OK!: The new film “Asura” starring you will be released in the summer of 2018. What kind of physical training did you undergo for this film?
WL: I trained in some sports such as parkour and rock climbing.
OK!: Do you have many scenes with Carina Lau and Tony Leung in the film? How does it feel to work with these two great seniors?
WL: Working with these two seniors, I feel like I’m taking an exam every day. Every time I wake up, I think: I have another exam today! But after working with them for a while, I felt that I gained a lot.
OK!: Do you really want to film a contemporary drama*? What type of role do you most want to try?
WL: Actually, I just finished shooting a modern drama, “Tomb of the Sea” by Nanpai Sanshu. Although it is not a traditional contemporary drama, it was quite hard to shoot. This drama has plots on school and in desert adventures, which is quite exciting. I hope everyone will pay attention to it.
Note: Contemporary drama (时装戏) is a form of drama that reflects various social issues and real life stories. Contemporary drama is famous for depicting modern life and wearing fashionable clothes.
OK!: If you hadn’t been an actor, what would you have done?
WL: Some time ago, I did some charity work and built a small house for children in the mountains. When I saw the house being built from scratch, I thought, maybe being an architect would be nice too, hahaha, it would be very fulfilling.
OK!: What was your favorite gift on your 18th birthday?
WL: Before the birthday party, many people asked me what gifts I wanted. I always said that your presence at my birthday party was the best blessing, and the two hours I spent with everyone were unforgettable.
OK!: You said before that you would definitely go skydiving when you turned 18. Do you have this plan now? Where would you choose?
WL: Let’s talk about it after I finish the college entrance examination. Now I have to rush to attend classes every day. How can I have time to go skydiving? It’s too luxurious, haha.
OK!: People say you are really warm to your fans. How do you evaluate your fans?
WL: My fans are also very warm-hearted to me, and they are a very brave group of people. They have done a lot for me, and some of them are often waiting at the airport very late at night. I’m quite worried. I hope everyone pays attention to safety and goes home early. I remember you in my heart, haha.
OK!: What kind of world do you think adults should have?
WL: I think adulthood is not a “privilege”, it does not mean that you can do a lot of things that you could not do before. I think adulthood is more like a symbol of “responsibility”. When you grow up, you will have more abilities and you will have to take on more responsibilities. After all, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.
OK!: Have you ever been particularly willful because of something? The kind that is not very obedient.
WL: I’m not willful, but sometimes I will insist on my own ideas. If I think it is better and more appropriate to do so, I will try my best to convince the people around me.
OK!: Funny, sincere, sunny, handsome, naturally cute, warm-hearted, good and evil, obedient, rebellious, humble, grow up, ordinary, different… Which of these words do you think is more suitable for you now?
WL: Grow up. The most unavoidable topic at the age of 18 is growth.
Wu Lei just turned 18, but as one of the most promising new generation actors in the entertainment industry he already has dozens of film and television works in his hands. He is appreciated by big directors, favored by the big screen, and his acting skills are recognized. He is popular and well-known among the people. More importantly, after more than a decade in the entertainment industry, his innocence and youthfulness have not been worn away at all.
The day before the cover shoot, Wu Lei had just cut his hair short. In his words, “I dedicated my shortest hairstyle to Men’s Uno.” But the reason for the haircut was that he didn’t have to film for a while. From his tone, you can feel the joy of “letting go of myself”.
This boy, who has been in the industry since he was 3 years old, shot his first commercial and grew up in the crew, is finally going to spend half a year returning to his student status to prepare for this year’s college entrance examination. What is the most difficult time for most children is an extremely happy “vacation” for him.
But in the next few months, the movies “Asura” and “Shadow” and the TV series “Fights Breakk Sphere” and “Tomb of the Sea” will be released one after another. Each of them is a big production, and the concentrated explosion of his works makes it impossible for you to ignore his presence. The year 2018 is destined to be infinitely wonderful for this shining boy.
A concentrated burst of works
mu: 2018 should be considered the year of your works. Please first introduce to us several of your upcoming works.
Wu Lei: This year, there should be four works for everyone to watch: Shadow, Fights Break Sphere, Tomb of the Sea, and Asura. In Shadow, I play a young military commander who is always fighting. In Asura, I play a kid who herds sheep. Fights Break Sphere tells the story of a kid who grows from a “good-for-nothing” to someone who can achieve his goals. Tomb of the Sea tells the story of an ordinary high school student who is involved in a very fierce fight.
mu: Are there any of these characters that are similar to you?
Wu Lei: They all look like me. Of course, the characters I play look like me.
mu: How did you join the crew of Shadow?
Wu Lei: Someone contacted me and said there was such a role, and asked me if I wanted to try it. If I was willing, I could come for an interview. I first met the assistant director, and then I met director Zhang Yimou. He roughly told me the background of the whole story and how he hoped I would play it, and that was it.
mu: What is your impression of director Zhang Yimou?
Wu Lei: He is a director who has many ideas about movies and has very high requirements. What impressed me most was his “focus”. But he is actually a very friendly person. When communicating with actors, he is very willing to listen to your ideas.
mu: Will he criticize others?
Wu Lei: Yes, of course it’s not malicious criticism, he just says whatever he thinks and he really doesn’t miss any details.
mu: After the collaboration, what did the director say about you?
Wu Lei: Of course he encouraged me to act well and be a good person.
mu: In this movie, who do you have more scenes with?
Wu Lei: Mainly with Teacher Hu Jun, and then Brother Qianyuan. He hits me and I hit him back.
mu: Was it difficult for you to play the role of this little warrior?
Wu Lei: First of all, it was very difficult physically, because I had to wear heavy armor and fight in the rain. Secondly, Director Zhang Yimou was very demanding on the details of the performance. Filming with him was indeed very stressful, but of course I could also learn a lot.
mu: Do you need to do supplementary work like watching his movies or biographies because you are going to work with Zhang Yimou?
Wu Lei: I don’t need to do that. I have basically watched all of his works. Because I like watching movies and I’m an actor, so I will watch all the movies of the greatest Chinese directors.
mu: Which of his work do you like best?
Wu Lei: He had already produced many good works before I debuted. My favorites include “Hero” and “Curse of the Golden Flower”.
mu: The characters you have played in recent years all have very high martial arts skills. Do you have a basic foundation in martial arts, or do you learn on the spot for each role?
Wu Lei: I don’t have any foundation, it’s all accumulated experience. Because there will be some training before each play begins, I will learn from the martial arts masters, and now I can learn the moves faster.
mu: How do you think of your fighting skills?
Wu Lei: Actually, I’m still an amateur, just some fancy moves.
mu: Can three or five people get close to you?
Wu Lei: That’s definitely not possible. We need at least 50 people. (Smirk)
mu: bragging!
Wu Lei: I think one thing that’s particularly interesting is, for example, when I was filming “Tomb of the Sea”, I played a very ordinary person who was beaten badly by others. But I had just finished filming “Fights Break Sphere”. Based on my character in the previous play, dealing with these people is a very easy matter. If I blow a breath, they will all die. I feel secretly happy just thinking about it, haha!
mu: After filming so many action scenes, have you ever been injured?
Wu Lei: That happens a lot, but I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about it.
mu: “Tomb of the Sea” was filmed in the desert, the conditions must have been very difficult, right?
Wu Lei: It’s actually quite dry, with a huge temperature difference between day and night. It was really cold at night. The most depressing thing was the lack of internet. Another thing that left a deep impression on me was that one time we were filming in the desert and it suddenly snowed.
mu: Can we see the real scene of snow falling in the desert in the drama?
Wu Lei: I don’t see it (in the drama), it’s not captured in the filming camera. But I took a lot of photos and kept them.
Meet the Growing Self
mu: The filming of “Fights Break Sphere” took quite a long time, about 5 months?
Wu Lei: Yes, filming this drama was indeed very tiring, and I also put a lot of effort into it. Before filming, I had read the novel of Fights Break Sphere, and after reading it, I said that I must act in this drama one day. At that time, I was just a little kid, only thirteen or fourteen years old. I didn’t expect my dream to come true.
mu: Did you actively strive for this role or was it a coincidence?
Wu Lei: The production team found me and it was a perfect match.
mu: Since you are a fan of the book, you must have had some understanding and imagination of the role beforehand. After performing the role, how would you rate yourself?
Wu Lei: Since I’m a fan of the book, I roughly know what the fans want, and I put everything I wanted to act into the role. I think the Xiao Yan I played should not be too different from what everyone imagines.
mu: “Asura” has always been very mysterious. Can you tell us something about this play?
Wu Lei: For me, it’s actually just a play about myself.
mu: What do you mean?
Wu Lei: I just fought with myself throughout the whole play.
mu: Was most of the filming done in front of a green screen?
Wu Lei: Yes, a lot of CG.
mu: Each crew will form a different crew culture due to its member composition and shooting environment. After shooting so many dramas, is there any crew that left a particularly deep impression on you?
Wu Lei: They are all very profound. For example, “Sand Sea” was produced by a very new team composed of a group of young people; and “Fights Break Sphere” was produced by a very experienced and professional team, with a fixed cast. They knew what to do at every step and everyone was moving forward steadily; “Asura” was very international. Although it was all invested by China, in addition to the Chinese team, there was also a first-line American team working together; needless to say, “Shadow” was a golden combination under director Zhang Yimou.
mu: Which crew has better welfare? For example, food
Wu Lei: Every crew was very nice to me and would give me extra food because I was very popular with the cafeteria aunties. They would always give me the most meat, maybe because they thought I still needed to grow.
mu: Yes, you just turned 18 and are now in puberty. Do you think you have ever been rebellious during puberty?
Wu Lei: Yes, but my adolescence and rebellious period were mostly spent in every drama, and the characters I played were all quite rebellious.
mu: Do you think you mature earlier than your peers?
Wu Lei: In the past, reporters asked me if there was a generation gap between me and people of the same age, and I always said no. But today, I feel that there really is a little bit of a generation gap between me and my peers.
mu: So what kind of person are you among your friends?
Wu Lei: Among my peers, I am considered a leader, but when I have older brothers with me, I just follow them and play.
mu: Are most of your friends people of the same age or older?
Wu Lei: Most of them are older.
mu: What’s your style in your circle of friends?
Wu Lei: I may only post once every few months, so many people think I have blocked them, but I don’t, it’s just that I rarely post. I only post when I’m in a particularly good or bad mood.
mu: When you are in a bad mood, what do you do to cheer yourself up?
Wu Lei: Sports and fitness.
mu: Do you have any “passionate” hobbies in life?
Wu Lei: I spent all my pocket money on headphones. But I was very careful when buying each pair. First because I knew what I liked, and second because they were really expensive, so I would do my homework before buying each pair.
mu: How many headphones do you have?
Wu Lei: I gave away a lot of them. I have about seven or eight pairs now.
mu: Since you love listening to music so much, have you ever considered realizing your musical dream?
Wu Lei: No.
mu: Why?
Wu Lei: To have no courage is to lack courage.
mu: You haven’t taken any acting jobs recently. Is it because you are preparing for the arts exams?
Wu Lei: Yes.
mu: Do you have a target school?
Wu Lei: Yes, but I can’t tell you.
mu: It shouldn’t be difficult for you, right?
Wu Lei: It’s quite difficult, because I’m an actor, and what I’m best at is acting with a script, not reciting, singing, or dancing. So it’s really difficult.
mu: Finally, let’s make a wish for 2018.
Wu Lei: Can I make two wishes? To get into my ideal school, and to have my works released online.
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!
Hello, fans of Wu Lei! Welcome to the W11226 flight’s 2024. This year, Lei Lei released a single and held two launch events for “Where Are We” (note! More to come next year!). We’ve explored the depths of the ocean, volcanic remnants, and the courage that sunsets bring. Thank you for letting us witness countless touching, romantic moments together. Attention, travelers! Flight WL.1226 is about to take off. Please stow away your small tables and colorful memories, and prepare for departure!
Fans: High-end interview often started with 三石 cold joke, tell the cold joke that u get recently
Wu Lei: To be honest, I have a top-tier cold joke in my vault but I can’t seem to find the key to it right now
Fans: Were there any particularly happy or regretful moments over the past year?
Wu Lei: The happiest part of this year was spending most of it on set, which gave me a sense of security as I felt like I was accumulating experience. The regret is that I didn’t get to meet everyone as much as I’d have liked. I’ll work harder next year!
Fans: If you were to summarize the past year in 1 word, what would it be? If you were to express your expectations for 2025 with 3 words, what would they be?
Wu Lei: To sump up last year in 1 word, fullfilling; 2025, unknown, bold, go for it!
Fans: Leilei, this year you’ve been a frequent flyer & the “invisible master” on set. Do you think you’re a workaholic? What do you like to do during travel/flight interval?
Wu Lei: When I’m working, I’m a ‘workaholic.’ When I’m resting, I’m a ‘restaholic.’ Sleeping, see random things everyone sent me, sleeping, playing games, sleeping, eating, sleeping, watching dramas or movies I haven’t seen yet, sleeping, watch all kinds of interesting videos, sleeping
Fans: How do you recharge after a high-intensity work? Any tips for staying energized to share with everyone?
Wu Lei: Generally, after filming is over as everyone knows, I will go on vacation, travel, enjoy eating good food. And let’s not forget my important companion—game! When you are tired, try to do things that makes you happy and help you relax. Try to not worrying about things that haven’t happened yet. Say to yourself, ‘Don’t worry, it’ll definitely get better.’ Psychological hint actually very important
Fans: Did you gain any new experiences from filming movies and TV drama in 2024?
Wu Lei: The dramas and movies I worked on this year involved many things I hadn’t done before or had rarely in contact before. It felt like I was constantly growing, refreshing myself and accumulating new life experiences
Fans: The limited seasonal skins — curly long hair and wigs have been removed from the shelves. Did anything interesting happened during your long-hair phase?
Wu Lei: I found the joy of being a wild
Fans: Leilei has unlocked a lot of new things this year, such as green eggs. Are there any new fun things/delicious foods that you can share with everyone?
Wu Lei: In the past two years, I still love 铺盖面 (a type of handmade noodles) and sometimes I even want to open a 铺盖面 restaurant! ! Speaking of this, I want to order 铺盖面 for takeout
Fans: “Leimi is my emotional value switch”, what have you gained from xlm this year?
Wu Lei: I’ve gained a lot of companionship. Even though we didn’t meet often, I’ve felt their energy building up
Fans: Is there anything you want to ask xlm?
Wu Lei: How’s xlm progress of collecting cold jokes this year?
Fans: Do you have any new understanding of “self (freedom and me)” this year? Any new destinations you want to explore in the new year? (We really don’t mean Ride Now/we don’t mean to see motorcycle travel/we don’t mean to see handsome guy on motocycle, definitely not at all)
Wu Lei: I remember that I said last year that I began to reconcile with myself and began to accept lying down or wasting some time. When I talk about “self” again this year, I feel that I am still in the process of finding “myself”, still colliding with the world and trying to shape “me”. I’m also looking forward to what “I” will become at this time next year? Good question, I have to think about it again
Fans: This year, Leilei introduced us to many new roles and taught us many skills. What is your to do list or new skills you want to try to learn in the new year?
Wu Lei: I have a bold idea, I want to learn XXX and then I can XXX to XXX
*I failed to decrpyt it, xlm please call Leilei to decrpyt it
Fans: Use a few words to tease us about the new role we’ll meet soon
Q: If you were a director, what kind of film would you want to make?
Wu Lei: The ‘Ride Now’ kind of genre
Q: If one day you woke up and found out Xiao Bei is the master of the house, what would it look like?
Wu Lei: Xiao Bei, how dare you!
Q: If you could swap lives for a day with one of the roles you’ve played, who would it be and why?
Wu Lei: The next role. I’ve already briefly experienced the lives of the previous ones. I’m curious about how the next one lives and what kind of story they have. I’m looking forward to it
Wu Lei: Time is long and young people can have beautiful dreams
In the last month of 2017, Wu Lei celebrated his 18th birthday. Actor Wu Lei has been labeled as a child star all the way to where he is today. In the 13 years that have passed by so quickly, there have been no significant ups and downs or unexpected rises to fame*. Instead, he has completed his personal growth and transformation through the accumulation of one role after another.
*蹿红 means become famous quickly/overnight. In this case, Wu Lei’s career is build step by step, steadily rising by finishing one role after another, rather than become famous overnight.
We also met a different him along the way, a man who had shed his immaturity and now more mature. Now, standing at the door of 18 years old, he looks at the adult world with curiosity. He is nervous and expectant about the unknown world that was once far away but is now right before his eyes. He is eager to let things take their own course and complete the first and most important leap in his life. His fans call him the brightest boy in the world, probably because they see the stars twinkling in his eyes when he faces the future.
The first time I saw Wu Lei, he was wearing a white sweater, with his delicate face, which was as big as a palm, hidden in the high collar. Wu Lei, with his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, came towards us with a pure and clean boyish feeling. The smile on his face was like a ray of warm winter sunshine in the fading cold, coming somewhat unexpectedly.
The chat with Wu Lei took place in the dressing room. The entire table in front of him was covered with makeup and hair tools, and there was no place for me to put my phone to record. Wu Lei considerately picked up the phone and placed it on his lap, then playfully said “ahhhh” a few times into the microphone to test the sound waves. “This should make the recording clear!” He did all this naturally. I don’t know whether his personality is suitable for the entertainment industry or the life in the entertainment industry has trained him to have a good personality: Wu Lei is polite, knows his limits, cares about other people’s feelings and knows how to get along with others. The respect he gives to others is also the dignity he retains for himself. The 18-year-old boy has the most precious wealth at the beginning of his life – good upbringing and a kind attitude towards others.
Wu Lei started acting at the age of five, and his growth as an actor had a surprising start. With good talent and hard work, Wu Lei has accumulated a lot of powerful works so far, and has grasped every performance opportunity steadily, without being noisy or impetuous. Suddenly, the little Nezha who was wearing a red bellyband and looked childish and cute back then has skipped the immaturity and ignorance, and his eyes are filled with stubbornness and sharpness. He has both the sharpness of a young man with high spirits and the indifference of gradually realizing the truth of life in each character he plays, revealing a maturity and insight different from his peers.
“In fact, the happiest thing in my daily life is filming. I will be happy if I act well. I don’t have much desire for other things. I just let things take their own course. I’m very satisfied if I can play basketball and games.” As for Wu Lei, who frequently travels to film sets, he has been so busy recently that he doesn’t even have time to play basketball and games. Although he had no extravagant hopes, the young boy now had a sword in his hand and showed his full ambition: “I want to win the Best Actor award!” Every word he said was sincere and touched our hearts.
During the chat with Wu Lei, I found that he didn’t have any heavy burdens, and we didn’t talk about some profound and difficult questions like how to interpret and shape the characters. For Wu Lei, who grew up on the set, filming is a normal part of life and comes naturally. After all, his age, mentality, and experience are there, and he is just an eighteen-year-old child. We saw his spirit and talent, as well as his efforts and strength in his performance, but what was more important was probably the release of his instinctive nature when he stood in front of the camera. This is something that makes him happy and satisfied, it is fun and interesting, and he performed with dedication and seriousness.
This is indeed the case. Wu Lei has lived up to his youth. As an actor, he has benefited a lot from it. “I’m a person who can’t stop. I like new things and can’t stand a particularly boring and stereotyped life. Maybe it is because I am used to the work of an actor. Acting allows me to experience different things and experience the lives of different characters. It is quite colorful.” When I asked him about the role he was most satisfied with so far, he responded very frankly: “There is no most satisfied one. Every play has its shortcomings. Every time I look back at my performance, I feel that it would have been better if I had acted in a different way.” Like many actors, Wu Lei is also afraid to look back at the plays he has played, “but as an actor, you have to watch your own performance, because only in this way can you find your shortcomings and do better next time.”
From this point of view, Wu Lei is indeed a very sincere actor. Although he is young, he is not ambiguous about acting. He said that he cherishes the opportunity to work with different directors and actors, and believes that every performance is an unforgettable and valuable experience. He said that he has learned from many excellent seniors how to be a truly professional actor, and he has also seen their love for their careers and their awe of their profession.
“Acting is my job, my profession, and something I like and enjoy. It’s something I want to keep challenging myself.” For Wu Lei, every role is challenging and worth taking seriously. “As an actor, you have to rely on your performance to speak for yourself in the end!” He doesn’t set any limits on the choice of roles: “I want to try a lot of roles. There are no specific rules or regulations, I just hope to encounter more good scripts and suitable roles!”
Although he has been in the spotlight frequently, Wu Lei’s fame at a young age does not seem to have turned into any arrogance or willfulness. Perhaps because he was influenced by his surroundings since childhood and was used to the ups and downs of the impetuous circle of “life is like a drama, drama is like life”, he is very smart and not well-versed at being overly competitive. From the beginning, he knew clearly what he wanted. He insisted on being an actor and accepted all the conditions of being an actor calmly: “Although I feel a lot of pressure sometimes, since I have chosen this profession, I should bear it.”
It is a bit heartbreaking to hear these words coming from the eighteen-year-old Wu Lei. We are used to the glamour brought by his status as a child star, but we often overlook the efforts and dedication that he made since childhood, which are different from those of his peers. “I have hardly ever tried to travel. Every time I go out, it’s basically for work.” It is said that young people do not know the taste of sorrow. In fact, he is particularly eager to travel freely without work and schoolwork. “If I’m given a ten-day vacation, I want to stay at home for two or three days, and then travel abroad. Whether it is cultural landscapes or natural scenery, there is no specific destination. I just think that after all, the world is so big, and I want to see everywhere. For me, who I travel with is more important than the scenery I see during the trip!”
“Don’t you want to travel alone?”
He thought for a moment, and I could see that he was trying to find an appropriate explanation: “I don’t know, because I have never traveled alone. They are worried about letting me travel alone!”
“Who are they?”
“Everyone!”
He then gave a helpless, bitter smile, with a small, slightly complaining expression on his face. “Sometimes I think it’s not that exaggerated!”
No matter how comfortable he seems to be in front of the outside world, the 18-year-old Wu Lei still shows his true self inadvertently. Young and authentic, perfect and natural.
At this point, I suddenly realized that no matter how rich the acting experience of this big boy in front of me is, how precocious he is compared to his peers, and no matter how comfortable he seems to be when dealing with the media, the 18-year-old Wu Lei is, after all, just a big kid who is bidding farewell to the attitude of a 17-year-old boy. Although he grew up under the spotlight, everyone around him tried their best to carefully protect him. When he was not filming, he would inadvertently show his true self, without excessive packaging, young and authentic, perfect and natural. And because of his authenticity, he is particularly precious and lovable.
Wu Lei, who couldn’t stop talking, excitedly revealed to us his picky and tricky taste buds secret: “I’m very picky about food. I don’t eat beans or nuts. Goji berries and dates can kill me. I can’t accept tomatoes, eggplants, and bitter melons, but I can accept eggs in scrambled eggs with tomatoes.” This discussion about picky eating happened at the last moment of our chat. This should be the most relaxing and lively part of our entire conversation. Wu Lei is completely defenseless against the outside world. Whatever his brain thinks, his mouth says it, and the child’s nature is naturally revealed.
As for the future, this boy who is casual in life but serious at work gave an answer that did not surprise me: “After I turn 18, I want to learn how to drive! The future will be very interesting and worth looking forward to, but I don’t have any specific goals. I just hope that my acting will get better and better, I will do well in the university entrance exam, everything will go smoothly, and everyone will be safe and sound.”
2018 is destined to be a year of extraordinary significance for Wu Lei. Like all high school students with ideals, he is working hard for his target school and is serious about his first major test in life. Wu Lei will also show his brilliance in more diverse roles on the big and small screens. We can perhaps temporarily put aside the cheerful boys in those sunny days and take a peek at new young faces: the arrogant and free-spirited fighting boy Xiao Yan in “Fights Break Sphere”, the imperfect and passionate boy Li Cu in “Tomb of the Sea”, the insightful head Ruyi in the extremely magical world of “Asura”, and the young general who goes to the battlefield and cuts through thorns in “Shadow”… The eighteen-year-old Wu Lei is worth looking forward to.
At the age of eighteen, a person is most energetic, curious, and wants to try everything. This boy who likes to be lively and regards hot sweet potato balls as the most delicious food in the world does not make too many assumptions about tomorrow. He does not let himself carry those heavy burdens and can quickly switch and release bad emotions through sports and games.
The boy is eighteen years old. He has plenty of good time and is eager to grow up freely!
“I want to try any theme or type of drama. Even if it is a role I have played before, I want to play it again because I think I can perform better and it will be more challenging.”
“When it comes to sports, persistence is important. I go to the gym when I have nothing to do. It feels good to sweat. I also like playing basketball. And, as soon as I become an adult, I will go skydiving!”
“If there are no specific requirements, I hope the clothes I wear when I go out are as simple and comfortable as possible. I don’t often wear expensive accessories, because firstly, it’s inconvenient, and secondly, I will really lose them.”
Wu Lei’s Coming of Age Ceremony Goal: To be a Good Actor
Wu Lei has both the youthful vigor of a young boy and the capable and steady sense of a grown-up. Whether it is confidence, rigor, and dedication at work, or liveliness, casualness, and humor in life, he can switch seamlessly with ease. Wu Lei does not want to be a star, but an actor, a good actor.
Wu Lei is very busy. On the day of the interview, he had three activities. He was very tired, yawning, with a tired face and a pair of sleepy eyes. Just before work, he relied on a cup of iced American coffee to fill his stomach and support his energy for the day.
At the beginning of the interview, Wu Lei cheered up, blinked his long eyelashes, with a smile in his eyes, and answered every question seriously, with a sense of professionalism and stability, even though he will only turn 18 in December this year.
But Wu Lei is still a child after all. During the interview, he would occasionally open his eyes wide and exclaim, “Did you just see it? A cat.” He would also laugh out loud at a joke made by the staff, and even act out a scene on his own because the filming props were interesting.
In real life, he is no different from other boys. He loves to play, is a bit lazy and doesn’t like to clean up. He is curious about all the new things around him. While waiting for the photo shoot, Wu Lei even played with the handles in the room. But once he changed into his clothes and got into work mode, even though Wu Lei was unwell on the day of the shoot, he still conscientiously completed every movement required by the photographer, changing poses over and over again without getting tired of it.
Although he is only 18 years old, he has been in the industry for 13 years. From “Tang Buku” in “Home with Alien” to “Little Yang Guo” in Yu Zheng’s version of “The Return of the Condor Heroes”, from “Hu Yifeng” in “The Whirlwind Girl” to “Fei Liu” in “Nirvana in Fire”. Next year, the movie “Asura” starring Wu Lei and accompanied by Tony Leung and Carina Lau will be released soon. Wu Lei is proving himself step by step with his strength. As he said, “Every actor doesn’t want to be stereotyped, so I really want to grow up, leave behind the identity of a child star, and show a more diverse and mature image of a man. Although I don’t like being called the national brother all the time, I can understand that the audience may still have fond memories of my past image. But I hope that in the future audiences can evaluate me as a good actor, that’s enough.”
A good actor is probably the only definition that Wu Lei, who is about to become an adult, wants to have. What Wu Lei wants to do is not to be a star, but an actor, a good actor.
Q&A
Will there be any special plans for your 18th birthday this year?
Wu Lei: I don’t have any plans at the moment. In previous years, I celebrated my birthday while filming on the set. I may celebrate it at work this year. And I will take the college entrance examination next year, so I will pay more attention to the college entrance examination than my birthday. If possible, I would like to give myself a short vacation around my birthday to adjust my life and work status.
Are you looking forward to adulthood?
Wu Lei: I tend to let things take their own course, but sometimes I feel like I want to become an adult sooner.
For example, what?
Wu Lei: For example, I was shooting for “Men’s Style” this time (laughs). When I was shooting last year, I always felt that I was still a boy. It was a bit strange to shoot for a men’s magazine.
What do you want to do most when you grow up?
Wu Lei: I want to learn how to drive. Although I have not done any special research on cars, I think driving is a must-have skill for every man.
Having debuted as a child star, are you eager to transform yourself now that you have grown up?
Wu Lei: Every actor doesn’t want to be stereotyped, so I really want to grow up, leave behind the identity of a child star, and show a more diverse and mature image of a man. But I have a calm mentality, so I’m not so anxious about this matter. And I think as I try more different roles and show more different characters in the future, the audience will gradually notice my growth.
But you don’t seem to like the title “national brother”?
Wu Lei: It’s a little better now. If the audience has fond memories of my past image because they like me, that’s fine. But who wants to be a younger brother forever? I will grow up eventually
You once said that you really wanted to try a villain role, is this still the case now?
Wu Lei: I’m a bit hyped up, and I get easily excited when filming. So I really want to challenge the kind of externalized character image that is completely different from my personality. I think it must be very exciting
How do you usually hone your acting skills?
Wu Lei: Read more professional books to improve your knowledge. More importantly, learn from seniors on the set and observe their working condition.
What kind of person are you in life?
Wu Lei: Some friends say that I am quite mature, but I myself think that I’m quite naive and sometimes have a venomous side. However, when I’m working, I become particularly stubborn and strong, especially when it comes to acting. There must be no ambiguity. That’s my bottom line. I even care about some details that are actually completely outside my control, such as props. If I find that my props are not good enough on the set, I will directly communicate with the prop teacher to see how I can improve the props to be more realistic
What does it feel like to be handsome since childhood?
Wu Lei: In life, I don’t feel that I’m very handsome. Only when I do well in filming and acting, I will feel that I’m quite handsome today. When I’m not working, I can even stay at home playing games in an old man’s shirt without washing my face for a day.
What are your leisure activities?
Wu Lei: Sports, such as playing basketball, swimming. Yesterday I also took the time to run 3 kilometers in 20 minutes.
Do you pay attention to what others think of you?
Wu Lei: The audience’s comments can help me expand my thinking and gather ideas. I also read the comments from fans on my Weibo. They kept urging me to post on Weibo, but it’s not that I didn’t post, but I was filming in the desert some time ago. Do you know what’s in the desert? There’s nothing, no internet, no takeout.
How would you most like to be described and evaluated by the outside world?
Wu Lei Galaxy 