18 Questions for 18 Years Old Wu Lei in 2018

Please think back to December 1999, what you were doing at that time? Wu Lei was born at that time.

​​Perhaps because of his strong presence and high professionalism, when Wu Lei held his 18th birthday party (at the end of December 2017), many people realized: Wu Lei has never been an adult? Yes, this boy who has been on the screen for several years was born on 26 December 1999. He just turned 18 recently and is an adult in the legal sense.

Everyone, please recall what you were doing in December 1999? The Y2K computer crisis, the big carnival at the end of the century… It seems like it’s still in front of us, and Wu Lei was born at that time.

He is a talented actor. He had a good sense of the camera when he was shooting commercials at the age of 3, and naturally embarked on the path of acting. Later, he volunteered to let the director take photos for him for auditions. He was born to be an actor. The young protagonist in The Young Warriors, Little Nezha, Naughty boy Ma Xiaotiao… Wu Lei has become the most popular child star in China.

When he plays a child role, he doesn’t just play the innocent card. In “My Mom is an Angel”, he played Jiang Xiaoqiang, the child with intellectual disability. He played two roles in “Mother’s Heart”, which showed his qualities as a professional actor and his endless possibilities in the future.

As a child star, Wu Lei has a huge output as he caught up with the booming period of Chinese film and television production. He has grown up slowly in the accumulation of film and television dramas, and has transformed rapidly in the past two years.

In the 2014 remake of “The Return of the Condor Heroes”, when Wu Lei played the young Yang Guo, his sunny and handsome image appeared on the screen, and his charm as a teenage idol began to radiate. After that, “The Whirlwind Girl” and “Nirvana in Fire” made him seamlessly transition from a popular child star to a popular idol.

​He is 1.82 meters tall, has a handsome appearance and a fresh temperament. Among the many fresh and handsome young men in the entertainment industry, Wu Lei is one of them who carries the sunshine and spring breeze around him.

In 2017, when the fantasy drama “Magic Stars” starring Wu Lei was broadcast and hit a total of 1.3 billion hits, no one could ignore Wu Lei’s existence as a leading actor. This year, Wu Lei frequently appeared in media headlines, fashion events, and popular variety shows; this year, he also took on several major film and television production.

All of this will bear fruit in 2018. This year, Wu Lei’s costume fantasy drama “Fights Break Sphere” will be broadcast on Hunan Satellite TV. In terms of movies, “Shadow” in which he participated and “Asura” in which he starred will be released soon. “Tomb of the Sea” will also meet the audience. Wu Lei’s 2017 was a great year, and Wu Lei’s 2018 will definitely be a big year.

At the beginning of 2018, the cover character of the first issue of In Shanghai Magazine in the new year is 18-year-old Wu Lei. Please ask 18-year-old Wu Lei to answer 18 questions.

The most suitable cover character for the new year, the best time, the best start——

Q&A Wu Lei: After 18, I am a big brother!

​1) Where are you filming and what drama are you doing during this email interview? Can you briefly introduce it?

Wu Lei: I’m currently filming “Tomb of the Sea” (a TV series adapted from the novel of the same name by Nanpai Sanshu), in which I play the role of Li Cu. The filming of this drama was quite difficult, and it has now entered the final stage of filming and will be wrapped soon. In short, I hope everyone will look forward to the broadcast~

2) When you were a kid, did you ever think about what you would be like when you were 18? How was it different from what you imagined when you actually got there? Which of the things you imagined about being 18 as a kid have come true, and which have not?

Wu Lei: Actually, it’s OK. When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up a lot, but when this day came, I didn’t feel much. When I was a kid, I imagined being 18, just to be taller and have more pocket money, and now it’s all come true, hahahahahaha.

3) You have been acting since you were a child. When did you really realize that acting is a profession and develop the feeling of being an “actor”? Which play or what person or thing touched you? What is different about your acting after that?

Wu Lei: I definitely didn’t understand it at the beginning. I was new to it and I was young. I didn’t know what acting was at all. But after experiencing it a few times, I roughly understood that it was a profession. I think this industry is a process of subtle influence and slow exploration. Every play and every role is a foreshadowing and a good foundation. If I say that my acting skills have improved, I should thank all the works for touching me.

​4) When you were a kid, did you have a deep affection for any actor (uncle, aunt, brother, sister) who took good care of you in the crew, and cried when you left? What was it like at that time? How did you get used to it later?

Wu Lei: When I was a kid, I would cry every time I finished filming, because filming meant being with these people every day, and we all got to know each other very well. Then, when we separated, I would definitely feel reluctant. It wasn’t just the senior actors who took care of me, but also the crew members, many, many people. In fact, I still haven’t gotten used to this kind of separation, it’s just that I’ve grown up.

​5) Many people become very rebellious during adolescence. Do you feel this way? Where does your rebellious side manifest?

Wu Lei: My rebellious feelings all went away during filming, hahahaha! Filming allows me to try out many different lives and personalities, and I have already been rebellious in my roles. My own rebelliousness is probably when I choose the script. I have my own ideas and want to film the drama that interests me.

​6) Looking back, which crew experience do you find most unforgettable? If you could travel back for a day, which crew would you like to return to and why?

Wu Lei: “The Legend and the Hero”, because it was my first time on a crew and I didn’t know anything. If you could travel back? I actually hope to go to the next crew. I don’t know what to do when I go back, so I’d better go to the next crew and continue filming.

7) Who was your best friend in childhood? What was your attachment to him?

Wu Lei: When I was young, I had a dog named “Sanlang”. Later, I didn’t have time to take care of him, so I fostered him at a friend’s house. I miss him a lot. He was a good friend who grew up with me. (Note: For Wu Lei, “it” is “he”.)

8) I recently saw a video of you doing charity work. Can you tell us about it? What are your most memorable memories of this charity work?

Wu Lei: Yes, I went to Sichuan some time ago to build a “Sunshine Children’s Park” for the children in the mountainous areas there, because they had few toys and extracurricular books. The day I first went there, I saw a few balls on the ground, all covered with mud and deflated, and the children were still writing with pencils that were so short that they could not hold them. They were really surprised and happy when they got the mechanical pencils, which really made me sad. So I hope they can make good use of the children’s park, be happy, and study hard.

​9) You sacrificed your playtime to film since you were young. Have you ever lost your temper on the set? How did you overcome it?

Wu Lei: It’s impossible to say that I’ve never had a temper tantrum, hahahaha. But children are just that, so after the temper tantrum, I’ll be fine and continue filming.

10) Did you receive any special gifts for your 18th birthday?

Wu Lei: Before my birthday, many friends sent me WeChat messages asking me what gifts I wanted. I didn’t need anything, so I told them that as long as they could come to my birthday party, that would be great. So the most special gift this time was the birthday party. I met many old friends, played with fans, and chatted with them. I said a lot of sincere things that I don’t usually tell my fans or my family. I was very happy, really.

11) What kind of different roles do you hope to play after you turn 18? How do you overcome the transformation problems faced by child stars?

Wu Lei: Try some more complex roles. I really want to challenge this kind of role. Transformation… I don’t want to transform (laughs). I always let things take their own course and continue to film and be an actor.

12) Do you cry easily? When was the last time you cried and why?

Wu Lei: I really don’t cry easily. I usually cry when I’m filming or have crying scenes. But recently, it was because of my birthday party. The fans’ videos and what my mother said to me were very touching. I wanted to hold back my tears, but I couldn’t. I’m very grateful to my fans and family for accompanying me along the way.

13) If you could become a superhero, what would you like to do for the world?

Wu Lei: Give everyone energy and keep them healthy, this is the most important thing.

14) If you could exchange identities with someone and be an unknown ordinary person for just one day, what identity would you want to exchange to? What would you do?

Wu Lei: I want to exchange identities with someone who is in college, so that I can have a day off and not have to do the papers.

(Note: The above view is purely Wu Lei’s “beautiful misunderstanding”. Who said that college students don’t have to do the papers! But let’s also imagine Wu Lei’s diligent picture of doing the papers while filming.)

15) I saw you singing and playing guitar at your birthday party. Was it a challenge for you? I also saw that the gift you gave to your fans was a ring. Does it have any special meaning?

Wu Lei: Of course, of course. I practiced for about two months. After all, it’s not my specialty and It’s quite difficult to learn. The special thing about this gift is not the ring, but the ripples on the ring. They are the sound waves of a message I said to my fans. I often filming and stay in seclusion, and I don’t have birthday parties or fan meetings very often, so you can listen to the sound when you miss me.

​16) What film and television works will be released in 2018?

Wu Lei: There is “Fights Break Sphere”, and “Tomb of the Sea” is currently being filmed. The movies “Shadow” and “Asura” will be released one after another. I hope you will support them.

​17) Your mother has done a lot for you. How do you hope to repay her one day?

Wu Lei: It’s not “how will I repay my mother one day?” I can do it now! (Laughs)

​18) What do you want to say to your fans after you become an adult?

Wu Lei: Now that I am an adult, I will be the big brother!

Wu Lei’s mom speech to Wu Lei on his 18th birthday.

My dear son, you will be 18 soon. 18 years have passed so quickly. Mom is so moved that I don’t know what to say. I still remember when I took you to shoot your first movie. You were only 5 years old. The winter in Hengdian was very cold. It was late at night when the bus arrived. We couldn’t find a hotel. We all started to wonder if we were scammed. We finally got into the crew. In the middle of winter, you wore a dudou to shoot the water scene. Your whole body was red from the cold. But you never complained and never told mom that you wanted to give up. Son, now that you have grown up and are standing in front of the screen and on the stage, you have the love of so many people. Mom is very happy and grateful.

In the eyes of others, you are different from ordinary children. You rarely act like a spoiled child with me. When you are unhappy, you will adjust yourself and always try your best to complete what you should do. But in the eyes of your mother, you are always a child who never grows up. Your requirements for yourself are far higher than those of me and your father. This is what makes us most relieved.

During the 13 years of filming, your mother has seen all your ups and downs. I still remember that time when you had a high fever, but you insisted on going to the hospital after work. When you were getting an injection, you turned your head away and cried silently, not wanting your mother to see. You made your mother proud, but also made your mother feel distressed.

You are 18 years old now, you have your own dreams to pursue, and there are so many people cheering for you. No matter what the future holds, Mom hopes that you will always remember the paths you have taken and the people who have helped you, and continue to grow with an upright and grateful heart, enrich your life with better works, and realize your dreams. Family is always here, by your side, and will always give you the warmest hug!

My dear son, jiayou!

Source: Weibo