Eps 24 Leonard Wu: From Peking Opera to Hollywood and Beyond – A Journey Through Acting and Cultural Identity

Where Working Actors Talk

How do you enjoy the journey of being an actor? How do you stand up for yourself on set? How do you find your actor niche? Leonard Wu comes on the podcast to reunite with his former acting classmate Colleen Foy to talk about his journey and everything that he has experienced. From ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ and ‘American Born Chinese’, Leonard shares his journey from growing up in Washington D.C., studying Chinese Peking Opera, to pursuing a career in Hollywood. He discusses his initial struggles, why he has always had a day job, his breakthrough on 'Veronica Mars,' and pivotal roles in projects like 'Revenge of the Green Dragons' and 'Marco Polo.' He also takes us through the process of preparing for an action-heavy role, and learning to champion his interpretation of his characters on projects. Wu also gets real about the impact of his cultural identity on his career, the challenges Asian-American actors face, and the importance of being prepared in the ever-evolving entertainment industry.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR:

00:00 — Introducing Leonard Wu

00:23 — Early Life and Education

01:43 — College Years and Early Career

03:28 — Breaking into the Industry

04:41— First Big Break and Challenges

05:59 — Navigating the Acting World

07:05 — Theater and Day Jobs

07:45 — Major Roles and Opportunities

15:40 — Training and Preparation

21:33 — Navigating Creative Collaboration

22:16 — Reflecting on Career Challenges

23:12 — The Rise and Fall of Marco Polo

25:41 — Adapting to Industry Changes

29:09 — Embracing Theater and New Opportunities

35:12 — Experiences on Grey's Anatomy

39:25 — Future Aspirations and Reflections

40:03 — Inside the SKS Studio Questions

EPISODE LINKS:

· Leonard’s IMDb

· Follow Leonard on IG @iamleonardwu

Host: Colleen Foy

Producer: Kristyn Daniel

Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing

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