Interview by Violeta Nicola
Photography by Ryan West
Styling by Parker Harwood
Sam Li was born in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China and raised in Southern California by an independent single mother, while periodically spending time abroad in various regions of China and Hong Kong. He attended the University of California, Berkeley and now lives in Los Angeles, California. You can currently catch him in the breakout hit “The Brothers Sun” streaming on Netflix.
When did you decide you wanted to pursue acting?
I think it started when I was around 17-18 years old. I loved storytelling, and was drawn to the visual arts. I actually started off wanting to be a director, so naturally I looked into acting as it is a key skill set with directing. That was sort of when I caught the acting bug, and the rest is history.
You have starred in multiple projects across the years. What are some projects that stuck with you and why?
Well for one, The Brothers Sun is a life-changing experience so I will start there. I learned so much about the acting process, being on set, just everything. An actor I look up to once said that you could learn everything you need to know about being an actor if you just do a season of television. I see that now and I will say it is certainly true.
Working on my first television show, “Better Call Saul” was also a huge moment in my career. How lucky that my first acting role was on a critically acclaimed show like that! I think being a part of that show really set the standard and tone for my quality of work, and what I need to be bringing to the table as an actor.
You also will be in the leading role in the incredible “Brothers Sun” starring Michelle Yeoh. Is there anything you can disclose about the project to our readers?
You just have to watch it! In so many ways, this show is uniquely itself, I promise you won’t find anything quite like this on tv. It’s a really genre-bending series, and it feels a little ahead of its time!
What was your reaction when you found out you got the role of Bruce Sun?
I couldn’t believe it! I just remember feeling so, so grateful. The audition process lasted almost 3 months, so part of me just felt relieved that it was sort of over and done with. But that lasted about a couple days because I suddenly had to start preparing for the actual show!
Are there any moments from the set working with everyone that you remember?
Oh boy, there are so many I can’t even count! I truly feel like everyday was a special day because in this line of work, you are consistently discovering new things and experiencing things you haven’t the previous day.
But I will say, our food was top-tier both on and off screen. We always had a plethora of delicious asian snacks and cuisines. It was really hard not to gain a little weight while filming haha.
You’re also a content creator. Are there any causes that are near and dear to your heart and hope to promote in the future?
I have made content for so many years now! I think the content and skits I have been making these days is so important to me. It really is an outlet for me to express my opinions and discourse on what I’m seeing or experiencing.
Speaking of content creation, I worked on an indie pilot in 2023 that will premiere at SXSW 2024! It’s about a famed-YouTuber Marvin Weaver who gets canceled. The pilot touches on the nuances of social media as well as modern politics and the social-political climate of modern day america. It’s an excellent show, and I felt really good about bringing my own personal content creator experience into the character I play(Marvin Weaver). The pilot/show is called, “Marvin Is Sorry”.
What genre or type of character would you like to interpret in the future?
I think more dramas, maybe a rom-com, or a horror flick! I really like exploring roles I haven’t tried before. Right now I’m in my romance era. So a rom-com would be so dope.
What first draws you to a project when you read a script?
If it’s something I really resonate with, that’s really all it takes for me to get on board. I think anytime I can see flashes of myself or my own experience, the project or role will be very exciting for me. I like to bring authenticity to the roles I take part in.
What would your dream role look like?
In many ways, Bruce Sun in The Brothers Sun is a dream role! I really felt like I got to experience a little bit of everything for this series. And as Bruce, there is so much room for growth in future seasons (fingers crossed). I hope to keep exploring this character and see where else it can take me.
Are there any specific artists or fellow creatives you would love to work with?
I would have said Michelle Yeoh, but how lucky that I got to work with her on The Brothers Sun! I think I had a dream once that I was on set with Joseph Gordan-Levitt. That would be so awesome, I really looked up to him growing up. Steven Yuen or John Cho is another. There are too many!
Looking ahead, what personal goals have you set for yourself? What do you think 2024 has in store for you?
I want to prioritize myself and mental and physical health as much as possible this year. I think I’m really hard on myself, and have a lot of toxic people-pleasing tendencies. I want to get into therapy this year, and just have a healthier conversation with myself about what I want in life, what makes me happy.
Professionally, I still have so much I want to accomplish. I would love to work on a couple more projects this year. I want to explore a character people haven’t seen me in. I like surprising people and doing the unexpected!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
