t do the horse stance, I was too young. But a couple years after that, people were saying, “You know,

our teacher fought Bruce Lee?” I was like, “Wait, what?” They go, “Yeah, he had a fight and that’s why he’s not around anymore.” And we don’t really know what happened with the fight, it’s kinda like myth and legend, but we know that there was a fight. And it just blew me away that my teacher was the one who was involved. Obviously that happened way after I had stopped studying with him, so I couldn’t really confirm what had happened. But yeah, I studied with Jack Man Wong.

SPOILER: Why acting?

Perry Yung: Long story short, I was an artist and musician first. I was in punk rock bands and rock bands in the early ‘80s, late ‘70s—punk rock and heavy metal. And then I realized I just like to be on stage. And at some point I just started studying movement from the actor, I thought I could use it in performance art, in music. Then I found myself on stage doing stuff like dance and theater, because people were like, “You have stage presence, why don’t you come see what it’s all about?” This was in school, so I’d have teachers bring me to their dance studios out of school. I wasn’t a dancer and didn’t want to

do it, but actually there were a lot of pretty women there at the time. And I was like, “You know what? Being a dancer is way better than being a fine artist,” because you’re just kinda stuck in your studio—there’s no one around but you and your canvases. But if you’re a dancer you’re in a studio with a lot of beautiful women, so I was like, “Okay, I’m gonna try this out” [laughs]. So I found myself doing dance, and next thing you know, when I graduated I said, “I’m gonna go to New York City to see what it’s all about.” I ended up doing more theater and auditioning. I wanted to continue with fine art and music, but it was much easier to get into theater and dance. And next thing you know I’m in a theater production. Some of the first Asian American theater companies, like Pan Asian Rep and Ping Chong, people who’ve been making experimental theater since the late-’60s and ‘70s, and I happened to meet these people and get into their shows. From there I had legit actors say, “Hey, you wanna try film or TV? If you do, I could turn you on to my agent.” This was the early-’90s, and when I looked into that world, there was nothing for someone like me. Back then I had long hair, kinda like this rock musician kinda guy, and there was nothing on TV for a Chinese or Asian American character like that in the early-’90s. It was basically gangster roles in Chinatown or waiters and stuff like

Perry Yung/Warrior/HBO/HBO

that. So I basically stopped. I was like, “I don’t think I wanna audition for these roles.” You might have one line. This was the time right after Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles and you’re like, “There’s nothing for me in TV and film.” So I bailed. I stuck with theater because it was a way to really engage with a live audience, and your skin color didn’t matter as much in live theater as it does in film and television. Your ethnicity says a lot about your character and helps the writers tell the story quickly. So things have changed a lot since then. Look at where we are now with streaming and Netflix, where people want original content. Badlands, Crazy Rich Asians, I mean, it took a long time for these shows to happen. I remember when Joy Luck Club came around and then nothing happened for like 20 years in Hollywood. But if you were into kung fu, you saw Hong Kong movies. John Woo came out in the mid-’90s and he made a huge splash in the independent film circuit. And he kinda blew the door open with his style, his way of cinematography. Wong Kar-wai, these people weren’t mainstream Hollywood but they were making a splash in culture. You would read about them in European magazines, you’d read about Wong Kar-wai and John Woo. And suddenly—I had a theater company called Slant, and we were making all these statements on representation in theater. And we’d have talks with the audience and there’d be young people who’d go, “I don’t know what you mean when you say, ‘Asian men have negative stereotypes.’ I think they’re really cool. When you see John Woo films and Chow Yun-fat, they’re really cool!” And I’m like, “Wow, there’s a whole generation now who aren’t raised on Long Duk Dong and Mickey Rooney from Breakfast at Tiffany’s these stereotypes.” They haven’t seen these films like my generation has. But they’re seeing Romeo Must Die.

SPOILER: Oh my goodness, Mickey Rooney’s stereotype was awful.

Perry Yung: I know. It was horrible! It left an indelible mark in Hollywood as representation for what people think Asians are. People still reference that film now and how bad [his portrayal] is. Those things linger. They don’t go away. They leave a shadow; a bad taste in the mouth of Hollywood. So it’s up to us to change the spices. You know, with Warrior, we’re so blessed.

SPOILER: Warrior is very spicy. Perry Yung: It’s spicy and it’s a whole new flavor for the palette of the new audience who needs something new. Thank God for the executive producers, Justin Lin, Shannon Lee, Jonathan Tropper. Kenneth Lin and the rest of the writers, all these amazing writers who understand what representation means and the importance of it. And they’re giving Asian American men and women a whole new palette to work off of.

SPOILER: You gotta give it up to the set designers and crew. Their hard work paid off big time. The set is amazing, don’t you think?

Perry Yung/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

Perry Yung: The Cape Town Film Studios are so talented and ready to work. They do international work at top quality, and that’s why I think Jonathan Tropper and Justin Lin decided that we can afford them. Because Cinemax had a really low budget to make this show, and it’s surprising that it got made. But thanks to Justin and Jonathan, who found them and said, “We can make this show in South Africa.” It’s wild to have a Chinatown in Cape Town, South Africa. They built this amazing set. I mean, I walked on set and my heart stopped for a minute. I’ve been in Hollywood and walked around Universal Studios and these big sets, but this Chinatown is the most amazing set I’ve ever seen out of any Chinatown I’ve ever seen—maybe not the ones actually made in Hong Kong or China, but definitely in the US or internationally, it’s the most amazing set, down to the minute detail. When you walk down the street and you see cabbage—that cabbage is real. And you don’t see it in the film, you just see a peddler. You see a fish seller—that fish is real. Two days later it’s full of flies. That dried squid hanging—it’s real. You smell that dried squid. People don’t spend that money like they do in South Africa because [the country] has the resources, for one thing—they have agriculture and fish so they’re not wasting it. But the time they take, the expertise of the set designers

and art directors, and the crew. The crew is so respectful. I would say they’re the most respectful crew I’ve ever worked with. They are so respectful of the actors and talent and creatives. They just want you to do your work and quietly do their work. And their work is fantastic. How well a shoot goes depends on how well each member moves quickly—moves that table, moves that light right before they say, “Action.” It’s teamwork, it’s clockwork. And you gotta have a good crew. That crew at Cape Town Film Studios, they’re amazing. If anyone ever thinks about shooting a film there, they should hire them. They get it done.

SPOILER: Another reason we need season 3 is because Father Jun’s journey is not finished, the second season ended with so many cliffhangers. Perry Yung: Yeah, man. Thank you so much for the work to put it out there. That’s what it takes, just a little bit of outreach and advertising, because anyone who’s seen this show is blown away by the power of it in terms of entertainment, and then the historical aspect, and then the topical subject matter of racism and white supremacy and scapegoating and political demagoguery, all that is happening right now. And that’s why it’s hitting a nerve because this is happening right now. We had the Chinese Exclusion Act

in 1882 and nobody even remembers that, but that’s the reason why there were no women in Chinatown because the laws didn’t allow Asian women to come and they didn’t want Chinese people to start families in America. They basically said, “You come and you work, and when you’re done, you either go home or you die here alone.” That was the message to the Chinese, and that has to play out. I wanna see how that story plays out in Warrior. I know my history as a Chinese American. I have never met my grandmothers because of that law, they were not able to immigrate. Only the fathers came, and then when they got lonely, they had arranged marriages so they went back to China and consummated the marriage and had a couple of babies and then they left. And maybe 10 or 12 years later they would go back if they had a son and bring the son over, because they couldn’t bring the mother over. So I’m fifth generation because of that. My great-grandfather went back and forth. If they had not put a cork in it, imagine how many Asian Americans there’d be in America. We’re such a minority because of that. It’s really sad and any Asian Americans who know the history, when they see the show they’re like, “Oh my God, they’re actually telling the story! Finally! A story that Hollywood would not touch.”

I don’t wanna give anything away, but season 2 episode 9, I was out on the sidelines watching that because I knew how historical that moment was for us, to have that story told on TV. I couldn’t believe it while they were shooting it. I was like, “They’re finally gonna tell this story.” If you really do Chinese American history, you’ll know that Chinese camps were burned down, like nothing, Chinese mining camps in the Barbary Coast of California, and Arizona, and New Mexico, Nevada, they were burned down. Whenever Chinese struck gold, white miners would come in and kill them. This happened consistently and was rampant, but this story isn’t told by anyone. It’s empowering to me to finally have my history told, and then to be in this show, it’s just like a dream come true. People don’t know that Chinese were lynched just as much as black people, proportionately. But to finally have that story told in a Hollywood television series was mind-blowing. And it’s offered in a way that’s full of art. It’s entertainment. We get this medicine through entertainment, but it’s healing the country and those people, like me, who feel like they’re finally heard; our stories are finally told. And it’s done in a way where, this show, thanks to Jonathan and Justin and Shannon, it’s done through art. People can take the art. They might not be able to take the lecture or a documentary, but if they see it in the guise of a kung fu TV show, they get the story. And it’s done in a way where, “Okay, I can accept this medicine. It’s going down sweet, but it’s strong.” A lot of people say they go back. They think about it and then go watch it again, and then it reverberates even stronger and resonates even deeper. I’ve heard people say that they’ve watched Warrior over and over again, because it’s finally a voice—it’s not just entertainment.

SPOILER: Everybody said, “Wait ‘til you talk to Perry, he’s deep.”

Perry Yung: [laughs] Malcolm X said you can’t do anything until you know your history. “Until you know where you came from, you’re not gonna know where you’re going.” So I was lucky that

when I went to school I happened, by chance, to go to an Asian American Studies class. When I walked into that class, my mind was blown about how society works and all these systems. You’re talking about how systems in America guide culture and guide where we come from, and how our laws are made, and how people treat each other through these laws. And then from that I took another Asian American in Law class, and I was like, “Holy sh*t!” Asian Americans were just as worse off as Black Americans at the time. We got our “model minority” status, and thus were sort of pinned against other minorities to say, “Look at Asian Americans, they’re the model minority. You should do what they do. And if you do that we won’t need Affirmative Action.” You learn how the government abused people of color, and until you study this stuff you don’t know what’s going on in society. You only think, “Those Asians, they’re rich and they’re smart. We should be like them.” But because of that we have honorary white society, but we’re not white. Asians are not white. When we get lumped with that, we get violence perpetrated upon our bodies. They’re not gonna attack white people, but they will attack Chinese. So I was lucky that I studied Asian American History. I have a minor in Asian American Studies. I know how this society operates and you just kinda have to work your way around it and get the most out of it.

Like Ah Toy and Mai Ling—in that time of America, there was extreme misogyny and they kept women in their place. But how did Ah Toy and Mai Ling rise? And there were real women like that. They had to work the system somehow. It’s a look at how women had to buck the system. So I think the genius of Warrior is the writers know about that, they know about these systems and they’re like, “Let’s look at how Ah Toy and Mai Ling are gonna fight all this—and Ah Sahm.” And Father Jun had some nice speeches in the beginning that told us. He’s a revolutionary. He’s an activist. He saves his people. He created the most powerful tong in

Chinatown so that he could prevent the violence of the ducks upon our people. That’s Malcolm X talking. Jonathan Tropper wrote that.

SPOILER: Your Instagram shows you as a kind and spiritual person. If the viewer didn’t see that side of you on social they’d think you were really some mafia gangster [laughs].

Perry Yung: [laughs] That side is in me when I have to be an activist because I know that’s what it takes. But I’m also the kind of activist that is like, I don’t know if you know Grace Lee Boggs, but she’s the first Chinese American activist who worked with supporting the Black Panthers and she did it with love. She was like, “I’m gonna be an activist and I’m gonna do this with love.” And Martin Luther King also. I embrace those concepts of change with love, even if it’s difficult. I understand Malcolm X’s point of view: “If change doesn’t come 60 years later after Civil Rights marches, if change still hasn’t come, something’s gotta break. It’s gon-

na break before it gets any better.” There are a lot of different ways of looking at how we can change, and my first inclination is to embrace and support change with love. It’s an opportunity to show that we can do this as a human race. We are one. We’re born loving each other. Babies love to laugh. Racism is learned at home. I don’t know if you saw American History X. The father comes home talking crap about other races. Babies aren’t born racist. You have to wonder where that comes from. We have to cultivate love, and I think that Warrior does cultivate love in the show through the means of loving the characters, loving the way the story is told, loving the beauty of the fight choreography. It’s beautiful, but it’s done in a very artistic way that people can go, “Oh, I admire how they did that.” A lot of people say that they can’t take the gore, but they actually see it in a different way because it’s done so well. So I think the producers of Warrior understand that we can show racism through

love somehow, and I think that there’s a sort of resonating chamber of love involved in this genre that comes from Bruce.

One of my favorite quotes from Bruce that inspires me is that he does what he does to show the beauty of the Chinese culture. It’s not about ego. If you look at the story of all of Bruce’s films, it’s about him overcoming oppression, because that’s the story of his life in America and the story of how he had to get through Hollywood, and how he lost the Kung Fu series to David Carradine. But underneath all of that, he’s not a bitter dude. He’s got philosophy to get him through it. “You gotta flow like water, because water is so powerful. Just keep moving and it’s fresh, and it’s rejuvenating. Your water has to flow. If it doesn’t flow, it’s gonna be stagnant and breed disease.” That’s one of my favorite quotes from Bruce. Bruce was such a great philosopher, and it’s helpful, useful philosophy. It’s not out of the grasp of most people. You read it and think, “Be like water.” Everybody has a take on that, it’s not too esoteric or abstract.

SPOILER: Bruce Lee is idolized by millions, from every walk of life around the globe. Isn’t that wild?

Perry Yung: That’s pretty mind boggling, isn’t it? I’m sure there are tons of white supremacists loving Warrior [laughs]. It’s the genre, they like action, fighting genre, but they don’t know it’s about white supremacy. From my experience being Chinese

American, or just a person with an Asian face, first of all, I’m lucky that I’ve been able to travel the world quite a bit because of my theater work in New York City. I was working with La MaMa theater and they do a lot of tours annually around the world—theater work, with Spain, Italy, Africa, the Balkans, Europe, Asia, everywhere. And whenever I arrive, almost any non-Asian city, I get out of the airport and I get in the cab and the cab driver is usually like, “Where you from?” And I’m like, “America.” And they’re like, “Well you don’t look American” [laughs]. I’m like, “Well my parents are Chinese.” And invariably they all go, “Bruce Lee!” I’m not offended by that because he’s my hero. I’m talking about Egypt and Spain, these cab drivers go, “I love Bruce Lee!” How is that possible through the language barrier? He’s not even Chinese [to them]. He’s like something else they see. He represents something else. I don’t know how to explain it. No one says, “I don’t like Bruce Lee.”

I was in a shopping mall in Cape Town. I had my Bruce Lee shirt on that Shannon gave me. This woman with a Louis Vuitton bag and gold rings and all this stuff goes, “Bruce Lee! Now there goes a guy!” She was

an older white woman, maybe like 70. I get outside the mall and there’s a black guy sitting on the ground panhandling, I give him some rand, and he sees my shirt and goes, “Bruce Lee! That was the guy!” You have two people here from totally opposite walks of life, both admiring Bruce Lee. Is that amazing or what?

SPOILER: It’s beyond love, beyond admiration.

Perry Yung: It’s iconic. He’s one of the most iconic human beings in the world without a doubt. And even if you haven’t seen his face, you know his name.

SPOILER: You know what’s fabulous? Netflix just started playing Bruce Lee movies. I believe it’s because of the enthusiasm driven by Warrior or because it was his 80th birthday recently.

Perry Yung: 80th, yeah. I gotta hand that over to Shannon. She is an amazing person to carry on this legacy. Shepherding this legacy through this new era through digital social media. There’s a documentary that Shannon produced, too. It’s just timeless, his charisma. His talent, the visual imagery of Bruce is breathtaking. He’s a beautiful human being. He

represents the good in humanity. We all wanna be good. We all wanna be the hero. We all wanna overcome adversity. And Bruce does all of that. But he does it not for himself, but for his community, if you watch his films. He’s got a group of people he’s helping out. It’s like, “We are one.” Bruce Lee’s other famous quote, “Under one sky, we are one family,” something like that. So he lives it. He shows it in his art. It’s the impetus, the inspiration behind what he does that resonates so clearly to people. Without a doubt he’s on a mission. And his mission is to save humanity.

SPOILER: We live on this rock that’s zooming around this fireball at tremendous speeds—you ever think how amazing that is—but then we have racism? Why? We’re all from the same planet, we’re the same species. Perry Yung: Scientifically, you can break it down, we all come from the same thing. Even if you break it down even further, going into the most modern science, the DNA, the smallest molecule that makes up human beings, that makes up animals, that makes up a rock, is the same molecule. We are all that one thing. And then we have racism! Which doesn’t make any sense. We have plenty of resources to live the happy, joyful life. We can share the resource. Why can’t we do it?

SPOILER: I hope people have the mindset to think about it that way. And I hope the world can sit with you for 10 minutes, Perry, because you break it down, brotha!

Perry Yung: Really, at the end of the day, don’t you wanna feel good? I don’t know what it feels like to be a white supremacist, somebody who hurts other people. But what makes people feel good is helping. If you help a lady cross the street, if you give somebody a glass of water who feels thirsty, helping makes you feel good. The gesture of helping, it’s not that difficult. To me, taking something from someone doesn’t make me feel good. Stealing something from someone doesn’t make me feel good. If I share my meal with

Perry Yung/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

someone, I’m happy to give them more of my meal if they need it. That makes me feel good, that makes me feel human. I think Bruce had that philosophy in him. He put himself out there. He put his body at risk to help people. That’s a great example of a human being.

SPOILER: Do you think when Bruce Lee was at his prime, he was intentionally planting a seed for the future? That his intent was, “This is going to affect millions for decades to come”?

Perry Yung: That would be a great question to ask Shannon. For me, the power of his art means that he’s committed to doing the most important thing in the moment. He’s not compromising anything but what we’re doing right now. What we’re doing right now, in this room, that’s going to be captured on film, that’s the most important thing. He might’ve done his research to say

that every bit of it is driven by sharing the beauty of his culture, and if only sharing the beauty of his culture is enough, then it will resonate. You don’t have to think about what will happen afterwards, because the most important thing is, “Does this moment share the beauty of my culture?” But I can’t speak for Bruce [laughs]. We can only judge by his actions. His actions are the films he’s made. Because it’s not easy making a film. It’s really difficult if you talk to anybody who’s a filmmaker telling a story. There’s so many hands in the pot. That’s the medium of film. You have all these creatives—the writer, the director, casting, costumes, music, lighting, camera op, the director of photography—all those people want their stamp on the film. So for somebody to make a successful film takes a lot of diligent hard work, and focused work. So for Bruce to be consistently turning out these films means he was driven by something.

Aside from talent, he had a vision, and I think, going back to your question, he just wanted to share his beautiful culture with the world. And if it fails, he’s gonna go back to the cutting room.

SPOILER: And Bruce did it before social media. He was able to rise to the top and become this icon and legend during a time when it wasn’t that easy.

Perry Yung: It was so much harder in his time to make good art. You really had to be dedicated to it. There weren’t as many people doing it. There’s more people making films now. You can shoot and edit on your own. So to really be a filmmaker and an actor, I think, was a much harder, deeper struggle than it is now. I’m not saying it’s easier now—it’s still hard. It was just harder back then. I think what Bruce went through in Hollywood when he was pitching Kung Fu, the series, and doing Green Hornet, I think it was really hard probably what he experienced on set.

SPOILER: Perry, any final words to the fans?

Perry Yung: I just wanna say that it’s such a privilege to be carrying on the legacy of Bruce Lee. I’m humbled by it. I have so much gratitude. I’ve met the most amazing people on this journey. All the actors, the whole cast, all the creatives, the writers, Shannon, Jonathan, they all changed my life. And also, they’re all really down to earth, humble, great human beings. I just wanna say I have so much gratitude. And so much gratitude for you all for helping us push Warrior to a new season, hopefully.

Perry Yung

Perry Yung/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

FANS OF WARRIOR LOVE TO HATE WALTER BUCKLEY.

The name, itself, just invokes a bad taste for many, and sounds devious whenever you hear it, but this is by design. In a world of ruthless gangsters, the Deputy Mayor is like a rogue mafioso himself. This lone wolf has his hands dipped all over town and uses his power to unapologetically instate his own agenda.

The effectiveness of Buckley can be attributed to the impressive talents of actor Langley Kirkwood, who plays the role with an unrestrained conviction. A native of South Africa, where the series films, Langley has seen an accomplished career over the past 20+ years, and now gets another time to shine as the insidious villain of Warrior.

Brought on board by showrunner Jonathan Tropper, whom he’s had a chance to work with in the past on the series Banshee, Langley also had a recurring role on Starz’ Black Sails, which shares a lot of the same crew as Warrior.

Galaxy talks with the actor about his role on the HBO series, how often fans message him about their disdain for his character, as well as some ambiguous teasers for what’s to come if (and when) this series gets its third season.

SPOILER: I ask all the cast this same question, what does Warrior mean for you?

Langley Kirkwood: First and foremost, it’s a wonderful opportunity to work with really great people— people who I love—and to work in my hometown. That ticks a lot of boxes for me. I’d moved back to Cape Town shortly before we filmed the pilot to be closer to my kids because I’d been living in LA for a few years, and I had a relationship with Jonathan Tropper, the show’s creator, from another show called Banshee. He had a part he thought would be a good fit for me. And it turned out Buckley was. And then to be involved in a show that has Bruce Lee’s name attached to it, that’s the dream of a lot of boys out there who grow up wanting to kick people’s asses—whether it be for real or on screen—so that certainly had a huge appeal. There really weren’t any parts to this whole deal, getting onto this show, that didn’t shout, “Yes!” at the top of the lungs. It was green lights all the way.

SPOILER: You were also on Black Sails, a show that shares a lot of the same crew as Warrior. Wor-

king on both shows, which one do you think is closer to the period it portrays?

Langley Kirkwood: I guess we have more historical references in the world of Warrior—especially from a photographic perspective. It was obviously more recently—the 1870s as opposed to the world of Black Sails which was the 1700s, long before they had photographic evidence of things. And the world of that show is based on the fictitious world of Robert Louis Stevenson, with some historical characters thrown in. Honestly, when I looked at the photographic references we have on [Warrior], there are times where I’m looking at Cape Town and I can’t believe I’m not looking at San Francisco in the 1870s. And there are times on the backlot when my breath is taken away by how accurately the streets of Chinatown and San Francisco have been depicted. The set builders did an incredible job, the art department does an amazing job. And the costumes are kinda mindblowing in their attention to detail. It’s always fun. It’s always really cool to immerse yourself and add those other layers onto a character.

SPOILER: Do you prefer a modern series or a period piece?

Langley Kirkwood: That’s a good question. I’ve always been a history fan. And certainly history was one of my favorite subjects to study at school, and there’s something about being in a historical drama that I find really satisfying. I do find it wonderful to be able to immerse myself and imagine what life must’ve been like, doing research and homework for the character and the world of those times. I really enjoy the period stuff. I grew up watching Westerns, and there’s a lot of Western in the world of Warrior. So I do feel like I’m living out a childhood fantasy on a lot of levels. But ultimately it depends on the project, really.

SPOILER: You add so much detail and quirks to your character, Buckley. Bravo!

Langley Kirkwood: [laughs] Thanks so much. I wish I could take all the credit for that. But I really must give kudos to the writers. Jonathan Tropper and the writing team had a very clear vision from the word “go” about this character and all the characters that they’ve created. None of the characters are in any way flat or two-dimensional. They are multilayered, multifaceted human beings, whether they are Madames or prostitutes or street fighters or narcissistic mayors or PTSD, strung-out, OCD, Deputy Mayors [laughs]—whoever the characters are, they all have these really interesting inner-worlds and backstories that make it just so much more of a joy to really dive in. And I was led really well by a really good team of directors, producers, writers, in terms of being able to lay the groundwork for a character and knowing where all his idiosyncrasies came from and why he behaved in these weird ways.

SPOILER: What specific things did you do to prep for scenes and get in that mindset?

Langley Kirkwood: His disability certainly was in my mind whenever I would do preparation for scenes. It was always a part of it. I’m always thinking about when I have to move around in the scene—not only how I will move around as Langley the actor, but how would Buckley want to be perceived to be moving around in this scene. He’s a man with a huge amount of pride. You could say that’s his Achilles heel in many ways—his pride and his vanity. So there’s always that motivation, not wanting to be seen in a negative light. He’s always aware of his disability and not wanting to draw attention to it because he does have such a complex about it.

SPOILER: The scene where Buckley massages his leg. It just adds so much to his origin.

Langley Kirkwood: I think there were two scenes—one in each season. In episode 1, season 1, if I remember correctly, even the way it was scripted, it was designed that the audience was supposed to not really be quite sure what they were watching [laughs].

SPOILER: [laughs] I thought it was a sex scene initially. It looked that way before the camera zoomed in.

Langley Kirkwood: So yeah, obviously with you the scene worked as how the writers intended it [laughs]. One of the great things about the show and one of the reasons why I think it’s had such an amazing response is, from a cinematic perspective, the show really punches above its weight. And that’s why we’re so excited that it’s found this other life now on HBO. Because the series really does have the style and the feel of a show with a far bigger budget than we had. Everyone on the show just takes immense pride in knowing the quality of the show that we’ve been able to produce.

SPOILER: Warrior is immensely underrated. It deserves a season 3. It’s like Deadwood, meets Peaky Blinders, meets martial arts.

Langley Kirkwood: Those are great analogies and comparisons. I love all of

those things. It has the gangster world of Peaky Blinders. It also has a similar feel of Gangs of New York, combined with the most incredible martial arts that you can see on television. Brett Chan’s stunt team is just phenomenal. The stunt performers are next-level. They bring so much of themselves to every single fight scene that they do, and bring such pride in their work. And you can feel it. You can see the joy that goes into the preparation when you see the finished product on screen with the amazing fight sequences. Episode 9 in season 2, honestly, every time I watch that, my jaw drops. I think about the Fung Hai home invasion as well in season 2. There are just so many incredible action sequences. The reality is, even though, yes, it’s an action show, it’s also so much more than just an action show. My girlfriend absolutely hates blood and violence, and yet I’m able to get her to happily sit through Warrior. She’s watched both seasons with me twice now, and she absolutely loves it. So I think that’s a testament to how much more there is to this show. It’s not just for action fans.

SPOILER: Are you hard on yourself? Langley Kirkwood: I think in this day and age, because the nature of auditions has changed so much and we often have to audition ourselves doing tapes at home and sending them in, I think actors have learned that we have to be less critical of ourselves. So I’ve learned to be less harsh, but at the same time I hope I’ve also learned to be more honest with myself and be more open to help and criticism from colleagues and friends. From that perspective, I think I’ve been able to watch this show quite openly and honestly with myself and I must be honest, there’s no part of my performance in either season where I go, “I should have played that better.” I just enjoy it, which is great. It’s not often that I’ve had that in the past. I used to be a lot more critical of myself.

SPOILER: On Warrior you’re secretly doing deals with everyone. You’re a badass undercover gangster.

Langley Kirkwood: He’s definitely got his finger in many pies and he likes to control things. He’s a bit of a puppet master and I suppose what’s great about this guy is because of this web that he has, there are so many different relationships that have got to play out. I’m always interested to see what’s going to happen next in terms of all the different relationships. Totally coincidentally, there was actually a historic person by the name of Buckley at this time who was involved in the politics of San Francisco. He ended up becoming very deeply involved in the underworld with one of the Madames in one of the tongs. Who knows where Buckley’s journey could end up going. But let’s hope for a few more seasons to explore that journey.

SPOILER: I talk to a lot of actors and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a unanimous enthusiasm about a show like the cast of Warrior has for it. It truly deserves a season 3.

Langley Kirkwood: The truth of the matter is that HBO owns the show and always has. Certainly from a cast perspective, there’s no one who doesn’t want this to continue. We all would love for it to happen. This isn’t a scenario where you have an okay show that only a few people like—it’s an amazing show that everyone who’s watching is really enjoying. And the fact that it has done so well in its first few weeks on HBO Max is a testament to that. As one of my cast mates actually said to me [who’s typically] slightly more

of a cynic than most of the others, “Langley, there’s no reason for us not to do another season. And there’s no reason for HBO Max not to want to do another season.” So let’s see where we go. I don’t believe the journey is over and I know a lot of us feel the same way.

SPOILER: If they greenlight the show, are you ready to jump back in as Buckley?

Langley Kirkwood: You’d have to dust a few things off I do believe [laughs], but the industry in South Africa is hurting since everything

has been severely curtailed by the pandemic, as it has everywhere. And we’re probably, right now, in the peak of our second wave. So I think when things have died down, hopefully we’ll have a vaccine here [in South Africa] soon. It hasn’t been rolled out here properly. But I don’t think it’s out of the question that we could get into pre-production within the next few months. Raised By Wolves, Ridley Scott’s show, which is also on HBO Max, that shoots here as well, and they are about to get underway with season 2. So it’s possible. But it just means that everyone would

Langley Kirkwood/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

have to be very careful. I’ve already shot a local South African show in the midst of lockdown last year, and it’s doable. It just takes longer, which obviously pushes budgets up. So it would just be about finding more time and money, and then we would probably have to go into some sort of production bubble as so many shows are doing around the world right now. There’s no reason why we can’t do all of these things.

SPOILER: The fans are restless. We’ve never gotten as much fan response on our end like we have for Warrior.

Langley Kirkwood: Well let’s just hope we keep on snowballing like that and make so much noise that the powers that be can’t ignore us any longer.

SPOILER: Do you ever get any fans who reach out and tell you that they despise your character?

Langley Kirkwood: Yeah! Are you kidding?? [laughs] Actually quite a lot. And they’re all really sweet and kind. It usually goes in this order: “I just wanted you to know that I absolutely hate your character. I think he’s despicable. He makes me squirm.” And usually that’s followed by, “And I want you to take that as a compliment because I think you’re doing a great job and it’s a wonderful performance.” [laughs] If they were saying that to me just as Langley, in the kind of numbers that I’m getting

in, then I would start to think that maybe I need to look at myself and examine the way that I’m conducting myself out in the world. But with the same passion that people are hating these characters, they’re loving the other characters in equal measure. There’s something to love in all of them, even if it’s loving to hate them. Every one of the cast members on the show loves their characters and loves playing them. You can feel it through the screen.

SPOILER: On set, who’s an actor you feed off of the most?

Langley Kirkwood: Dianne [Doan] and I hang out a lot on set because we do quite a few scenes together and she’s always good to be around just because she’s a bundle of really positive energy. [And then there’s] Joe Taslim. It’s almost as if he’s from another world. He’s so filled with love and positive energy. He’s incredible. His energy is really infectious. But there’s no one I don’t enjoy hanging out with. I really enjoy hanging out with Dean [Jagger] and Kieran [Bew], they both have dry energy, as does Andrew Koji. He’s super dry and super funny. Perry [Yung] is this kind of really loving, kind, patriarchal—he’s the father of the show in terms of the cast. He’s just this really gentle, paternal figure. People say I’m nothing like my character, but neither is Perry. He’s such a sweet guy. It’s really an honor and privilege to be part

of a show that’s long overdue and so important to Asian people, not just in the states, but around the world. And seeing more Asian representation in English language television is long overdue. I just feel so lucky to be part of this particular show, personally and professionally.

SPOILER: The cast of Warrior didn’t get to enjoy any conventions because the show got popular during the pandemic. I can’t wait for you all to experience fan interactions at conventions.

Langley Kirkwood: That’d be great. There’s so much to look forward to once we’re done with this damn pandemic, man. I have lots of friends who’ve done lots of conventions and they all tell me it’s a complete blast. I do wanna do Comic Con. Let’s look forward to brighter times and hope we can all get this pandemic under control as a human family, and come out the other side stronger and wiser.

SPOILER: Of all the scenes you’ve been in, which one is your favorite?

Langley Kirkwood: The scene where I stab myself in the arm [laughs], I remember that with some kind of fondness. Not because of what I did at the end of the scene, but maybe my favorite line in the whole season, which was when Joanna [Vander-

ham]’s character, Penny, comes into my office and accuses me of buying off reporters, and I basically say, “Nonsense, I’ve been buying off reporters for years’’ [laughs]. I really enjoyed that line and I really enjoyed that scene and the way that it played off, in spite of the awful ending that it landed on for Penny. But just from a complete mind f**k perspective, the flashback scene in episode 8 when we go back to the Civil War and we see how Buckley lost his leg, we took most of the afternoon to shoot that scene. And it really was such a surreal experience for me. I really felt like I had gone back in time 150 years to the Civil War and there were moments when I got flashes of how horrific it must’ve been living in that time, living through that war—living through any war. I count myself very lucky that I haven’t had to live through war. I have friends, both here and in [other countries], who have served in combat, and some of them are not the same. And it gave me a newfound empathy and respect for anyone who’s gone through that and come out the other side. It made me think about veterans, even though I’ve played US Marines on other shows, but I didn’t quite grasp the depth of how horrible and horrific war actually must be until I shot that scene. So that’s the most impactful scene in the show for me. It’ll be a stretch for a lot of audience members to actually empathize with Buckley, but that trauma he went through is very much part of what has made him the really complex character that he is.

SPOILER: Langley, is there anything you’d like to tell fans across the world?

Langley Kirkwood: Well, I’m not gonna say anything, but I’m also NOT gonna say that there isn’t something inside Buckley’s cane.

Langley Kirkwood/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

When Rich Ting got the role of Bolo on Warrior, he told executive

producer Shannon Lee, “I think I’ve been preparing my whole life for your dad’s show.” Like millions of kids, Rich grew up idolizing Bruce Lee, but strangely enough he also grew up a big fan of Bolo Yeung, a good friend of Bruce’s and also the namesake of his character on the series.

To double down on the coincidence and the funny way fate works, Rich grew up being called “Bolo” by his brothers and friends due to his larger stature, much like the bodybuilder himself.

In Warrior, Bolo is the right hand man of Father Jun, the leader of the Hop Wei Tong, and also serves as a sort of de facto nemesis of Ah Sahm within the tong. On the series, Bolo can be a man of few words. He’s a tough dude who gets the job done, but you can’t help but stay locked into what his next move will be.

When you hear Rich Ting talk, it’s hard not to notice the wisdom he’s accumulated through his life’s experiences, punctuated even more by how incredibly incisive and articulate he is. A Yale alum and law school grad, Rich has had his plethora of options throughout his adult life, but sticks with acting because that’s what fulfills him the most. Even more impressively, where most celebrities use the pronouns “I” and “my” when discussing their careers—which there’s no problem with at all, by the way— Rich always makes sure to give credit to the team around him by saying things like, “When we booked the job...”

Fans won’t see Rich in season 2 of Warrior due to—spoiler alert!—his character’s demise, but the actor stays hopeful that he might be able to live on in the series in some capacity if a season 3 ultimately happens. However, don’t you worry: The grinder that he truly is, Rich is definitely keeping himself busy, even during these seemingly stagnant times.

interview interview

SPOILER: How was your experience filming Warrior?

Rich Ting: That’s a hard question to open up with because I could probably speak a few hours on that one. But in summation, it was a childhood dream to not only be part of something that was created by Bruce Lee, who’s obviously my childhood idol, but then to play another idol of mine who is Bolo Yeung, in a Bruce Lee-inspired show. Bruce Lee is the reason why I started my martial arts career at 4-years-old. His philosophies and teaching and complete way of living have continued to influence me to the present day. So to not only be part of something that he created, but to honor him and pay tribute to him through it, I mean, I always say, “No one wakes up says, ‘Hey, when I grow up I want to do something that will be seen by millions around the world and it will be inspired by my idol,’ and then actually does it.” So it’s been really special, and words really can’t summarize what this project has meant to me. But I’m just truly grateful to be a part of it and to have something that we can share to the world.

SPOILER: You are a badass on the show. Tell me about your martial arts background. Rich Ting: I have a background in Tae Kwon Do and more recently through Jiu-Jitsu and Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do. I started at 4-years-old because that was the first time I saw Bruce Lee on television, and didn’t really connect the dots but just saw something that I wanted to do. And luckily my parents were open to it to help me enroll at that early age at a Tae Kwon Do studio that was close to the house, and the rest is history. I just fell in love with the whole martial arts study, discipline, training, and was able to continue it throughout my adulthood. My mom always reminds me, “I’m the one who drove you to those lessons, and now you’re able to do it on camera and make a living.” It’s just incredible to think of everything I’ve been through, that at the end of the day, something that I started so many years ago is enabling me to showcase it on a world stage like Warrior

SPOILER: That must’ve felt so amazing when you got the call for the part of Bolo

on Warrior, because I’m sure you watched Bolo in movies growing up. Rich Ting: Totally. It was a bit surreal to say the least. The truth is that, when I was growing up as a kid, and my parents are 2nd and 3rd generation Asian Americans, they had me enroll in the more traditional sports, which were football, basketball, baseball, and track, but on those individual teams I used to be the only Asian kid playing. And I was kinda big for my age. So at a very young age, the only other reference to a big Asian guy was Bolo. I remember playing Pop Warner football, my teammates would poke fun and call me “Bolo,” and my brothers would call me “Bolo” growing up. And then as Bolo Yeung, the real person, evolved in those Van Damme movies, that’s when Bloodsport had its renaissance and it was showcased more for a broader audience. So when I got to college and played Division I football, all my teammates were like, “Dude, you’re like Chong Li.” So this Bolo image and persona and physicality has followed me. The joke is, I never wanted to be Bolo, I wanted to be Bruce Lee, but because of my stature, I fell into the Bolo mold a little easier.

Long story short, when we got the call to not only audition for Bolo, but when we booked it, [laughs] I remember just laughing and being like, “You can’t write this. It’s meant to be.” Not only is it an honor, but I really think it was 100% in the universe for me to do this role and bring everything I’ve learned from both Bruce and Bolo, on and off the screen, and to tribute them. “Surreal” is the only word that comes to mind, but I don’t think that word even gives justice to what this overall project meant. Not only working with Shannon Lee and the Bruce Lee family, but with people like Justin Lin, Jonathan Tropper, Danielle Woodrow, all these amazing producers and writers under the same umbrella, with this amazing cast that we have. I don’t know if another project in my career will top this, just because of the magnitude that it symbolizes not only to me but to the world.

SPOILER: The fight scene between you and Ah Sahm was such an amazing one. I think you rocked season 1. Rich Ting: I appreciate that. I am not Father Jun’s blood son, but just due to our past and historical context, he has accepted me as his son along with his biological son Young Jun. And one thing we wanted to establish in that relationship is that obviously there has been a lot of time, a lot of sacrifice, and a lot of loyalty shown between me and Father Jun for him to be able to accept me in that position. And I reciprocate it by not only willing to give my life for him at any second, but to protect the Hop Wei from outsiders like Ah

Sahm. And I think viewers know that it’s not that I don’t like Ah Sahm, but I was protecting the family, the house, from anyone new or foreign to us. I think in any fraternity or gang or organization like that, like Father Jun always says, “Loyalty above all.” And that loyalty doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a tremendous amount of time. Fans always hit me up, like, “Yo, why did you hate Ah Sahm so much?” But it wasn’t hate. It was protection. And obviously Rich Ting and Bolo have a sixth sense, we can feel people out. And I just smelled something that wasn’t right on that initial meet-and-greet with Ah Sahm in the street, and it took seven episodes

Rich Ting/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

to finally get it out, but my gut was right, and I was willing to give my life for Father Jun. It was an honor to fight Ah Sahm. It was not an honor to be stabbed in the back by Mai Ling, but I’ll take it like a man [laughs], and live with it in my next life, hopefully on a new season of Warrior if that happens.

SPOILER: Did it make you sad exiting the show in season 1?

Rich Ting: I have to give so much thanks to Jonathan Tropper, because in the very onset of booking this role and this project, we had a meeting and he put everything on the table and was like, “Look, we have your character dying at the end of season 1, because we need that magnitude of an event—aka your death—to really push this show into episodes 9 and 10, and even into season 2, because of your significance. And because Ah Sahm and Mai Ling literally take your life, it has to be that huge so that we come to an intersection where the Hop Wei and the Long Zii have to fight it out in order to move on.” And that’s what you see between Joe Taslim’s character, Li Yong, and Ah Sahm. They have that big tournament fight because of my death. So from the beginning I was already mentally and emotionally ready.

I’d say the only reason I got sad was because the rest of the cast wasn’t aware of that at the time. So

as we got deeper into season 1 and also closer as friends—I always say I’ll never have a relationship with another cast like I have with this Warrior cast, due to the fact of where we were in South Africa, the amount of time spent, the project that we were working on. And I believe every one of us has a personal tie to Bruce Lee. And the fact that it was season 1 and we were doing something that has never been done before—having Asian Americans and Asians from other parts of the world speak unaccented English on camera in a Western, written and developed by Bruce Lee, a Chinese American. There’s so many intangibles that brought us closer together, so when we got to episode 7 and that script got emailed to the cast, I had to kinda relive all the emotions again that I had already gone through prior to even starting the show, because all my castmates were like, “Oh my God! What is going on?? You can’t die! We need to talk to JT about this.” It was the love and the family ties that I developed with these other castmates that made me sad. I wasn’t sad because I was dying, but because I was leaving this team. Not to say I can’t rejoin them hopefully some time in the future.

I always say, if I had one scene on one episode on one season on a Bruce Lee-inspired show, that woulda been enough for me—that woulda been epic in itself. So to have 6 or 7 episodes on season 1 and to play

that character and have the impact on the overall show that I did—that’s more than I ever dreamed of and I can never be sad about that. The fact that we’re still talking about this 4 years after we started [filming] it, that’s cool as hell to me. It’s one of those projects that will forever be with me. I’m completely grateful and humbled by it, and still in denial that I did it and played the character that I played, and that I belonged in this franchise.

SPOILER: People keep thinking Warrior got canceled, but I keep telling them that’s totally not the case. Cinemax just stopped original content to make way for HBOMax. Fans want a season 3 badly.

Rich Ting: A huge thank you to you guys, because you summed it up fantastically. The fans just aren’t included on this background information because it’s just reserved for the network and producers. It’s really blown my mind the overall support we’ve received from fans who were on board prior to it premiering, and then obviously after season 1 on Cinemax.

For me, once I’m done with a project, fortunately I have other things I have to move on to, but I knew that season 2 was gonna shine and that new characters were going to be introduced, and I was completely humbled and blessed with my time on season 1, so when people started

promoting season 2, I was very content being like, “Yo, this is season 2. I’m not in the picture, and I support all my castmates on the next season.” And the fans were the ones who were like, “Why aren’t you involved?” And I’m like, “I’m dead. I’m currently not in that world anymore,” [laughs] and to my amazement, that’s not what fans wanted to hear. They were like, “No, what are you talking about?” So with outlets like yourselves who have done so much to push this show and highlight us and just talk about it, I can’t thank you enough, because if season 3 were to happen, it would be a direct result of the fans, networks like yourselves, and platforms that are such loyal fans that they feel like it’s their responsibility to get our story out there.

The HBO Max thing blew my mind. It premiered at the beginning of 2021, and within a week I felt like it was back in 2019, season 1, the first week of the premiere because everyone was receiving so much praise and fan mail and it was just nuts. Because I had finished my part back in season 1. To be honest, everyone I know who has watched it has only said positive things. It’s not one of those things where you have to wait and wait and wait, and you finally get into the story in like, episode 6 or something. You watch the first 15 minutes of the pilot and you’re captivated and engaged and hooked, so that was the ultimate goal.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

Rich Ting: I always say the childhood dream was to play Division I collegiate football, which I was able to do, and the fantasy was to be an actor in Hollywood. So I would say from a very young age, mixing Bruce Lee with Michael Jackson, and growing up in LA, I had that bug in me as a kid, probably younger than the age of 4. Throughout the years, taking part in school plays and drama classes, I was just never able to excel to the level I wanted to because my parents had just pushed the athletics on me and my brother so much. But it’s definitely been there.

It wasn’t until, I would say, grad

school, just because I had the time. I went to Yale University and won an Ivy League Championship there, and playing in the Ivy League, not only with the athletic schedule and the demand of that, but also the academics, was a full-time job. I was able to take and audit a bunch of great classes in the arts. However, again, because of my lack of time, I could not focus on the fantasy of pursuing acting, because my plate was full at the time. So moving onto grad school, I didn’t have football practice and team workouts. I had class in the morning and night classes, and I had this huge gap every other day. I kinda started investing and taking the acting classes and joining studios more intensively there, but more as a hobby, because I was on a different route. I had gone to law school and gotten my MBA, so I was headed towards the corporate world. It wasn’t until, ironically, I accepted a law firm job back in Los Angeles that my cousin, who’s a Hollywood stunt coordinator, asked me if I would be interested in helping him out on a project and doubling a guy, and also doing some motion capture, and having some lines as well. And having the acting background and the training I had at the time, I was definitely confident, but I just didn’t know what that was gonna lead to. So I decided to take the job.

I told my law firm that there was a different proposal on the table [laughs], and I didn’t wanna burn any bridges. Fortunately all the law people I was working for at the time were very, very gracious. They said, “Go for it! If you fail in the entertainment industry, come back and there’s a job for you.” So with that kind of plan B set up for me, there was nothing to lose. I decided to give it a chance. I never wanted to pursue stunts just because I was more into the acting. Having played football and basketball and baseball, and ran track, and martial arts—I had sustained so many legitimate injuries, but I was still walking and working out, and I didn’t wanna now put myself in a stunt man’s world where they sacrifice their life, literally, every time they have to do something

on camera. It just wasn’t appealing for me [laughs]. But I decided to do it just to get the exposure and to learn. There’s no better way to learn than to be on a real life set.

This first gig was a Warner Brothers gig. I went from not acting or doing anything in entertainment to now being on the Warner Brothers lot shooting a feature film. It was a tremendous learning experience to say the least. You can take classes and work and train in the actor’s studio, but nothing prepares you for the real thing like the real thing. As soon as I was able to crossover from stunts into the acting world full time, I did that. Fortunately it only took a year and a few months until I got my first big acting job, and was able to leave the stunt world and pursue acting. And the rest is history and I’ve never looked back.

My motivation is, if this doesn’t work out, I’d have to go back to corporate law and wear a suit everyday. And I would rather not. It’s been a dream come true to say the least. And it sounds cliche, but I really

believe I was chosen and meant to do this. Because I feel like I could be doing a lot of things with my academic background, but the fact that I’m able to get up everyday and go from project to project and work in this crazy entertainment world is a true blessing. I know I’m lucky and I never take that for granted.

SPOILER: You worked hard to become an attorney, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Rich Ting: I like to say so. There’s been too many positive weird things that have happened, including this Bolo role. I remember telling Shannon, “I think I’ve been preparing my whole life for your dad’s show.” It wasn’t like this was an idea in 2015 and they got everyone together, filming in 2017. These projects can be on the shelf

for 20, 30, 40, 50 years. And that’s exactly what happened in Warrior’s case. This treatment was in Bruce’s garage, and then Shannon’s garage for decades. It wasn’t until Justin Lin called her up to [ask her about it]. THEN the creative juices start flowing. “Okay, now we need to get a showrunner, we need to get staff writers, we need to get producers, etc.” And then finally you go to casting. And then finally you get your cast. And then finally you get location. I mean, it’s a long way until you finally roll film. The fact that the timing worked out when it did, I truly believe it was meant to be. And that’s how I feel about my whole acting career overall. The time I got into the business, with the current way things are going, especially for Asian American artists, the way the world is currently changing, I think it’s special. You just can’t plan for these things. I think they’re prewritten and I’m just following my path.

SPOILER: Do you think your role on Warrior has opened doors for you in this industry?

Rich Ting: Definitely. The most important thing, especially in this industry, is the momentum. So you work 150% until you get there, and once you get there—like a booking like Warrior—then you have to start working 150% more. So really there’s no days off. The challenge is keeping that momentum going. I’ve felt that since the beginning of my career in this industry, I’ve slowly continued that momentum, allowing me to get a role like Bolo. But then it’s like, “Okay, how do I continue this momentum and this energy, not only for myself, but for my team?”

I think a lot of people forget that it’s not just the actor—we have management, publicists, agents, stylists—it takes a village to really get this thing going. So for me, after Warrior, it definitely was another stepping stone for me. It put me on a different platform. 2018, when we finished filming season 1, was one of my better years. I went from doing season 1 of Warrior to the finale season of The Man in the High Castle. I told you about my ties with Bruce Lee, but I’m a viewer as well in my offtime. And one of the shows that I was totally glued to as a viewer since season 1 was The Man in the High Castle. So to be cast, right after I got finished with Warrior, for the

finale season of that show was a dream come true as well. And when people see me on that show in a different character—a completely different color—it just helps with the overall brand. You’re able to expand your audience and your cast. I’m not one to be typecast because my team does an excellent job in trying to get me projects that show a wide range of what I do. Bolo is a pretty epic character and it does involve martial arts and that physicality, but in reality, that’s just one of the tools that I carry in my pocket. My team and I, we never label myself as a martial arts actor or an action actor. I’m an actor, and if you need me to throw kicks, I’ll throw kicks, and because of my athletic background I’m very coachable and I’m flexible, and that’s what you need in this business. Ironically, the real Bolo usually played the same character with the same lines with the same overall genre, and that’s great, because if you’re able to make a career out of that, fantastic. But I always like to be able to be in a position where I can show all the different things that I train on as part of my craft, and don’t wanna limit myself either.

It’s funny, a lot of people know me from High Castle, and other people know me from Warrior, but then a lot of other people have seen me in other things and go, “Wait a minute! That’s the guy from there.” So hope-

fully I’ll get to a point in my career where people won’t know what to expect. And as an artist, that’s the most fulfilling thing that I can achieve on a personal level.

Warrior definitely has helped me, but all in all, the kind of mentality I always live by is, “When I’m done, I’m done, and I move on to the next.” And that goes with projects I didn’t get as well. I just look forward to moving on to the next thing, and that’s helped me get through this whole coronavirus quarantine. You can only control the things you can control. There’s no use stressing about things that are outside of your world that you have no influence on, and that you have no control over. I just try to keep things simple. I’m not thinking of next year, or next, next year. And at the same time, you just have to be working and grinding because there’s no days off in this industry.

SPOILER: Do you sometimes ever think, “I don’t even have to be doing this. I went to Yale,” and get in your own head?

Rich Ting: I think it happened more so early on. I think it’s very human to have those doubts and those questions. People always ask me, “You went to Yale, do you feel like you wasted that?” To me, none of it’s a waste because acting is being a real character, being a real person, being believable. Having been raised on the west coast in Los Angeles, then I went to high school in inner-city San Francisco, then I went to Yale for my undergrad, and then went on to grad school—all of these experiences give me these tools that I can bring out at any given time. So I would be more intimidated and scared to look back and think, “There’s things I didn’t do that maybe would’ve helped me even more in the current time.” So it’s always been about finding something I love to do. What’s gonna get me up tomorrow morning? What’s gonna get me motivated to work out tomorrow? What’s gonna get me motivated to go to sleep early so I can be 100% at 6 a.m.? That was always the goal.

I think the scary part is to have

kinda followed the system and to have gone to Ivy League and grad school, and followed that natural evolution into the corporate world, which is a fantastic career, however, it wouldn’t have been my career of choice. My fear was always getting stuck in something I didn’t want to do. As my career has evolved, it’s just confirmed that I’m doing exactly what I need to do. It also works with my personality type. I get bored very easily, and this business doesn’t allow you to get bored because you always have to stay ready and be on point. During quarantine, obviously the industry shut down, but that didn’t shut Rich Ting down. I’m working on projects, I’m writing, I’m producing. There’s tons of things you can do on your own. That motivation only comes from that drive or that fire that you have inside. So whether I’m a lawyer or a banker or a trader or whatever—if that’s what I wanna do, then that fire’s gonna be there.

It’s not, “What if?” No, it’s, “Thank God I found what I did when I did.” Because that would have been a nightmare so many years later going, “I should have took that chance and followed my heart; followed my passion.” People always talk about the finance aspect, but the money will come. You can do anything to make money, but how long is that gonna

last? I wanted to be an artist and an actor, not so I can retire at 50. I became an artist and an actor so that I don’t ever have to retire.

Perry [Yung] is obviously older than me, but the way he acts it’s like I feel old around the guy. He’s so youthful and has so much energy and is so positive. I admire that. When I meet someone like Perry Yung on set, it just motivates me to know that I’m doing the right thing. As I age and I continue to fall in love with my work and what I do every day, that’s gonna keep me young and fresh and positive. Even like Henry Yuk, our other Long Zii fella. When you meet Henry and Perry in real life, they make you feel old. They’ve [been acting] since a time when Asian Americans didn’t even really have a voice in the industry. They’ve lasted so many decades that now there is a voice and a presence. And because they’ve done what they love to do, they’re able to be who they really are, which are these happy, grateful human beings. So that can only tell me as a younger artist that what I’m doing is right. To me, that’s motivating. You see a lot of old guys who are tired, grumpy, pissed off at the world because they didn’t do what they wanted to do for a living. That’s my nightmare. I tell my wife, “I still can’t believe I’m doing what

I’m doing, and I’m able to do it every day, because it’s timeless.” Years can go by—and I can’t believe how time flies the way it does—and that’s only because I love what I’m doing.

SPOILER: Has there ever been an actor you worked with who got you starstruck?

Rich Ting: [laughs] That’s an easy question. Early in my career, I was able to work with Angelina Jolie on Salt back in the day. I remember when I booked it, they didn’t tell me who the lead was. They just said, “It’s a great project. We’re gonna film it in New York. These are the dates they need you.” And it wasn’t until I arrived in New York and I had to do rehearsal with Angelina and they told me, “Oh, so you’re gonna be working with Angelina Jolie,” and I literally got nervous—and I don’t get nervous. And I was like, “Wait a minute, what??” They were like, “Yeah, Angie’s gonna meet you at the Waldorf and we’re gonna go through rehearsal,” and I’m just like, “Okay, so the female name in the script, that’s Angelina Jolie?” I kept asking and they were just like, “Yeah.”

I just remember meeting her and, I can’t even make this up, but production had literally flipped two suites on one of the floors of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and had made it into like a training facility. And I was there, stretching out with the stunt coordinator, and she comes walking in in black leggings, knee-high boots, black long sleeve t-shirt, and I’m like, “Dude, that’s Lara Croft! Tomb Raider

has arrived.” And the coolest thing about this moment was she came up to me and stuck out her hand and was like, “Hi, I’m Angelina. Thank you so much for helping me this week on this show.” And I didn’t know how to respond, I just said, “No problem, I’m Rich, nice to meet you,” but inside I was like, “Everyone in the world knows who Angelina Jolie is! And she just introduced herself to me.” That showed so much just the kind of person she is.

Moving on from that one rehearsal to working with her for a few weeks in New York, just having her come on set, sitting next to me, asking how I’m doing, what my plans are after I wrap, it was just awesome. She was one of the most professional, nicest actors I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and on top of it, it was Angelina. When someone looks into your eyes and really, you feel, cares about what she asks—she asked me what I was doing after and I felt like she really cared. I think at the time I was going to Vietnam after that show to film something there, and one of her sons is from Vietnam, so I remember that was a discussion. Because I had never been to Vietnam. And she was like, “Oh my God, if you have any questions, give me an email. I’d be happy to help you.” She didn’t have to do that. But I really felt she meant it—not just saying it to say it. It’s just so refreshing when you meet such accomplished artists who are just nice people, because so many times in this industry that doesn’t happen, unfortunately.

SPOILER: That’s amazing, Rich. That’s another sign that shows you’re on the right path.

Rich Ting: I’d like to think so, man. I know there’s a few of those diamonds out there like Angelina. Jeff Bridges being another one, who I just recently worked with. It’s just so nice to work with people of that caliber who not only have a love for what they do, but for other people.

SPOILER: If you can pick between Marvel or DC, which would you pick?

Rich Ting: Aw man, I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me the Marvel vs. DC question [laughs]. Before I answer that, I need to set the premise. I’ve had the pleasure of working on Supergirl, which is under the DC Comics family, and that was awesome. However, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the Marvel world—and obviously with Shang-Chi coming out, and that push for Asian American superheroes. Villain or good guy, I would be totally down, and my team is definitely trying to get me into the Marvel universe. To the ignorant person, it’s like, “Aren’t they the same?” But I’m starting to understand the differences between them, and the more I learn, the harder it is to pick. Like I said, I’d hate to corner myself. I really don’t know. I would have to say, so no one calls BS on my answer: “It would really have to come down to the character and the project type.” I won’t do something just because it’s Marvel or DC. I would do it because I love the character and love the story and love the entire synopsis. It would really depend on the actual project, and that’s the most honest I can be. If I’m into it, and my team’s on board, I guarantee you I will take that role and that character to a level that not even the writers thought that it would get taken to.

SPOILER: We wish you huge success, Rich! Any final thoughts for the fans?

Rich Ting: “Thank you.” I know probably everyone says that, but honestly, with my situation in particular, having been a part of Warrior—having worked on it in 2017 and 2018, premiering in 2019, and seeing that even through COVID-19 and quarantine and all the craziness in the world that fans are still reaching out and commenting and asking

questions about, “Hey, are you gonna come back if there’s a season 3?” Those are the things that really help me as a person to get me through these hard times. It really blows my mind. This past year is a prime example. We’re living through an unprecedented time where there’s so much negativity in the world. There’s so many deaths. And there’s a lot of evil that’s out there. I’m a human being, so I’m quarantined at home, yet the fans’ support and outpouring of love for something I did years ago, during a time like this? It’s weird in the most humbling sense, because

to me, [we don’t need] to talk about Warrior during times like these, and yet the fans are still so passionate and it’s incredible, man. If we do go to a season 3 and Rich Ting comes back, not as Bolo, but someone else, that’s gonna be a direct reflection and result of the fanbase’s support and individuals like you and what you do in your magazine to help promote us. I can’t thank everyone enough. The fans have kept us alive. We’re on HBO Max now; we’re on a way better platform now to reach a broader audience, and I’m just grateful for all the support.

Rich Ting/Warrior/HBO/HBO Max/Cinemax/WarnerMedia

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

There’s a reason why Siobhan Fallon Hogan

has had such a successful career in Hollywood. Her secret? Just be good to people. The SNL alum has worked with nearly everybody in the industry over the years and seems to make friends wherever she goes.

The New York native moved to Los Angeles in the late ‘80s and then quickly got spots on The Golden Girls, Saturday Night Live, and Seinfeld, and has since amassed a filmography that spans over three decades with memorable roles on some huge projects.

Siobhan has so many stories about her life that she could write a book— and she definitely should. The actress began her career performing one-woman shows where she would act out an array of characters, and to this day she never shies away from a hilarious imitation. You obviously can’t hear it in print, but just about every time she quotes somebody in this interview, she spices it up with an impression of that person.

She talks to us about her upcoming screenwriting debut, Rushed, which she also stars in. The film features a few dozen actors who she’s worked with throughout her career, along with some very notable talents behind the scenes. The film sounds amazing and we can’t wait to see it for ourselves.

While in the movie she’s taking on a more serious role than the ones she’s typically known for, here the actress doesn’t fail to entertain us with her fun anecdotes and refreshing non-sequiturs. She tells us all about a music box gifted to her by Samuel L. Jackson, as well as how often John Cena would eat at McDonald’s when they worked together. However, amidst all of our laughter, she also imparts to us some of the sage wisdom that comes with a life and career as eminent as hers.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan/Emma McIntyre/Getty Images/(cover image): Siobhan Fallon Hogan/Carmela Caracappa

SPOILER: You have a new project coming out. Tell us what it’s all about.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I wrote a film, it’s finished, and I’m not allowed to say who just bought it. It’s called Rushed. We shot it last October in New Jersey and upstate New York. Robert Patrick plays my husband in it. Jake Weary from Animal Kingdom is in it. Peri Gilpin from Frasier, she’s an old friend of mine and a great actress. It’s a movie about a mom who loses her son in a fraternity hazing incident. We shot it in 22 days and we had it edited in France with this woman Sabine Emiliani, who won the BAFTA for March of the Penguins. She’s a fabulous editor. So we finished it all before COVID. Then I was supposed to go to Denmark because Zentropa, who I’ve done three movies with over the years, they co-produced it with me. In March we were supposed to go do the sound in Denmark with this insanely talented composer, Kristian Eidnes Andersen, but we had to do it all remotely because of COVID,

but we finished it. And we literally just sold it, and it will be in theaters near you in August or September. You’re like, “Did I ask a question, or are you just gonna talk?” [laughs]

SPOILER: I subliminally asked, so keep on sharing.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: Okay, I’ll keep going. This movie Rushed is just literally a collaboration of so many people I’ve worked with over the years. There are only 2 people in the cast of 47 who I haven’t worked with before. Robert Patrick, this will be my third time working with him. I played his sister in the Demi Moore movie Striptease [laughs]. I was the only non-stripper. These were just all these people I kept in touch with over the years. Even these young kids. I played Fred’s mother in the TV show Fred [laughs], and Jake Weary was the next-door neighbor.

SPOILER: I remember Jake from Fred. He was the bully next door. That was a great show, it should have lasted much longer.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: My friend David Goodman, who’s now the head of the Writers Guild, he wrote [the show]. He called me up and said, “Hey, will you play the mother?” So Jake at the time was 19. And Jay Jay Warren, who played my son in Rushed, I was in this horror film with him, and I called him up and said, “Guess who we got to play the villain [in Rushed]? Jake Weary! You ever met him?” He said, “Siobhan, you don’t remember this?? I was in Fred with you too!” [laughs] And I cast them both in my film.

I went to see Adam Sandler—who I was on SNL with—and he was performing live in New Jersey. And Jared Sandler, his nephew, was his opening act. And I go, “This kid is really good.” So then I thought, “Can he act?” And sure enough, we put him on tape and he’s a fantastic actor, so he’s in the movie as well.

At my age, my kids are like, “Mom, please stay away from social media and stop texting people. It always ends up to the wrong person.” So my son had this great idea. He’s very connected with music people. And we had this rapper, Fat Nick, and he came and played a drug dealer in the movie—no offense to him—but he was with Jared Sandler, and the two of them in the movie are really incredible. The scene is amazing.

SPOILER: How did you get your big break in Hollywood?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I did the Harvey Pekar show, American Splendor, years ago in LA. And Jerry Seinfeld came to the show, and that’s how I got on Seinfeld, and that’s how I got on Saturday Night Live. On Saturday mornings, my father used to have us read the funnies. Then when I moved to LA when I was 25 or so, my friend Vince Waldron was really into comic books, and he’s like, “There’s this great comic book writer from Ohio, and I want you to play all the roles.” And I’m from upstate New York, so that’s a lot like people from Ohio. And we did it in LA on Hollywood and Vine, and we did this show, and honestly that’s how I got so many breaks.

SPOILER: You have this very recognizable face. You’ve been in so many cool movies. You were in Holes with Shia LaBeouf, you played his mother, and you’re so funny and great in everything you’re in. And now speaking with you, you’re a lot like your characters—funny and witty just like many of them are. Do people tell you that?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: [laughs] My father is extremely funny. I remember when I was a teenager or a kid in college, I didn’t think adults matured because my father was just like a kid. So now that I’m fully an adult, I’m like, “What does that really mean?” I think once you’re “mature” it’s all downhill from there.

With Holes, it’s funny because Shia, obviously, is so insanely talented. And Andy Davis, who directed Holes, we’ve become great friends over the years, he really advised me a lot during shooting. And Shia, I’m such a massive fan of his and I literally cannot get over the work he’s done recently. Like Peanut Butter

Falcon, I’m like, “This kid is genius!”

And his other movie Honey Boy, he’s brilliant. I actually wrote another film that we’re gonna hopefully shoot in June, so I gotta get ahold of that Shia and go, “Listen, it’s your mother from another film.” [laughs] “Call your mother back!”

SPOILER: Do you ever keep in contact with any of your castmates from Fred?

SIOBHAN FALLON

HOGAN: Lucas [Cruikshank] will always contact me on social media. I love him, he’s a great kid. And of course Jake. And then this upcoming film I wrote about a backwoodsy jail in Tennessee, about a wannabe country singer—so Robert Patrick is in that movie, as well, as

the warden, and he calls me and goes, “Siobhan, I can’t shoot until June 1st. I got a gig in Vancouver. I’m doin’ a show with John Cena.” I go, “You gotta be kidding me. John Cena was my husband in Fred.” It’s getting a little incestuous. I’ll never forget John Cena would always tell me that he would go to McDonald’s every single day. So my son, who’s an actor now, Peter Hogan, he’s in my movie as well. He just graduated college and this kid loves McDonald’s. And every time I say, “Hey now, your body’s your instrument as an actor. You better stop eating McDonald’s.” And he’ll say, “Mom, listen, you told me that John Cena ate McDonald’s every single day.” So I go, “Okay. Uncle.”

SPOILER: What got you into acting originally?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I’m one of five siblings, and I’m the second in the family. I just loved being on stage. My biggest break was in the 3rd grade in upstate New York. There was a play called The Proud Train [laughs], and I wanted to be the conductor, but they wouldn’t let

Siobhan Fallon Hogan/Getty Images/Industry Magazine/Baby Mama/Universal Studios

girls audition for the role of conductor, because the conductor could only be guys—what the heck? So I was the wheel of the caboose. And I got my first bad review, but I was fearless. The review was from the 6th graders and it said, “Why was the caboose going so much faster than the other wheels? Wouldn’t the train derail?” [laughs] And I was very unathletic, so I always did the plays and everything. When I was a senior in high school, I said to my father, “I wanna be an actress,” and he said, “That’s ridiculous. You hafta go to college.” So I went to this little Jesuit college in Syracuse—Le Moyne—and I did all the plays. And then when it came time senior year, I was supposed to be a teacher. So I did my student teaching, and I love kids and stuff, but then they said you couldn’t go away for spring break. So I was like, “There goes my teaching career. Because I’m going to spring break in Florida.”

Then I applied to graduate school and got my MFA—a very expensive way of learning how to breathe and pretend to be someone else for two years—at Catholic University. And John Flaherty was there when I was there. He’s the best. So I went there

and got my training, and then went to New York City where I was a big loser. I was a receptionist at a law firm, but then I started auditioning and got into improv comedy. Then this guy who was a director of this comedy club called Who’s On 1st, it was on 65th and 1st—I think it’s like a chicken restaurant now—he said, “You really should write your own one-person show.” So I just wrote all these characters who I’d want to be cast as if I were cast. So I did it in New York, then I took all my pennies and did it in LA. I got good reviews and then I got SNL, which opened a ton of doors for me.

SPOILER: Do you feel that today, with so many platforms available, fame would’ve happened ten times faster?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: Here’s the deal, SNL is awesome, but it’s mainly stand-up. And I was never a stand-up. I’m an actress. Even though I love sketch comedy, it’s a different deal. And I got married shortly after my first year on SNL. And then I had three kids. But I didn’t stop working. About every eight years I do a one-woman show. Two years ago I was like, “Okay, I guess I’ll do another

one-woman show.” But then I was like, “You know what? I don’t wanna do another one-woman show.” Because after you do a one-woman show, you go out and say, “Hey, wasn’t it really fun when we did that one scene?” But it’s just you. I was like, “I can write a movie. Why don’t I put my energy into this?” So when we shot the movie, we had 47 actors, 42 crew, literally filming some of the scenes in my house. I was like, “This is a dream come true!” You can just do anything you wanna do if you put your mind to it.

SPOILER: Sometimes the things you don’t wanna do end up paying off big or lead to something even bigger in the end.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: Yes, you look back and go, “Thaaat’s why that happened.”

SPOILER: Is there a list of characters that you still wanna come out with?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I love playing the characters and I would do anything, but with this film, for the first time I was like, “Lemme play something closer to me.” For me, I always had my bag of tricks. I could do southern, I could do hick, whatever. You have all these accents, or walk with a limp or something [laughs]. I love doing the character work, but I loved playing something closer to me as well.

SPOILER: Can you share a bit of the plot of your new movie?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: It’s about a mom who has four kids and her son gets killed. And basically how the family deals with that . And how an Irish Catholic family will have so much humor with so much hurt. Basically how a funny family deals with the loss of a brother. And the mother character, what lengths she will go to when the law won’t back her up. It’s a thriller. So the mother takes the law into her own hands and goes to psychotic lengths. She’s kinda like a helicopter mom and you think she’s kind of annoying because she’s totally domineering over the kids. And then when things go wrong, she’s got her son’s back.

SPOILER: What would Siobhan do in that situation?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: Well let’s hope I’d never be in that situation. But my father’s one of eleven, and one time, my Uncle Mickey was mad at someone who insulted his daughter. And he took the guy to lunch and said, “Hey, Bill, how ya doin’?” And he’s like, “Good, Mr. Fallon.” And my uncle said, “Yeah? Lemme tell you somethin’. I’m 74-years-old. I have no problem being in jail for the rest of my life. You mess with my daughter one more time and I’m gonna kill you.” [laughs] For me, I wouldn’t have written it if it wasn’t in my realm. When people first read it, they were like, “Woah! Oh my gosh!”

SPOILER: Over the years you’ve accumulated a loyal fanbase. What is one piece of advice that you can share with them right now?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I would say, “One hundred percent, what goes around comes around. And you wanna live your life being proud of your decisions. At the time, you might say, ‘I shouldn’t have turned that role down.’ But you wanna be proud of your decisions and be a really good friend in this industry because loyalty means everything. It doesn’t matter how high up you get if you’re screwing people over to get there.”

SPOILER: And that’s why so many actors want to be in your movie.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: Pardon my language, but pray your ass off. Don’t try to go at this on your own. I was raised Irish Catholic, and I really believe that you gotta be a good person and you gotta do good for others. As an actor, it’s easy to be really self-centered, and it’s kinda gross, and you don’t wanna be like that.

I remember this guy came to Catholic University to speak and he was like 38-years-old, and I was like 24 getting my master’s. And he said, “The thing about theater and film and TV is life is not a track meet. Joe Pesci was 48. One person may ‘make it’ way before another person, but don’t judge it like that.”

And I thought to myself at the time, “Huh, that’s what you think. But I’m gonna skyrocket fast.” But you get to my stage of the game and it’s like, “Just do really good work. Be picky about the work. Don’t do crap. And be really good to the people you work with.”

And the really good people—people like Andy Davis, and Lars Von Trier, who I’ve worked with three times—I literally sent him my script and went, “Hey what do you think of this?” A day later, “We’ll co-produce with you.” And Lars—get this one—I sent him the movie when we finished it May 30th and said, “Lars, will you watch this?” And Lars is a real character, a real genius. He doesn’t get back to me, but his assistant’s like, “I got your email.” Then he wrote to me in August and said, “Siobhan, I saw your movie. It’s the first full movie I’ve sat through in 10 years and I loved it.” That’s the kinda thing. I could’ve been like, “What the hell? I’ve worked with you three times and it took you three months to watch my movie?!” But life is interesting. You gotta be patient. And you get more patient as you get older. Have faith. You got someone watching over you. You’re not alone.

SPOILER: During the COVID era many are down and depressed. Your advice should give the readers a pep in their step.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: My father and mother, they really taught us, “Don’t feel sorry for yourself. And stop thinking about yourself.” When I was in New York City and I was a receptionist at a law firm and things were really not doin’ too well, and I was on the phone with my mother, and my father was also on the other end of the phone. And my mother said, “Siobhan, you don’t want to be too inner-directed. You wanna be other-directed. When you’re feeling badly about yourself, you gotta do things for other people.” I was like, “What the hell? You can’t even feel sorry for yourself in this family.” Then my father goes, “Hey, Siobhan, I’m watching this show right now called the Academy Awards. You’re an actress aren’t ya? I’ve never seen you on this show,” [laughs]

and he bursts out laughing and hangs up the phone. And then my mother goes, “Hey, listen, this call is kinda expensive, Siobhan—that was mean what he said.” Then I hear my father go, “Hang up the phone! This is expensive!” I was like, “What kinda phone call is that?”

I actually had COVID. Here’s the thing, things are bad, but things could be way worse.

SPOILER: Do you feel better now?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I got COVID, I think from one of my daughter’s friends, and I’m like, “I don’t feel very good.” My doctor says, “Your husband can’t get COVID. I’m more worried about him.” All the kids are out of the house, so I sleep in my daughter’s room—the 19-year-old—surrounded by posters of the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and I would wake up with a fever and go, “What the hell? I was never sleazy, but did I just have a one-night stand?? Where the hell am I?” There were like 5 days that were bad, but after that it was like mono.

SPOILER: Do you believe in the paranormal?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I did a movie in Winnipeg called New In Town with Harry Connick Jr. and Renée Zellweger. There were literally two hotels available and the people said, “These are the two best hotels, but we wanna tell you that one of them’s haunted.” And I go, “I’m not stayin’ there!” So then we had to go back [to Winnipeg] to do reshoots for a day or two. And my father had literally just died. He was like a hero in Syracuse. The lady at the airport saw my ticket and was like, “‘Siobhan Fallon?’ Did your father just die? Oh, he was great.” Like, everybody knew him. So I get back to Winnipeg and they go, “Lis-

ten, Siobhan, the other hotel’s booked, you have to go to the one that has ghosts.” [laughs] So I get to the front desk and I go, “I gotta ask you somethin’, there’s not really ghosts here, right?” They go, “Yes there are. Here’s the pamphlet.” And the place is booked for Halloween for like the next hundred years. So I go into my room and I go, “Listen, ghosts, I don’t know if you’re in here, but honestly I cannot take that, so please, whatever you do, do not come out because I can’t handle it.” I’m not kidding you, I remember one night I went to bed— and supposedly there was this bride who was murdered in there, and I thought that she was at the end of the bed.

SPOILER: I can tell you have a hilarious family. And I adore your east coast accent.

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: Speaking of a hilarious Irish Catholic, Chris Farley was a really good friend of mine too, and we went to the same church, and we’d both be there after a Saturday night party going, “Please forgive us, I hope I didn’t go too far.” But that Irish Catholic humor is a common thing, so I wanna give a shout out to him. He used to love to touch my hair. He’d say, “Lemme touch your hair. I just wanna touch that red hair.” [laughs] He was hilarious, and talk about genius, right?

SPOILER: You’ve worked with so many amazing actors. Have you learned a lot from working with them over the years?

SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN: I really, really have. I’ve worked with Matt Dillon three times. It’s just weird how you’ll be like, “Oh! Hi!”

Siobhan Fallon Hogan/Carmela Caracappa

I was really lucky that I was able to work with Lauren Bacall and she and I became really good friends. We lived in Central Park West, right near each other, and I remember one time she said to me, “Siobhan, did you ever think that you and I would be friends?” And I was like, “No.” Because when I flew over to Denmark to film the movie Dogville with her, I had three little kids in first class [laughs], and my kids, like Cheetos, fell from the first class and rained down on everyone. And she kinda looked at me like, “Oh, God!” And then I was like, “Hi, I’m gonna be in the movie with you,” and then we became such great friends.

Back in the day I did The Negotiator with Samuel Jackson, and he is a class act, and we used to talk all the time. He’s just a great guy. And he gave me a music box. And my good friend Monica Rosenthal was in my apartment in New York City and said, “This is so pretty! What does it play?” I go, “I dunno.” She said, “Well, let’s play it!” And this was like a couple years after he’d given it to me [laughs]. So we wind it and listen, and she goes, “It’s playing ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’! You’re Samuel Jackon’s friend.” And we laughed for 20 minutes straight.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Lena

Hall

is a Renaissance woman. With early roots in the ballet world

as a young girl, she has since carved out a career for herself as an accomplished actress of both stage and screen, as well as a successful singer.

Getting her start on Broadway in Cats, Lena eventually starred in Hedwig and the Angry Itch, which earned her a Tony award for the role of Yitzhak.

Now with her first series regular role on television, the actress has

become a fan favorite on Snowpiercer as Miss Audrey, the madam of the Night Car. The show perfectly utilizes the uniqueness of her talents, tapping into her versatility as an entertainer. Whether it be a ballet sequence or musical numbers, the theatrical aesthetic of the series is really put into her hands and she’s truly become the heartbeat of the show.

Lena’s joie de vivre is so apparent when speaking with her, and hopefully that liveliness is able to show through in the pages of this interview as well. The actress gives us a peek behind the curtain of the oft-toxic world of ballet and how some of that trauma has helped inform the pain of Miss Audrey. She also talks to us about why she doesn’t use her birth name professionally anymore, as well as the late Jonathan Brandis’ role in catalyzing her career in film and television.

interview interview

SPOILER: Snowpiercer is becoming an iconic series. You’re amazing on that show, and I know everyone’s loving you on it. Is it weird for you when you get that kind of praise?

LENA HALL: Thank you! It’s always good to take a compliment because we’re far too ready to take someone’s criticism seriously, but we’re never ready to openly take a compliment. It’s an odd part of human nature, like getting a compliment is a bad thing and taking criticism is what we have to take seriously—it’s silly and should be the opposite. I grew up in the ballet world, so I’m hypercritical of myself and it’s very difficult for me to take a compliment, but I’m happy to take them [laughs]. I worked really hard to get to where I am, and I don’t wanna lessen that work that I’ve put in, so I appreciate the compliments. But what do you say? “Thank you, know”? [laughs] No, of course not. But I will say, “Thank you so much.” I’m very proud of the work I’ve been doing. This is my very first series regular on a show and I’ve learned a lot just from doing it. There’s a big learning curve between each episode, and I’ve had the fortunate circumstance of learning from the best. My scene partners are frickin’ Jennifer Connelly and Sean Bean and this incredible cast. They put me more at ease and I’ve been able to learn a lot from them. It’s just been a great learning experience and seeing how far I can push myself to tell a story. I’ve had to do some very difficult things for my character Miss Audrey that were hard for me to do and I’ve never done before, so they’ve really been stretching my acting.

SPOILER: Who in the cast makes you the most nervous?

LENA HALL: Jennifer Connelly! First of all, Labyrinth—one of my all-time favorite films. I’m a huge David Bowie fan and I’ve covered a ton of his music. I did a cover of one of the songs in Labyrinth. And it’s so silly because I’m fangirling, but I’m trying to be cool, and I can’t ever figure out what to say to her. I’m not myself when Jennifer Connelly is around because I’m like, “I don’t wanna be a moron around her.” I never really got to know her very well because I

could never hold a conversation [laughs]. I wanted to ask her all of these questions and tell her about my cover song. But I had to keep my cool. When we had that scene in season 1, I’m like, “I hope she doesn’t think I’m a damn hack!” We were doing that scene at four in the morning and she was amazing, just delivering over and over again. I also can’t put together a good sentence for Sean Bean as well. We’ve done scenes together and have a little bit of a bond, but I still get nervous around him. Daveed [Diggs], not so much. He’s like my sibling. We’re Broadway folks. He’s so funny. We get along so well—him, Mickey [Sumner], Alison [Wright], we’re so cool together. And then Jennifer or Sean comes around and I’m like, “Oh my God!”

SPOILER: You had this amazing ballet scene on the show, and you get to do all these other theatrical things. What do you have to do to get into the mindset of Miss Audrey?

LENA HALL: I was a ballerina when I was a kid and I grew up on stage. My father was a choreographer and my mom was a prima ballerina. My dad had a company and I was literally born to dance [laughs], so that’s actually a comfort zone. When we filmed the scene, the ballet, for Miss Audrey, that was a deeply personal moment. When I read that in the script, I said, “Do you have a choreographer for this scene?” and they said, “No.” I said, “Can my dad choreograph this?” And they said, “Yes.” So I ended up getting to work with my dad, and it became a much more personal scene, and became extraordinarily layered. My father is almost 90-years-old, and it felt like it was maybe the last time I was going to be able to dance for him or do something like this. So the fact that they allowed that put a whole other level into it. For me, that scene felt so comfortable because it’s how I grew up, expressing myself through physicality. And when we filmed it, it was just me and the DP. And we filmed it for, like, 9 hours. I remember getting extremely sore. My feet were

hurting. But while filming it was like a duet with me and the camera, and it became a duet and not a solo number. That was an incredible experience.

And also the singing—doing those live performances, that’s another place where I’m extraordinarily comfortable. I’ve been performing for thousands of people. The more people in the audience, the more comfortable I am. It’s easy, it’s a connection, it’s home, it’s the way I have my most cathartic moments.

It’s almost like a meditation for me when I sing for an audience.

But as far as acting in scenes, that’s very hard. Because you do have these very intimate moments, like me and Wilford in the bathtub or in the private room. As an actor, I was taught to take from the most personal moments in your life and apply those feelings to the moments that you’re conveying. So I’ve never harmed myself in the bathtub for someone [laughs], but I had to figure out, “What does this mean? What

Lena Hall/Snowpiercer/TNT/Warner Media/Getty/AP

pain am I drawing on? What in my own life would bring me back to that emotional state?” So to have to do that and have a camera person there in your face getting a closeup shot, that’s much harder for me [laughs]. The set of skills used for being on stage as opposed to being on camera is vastly different. And just being nervous because I’m working with someone like Sean Bean, I don’t want him to think I’m an idiot! I want him to respect me.

SPOILER: Isn’t it great that Sean Bean is on the show this season? His character elevates season 2 to another level.

LENA HALL: I love it! He’s so awesome and so fun to work with. The minute I got into a room with him we bonded. It was instant respect. If someone doesn’t respect you it’s really hard to work with them because it’s an uphill battle. But if you have mutual respect it becomes very easy to have chemistry, where you’re both being reactionary with each other. You’re not trying to control a scene, but allowing it to take place and unfold in front of you. [When I sing] I get to show vulnerability on stage, but it’s different. The audience is further away from you. They’re not seeing your deep inner thoughts in your eyes. On film it’s far more personal and real. After we filmed the bathtub scene, I felt like I needed

to go to a therapist to talk through the grief I just went through and the trauma of that. It’s a lot more difficult to get into that headspace for film, but the great thing about film is it’s always there for you to look at. And how it all comes together is so beautiful. What they did for episode 4 was so beautiful. It was like a poem. I couldn’t believe I was the one they gave such a poetic storyline to.

SPOILER: Your musical numbers and big theatrical scenes are so impressive. I’m always waiting to see what you’re gonna do next.

LENA HALL: I feel really lucky that they took a look at what I do. They did a deep dive into my past, like, “Oh, she’s a dancer? We’ll write that in!”

SPOILER: You were on Cats on Broadway! Have you seen the movie?

LENA HALL: I haven’t seen the movie, I won’t watch it.

SPOILER: Don’t watch it, it’s silly.

LENA HALL: Cats was my first Broadway show and I hold it in my mind in such a high regard. I did it for over two and a half years and had such a good time doing it. I still remember all the choreography, and it was over 20 years ago. So yeah, I can’t [watch it]. I don’t wanna taint those memories. I’m sad that they did the whole CGI thing. That’s bizarre. At the time, Cats was so different and so new and out there. It was cool. But to use CGI like that… I dunno.

SPOILER: What got you into Broadway and acting?

LENA HALL: It was kinda by default.

I had no choice as far as ballet was concerned. I didn’t wanna do ballet anymore, but my parents wanted me to stay in the arts somehow. My sister was doing musical theater, so I went and joined this teen musical theater company that she was doing and continued dancing until I was out of high school. In high school I didn’t know what I wanted. I thought maybe I’d be an accountant because I was good at math. And then I thought, “I’m good at science, so maybe I’ll do psychology.” And then I was kinda interested in law a little bit. I didn’t really know. I was aiming more for quote-unquote “normal” jobs, because I didn’t really see myself as a professional performer. It just felt like a dream that was so far away. I didn’t have a knowledge of the business at all. My parents supported me in that they wanted me to be in the arts, but they didn’t know about the theater business— they just knew about ballet.

So then I graduated from high school at 17. I didn’t even take the SATs. I had no idea what was going to happen to me. Then Cats came to town and a friend of mine said I should audition. So I went down with my audition book and auditioned, and they cast me. And that’s how my career path started.

Although when I was younger I had always wanted to do TV and movies. Theater was always part of my life, so it didn’t really feel like a dream. As a pre-teen I wanted to be on TV [laughs] because I had a crush on Jonathan Brandis, and I wanted to marry him [laughs]. I was obsessed with the series seaQuest DSV.

SPOILER: Sidekicks…

LENA HALL: Sidekicks is my all-time favorite movie! When I found out he passed away I looked for Sidekicks and Ladybugs on DVD—this was before streaming services. And everything was out of print, so I spent a fortune on eBay just to get them [laughs]. And I still have them! Along with the complete series of seaQuest DSV.

SPOILER: Jonathan Brandis was such a great actor.

LENA HALL: It’s really sad because I think if he had held on, he would be having a resurgence in his career right now. Again, mental health isn’t something we ever talk about, especially back in the day. It’s so important, especially someone who’s been in the limelight since they were a kid and doesn’t know anything else, and they’re having a downward cycle. The world has its ups and downs like a wave. And you ride that wave and just gotta hold on because you will find a resurgence and a new wave to ride. It’s tragic what happened to him. He’s the reason I pursued acting in the first place, and it’s such a bizarre thing to say, but it’s important to remember why you do this. It’s because I loved what he did and wanted to act with him—and wanted to be his wife [laughs].

SPOILER: I saw a picture yesterday of you and Michael C. Hall together. LENA HALL: [laughs] I love Michael C. Hall. We had so much fun together. People are like, “Are you guys married? Or brother and sister?” I’m like, “No.” If you look, “Hall” is my stage name. But he’s so epic. He’s so cool. Talk about mutual respect. When I got to do Hedwig and the Angry Itch with him, there were massive amounts of respect between the two of us. As someone who sat and watched the development of all of these Hedwigs, each one would come in with their own thoughts about it, and then it would change throughout their run and become something a little different than what they walked in doing. And I got to sit back and watch all of their metamorphoses. And I love all of my Hedwigs, but watching Michael C. Hall was incredible. There’s something about him. He’s got a very dark energy about him, and there’s something going on behind his eyes that’s a tragedy, and he brought that to his performance so beautifully and wonderfully. He’s an amazing actor and I want to work with him again so badly. We were fully simpatico on that stage. When you just vibe with someone it’s an interesting experience. It was like we

knew each other before. Sometimes there’s a learning curve, but with Michael it was instant.

SPOILER: I love your name. I understand why you have a stage name, but it’s so beautiful.

LENA HALL: [laughs] You’ll see me on the streets busking and I’ll be like, “And thank you so much! My name is Celina Consuela Gabriella Carvajal and I’m here for your entertainment!”

Look, it was an interesting decision to come to. My real name is amazing—although I did find out some interesting secrets about it. I had held onto my real name for a long time, and my problem wasn’t the name, but that I was being seen for the wrong roles because of my name. I’m Spanish-Filipino, but when you look at me I don’t look like I’m Spanish-Filipino, and for castingsake, I’d walk into a room and not be what they were expecting to see, even though they had a picture of me right in front of them, they couldn’t hold the two together. They were expecting the name walking into the room, and instead they got the picture. And also I was in a rock band as well, and I was playing around with names.

But I had held onto my birth name for a really long time. I came from seven generations of artists of Carvajals in the Philippines, and I was holding onto my name because there was this epic legacy. But then I came to find out that Carvajal was actually a stage name and our real last name was Garcia. So I was like, “Oh, okay, so my ancestors would actually be okay with me changing my name so I could do more in the arts.” So I felt a sudden support there that I wasn’t actually forsaking my name.

SPOILER: In season 2 of Snowpiercer, what other scene besides the bathtub scene drained you the most?

LENA HALL: Episode 4 was the most difficult for me to film. It was just an emotional episode. You learn a lot about Miss Audrey’s past and a lot about what makes her

tick. And you learn that she was very, very vulnerable. But after that, there’s a scene in episode 7, but I’m not gonna give it away [laughs]. But I will say that she goes through a massive transformation in the span of the scene, and it takes her from one extreme to another.

I just watched episodes 9 and 10 last night, and lemme tell ya… I was like, “I know what’s gonna happen, and yet I’m still on the edge of my seat!” I’m so proud!

SPOILER: Do you like watching yourself on screen or does it make you feel uncomfortable?

LENA HALL: I did an independent feature called Becks—you can watch it, it’s available on Showtime and Amazon. But there are scenes in that movie that I cannot watch because they’re very intimate scenes. I also have a hard time watching myself cry on camera. I get uncomfortable when I see myself being ultra vulnerable. It’s like I feel embarrassed for crying about something. That all harkens back to growing up in the ballet world where you have bloody toe shoes and a broken bone somewhere and you’re still dancing. I’ve poured blood out of my toe shoes before. The ballet world is very old school. It’s discipline that’s very tough on the people who are doing it. Give love to ballet dancers because they go through f**king hell. They have a high pain tolerance and are taught to dance through pain; to push your body to perfection. That’s why I was never gonna make it as a ballerina. I didn’t love it enough to get to that point. But I’m so impressed by dancers.

SPOILER: Do you think it’s still like that?

LENA HALL: I’m so out of that world so I can’t really speak to it, but I hope not. In ballet, you’re taught these things from a very young age, and so you believe that they’re true. The kids and students won’t speak up because it’s part of their training. They don’t know that it’s wrong to be pulled into a room and to be told they’re fat and they need to lose 10 pounds when they’re 11-years-old, and that becomes a lifelong issue— it becomes an eating disorder for them. So there are instances like that where it’s also mental abuse. It’s hard to know what’s going on in that world if you’re not in it. And it’s hard for a kid to discern what’s okay and what’s not. They won’t tell their parents or talk about feeling like it’s a bad thing. Again, in ballet as well, you’re taught, “Chin up, be strong, push through the pain.”

SPOILER: I feel the lament in your voice, and you obviously bring out that pain in your performance on the show.

LENA HALL: Thank you for that. A lot of that life informs Miss Audrey so heavily.

SPOILER: Snowpiercer is amazing, are you excited about season 3? LENA HALL: The show is awesome. I’m proud of where it’s going and of how it’s doing. I couldn’t be more proud.

SPOILER: Have you ever been to any comic conventions?

LENA HALL: I love Comic Con [laughs]. I was at the San Diego one in 2019 and then I went to the New York one that year as well. But I love that it’s a community.

I was part of the “brony” community. I did My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.

I got to be a guest star and got to experience that community. It’s a wonderful community and it’s amazing to find like-minded people. I love the amount of creativity that comes out of the Con community. Not only are you lovers of what’s being produced out there professionally, but you’re also a group of people who take that as inspiration and create your own thing. There’s music being created, there’s artwork being created,

there’s screenplays—all kinds of stuff that comes out of what you love and comes out of Comic Con. I just think it’s amazing!

Lena Hall/Snowpiercer/TNT/Warner Media

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Is there anyone you’d rather play your villain than Steven Ogg?

The Canadian-born actor has made a name for himself as one of the best in the fandom world at crafting a character that audiences love to hate. In The Walking Dead he portrayed the ruthless and unpredictable Simon, and again in Westworld with his turn as the sadistic Rebus.

However, his role of Pike in Snowpiercer is slightly adjacent. Pike is an escaped convict, sure, but the mercurial Tailie seems to be a bit more for his people, at least as long as it serves his own survival. While Pike isn’t a stereotypical antagonist, he’s just as morally ambiguous as Ogg’s most famous roles.

Ogg, himself, is the exact opposite. A man of principles, the mordant actor isn’t afraid to speak his mind about how we should all just be kind to one another. After all, shouldn’t it just be that easy? A fan of civil discourse, he talks about the toxic nature of social media and how it’s potentially destroying our ability to just have a respectful debate.

Known for his projects that feature notably large casts of characters, Steven always manages to stand out in every show he’s on, which is a testament to both his talent and charisma.

SPOILER: Is your iconic mustache a creation from The Walking Dead?

STEVEN OGG: It’s a look that I’ve had since I was a child. I was born with an enormous mustache. I had an opportunity at the time to join a traveling circus, and I thought, “No, I wanna try other things and avoid the circus for now.” So I went into the other circus of acting. No, that’s obviously a lie [laughs].

This is dating myself, but going into a video store—and I could never decide. You go in, especially in New York—Kim’s Video was organized by director or color—it was awesome! You never know what you want, and then you leave and that night you realize six movies you wanna rent. That’s what happens to me in these interviews. You ask me a question I don’t know and then somewhere down the interview I tend to blend what really happened with what I imagined. So there’s the preface.

The mustache happened because Jeffrey [Dean Morgan] had just been cast as Negan [on The Walking Dead], and he came in with facial hair. So I think that initially it came from, “Who gets to keep the beard?” And I was the one chosen to shave. And then I wanted something a little different, and it evolved from there. But I find it quite funny. I’ve said for a while,

it certainly wasn’t my talent getting me the roles. It was just my ability to be a neanderthal and grow facial hair in 24 hours. In Westworld: “Choppers? Okay! I can grow choppers overnight!”

SPOILER: You’re so perfect for every role you’re ever in. How was your experience on The Walking Dead?

STEVEN OGG: It was wonderful. I’m still friends with many. Like Steven [Yeun], I reached out when I first saw Minari. We still touch base with each other, which represents how great an experience it was. With all these shows, and Snowpiercer is no exception, you tend to just meet really cool people. We’re all in this business, we’re all doing our thing, we generally have similar passions. So it makes for a wonderful bond amongst people. Sometimes you’ll wake up with a Snowpiercer group text that’s fortydeep. It’s just everyone checking in. Walking Dead was the same. You just meet such wonderful people, and that’s what you remember [the most]. The friendships and the connections are what I remember more than the show itself. It’s what’s wonderful about this business.

SPOILER: Both Snowpiercer and

The Walking Dead have massive amounts of actors. Do you thrive in those environments?

STEVEN OGG: I’ve been very grateful for these roles and these opportunities. These big worlds are interesting. Honestly, work is work and acting is acting, but they’re exciting worlds, they’re very much play because they’re apocalyptic— they’re not a family drama based in reality. In these larger groups, it’s fun. But having been so fortunate enough to do these large group things, I’d love to do a two-hander, or theater, with just a small group— three, four people.

I’m not, nor have I been, in a position where I’m sitting at my desk with scripts all around me, making a choice between [an array] of projects. So when you have an opportunity to audition, you do the best you can, and hopefully you book it. I’m very grateful for having any work.

SPOILER: What got you into acting originally?

STEVEN OGG: I did theater growing up in Alberta, but the performance I did was dressing in drag as Betty Boop. And this was in elementary school at a school assembly, and I have no idea why I did that—I don’t come from a performing family— but I did it, and I think that was my beginnings of performing—the high of performing. And there’s nothing like it. I just had my first day on set a couple weeks ago, and it organically felt different.

Acting is just a different feeling, for better or for worse. You’re not working all the time, but acting is almost something I can’t explain. Something in me feels different and I just love it. It doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated waiting between shots [laughs]. But that high, that buzz, it’s pretty amazing and keeps you going. I must’ve had a taste of that doing Betty Boop, and that became my driving thing to this day. I have the same drive now as I did back then. There’s still things

I reach for. It feels interesting to wanna pursue it. As you get older, sometimes it’s a little more difficult to feel that burn. The exuberance of youth wears off, but that kinda keeps me young, that I’m someone who’s excited about things and passionate about things. That means I also feel great pain and depression and anxiety, but then I also feel great love and joy. The pursuit is what keeps you young. It doesn’t mean it’s always fun, but the moments you do feel high, you keep going back to it. I’m not advocating drugs. I don’t do drugs.

SPOILER: Do you think because you’ve built this larger than life persona, that’s what’s expected of you?

STEVEN OGG: I mean, I don’t know what people necessarily think of me. Not that I don’t care—it’s easy to say you don’t care if you’re liked. But you gotta take both. I just had a meeting the other day with a friend who was dealing with some negative things going on on social media. And the advice: Just ignore it. They don’t know you, they don’t know the reality. They’re just trolls. For some reason, people love to knock people down—especially people who’ve succeeded. The dream is always to succeed, and yet once people do succeed, there’s other people who love to knock them down. I don’t understand that. Kids, we know, go through a horrible time with bullying. It’s just sad. Just choose to be nice,

Sman. So people’s views of me, I have no control over. People can think what they want. But people who know me and are close to me know who I am. And that’s all I really give a s**t about.

SPOILER: Do you feel that social media is a good thing or can it be dangerous?

STEVEN OGG: It’s a false sense of getting to know someone. Everyone can engage on social media in the way they wish to. That’s everyone’s choice. It’s rarely true in reality. It’s just someone’s opinion or thought or idea, and you have to take it for what it is. The only true way of knowing someone is being with someone and talking with them. You can get an idea of someone on social media, but that’s all it is. I love a good chin wag, but now I think social media has really made any civil discourse really difficult. Because people now are judging

instantly. Now we know everything that’s going on and it’s an overload of our brains and emotions. I don’t know if we’re built to handle this overload. If you’re getting upset about what people are commenting about, then don’t read the comments. I would probably take stuff personally if I engaged more. Because I’m sensitive.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

STEVEN OGG: “Good f**kin’ luck.” [laughs] Nah, I’m joking. You know, generally I think the advice I give is not necessarily what I do. You gotta get involved and get out there and create your own stuff. And I don’t. I’m not writing my own script or developing my own projects. But I think that’s your best bet, because then you can have control over what you do. And you’re not waiting for someone else. I wish I did that more. Get out there and do it...not like me.

SPOILER: If the world froze over like in Snowpiercer, would you wanna be stuck on a train like that?

STEVEN OGG: I don’t think so. Confined spaces aren’t really my thing, so I can’t imagine enjoying being stuck on a train. I used to sometimes have anxiety attacks on the New York subway, so I biked everywhere. I don’t know if I’d be the greatest being stuck on the train. I’ll just freeze outside.

SPOILER: Your character Pike has evolved tremendously in season 2. Do you have to get into certain mindsets for him?

STEVEN OGG: I’m not a method actor by any means. I’m about the words in the scene and serving the story. But certainly the transformation scene was a lot, and I wanted to get into that as much as I could. You go where you need to go for that. But then you leave it.

SPOILER: Does acting a certain way affect you sometimes?

STEVEN OGG: Yeah, you sometimes need to decompress, even just after work. I remember back in my theater days—which I miss so much—that high after performing, it’s why you usually end up having to go for a drink or something. Because your adrenaline is up. It’s not necessarily because you’re doing an intense scene, but just performing. When I was shooting the Grand Theft Auto stuff, that character was very impulsive and I had to do some crazy things. I remember sometimes riding on the train from Long Island, after doing that for eight hours, you do sometimes have in your muscles some reaction when someone is rude to you or bumps into you. Because you were just acting out your impulses for eight hours, so you do have to keep your emotions in check. But other than that, I don’t carry much around with me. My head’s already full.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

STEVEN OGG: “Stay healthy. Stay safe. Be kind.”

Steven Ogg/Snowpiercer/TNT/Warner Media

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

scene in 2012 with a supporting role in Noah Baumbach’s underground hit Frances Ha as the title character’s best friend, Sophie. Since then, the actress has been in some amazing projects, and has now found another big opportunity to level up her career once more with a starring role on Snowpiercer.

She plays Bess Till, a Brakemanturned-Train Detective, who finds herself at the center of a series of murders on the train. The actress has always shown her range and ability to mold into any role throughout her career, and here her talents are on full display again.

Mickey doesn’t reject her celebrity status, but also finds advantages to being able to fly a bit under the radar and morph into different characters. She talks about the effects of the infamous “fame monster” and how she’s had the benefit of seeing fame first hand from such a young age, which has given her a unique perspective.

Growing up in a household with famous parents isn’t always easy, but Mickey acknowledges and has learned from the privilege that comes with it as well.

The actress gets personal with us about her struggles with anxiety, an issue that many of us deal with, but also has some fun discussing which fandom characters she’d like to be able to play. Galaxy is able to lend a helping hand as well...

S Mickey Sumner burst onto the acting

Mickey Sumner/Snowpiercer/TNT/Warner Media/Lindsey Byrnes/David Bukach/TNT/Michael Muller/TNT

interview interview

mickey sumner

SPOILER: What’s your experience been like on Snowpiercer?

MICKEY SUMNER: I’ve been working on the show for the last three years, so it feels like a big life journey for me, coming up to Vancouver and shooting. The show is an epic production with such an amazing cast, and then I get to play Bess Till, who has this transformation throughout season 1, and then we meet her in season 2 and she’s been promoted to a train detective. And it’s just action, action, action.

SPOILER: Snowpiercer is a very badass show and on my top 3 list of TV shows right now. How is it working with such a great cast?

MICKEY SUMNER: Coming to set every day feels like coming home at this point. They’re my family. We have a really close bond, which isn’t true for every production. But there’s really something special between all of us. It’s great coming to work and feeling like you’re just hangin out with your friends and just making amazing art. Getting to come back to play Bess Till and putting on new costumes, sometimes it’s hard to call it work. It feels like such a privilege; such fun.

SPOILER: Do you have to get into a certain mindset to play the Train Detective or is it very natural for you?

MICKEY SUMNER: I think in all characters I play there are elements of myself that shine through. Especially this season, Bess is going through some pretty intense mental health issues. She’s struggling through the revolution they just went through, and trying to fit into the new structure underneath latent leadership, and I think she very much has PTSD and anxiety, searching for who she is now without this uniform. I think there are a lot of interesting aspects that I relate to. I also suffer from anxiety, so those aspects are very good to work with and put it into my art as opposed to my daily life.

SPOILER: Do you ever get into your own head on set?

MICKEY SUMNER: Yeah, there’s a lot of credible talent on set, and there’s definitely times I have to go, “Get it together, don’t mess this up.” I think my scenes with Jennifer [Connelly], I definitely get in my

head because she’s such an amazing professional actor, and I always find myself wanting to do my best with her. She’s awesome. Sometimes the stunt scenes, I really want to make sure I get them right and I put a lot of pressure on myself to get things right, but I’m also surrounded by a really supportive cast and crew. So now three years in, there’s less stress and it feels more relaxed.

SPOILER: How did you first hear about Snowpiercer? Did you hunt for this series or did it just fall into your lap?

MICKEY SUMNER: Actually an audition came through and it didn’t have a title. I don’t think there was even a reference to the train. Just a little bit of a breakdown of the character. I knew it was a show and that it was a little bit sci-fi. But it was very mysterious [laughs]. And those auditions do come in where there’s very little information, and those are the ones you kinda get interested about. I actually auditioned multiple times for Till, and eventually got to the stage where they brought me in to chemistry read with Daveed [Diggs], and thank God we had good chemistry [laughs]. Then they gave me the job, but it was a process for sure.

SPOILER: How does it feel being in these huge scenes on these grandiose sets?

MICKEY SUMNER: I think it feels sometimes like I have to pinch myself that I get to do this and get paid for it. To be surrounded by people who I admire and respect and make me a better actor—being around Alison Wright who plays Ruth, I learn from her every single scene. She’s so amazing and she’s so funny. I’m very grateful for this job. The sets are really magnificent—the mechanics of the sets and the set dressings and details that everyone puts into them. It can be overwhelming, but it’s really just a fun job.

SPOILER: You were made for this character, but did you ever audition for a different character early on?

MICKEY SUMNER: I didn’t because there weren’t any other options for me [laughs]. But it’s hard to imagine being anyone else at this point. Till is a part of me and I’m a part of Till. We sort of created her with the showrunner and the directors and the cast, you’re morphed and made by each other. And that’s why I love acting so much.

Sometimes I get jealous of Lena Hall’s costumes. Every single scene she has a different costume and different hairstyle and different makeup, and I’m like, “Gah! Lena! Enough!” Because I only get one costume for a whole season [laughs]. I’m like, “Can I get some diamonds on my face??” But I’m pretty happy with Till.

SPOILER: Where’s your accent from?

MICKEY SUMNER: I was born in England and was raised between England and America. When I was 20, I went to college in New York City, and I stayed there and never went back. It’s been quite a long time that I’ve been in America, hence my really weird, effed-up accent [laughs].

SPOILER: What made you want to get into the world of acting?

MICKEY SUMNER: I was in art school actually. I was in college for painting and sculpture, and I sorta fell into this crowd of friends who were at NYU and Bard, and they were all in the film program, making short films for the school. And at some point someone was like, “Hey, I need an actress. We just lost our actress. Can you help?” And I was like, “Yes!” And I got hooked that way. One of my first short films was working with the Safdie brothers, who have become very successful in their own right. By the time I graduated art school I had just decided that painting in my studio wasn’t as satisfying to

me as working on a film set. I went to acting classes at night during my degree, and then I graduated and dropped the paint brush [laughs], and I’ve been hustling since then.

SPOILER: Do you think the actor’s hustle will always be in you no matter what?

MICKEY SUMNER: Yes, definitely. The hustle is always there. I was speaking to a friend of mine, who’s a very established actress, and she was talking about an audition, and I was like, “Oh my God, you still audition??” But I think I have a very different opinion about auditioning now. I used to get upset when I didn’t get a role, but now I feel like auditioning is like dating: You’re not gonna fall in love with everyone, and not everyone is gonna fall in love with you. It’s really about the right person and the right time. And I really feel that way about acting. There’s a role for you, and clearly you’re not going to be right for everything, but the one you are right for is like a match made in Heaven. That shift in my perspective in

auditioning really helps me, because getting rejected sucks. But now it doesn’t feel like rejection so much. You’re just looking for “the one.”

SPOILER: I don’t know if fans know this, but your father is Sting. How was it growing up in a household with a legendary rock star?

MICKEY SUMNER: I have nothing to compare it to. It was my reality and my normal. I was hyper-aware that it was not typical of other families and of how privileged I was and what I had. I think my parents were very careful and constantly reminding us that we had a lot and we were given a lot of opportunities, and we still had to work for everything we wanted. Obviously there are things that come with privilege, but they definitely pushed us to work hard and go to school. My parents both have very high and powerful work ethic and they instilled that in all of us.

SPOILER: Your dad’s amazing, but your mother, Trudie Styler, is phenomenal.

MICKEY SUMNER: My mom is a Renaissance woman: actress, producer, winemaker, the list goes on and on.

SPOILER: I didn’t want to start this interview with name-dropping your

Mickey Sumner/Snowpiercer/TNT/Warner

Media/Lindsey Byrnes/David Bukach/TNT/Michael Muller/TNT

parents because you’re very talented in your own right and that’s what’s most important.

MICKEY SUMNER: Thank you. I appreciate you seeing me that way. I never wanted to get by on who my parents were. I found that really embarrassing. I believe that I find satisfaction when I know that I’m doing something because I’m actually good at it, and I hate the idea of anyone giving me anything because of my dad. Also as an actor I’m really interested in sinking into roles and not becoming a celebrity, because that can really affect how people see you on screen. I just like to slip into characters and be unrecognizable, and have a private life and be a chameleon. I know [that celebrity] is very much part of the job, and I’m on Instagram and do the red carpets, but I’m very much scared of the fame monster aspect [laughs].

SPOILER: What scares you about it?

MICKEY SUMNER: I just really value my privacy. I’ve seen how it can affect people and how it can ruin people. It’s a monster. You can use it, but you can also be used by it. You have to tread a fine line between those things, and I’ve been navigating it since I was a kid. It was a privilege to have that perspective and not be thrown into it later in life.

SPOILER: You’re a down-to-earth person. I want all of our readers to know that. We invited you on our talk show and you were like, “Yes!” We appreciate how easy going you have been during this entire process.

MICKEY SUMNER: I was excited! I love Comic Con and I love the fans. I think that’s the greatest joy of doing the show and being on TV each week—you see how invested people become in the story and my character, and that’s why we do this. We do this to tell stories and to entertain people and help them see themselves in a different way. It’s so important. So it’s a pleasure to be interviewed for the magazine.

SPOILER: From when you started acting

in college, how long did it take you until you felt like you finally made it.

MICKEY SUMNER: I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way [laughs]. I’m always like, “This might be my last job.” Especially on a TV show, you’re waiting for them to review you. So it feels very unstable a lot of the time. I’ve never sat back and went, “Okay, I’ve made it!” Also, I don’t have that nature. I’m always striving for more, which sometimes is not great, but that’s just part of my workaholic nature. Anyone out there suffering from anxiety, I see you and I love you—it’s an ongoing struggle for me, but I recognize it and get help for it.

SPOILER: What worries you the most? MICKEY SUMNER: I think it’s more of an existential crisis, like the end of the world. We’re also living through unprecedented times with the pandemic, and it’s very human to normalize everything, but this is not normal. And I think it’s good to sometimes be vulnerable, especially in crafts like this where we’re supposed to be very upbeat and positive. There’s a lot to be anxious about, but I’m just trying to keep it real [laughs].

SPOILER: If your kids said, “Mom, I want to be an actor,” what would you tell them?

MICKEY SUMNER: I would have to repeat what my parents told me: “Okay, you wanna be an actor? Go to acting class, get an agent. You have to work for it.” I am a mom, I have a 4-year-old, and whatever he wants to do in life, it’s my job to hold him and support him, and instill a sense of work ethic and self-esteem, and then tell him, “Go get it, baby!” If my kid wanted to be a window cleaner, I would tell him to go do it; do anything as long as you’re not hurting anyone.

SPOILER: What advice would you give someone starting out in acting?

MICKEY SUMNER: I think right now, and I wish I had done it when I started acting, that writing and creating your own content for yourself is very easy to do. When I started out, there was no

iPhone or making movies on your phone. It was a different generation. I also didn’t have the confidence in myself about writing, and I’m just starting to get into writing. But as an actor, you’re so much in the mercy of casting directors and producers and directors—there’s not a lot of control. But if you’re creative and an actor and have a story to tell, make your own stuff. The technology is extremely accessible. And you’re not waiting around for other people to tell you that you’re talented. That’s the struggle with acting, that there’s a lack of control.

SPOILER: So aside from acting you’re also a writer?

MICKEY SUMNER: I am writing. And I actually directed a movie that I starred in with my son in quarantine last summer, up here in British Columbia. I’m in post-production

right now, and I really had fun making that and being part of editing and music and learning all the other aspects of filmmaking. I’m loving it.

SPOILER: If you could work with any director or on any show right now, who or what would it be?

MICKEY SUMNER: That’s a very difficult question, but right now I’m obsessed with Bridgerton [laughs]. I’m obsessed! I’m English, put me on Bridgerton season 2! It’s a bit of a departure from Snowpiercer, but I could absolutely do it. Just wig me out to hide my shaved hair and let’s do this [laughs]. I’m also a massive Star Wars fan and would love to be on Star Wars. I’m loving all the action I’m doing on Snowpiercer, so anything where I can run around and do some punching and kicking and falling, that would be fun.

SPOILER: Do you think the pandemic stunt your ability to be on more projects?

MICKEY SUMNER: I feel very lucky that I’ve actually been filming. We finished season 2 during the pandemic. We started in March when everything got bad, but then came back in October to finish the season. So I got to hang out with my kid and be a full-time mom, and then I got to finish working. And then I directed my own short, so I don’t know how it would have been if I didn’t have Snowpiercer. It might’ve been very different. But I’ve had a lot of actor friends who are still auditioning. The entertainment industry managed to somewhat keep going. People need things to watch when they’re in a global pandemic [laughs].

SPOILER: What’s the name of your short?

MICKEY SUMNER: It’s called I’m Listening. It’s about a woman and her child during lockdown. And the mother starts up an unlikely relationship with Siri. Siri is actually voiced by my sister. My mom is also in it. My husband did sound and catering [laughs]. It was a total family affair. It’s actually part of a series that my mother is producing for her production company, with multiple short films by different actors. So I’m honored to be part of that group.

SPOILER: Was there a lot of bickering during the project?

MICKEY SUMNER: My mom was in Europe and my sister was in London, and I haven’t seen my family since January 2020. It’s crazy. I really miss them. But we did everything via FaceTime and email. It was all digital. My mom directed me in her movie, and now I got to direct her. She took direction well because she’s a very good actor.

SPOILER: Do you think if this pandemic happened in the ‘80s when there wasn’t streaming and iPhones, it would have been much harder to deal with?

MICKEY SUMNER: It’s hard to imagine how we would have felt without that knowledge of those technologies, but I’ve really been saved by FaceTime. I spend a lot of

time on FaceTime with my family, and my son gets to hang out with his cousins and grandparents, and that face-to-face aspect is so vital. It feels less awful when you see people’s faces. I put my phone down in the kitchen when I’m cooking and talk to my sister and it almost feels like we’re in the same room. But thank God for this technology that allows us to stay in touch and keep working. It’s coming up on a year that we’ve been in this pandemic and I see the light with vaccines and it seems like maybe it’s going to be better soon. I send my love to everyone else who’s dealing with the same thing.

SPOILER: Do you ever watch and critique yourself after the show airs?

MICKEY SUMNER: I do find it

difficult sometimes to watch myself. If I’m doing a tape for an audition I watch everything so that I can adjust things, but once things are made and edited, I definitely have to psych myself out to watch myself. Not because I’m highly critical of myself, but it’s different for every project. But with Snowpiercer I like watching it in real time with the audience, there’s something really fun about that.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

MICKEY SUMNER: Oh my God, why do I have to pick one?? I’m really enjoying WandaVison right now, so I’m gonna go with Marvel. But then I love DC stuff too. It’s a really hard question, I can’t pick.

SPOILER: What character do you see yourself as?

MICKEY SUMNER: No, I want you to answer that question.

SPOILER: In my Marvel Handbook that I keep on my desk, there are a thousand characters inside, and you fit about 30 or 40 of those characters perfectly. These are characters that haven’t come out yet in film or TV.

MICKEY SUMNER: Thank you. Well, I do have one dream. If they ever do a remake of Conan, I think the character of Valeria would be a great character for me. I’m looking at her costume right now and I’m like, “Come on…” That silver, sort of bikini thing, and the helmet, and she carries a sword. She’s just the most badass character to me.

SPOILER: You can be anyone you like. There’s She-Ra, there’s Dazzler, there’s Invisible Woman—you fit all of them.

MICKEY SUMNER: Let me see Dazzler… [looks up picture on phone] Oh, Dazzler! Done!

SPOILER: Well maybe someone out there will read this and make it happen! Moving on from the Hollywood stuff, let’s close this out with a nice classic question of mine: Do you believe in the paranormal?

MICKEY SUMNER: Oh yes, 100%! I grew up in a really haunted house. I had a couple super ghosty, interesting experiences. So I definitely believe in paranormal activity. I never met a bad ghost, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared [laughs]. I think I definitely feel energy without feeling too woo-woo, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have those experiences.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

you’ve ever seen at least one of Iddo Goldberg’s

projects you know his voice cuts through any scene, which makes a beautifully crowded show like Snowpiercer the perfect match. Always operating with such control in any of his performances, the actor also imbues each of his characters with a certain charisma that makes audiences so compelled to root for him.

Iddo plays Bennett Knox, an engineer on the train and one of the few people who knows of its mortality. A repellant for the show’s antagonist, Mr. Wilford, Bennett has a sort of power in his own right.

The actor has had a long career thus far, featured on the esteemed series Peaky Blinders, and more recently Westworld. Iddo talks with us about his feelings on the shortlived Salem and the sweetness amidst the bitterness of being on a show that gets cancelled prematurely. He also tells us about the movies that impacted him the most when he was a kid, as well as the importance of wearing sunscreen.

If

interview interview

SPOILER: You have such a recognizable voice, where’s your accent from?

IDDO GOLDBERG: [laughs] I was born in Israel, and then when I was around 10, my whole family moved to London, and I guess that’s where this voice is from.

SPOILER: In a show like Snowpiercer where there are many characters, do you feel like your tone stands out?

IDDO GOLDBERG: Maybe. It was something I thought about going in, and Bennett has quite a lot of authority on the train. He’s one of the head engineers and makes crucial decisions. So I do try to kind of ground his voice a little more in authority. He definitely has more authority than I do. So that is something I think about. A lot of the stuff I say is quite scientific as well, and has a lot to do with tracking where the train is or what’s wrong with the train, so I need to be quite clear about that because that’s important information for the audience. You don’t expect that you’re gonna think about that stuff, but you do think about it.

SPOILER: Does it take time to get into the mindset of your character?

IDDO GOLDBERG: You do your work before you get to set, and when you get to set you try to flip the switch and be in that mode. Especially now, about to start season 3, I’m quite familiar with him at this point, so it becomes more of a second nature.

SPOILER: In Salem you played Isaac and you did a phenomenal job. That show should’ve gone on for years. Isn’t it upsetting when networks cut shows that should not be cut?

IDDO GOLDBERG: Thank you so much. Yeah, most of the cast were upset that we couldn’t go on. After you do this for a while, you realize you just have to accept things for how they are. It’s always bitter, but it’s sweet sometimes, because usually by that point you’ve been working on a character and living through someone else’s eyes for some time, so there’s always hope at the end of that news because you wonder what’s next. And you wonder what world you’re gonna be stepping into next, and who you’re gonna be living in. It’s bittersweet.

But that was a great show and a lot of fun. He was very different from anyone I’ve played before. I’ve been lucky in that respect that I get to do a lot of different roles.

SPOILER: Why do you think the fans got so upset when the show stopped?

IDDO GOLDBERG: They’re so invested in the world and the characters. When I was growing up, you got shows only once a week, and you had to wait—just the same as Snowpiercer on TNT. But now we’ve gotten used to having all of the season there. You get your big bag of popcorn and sit for the day and get through it. So people get really invested in these shows, and I love that. You don’t get tired of people telling you that they’re invested in a show that you’re working on. Everybody’s efforts on that show have entertained people, and it’s really cool hearing that.

SPOILER: When a show ends, does it take a piece of you with it?

IDDO GOLDBERG: It’s interesting. It takes a while for everyone who’s working on a show to blend and get an understanding—writers writing to your strengths, and the cast and crew building relationships, and mutual respect—that stuff takes a while, because people are polite and don’t wanna step over lines. These relationships develop naturally. So when you’re told that it’s the end of that, it’s heartbreaking of course because these are all people who you’ve become so close with over a period of three years, in regards to Salem. But it’s not just that. With Salem, we shot in Shreveport,

Louisiana. And the community of Shreveport was super supportive of the project. Everyone was so welcoming. We were invited to barbecues, and it was a sweet, young community that accepted us as we came into town. So you miss these communities as well, all these people. I think we are heartbroken in different ways, but we all share that sadness—the end of something like that. And you don’t immediately go, “I wonder what’s next.” It’s just that thing where you’re like, “Oh, this is over. I’m bummed,” and you get through it by going, “There may be some great stuff on the other side of

this.” From an early age, I’ve always felt like every project has been like a school for me—I wasn’t trained in drama school. I guess you get that in many professions. But this was definitely an unstructured journey for me. Every job that comes along, I learn from, and it’s exciting to know that you might be able to apply what you’ve learned on the next project. But it sucks when something’s really sweet and everyone’s enjoying it, and it ends.

SPOILER: It’s probably nice having a spouse who’s an actress, she understands you’re world.

IDDO GOLDBERG: She’s really good with that stuff. She definitely handles that stuff well. It is really fortunate that we’re able to support each other in that way. We both worked on Salem together, but we didn’t really have any scenes together. So that was an interesting scenario. When you’re away from work, it’s great to have someone who understands what’s going on to give you the support you need or that kick up the ass [laughs].

SPOILER: Do you put a lot of yourself in each role you play?

IDDO GOLDBERG: For sure. I think as you work more and more you’re essentially trying to get as close as you can to a reality that you understand yourself, but apply it to this person that you kinda created. That reality comes from how you perceive things yourself. So absolutely. It’s a really hard thing to do that in itself, so I think it definitely starts with me.

SPOILER: Your roles are always so memorable. One of my favorites is

Freddie Thorne in Peaky Blinders

IDDO GOLDBERG: Obviously Peaky Blinders is a phenomenon. It’s one of those one-in-a-million shows. At the beginning of that process, working with Otto Bathurst, the establishing director of that show, who was just fantastic to work for, he had a really clear idea of what he wanted to do. And I got that from talking to him even before I was cast. We were having these Skypes and he was talking to me about what they were gonna do, and I was just like, “Stop bloody talking to me about this— just cast me in the show!” It was just exciting to listen to. It was very fresh and very grand. His vision and support continued throughout my time there. And the cast was such a dream to be around as well. It was great to be a part of that.

SPOILER: Have you ever gotten nervous on set?

IDDO GOLDBERG: I actually never get nervous. Never.

SPOILER: Never?

IDDO GOLDBERG: Nah, I’m just

kidding [laughs]. I am always, always nervous. There isn’t a button to turn it off, so you feel it and you kinda just say, “Eff it,” and just go on with it. It’s actually kind of a nice energy to have bubbling underneath the surface. I think if you spend too much time on it, you’re not thinking about what you should be thinking about anyway. But by this point, I‘m trying to think about what I’m actually doing and what I want out of the moment, so it dissipates. The viewer is just seeing the good stuff.

SPOILER: How long do you think Snowpiercer is gonna be on for? I see it going another three to four seasons.

IDDO GOLDBERG: I don’t know, I’ll just go with what you say, Galaxy. I would not argue with that. I think that it would be interesting where we could go in that time. Yeah, let’s see. It’s a big cast. There’s so many characters on the train, and so many fantastic actors that inhibit these characters. I feel like there’s lots to tell still. But we’re always having fun on the show. I think everyone would be happy to hang around and keep telling the story. Season 2 especially, I really liked the energy and pace of it. It was more fun, I feel, than season 1. Season 3, we’ll try to stick with that part of things. There’s some good stuff in store for people who are invested.

Iddo Goldberg/Snowpiercer/TNT/David Bukach/Warner

SPOILER: Do you think the show thrives on having scenes with enormous amounts of people in them?

IDDO GOLDBERG: Yeah, I like those scenes. When you’re watching it, you know that this show is essentially about the makeup of a society, so when you get to see as much of a society as you can, it’s really rewarding. You get to see the big scope of it all. And I think it’s really nice to be able to go from something like that to something that’s really touching or intense. One of my favorite scenes from season 1 is when Melanie is interrogating Josie. That was incredibly intense, but it was just two people. Also all the wars and all the battles, which unfortunately I don’t get to be a part of because I’m in the engine [laughs]. But also the scene where Big Alice shows up and everyone goes to greet Mr. Wilford—those scenes are really rewarding to see all the characters together as well.

SPOILER: What made you want to get into acting?

IDDO GOLDBERG: I was a bit of a joker growing up. And when I was about 8, I remember watching an old TV show called Bonanza, and just spending a weekend with my cousins pretending to shoot each other and fall to the ground. And there was such escapism in there. [laughs] Not that 8-year-old me did a lot of escapism. But there was something about it where I just loved being in that world. And I think that was the first time where I felt a love for that ultimate universe. I didn’t get into it until I was much older, but films were very much an escape for me when I was younger, and learning who I was. I remember watching Rebel Without a Cause when I was young and being blown away by James Dean. But I also remember watching Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Cocktail and Top Gun, and all those films that were big ‘80s movies. I was really escaping in that kinda stuff—quite commercial movies. And I just wanted to be in that world of make believe. A world that I thought was larger than the one I was currently in at that time.

SPOILER: What would you tell your younger self if you could meet him today?

IDDO GOLDBERG: “Doubt is the biggest waste of energy—doubting yourself, or not giving yourself enough props for what you’re doing. It’s a dangerous line to walk where you equate going to an audition room with getting something right, as opposed to trying to give your own definition of something. And I think it’s very easy to get into that mindset. But really it should be an expression of who you are. Your choices are your talent and your self, in a sense. And also, wear sunscreen.” [laughs]

SPOILER: If you could work on any movie or TV show, what would it be?

IDDO GOLDBERG: Fargo. I just watched the third season of Fargo and it was so good. I just loved it. I would love to work with those guys. I also really enjoyed Succession. That was just phenomenal. Anything the Safdie brothers are doing, I’d love to be involved as well.

SPOILER: Do you believe in the paranormal?

IDDO GOLDBERG: Yes. I was talking about this to my wife the other day. I cannot believe we have not met another life form yet. There’s no way there’s nothing else out there, right? I definitely think the paranormal extends to the energy and stuff that we feel— that kinda sixth sense awareness.

SPOILER: Any cool projects coming up that you can share with us?

IDDO GOLDBERG: At the moment, we’re gonna be here until August [shooting Snowpiercer]. With the state of the world, it hasn’t been easy to step outside and do loads of other things. So it’s mainly Snowpiercer. But it’s enough for me.

Jonathan Scarfe/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Luke Cyprian

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

You wouldn’t know it by looking

at him, but Jonathan Scarfe has been in Hollywood for almost 30 years. With spots on anything from Murder, She Wrote to NYPD Blue and even a recurring role on ER during its front nine, the actor has seen it all.

On Van Helsing, his character Axel is a very by-the-books Marine, a loyalty that serves him well throughout his journey in the post-apocalypse, despite enduring isolation and hardships, ultimately surviving because of this dedication to his principles. His strong will even overpowers his thirst for human blood once he turns into a vampire, proving that ultimately human compassion conquers all animalistic and selffulfilling desires.

The actor, himself, is also a man of principles. Known by many on set as the hardest working cast member, Jonathan is also arguably the best actor on the show. As his character Axel carries many of the storylines and becomes a dominant surrogate for the audience into this crazy world, he does so with so much relatability and conviction.

Not only does Jonathan star in the show, but directs quite a few episodes as well, including some that he’s also performing in—a difficult task for even the most seasoned actors, but all the more testament to his work ethic and passion for what he does.

SPOILER: Axel Miller has been there since day one. He’s a fan favorite, a protector. And now going into season 5, we don’t know what’s going to happen. What’s going on with your character?

JONATHAN SCARFE: I think Julius and Axel spent the last of the 13 episodes in a cuddle puddle [laughs]. That’s where we left off. But you’ll have to tune in to see. What use does Axel find for himself to help get our gang towards the conclusion?

SPOILER: Being in an almostapocalyptic situation with COVID, it spooks people out. So with Van Helsing in season 5, do you think the fans’ emotions are going to be more intensified because they just came through this pandemic?

JONATHAN SCARFE: Oh sure, everybody’s been having this horrible time dealing with isolation and angst—particularly in the beginning of the shutdown. You know, we all ran out of toilet paper, man! It was an emergency! [laughs] But in how that relates to the show, of course. I think initially everybody was afraid that everything was gonna be much, much worse. So it does put things

like a post-apocalypse in a different perspective.

SPOILER: Something everybody wants to know about is the orange dust throughout the series. What’s going on with that?

JONATHAN SCARFE: It makes you fall madly in love with Axel. It encourages mask-wearing.

SPOILER: If there’s a potential apocalypse, vampire or not, what would be your weapon of choice?

JONATHAN SCARFE: I think a sailboat to flee [laughs]. That would be my route. But I also fell in love with that sawed-off shotgun. I think that thing is handy. I’d have that in my pocket.

SPOILER: Leave us with a message to all your fans out there in the world.

JONATHAN SCARFE: “To all the fans who have been watching this show from the beginning, thank you so much. We love you guys. We wouldn’t have been able to have this crazy experience without you watching and supporting the show. So we really appreciate you, and hope you enjoy season 5.”

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Thanks to Bathory (and Sam), Dracula, aka the

Dark One, emerges from her Dark Realm to wreak havoc on the real world. With season 5 now underway, fans get to see Dracula, née Olivia, prior to becoming the Dark One in medieval times.

The mother of all darkness is played by Tricia Helfer, perhaps most known for her role as Number Six

in Battlestar Galactica prior to Van Helsing. In her limited time on this series, Tricia has made a big impact, helping evolve the tone to a place that even the biggest fans didn’t see coming.

The former model has made the transition to acting seamlessly, continuing to level up her game with each and every project over the past 20 years, with esteemed roles in voice acting as well. In the vein of the most famous Dracula portrayers, such as Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee, Tricia brings her own spin to the role and provides plenty of inspiration for whoever has to follow in her footsteps.

Tricia Helfer/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Vince Trupsin/Brian Bowen Smith

interview interview

interview interview

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

TRICIA HELFER: My experience was wonderful.  I only had a couple days of filming during season four since my character was just being introduced, but everyone was very welcoming and just a great group of people. The episodes we shot in Slovakia were really great, so it was such a bizarre experience for the pandemic shutdown to happen right after and the change in filming once we started back up again. Our production team was amazing and worked hard to keep everyone safe, but of course the experience changes. Thankfully we were already a family, so to speak, so we could weather the changes easier.  I think starting a new show during COVID protocols is much harder because you don’t see each other and it’s much harder to get to know each other.

SPOILER: Will you miss working on the show once it’s gone?

TRICIA HELFER: With any show where you enjoy the people you are working with, of course you will miss the experience when you finish. But that’s the business—you move onto the next and hopefully you formed long-lasting bonds and will also work with many of the people—cast and crew—again on a different project.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

TRICIA HELFER: I had been modeling internationally for ten years and I wanted to move on to something else— to use my mind more. I decided to take an acting class to see what it was like and I fell in love with it. I was terrified, intrigued, and exhilarated all at the same time after that first class.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

TRICIA HELFER: No I do not. I do think there are people who can suck you dry emotionally, but I don’t think there are immortal souls walking around feeding off people’s blood.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

TRICIA HELFER: I’m sure there are quite a few. Seeing it’s the last season, I think pretty much all the cliffhangers will be answered, no? That’s the novelty of knowing the season is going to be the last before you start filming, the writers can wrap up the story and tie up all the loose ends, unless they intentionally want something left open.

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your go-to person for advice?

TRICIA HELFER: I think we all rely on each other. Sets are a mechanism of constant interaction and cooperation. Being in tune with your scene partners is integral, and having a running dialogue with the writer or showrunner is necessary for anything you’re not quite understanding or for something that will be coming up in future episodes that you haven’t read yet but would inform how you’d play something now. And of course the director. I

love feedback and back and forth with the director. I love when you get to have a shorthand and you’re just on the same page so you can easily alter or try things different ways.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

TRICIA HELFER: I never experienced any of that but I’ve heard Aleks [Paunovic] is a bit of one.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

TRICIA HELFER: Nothing creeps me out of what I’ve done. I can separate when I’m filming because you’re playing a character. I have a hard time watching the blood and gore of other scenes though—ones I’m not in.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

TRICIA HELFER: Would depend on who I was dealing with. Kindness

would be my base, but wouldn’t be afraid to switch to ruthless if needed or crossed.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

TRICIA HELFER: Which kind of vampire? If you’re talking Dracula: power, mystique, guardedness.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing in your opinion?

TRICIA HELFER: I think them working together is the most powerful.

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

TRICIA HELFER: Teleportation, if that’s considered a weapon. Otherwise, a gun with an unlimited supply of bullets.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

TRICIA HELFER: I think the show already provides that answer.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

TRICIA HELFER: Many times.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first comic convention?

TRICIA HELFER: My first Comic Con was San Diego, so it was like being put into it at 200 miles per hour. No one knew my character yet so it wasn’t overwhelming on that aspect. It’s just quite an experience to see and be part of.

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

TRICIA HELFER: Can’t say I would.  I mean, if I was the last human left and

Tricia Helfer/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Vince Trupsin/Brian Bowen Smith

it was become a vampire or perish, I’d probably choose vampire.  But if it wasjust, “Do you want to be one?” That’s a “No.”

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

TRICIA HELFER: Salad, veggies, vegetarian omelet—light healthy food. Eating heavy and attempting to work long hours is not good. It puts you to sleep.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character you play?

TRICIA HELFER: I think there’s a piece of me in every character I play.

SPOILER: What can the Van Helsing fans expect from this final season?

TRICIA HELFER: A wild ride, answers to a lot of their questions, some terror, and some tears.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

TRICIA HELFER: Dracula—need I say more?

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

TRICIA HELFER: She seems pretty emotionally destroyed by her powers so I’m not sure I’d want to take them on, but I’m sure a few of the healing benefits and fighting prowess would be nice. Not that I get into fights, but

the knowing I could kick ass would be nice.

SPOILER: Can you share anything from season 5 that is juicy?

TRICIA HELFER: I think the word “family” will have significant importance in more ways than one.

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

TRICIA HELFER: Everyone is hard working. If I have to choose, I’d say Jonathan Scarfe because he was directing a lot of the episodes too, while also being in some of them. That takes a ton of focus and dedication and lack of sleep.

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

TRICIA HELFER: I’m currently filming Step Up: Highwater for Starz network, playing Erin Baxter, District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

TRICIA HELFER: Do it because you love the craft, not because you have some preconceived notion of what it’ll be like. There are a lot of ups and downs, a lot of rejection. Be prepared to work hard and have a nomadic lifestyle that is not always the easiest for personal or family relationships.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

TRICIA HELFER: Of course. It’s thrilling and stressful at the same time. It depends on the character, of course, and how much research you need to do, or what you need to learn. Or sometimes just tapping into parts that will allow you to be able to portray the character properly. Some are easier than others of course.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

TRICIA HELFER: I’m not going to explain my hidden fears. But what upsets me currently is I can’t seem to sleep at all. Insomnia has taken hold of me this year in a dramatic fashion and it’s pissing me off.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

TRICIA HELFER: ”Thank you for your support and your kindness.” It means the world to me that something I’ve done can resonate with people and either just give them an escape for a few minutes or help them work through something, or feel connected to others.

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

TRICIA HELFER: I suppose the same as most shows. Of course, it helps fans keep up to date on releases and so forth. But more importantly, I think it allows fans to form a community around a shared passion and experience, and that, in our current messed up world, is a comforting thing.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

TRICIA HELFER: I don’t know. I’m sure some would like it to continue but I’m sure many others are also happy that the show will be able to have a proper conclusion.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Can you blame us for being a little tentative before

interviewing Christopher Heyerdahl? From the enigmatic Swede on Hell on Wheels to H.P. Lovecraft himself, the actor has made a career out of portraying mysteriously sinister characters.

On Van Helsing, the actor plays perhaps his most chilling yet as the absolutely creepy Sam, a deaf human who seems kind and warm at first, but harvests some menacing secrets. There’s a lot to his character, who may prove to be one of the most evil in the series, even before he becomes a vampire.

In real life, Christopher couldn’t put you more at ease with his wry humor and wit, which only speaks volumes of his talents as an actor to time and time again put together these characters who are each so individually eerie in their own right. With a career that spans all the way back to the late-’80s, there’s a reason why the actor has enjoyed such longevity.

Christopher Heyerdahl/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Rob Daly

interview interview

SPOILER: Who is your favorite Van Helsing castmate?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: I’ve found joy in working with every scene partner on Van Helsing but Trezzo [Mahoro] will always have a special place in my heart.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: My love of imagining.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Of course, don’t you?

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: What happened to Phil, aka Flesh? did he

ever find his fam? And why didn’t Neil LaBute kill off Aleks Paunovic’s character in season 1? That was perpetually hanging off a cliff.

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your go-to person for advice?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: The writers.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Paunovic.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out?.

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Sam killing Susan.

SPOILER: Name the most memorable scene from the series.

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: The first scene we all shot in the post office set, which was used for pretty much all of season 1. It was wonderful to all be together discovering the world and developing character. LaBute’s writing team were all on the soundstage, within earshot, prepping episodes and developing story. There was a great deal of freedom in trying to focus totally on the senses other than hearing. I loved communicating with Rukiya [Bernard] while she was locked up as Vampire Doc. She went deep. Sam and Vamp Doc connected that day. Rukiya, you know what I’m talking about. Still makes me smile.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: I hope kind, though I do have a terrible habit of playing with my food from time to time.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Not worrying about blood stains and never having to wipe your chin after a particularly juicy meal.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Violet and Jack. It’s always about the next gen.

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Innocence and purity. Callie seemed to always walk through the valley of death and come out just fine.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Always go for the head. Pretty sure no one’s grew back.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first comic convention?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Excitement and curiosity.

SPOILER: If you had a choice to become a vampire, would you do it?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: I’ve made that choice a few times.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character you play?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Always.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: The power of transformation is beautiful. I hope I’d choose light. Sorry, what’s the real world?

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: A journey towards our humanity.

SPOILER: Pick one character from the series and tell us everything you know about them.

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: I try to never assume.

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Never kill a vampire if you can just as easily turn them back into a human being. Very practical!

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: No hesitation: Jonathan Scarfe.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Work harder than everyone else, be more curious, read the script again, work harder, then look in your scene partner’s eyes and support them and the story.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Always.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Not serving the story.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: ”Thank you for your support. Let’s all be kind to one another especially those we disagree with.”

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: I’ve garnered great pleasure and insight from both. I’ve gotta say DC has paid my rent more than a few times and will again this year.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL: Odds are good.

Christopher Heyerdahl/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Rob Daly

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Sarah Carol, aka Doc, has had a real

struggle over the course of the series. When we first met our Van Helsing star she was a vampire. But with the help of Vanessa’s powers, she turned back into a human. Sounds fortunate, right? However, Doc can’t handle her humanity, trying but failing to become a vampire again. Despite being the counterpoint for our protagonist, Doc is the one responsible for preserving Vanessa for the three years prior to her awakening, passing on responsibilities to Axel once she gets bitten.

Doc is played by Rukiya Bernard, a Toronto native who’s found a steady career for more than two decades now. While featured on some big TV and film projects in the past, such as The Cabin in the Woods, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Supernatural, the actress has really taken off since her starring role on Van Helsing with recent turns on the new Nancy Drew series, as well as the upcoming film XCII (Zero Contact) alongside Anthony Hopkins and Van Helsing costar Aleks Paunovic.

With her role on the show going on somewhat of a hiatus, Rukiya is excited to close out Doc’s storyline and finish the story she started five years ago.

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

RUKIYA BERNARD: It was life changing for me. I’d been acting for a little while but never in the capacity as a series regular. It allowed me to hone my craft as an actor on the job playing such an interesting character, Doc.

SPOILER: Who is your favorite castmate?

RUKIYA BERNARD: After five seasons, it’s hard just to choose one. As much as Doc and Susan didn’t like each other on the show, in real life Hilary Jardine is now one of my closet friends. Kelly [Overton] and I really connected too—our kids have grown up together watching their mothers on the show for five years. And Paunovic—what can I say? I love that Yeti. Recently he asked me to play his wife in an upcoming film Zero Contact which we shot in lockdown during the pandemic.

SPOILER: Will you miss working on Van Helsing once it’s gone?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Yes, but all good things must come to an end. I haven’t been part of the show much since season 4 so it was nice to close out storylines. You don’t get that opportunity often.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

RUKIYA BERNARD: I’ve always loved performing. As a child, my parents use to call me “Miss Dress Up” because I loved getting into costume and putting on shows. I suppose I still do—I’ve just managed to make a career out of it. My journey has been relatively typical in that I went to theater school and worked my way through the entertainment industry somehow landing on Van Helsing.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Literally, no. Figuratively, yes.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

RUKIYA BERNARD: What happened to Doc?

SPOILER: Who on the show is your go-to person for advice?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Kelly Overton and

Aleks Paunovic have helped so much. Showrunner Jon Walker too.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

RUKIYA BERNARD: 1000% Paunovic.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

RUKIYA BERNARD: Anything Chris Heyerdahl did! In fact, the episode that introduces Felix, Sam’s disillusioned stand-in for Mohamad, that made me very uncomfortable. The scene with Felix in the pool without a tongue as his fellow detention inmates taunt him—in this day in age watching a young Black disabled person being bullied by more privilegedlooking people is very uncomfortable.

SPOILER: Name three memorable scenes from the series.

RUKIYA BERNARD: Season 1, episode 3 when Vanessa bit Doc the Vampire—it was my first and only “action” scene with Kelly and she actually bit me! In season 1, episode 3 after everyone thought that Vanessa’s bite didn’t work on Doc, miraculously Doc is turned back human and emerges from her cage for the first time in years. In the script, it was written that Doc emerges, confused, concerned as if, “What does this all mean?” And our executive producing director, Michael Nankin, directed me to play the relief of it all smiling joyfully. And to this days it’s one of my top 3 Doc moments. And then in season 3 when Doc revealed she was a virgin to Jolene—that was a story point I came up with and the writers wrote it in.

SPOILER: If you were a Vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Ruthless.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

RUKIYA BERNARD: You can binge watch Netflix without annoying daytime glare on your TV.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Syfy and Netflix.

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

RUKIYA BERNARD: A gun.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

RUKIYA BERNARD: UV. They need some serious sunblock.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Yes, I went with the show twice to San Diego Comic Con.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first one?

RUKIYA BERNARD: It was incredible! To experience the global impact the show has had by meeting fans from around the world was surreal. Also, the perpetual press junkets were a marathon. Gotta remember snacks next time they come back. I turn into a vampire when I’m hangry.

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

RUKIYA BERNARD: No. The reality of impending death we all face as humans makes life all the more precious and worth living. I’d choose to remain amongst the living—ride or die for my life.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

RUKIYA BERNARD: It’s not food but a drink: tea. I’m a tea granny.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in Doc?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Yes. I too was a vampire once.

SPOILER: What can the Van Helsing fans expect from this final season?

RUKIYA BERNARD: This season the fans are in for a real bloody, gory, shocking, yet satisfying treat as the series comes to a close.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

RUKIYA BERNARD: Doc is selfinterested, reclusive vampire apocalypse survivor. Pre-end-of-theworld, she was a medical examiner. She survived the beginning of the apocalypse with Axel as her protector but was turned into a vampire. Axel didn’t kill her, and to her luck, Vanessa came back to life and turned her back human. Since then she’s learning to come out of her shell and be selfless, as surviving an apocalypse is better done with other survivors and in love.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

RUKIYA BERNARD: God no! Could you imagine having her powers during the election? And if there were others too? Eek!

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

RUKIYA BERNARD: A Canadian made TV show—BOOM!

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

RUKIYA BERNARD: I learned how to shoot a gun. It was a sadly profound experience as I understood the instant sense of power you feel when you feel the kickback and see the damage you can do. I quickly realized that average human beings shouldn’t have these things as day to day accessories. Might be an unpopular opinion, but that’s me.

SPOILER: Can you share anything from season 5 that is juicy?

RUKIYA BERNARD: What happened to Doc? Watch and find out!

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

RUKIYA BERNARD: The hardest working cast mate is probably Jonathan Scarfe. He picks up double duty acting and directing— sometimes at the same time.

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

RUKIYA BERNARD: I currently recur on CW’s Nancy Drew as Ryan Hudson’s love interest Val Samuels. Also, I recently wrote, directed, and produced a short film called The Blactor

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Make sure you do it for the love of the craft—never to be famous.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Sometimes when it’s a new character. I was super nervous during season 1 of Van Helsing but by season 5 the character is a well-worn glove.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Plastic and the fate of our Earth.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

RUKIYA BERNARD: ”Thank you for supporting!”

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

RUKIYA BERNARD: Absolutely.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

RUKIYA BERNARD: HBO.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

RUKIYA BERNARD:

It’s always hard to say goodbye, so we’ve made it a heartwarming bloodbath.

Rukiya Bernard//Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Kristine

Cofsky

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

The first vampire to turn back to human form

because of Vanessa’s blood, Flesh lives with a lot of pain and guilt due to his previous life as a bloodthirsty monster. However, his existence on Van Helsing serves as a symbol of redemption and hope.

Flesh is played by Vincent Gale, one of the most experienced veterans on the show with a career spanning all the way back to the early-’80s. And still, he says filming during Van Helsing was one of the happiest he’s ever been on set.

While the fate of Flesh has been up in the air since the beginning of season 4, hopefully fans will get to see what the vampire hunter has been up to in the meantime. As for Vincent, they can also catch him on Snowpiercer as well as the upcoming Netflix series Midnight Mass and the recent film Every Breath You Take alongside Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan.

Vincent Gale/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Kristine Cofsky/Luke Cyprian

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

VINCENT GALE: I loved working on Van Helsing! Some of my favorite people were involved: David Cubitt, Christopher Heyerdahl & Simon Barry. Season 1 was one of the happiest times I’ve ever had shooting film.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

VINCENT GALE: I’ve been acting for over years. It’s all I’ve ever done. I started acting as a child on a BBC TV series.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

VINCENT GALE: Yes! I interact with the soul suckers every day.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

VINCENT GALE: Where’s Flesh!?

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your go-to person for advice?

VINCENT GALE: Neil [LaBute].

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

VINCENT GALE: Aleks [Paunovic].

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

VINCENT GALE: Sleeping late.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

VINCENT GALE: Flesh—he did it his way.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

VINCENT GALE: Yes! San Diego Comic Con.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

VINCENT GALE: Sour keys from crafty.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character you play?

VINCENT GALE: Not a bit.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about

your character.

VINCENT GALE: Flesh is the tortured, moral compass of Van Helsing.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

VINCENT GALE: Why not?

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

VINCENT GALE: A super fun Syfy show!

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

VINCENT GALE: John Scarfe worked his ass off directing and acting!

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

VINCENT GALE: I’m back auditioning. I have a film coming out this summer with Casey Affleck, and a small role in a cool new Netflix series Midnight Mass

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

VINCENT GALE: Don’t do it. There’s too many of us!

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

VINCENT GALE: Always.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

VINCENT GALE: Anything bad happening to my family. Or a fatal disease.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

VINCENT GALE: Watch FX’s Better Things.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

VICENT GALE: I hope not. Change is good.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

If you ask Jennifer Cheon Garcia

which role she’d like to take on in a superhero movie, she would tell you, “The Joker.” And we can see it. The actress has shown such range since her season 4 debut as Ivory on Van Helsing, the former leader of the Sisterhood-turnedhuman. Jennifer has been asked to be insidious and creepy for her role, but, on the other hand, show such humanity.

The Vancouver native has been featured on projects such as Supergirl, Arrow, and the Minority Report miniseries, but in Van Helsing she’s able to show a different side of her skillset. With the indelible imprint she’s already leaving on the series, the future is bright for the actress.

Jennifer Cheon Garcia/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Jeffrey Fountain

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA interview interview

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: It was one I’ll never forget.

SPOILER: Who is your favorite castmate?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Ooh, can I plead the fifth?

SPOILER: Will you miss working on the show?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Yes, I already do.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?  JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Wanting to be transported to other realities.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?  JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: I believe in the metaphor. I feel there are definitely energies out there that can suck the life out of you.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: There is one. but you’ll have to wait and see.

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your goto person for advice?

JENNIFER

CHEON GARCIA:

Everyone single person on Van Helsing has taught me something that I will take with me through life. But most recently Tricia [Helfer] gave me some good cat mom advice.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Aleks [Paunovic].

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: It’s in an episode called “Miles and Miles.” It has to do with cannibalism… Freaks me out even saying it.

SPOILER: Name three memorable scenes from the series.

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: The fight scene between Vanessa and Dimitri’s sister—so badass. Also, the reveal of Dracula. And a personal favorite was when Ivory addressed to her day-walker Sisterhood holding the heart.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Both.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: You would save so much money. No more “beauty” products, and food.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: I plead the fifth again! They all brought their own magic to the title.

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Well if I can’t grab a firearm, then I would have to go with a machete.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a Vampire?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Take the head.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first comic convention?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: It was a dream come true.

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Mmmm

I wouldn’t want to live forever. But it would be cool to have superpowers so I could become Batman.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Candy.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character your play?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Yes!

SPOILER: What can the Van Helsing fans expect from this final season?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: They can expect to see the OG Van Helsing back in action.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Vamp Ivory was ruthless. Passionate without thought. Human Ivory is discovering who she is, learning to take her pain and turn it into strength.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Yes.

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: A protector. A mother. A father.

SPOILER: Pick one character from the series and tell us everything you know about them.

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Scab.

He was a gentle soul as a human. He was teased, tormented and bullied. When he was turned he still searched for the love. But he was so angry from all that hurt and couldn’t control it. That’s why when he found Ivory they found a partnership.

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Yes, I learned so much! And I’m taking it with me everywhere I go.

SPOILER: Can you share anything from season 5 that is juicy?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: The blood.

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Jonathan Scarfe. Actor, director—sometimes at the same time. Insert “clap.”

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Staying healthy. And continuing to entertain you all.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Be you.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Yes.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Not being centred on the day.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: ”Thank you for all your support and love. I love you.”

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: I do. It’s so awesome to see how the fans of the show reached to the show.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: Both. But hey DC, I wanna be the next Joker. Wink, wink.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

JENNIFER CHEON GARCIA: I hope so! I hope they loved it so much they want more. That means we did what we set out to do: give you a good show!

Jennifer Cheon Garcia/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Jeffrey Fountain

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Vanessa Van Helsing’s biological

daughter, Jack, is played by Nicole Muñoz, who, despite not even being 27-yearsold, has been acting for over two decades, with roles on Defiance, Once Upon a Time, and Supernatural. Now with a prominent role on Van Helsing, the actress is continuing to let the world know who she is.

Nicole has always known how to lock into her roles, a standout in every project she’s in, and here is no different. She’s able to tap into the pain that Jack carries with her, as well as the immense levels of guilt that she’s accumulated.

Where we last left off at the end of season 4, Jack had been possessed by Dracula herself. Now that season 5 is underway fans can finally get some answers about her fate and what she was doing in that coffin.

The Vancouver native fills us in on how she got into acting, and also admits that her character’s weapon of choice wouldn’t be the most practical option if we were actually in a vampire apocalypse.

Nicole Muñoz/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Noah Asanias Photography

interview interview

NICOLE

SPOILER: How was your experience working on VanHelsing?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Working on the show was an incredible experience that offered growth, exciting challenges and a whole new family. I am now ready for the evernearing apocalypse.

SPOILER: Who is your favorite castmate?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Filming in Slovakia brought me very close with Jesse Stanley. We formed a tight friendship that I feel so lucky to have. Call me “Jessie’s girl.” I’ll forever be in her corner.

SPOILER: Will you miss working on Van Helsing once it’s gone?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Of course. We wrapped a while ago and I miss it already. Though Jack will forever live on in my heart, I am going to miss bringing her out to play.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I started acting when I was four-years-old. The first commercial I auditioned for I booked, and it went on from there. Mom says that instead of doing what was being asked of me in the room, I insisted on explaining the mechanics of my favorite doll at the time that had such a heavy head it did somersaults. Riveting stuff! Clearly my natural charm paired with my candy-apple head and ringlet curls launched me right into the career that would become a very important part of my life.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires? NICOLE MUÑOZ: I believe there are so many things out there that we don’t know about, why not vampires!

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Are we alone in this universe? The ever-continuing season of Earth has been quite the nail biter, I can’t wait to see where they go with it. Hopefully a few more seasons.

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your goto person for advice?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Van Helsing brought together the most wonderful group of people. Everyone would look out for one

another. I would say personally, [head of makeup] Jenn Kaminski. She has a way of always being there for anyone who needs it. I know Jenn has impacted many of us on set in the best way, supporting us and fiercely guiding us to our most authentic selves.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I don’t know who’s the joker but the punchline is always [Aleks] Paunovic.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Anytime I had to be in the coffin with the lid shut. It becomes very disorienting in there and the surroundings get so loud!

SPOILER: Name the most memorable scene from the series.

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Anytime we got to do an ode to Indiana Jones. I am a huge fan of the franchise, specifically Raiders of the Lost Arc and always enjoyed giving a nod to it. [Jonathan] Scarfe was usually behind it and I was more than happy to go along.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Ruthless. If I’m going to be a vampire, I might as well commit all the way.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a Vampire?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I could finally embrace my nocturnal nature. Insomnia would be celebrated.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Dracula. She’s the biggest threat to humanity and has survived centuries for a reason

SPOILER: What’s your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Not a crossbow...

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Vanessa Van Helsing once told me it’s important to take their heads.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I have! 2019 Comic Con and Toronto Fan Expo in 2013. I hope they become more frequent, I always have the best time.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first comic convention?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I’m going to talk about Comic Con because that was a whole other level. It felt like an adrenaline rush I didn’t want to ever end. Being in the same space with so many people who love what you love was an experience I will not soon

forget. The location, the people, the costumes—stimuli overload in the best way.

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I would highly consider it. Tricia [Helfer] makes it look fun. Though, being a Van Helsing and all, becoming a vampire would feel a little too close to treason.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Sugar Free Red Bull. Sugar free strictly for taste. I think battery acid can only get so healthy.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character your play?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Definitely. Jack’s inability to give up and the importance she places on family.

SPOILER: What can the Van Helsing fans expect from this final season?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: An epic battle and a chance to learn about how it all came to be. Many viewers who have been around since day one will be especially delighted.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Jack is a fighter, physically and mentally. She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders all while harbouring the guilt of her past in her heart. Jack will walk directly into the line of fire for those she loves. She understands sacrifice comes with the duty of being a Van Helsing and is willing to put everything on the line over and over again for the sake of humanity.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I wouldn’t say no. Even though with real power comes real responsibly, I’m willing to take my chances. Would be nice to have in the back pocket.

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing? NICOLE MUÑOZ: A show about inner strength and inner demons. A show about the real fight between the good and evil in our world guised under the cloak of a vampire show.

SPOILER: Pick one character from the series and tell us everything you know about them.

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Bathory/The Oracle. A cruel vampire; most powerful servant to Dracula who’s tragic past we learn about in season 5. Hobbies include: plotting, enchanting, and branding. The Oracle has many powers including shapeshifting, telekinesis, and

Nicole Muñoz/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Noah Asanias Photography

the ability to ruin a Van Helsing’s day. I personally think learning about Bathory’s backstory is one of the most exciting arcs of the series.

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I learned some Latin that can open the portal to the dark realm. Maybe one day I will need that to escape.

SPOILER: Can you share anything from season 5 that is juicy?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: All sorts of juicy, bloody body parts rolling around this season.

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: The crew. The amount of effort and stamina that goes on behind the scenes is unmatched.

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I am currently working on a project I can’t yet talk about, but I look forward to sharing it with you!

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Go for it. Go forth with tenacity, discipline, and strength! Reach for the sky and believe in yourself.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Life gives me stress and anxiety, and playing a character is a good way to relieve it.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: How familiar a postapocalyptic show is looking next to our current reality.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: ”Thankyou. I see you.”

Having support like that really means the world and I hope they know how important they are to myself, and to whoever else they interact with. I wish them all the best in life, success in their endeavours, love, and luck.

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Immensely. Having such vocal supporters of the show online, or of any show really, points out to the network that this is something to pay attention too. The general public really does have the power to impact huge corporations with their online voices and I’m not only talking about TV networks.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: Marvel. I say this because the only two shows loaded onto my laptop are Frasier and the 1992 animated X-Men series.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

NICOLE MUÑOZ: I am sure some are, but I would offer that even though the series is ending, it will always be there to watch again, and the more you watch the more you pick up. There are Easter eggs peppered all throughout the five seasons. The cast and crew are thankful to have had such supportive and dedicated fans of the show and we really poured our hearts into this final season to give the series the farewell it deserves and that the viewers deserve as well. Five seasons and a proper finale! This is something to celebrate!

Nicole Muñoz/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Noah Asanias Photography

Rowland Pidlubny/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Shimon Photo

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Loyalty and tenacity can be

great, commendable traits...if you’re not part of a vampire clan. Scab, the former minion of Julius and member of the Sisterhood, is one of the most fearless of the bunch. However, he’s also one of the most evil. Although, he wasn’t always like that. While little is known of his life before the Rising, we see enough to empathize with Scab during his human days. We get some help from Rowland Pidlubney who plays the vampire. The actor has really done an excellent job in the role and has been able to give the audience someone they love to hate, while also feeling bad for the hand he was dealt prior to his sinister fate. In real life, Rowland is such a fun dude with a real joy for life. He explains how he channels certain emotions for the dark role of Scab, making us appreciate the creativity required to execute it so effectively.

Rowland has been in the industry for over a decade now, but audiences are really starting to get to know what he can do on screen and how talented he really is. The actor has such a passion for his time on Van Helsing, and shares with us a few anecdotes from behind the scenes. And also, we’re not entirely sure he’s not actually a vampire.

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: I hope every actor has an opportunity to play on a show like SyFy’s Van Helsing in their career. It will change your life in the most exhilarating way. Going to bed at 2 a.m. when you’re too excited to sleep and need to be on set at 6 a.m. In the chair ramping up with the makeup artists, then the dark ritual of the costume going on and becoming a vampire. On set, the fight scene: “Let’s shoot it!” One take. “Got it!” Nod from the director. Close-up shot. The bite and quiver of your victim. Fist pump from the camera crew. On to the next scene. Mouth full of blood. Later that night with the echoes of their screams ringing through your ears, and knowing you can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.

SPOILER: Who is your favorite castmate?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Sisterhood forever! My sacred beloved is Ivory, played by Jen Cheon Garcia. Her drive as that badass character shows her inner-strength. She deserves to be at the top. Something clicks with her when “action” is called and I’m glad to be on her side when in happens! I’ve really enjoyed watching Christopher Heyerdahl, Teach Grant, and Michael Eklund perform on set, I have great admiration for their artistry as well.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: I remember the night. Wayne Dyer had an inspiring speaker on his show, Dan Caro, who was in a tragic fire as a child, burning 80% of his body and losing the use of his hands. He found an inner desire to play the drums, becoming an incredible jazz drummer. I cried at thought of what gifts are inside me that I’m

afraid to open. Why would I wait until something tragic happens to wake me up before I follow my dreams. So I believed in myself and am very grateful for people along the way believing in me as well.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: (Hesitant smile from across the room) Sometimes revealing, oneself, results in complicated social issues. Quenching a hunger is never enough, I felt the breeze from the wings of madness.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Are you sure that vampire is dead? Sometimes to be thorough, you really need to dispose of a vampire properly, don’t you agree? Unless you actually see the ashes and then burn those ashes

again—who knows what may rise from the darkness. I’ve always been interested in having the audience see how Julius made Scab.

SPOILER: Who on the show is your go-to person for advice?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY:

That’s the thing about our show, everyone of the cast and crew are valued and respected for their ideas. I’ve had many insightful conversations with our writers Jackie [May], Matt [Venables], and Jeremy [Smith], as well as directors Michael Nankin and David Winning. To know their vision is invaluable and I trust their experience.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Jennifer Kaminski, our makeup head, and Aleks [Paunovic], who plays Julius, are rather mischievous. It’s gotten to the point where they leave a life-sized stuffed bear in Aleks’ trailer—with someone in it, to scare him. Now remember Julius is a trained boxer with a solid right hook. Sometimes the blood is real on our show and sometimes lifesized stuffed bears go down, hard.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: I have three for you. Dmitri and his sister Anastasia sitting in a full blood bath—I mean, what a waste of blood! Second: barbecue vamps. “Oh great, they’re eating them now.” You know how hard it is to find ranch dressing in an apocalypse? And third: “Say hello to my little friend.” Scab lost a certain appendage. My therapist was getting a lot of business from me because of that scene. But I drained him of blood in the moonlight, so there’s that.

SPOILER: Name three memorable scenes from the series.

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Vanessa screaming out over her daughter as she turns into ashes after the sun reaches her. Kelly was giving life to a new baby around that time and that scene rang out with a lot of feeling.

Season 2—Julius as human in 1936 pleading with the nun while his mother lay in the other room. Third: Axel talking in the armored truck about his sister who went missing on his watch—the tears were real. Human connections on all of those scenes.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: If you only knew that I treated this series as a documentary. I can put it this way, the pleasure that one can give to another can sometimes be ruthless.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Please, join us, we have great benefits and give out free sunglasses. Whatever

ailment or impairment you had physically as a human, it tends to correct as you become vampire. I’ve learned that seeing in the dark really helps with finding keys at the end of the night. Stamina for certain activities really has been heightened. Best of all, we don’t need to heat our castles. It’s always cold and damp, just the way we like them.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: It has to be Callie, the little girl in pink boots roaming the vampire terrain remaining unharmed like a sheet of acid going through a crowd of hippies at Woodstock before the Grateful Dead plugs in and coming out untouched. That is power my friends!

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: My choice? Toilet paper. [inquisitive look] Oh! You mean a vampire apocalypse. Scab’s choice: his scream. You lay prey to the fear racing up to your throat, heart pumping, hands shaking and becoming weak, unable to run as you become stuck in a tunnel vision of terror. I’ve dismantled you without touching a blade.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: The fastest way is having him live with his mother-in-law. The best way though, is a blender. Big one. A bit of oil. A bit of garlic just for taste. Garlic actually doesn’t hurt us. Make sure it’s plugged in, you have one shot at it.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Been to a few and it’s always like being a kid stepping into a toy shop, batteries included. I know some of the artists, and their ability to draw characters in front of your eyes is always impressive. I did a show with Karl Urban and ended up at a convention meeting up and talking with him again while stormtroopers were listening in and Bill Sienkiewicz was eating a stuffed almond butter and strawberry jam french toast kabob. Where else would you possibly get that?

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first comic convention?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Visual overload. Walking in you soak up the arena of artistry. Do you go left or right? “I need to get to the back wall somehow,” thinking the best stuff is there and everything else in front is protecting it. “Quick, follow behind the Incredible Hulk! He’s making a path!” And then there it is, a super rare mint comic, glass-encased with a spotlight aimed at it, but they don’t turn it on so it doesn’t yellow the paper, saying, “You can look at me but you will never have me.”

Rowland Pidlubny/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan

Power/Syfy/Miranda Moon Photography

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: If you’re going to walk on ice, you might as well dance. It’s more scary making the choice to become human and all of the emotions that go with it. I don’t know how you do it.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: That’s the part I can enjoy after the day is done. I like to eat light on set to stay focused, not stuffed. Bananas, tuna, granola, and lots of water. The food though is fantastic every day. There is a good breakfast put out to start your day and you can order anything from the chef’s truck. Lunch and evenings are always different. Late nights have grilled cheese, and even for a vampire, that’s hard to pass up.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character you play?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Very much so. At the same time you allow another vibration to be there that you learn more about over time. You can create your character in part from experiences you’ve had in your life; what real feelings those gave you. Scab is a loyal, hard worker that has tripped over his ego and fears, balancing on the edge of insanity and invention at all times. I’ve had a lot of energy and frustration that I’ve let out on the dance floor at Goth clubs and always feel better for the release. It always feels good to channel energy out creatively in a character.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: In human form known as Scott, we learn that he’s been bullied, claustrophobic, and a damaged person in many ways. Crossing a union picket line

to work at a factory to survive, he received the name “Scab.” Becoming a vampire, all that was fearful to him melted as he became fear itself. Being in the brooding Julius squad, rising in the ranks, chewing on the carcasses of trophies. Then he joined with Dmitri after Julius turned human, and then eventually grew into a battle-hardened warrior with the Sisterhood. Many different faces to Scab and it’s great to play the arc of the character.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world? ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Power needs

to be earned. It’s only then can you appreciate what you have and how to use it with respect and honor.

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: It’s really a show about surviving in the human condition in extreme circumstances. One’s self and inner turmoil: choices, regrets, humiliation, guilt, how we move on, determination and wanting the light shine for our loved ones. Loyalty to others and the worlds we create with our actions. Sometimes we lay ourselves down for the ones we care for, sometimes they lay down for us.

SPOILER: Pick one character from the series and tell us everything you know about them.

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Doc is a complex character played by Rukiya Bernard whom I’ve enjoyed working with. She was in the medical field when the rising began and eventually became a vampire herself. Axel took care of her in the Seattle hospital, feeding her from a tube in his arm. Vanessa turned her back, reluctantly, to human. Doc struggled with the human side, making choices out of fear then learning to find strength in herself to correct relationships. She seeks to help human kind and learns to stand up in frantic situations. Finding love with Jolene and having a connection in a world that is being torn apart, she’s determined not to lose it.

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: When you spend time working with people who have become professionals in

their craft, watching, listening and learning—that helps you get better. People on both sides of the camera have given me a wider perspective. As well, mentoring others helps you understand it more deeply yourself—their questions make you expand. If you play in a band with good musicians, their timing and skill make you a better player.

I’m fortunate to be in an acting community where we are generous and encourage each other.

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: We have intensity in our cast, and Vincent Gale playing Flesh personifies that. Even at our table read Vin is half off the chair as his fist slams on the table. Kelly Overton is devoted to her role, she makes it look easy when she puts it all out there. I have to say   Kimani Ray Smith, one of our stunt coordinators, is amazing. As our show is physically demanding with stunt and fight scenes, he teaches us safely how to hit the marks and really brings a lot of creativity out of us. He’s directed in the show as well.

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: I’m fortunate to have my agent Amber Carroll work tirelessly on bringing exciting roles my way. It could be 2 a.m. on a Sunday: “I think you’d be really great in this.” “And here I thought I was the vampire. When do you sleep?” The encouragement I get from her is   awesome. After a read or a day on set, sharing the excitement with her genuinely makes her happy and proud for me.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: “Please go for it. Learn from everything in your life and use your imagination. Listening to your scene partner is most important. If you only concentrate on what you’re going to

Rowland Pidlubny/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy

say right after they do, then you miss the absorption of their words and the natural reaction. Acting is doing and reaction. Do short films at the local film school to get used to how a set works. Watch others act on set. Communicate with your director and camera crew. Subtle expressions and movement can go a long way on camera. And above all, enjoy the process, the experience, and the work you do to prepare. You’ll find it’s not a competition, it’s an art and you are a unique artist.”

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Initially reading a script, I get into what the writer is saying, visualizing the scene. Story is everything. That makes me excited. Then the character is revealed. If one had anxiety it would be because of not understanding why the words are written. Talk with the writer   or read it over and over. Each time you do there is another layer that you find. Like a sculptor with a block of Carrara marble: “What’s in there? I know it’s in there!” David will reveal itself more and more with each chisel hit made. A thing I do is wear the costume or clothing while preparing. You become it and it becomes you. Have confidence in yourself that you were selected for your ability and they have trust in you.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Often, things we worry about turn out very different than the scenarios we build up in our minds. The shadow it casts creates an environment of immobilization. Appreciate this moment and what you have control of—take a deep breath. Become active, put on some music, go in your neighbourhood and pick up garbage to create a balance. Helping others relaxes the tension we put on ourselves. You do these things, answers will come to you about how to handle your situation and the series of next steps.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: “Thank you for giving us all the love, support, and feedback. From artwork to creating dolls of Scab, to letters, videos, and reviews of our show. Taking the time to show us that we are appreciated means a lot. It’s quite something being on the receiving end of that.”

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: Our Helsingers rock! They are the fanbase support on the front lines getting us a new season each time. A lot of our actors and writers interact live on social media while the show airs. It’s an overwhelming wave of excitement, and all across the world people make their voices heard.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: If you would have asked me that years ago I would’ve said, “DC all the way—wicked with the villains.” I was obsessed with the Joker and always wanted to play the character, and then when Heath Ledger encompassed that role, it brought a new level out in me. I’d love to play my rendition of the Joker. I envision him gritty, classy, mysterious, and   mad. A cross between John Cleese, Mephistopheles, Aleister Crowley, and David Niven. Marvel movies are so hard-hitting now and the comic art has always been cool, they are winning me over with their superheroes.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

ROWLAND PIDLUBNY: I feel that we are fortunate to have an ending to the series as a full story. That is something I hope our fanbase is proud of because they helped and encouraged us to tell the story. Their voices were heard. Our hopes are to have season 5 leaving you feeling fulfilled and screaming!

Rowland Pidlubny/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/ Dan Power/Syfy/Jolienne Moore

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Season 4 of Van Helsing really starts to get interesting

when Michaela enters the picture. The creator of the mysterious vampire clan, the Sisterhood, Michaela was woken from her slumber only to stir things up a bit. The dangerous army leader becomes a real threat to Vanessa as she tries to summon the Dark One.

Michaela is played by Heather

Doerksen, who fits the role so perfectly. The actress is enjoying quite the resume lately, with spots on the Charmed reboot and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Many casual viewers don’t realize that Heather is also an accomplished voice actor who’s been lending her talents to countless projects for 15 years now.

Fans were bummed when the actress’ tenure on the Van Helsing turned out to be brief, and the showrunners must’ve been privy to the uproar because Heather makes a surprise return in the brand new season 5, but we won’t spoil any of that for you. You’ll have to see how it happens yourself.

Heather Doerksen/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Studio Aviva

interview interview

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I got to explore so many facets of Michaela. The writers and producers gave me the chance to take big risks as an actor.

SPOILER: Who is your favorite Van Helsing castmate?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Right away, Jesse Stanley said to me, “Would you like to meet for coffee and discuss our scenes?” That doesn’t happen often in film and we have become good friends off screen since that coffee date.

SPOILER: This is Season 5, the finale. Will you miss working on Van Helsing once it’s gone?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I’ll absolutely miss working on the show. But I thought I was dead after season 4, so it was a fabulous surprise to be invited back for some bonus episodes!

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: A motivational acting teacher got me into acting beyond just high school drama class. He said, “Picture what makes your heart sing, and ask yourself what’s stopping you from doing it, and ask yourself how you can start.”

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires? HEATHER DOERKSEN: If I believed in vampires, I would never sleep. I do, however, believe in magic.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Where is Vanessa? Are Axel and Julius dead? What the heck happened in that scene?

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your go-to person for advice?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: When Christopher Heyerdahl was still on the show, and I’d just started, he gave me advice on many things, but one stands out. Just before the scene when us vamps eat Avery for dinner, we got the fake blood in our mouth and Christopher said there was a technique to it. I thought he was joking, but nope.

He gave me a speed tutorial on how to use fake mouth blood right before Jacquie Gould yelled, “Action!”

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I am friends with Aleks [Paunovic] outside of the show, but we only really had one scene together. He never pranked me, but have you seen him and head makeup Jenn Kaminsko and their running practical jokes? You must.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Gosh, anything that has Sam in it creeps me out. Specifically, the ones where he’s singing. Quite possibly the entirety of the episode where he recalls his childhood.

SPOILER: Name the most memorable scene from the series.

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Susan being killed by Sam. Scarlett taking her life.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I often get to be ruthless on screen. So in the name of balance, I’d be a kind vampire.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Advantages of being a vampire? Hmm... can’t think of any.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Most powerful Van Helsing is Vanessa. OG from the beginning.

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Speed. Just run.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Lure them in with your sweet human scent then behead ‘em with something sharp you just happen to have on hand.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I’ve been to one Comic Con that was specific to Pacific Rim. It was a fun intimate Con in Washington, D.C. That’s the first and only one I ever went to, so far.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first comic convention?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: It was great to connect with fans in person. So often we only interact through social media, and it was nice to see people’s faces.

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: No I would not become a vampire. I am fine with ageing, and not drinking blood for breakfast.

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: After lunch,

Heather Doerksen/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Studio Aviva

I definitely get candies—sour chewy ones—and grab a coffee when there’s a couple hours left in the day. Just to push through.

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in the character you play?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I think there’s always a piece of me in characters I play. This resurrection of Michaela was pretty dark and I had a hard time connecting to that darkness, so instead I decided to really lean into her desires. What does she strive for more than anything? On the other side of desire can be a dark side if you look very closely.

SPOILER: What can the Van Helsing fans expect from this final season?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: The fans can expect an actual conclusion to this story! This fifth and final season was written with that in mind—to wrap up all the loose ends and bring it home.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Michaela is one of the brides of Dracula. I

love that Dracula is a woman and also played by the exquisite Tricia Helfer. My character is driven by a pull to extinguish mortals and bring about eternal night. She will stop at nothing to achieve that.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I would not want Vanessa’s powers. That’s just too much responsibility!

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Van Helsing is a lineage that upholds a legacy to end vampires and rid the world of that darkness.

SPOILER: Pick one character from the series and tell us everything you know about them.

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Julius in a nutshell: He used to be head of the vampires and now is human. On the journey with the heroes to rid the world of the Dark One and redeem himself.

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I learned that I never want to put on a nun habit again because there is nothing comfortable about that darn wimple!

SPOILER: Can you share anything from season 5 that is juicy?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Anything juicy? Nope. You’ve gotta watch to see what happens...

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: That’s a toughcall between Jesse [Stanley] and Nicole Muñoz and Jen [Cheon Garcia]. They were always going nonstop, giving all of their energy so that when the scene came up they were ready.

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: What’s up next? A recurring role in CW’s

Iddo Goldberg/Snowpiercer/TNT/David

Bukach/Warner Media

Doerksen

Charmed. Also a recurring guest star in Disney’s Gabby Duran and the Unsittables.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Getting into film acting takes patience and work. Take classes with respected teachers then get some headshots that represent you, and shop around for good agents. Send your materials off and follow up. Also, find a group of actors—or even just one person—and train together. Memorize scenes and work through them as a group. Watch movies and theatre together and chat about it. Keep your mind engaged. Create your own work! The cast of Always Sunny in Philadelphia wrote their own show, and just did it. Balls to the wall.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: I get less stage fright than I used to but it can still be there right before the director calls, “Action.” I find that adrenaline rush is helpful for staying in the moment though and enjoy the thrill!

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Sometimes I just feel anxiety for no reason at all, especially during this pandemic. Yoga and exercise and staying in touch with friends all help keep things calm when it starts to swirl around.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: ”Thanks for all the support. Choose kindness. Keep dancing. Don’t be afraid to use your voice to speak out.”

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Social media can be a great tool for promo, Van Helsing included.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

HEATHER DOERKSEN: Marvel, baby. Love how the dark side of humanity is explored.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

HEATHER DOERKSEN:

It’s always tough when something ends that you’re attached to, but I think fans will be happy Van Helsing is really going out with a bang.

Heather

Heather Doerksen/Van Helsing/Nomadic

BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

In the early running of Van Helsing, Mohamad is a shining light amidst

the darkness. The only optimistic one of the bunch, the human provides the audience with a sense of warmth and hopefulness despite the terrors growing around him. That is, until he meets his demise in season 3 being betrayed by his former friend.

Mohamad is played by Trezzo Mahoro, who imbues his role with such charisma and energy. Since Van Helsing the actor’s career is on the up and up, with roles in the To All the Boys film franchise, as well as the upcoming Day of the Dead series. Trezzo is also a talented kickboxer, traceur, and musician, with releases coming out soon.

Despite being absent from the show in the final two seasons, Trezzo and Mohamad’s spirit live on to remind us that even in the moments of deepest darkness and despair, we can always find a glimpse of hope.

INTERVIEW

Trezzo Mahoro/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/

interview interview

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

TREZZO MAHORO: This show was a huge blast and such a blessing to be on. I learned a ton from my Van Helsing fam! I’ve equally grown as a person and in my craft in multiple ways, all good of course. I love my fam!

SPOILER: Who is your favorite Van Helsing castmate?

TREZZO MAHORO: That’s an impossible question to answer—have have you seen this cast?! So many relationships formed with so many dope people! I plead the fifth.

SPOILER: What got you into acting?

TREZZO MAHORO: Lots of encouragement from friends and peers. Also having a very persistent agent helps—love you Tea!

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

TREZZO MAHORO: Wouldn’t that be dope if they existed?? Minus the trying to rip your head off and drink your blood constantly thing, I’d like to see a vampire dunk contest [laughs]. That was the long way of saying no….

SPOILER: Who on the show was your go-to person for advice?

TREZZO MAHORO: Everyone has such a dope and unique perspective

on life, so I definitely get gems from everyone. But I usually went to Chris [Heyerdahl], Jonathan Scarfe, and the big man, Aleks [Paunovic], mostly.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

TREZZO MAHORO: The Yeti, the big kahuna, the silver back, both King Kong and Godzilla himself: Aleks P! I think he’ll appreciate that little intro.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

TREZZO MAHORO: When Paul Johansson was basically in a whole tank of blood—to this day it still don’t sit right with me [laughs].

SPOILER: Name three memorable scenes from the series.

TREZZO MAHORO: For me personally, it was the first time I popped up on screen and had my whole family hollering, “WE MADE IT!” [laughs] That was the first time I really felt like I could really do it, really make it. Second one was when Dylan died—that scream Vanessa let out—jeez! Third one would be the first time we learned Sam was the killer.

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

TREZZO MAHORO: You’re nice to me and I’ll be nice to you.

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

TREZZO MAHORO: Enhanced speed, strength, and agility. Not only that, but your senses are dialed up to a ten, and you basically have limitless stamina and an added bonus of being even better in the dark.

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

TREZZO MAHORO: So far, the Dark One is up there!

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

TREZZO MAHORO: Exactly what I had on the show: a spear, machete, and a shotgun.

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a vampire?

TREZZO MAHORO: Off with its head! Wait, no, I’d blow it up.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

TREZZO MAHORO: Yes!

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first one?

TREZZO MAHORO: I was geeking out the entire time. I’ve always wanted to go as an attendee, but being a guest was a dream come true!

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

TREZZO MAHORO: Nah, melanin stay poppin’ under the sun [laughs].

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

TREZZO MAHORO: I have an unhealthy obsession with juice boxes!

SPOILER: Is there a piece of you in Mohamad?

TREZZO MAHORO: Yes, absolutely. I’ve always been a high energy

person growing up, and that energy had to go somewhere. So I put it in dance, parkour, and kick boxing. Those skills definitely helped with Mohamad.

SPOILER: Tell us a little bit about your character.

TREZZO MAHORO: Mo is a very kindhearted young man, and very smart too. Sometimes too smart for his own good. He’s a resourceful survivor with a strong will, which makes him stubborn and sometimes leads him into trouble.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

TREZZO MAHORO: I can be extremely clumsy at times, so super fast healing would definitely be something I want in my back pocket.

SPOILER: What is Van Helsing?

TREZZO MAHORO: A bloody emotional roller coaster of a show! We love to see it!

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

TREZZO MAHORO: Definitely! A new self defense mechanism: violently growling.

SPOILER: Who is the hardest working cast member in the series?

TREZZO MAHORO: I really wouldn’t be able to narrow it down. The reason this show has been as successful as it has is because of all the hard work everyone is putting in.

SPOILER: What’s in store for you in the future?

TREZZO MAHORO: I got another show coming soon called Day of the Dead, and few other projects in the works. But I’m also happy to announce I’ll be releasing music soon.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into acting?

TREZZO MAHORO: You never want to be that person who asks, “What if?” If this is what you want to do, then go ahead and do it.

SPOILER: Does preparing for your character ever give you stress or anxiety?

TREZZO MAHORO: Absolutely! But that stress and anxiety quickly turns into motivation because I love what I do.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

TREZZO MAHORO: Feeling not in control, which I’m sure a lot of people have felt, especially in these times. But learning to recenter myself and be present has definitely given me a new outlook.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

TREZZO MAHORO: Mama told me, “Power of manifestation, prayer, and the grind go hand in hand.” Which one are you missing?

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

TREZZO MAHORO: Yes! I’m so glad we were able to connect with so many people and even more grateful those people kept supporting us and still continue to do so.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

TREZZO MAHORO: DC! I’ve been obsessed with those comics since a was little.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

TREZZO MAHORO: Yeah! I know I am! It’s been a wild ride for the better part of five years. Even when Mo died and I wasn’t on set with my fellow cast or live tweeting with fans, they [the fans] always made sure I knew I was in their minds, which kinda felt like I never left. It’s bittersweet.

Trezzo Mahoro/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

and creative sandbox that is Van Helsing, then it’s showrunner Jonathan Lloyd Walker. His time producing on previous shows like Private Eyes and Continuum have helped pave the way to Van Helsing, a series that has really grown and matured along with him.

Born in England, where he started acting in theater and commercials as a child, Jonathan eventually moved

to Canada as a teenager and was involved in some high-profile projects throughout the ‘90s and ‘00s, such as The X-Files, The West Wing, and V on the acting side. As an actor, he has been in the game for nearly three decades now, but his journey as a writer and producer has started relatively recently.

With the fifth and final season currently unfolding as we speak, Jonathan looks back at all the series has accomplished since 2016 and will be sad to say goodbye, but rests assured believing that when it’s all said and done the entire story of the world within Van Helsing will have found its natural and total conclusion with no stone unturned.

If there’s one man responsible for the overall tone

Jonathan Lloyd Walker/Van Helsing/Nomadic

Pictures/

Dan Power/Syfy/Kevin Clark Studios

interview interview interview interview

SPOILER: How was your experience working on Van Helsing?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Evolutionary. I came in as a coexecutive producer to work under the first showrunner, Neil LaBute, who had not written specifically for TV or run a show before. So it was an opportunity to help him and at the same time develop my abilities to learn the top job at the same time. Luckily for me, Neil moved on after season 3 and very much laid the path for me to take over the show. The network was also very supportive of me having creative license to push the series in new directions. So Van Helsing has been a very big part of my evolution as a writer and showrunner.

SPOILER: Who is your favorite Van Helsing cast member?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Asking to pick between actors is like asking a parent who their favorite child is. As their boss I’d really like to emphasize they were all integral parts of our storytelling. BUT, I have said in other press that I do have a tremendous amount of respect for Jonathan Scarfe. He not only acted on the show but also directed many episodes. I always enjoyed our collaboration because Jonathan is a gifted artist with a real innate understanding of storytelling, both on the page and on camera. So he’s been terrific to work with.

SPOILER: Will you miss working on the show?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: I don’t think you can spend six years working with a core group of people, going through good times and bad, loving the work, and not miss it. We wrapped almost 6 months ago and I still think about the cast and crew daily. But from a storytelling perspective I truly feel we told as much of the story as we wanted to. From that point [of view], seeing the show end seems appropriate.

jonathan

SPOILER: You’re also an accomplished actor. What got you into acting?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: I did start out as an actor before writing and still do act from time to time—Snowpiercer most recently. I was about 7 and I got cast in the Christmas pageant at school. I remember doing a scene in front of all the students and something I did got a laugh. I will never forget the sudden rush I felt of having connected with a room full of people through performing and it was in that moment that I was hooked.

SPOILER: Do you believe in vampires?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Of a type. I believe some people can be energy vampires. They suck people dry for their own emotional needs, and victims leave feeling drained, defeated, and, quite frankly, depressed. I do think those types of vampires feed on others either consciously or subconsciously in order to feel strong. So that’s as close as I can come to believing in the literary type of blood-sucking vampire.

SPOILER: What are some cliffhangers that you think haven’t been answered yet?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: We left season 4 with a bunch of unanswered cliffhangers. What will happen to Axel and Julius? Both seemed to die from heart attacks on the steps of the sunshine unit. What happened to Doc? What will happen to the rest of human-kind now that the Dark One has taken on the identity of the President? Where is Vanessa? How will Jack escape the Dark Realm?

SPOILER: Who on Van Helsing is your go-to person for advice?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Depends on the situation. If it’s story advice I always counted on my writing room to help me solve

problems. But on set, if there were issues with someone on the cast or crew, I often went to our makeup department head, Jennifer [Kaminski], who always seemed to have an ear to the ground and a good sense of how to resolve problems.

SPOILER: Which one of the cast is a practical joker?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Aleks Paunovic was more often the victim of the joke rather than the joker. But he got a few good pranks in on people so he was always up for a joke.

SPOILER: Recall a scene in the series that still creeps you out.

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Season 1: A seemingly lovely, hippielike cult have been giving children away to families who lost their own kids in the Rising. But it turns out they’ve actually been trading them to a powerful vampire for protection and she’s been drinking their blood. Doc finds that out the hard way when she stumbles into a field full of baby skeletons. That was pretty haunting.

SPOILER: Name three memorable scenes from the series.

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Season 1: Mohamad attacking Sam because he’s angry and sad that there’s no choice but to kill his best

friend. Season 2: Dylan turning to ash in Vanessa’s arms and her grief scream. Season 5: The very last scene of the series! You’ll have to tune in to see it!

SPOILER: If you were a vampire would you be kind or ruthless?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Kind? Is there such a vampire? They stay alive by killing people and drinking their blood!

SPOILER: What are some advantages of being a vampire?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: In our show they are strong, they heal from damage, they can live hundreds of years, the elite ones have special powers. That’s a pretty good list of advantages!

SPOILER: Who is the most powerful Van Helsing character in your opinion?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Vanessa. She didn’t know who or what she really was when the series began. And over five seasons she’s turned in to this super powerful vampire hunter who is prepared to take on Dracula!

SPOILER: What is your weapon of choice during an apocalypse?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: I always liked Scarlett’s double swords. The only truly dead vampire is one who’s had its head removed!

SPOILER: What do you think would be the fastest way to kill a Vampire?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Depends on the type. In our show we had early ones who could be burned to death by the sun. But then Daywalker virus made them immune to the sun. So the tried and true method of killing any vampire is to

taking its head. But not Dracula. She’s more powerful than that.

SPOILER: Have you been to a comic convention?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Many. Toronto, Vancouver, and San Diego Comicon three times.

SPOILER: What did it feel like attending your first convention?

JONATHAN LLOYD

WALKER: Inspiring. To see so many fans of so many different types of genres, and to also see them be completely accepting of each other. It doesn’t matter if you are in a wheelchair or if you are four hundred pounds, if you are in a Superman costume then everyone calls you, “Superman.” And that’s probably the coolest thing about comic convention fans.

SPOILER: If you had a choice right now to become a vampire, would you do it?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: No. If I’ve learned anything from writing for vampires over five seasons it’s that the downside far outweighs the upside.

Jonathan Lloyd Walker/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/ Dan Power/Syfy/Kevin Clark Studios

SPOILER: What’s your favorite food when working on set?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: I’m a big breakfast guy so the fact that there’s always great breakfast on set no matter what time of day you start shooting— that’s my favorite.

SPOILER: What can the fans expect from this final season?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: A great conclusion! We’re all so happy to get to tell the story to an ending. Many shows get canceled having left the story on a big cliffhanger and the fans never get closure. You will get closure with season 5.

SPOILER: Would you want Vanessa Van Helsing’s powers in the real world?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Not really. They’ve come with a huge burden. She’s lost just about everybody she’s ever loved. She’s wrestled with her darkness and it’s really consumed her. I don’t know if I’d want that kind of burden on my shoulders.

SPOILER: Did you learn anything exciting while working on the series that you can use in a practical situation?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Some good hand-to-hand fighting. We had a great stunt coordinator so it was fun to learn about techniques to disarm people and things like that.

SPOILER: Can you share anything from season 5 that is juicy?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: No! I know you are SPO!LER Magazine but spoilers would spoil!

SPOILER: What’s in store for you after Van Helsing?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Lots of projects in various states of development. I’ll let you know once something specific lands.

SPOILER: What advice can you give someone trying to get into the industry?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Study your craft. Nobody just walks onto a set without training. Nobody gets discovered and made into a star. You have to do the work, hone it, all the time until your acting isn’t acting, it’s being.

SPOILER: What worries you the most?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: In life? As a parent I think you always worry about the health and safety of your kids. Nothing tops that.

SPOILER: If you can give one message to all your fans out in the world, what would it be?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: ”Thanks for sticking with us for five seasons of Van Helsing. We wouldn’t have made it this far if you hadn’t supported and championed the show. And for that, I will always be grateful.”

SPOILER: Do you feel social media has helped Van Helsing?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Of course. Before social media, before the internet, fans couldn’t easily find each other and communicate, share, and feel connected. Now you can find your people around just about any hobby or pursuit. And I think our little gang of Helsingers have pushed the series into view for people who otherwise might not have found us.

SPOILER: Marvel or DC?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER: Marvel.

SPOILER: Do you think fans are upset that the series is ending?

JONATHAN LLOYD WALKER:

Fans are always upset when something they love goes away, even if they get a satisfying ending. There are shows I loved and part of me still misses them years later.

Jonathan Lloyd Walker/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/ Dan Power/Syfy/Kevin Clark Studios

BY GALAXY INTRO BY ETHAN BREHM

Known by those around her as “The Costume Queen,”

Beverley Huynh has been linked to many of your favorite TV series for over a decade now. On Syfy’s Van Helsing, she was head of the costuming department for seasons 4 and 5, helping set the aesthetic for the show’s most memorable moments. A costume designer plays a huge role in the look of any show or movie, helping to create the ambiance of these franchises that we love—and one of the main reasons why we do. An endless world of imagination, a designer plays a big part in selling a scene and establishing the verisimilitude for the audience. Costumes also have a big impact on the actor’s performances, helping them get into their characters the more they’re able to feel like them.

In the convention world, costume designers are literally the main contributing factor for not only what a cosplayer will wear when trying to become their favorite characters, but also why they want to become these characters in the first place.

Beverley has worked on some iconic shows, such as Arrow, A Million Little Things, The 100, The Flash, Siren, 90210, and, of course Van Helsing, helping to build these worlds that fans desperately want to be a part of. She’s also lended her talents to films like The Interview, Netflix’s The Perfection, and the latest Blair Witch reboot.

A great person to talk to if you’re trying to get into wardrobe, the designer has seen it all. She shares with us her experience on Van Helsing and how she requested to come back for the fifth and final season, as well as how she got started in costuming, and how it’s her destiny to be involved in this industry.

INTERVIEW

Beverley Huynh/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Shimon Karmel/ Shimon Karmel

SPOILER: What got you into costuming?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: Honestly, I fell into it. I started out loving fashion design and wanted my own runway show. I have a sister who was into theater growing up and got me into it. As I pursued my career in design, I did a short film for a friend and I’ve been hooked ever since. It combined all my interests into one thing. Instead of fashion, it became storytelling.

SPOILER: Did you have a background early on?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: It was all very late into my adulthood that I learned the history of it. Although I had an interest in design, I was always discouraged from that career. I went down many different paths in terms of non-creative fields. And then I took a leap of faith and went into this. I went to an art school that had a focus on fashion design and that got me the skill set I needed. I mean, you learn things in home economics and elementary school—you learn how to make a bag or an apron— but when I finally went to fashion school I was taught the skills and the

language of sewing. I was given the tools to understand how to sew and how to make an idea come to 3-D. However, I have an amazing team now that backs me up and helps my vision and my designs come to life. I don’t have the patience to make things anymore [laughs]. I can’t process things from beginning to end anymore. I have an amazing team that I look to that helps me execute. And they’re extremely talented and I’m very fortunate to have people who support my ideas.

SPOILER: Did you also start out assisting for a while prior to heading departments?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: I assisted on Siren, Charmed, 90210. I was very fortunate to learn from colleagues and people who have been doing this a little bit longer than I have. And I’ve learned something from each and every one of them. At every stage in your life you always have an opportunity to learn from people who are better than you or more experienced, whether it’s what kind of person you want to be or what you don’t want to be. Whether I’m head of department or an assistant,

I’ve picked up on something. And that’s the best thing you can do when you’re in a creative field.

SPOILER: Is it easier to dress someone in a fantasy show or one based more in reality?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: I think that’s the biggest misconception. When you have a character who’s an everyday person, the decision to make someone look like they fit in or blend them into the background, to me, is harder than a fantastical person. At least with an out-of-this-world character, you have a direction, you have references. When people write for those types of characters, there’s always tons of research behind the name or who they’ve drawn their inspiration from. But when you have a normal person walking down the street, I find it sometimes more difficult because a decision as simple as a t-shirt versus a dress shirt can make or break a character. For me, the harder ones to dress are modern day characters. There are too many options out there, and if you don’t nail it you get a lot of notes back. And I don’t wanna get a lot of notes back [laughs].

Guys are probably the hardest ones because their style and fashion hasn’t changed in hundreds of years—you’re looking at a dress shirt, a blazer, a jacket, a denim or just regular pants—that’s the basics of a male character. So let’s say you have a room full of five male characters, you have to give each of them their own personality, their own individuality. How do you give them each their own style or their own voice?

SPOILER: I feel like the shoes sell it, am I wrong?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: I agree. If you’re the type of person whose basics is denim and a t-shirt everyday, then your shoes are your personality; your shoes are what give you your stylistic voice. A lot of my characters, if I don’t have a good baseline to work off of and I’m trying to build a character, if I find the right shoe— that’s it, that’s the inspiration right

there. There’s a reason in theater why they call it “character shoes,” because when you step into them, you become that character. Once you put on that pair of shoes, you walk in them every day. That’s your stride. It sets the tone for your day.

SPOILER: How do you determine the styles if there’s no specific time period or setting?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: Something like that is usually dictated by our showrunner who gives us a bit of a guideline of what he’s after, and generally which direction he wants the show to go in. And same thing goes for the writers as well. Something like Van Helsing, it’s fun to do that because you’re in a postapocalyptic world. You’re in a world where there’s found objects. So if you’re running through small, rural America, you’re gonna come across a line of clothing flying through the air that’s been around forever. Everyone collects vintage pieces or buys new—there’s a wonderful area to play in when you’re given that many options. You’re given more of a creative outlet because you can make up those stories in your head.

You don’t have to stick to a single year. The world is your oyster. You can fill in the gaps. With something like that, it’s way more fun.

SPOILER: Do you get stressed out a lot?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: [laughs] Yes, but who doesn’t? When you’re on a TV show, you have strict deadlines to deliver an episode. You have moments where you’re like, “How the hell am I gonna pull this off in eight days??” You want these crazy, fantastic characters or creatures, and the expectation is to pull it off. And that’s one of the fun things about it—you’re given opportunities to come up with creative solutions in such tight deadlines. They say that creativity comes out of restriction. If you have an open book all the time, then you don’t know where to go. I constantly have times where I look back at the work that I’ve done and I’m reminded of the tight deadlines and how we got there. On The Perfection, I had many moments like, “How did I pull that off?” And Van Helsing was the same story as well. I have these moments of pure gratitude. I’m fortunate every time

due to my amazing team around me. We always come together and make it happen and people are excited about it, and that’s all you can ask for.

SPOILER: Is it tricky when you have to create some nostalgic moments with wardrobe?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: Not necessarily. It’s the same process as everything else. I dive into my own nostalgia a lot of the time. I love diving into history and combining eras together. That’s kinda fun. The nostalgia comes from the storytelling. The costumes are just a part of it. Right now we’re revamping the ‘90s, and I would have happily left the ‘90s behind. But that’s a big nostalgia point for me right now because I feel like I’m reliving my childhood a little bit.

Beverley Huynh/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Shimon Karmel/ Shimon Karmel

SPOILER: How far in advance do you have to start before a show is released?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: When we began Van Helsing, we were about a month early in terms of prepping and discussion and what the expectations for the season were. Usually the first three episodes of a series are done anywhere between three to six months prior to airing. So for me, I usually get in there about a month to a month and a half prior to first day of shooting. Any one-hour show, it goes anywhere from eight to ten days of shooting. So if we’re lucky, we’ll get eight days to prep the following episode that’s currently being shot. The production designer and everyone else behind the creative look of the show gets way more time than the costume designer. And on a feature film, I get about three and a half to four weeks to get my team together and make it happen. It’s why you need a really good crew.

SPOILER: How long does it take between talks with executives and when you start?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: I’ve had everything from meetings with the

executives within 48 hours to being in the office the next day. And then I’ve had people reach out to me months in advance and have it go nowhere [laughs]. Or deadlines get pushed. Our biggest takeaway in this industry is that you don’t have to count on anything. I always say that I don’t believe anything until I sign the paperwork. It’s all up to the people in charge and whether or not they feel like your ideas match what they’re going for. You always have to realize that your vision isn’t always going to match theirs, and that’s not a bad thing. You just end up finding another production that really matches your style. And sometimes you just get lucky.

When you reach a point in your career where you kinda get to pick the projects you want to work on—I like to do different things because I like to challenge myself and try different ideas. It’s not that I’ll never say, “No,” but, “Is this the project for me? Will it help me progress and be better? Will it give me the right challenges?” Getting in the habit of saying “no” is really hard for me. I tend to overcommit sometimes. At the end of the day it’s how you want

to progress as a designer and an artist.

On Van Helsing, I knew that after season 4 I wanted to come back for season 5. I shared that with the producers and showrunner, and because of that I knew where the story was going earlier on than if they were to hire someone new. I got a lot of information and Easter eggs early on, and was able to prepare really early. A lot of times you can’t design until you see the face. You can have an idea, but when you see the actor or actress, they can be completely different from what you envision. So I try not to do too much in advance.

SPOILER: Do you have your own homebase where you create? Or do you go on set?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: In Canada it’s a little bit different than it is in Los Angeles. In Vancouver, a lot of productions are location-based. Every production I go to, I have a different office connected to a different studio. I get my own office and my team. And depending what the needs are, I have a whole entire area designated to the costume department and fitting rooms and all this other stuff where I get to dive into the creative process with the actors and showrunner, and everyone else who’s involved in what it looks like. Sometimes I go to set if I absolutely have to, but in an eightday turnaround, you’re shooting one episode when you’re prepping the next. I try to be on set on the first day when we’re going to see something new to set it up exactly how I want it and make notes to my team about how it’s supposed to be seen on camera. But I get the best of both worlds. I get to establish relationships on set, but also can be confined to the office.

SPOILER: Do you always make from scratch?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: It depends on what the needs are. For something like armor, if you’re lucky enough to find it and it’s not copyrighted, you can use it. It will save you a lot

Beverley Huynh

of time, especially if it’s going on a background performer. We don’t always have the time to make things from scratch. You wouldn’t want to put something vintage on someone because they’re carrying an extra 50 pounds on their bodies—especially for something like armor. So we do try to cheat it a little bit sometimes and, much like cosplayers do, we try to use lightweight materials and disguise them as heavyweight materials just to ease the amount of mobility. And sometimes if you have the time you can make things from scratch. Sources are limitless, especially in Los Angeles, when you have warehouses of just costumes you can use as reference. Etsy’s another one. You can reach out to creators who have made beautiful work and ask them to make something for you.

SPOILER: If you had a choice of any movie or show to work on right this second, what would it be?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: Star Wars. That would be my dream. It’s so out-of-this-world. You get to make a little bit of everything. It’s pure makebelieve. Star Wars is the ultimate land of imagination. People aren’t just wearing t-shirts or button-ups. You get to add on top of it and make it look a little bit different. It’s the best of both worlds.

I would also love to do a beauty sci-fi. Something from The Cell or Gattaca. I just want an amazing futuristic story with beautiful, clean, streamlined costumes. Something like that I could pull a lot of sources from vintage and historical-type designs to really execute it. I just want beautiful aliens [laughs].

SPOILER: Do you believe in the paranormal?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: Yes. I grew up in a household that believed in voodoo and the craziness of spirits. I didn’t find out until late into my 20s that my late grandfather was a tailor! It’s been

in my blood and in my ancestry this whole time. If that’s not cyclical, then I don’t know what is.

SPOILER: So do you believe in fate?

BEVERLEY HUYNH: I do. This has been a calling for a while. With fighting against your instincts for so long, eventually you have to go, “Why not? What’s the worst that could happen?” So if you try, sometimes it works out when you’re doing what you feel like you’re meant to be doing. And that’s exactly how I’ve felt since I was 7. And now that I’m doing it, it feels like everything’s falling into place. Despite all the failures and learning curves, I still feel like I’m in the right place of what I’m meant to be doing. If you’re going after what you believe in and what you want to do, and try for it, anything can happen. It just feels like I’ve been meaning to do this for a very long time.

SPOILER: That’s great to hear for anyone who wants to be in this world of TV and film.

BEVERLEY HUYNH: No matter what walk of life you come from or what your skill set is, 90% of the time you can find a role here in the industry that you could probably do. One of my biggest influences is Robin Williams, where every project that he ever did, it was written into his contract that there’s a certain amount of homeless people that the company has to hire. And that says a lot about a person’s ability to influence, but also make the world better. But that goes to show that it doesn’t matter where you come from or what history you have. We’re like the modern day circus. “Please come, this is it.” Any misfit or human who wants to be a part of something can be part of a film set. This is your weird. And I’ve definitely found my weird, for sure.

SPOILER: If someone wants to get into costume design, what advice can you give them?

Beverley Huynh/Van Helsing/Nomadic Pictures/Dan Power/Syfy/Shimon Karmel/ Shimon Karmel

BEVERLEY HUYNH: That’s tough because it can come from many places. First of all, have an interest in clothing. Know the basics. Know how to sew on a button and use a sewing needle and thread. And at least understand how to do a hem. Understand some of the language and what it means to be a storyteller in clothing. But start by just having an interest in clothing. Having retail experience is a huge part of it—understanding how to work with people and talk with people is a huge part of costuming. And just start by doing independents. Find a group of students from film school and offer up wanting to be their costume designer or their stylist. Even begin in fashion and do “print for time” where you can just style the model for a photograph to build a portfolio. Start experimenting with bodies and clothing and find your niche. You have to just have some initiative in yourself to say, “Hey, I wanna try this. I’m gonna do this.” And surround yourself with similar-minded people who are interested in the same thing and go from there. Just start by doing it—that’s the best advice I ever got.

NIGHTWING #98

what’s it about?

Nightwing meets Nite-Mite! (And Bitewing and Oracle and Daniele Di Nicuolo!) That’s right, that meddling Nite-Mite booped himself from the fifth dimension, and after reading Seven Secrets, he hitchhiked his way over with Di Nicuolo into our Nightwing series! Trust us, you’re not going to want to miss this one.

THE GOOD Nightwing has an imp. In case the cover didn’t make that abundantly clear. If you’re even somewhat familiar with the Silver Age goofball known as Bat-Mite you know that Fifth Dimensional Imps are troublemakers to say the least. Taylor gives Dick his own imp this issue in the form of Nite-Mite. Unlike his 5th Dimensional Bat-counterpart, Nite-Mite is a well-meaning fan.

Nite-Mite is a welcome inclusion to a series that consistently delivers with Tom Taylor at the helm. Nite-Mite is not only a fun character, worthy of the Batfamily, but a clever meta commentary on fandom as a whole. Guest artist Daniele Di Nicuolo does a spectacular job bringing the absurdity of the Fifth Dimension into Bludhaven. The panel layouts flow seamlessly from page to page and Taylor’s dialogue is witty and engaging throughout.

THE bad

The way that Nite-Mite interacts with both Nightwing and Batgirl was absolutely amazing. Like Nite-Mite,

I’ve always pictured Starfire and Dick together but this issue highlighted what a great team Nightwing and Batgirl make. I’ve enjoyed the covers by Bruno Redondo since he started on Nightwing #78 but when I saw this in the solicitations I was less than interested. It seems cartoonish to the point of absurdity. Little did I realize at the time how well the cover fits the theme of the book and how fun it would be. The lesson here for me is not to judge a book by its cover even though most of the covers are absolutely gorgeous!

VERDICT

Writer: Tom Taylor | Artist: Daniele Di Nicuolo | Colorist: Adriano Lucas

GOLD GOBLIN #1

what’s it about?

It’s not easy being… Gold? Norman Osborn’s sins may have been cleansed, but his memories weren’t and he’s done plenty of horrific things to remember. Norman’s worked hard to avoid all things “Goblin” and to stay on the straight and narrow. Consequences in Amazing Spider-Man pushed him to try super-heroing, and he liked it. But when the media dub him the Gold Goblin, he has to start wondering— can he ever get away from the Goblin inside?

THE GOOD

I’ve been extremely critical of Spider-Man books as of late, finding little joy or redeeming qualities in reading them. Their depictions of Spider-Man and his supporting cast are generally erratic at best. I’ve publicly sought out recent SpiderMan reading recommendations and came up wanting. Gold Goblin #1 is a remarkable improvement on the Spider-Verse family of characters. The writing and the visuals are excellent as is Norman’s new role as a haunted hero in the Marvel Universe. The dialogue is sharp, the visuals are stunning and the ghosts that haunt

Norman are both terrifying and deserving. I love the way Norman is written throughout the issue and, quite honestly, Peter Parker is in this book for roughly two pages and I enjoyed those pages better than most whole issues I’ve read lately.

THE BAD

I think we can all agree that this isn’t going to end well for Norman Osborn, most likely with a different hero inheriting the title of Gold Goblin. As much as I enjoyed this issue and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy this series in the hands of this creative team, the whole redemption angle is something we’ve seen quite

a bit of. I expect this series to end with Norman back as the Green Goblin but I’m enjoying it while I can. It’s hard to believe that this book is written and drawn better than most Spider-Man books currently on the shelf.

Writer: Christopher Cantwell | Artist: Lan Medina | Colorist: Antonio Fabela

BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED #1

Readers title that puts the blood in Bloodshot.

THE GOOD

what’s it about?

Dangerous super soldiers and bloodthirsty living weapons have mysteriously escaped into the world to wreak havoc across the dying towns and forgotten farms of America. Now, Bloodshot must take up arms again to travel across the country hunting down these violent monsters, battling his own demons, and defending the most defenseless. Deniz Camp (Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E.) and Jon Davis-Hunt (Shadowman) join forces to unleash Valiant Entertainment’s first Mature

I normally don’t enjoy stories that bounce back and forth non-linearly jumping from “now” to “then” and back again. Bloodshot #1 is a rare exception to my well documented dislike of non-linear storytelling. The original Bloodshot run will always hold a special place in my mind but if this issue is any indication of the quality of the series we’re getting then count me in! Setting Bloodshot on a path to hunt down other government created mercenaries is a clever take on the story. The art by Davis-Hunt was perfectly rendered and the dialogue was snappy and well written.

THE BAD

I’m somewhat familiar with Bloodshot and admittedly was a little confused by the changes that were made to the origin of the character but the issue eased the reader into it

surprisingly well. I’m assuming that this series is serving as a soft reboot of some kind which, as a long time fan, disappointed me a little but I can absolutely understand the choice to do so. Valiant dove head first into the Mature Content pool with Bloodshot #1. Every other page has massive amounts of blood reminiscent of a Troma film. My largest issue with this book is that it seems like an ultra violent version of Stitch rounding up other experiments or Pikachu and Ash traveling the globe collecting them all. It is definitely a run concept but may get formulaic and played out quickly. Regardless, I’m down for more Bloodshot.

Writer: Deniz Camp | Artist: Jon Davis-Hunt | Colorist: Jordie Bellaire

ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD #1

Bastards) launches his most ambitious creator-owned series to date with the first of three unique artistic partners - Eisner-winning artist Alexandre Tefenkgi (The Good Asian) - to take on a vision of the end of the world that’s brutal and nostalgic, whimsical and grounded... and ultimately, timeless

THE GOOD

what’s it about?

In this epic post-apocalyptic tale, Maceo and Mezzy have never met anyone like each other, and they’ll need all the help they can get to survive a planet ravaged by environmental catastrophe. This epic trilogy-each issue overflowing with 30 story pages-spans a lifetime as philosophical differences tear at the threads holding Maceo and Mezzy together. Will they, and the earth beneath their feet, ultimately be torn apart? New York Times bestselling, Eisner and Harvey Award-winning, and Marvel flagship writer Jason Aaron (Thor, The Avengers, Southern

Falling in love with a romance story set at the end of all things was not something I expected to do when I picked up this book but I did and I regret nothing! Our two protagonists could not be more different and both the narration and dialogue give the readers a clear understanding, while leaving a great deal of mystery, of who they are. Without giving too much away, the prologue of this issue gives us a glimpse into the future, revealing that Mace and Mezzy (at least Mace is confirmed alive) are alive but certainly not well. Not to sound too cliche but this is definitely one of those situations where it seems like the journey will be twice as fun as getting to the destination. Unlike a lot of other post-apocalyptic stories that focus on the setting and how the world got that way, this book focuses on what matters most, its characters.

The art throughout the issue was stunning by Tefenkgi, soft edges and simple designs on the characters while the setting is ragged and edgy. I have a whole lot of questions after reading this issue and can’t wait to get some answers.

THE BAD

A few years ago the comic industry was deluged with zombie books. Now it seems like every month or so a new post-apocalyptic set book hits the shelves. If you’re looking for something new, you may want to skip this title. The characters are interesting but lack the depth you might expect from a character driven book like this. Aaron did a lot in a single issue. He built a cold and distant world for our apocalyptic romance to take place. I personally enjoyed the story, the art and the coloring but I’m sure there will be issues with the last few pages of the prologue. The art and tone by Dragotta and Renzi differed greatly from the rest of the book. I can see the reasoning behind it, to set a darker, bleaker tone, but I can also see why some may not care for it. All in all, a fun teenage post-apocalyptic romance that was enjoyable from start to finish.

Writer: Jason Aaron | Artist: Alexander Tefenkgi and Nick Dragotta | Colorist: Lee Loughridge and Rico Renzi

BLADE: VAMPIRE NATION #1

what’s it about?

A deep dive into Dracula’s new kingdom as established in Avengers. Starring Blade, the sheriff of Vampire Nation! An assassination threatens to unravel the fledgling country and spread chaos throughout the world. But is getting rid of a nation full of bloodsuckers really all that bad of an idea? Blade himself isn’t too sure...

THE GOOD

Dracula has established a nation in the ruins of Chernobyl and the surrounding area for the vampires

of the world with Blade working for him. Blade and Dracula both want to see this new nation succeed. Blade working for/with Dracula is an interesting concept made more interesting by this issue by and large being a murder mystery. Blade doesn’t slash and punch anyone throughout the issue but still manages to be at his best. I’m out of the loop with the current Avengers run and haven’t read much with Blade as of late but if this is the character I’ve missed out on, I need to get back into it. I’m extremely interested in seeing the Blade/ Dracula dynamic play out and see what schemes lie in the dark heart of Dracula. Russell and Wachter made an amazing team. I wasn’t expecting much from this book but absolutely enjoyed it.

THE BAD

Whatever you think of this book you definitely have to give credit to Marvel for making Dracula, a potentially one dimensional character, into someone you’re intrigued by. I’m sure it was established within the pages of the Avengers book but I was a tad perplexed by Blade working for

Dracula and protecting a nation run by vampires that openly is turning humans and hunting them. I’m admittedly more familiar with Blade in most media outside of the comics so I unwittingly read Blade’s lines in Wesley Snipes voice. Nothing about this book was bad per se but as every grievance I can make can easily be dismissed by my lack of knowledge of the material that precipitated this series. Blade: Vampire Nation is a great book, worthy of the Day Walker.

Writer: Mark Russell | Artist: Dave Wachter | Colorist: Dee Cunniffe

FANTASTIC FOUR #1

what’s it about?

It’s the start of a new era for the Fantastic Four...and they’re already in a ton of trouble. Something has gone terribly wrong in New York, and the Thing and Alicia are traveling across America to escape it! But when they stop in a small town for the night and wake up the morning before they arrived, they find themselves caught in a time loop that’s been going on since before they were born...That’s been going on since before they were born...That’s been going on since before they were born...

THE GOOD Move over ‘Groundhogs Day.’ Take a seat ‘Edge of Tomorrow.’ There’s a new live, sleep, repeat story in town. Fantastic Four #1 gives us a fun, entertaining and character driven story focusing on the Thing and Alicia Masters. Coello’s art and page layouts are wonderfully rendered, especially the pages that deal with the Thing repeating day after day. What makes this issue a stand out one for me is that Ben and Alicia were able to save the day by using their hearts and minds not guns and fists. Alicia was written wonderfully as well. Their romance and devotion

was on full display throughout the entirety of the issue. North’s writing was spot on. The Thing may be a ton of rock but North’s dialogue made him so incredibly human.

THE BAD

In the forty years I’ve been reading comics I would never call myself a fan of the Fantastic Four. When Marvel published the Life Story series with the Fantastic Four it ignited my interest in Marvel’s First Family. It’s great to see the Fantastic Four comics return to what they do best, telling fun and fantastical stories. The only thing that makes this issue feel somewhat incomplete, for newer readers especially, is the absence of the remaining three

quarters of the Fantastic Four. Other than a panel where Ben reflects back on Sue, Johnny and Reed and an occasional reference, the other members of the Fantastic Four sit this issue out. However, the issue does end with a mindblowing final page that addresses their absence. I’m definitely hook for more Fantastic Four.

Writer: Ryan North | Artist: Iban Coello | Colorist: Jesus Aburtov

DR. STRANGE: FALL SUNRISE

what’s it about?

From the mind of Tradd Moore! Doctor Strange awakens alone in a distant world not his own. Lost of purpose and surrounded by danger, the wandering sorcerer must explore this land of blades and mystery to unravel arcane secrets and escape the deadly horrors that lie in wait!

From the fantastical mind of creator Tradd Moore comes a Strange story like you’ve never seen!

the good

Silver Surfer: Black was an imaginative and modern take on comic book art. Tradd Moore brings that creative styling to the Sorcerer Supreme. Moore’s work is fluid and creative. The abstract alien world that Strange emerges in is bright and

alluring. This is definitely a book that any aspiring artist would want to study before entering the field, from the imaginative story arc broken into three chapters to the clever panel layouts. This is a beautiful book that takes Dr. Strange on a warped voyage through an amazing world. The final pages give us a well laid out action sequence pitting Strange against several unknown armored assailants.

the BAD As I said, this is certainly not your typical comic book. The abstract art style, minimalist character designs

and limited dialogue might be hard for some to enjoy. This is one of those books that will age well with time. The plot of this issue was a little light and at times confusing but it really doesn’t matter. I feel like this is an art house film that I’m afraid to say I didn’t understand as the people around me praise its brilliance. Truthfully, I understood little of the plot, that may be more on me than it is on Moore, but I certainly enjoyed the visuals and the risks Tradd and Heather Moore and Marvel took with this series.

Writer: Tradd Moore | Artist: Tradd Moore | Colorist: Heather Moore

what’s it about?

Desperate to make enough money to go to Scotland and kill herself after not getting into her dream college, Brenda Zelinski has just agreed to take a babysitting job for Elsie Baker, a 134-year-old vampire in the body of a 9-year-old girl. Sick of being unable to go out and about without being hassled by adults, Elsie pays her “babysitter” to take her to the local mall so she can get some shopping done without being reported lost by security. What begins as a lighthearted night shopping for CDs and Chia Pets, turns into a night neither will ever forget. Will Elsie be able to convince Brenda she shouldn’t end her life? Will Brenda’s bully have the

SHE BITES #2

last laugh? What outfits will they buy in the obligatory friendship shopping montage?

THE GOOD

This is the only series in recent memory that has made me literally laugh out loud. I’ll make the occasional chuckle and break a smile every now and then but hardly do I guffaw as I did when reading She Bites #2. Herndandez R.’s  art is so kinetic and exciting. The art blends perfectly with Hale’s witty writing style. This is a book that as I read it can’t help but visualize as a live action movie or tv show. I hope to read in the trades that She Bites was optioned for a tv show in the near future. I enjoy a great deal of content coming out of Scout Comics but this is by far my favorite.

THE BAD

It’s hard to get behind a book that is published with such substantial gaps. Issue one came out roughly four months before issue two. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and recommended it to others, some of whom, like myself, pre-ordered the second issue. Both they and I were displeased by the publication gap.

Actually, that’s a bit of exaggeration on my part as I had completely forgotten about the series until issue two was included in my pull list and then I was reminded that I was displeased. I’ll have to do some digging into the cause of the delay but it’s delays like that kills the momentum and interest in a series like this which would be a complete shame.

Writer: Hedwig Hale  | Artist: Alberto Hernandez R.  | Colorist: Alberto Hernandez R.

what’s it about?

The Creep scares up two all-new standalone stories in this starstudded anthology based on the hit Shudder TV series. David & Maria Lapham terrify with the tale of a tree whose roots grew so deep they reached Hell...and the girl who sat beneath it. Steve Foxe shares the shocking story of legendary comic creator Sal Medina-and the dedicated fan who went too far.

THE GOOD

The comic book industry looks like the 1950s all over again! Horror comics are in demand and Creepshow is back on the shelves. Creepshow #2 delivers two tales of woe and suspense. One (Creator’s Rites) more suspenseful than the other but still creepy nonetheless. The stories themselves have vastly different art and tonal differences. If you’re a fan of the new Creepshow series on Shudder or the classic series you’re going to enjoy this issue.

THE BAD

Creepshow is a hot book right now and deservingly so. It’s a mix of old school horror combined with a

CREEPSHOW #2

modern theme. The second meta story dealing with an elederly creator deprived of his intellectual property was well written. It speaks to what so many creators are going through however, there’s a bit that mentions the creator actually was fully compensated for his work and he’s simply not aware of it, that doesn’t sit right considering so many creators are not compensated appropriately when their creations are used in media outside of comics. The first story “The Gorgahmorahh

Tree” is more in line with the classic Creepshow stories of old, full of mystery and terrible people you want to receive their comeuppance but lacked the message that most of these stories carry. All in all, a fun issue but nothing revolutionary.

Writer: David Lapham & Maria Lapham and Steve Foxe | Artist: David Lapham and Erica Henderson Colorist: Trish Mulvihill and Erica Henderson

DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT

closets so full of skeletons, they’re bursting. When they discover a terrible secret behind one fateful door, it opens their eyes to a world full of real monsters hidden in every small town.

THE GOOD

what’s it about?

From all-star creators Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, The Last Book You’ll Ever Read) and Sally Cantirino (I Walk With Monsters, Human Remains) comes the story of a motley crew going to battle against supernatural evil throughout the American South. Perfect for fans of “The Boys,” “B.P.R.D.” and “Proctor Valley Road.” The Heritage Mills sales team travels from town to town, knocking on doors. They’re the best at what they do... which also means they’re the worst. They’re broken, each and every one of them, haunted by

A rag-tag bunch of unlikely, unsuspecting heroes arise in this tale that blends the supernatural and sympathetic in a wonderful tale sure to entertain. Cullen writes a wonderful tale that is complimented by the edgy art style of Sally Cantirino. The concept of down on their luck, door to door salesman going town to town hunting paranormal threats is surprisingly fun and interesting. Cantirino art is solid and able to establish a scene with a character’s glance sans any dialogue. Later in the book the art, focusing on horror, is offset by Cullen’s dialogue, which is both absurd and humorous.

THE BAD

With so many characters introduced within a single issue it was inevitable that, despite attempting to find a voice for each, we would get characters that are by and large one dimensional. The preacher and

former high school biology teachers that act stereotypically throughout the book was a bit of a distraction from an otherwise solid first outing. The only flaw of the book lies in the lack of character development that focuses on Max (and to a lesser extend Fred) and dismisses the remainder of the ensemble.

Writer: Cullen Bunn  | Artist: Sally Cantirino   | Colorist: Dee Cunniffe

california