Ken Leung, an accomplished actor known for his roles in hit films like Rush Hour and acclaimed shows such as Lost, explores his compelling character, Eric Tao, in HBO's Industry. He shares insightful reflections on navigating his Brooklyn upbringing as a son of Chinese immigrants and finding balance in his craft after personal loss. Leung also discusses Hollywood's evolving landscape regarding representation and his collaborative work with Myha’la. With a strong sense of peace in his current trajectory, he views each project as a spiritual journey.
Ken Leung discusses how his character's journey in 'Industry' reflects the personal toll of success and loss.
Leung emphasizes the importance of cultural identity and representation in media, advocating for complex characters of Asian descent.
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Reflections on Acting and Family
Ken Leung reflects on his character Eric Tao from the series 'Industry', discussing the journey from a tough boss to a figure grappling with personal losses. The character's progression illustrates the complexities of success and the toll it takes on personal life, particularly following significant life changes like loss and substance abuse. Leung draws parallels between his experiences as an actor and the impact of losing his brother, feeling that their shared history informs much of his work. This deep personal connection to his roles enhances the authenticity and emotional depth of his performances.
Cultural Identity and Representation
Leung emphasizes the importance of embracing cultural identity, especially in light of recent anti-Asian violence in the U.S. He recounts how his decision to reclaim the correct pronunciation of his name stems from a desire to assert his heritage against discrimination. This reflection indicates a broader conversation about representation in media, where Leung expresses the hope that future narratives include complex, relatable characters of Asian descent. Through his work, he aims to create spaces where such identities are honored and recognized, contributing to a richer cultural landscape in entertainment.
For the past couple decades, actor Ken Leung has played scene-stealing characters in films like Rush Hour, Keeping the Faith, and A.I. Or, prestige TV shows like Lost and The Sopranos.
Today, he joins us to discuss his spectacular turn in HBO’s Industry(7:30), how he created his character in baseball-bat-wielding manager Eric Tao (9:55), and his Brooklyn upbringing to a family of Chinese immigrants (17:35). Then, he shares how he found his footing as an actor (23:30), a memory of his late younger brother, Kevin (29:27), and why he views each film and TV set as a ‘spiritual space’ (30:56).
On the back-half, we walk through Leung’s work on The Sopranos (32:30), his present-day collaboration with actor Myha’la (37:45), the arc of this latest season of Industry (44:15), the state of representation in Hollywood (48:06), and why he feels at peace in this moment (53:00).
Clips courtesy of HBO. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.