IN CONVERSATION WITH SULLIVAN JONES

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actor Sullivan Jones will be starring in Hulu’s  series ‘Interior Chinatown’, premiering today (19th November). Sullivan is best known for his work in Jeremy O. Harris’s ‘Slave Play’, which received a record-breaking 13 Tony Award nominations. He also was seen in ‘The Gilded Age’ and will return in Season 3 as guest actor.  

‘Interior Chinatown’ follows the journey of an Asian-American character actor struggling in Hollywood. How does the series address stereotypes in the entertainment industry, and what was it like to be part of that conversation

The story does a brilliant job of luring you into thinking that you're watching a typical police procedural, cool cops solve a mysterious crime, and every other character in the story is there to advance the plot and support the heroes on their ass-kicking journey. But by the end of the first episode, instead of sticking with the cool cops, the show zooms in on one of the background characters we normally wouldn't pay much attention to, a young Chinese-American guy who works at his uncle's restaurants, and follows the proceedings from his point of view. Aside from being trippy and smart and funny, the season ultimately meditates on the question of why certain people get to be the heroes in our collective narratives and why others are relegated to the background. As an actor, I’m definitely tickled when I get to play a character that helps limn those questions about why we tell stories and who we tell stories about.

In the series, you play a role in a story based on Charles Yu’s award- winning book. Can you tell us a bit about your character and what drew you to this role?

My character, Miles Turner, is styled after a tropey detective on a police procedural. He's cool, confident, and always nabs the bad guy. What made me itchy to jump into the world was the fact that, as the show progresses, Miles no longer wants to be cool, confident, or heroic. He's having doubts about his role on the police force and is feeling hemmed in by his success, rather than liberated by it. That resonated with my own trepidation about being pigeon-holed in the acting industry, and getting asked to play slightly different versions of the same role, ad infinitum. In the show, Miles is seeking to break out of a mold and so, in a meta way, I'm also getting to break the mold in my own work.

The series was named one of TIME Magazine’s most anticipated shows this fall. How does it feel to be part of such a highly anticipated project, and what sets this series apart from other projects you’ve worked on?

As an actor working in Hollywood, you can often feel like a voice in the wilderness. There are so many actors, so many shows, and such limited attentional space, you wonder if your work is cutting through the noise. So being on a show that seems to have people excited is invigorating and feels like a big responsibility. If we have people's attention, we better deliver the goods. I actually feel like ‘Interior Chinatown’ belongs on the continuum of some of the other satirical shows I've worked on, namely ‘Atlanta’ and ‘Slave Play’. Both those shows use humor and the surreal to give us a fun-house view of the world that actually allows us to see ourselves more clearly. Even though it’s about a whole different set of characters and takes place on a bizarro police procedural, I think our show is playing with the same form that those two shows tap into.

Were there any memorable moments or challenges on set that helped shape your experience on ‘Interior Chinatown’?

The first day on set with Taika Waititi was like being in your friend's backyard making a wacky student film. Taika is so smart and playful, so whenever you're in front of the camera, you have to be ready for him to lob a new line at you or give you a direction that requires you to take an imaginative leap. I remember shooting on the first day and being so charged up because my scene partner and I did a scene that made Taika and the cinematographer laugh so hard that they had to cut. To be able to give Taika Waititi the giggles is no doubt one of the highlights of my career.

You started your theater studies at Brown before transferring to UCLA. What inspired your decision to pursue acting, and how did your education shape your craft?

I played basketball in college at Brown. And I remember one day working out in the gym by myself as the sun was going down and thinking "Is this all there is to life? Spending all of my time getting better at throwing a rubber ball through a metal hoop?" Once I heard myself say that, I was like "Uh oh! Might be time to get out of here." I'd taken some acting classes in high-school and college, and I always felt an affinity for it, but I was too afraid to pursue it professionally. 

Growing up, the idea of being a professional actor felt preposterous because I didn't know anyone who'd done it, I didn’t even know anyone who knew anyone who’d done it. But one acting class led to another, and one play led to the next, and eventually I felt like I had fallen in love with someone and I couldn't hide it anymore. The word passion can feel flat and overused, but I like that the root comes from the Latin word pati, which means suffering. When you're passionate about something, you care for it so much you're willing to suffer for it. I never liked suffering for basketball and just wanted to have fun, but once I recognized that I was willing to suffer to become an actor, I figured that regardless of the outcome, the process would be worth my time.

Reflecting on your career so far, from ‘Slave Play’ to ‘The Gilded Age’ and beyond, are there any defining moments that have particularly shaped your career?

Too many to count. So many people have lifted me up and lighted my path. One of the most memorable moments was in college. After doing a scene from ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, my acting teacher, Chris Herald, pulled me aside and said something like "This is a crazy industry and it isn't fair to most people, but I think it’ll be good to you, so keep going." Getting that vote of confidence early on from a mentor that I respected was a big push for me.

You’ve played a wide variety of roles, among them portraying Muhammad Ali in ‘Big George Foreman’. How do you prepare for roles that demand such different emotional and physical dynamics?

You try doing everything you can possibly think of, work with a coach, read every book you have time to read, have conversations with the director, change your diet, read the script a hundred times, allow yourself to dream about the character, go down any Youtube rabbit hole that gives you inspiration, anything that gets you closer to doing the character justice. Then, once you’re on set and it’s go time, you’ve typically got to let all of that preparation go and just listen to your body moment to moment.

How do you stay grounded and motivated in such a demanding industry? Are there any personal practices or philosophies that guide you?

I was listening to a podcast the other day where someone said that being happy basically boils down to two things, relationships and projects. Anytime I'm in a sour mood, I find that it's likely because I'm not feeling connected to people or not feeling like I'm working on worthwhile stuff. It's difficult to keep those two things in balance, but I’ve found it helpful to try to keep them as my north star whenever I’m feeling discontented.

Outside of acting, what are some of your hobbies or interests? How do you like to unwind when you’re not on set?

Anything that makes me slow down. Reading is great because you can't rush. Cooking is great because you can't take short cuts. Playing an instrument is great because you have to surrender to the tempo of a song. I feel like my attention gets pulled in so many directions on any given day, so I'm always eager to sink into a moment where there aren't any hacks and clock-time is put on pause.

Besides ‘Interior Chinatown’, what can you share with us about your upcoming projects?

I’m working on a fun show on CBS called ‘Elsbeth’. And I’m helping a friend produce a script that’s one of the best things I’ve ever read. We’re trying hard to get it made, so stay tuned.

TEAM CREDITS:
photographer VICTORIA STEVENS
styling KIRSTEN MCGOVERN
grooming JAMIE RICHMOND