“IT’S IMPORTANT TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS ENCOURAGE YOU TO DREAM BIG”
Da: in the novel, your character— Daniel—is described as someone who struggles to find balance between two identities and two futures. Do you see yourself—or parts of yourself—in Daniel?
Cm: i definitely see parts of myself in playing, Daniel, who is a first generation korean American. he struggles between cultivating his own ambitions of being a poet and fulfilling his parents’ dreams of him becoming a doctor.
Da: ultimately, what do you hope audiences take with them after they’ve watched the movie?
Cm: i hope audiences will come away with two things: to be proud of who you are. And the other is that love is a universal idea. Da: right about now, we would be seven or so episodes into season three of “riverdale.” What can fans of the show expect from the rest of season three? Cm: i can’t say too much, but there might be a new love interest for Reggie this season.
Da: now that we’ve introduced “riverdale” into our conversation, how much of reggie is his established persona inspired directly from the script and how much comes from you?
Cm: Most of what you already see on screen with Reggie is his persona that has already been established in the Archie comics. My goal is to pay homage to him while putting my own spin on the character. Da: it’s easy to see that “riverdale” takes a lot of stereotypical roles—jock, mean girl, popular guy, etc.—and gives them so much depth. On that note, what was it that surprised you most about reggie in the script? Something that audiences may overlook at first? Cm: Reggie definitely has a softer side to him and is actually a lot more sensitive than most people would think. Da: Last year, we got the chance to talk a bit about “riverdale” with Camila mendes and madelaine Petsch. When asked about what made the show great, they both emphasized the cast and crew behind it. What do you think is the key behind the show’s success? Cm: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, creator and showrunner of “Riverdale,” did an incredible job of reimagining these classic comic book characters by making them darker, sexier and more relatable to today’s audience. We also have an amazing cast and crew and i’m grateful to be a part of this show. Da: is there anything you can tell us about what’s in store for “riverdale” post season three? Cm: you’ll just have to tune in to find out! Da: How about you? Will we see you in any other movies or TV shows in 2019? Cm: i have several projects in the works and i’m really looking forward to announcing them soon. Da: So, right now, you’re starring in a much-anticipated movie adaptation of a beloved novel and you’ve been bumped up to regular cast member in a popular teen drama series. What are the next career milestones that you want to tackle? Cm: i want to constantly grow and be inspired by the characters i play.
Da: What would you say does it take for an actor to make it in today’s entertainment world?
Cm: it’s important to surround yourself with people who always encourage you to dream big. And a lot of hard work. Da: What’s the best piece of acting or career advice that you’ve ever heard from someone in the business? Cm: the best piece of advice i’ve ever received is to always stay true to yourself. Da: On the flip side, what’s the most crazy-but-it-actually-works piece of advice that you’ve ever received so far? Cm: Don’t give up. Da: Of course, as you take on more prominent roles, there’s an increase in public interest in you— and your personal life. How do you deal with being in the limelight? Cm: i try to stay focused and commit to living in the moment.