Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Born and raised in Germany, educated in the United States and now based out of South Korea, BAFTA Awards-nominated actor Teo Yoo (“Past Lives,” “Decision to Leave”) doesn’t take any of his success for granted. He had already spent many years turning down parts that cast Asian characters in a disparaging light. In his latest role in the espionage series “The Recruit,” he plays Jang Kyu, a South Korean intelligence agent, who teams up with Noah Centineo.
The Korean-Australian singer-songwriter Hannah Bahng is winning fans with her confessional indie-rock songs. My latest exclusive for Rolling Stone.
“Taking care of yourself is one of the boldest acts of love you can commit, to yourself and to the people around you. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary,” said “Sprinter” musician Cat Ridgeway.
“Even before I knew I was going to get to play the part, I was very excited when I saw the breakdown of the character,” said “XO, Kitty” star Gia Kim. “She was described as this queer, Korean, queen bee. I’ve never seen that combination in a character before. There are so many aspects to her that I thought, ‘She’s gonna just be a whole new archetype of a character. And I’m so thankful it was me who got cast to play her.’”
“Eight years in this industry, I think I lost myself,” said KINO, who first found fame as a member of the K-pop group PENTAGON. “And right now, I am trying to figure out who I really am.” Read my exclusive interview with the Korean artist, who just released “Skyfall.”
“I visited the Philippines for the first time when I was 12, for a cousin’s wedding,” “The Pitt actress Amielynn Abellera remembered. “I don’t think I was conscious of it at the time, but deep down, I think I was expecting to have a pivotal experience with a deeply shared connection to the people, culture and land. Upon arrival, however, I felt disconnected, isolated and even more of a minority than I ever had. I didn’t speak the language, the locals treated me differently and put me on a pedestal because I was an American.”
“I grew up in San Diego during the ’50s, and it was a racist environment then,” said Academy Award nominated actress Margaret Avery. “I was taught at an early age that a colored girl must work 10 times harder than the whites. People that looked like me could not purchase homes in certain neighborhoods. Articles in the local papers about colored people were limited to stories of crime.”
“I took a trip to New York with my brother when I was 12,” said musician Ginny Luke. “We went to look at art and saw ’42nd Street’ on Broadway. I was also lucky as a child to go to Boston a few times, because my brother went to New England Conservatory there. Every time we went, I got to see the Egyptian exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts and hear symphony concerts there. Now when I’m in Boston, I try to go to the MFA and hit Wally’s Café Jazz Club. And yeah, I always loved those trips as a kid. Coming from Dubuque, Iowa, it was pretty cool to be in a big city.”
“There are so many beautiful places to visit,” said “English Teacher” actress Stephanie Koenig, 37. “We traveled to Greece right after the pandemic and went to Athens, Zakynthos and Santorini. We were lucky, because Greece had just re-opened for tourists and there was nearly no one there, especially on the beach in Santorini. I absolutely loved the land and the people.
“I always like to find a bakery and try something new – a cookie, pastry, cake. Anything that sounds interesting to me,” said “How My Neighbor Stole Christmas” bestselling author Meghan Quinn. “When I was taking a tour through the Highlands, we found a little bakery in a small town and purchased this jelly biscuit. I still think about it ‘til this day. So good.”
“When I was eight years old, I went on a trip to New York City with my aunt,” Ruben Studdard said. “It stands out to me because I went to my first Broadway show. I think that trip showed me what was possible.”
“Coming from Hawaii where so many different cultures influence one another, I was exposed to many different styles of music and have since built a grand love for all types and genres,” said “Moana 2” actor Hualālai Chung, of his burgeoning singing career. “My hope is to release music that can appeal to the masses.”
After Wonho completed his 21-month mandatory military duty in South Korea this past September, the pop star had intended on taking some time off before making his “comeback” – K-pop parlance for releasing new music. But when the opportunity came up to be a part of the iHeart Jingle Ball lineup – which includes a Dec. 9 concert at the Allstate Arena outside of Chicago – he got to work, quickly.
Jin’s vocals on “Another Level” (from his debut EP “Happy”) blew away co-songwriter Ben Samama.
Big Ocean’s Hyunjin, Chanyeon, and Jiseok talk about their remarkable journey and what they want to do next. My latest exclusive for Rolling Stone.
Kim Suhyun’s bestselling book “I Decided to Live as Me” (Penguin Life) reminds readers about the importance of self-care and self-love. The Seoul-based writer said that reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations piqued reader interest. And she also credits BTS member, Jungkook, for spiking interest in her book after the pop star was spotted reading it.
“Between filming and traveling, I mostly just go home to water my plants and check on my avocado tree,” said Eloise Mumford, who will next be seen in the Prime Video series “Cross.” “[The show] takes place in Washington, D.C., and the city is a huge part of the fabric of the series,” she said. “We filmed pivotal exteriors there. But as often is the case, the majority of the show was filmed somewhere else to double as D.C.”
On her latest album “soft winds and roses,” two-time Juno winner Diana Panton offers her interpretation of classic songs like the Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere,” Elton John’s “Your Song” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” Showcasing her beautiful, evocative vocals, the artist said her Scottish father’s record collection introduced her to jazz.
“Charlie is the kindest, most level-headed, ever-patient husband you could ask for,” Devin Kawaoka said of the character he plays on the new Apple TV+ series “Shrinking.” “He feels deeply, sees the best in people and is always up for adventure – or some quality time over a glass of wine. He’s easy! If that’s not a good travel partner, then I don’t know what is.”
For Sung J. Woo (“Everything Asian,” “Love Love,” “Skin Deep”), favorite locations often make appearances in his books. His upcoming novel “Lines” – which deftly weaves a story of love, loss and forgotten possibilities – is set in suburban New Jersey, downtown Manhattan, Waimea (Hawaii), Portland and Breitenbush (Oregon).