VANCOUVER’S DIANA BANG GETS HER BIG BREAK
Vancouver actress makes movie debut in The Interview
Perhaps minimized amid the controversy surrounding The Interview is the breakout performance of Vancouver’s Diana Bang.
In her movie debut, Diana Bang steals scenes as the North Korean propaganda minister. She co-stars opposite Seth Rogen’s TV producer, who, along with a narcissistic TV personality (James Franco) has been assigned by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The 33-year-old began her comedy career in the sketch comedy troupe Assaulted Fish while a student at the University of British Columbia. Since then, Bang’s managed roles in a few TV shows and telefilms. But the Korean-Canadian admits The Interview is a huge break.
Here are the ABCs of the former Burnaby North secondary school student, discussed before 9/11-type threats aimed at theatres set to play the comedy which delayed the original Christmas Day release.
A: Co-directors Rogen and Evan Goldberg are from Vancouver, too, but the hometown connection was never a factor.
“I did not know them at all,” Bang said of Rogen and Goldberg. “It was the regular process of auditions.”
She was thrilled when she finally landed the pivotal part. “This is definitely the biggest role I’ve had and very special.”
B: Despite her comedy background, Bang had to learn a new approach on the job.
“I started doing sketch comedy,” she said. “I don’t come from an improv background (favoured by Rogen and Goldberg), but they were very welcoming. They would lob something at me and keep it going, and support me.”
C. The Bang discovery in the making.
“She’s beautiful and sophisticated, but she can stand between Seth (Rogen) and James (Franco) and be as funny as them,” said Goldberg, who is an enthusiastic fan. “It was super exciting to see her on set, and the second I can, I will cast her in something else.”
Still based in Vancouver, Bang was more cautious about predicting what the future might bring.
“I feel like I’m kind of out of the loop with that (hype) stuff,” she said. “I still feel the same, and I’m still a sloppy mess at home.”
The Interview opens today in 27 Canadian theatres, including seven in British Columbia.