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Exclusive: James Kyson Lee Interview
He plays one of the most beloved characters on NBC's hit show HEROES airing Monday nights at 9pm. The quick wit and passion that James Kyson Lee brings to Ando Masahashi has made his a fan favorite. James Kyson Lee was born in New York and attended college in Boston, Massachusetts. His passion for sports almost carried the actor towards a career in sports journalism, however the acting bug was stronger and won out.
Attending school in Boston gave the native New Yorker a new outlook on life and when a friend approached him about taking an improv class, his life changed forever. PopStar spoke with the multi-talented actor about his brave and unique journey to Hollywood, the handful of movies he has coming out this year, and his reoccurring role as Ando on the hit show HEROES.
James Kyson Lee Interview
PopStar: Can you please begin by telling us about your brave and unique quest to Hollywood.
Jason Kyson Lee: My last year in Boston, my friend came by the bar that I was working at and said, “Hey, you want to come and do some improv?” and I didn’t even know what that was. So I went and tried it and loved it. It was the most fun that I was having in such a long time and it was just really basic improv. And I had been in Boston for about five years and I felt like I needed to go to a different place to keep exploring life. And I’d never lived out in the west before so it was all very exciting. I guess it was a pretty crazy move. I mean, I kind of sold everything I had and, just packed one suitcase and headed out west. I didn’t know a single person in this city. It was like starting life over again, and kind of scary and overwhelming, but also very exciting.
PopStar: I have read that you are a trained singer and you have been involved in Music Theater. If you weren’t acting, singing or performing, what do you think you would be doing?
Jason Kyson Lee: Sports broadcasting.
PopStar: Oh really?
Jason Kyson Lee: I grew up playing a lot of sports and I always thought, right after college, I’d go work for, the NBA or ESPN or something like that. And, you know, somehow I ended up here. I don’t know if I would be a broadcaster but, you know, ending up doing something in those fields might still be in the cards for me.
PopStar: Growing up in New York and attending school is Boston must make a tough question. Are you a Red Sox fan or a Yankees fan?
Jason Kyson Lee: Oh, God, that’s the toughest question in the world. I mean, you know, I went to a high school called Bronx which was just a few train stops away from Yankee Stadium. And then when I was in college I lived so close to Fenway where, on the rooftop, would be able to see the scoreboard.
PopStar: Oh, wow that is so neat.
Jason Kyson Lee: So I mean, you’re talking about one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports and I would just be right in the middle of it sometimes. But you know what? I gotta say, honestly I got a lot of love for both, and I was so happy when the Sox won the first time in, like a gazillion years, so.
PopStar: Speaking of greatness how about we talk about Ando! Can you walk us through the audition process? You had done a few shows before that. Can you kind of just tell us what your mindset was like going into that audition?
Jason Kyson Lee: Well, I read the script and it was so different from any other television script I read. It really read more like a movie. People are flying and walking through walls and reading minds. I was like, “How are they gonna do this? It’s gonna be a really expensive show but it sounds really cool.” So I just went in and at the time they weren’t auditioning anybody for my role, for Ando. So I actually had to go in and read as Hiro.
PopStar: Do you feel that you take anything from your own personal life and use it while playing Ando?
Jason Kyson Lee: I try to. I mean, you know, obviously even though the character’s from Japan he obviously loves Western culture, Western women, and I think he just loves being on a road trip or an adventure, on a journey, in a different environment. So those are all things that I can relate to. I kind of try to bring in that excitement and energy and his fondness of just constantly wanting to explore new paths and new ideas and whatnot. Other than that, I think the writers, they write towards your strength. So if you have a comedic element in your character then I think they incorporate that as the storyline progresses.
PopStar: Did you have to learn Japanese in order to audition for the role?
Jason Kyson Lee: Yeah. I took a semester at Boston University, so obviously I gained some background. But during the whole audition process I had a personal coach and a translator and I would practice every day.
PopStar: So how's your Japanese right now?
Jason Kyson Lee: It’s better, but I would say still a work in progress. (Laughter) It's a very difficult and complex language and the process of learning it has given tremendous appreciation for it. I think the fact that I do speak Korean, though, pretty fluently has helped me to learn Japanese. I think your brain becomes more receptive to other languages when you do speak a foreign language.
PopStar: If you could write a storyline for Ando, what would you have him do that he isn’t currently doing now?
Jason Kyson Lee: Well, I think I would maybe have him matched up with some of the other characters, just because there aren’t many characters on the show that Ando interacts with. The majority of his time is spent with Hiro, so I think it would be cool to kind of see him with some of the other characters on the show. And I would have him do some more action stuff. Obviously having this new power and the ability to kind of blast this fireball slash electricity, I think now he’s got some more tools to battle with. I’m pretty athletic in real life and I know the physical aspect of action. So I’d love to see him do more of that. I don’t know. You know, maybe Ando could join the Secret Service!
PopStar: Do you ever find yourself watching the show at home while it’s airing on TV?
Jason Kyson Lee: Yeah. I always TiVo it and sometimes when I’m at home I try to catch it live when I can. But that’s pretty rare, usually because I’m at work. But yeah, I love watching it when my friends come over. A couple weeks ago my folks were visiting so it was my parents and me and my roommate and we’re all in the living watching it. And it was kind of fun. Sometimes on sets, if we’re working on a Friday, during lunch then we’ll project it on this huge wall so it feels like watching in a movie theater and I’m with all the cast and crew. So everyone’s having lunch and watching the show together. So that’s probably one of the most fun experiences.
PopStar: Can you give us any indication of what’s gonna happen during the last chapter of this season.
Jason Kyson Lee: Ando and Hiro received a mysterious fax from someone named Rebel to go save Matt Martin. So first of all, we don’t really know who Rebel is, and if he’s trying to help us or has set a trap on us. We don’t know why we have to save Matt Martin. So that’s kind of what’s in store, and you’ll be very surprised at what comes up in the next few episodes, the turn of events. Our ultimate goal is obviously to try to find out who’s behind building 26 and why they’re trying to get rid of all the people in the building.
PopStar: I saw that you have handful of movies coming out this year. Can you talk about any of them? Are any of them close to releasing?
Jason Kyson Lee: Yeah. I did a movie called Termination Shock. And it was actually produced by the Sci-Fi Channel and we filmed it in Bulgaria. So it was a very interesting locale and my first time in eastern Europe. It’s one of those sci-fi movies that there’s gonna be a lot of creatures and CGI and special effects added in. So I’m very interested in seeing how it’s gonna come out. And I believe it will premiere sometime in May or June.
PopStar: How about a message to all the fans?
Jason Kyson Lee: I want to thank all the fans for supporting our show and watching and hope you’ve been enjoying this Volume 4. We have really exciting episodes coming up, and they’re already planning some great ideas for Volume 5. I think our fans are really gonna enjoy it so keep watching and stay tuned. I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s in store for Ando.
Make sure to check out HEROES on Monday nights at 9pm on NBC. Also stay in touch with James Kyson Lee by checking out his MySpace and Twitter.
And the interview in Hawaii is here...He plays one of the most beloved characters on NBC's hit show HEROES airing Monday nights at 9pm. The quick wit and passion that James Kyson Lee brings to Ando Masahashi has made his a fan favorite. James Kyson Lee was born in New York and attended college in Boston, Massachusetts. His passion for sports almost carried the actor towards a career in sports journalism, however the acting bug was stronger and won out.
Attending school in Boston gave the native New Yorker a new outlook on life and when a friend approached him about taking an improv class, his life changed forever. PopStar spoke with the multi-talented actor about his brave and unique journey to Hollywood, the handful of movies he has coming out this year, and his reoccurring role as Ando on the hit show HEROES.
James Kyson Lee Interview
PopStar: Can you please begin by telling us about your brave and unique quest to Hollywood.
Jason Kyson Lee: My last year in Boston, my friend came by the bar that I was working at and said, “Hey, you want to come and do some improv?” and I didn’t even know what that was. So I went and tried it and loved it. It was the most fun that I was having in such a long time and it was just really basic improv. And I had been in Boston for about five years and I felt like I needed to go to a different place to keep exploring life. And I’d never lived out in the west before so it was all very exciting. I guess it was a pretty crazy move. I mean, I kind of sold everything I had and, just packed one suitcase and headed out west. I didn’t know a single person in this city. It was like starting life over again, and kind of scary and overwhelming, but also very exciting.
PopStar: I have read that you are a trained singer and you have been involved in Music Theater. If you weren’t acting, singing or performing, what do you think you would be doing?
Jason Kyson Lee: Sports broadcasting.
PopStar: Oh really?
Jason Kyson Lee: I grew up playing a lot of sports and I always thought, right after college, I’d go work for, the NBA or ESPN or something like that. And, you know, somehow I ended up here. I don’t know if I would be a broadcaster but, you know, ending up doing something in those fields might still be in the cards for me.
PopStar: Growing up in New York and attending school is Boston must make a tough question. Are you a Red Sox fan or a Yankees fan?
Jason Kyson Lee: Oh, God, that’s the toughest question in the world. I mean, you know, I went to a high school called Bronx which was just a few train stops away from Yankee Stadium. And then when I was in college I lived so close to Fenway where, on the rooftop, would be able to see the scoreboard.
PopStar: Oh, wow that is so neat.
Jason Kyson Lee: So I mean, you’re talking about one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sports and I would just be right in the middle of it sometimes. But you know what? I gotta say, honestly I got a lot of love for both, and I was so happy when the Sox won the first time in, like a gazillion years, so.
PopStar: Speaking of greatness how about we talk about Ando! Can you walk us through the audition process? You had done a few shows before that. Can you kind of just tell us what your mindset was like going into that audition?
Jason Kyson Lee: Well, I read the script and it was so different from any other television script I read. It really read more like a movie. People are flying and walking through walls and reading minds. I was like, “How are they gonna do this? It’s gonna be a really expensive show but it sounds really cool.” So I just went in and at the time they weren’t auditioning anybody for my role, for Ando. So I actually had to go in and read as Hiro.
PopStar: Do you feel that you take anything from your own personal life and use it while playing Ando?
Jason Kyson Lee: I try to. I mean, you know, obviously even though the character’s from Japan he obviously loves Western culture, Western women, and I think he just loves being on a road trip or an adventure, on a journey, in a different environment. So those are all things that I can relate to. I kind of try to bring in that excitement and energy and his fondness of just constantly wanting to explore new paths and new ideas and whatnot. Other than that, I think the writers, they write towards your strength. So if you have a comedic element in your character then I think they incorporate that as the storyline progresses.
PopStar: Did you have to learn Japanese in order to audition for the role?
Jason Kyson Lee: Yeah. I took a semester at Boston University, so obviously I gained some background. But during the whole audition process I had a personal coach and a translator and I would practice every day.
PopStar: So how's your Japanese right now?
Jason Kyson Lee: It’s better, but I would say still a work in progress. (Laughter) It's a very difficult and complex language and the process of learning it has given tremendous appreciation for it. I think the fact that I do speak Korean, though, pretty fluently has helped me to learn Japanese. I think your brain becomes more receptive to other languages when you do speak a foreign language.
PopStar: If you could write a storyline for Ando, what would you have him do that he isn’t currently doing now?
Jason Kyson Lee: Well, I think I would maybe have him matched up with some of the other characters, just because there aren’t many characters on the show that Ando interacts with. The majority of his time is spent with Hiro, so I think it would be cool to kind of see him with some of the other characters on the show. And I would have him do some more action stuff. Obviously having this new power and the ability to kind of blast this fireball slash electricity, I think now he’s got some more tools to battle with. I’m pretty athletic in real life and I know the physical aspect of action. So I’d love to see him do more of that. I don’t know. You know, maybe Ando could join the Secret Service!
PopStar: Do you ever find yourself watching the show at home while it’s airing on TV?
Jason Kyson Lee: Yeah. I always TiVo it and sometimes when I’m at home I try to catch it live when I can. But that’s pretty rare, usually because I’m at work. But yeah, I love watching it when my friends come over. A couple weeks ago my folks were visiting so it was my parents and me and my roommate and we’re all in the living watching it. And it was kind of fun. Sometimes on sets, if we’re working on a Friday, during lunch then we’ll project it on this huge wall so it feels like watching in a movie theater and I’m with all the cast and crew. So everyone’s having lunch and watching the show together. So that’s probably one of the most fun experiences.
PopStar: Can you give us any indication of what’s gonna happen during the last chapter of this season.
Jason Kyson Lee: Ando and Hiro received a mysterious fax from someone named Rebel to go save Matt Martin. So first of all, we don’t really know who Rebel is, and if he’s trying to help us or has set a trap on us. We don’t know why we have to save Matt Martin. So that’s kind of what’s in store, and you’ll be very surprised at what comes up in the next few episodes, the turn of events. Our ultimate goal is obviously to try to find out who’s behind building 26 and why they’re trying to get rid of all the people in the building.
PopStar: I saw that you have handful of movies coming out this year. Can you talk about any of them? Are any of them close to releasing?
Jason Kyson Lee: Yeah. I did a movie called Termination Shock. And it was actually produced by the Sci-Fi Channel and we filmed it in Bulgaria. So it was a very interesting locale and my first time in eastern Europe. It’s one of those sci-fi movies that there’s gonna be a lot of creatures and CGI and special effects added in. So I’m very interested in seeing how it’s gonna come out. And I believe it will premiere sometime in May or June.
PopStar: How about a message to all the fans?
Jason Kyson Lee: I want to thank all the fans for supporting our show and watching and hope you’ve been enjoying this Volume 4. We have really exciting episodes coming up, and they’re already planning some great ideas for Volume 5. I think our fans are really gonna enjoy it so keep watching and stay tuned. I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s in store for Ando.
Make sure to check out HEROES on Monday nights at 9pm on NBC. Also stay in touch with James Kyson Lee by checking out his MySpace and Twitter.
