James Kyson Lee Interview
Promi Cabana got to sit down with Heroes star James Kyson Lee (Ando) and chat about his role on the show, where season 5 is headed, and how he go the part of Ando! Check out a great interview below!
Hello James, how did you get your part on Heroes? Is there a funny story behind it?
It was the first network pilot that I auditioned for. At the time, they weren’t auditioning actors for Ando yet so I actually had to audition as Hiro. After 5 auditions, the role of Ando was assigned to me.
Do you already know what’s happening in the next season of Heroes?
We’re filming the 3rd episode of this new season - Volume 5: Redemption.
There will be some new interesting additions to the show, and Ando & Hiro will be venturing on a new business together.
If you could have any powers in real life, which one would you like to have?
Ability to learn musical instruments fast. I play a little piano and self-teaching guitar right now, which is a lot harder as an adult. I’ve always admired people who can play many instruments – would love to pick up the saxophone, trumpet, or harmonica.
You are born in Korea and playing a Japanese guy in Heroes, did you have to learn Japanese for your role as Ando?
Yes, I’ve been studying with a coach since the beginning of the show. It takes a lot of hours but I really enjoy learning it.
I saw you are really busy with filming this year with several movies, are you ready for the big screen now?
I feel so – it’s nice to be able to go back & forth from TV and Film. Partaking in different projects and being able to play various characters keeps me interested in the craft.
You’ve been born as Lee Jae Hyuk, but you always credited as James Kyson Lee. Why did you choose this name?
James is my given name, and Kyson is from the first letters of my parents surnames and the word “’son”. Jae-Hyuk is my Korean name.
Years ago you began training in jazz singing; do you still do this in your free time?
I haven’t in a while, but I still love the genre. I’d love to go back to it at some point,
and get good enough to put together a compilation. That’s a personal dream.
You spend a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter, did you get a lot of feedback from your fans?
I do. It’s really one of the few places that you can be somewhat accessible to your fans, and share insights, stories, and photos that they otherwise would not be able to hear or see. I wouldn’t be here without my fans and I have a lot of love for them.
Do you sometimes Google yourself? If you do, what was the funniest thing you found about yourself in the internet?
I try to stay away from that – you’re only setting yourself up.
You’ve traveled a lot the last couple of weeks, which place did you like the most and why?
City of Nice (south France) was really beautiful and inspiring. Hawaii was incredibly relaxing and fun - I tried Hang-Gliding for the first time! I flew for an entire hour.
Also really loved Vancouver – there was so much to do everyday, and people are very easy going there.
You’ve been to Monte Carlo a while ago, did you loose a lot of money? But if you won a lot of money, what would you buy?
I was playing for Charity (Ante up for Africa), and we raised almost $500,000 for Darfur.
So everyone was a winner. If I had money to blow however, I’d spend it on a new Tesla (electric car).
If you could be anybody else for one day, who would you like to be?
Probably a NBA player like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Dwayne Wade. I love basketball, so it’d be a thrill to find myself playing in an All-Star game, or the NBA Finals.
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