Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Amy Kim
We got to chat with actor Michael Bow who can be seen in the hit CW series Kung Fu. He talked to NYOTA about having his character return, breaking Asian stereotypes, and his advice for aspiring actors.
Your interest in acting was spurred by watching superhero movies like Batman and Superman. What was it about those movies and those characters that inspired you?
I was all about the dual identities! Beneath the mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, belies the inspiring and powerful Superman. By day you can be the debonair billionaire Bruce Wayne and, by night, transform into the terrifying Batman. I think we all have the world within us, and that is something I love exploring in acting!
What initially made you want to audition for the role of Simon Lau?
My road to Simon Lau is an inspiring one in that there were a lot of “no’s” before the “yes!” I had originally tested for the brother role and got really, really close but didn’t end up getting it. Then, months later, I auditioned for another role which I also didn’t get. Finally, casting asked me to audition for this K-pop warrior role which turned out to be the perfect role for me! Never give up, kids!
Tell our readers a bit about your character Simon. Originally when you thought he would be in one episode, what did you do to step into his shoes?
Simon has the cool superhero dual identity thing going on! To his fans, he’s your average K-pop star, but in secret, he was trained in the mystic arts of the magical meteor hammer! I knew it was written as just one episode, so I thought it would be awesome to approach it as if this were my backdoor pilot superhero movie! I wanted to give him the charismatic, charming K-pop vibe which hides his secret cunning warrior persona!
How did you react when you first heard the news that you would be reprising your role?
I FaceTimed Olivia Liang, who plays Nicky Shen, right away. She was in the stunts gym prepping for an episode, and we were both jumping up and down! We have been friends for years, so I remember when she FaceTimed me back when she first got cast in her role! It was so cool to return the favor!
When Simon comes back, he has to help Zhilan through hell, and it turns into a bit of an unlikely duo/adventure. Was it exciting to work closely with Yvonne Chapman?
It was very exciting to work with Yvonne because she was actually one of the cast members who I wasn’t already friends with for years! We made up for lost time and bonded very quickly! We were on the same page on giving the Zhilan Simon a buddy cop road-trip vibe through the spirit world! Yvonne’s really the best. Even since season 1, she always reached out to work on the scenes together, which I really appreciated! She shares my love of puns, Lord of the Rings, and superheroes. The fun never stopped, even when the cameras did!
Has working on Kung Fu taught you a lot about what you want to look for in roles going forward?
Working on Kung Fu has taught me to lean into being me! I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on the fun and charismatic aspects of Simon, and I think somewhere along the acting trail, I was told to turn that down, but I think it’s actually a superpower!
As someone passionate about pushing past Asian stereotypes. Do you think that Kung Fu is a show that does not allow itself to get boxed in and makes sure to show its characters’ unique personalities vs. falling back on stereotypes we often see in media?
From the get-go, Kung Fu broke stereotypes by not allowing the lead to be whitewashed this time! It is also the first Asian cast network drama which is crazy to think about this late in Hollywood! The simple fact that there are multiple Asian men who are similar age in the same episode of TV breaks stereotypes! Back in the not-too-distant past, there was only one Asian male role that we were all competing with each other for. Now, we are showing Hollywood that there are all different types of Asian guys and that there’s room for all of us!
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
The harder you work, the luckier you get.