EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Reggie Lee
Grimm has been on for four seasons now and we are coming towards an end. Reggie Lee has been on since the beginning playing St. Wu. Being an original character is impressive in itself, but Reggie Lee has much to say about his character and what we have coming up next. We got the opportunity to talk with Lee about his role and all the inside secrets (at least the ones he can tell us) about what is coming up and where we may see him next.
KRISTIN: You have played Sgt. Wu on NBC’s Grimm since the beginning in 2011. What has it been like for you watching Grimm grow over the four seasons it has been on air?
RL: It’s always such a welcome surprise to see how the fans of our show have been so loyal and kept us on the air. I say “surprise” because, in this day and age of television being judged over the course of a few episodes, if not one episode, we have managed to grow a fan base that has been nothing short of fantastic. Aside from that, I give such kudos to our creators, Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt, for writing and developing very three dimensional characters that people can relate to and are interested in week after week. We are procedural, but one that fans have latched onto because of the characters rather than the “case of the week”. I think that speaks to the writers and to its longevity.
KRISTIN: I feel like this show gets crazier, more stressful, and more interesting every single episode. What do you think it is about Grimm that has people coming back every episode and season?
RL: Well, like I said before…because I tend to get tangential and talk a lot : ) …..I think it’s interesting characters. And we have eight very different (nine, including Trubel…who is wonderful), very diverse, three-dimensional characters. We are fortunate that people watch week after week because they’re so interested in their lives. In some way, they relate. Each character has their own “lane” and I feel like a very huge population can relate, in some way, to at least one of us at any given circumstance. We have had a blast with our characters and we are blown away at how “in tune” our audience is with them.
KRISTIN: Without giving away too much, what can we expect from the rest of this season of Grimm before the finale in May?
RL: There holds, in the rest of the season, a very emotional disparity. And I think it’s, to say the least, very touching. At the same time, the way we get to that emotional disparity involves a LOT of action. We are basically filming mini-movies for the last few episodes. The stakes are so high that it takes even my breath away as I read each script. The scope of these last few episodes is HUGE, monumental. And it changes the course of the series.
KRISTIN: How do you continuously develop your character and the way you portray him? Do you and the director work together to make Sgt. Wu who he is?
RL: I do a lot of homework on my character…a LOT. But I enjoy it. I think the creators, writers, and I play really well off each other in terms of making Wu very three dimensional. Seriously, in what other show has this type of character been given so much dimension and life. I’m grateful, and that pushes me and inspires me to go even further, deeper with him. It’s an absolute joy. And in season 4, I still feel I have so much more to discover about him.
KRISTIN: Can you tell us anything about the finale? Are we going to be dealing with a shocking cliffhanger or maybe a lighter ending to the season?
RL: Definitely not light fare. Like I said, it’s a series changer.
KRISTIN: Aside from working on Grimm, do you have any other projects we should be on the lookout for or is this your focus currently?
RL: I’m not a very good multi-tasker…at all. Haha. I like to keep my blinders on when working on a character.. So unless something is presented to me that I just cannot refuse, I don’t like to take the time away from working on Wu. I feel like it diminishes the experience I could have playing him. And the deeper we get into the length of the show, the more focus I think it takes. One could easily go on auto-pilot and rely on the four years of the character you’ve created…and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just different, I feel like the work I do enriches my experience. One day, the series will be done and I’ll want to have said that I put my “all” into that character….so not at the moment. Aside from a charity that I work with… Kusewera.org … An organization that promotes learning through creative play in orphanages in Malawi and the Philippines, it has been all about Wu.
KRISTIN: Do you maintain an online presence where fans can keep up with you? Instagram/Twitter/Facebook?
RL: Absolutely…and I love interacting with the fans. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @MrReggieLee and there is also a Reggie Lee fan page that I keep up with daily on Facebook.
Well everyone… make sure to follow Reggie Lee on Instagram and Twitter or on Facebook! Tune in on Fridays at 8 pm for all new episodes of season 4 of Grimm! We’ll be there. Will you?
Source: Nerdprobs.com
