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

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 ________________ Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? Visit Our Website Here. Catch up on the podcast here. Follow SKS on IG @stankirschstudios