[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for VOGUE ME (December 2019)

2 August 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Wu Lei: A young and steady man

At the end of the year, we start to summarize the gains and losses of the year. Vogue Me’s December issue launched the topic ME’s 2019 emotional keywords. We have summarized the top ten emotions that appeared most frequently among young people this year. Today we will reveal the first of them, the annual emotional keyword for cover character Wu Lei – stability.

The intensity of emotions seems to be assumed to be inversely proportional to age. When it comes to 20 years old, the ups and downs of emotions are probably always intense, good and bad, like a stone that breaks the calm surface of a lake. The bigger the waves it stirs up, the more energetic it is. I met Wu Lei, who is about to turn 20, with my predictions about what a 20-year-old’s emotions should be like. The key words did not fall within the expected range, but it was satisfying. The key words did not fall within the expected range, but it was satisfying.

Age does not apply to the above assumptions, because Wu Lei’s stability is consistent throughout.

Stable Career

Acting as an Actor is My Destiny

“Acting may be my destiny. If I weren’t an actor, I really don’t know what I would do.”

Wu Lei starred in his first commercial at the age of 3, made his screen debut at the age of 5, and has been in the industry for 17 years. He is a boy that everyone has watched grow up. This kind of intimacy that is naturally built up over time not only brings extra love from the audience, but also attention and expectations. There are many children who grow up in the halo, but not everyone can clearly distinguish between true and pure love and giving back to the outside world’s excessive expectations. Is being a good actor really motivated by pure love?

In 2014, 15-year-old Wu Lei could answer this question. If when he was a child, the praises from the crew were more or less “a cute and smart kid”, then starting from the filming of The Return of the Condor Heroes that year, Wu Lei truly felt the difference between “being recognized” and “being liked”.

“Because I debuted relatively early, everyone in the crew calls me Wu laoshi. Although I know that 80% of them are joking, the feeling of being recognized by everyone is very gratifying.” When the efforts I put in as an actor are sincerely rewarded by everyone, from the encouragement from the director to other actors, the joy in their eyes and the sparks that collide in the cooperation, these things begin to truly stimulate the idea of ”becoming a good actor” and turn it into a belief.

In 2018, like any other high school student, after a year of getting up early and going to bed late to prepare for the college entrance examination, Wu Lei was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy and began his college life. It is hard not to wonder, for a kid who grew up on the set and in the crew, after more than a decade of acting experience, can the theory and practice on campus still excite him?

College student Wu Lei gave an affirmative answer. “In fact, the only difference between me and normal children is that I knew what I wanted to do from a young age. Most people start to do their favorite jobs and start a career after graduating from college. The difference between me and others is that I entered the industry I like early, nothing else is different. So I’m still excited about college life. Learning professional knowledge in school and learning how to enrich and improve myself are very helpful for the performance that I love.”

The staff who has been with Wu Lei said that the older he gets, the stronger his love for acting becomes, and the clearer he is about what he is doing and what he wants to do. He also thinks more unconsciously. He watches a wide range of movies and art works. Absorbing nutrition, broadening boundaries, and considering one’s original intention as an actor. In an era when original intention is widely discussed, the criteria for consideration have become uncertain.

As an actor, it is an ideal state to fully achieve self-satisfaction, director’s expectations, and audience’s feedback, but most of the time, the three are in conflict with each other. When you have achieved your own and the director’s expectations but are still not understood by the audience in an ideal way, should you explain?

Wu Lei spent a little longer thinking about this question than the others. If we have to choose one of these three as the standard to measure actor Wu Lei’s performance, it seems difficult to establish.

“If you feel that a work has met your expectations and the director also thinks it is good, but the audience’s feedback is not so satisfactory, I think that is my own problem. I used to have the urge to explain to the audience, but it is better to reflect on myself. In the final analysis, I must have done something wrong to cause this situation.” It can be seen that he was seriously looking for his feelings as a viewer in his memories, and then comparing them with his expression as an actor. The conclusion is that Wu Lei chose not to respond with the argument that “you just can’t understand my work.”

“If the audience can’t understand a work, then the work is meaningless. I don’t act to amuse myself.” This is probably my favorite answer when we talk about acting, an answer that may be misinterpreted, but it is powerful. Expression is the original intention of actor Wu Lei. He clearly knows that although there is no right or wrong in the form of expression, it is something that should be insisted on to find a suitable method within the scope of one’s ability.

Emotionally Stable

An emotionless formidable e-sports player

“Besides being an actor, how would you like others to introduce Wu Lei?” “As an e-sports player! Haha.”

Sure enough, no matter what era or form electronic games appear in, they have always firmly controlled the hearts of boys of all ages. I have seen too many male classmates who either howl in battle or kill with red eyes when playing games, so I can’t help but be curious, what does e-sports player Wu Lei look like? After a day of getting along with him, I confirmed that when Wu Lei plays games, if you don’t look closely, you probably don’t know he is playing games. He is so calm that it seems like the game is not fun.

“When I play video games, I’m very serious. I will analyze data, observe the enemy’s attack methods, reflect and review. Unlike others who play games for fun, I play games to win, and I’m very serious. It is actually very similar to acting.” Unlike the excitement of the virtual world in games that many boys are obsessed with, what attracts Wu Lei most about games is that “playing games well actually requires a lot of skills, teamwork, data analysis, etc. It is not a particularly easy thing.”

“Don’t get carried away, don’t show off, play it safe” is the missing option in the 20-year-old emotional prediction form, but it is truly reflected in Wu Lei’s emotional coping from childhood to adulthood. For Wu Lei, who grew up almost in front of the camera, pressure is an unavoidable theme. While the audience is rating his performance in front of the camera, the outside world is also curious about his life behind the camera. With the development of the Internet, there is no privacy now, let alone losing control, Wu Lei has never even subconsciously released negative emotions.

“I do feel that the attention from the outside world can be a pressure, which can be both good and bad. As an actor, of course I want to be noticed, but I’m used to it. People will ask you what the difference is between you in front of the camera and behind the camera, but the camera really exists in most of my lives. So the Wu Lei in the camera is the normal Wu Lei. “He doesn’t use games as an outlet to relieve stress, nor does he need to. Wu Lei’s stress relief system is all about competing with himself.

“Many times, pressure is self-imposed. The outside world will have an impact on us, but we still put pressure on ourselves. When acting in an important scene, the pressure is particularly great. There is no way to relieve it, it will be fine after the performance. Facing the pressure directly is the only solution.” In addition to solving his own pressure neatly and simply, not transferring the pressure to others is one of the things that people admire about Wu Lei during the filming process.

The day of the shoot was the first time Wu Lei met Céline. The time was short and the shoot was intensive, so the makeup and hair styling times were staggered to improve efficiency, so the two had no time to get familiar with each other in advance. It would be a lie to say that he wasn’t embarrassed at all. Fortunately, “shooting for magazines is different from acting. It’s the same as the NBA. Acting is like the playoffs and you have to be serious. Shooting for magazines is more like the All-Stars, just for fun.” Wu Lei’s kindness and friendliness made people feel that everything was not just politeness. He greeted people naturally and taught Céline simple Chinese. When the two of them started laughing at each other in front of the camera, it felt like a “click” between them.

“Besides being an actor, how do you want others to introduce Wu Lei?” The e-sports player gave a more serious answer: “It would be nice if people introduced Wu Lei as a pretty OK person.”

Steady

Zero-conflict energy release

During a break in filming, I asked Wu Lei’s mother: When was he the most rebellious since he was a child?

His mother thought about it seriously and gave me an unexpected answer: now. When I asked Wu Lei a similar question, he answered: the upcoming 20th birthday is not much different from the 19th birthday. Instead, “after my 18th birthday, I really felt that I had grown up.”

For Wu Lei, turning 18 not only means a grand birthday party, facing the fans’ love head-on and giving back seriously, but also means legal adulthood, a node where he begins to be completely responsible for his own words and deeds; it means starting a new college life, clarifying the direction of his performance and working hard; it also means that the time he will spend away from his hometown Shanghai will only get longer and longer, and the unfamiliar circles he needs to enter alone will be wider, and the thinking that comes with it will be more frequent. This also explains why his mother feels that Wu Lei’s rebellion has only just begun. Wu Lei is clever and straightforward, and his mother was always by his side when he was young, so he could more or less grasp and find the right balance. After turning 18 and starting college life, he inevitably had to take charge of everything himself.

His mother’s worries are not unnecessary, but I can feel that when Wu Lei is gradually finding and releasing his own energy, he may be rebellious, but he has direction.

He understood the freedom at this moment as “eat whatever you want, shoot whatever you want, do what you like, and don’t force yourself to do things you don’t like.” It was an answer that came out of his mouth, just like answering what he had for lunch today. The content was simple and flawless, and there is no room for doubt.

Putting aside every aspect of Wu Lei as an actor on the screen, regarding Wu Lei himself, I recorded this day’s interaction with him with many questions and blank feelings. After watching all his video interviews and text conversations in the past five years, his cleverness, quick response, sunshine, and love of joking can be felt across the screen. But perhaps it is because the energy he conveys is too positive that it is hard not to be wary and guess that it is “too good to be true.”

In order to get rid of the interference of vigilance as much as possible, we did not record the conversation throughout the day. After chatting for a while, he went to change his clothes for the photo shoot, and I immediately typed down the content of the conversation.

I remember very clearly that there was a video shoot of Wu Lei, and the director gave intense instructions on how to perform emotionally. I was typing in the back room, and heard deafening roars from the studio across the wall, followed by the director’s “cut” and a satisfied “bravo”. The whole audience burst into applause, and that was the first time everyone was touched by his explosive power.

After the shoot, he went backstage to change his look and passed by the cubicle where I was typing. He crouched down and quietly approached me from behind, pretending to peek. When I turned around and he found that he had failed, he just laughed and went to change his clothes. Like a boy in middle school who failed to pull a prank, his childlikeness is oozing out. Not only the contrast between these two moments, but also many times, Wu Lei makes people feel that this boy is a tangible existence, not a perfect mannequin in a wax museum. When he needs to focus, he can do it in one take, and when he turns around, he is naughty like a 20-year-old boy who doesn’t need to hide. When the makeup artist held an umbrella for him in the glaring sunlight on the rooftop, he turned around and naturally looked into the other person’s eyes and said “thank you”. When there was a small incident in the middle of the shooting and a scene needed to be re-shot, he didn’t frown, but comforted the on-site dispatcher first, saying “I’m OK”.

There are many people on the set, and the team is not only new, but also mixed with English, French and Chinese. Sometimes when he was waiting for shooting instructions or scene setting, he was the only one in the brightest spot in the huge studio. His eyes were not wandering, his hands were not uneasy, he didn’t ask anyone to pass him water or play with his phone. He just stood naturally in the bright spotlight, and he was relaxed.

I can’t say if this is a habit of facing the attention from the outside world, but Wu Lei, who remains at ease under the blazing attention, will be particularly OK facing the countless uncertain possibilities in the future.

Source: VOGUEplus

[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for Esquire Fine (October 2020)

2 August 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Everyone, Wu Lei is having a party, come quickly

Wu Lei rushed into the room, his hair looked messy.

He was called up at 6 o’clock this morning, and set off from home before 7 o’clock. The car drove for more than an hour, or perhaps close to two hours. Wu Lei, who was sleeping all the way, could not give an exact time. Finally, he arrived at the “Dishui Lake” more than 70 kilometers away from the center of Shanghai. This distance makes it hard to believe that you are still in Shanghai, but Dishui Lake does belong to Nanhui, Shanghai. This lake is “younger” than Wu Lei, who was born in 1999. It is purely “out of nothing”. It is an artificial lake created by enclosing the sea and is in a perfect circle. Even though he was born and raised in Shanghai, Wu Lei is not very familiar with this place. He walked slowly to the window, looked at the calm lake not far from the window, and said to himself: “Oh, this is Dishui Lake.”

Not hearing anyone’s response, Wu Lei turned around and looked around the room again, then chose a sofa and lay down on it. “It’s too far, I need to rest for a while.” He added calmly, “I’ll wake up in a while.”

Perhaps this not-so-conscious state is very suitable for this interview. The topic we are discussing is about “party”, but at this moment we are sitting in a hotel room, the makeup artist and hairstylist are busy, there is no “party” atmosphere. I can only say to Wu Lei directly:

“Okay, why don’t we imagine a party of yours, what will it be like?”

Wu Lei still looked at the mirror and hesitated for a moment.

Next, we will enter an unknown party, which is also “created out of nothing”. In Wu Lei’s words: “The unknown is the most interesting thing.”

“Who to invite?”

“Friends who called in the middle of the night.”

Mention the word “party” and we may think of the scene in F.S. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, or, for most post-millennial visual creatures, the memory of the film by Baz Luhrmann. Gatsby’s grand parties take up the entire third chapter, detailing the list of visitors to Gatsby’s mansion, and in Fitzgerald’s words: “Every morning you wake up to a world of indescribable splendor and promise.”

In his blue gardens, men and women flitted like moths among laughter, champagne, and stars… Caterers came down from the city with hundreds of feet of canvas tents and countless colored electric lights… Before seven o’clock, the band arrived, not just a five-piece band, but a full-fledged team, with oboes, trombones, saxophones, violins, cornets, piccolo, treble and bass drums, everything you could think of…

“Wait a minute.” Wu Lei shook his head and quickly stopped his endless imagination. This was not what he called a “party”: “If… only this can be called a ‘party’, then ours should be called a ‘tea party’.”

What does a tea party mean? Is it a group of people sitting together and chatting quietly?

“Almost. I don’t like noisy places.” The 20-year-old Wu Lei has a deep voice, “I don’t like crowds either.”

Aren’t parties supposed to be social events – getting to know another group of people through a group of people, getting to know his friends through friends, drinking and chatting, and expanding personal connections.

“This deliberate way of getting to know people…” Wu Lei doesn’t like that kind of utilitarianism. “It’s best to get to know people by chance. It’s more interesting to become friends without any reason or purpose.” He mentioned that when he was in college, he was taking a public English class. A classmate quietly sat in the last row near the corner, which was also Wu Lei’s favorite seat. Wu Lei believes that this classmate can’t immediately recognize him with a mask and a hat on. The two boys chatted about games and then made an appointment to go to the cafeteria for lunch. This is what he called a casual acquaintance – if you want to be friends with Wu Lei, “first don’t think about ‘how to become my friend'”.

I said, in case Wu Lei organizes a party, it might be a “Slumber Party”.

“After work, a group of people gathered in someone’s room to eat barbecue and drink something together.” Then we took a closer look at Wu Lei’s pajamas. His pajamas are made of pure cotton with plain patterns, a complete set. “In my sister’s words, they are ‘sunset red pajamas’.”

Wu Lei thought about organizing a horse riding trip with his friends. Horse riding is one of his favorite things to do, but it is difficult to find like-minded friends in this regard. Everyone seems to be afraid of horses. Wu Lei tried to invite them, and the answer he got was: OK, let us know when you finish riding, and we will have dinner together.

The number of people in the party will be about ten, super small.

Too many people would be awkward, Wu Lei carefully selected the people who would attend the party. He is a cautious, considerate, observant host who tries his best to make all the guests comfortable: “When I call friends together, everyone must like each other and know each other. I will not make any one of them awkward.”

Most of his friends are from the film and television industry. To be his friend, it is very important that they “don’t gossip”.

“Don’t tell others about your affairs or what you said.” Similar things have happened before, so Wu Lei can’t help but worry, “If it’s a reliable friend, everyone can speak freely. I’m not a person who gossips behind others. Of course, if it’s my friend, I will definitely want to know about him – if there’s no desire to know, we can’t call him a friend, right – but it’s important to keep other people’s privacy secret.”

Most of his friends are older than Wu Lei, and some are so close that they can confide in each other, and they are called “friends who call in the middle of the night.” “At that time, when the phone rang, I didn’t even need to look, I knew it was him.” With this trust, Wu Lei is happy to play the role of a listener, “Many times, many people just lack someone to talk to – He can’t be sitting on the toilet and talking to himself, I just need to listen quietly. They don’t really need my advice. Just like when I need to talk, I already have the answer in my heart, but I need a word of guidance from someone I trust.”

What about you, will you share your secrets and thoughts with others?

“Maybe… it was only once or twice.” Wu Lei showed a maturity beyond his 20 years, which is very consistent with the public’s impression of him. He is rational and introverted when encountering difficulties. “I am willing to find a way to solve the problem instead of repeatedly entangled in the problem.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“You had to eat it blindfolded”

We have all seen Wu Lei’s cooking skills (across the screen, through a Vlog): he dug out an old mobile phone, set up two cameras, and methodically filmed the entire process of making a Western breakfast with skillful techniques and clear procedures.

“I have shown my best skills!” Wu Lei announced to everyone. “I searched for cooking tutorials on Bilibili, and then followed the steps in the tutorials – I also played around a bit. This was completely forced during the epidemic, because I couldn’t order takeout.”

Before this, Wu Lei never touched the kitchen utensils. This breakfast is the result of two months of “training”.

May I ask, is there anything else you can order on Wu Lei’s menu?

“Sorry.” Wu Lei smiled awkwardly but politely. “Frying is my main method of cooking. I fry steaks and lamb chops. As for stir-frying, I’m not so good at it. Stir-frying requires a lot of attention to what to put in first and what to put in later, when to put them in, and how long to stir-fry… When it comes to frying, I only need to focus on one thing. As long as the ingredients I buy are good enough, it won’t taste bad no matter how I cook it.”

As a very nice host, Wu Lei has also met “customized requests”. Once, Wu Lei showed off his cooking skills at home to entertain friends. “They said that the food was delicious, but you had to eat it blindfolded.”

On a whim, he made pasta, but it was not in tomato sauce. Wu Lei mixed cream mushrooms himself. The “guest” asked to add eggs, and Wu Lei tried his best to satisfy him. He added eggs and mixed them together, and finally it became a mess.

“It smells and tastes good!” these “food critics” commented, “It makes up for the visual ‘loss’!”

Wu Lei was particularly happy during the retelling process, and he didn’t mind the harsh food reviews at all. If there was anything he really disliked, it would be the finishing touches of cooking:

“Washing dishes. I can’t accept that I have to wash dishes after cooking. You will find yourself spending the whole day in the kitchen. In the morning, I have to cook, wash vegetables, and cut vegetables for an hour, which is already very tiring. When it’s time to eat at noon, I have to wash the dishes first – I don’t have that many dishes. After dinner at night, sometimes I really don’t want to wash the dishes, so the first thing I do the next morning is to wash the dishes! I just woke up and I’m still in a daze. I don’t want to wash the dishes at all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t keep scolding. Don’t keep praising.”

“I watched CrossFire!” At this unknown party, someone would probably raise their hand and mention this drama, “It has a pretty good reputation.”

Wu Lei was quite proud about this topic: “It means everyone is enjoying my performance!” In return, he slyly revealed a little behind-the-scenes secret: “Do you know what we were playing when we were performing the scene where we won the ‘championship’? Minesweeper and cards! Hahaha.”

But it’s good enough. Just pay attention to one thing: don’t keep scolding him, and don’t keep praising him.

“Anyone would feel uncomfortable if you attack me, but I would also feel embarrassed if you keep praising me.” Wu Lei rarely showed shyness, and immediately changed his expression to a serious one. “Of course I know that as an artist, I live in flowers and applause most of the time. This kind of thing will definitely be addictive. After all, where is the success of an actor reflected? When others say that you act well!”

Wu Lei has always been vigilant. He was used to hearing a saying since he was a child, “honest advice is unpleasant to the ear”, so much so that he believed it too much, and sometimes he even thought that all the insults against him were for his own good. As he grew up, he gradually realized that “some people simply don’t like me.”

Friends feel sorry for Wu Lei. Why let those people ruin his mood!

Instead, he tried to comfort his angry friend: “This is part of an artist’s job. When you appear under the spotlight, you become a target for emotional venting. If you act well, you make everyone happy; if you let everyone scold you, doesn’t that also relieve other people’s pressure?”

This is not just talk. Wu Lei knows that no one who attacks without reason really understands him. They are just scolding the character “Wu Lei” – a public figure played by him. Is that him? Not entirely.

He can distinguish between reality and fiction, front and backstage.

That’s why when someone suggested “Wu Lei, please give us a show” at a party, he declined politely and showed a cold attitude, leaving no room for negotiation. The person who gave the suggestion must not really understand Wu Lei. His friends will not force him. He is an actor: “Performing on stage is out of my comfort zone. I feel uncomfortable doing anything other than acting.”

He is suitable for facing everyone in various roles, and he pushed “Wu Lei” to perform on stage: “Sorry, I’m not good at this.”

Truth or Dare: The Invisible Stand Army

Before the magazine shoot started, we asked Wu Lei the “truth” question.

At this moment, he is staying in the RV. Next to the RV is Nanhui Beach and Donghai Bridge. On the hottest day since the beginning of the dog days of summer in Shanghai, staff are setting up the scene on the beach. There are several long tables covered with white tablecloths and various snacks on them. Parasols have been put up, casting shadows on the beach. Gold glitter paper covers the entire wall, and there is a disco ball… The empty beach creates a surreal feeling. Occasionally, tourists passing by look curiously. Perhaps they think there will be an open-air party here.

The speakers blast out music, and the sound waves do their best to drive the atmosphere. If you connect Wu Lei’s playlist to Bluetooth, you should hear Japanese ACG (Animation, Comics, and Games) music. Most of the time, Wu Lei doesn’t need to know what the lyrics are, the music will take him back to a certain anime scene, maybe losing a loved one, maybe reuniting with a lover, maybe being seriously injured, or maybe a Jedi counterattack…

The emotions in the story give him strength.

With this kind of music, it is very suitable to answer this question in the truth – what does the role bring to you?

Wu Lei thought of an anime called “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”, in which there is a superpower called “Stand“. He feels that after each performance, it is like having a Stand. “They protect me and accompany me. If I lose motivation or feel tired, the character will tell me, ‘Wu Lei, you can do it.’ I need to be as courageous as the character. When I play a role, I gain a friend and a mark on myself.”

So he wrote the answer behind the question: Courage.

Maybe, there really is an invisible army of “Stand” behind him.

A little memory, the scenery recorded by eyes

Wu Lei, the host of “Open Air Party”, appeared on the summer beach.

Looking at the sea, he suddenly said: “My mother took me to see the sea when I was a child.” The sea around Shanghai is actually similar, earthy yellow, not clear blue. But this did not dampen Wu Lei’s playfulness. He put on a loose shirt, swung his sleeves and ran towards the sea, breaking away from the photographer’s command…

He really wants to travel. When talking to his friends this year, the thing he regrets most is that he can’t travel.

“Originally I had a vacation,” Wu Lei started planning this vacation last year. “I would take my parents to an island first, then go to Japan alone, and if there was still time, go to Europe – but because of the epidemic, everything went down the drain.”

If work is not counted, Wu Lei’s only official solo trip was the “seven-day tour” two years ago. “So far, I have only traveled alone this once, the only time in 20 years.”

He was 18 years old that year, and just after the college entrance examination, Wu Lei felt that he should take a break. He told his agent to take some time off, without any special reason.

“People still need to spend some time with themselves,” he said again.

The team didn’t know where he went specifically, and Wu Lei arranged the trip himself. The hotel is located on the Kawaguchiko Mountain. As soon as you open the curtains, you can see the entire Mount Fuji standing in front of you. It often rains in the mountains, and there are always rain boots and umbrellas at the door. The room key is old-fashioned and comes with a whistle. There are all kinds of birds in the forest. When you blow the whistle, the birds will fly over.

I’m beginning to understand why Wu Lei doesn’t like crowded parties. He won’t go around calling out to friends. He likes quietness and freedom. If possible, he would rather avoid the crowd and enjoy some alone time, even if it’s just hiding in the room to play games or watch movies.

He originally wanted to book a hot spring hotel, but he heard that there were a lot of Chinese tourists in that hotel and was worried that he would feel uneasy. “When I travel, I don’t like to check in or make any plans. I just do whatever I want today and whatever I want tomorrow. I choose a place with good scenery and walk around the hotel every day, and I’m satisfied.”

Occasionally he would go down the mountain and stroll around the local town. It happened to be the summer festival. “There were spontaneous performances by residents. Although they were not professional enough and I could not understand what they were singing, I could feel their happiness.” This idle state reminded him of a time when he was filming in Hengdian. He took a walk with his assistant on impulse and met a street performer. He stood by and watched the performance. “It was not until the next day when I read the report that I found out that my entire walk was filmed. Even me scratching my head and picking my nose were photographed.”

Outside of work, Wu Lei not only does not want to be photographed, he also doesn’t like taking photos.

A friend wanted him to share some travel photos. Wu Lei flipped through the album on his phone and said, “I just took some random photos of the scenery. They are not pretty. It takes time to take good photos. I just picked up my phone and took some random photos. I just took photos of what I saw, not for the purpose of taking good-looking photos.”

“People today are used to using cameras to record their lives, but eyes are the best tool for observing the world. The most beautiful scenery is seen with the eyes and remembered in the heart, not recorded by a camera.” He paused and added, “After all, the pixels of a camera are not as high as those of the eyes.”

The End of the Party

The party scene on the beach has not been removed yet. The sea water behind is unaffected and rolls on its own. The sun is still dazzling. “As children we lived in a world of eternal light—heaven was near us, as real as the beach,” Graham Greene wrote in a book.

But no matter what kind of party it is, it will eventually end. The music will eventually stop, the atmosphere will eventually cool down, and friends will eventually wave goodbye.

Wu Lei is used to separation because he has been in the crew since he was a child.

“Comrades who often spend three or four months together and develop revolutionary friendships have to separate. This is the norm in life.” He recalled a line from his character Lu Xiaobei in “Cross Fire”, “No one can accompany anyone to the end. But I still force myself to look forward. That’s it, all we can do is cherish the present.”

On the beach where there were no guests, he waved to the camera.

Source: Esquire Fine

[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for DAZED (October 2020)

28 July 202428 July 2024 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Wu Lei ｜ Getting better

A Japanese song about wind, mountains, sea and youth was played in the interview room. Wu Lei hummed softly, his voice was clean and the melody was lyrical, which had a magical power to calm and relax people. Isn’t this the tune that young people in their early twenties would like?

“Sorry, please turn down the volume a little, we are ready to start the interview.” I said to the staff on the scene. “Don’t you like my songs?” A joke came from behind my head. Wu Lei’s slightly teasing opening remarks livened up the atmosphere. The greeting of the first meeting made me realize that the young man in front of me might be a little different.

When Wu Lei played Nezha in the 2005 filming of “The Legend and the Hero”, he was only five years old. In the play, he played a clever, courageous and cute little devil king, which made everyone remember this handsome and talented actor. Since then, he has received many invitations and almost spent his childhood on the set. “The first time I felt grown up was when I was very young.” Wu Lei emphasized, “Once when I was filming a scene, I suddenly realized that the adults around me didn’t treat me as a child, but as a work partner. At that moment, I felt very accomplished, as if I had gained the respect and recognition of the brothers and sisters around me.”

While growing up, Wu Lei took on various costume dramas. In the 2015 drama “Nirvana in Fire”, he played Xiao Feiliu, who is a good friend of Mei Changsu (Hu Ge). The audience was amazed at the natural expression of the characters’ true feelings, but they didn’t know that it was their second collaboration. With his outstanding performance in the drama, Wu Lei won the Most Promising Actor Award at the 2015 National Drama Festival. After that, he passed the selection process and was chosen to play the role of the young general Yang Ping, participating in the filming of the film Shadow directed by Zhang Yimou… Although he does not have the rich experience of his predecessors, the young Wu Lei was praised for his outstanding talent and humble hard work. A bright and handsome boy under 20 years old, leaping out of the screen under the spotlight.

For Wu Lei, pressure always comes before age. He accepts pressure with pleasure, internalizes it into action, and does not shrink from it. This means growth.

Last spring, Wu Lei announced that he would join the crew of “Cross Fire”. This inspirational web drama, which is mixed with youthful passion and sci-fi, may be a new starting point for his career. In the play, Lu Xiaobei, a high school student who dreams of becoming an e-sports player, is invincible in the gaming world, but an unexpected accident ruins his dream of joining a professional team. In the entertainment industry, most of the roles played by young actors are ordinary roles. If you want to challenge some unconventional characters, the key to outlining the image is the psychological preparation in advance, which is also inseparable from the actor’s interpretation of the meaning of the lines and the control of body language.

Gamers in real life are different from e-sports players. They trained day and night with high intensity and repetition, and were repeatedly hit by failure, but they never gave up. In order to play the role of Lu Xiaobei, a young e-sports player in the play, Wu Lei has obviously made sufficient preparations. “I watched a lot of documentaries related to e-sports, trying to figure out the real state of the teams during training, drawing on their unique movements and language, and restoring them to the screen.” Wu Lei gestured excitedly. E-sports must be the heroic dream of this big boy buried in his “secret garden”.

After the web series was released, netizens commented that “the young man is particularly suitable for playing a young man”, and Wu Lei’s acting skills also surpass his actual age, with natural emotions. In the play, he seems to have really become Lu Xiaobei who has been in a wheelchair for eleven years. He is a professional in e-sports and is also very good at wheelchair acrobatics. He is so skilled that he can do acrobatics with his wheelchair.

Fans and audiences applauded Lu Xiaobei’s performance. Netizens mentioned his acting skills, saying that his emotions were on point, and that many micro-expressions and small movements in details were just right, as if this character and this story really existed. “Because Director Xu Hongyu requires the performance to be natural, and Director Xu gives the actors a lot of room to perform. As I acted, I felt that I was immersed in the film. Filming was just like life. I felt that I was not playing a role, but living on the scene. It is completely different from the costume dramas I filmed before. It can’t be said that it is easier to act in modern dramas. It is closer to a real experience in real life.

Not only is he facing an audience with a more realistic experience of the characters and storylines, but he also has to try to bring out the rich flavor of life and authenticity on the screen without leaving any traces. Wu Lei understands what kind of test he is facing. “The character I played needs to sit in a wheelchair. I carefully learned how to use a wheelchair and carefully observed how people who actually use wheelchairs operate, from how to push the wheelchair to where the balance point of the body is…

As he said, “When I was a kid, I didn’t think about the day or the moment when I would grow up. Dealing with the adults on the set, their understanding of the characters helped me grow subtly. I had not originally intended to take such a long vacation. However, the energy of the universe, in a surprising way, last winter and this spring, allowed everyone to take a quiet vacation in their own place. During this period, I stayed at home and had a very different life experience from before. During the epidemic, I stayed at home. I watched a lot of movies, read a lot of books, spent a lot of time with myself, and gained a new understanding of myself, and thought a lot about individuals, life, and social life. “

This year is the most extraordinary year for many people, and the actors must feel it even more deeply. From working on the set day and night and interacting with people freely, to staring at the ceiling at home all day and rarely seeing people. Wu Lei rarely has time to be alone and talk to himself. In addition, he also shared his usual “way to relieve stress is to listen to music, play games, and watch movies. Having a time and space of your own, a world of your own, and then doing what you want to do, is very stress-relieving and makes people relax and comfortable.” In this state, it is easier for people to concentrate. Only clean empty bottles can store more living water. This is especially important for actors. What seems simple to ordinary people is different for actors. Whether he is filming or attending an event, there is always a lot of excitement around him, and Wu Lei is also an experienced person.

From ancient costume dramas to modern dramas, when asked about his considerations for the next work, Wu Lei answered, “I want to try many roles, not limited to type or personality. It depends on the script, the character setting, and the dramatic collision of the character in the script. What attracted me more was the overall feeling of the script, the resonance the characters gave me, and the sense of immersion.”

Regarding the Dazed shoot in Shanghai, Wu Lei said frankly, “I didn’t deliberately try to show you a certain side of me. I just stay the same as always.” He increasingly wants to present his true self, looking forward to “showing a different side of himself that he may not even know himself is in a certain angle or state of shooting.” Of course, he said, “sometimes the ideas are great, but they can’t necessarily be shown, and that’s fine too.” It’s rare to be in this state. The fast pace of the city always chases people, and you don’t know where you will appear in the next second. Just go with the flow.

Youth is the best endorsement for Wu Lei. As the cover character of Dazed, Wu Lei’s views on youth culture are also very direct. “Youth culture is always the most contemporary and fashionable culture. I have always felt that youth culture and young people are an eternal topic. In every era, the most avant-garde and trendy ideas of young people are constantly changing. I’m in this group, and I’m constantly learning while performing. “

After the interview, the handsome boy who spoke slowly and elegantly seemed to be more than just the Wu Lei on the screen. He likes to have his own space and he likes to do things quietly.

Source: DAZED

[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for NYLON (September 2020)

26 July 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Farewell to “Lu Xiaobei”. In the new semester, let senior Wu Lei accompany you to conquer the stars and the sea

Recently, the online drama “Cross Fire” ended. Wu Lei used a line from “追梦赤子心” to bid farewell to Lu Xiaobei, putting an end to this period of youth – “It is better to burn out than to linger on, and for the beauty in your heart, do not compromise until you grow old.”

Perseverance, vigor and progress, not being swayed by so-called stereotypes, and interpreting life in the way they like, this is Lu Xiaobei, Wu Lei, and all young people of Generation Z. It is the beginning of another September school year, with the stars and the sea in front of us, and the cover boy of Nylon’s new issue – Senior Wu Lei will accompany you to fight together.

Although summer is coming to an end, the story of dreams is still going on. When you were watching CrossFire, did Xiao Bei often make you cry and laugh, and sometimes you wanted to shout: “So handsome!”? Sometimes, like Tang Monk*, chicken soup comes to mind. I can sum it up in one sentence: “There are thousands of northern chicken soups, and there is always one bowl that suits you.”

*Tang Monk here is Tang Sanzang, the main character of The Journey To The West that was accompanied by Sun Wukong.

Of course, as long as everything to the game scene, you can prepare yourself to scream. Okay, let’s stop playing around. In fact, the reason why we are moved by Lu Xiaobei in “Cross Fire” is because of his liveliness, tenacity, unremitting pursuit of his dreams, and the enviable friendship he developed with his teammates and friends along the way.

During our meeting with Wu Lei in the September issue of NYLON, we also had an in-depth chat with him about Cross Fire, a work that made him want to post an 18-grid Weibo to commemorate its completion, and the changes that the role of Lu Xiaobei brought to him.

In addition, Nylon also invited five young boys and girls – Su Hang, Yoii Wang Youyi, Sen Wung, Long Yi, Qiu Ming AKi, to start a weekend camping with Wu Lei ⛺️! What is the most precious and beautiful quality of Generation Z? What is the most admirable lifestyle for young people? Let Sanshi brother* tell you in detail!

*Sanshi didi (Sanshi younger brother) is a nickname for Wu Lei. This is because the character “磊” from his name (吴磊) is composed by 3 stones (石). That’s why Wu Lei also called as 三石 (Sanshi).

Persistence, passion, and vigor. He is a member of Generation Z and also himself

With a sunny smile, sometimes joking, and sometimes listening attentively to the staff’s introduction to the filming, this youth idol who has been involved in the entertainment industry since the age of 3 has undoubtedly demonstrated all the good qualities that Generation Z or today’s young people should have.

“Sometimes I want to make myself more mysterious, but sometimes I want my presence to be noticed by others. In short, I think Generation Z is a very active but difficult to define group.”

Since starring in his first commercial at the age of 3, Wu Lei’s cute image and full acting talent left a deep impression on the director at the time. He then appeared in many film and television dramas including “The Young Warriors” and “Heroes Come from Young Age”. With his extraordinary talent, unremitting efforts and vigorous enterprising spirit, he has left his steady footprints in the entire industry.

Wu Lei, sitting on the chair at this moment, shows the childishness and vigor unique to his age. “I’m not as profound and thoughtful as you think,” he said jokingly when we asked him to describe what kind of personality traits young people should have today.

But having spent his childhood and teenage years in the ever-changing entertainment industry, Wu Lei is undoubtedly more calm and steady in dealing with people than many of his peers. He knows how to be grateful and is more willing to work hard for his ideals, which is also related to the training and teachings given to him by the industry.

“Every work I perform in, or every character I portray, is a choice I make, and I look forward to every new experience,” Wu Lei said. For a young actor, the success or failure of a work actually determines, to a certain extent, his/her career development in the next few years, or even the direction of his/her entire acting career.

With the popularity of many film and television dramas such as “Fights Break Sphere” and “Tomb of the Sea”, Wu Lei’s increasingly rich and solid acting skills have repeatedly won recognition and affirmation from professionals and the public.

From urban dramas to fantasy works, Wu Lei is constantly learning the philosophy of life while exploring his acting path. “I always remind myself to stay true to my original aspiration and to keep my original ideal. This is my motivation to move forward, and it is also what this industry has taught me about being a person and doing things.”

Wu Lei, who is still in the stage of exploring life “freely”, believes that he has a responsibility to young fans. “As public figures, we (actors) should set the right example for young people today. While gaining the love of fans, we should work hard to do what we should do and become better.” When talking about the fans who have always given him encouragement and care, Wu Lei smiled. “When I think of them, I will be more determined in the direction I want to go. They give me the strength and courage to move forward.”

With personality and edges. His treasure boy Lu Xiaobei

With the popularity of “Cross Fire”, Wu Lei’s mature and youthful acting skills have once again become the focus of people’s attention. After creating many popular images, Wu Lei today admits that his judgment and consideration of works have become more objective. “The script is what I value most when judging a work now. It’s back to the work itself. As long as the plot and character setting interest me, even if it is challenging for me, I will not hesitate to ‘face the challenge’: in addition, a team that gives me a sense of security and enough trust will also allow me to go all out to experience the lives of the characters in the play.”

As Wu Lei himself said, as he gets older, roles with increasingly complex plots and increasingly angular personalities are the ones that most inspire his fighting spirit and desire to perform. In the hit TV series “Crossfire”, which is about young people struggling in the world of online games, Lu Xiaobei played by Wu Lei is such a flesh-and-blood character, the passionate young people of today. “This is a youth film based on e-sports, but at the same time, it also reflects the real psychological activities of many contemporary young people. The complex and intricate plot is certainly attractive, but the sincere interaction between the characters is what really touched me.”

Wu Lei thinks that Lu Xiaobei in the play is full and lively. Like many young people, the companionship between him and his teammates and friends on the way to pursuing his dreams is the fulcrum and skeleton supporting the entire work. He also believes that this kind of mutual support between teammates and friends is the most valuable emotional treasure that should be cherished and protected in our lives.

Wu Lei, who has been extremely talented and worked very hard since he was a child, seems to see his own reflection in Lu Xiaobei, “He (Lu Xiaobei) is the character who gives me the most courage. Perseverance is his character.” The most striking feature among them is that whenever I feel tired, I will feel the strength he gives me.”

Dare to speak up for his own ideas. His definition of fashion

Speaking of fashion trends topics that young actors of Wu Lei’s age seem to be very concerned about, this big boy in comfortable clothes once again reveals his uniqueness as a young man of Generation Z. “I don’t think that paying too much attention to appearance is a must for young actors today. A truly “fashionable” person should respect his or her own ideas, make himself or herself more comfortable and confident. This is the definition of fashion in my mind.”

Wu Lei, who dresses comfortably and low-key in private, is extremely concerned about environmental protection. Whether he is participating in the National Geographic’s “Planet or Plastic?” themed road run or calling on young people in public to make their own contributions to the ecological environment around them, this positive and sunny young actor has never forgotten his social responsibilities. In his words, “When small forces come together, we can create huge waves.”

Wu Lei believes that his support for environmental protection and his call for young people to bravely pursue their dreams are all due to his most authentic and natural mentality. As a representative of Generation Z, he also believes that young people today should not blindly cater to other people’s ideas, but dare to speak out for their own opinions. This is a trend and coolness that transcends superficiality.

“Chasing your ideals and being carefree are both ways of life. Whether you choose to strive for success or just be comfortable and do what you set your mind to do, you deserve respect.” Wu Lei even said that even now, in the fast-paced life, he would leave himself enough space to breathe, pause, and reflect before starting again.

Even though he wanted to give himself more time to relax and settle down, his love for acting and his tenacity from the heart always made him spend more time than others to figure out and polish a role he loved. When we asked him how his personality has changed, Wu Lei replied with a humble smile that his personality has not changed much.

But he breaks through himself in each work, devotes all his efforts to it, and then continues to accept new challenges. It is hard not to see his increasingly mature transformation, not only in his acting skills, but also in his mind.

Perhaps from another perspective, Wu Lei today is indeed no different from his original self. He still guards his persistence and original intention in pursuing his dream. When the industry and the audience applaud and embrace him, what he gives back is always more and better than others can imagine.

Source: NYLON

[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for L’OFFICIEL (August 2020)

23 July 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Wu Lei: Good and Better

Good and better are the questions facing 20-year-old Wu Lei. Becoming a good actor and a better person is the answer he wants to give.

Hengdian World Studios in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province is one of the three places Wu Lei is most familiar with. The other two are places near his home and near his school. Wu Lei, who started his acting career at the age of five, is very familiar with this most famous film and television base in China. He knows how to get around by bus and where there are delicious restaurants. This place seems like a hidden city. The world around it is changing but this place remains the same. He said that returning to Hengdian was like returning to his hometown. “The streets are still familiar, and the people are still familiar.” This is probably the daily life of an actor.

Wu Lei’s life seems to have been written into the word actor very early on. The first TV series he starred in when he was a child became the beginning of his acting career. “I think my acting career has been a tortuous journey, and each role is a small turning point. So my acting career is like an electrocardiogram, because each role is a transformation and turning point for me.” On the other end of the line was his voice imitating the electrocardiogram. It seemed that at that moment he had slightly shed his deep thoughts about his identity as an actor, revealing his playful nature as a teenager.

It seems that no actor has found the acting method overnight. He grew up in the crew, and those tricks and key points that seemed like martial arts secrets were taught to him by those more experienced actors through words and deeds. So he also began to think from the perspective of the character. “When I was a child, acting was more about imitation. The director told you what to do, and you just tried it. Now I will set a lot of frameworks for myself. I will really want to create a character, and then put myself in the shoes of this character and think from the perspective of this character, trying to integrate him into my own ideas, or design his background for this character, hoping to give this character more emotions and more different aspects.”

When he is not filming, he stays in his room watching old movies. Sometimes The Shawshank Redemption, sometimes Al Pacino’s performance in Scent of a Woman. He has watched these clips many times, “because those clips are so attractive to me and can give me strength. They let me see that an actor can actually convey such strong emotions and power to the audience through his performance. I feel that I have also been inspired and healed.”

It seems that when chatting with Wu Lei, we can’t avoid the topic of acting and actors. When asked about pleasing himself and pleasing others, he going around in circles and finally come back to acting. “I think these two things need to be connected, because if you feel happy pleasing yourself, you will try every means to please yourself, and you will forget the feelings of the people around you, and sometimes it is inevitable that you will be a little self-centered. But if you want to please others too much, you will forget yourself, and then you will lose yourself. So I think there should be a balance between pleasing yourself and pleasing others. I think this is actually one of the jobs of an actor. Because the role you play should not only realize your own value, but also be recognized and loved by the audience, so that this role can be objectively vivid and natural” As for Wu Lei outside of the actor, he doesn’t care so much whether he is liked by everyone.

I often wonder if a person will get tired after repeating the same work day after day for more than ten years? However, Wu Lei’s answer was still full of the passion of a young man. He still had a lot of curiosity about himself as an actor. “Sometimes when I’m acting, I often feel surprised at myself. I found out that I actually have this side and this kind of emotions. It’s been a long time since I’ve really been angry or sad. These negative emotions are actually rare in my life. But sometimes when I encounter such a scene, after I finish acting, I also feel that I actually have this side of myself in my body.” It is this passion and enthusiasm that has made this young man grow into “people” on the screen who are within reach.

Putting aside the macro topics of acting, what touched Wu Lei in life were the ordinary and trivial daily life. Those moments that made him feel like he was “really living”. “For example, a moment when you’re talking and playing with your friends, a moment when you’re alone looking out the window and hear the children playing downstairs, a moment when you’re laughing with your friends while playing games, or a moment when you’re washing dishes while cooking.”

Become an actor with great enthusiasm, and then live an ordinary life. It seems that there has never been a second different choice in his life. When asked, “If you could choose a new way of life, what kind of life would you most like to try?”, he only said, “I haven’t thought about this question. I like my current life very much.”

There are thousands of roads in this world, but please keep walking along the one you choose.

Source: L’OFFICIEL

[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for Men’s Uno (April 2020)

23 July 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Wu Lei: A Young Man Restraint and Love for Freedom

Wu Lei, who just celebrated his 20th birthday, has reached the “20s” of his life. On the road to adulthood, Wu Lei always maintained his passion for acting. He said, “Nothing can attract me more than acting.” Although Wu Lei is becoming more mature in the eyes of the audience, he still has a youthful vibe. He longs to experience the unfettered and free moments, and is willing to stick to what he wants to do. This cool boy is moving forward step by step with his feet on the ground.

On his 20th birthday, Wu Lei finally got his long-awaited driver’s license. He wore a yellow birthday hat and pink cartoon glasses and smiled very proudly. He had been waiting for too long, but he was not particularly excited. He calmly opened the door of the driver’s seat of the business car and drove the driver back. This first trip as a driver was not smooth. Wu Lei was stuck in traffic on the 5th Ring Road for more than an hour, and his foot was so weak when he stepped on the brake.

Due to his busy work schedule, Wu Lei took two years to get his driver’s license and almost missed the deadline. He also likes extreme sports. He wants to go skydiving in New Zealand the most. He especially wants to experience the feeling of freedom of falling freely in the air, but unfortunately he has never been able to do so.

Wu Lei became famous at a young age. Many of his life plans were constantly disrupted by various jobs, just like learning to drive and getting a driver’s license. Sometimes he really wanted to go on vacation, but he “failed again and again.” Fortunately, acting is the moment when he is most focused and enjoys it. When filming the TV series “Cross Fire”, there was a scene where the team won. Lu Xiaobei, played by Wu Lei, hugged his teammates to celebrate and at the same time also ready to accepted the moment of failure together. He said, “At that moment I felt like I was really a professional player. I really had a group of teammates who were united and loving. Sometimes you can’t tell whether they are your friends, your colleagues, or your teammates in the team.”

Wu Lei has been in the crew since he was a child, and he can feel the passion of his predecessors for acting every day. When the seniors finished a scene, the staff on the scene couldn’t help but applaud. This passion attracted him.

In real life, Wu Lei is also a person who “loves to act”. During interviews, he can always make people around him laugh. But sometimes, he prefers to be alone and do what he wants to do.

Actor Wu Lei is very stubborn. Every scene is important to him. In “Adoring”, there is a scene where the blind Chen Leyun, played by Wu Lei, walks to the school gate. His mother is holding a white shirt behind him to send him off. Chen Leyun turns around and gives his mother a thumbs up. At this moment of turning around, Wu Lei and the director had different opinions on whether Chen Leyun should smile or not. Wu Lei insisted on smiling, while the director insisted on not smiling. No one could convince the other, so they shot two versions before making the final decision. For Wu Lei, such scenes happen in almost every play.

In “Adoring”, Wu Lei plays a blind person for the first time. In order to prepare for the psychological process of this role, he visited the blind. During the conversation with them, he found that although they have lost their sight, they are still very brave and sunny, and bring beauty to others in their own way. Acting is Wu Lei’s way, and he hopes to bring beauty to the audience in his way.

Compared to when he was 18, Wu Lei feels that he is more patient at the age of 20. He was admitted to his ideal university and is “moving forward step by step with his feet on the ground.”

Conversation with Wu Lei

Men’s Uno: Do you think your mentality has changed since your 20th birthday compared to your 18th birthday?

Wu Lei: My mentality is actually not much different. I had just turned 18 at that time, and I was thinking about how to take the college entrance examination and the art examination. Now that I have been admitted to my ideal university, I’m in a state of mind to study hard, be down-to-earth, and move forward step by step. Maybe I’m more patient and mature now than I was then, and I’m calmer. As I get older, I feel that I’m becoming more and more clear about what I want.

Men’s Uno: What do you want most for your 20th birthday?

Wu Lei: Just do what I want to do, act in the roles I want to act in, and meet the people I want to meet.

Men’s Uno: Although you are growing slowly, what are the things you always want to stick to?

Wu Lei: People change, but what I don’t want to change is my dedication to my work. I don’t want to change in this aspect. I hope I can always do my best when filming or preparing for a play, and give my all to a role very carefully and patiently.

Men’s Uno: Have you ever done anything crazy to get into character?

Wu Lei: There is nothing crazy, it is almost the same, because different roles have different preparation methods. In “Adoring”, I played a blind person, so I looked up a lot of information about blind people, spent a lot of time practicing some of the blind people’s posture, and then understood their inner world; when I played “Cross Fire”, I also spent a lot of time preparing for the role, because that character also had some disability. But if it is a very ordinary character, there are actually many points about him that are worth pondering. No matter how big or small the challenge of this role is, there are many things worth pondering. It takes a lot of time. I spend a lot of time thinking about each character.

Men’s Uno: How long did it take you to prepare for the role of Chen Leyun in “Adoring”?

Wu Lei: You never feel like you’ve taken too long to prepare for a role, you know? You never feel like you’ve prepared enough, you always feel like you’re almost ready, but you’ll still wait a little longer before joining the crew.

Men’s Uno: If you are not preparing for a role, do you occasionally act?

Wu Lei: I would act for fun at school, and sometimes at home I would act while reading the script. I’m also a person who loves acting in my daily life

Men’s Uno: Do you get frustrated when you don’t act well?

Wu Lei: Every time after performing, I always feel that I could have done better, but the director is satisfied and OK. This is a repetitive thing. Because I always feel that I can do better, I feel a little regretful, but I think actors are beautiful because of these regrets.

Men’s Uno: Is there a goal you want to achieve?

Wu Lei: I have a very passionate and persistent attitude towards exploring the role, but as for the positioning and requirements of the role, I just hope to bring beauty to everyone through my work.

Men’s Uno: Do you consider yourself a stubborn person?

Wu Lei: In some aspects, yes. For example, when acting, I’m particularly stubborn about some things. When I read the script, including during auditions, I would repeatedly confirm a point what I want, and I would repeatedly tell the director what I want. In most cases, the director will think that this idea is good. Sometimes the director will also think if it’s feasible, then I will have some exchanges and communication with the director, which may last for a long time. Often in this case, we will shoot two versions because no one can convince the other. I think this is a good thing, because actors have requirements for their performances, and directors also have requirements for what they want.

Men’s Uno: What was the last time this happened during filming?

Wu Lei: This happens in every drama. But most of the time, the two people’s ideas can be combined. Only once in 20 times, for example, will you think that you are good this way and he is good that way, so who will be chosen? When no one can make a choice, we will shoot both versions.

Men’s Uno: Which animal do you think your personality is most similar to?

Wu Lei: I want to become a horse. I think horses are cool, handsome and free. The kind of horse that can run freely.

Men’s Uno: Is it important for you to be a cool person?

Wu Lei: I think it’s more important that my character is cool, because I myself cool.

Men’s Uno: You started acting at a very young age. Have you ever thought about what your other life would be like?

Wu Lei: I have thought about it, but I just can’t imagine it. I once joked with my family that with my personality, even if I didn’t become an actor, I would probably will also make my debut. Who knows, right? If I really didn’t want to be an actor, I would probably do a design job. For example, architect is very attractive to me. I was addicted to reading architecture books for a while. I still prefer to do creative work.

Men’s Uno: Actors are under a lot of pressure. Are there times when the pressure is so great that you can’t bear it?

Wu Lei: Everyone has such moments. Even if there is no pressure, people sometimes get irritable for no reason. So just adjust yourself.

Men’s Uno: Do you like to be alone when you are under a lot of pressure?

Wu Lei: Sometimes I like to be alone and do what I want to do most. I’m very efficient when I’m alone. You can read 25 episodes of the script in a day, but you can only read 5 or 10 episodes in a day when you laugh and joke with many people. The same is true for reading and playing games. Sometimes I can think through a lot of things when I’m alone.

Men’s Uno: Have you ever had a moment when you particularly wanted to escape from your current life?

Wu Lei: I sometimes want to go on vacation. Although I’ve been “trying but failed again and again” (in terms of having a vacation), I’m fine. I think work is a good thing and I like working.

Men’s Uno: Do you consider yourself a workaholic?

Wu Lei: I guess so.

Men’s Uno: Now that you are 20 years old, will you think about your life plan?

Wu Lei: Because the profession of an actor is full of unknowns, it is difficult to really plan anything, and you can only take it one step at a time. If I were to talk about a longer-term plan, I have already embarked on the path of an actor, and my plan is to act well and be a good person.

Men’s Uno: Besides acting, is there anything else you want to do?

Wu Lei: I don’t have anything else I particularly want to do right now. I’m also a “master of backing off”. In fact, there is really nothing that can attract me as much as acting.

Source: Men’s Uno

[Interview] Wu Lei Interview for L’OFFICIEL HOMMES (February 2020)

15 July 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Wu Lei is in His Prime, Young Man that has Become Adult*

*及冠 means Crown. In ancient China, a man will have a ceremony wearing a crown when he turn 20 years old, which means he has become an adult.

“Youth” is not only an age stage. It is also a unique mark of this age: cheerful and vigorous. Young people are often curious about the world and are full of longing for the unknown. Although Wu Lei has just turned 20, he is already an experienced actor with nearly 15 years of experience. Due to the tight schedule, the filming started before 7 am, which meant Wu Lei had to prepare for the filming at 5 am. At the shooting site, he looked a little tired. In the cold winter morning, the light shines on the handsome eyes of the young man, and everything around him is warm. When the interview started, Wu Lei immediately restrained his somewhat lazy state. His eyes were clear and sincere, and he shared his story with us in his clear voice.

On his 20th birthday, Wu Lei released a set of film photos. In the photo, the young man in white stands on the snowy peaks. His eyebrows are like paintings, his eyes are like ink dots, and there is a smile on the corners of his lips. He has lost some of his youthful immaturity and gained a touch of trustworthy maturity.

From the time when he was a little boy playing the cute and clever little Nezha in “The Legend and the Hero”, to his teenage years where he played the 19-year-old Li Xiaoyao in “Pal Inn”, the hidden** senior Hu Yifeng in “The Whirlwind Girl”, and the intellectually disabled guard Fei Liu in “Nirvana in Fire”, to his adult life where he played the ill-fated genius Xiao Yan in “Fights Break Sphere” and the impulsive adventurous high school student Li Cu in “Tomb of the Sea”. For more than a decade, Wu Lei has continued to bring new works and new roles to meet the audience. The style of the work and the character’s personality are very different. Wu Lei’s acting skills are always on point, and the audience in front of the screen have also witnessed his growth along the way.

**: 深藏不露 is a person who has knowledge and talent but is reserved and does not like to show off his or her talents in front of others.

Although he already has a rich acting experience, Wu Lei is still full of expectations and awe for acting. Being young is not an invincible asset for him. On the one hand, he is pleased that he still has a lot of opportunities to learn and try, but on the other hand, he is also worried that his lack of experience will limit his ability to perform roles, and he hopes to accumulate and learn more comprehensively. When asked about his future plans, his answer was surprisingly simple: “To act well and be a good person. I will hone my acting skills and improve my basic skills. I have to work hard.”

Contrary to his handsome and gorgeous appearance and his unique experience as a child star, Wu Lei is steady and down-to-earth in real life, and he always defines himself as an “ordinary person.” He believes that all the characters he has played had extraordinary experiences. Those extraordinary lives are impossible for him to have in real life. Using the character to participate in other people’s stories and enriching your own experience while talking to the characters is also a wonderful journey of life. The boy is active and loves the new and interesting world. He enjoyed his performances in “Fights Break Sphere” and “Tomb of the Sea” very much.

At the time of the interview, Wu Lei was promoting the movie “Adoring”. In this movie, Wu Lei plays Chen Leyun, a talented fencer who suddenly becomes blind. How to play a blind person, how to show the psychological gap and despair of the character after he becomes blind, how to show the difference between a blind person and a sighted person through action, these are all difficult problems.

In order to overcome the difficulties, Wu Lei visited and observed blind people in advance, experienced the lives of blind people, and fully immersed himself in his role. Even the actors who were acting opposite him were blurred in his eyes. Wu Lei joked: “My eyes were always out of focus when I was acting, and I was always immersed in my own blindness. Others were just blurry figures, and I couldn’t see clearly how they were acting. Everyone was a mosaic in my eyes.” In “Adoring”, Wu Lei and Zhang Zifeng acted together, playing a pair of childhood sweethearts. Wu Lei said that the atmosphere between the two of them was relaxed, and Zifeng was a very nice person.

Perhaps it was because the staff member’s mobile phone suddenly rang with a ringtone similar to the sound of a game that gave Wu Lei inspiration, the topic suddenly jumped to games. If acting is the most frequent topic for Wu Lei, who is not talkative, then games are his second most active topic. Like every boy of his age, Wu Lei likes games and e-sports, so when he mentions the TV series “Cross Fire”, Wu Lei seems to have pressed a mysterious switch, and the frequency of his talk can even be doubled. “I really want to introduce Lu Xiaobei. He is a person who is in a wheelchair but is very good at playing games. This role is very complicated, and it is really fun for me to play it.” When he said this, you could feel the light in Wu Lei’s eyes, which was the excitement that was hard to conceal when he talked about how his favorite things and his career could be cleverly integrated.

Wu Lei cherishes the relationship between his colleagues in the crew. In his opinion, the most important thing for an actor is to maintain enthusiasm in shaping the character, and the second is to have confidence, not only in oneself and one’s role, but also in colleagues in the crew, believing that everyone can create excellent works together. In addition to being busy in the crew, Wu Lei also participated in many variety shows. Talking about the recently aired “The Inn”, Wu Lei said that the most useful skill he gained during the recording was riding an electric tricycle. Seeing that the writer (journalist) was amused, he emphasized seriously: “Really, this skill is very practical. We often use electric tricycles to pull large equipment or props in the crew, and I ride better than some professional staff!”

Even with his rich acting experience, Wu Lei is still touched by every wrap-up. For him, every time he plays a play or a role, he enters a different body and experiences a different life. When the play is finished, he is separated from the role and loses the body in the play. He will feel a sense of loss and emptiness. Wu Lei describes it as “the feeling of graduating from junior high school”: “Finishing a role is like graduating from high school. Although everyone says goodbye to each other, you actually know that this may be the last time you see each other in your life; the same is true when you leave the play. You know that you can never return to his world and you can never work with the crew again. Sometimes you feel lost and the feeling is very complicated. Of course, you may meet familiar people in the next play, but the state is different from this play.”

For Wu Lei, the biggest challenge in life is always acting. After reading the script and seeing the particularly difficult scenes, Wu Lei will be mentally prepared to challenge the difficulties. On the day of shooting, he will be very excited when he walks from the lounge to the set, like a soldier rushing to the battlefield, fighting to play a good role.

After each work is released, Wu Lei will take the initiative to understand the audience’s evaluation and cares about the overall performance of the work. He is grateful for the good reviews. As for the bad reviews, he will also carefully record and analyze them as a reference for future performances. He defines the relationship between himself and his fans as a relationship of mutual companionship and growth together. The presence of fans always makes him feel relaxed and powerful. When he feels that the work is hard, he will think: “Fans are also working hard to support me, I can’t let them down”.

Outside of acting, Wu Lei is just a simple boy. His wardrobe is filled with loose and comfortable clothes. Outside of work, he wears whatever he wants. The only thing that can be associated with fashion is a variety of hats. When he need to vent his stress, he listen to music, play games, read books, or go for a run. He switch to the random play mode to enjoy the random surprise. He will be very happy if he randomly listen a song that he like.

Wu Lei has no particular preference for movies. He will watch any movie that has good reviews. The more special ones are “The Intouchables” and “Scent of a Woman”, one of which gave him the strength to keep going in adversity, and the other made him appreciate the charm of acting. “I really like Al Pacino. When you watch the works of a great actor, you will be yearning for it,” Wu Lei said. “Of course, I will also watch the works of my favorite (Robert Downey Jr.)” Wu Lei playfully added his own recommendation.

20 years old is really the best time of life. The purest curiosity and natural sensitivity about the world still exist, and there is also the tolerance and responsibility cultivated in the process of growth. If the young Wu Lei is an unpolished jade, the current Wu Lei has begun to emit a soft glow under the polishing and nurturing of time. His early fame did not make him lose his clear self-awareness. Sincerity, steadfastness and simplicity are still his most precious qualities. Just as the audience who grew up with him expected: Wu Lei has grown into a gentle and steady gentleman, but in his bones he is still a fearless and cheerful boy.

Q&A

What was the last movie you watched in the cinema? What are the most memorable scenes?

After the filming of “Adoring” was completed, I watched “The Wild Goose Lake”. The part about the gangsters’ sports meeting made me laugh, and the part about them at the station and the restaurant left a deep impression on me.

Among Marvel heroes, besides Iron Man, who is your favorite superhero?

Doctor Strange.

Will you update the VLOG that has been inactive for a long time?

There is still a plan to update, but I just haven’t found the right time.

Do you stay at home or go out to relax during your break?

Both are fine. I stay at home more than the average person, but if I want to go out, I can go to a faraway place by myself.

Share your secret to controlling your body shape with your fans?

I can control myself freely. I won’t gain weight even if I eat more and exercise less, right? (Writer: Fans will be angry if you say that, right?) Haha, it’s no use to make fans angry.

Source: L’OFFICIEL HOMMES

[Interview] Wu Lei Exclusive Interview with People’s JoyWorks (Global People Magazine April 2024)

22 April 202414 February 2025 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

Wu Lei, heading towards “Dwelling By The West Lake“

Reporter Yu Chixie
Editor Zhang Mian

Wu Lei
Born in 1999, graduated from the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy in 2023. He is well-known to the audience for his roles in TV series such as “Nirvana in Fire”, “Love Like The Galaxy”, “Nothing But You”, and movies such as “Shadows” and “My Country, My Parents”. In February 2024, the TV series “Amidst a Snowstorm of Love” starring him was popular; in April 2024, the movie “Dwelling By The West Lake” starring him was released nationwide.

If we count from the first time he acted in a TV series at the age of 5, Wu Lei has been in the industry for almost 20 years. If we count from the first time he filmed an advertisement, we have to add “2” to this number. In short, he is young but has a long artistic career.

As a result of gaining fame in childhood, Wu Lei seems to have implemented a “dual-track system” in the hearts of the audience. One track is his on-screen image. The audience witnessed him playing roles from little Nezha to little Yang Guo, from a teenage guardian to a handsome general. Last year, he portrayed Song Sanchuan who has “older woman – younger man relationship” in “Nothing But You”. This year, he become the rebellious senior brother Lin Yiyang in “Amidst a Snowstorm of Love”.

The other track is Wu Lei’s personal image in life. The “national younger brother” who has been the same for a decade has suddenly grown up: the baby fat faded away, his figure became taller and stronger, his eyes became deeper, and his conversation became more steady. In the words of his “fans”, the child has suddenly transformed to a “hormone player”.

For child stars, both tracks have bottlenecks. In terms of acting, many people cannot escape the fate of “Injuring Zhongyong”*. As they grow older, their aura gradually fades, eventually leaving behind the regret of “peaking at debut”. In personal life, there are also many people who have lost their way in The Truman World* and unable to break free from the beautiful fantasy woven in their childhood.

*”Injuring Zhongyong” is a story about Fang Zhongyong, a child prodigy that born very talented but eventually become ordinary person because he didn’t study. The story warns people that they must never rely solely on talent without learning new knowledge and must pay attention to acquired education and learning

*The Truman World is the world in the movie The Truman Show (1998)

Fortunately, Wu Lei is clear-headed and solid in both aspects. He told the reporter of “Global People”: “From being ignorant to having initial understanding of the profession, and now graduating from university, I have been moving forward step by step, and gradually realized the weight of the word ‘actor'”. On the day of the interview, Wu Lei was on the road show for movie “Dwelling By The West Lake”. He worked non-stop despite having a heavy cold and kept carrying hot water with him, but as soon as the camera was turned on, he immediately regained the spirit and energy he required for promotions and showing no sign of fatigue.

The signature smile is still there, the familiar youthful feeling is still there, but no one would doubt that child star Wu Lei has transformed into young actor Wu Lei.

Son of Nature, Fighting Against Pyramid Schemes

“Dwelling by the West Lake” is the second feature film directed by Gu Xiaogang. Slightly different from the first film, “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains”, which is pure artistic, “Dwelling by the West Lake” is more distinctive in plot and genre, especially its in-depth exploration of the theme of “anti-pyramid schemes”, which makes the film present a strong social attribute. In the film, He Mulian (played by Wu Lei) and her mother, Wu Taihua (played by Jiang Qinqin) depend on each other. When his mother falls victim to a pyramid scheme, Mulian embarks on a modern story of “Mulian Rescues His Mother”.

When he first received the script, Wu Lei was a little frightened. “I really liked Director Gu’s ‘Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.’ When I first received the script for ‘Dwelling by the West Lake’ I was a bit hesitant to take it because I like the story and the characters so much. But later, thanks to the director and my family’s encouragement, I was able to take this role.”

In the film, the keyword of Mulian’s life is ‘searching’: at the beginning, he searches for his father who had been away from home for many years without any news; then, he searches for his mother who has been consumed by a pyramid scheme and became obsessed; finally, he searches for his true self within when he was scarred.

Outside the film, Wu Lei used “some silly methods” to find Mulian. “He is a child from the countryside, simple and kind, quiet and taciturn, like a lotus flower that emerges from the mud unstained, and like a strong and upright tree. No matter what happens, he will always grows towards the direction of light.”

Wu Lei used four words to describe the character: the son of nature. Therefore, in addition to reading the script carefully, he began to raise plants, visited botanical gardens and forests in the mountains, “trying to establish some connections with nature.” The initial scenes of the film were shot with Mulian walking in the forest. The director asked Wu Lei to “have a dialogue” with the trees, “talk with the strong trees, as well as the broken ones, to live and breathe in the space of the entire forest, and resonate with the trees.”

This kind of interaction would be uninteresting if it’s too little, and unnatural if it’s too much. It wasn’t until Wu Lei was lying on the grass, with the sun hitting his face through the Tyndall effect, and the ants crawling up his collarbones and cheeks, that he closed his eyes and fully surrendered his heart to nature. Only then he felt that he had successfully transitioned into becoming Mulian.

Literary and artistic scenes rely on feelings, while realistic portrayal is the true test of one’s body and mind. In the film, Mulian experiences multiple emotional transitions: the determination to leave after accidentally getting involved with elderly fraud gang “sales meeting” while looking for a job, the confusion and anxiety when he discovered his mother sold the house to buy MLM products, the powerlessness and collapse when trying to awaken his mother in the rain, and the forbearance and ourburst when he finally made a desperate move to infiltrate the pyramid scheme group to collect evidence.

Before filming each pyramid scheme scenes, Wu Lei and Jiang Qinqin looked at each other in silence while waiting, “Because the director gave us a lot of room for performance, we didn’t know what kind of scenes we would face next. Each time was a brand new thrilling experience.”

In the film, a large number of pyramid scheme scenes were created by director Gu Xiaogang after he personally “went undercover” in a pyramid scheme organization: group induction on the bus, spiritual speech on stage, emotional manipulation in a small dark room. Each scene is an extreme “brainwashing scene”. This experience also made Wu Lei feel the horror of pyramid schemes, said “the filming was heartbreaking and made your head spins”.

One much-discussed scene take place under the bridge on a rainy night, Wu Taihua kicked and beat her son, blaming him for ruining her “dream of getting rich”, while shouting obsessively: “I am willing to be deceived, I’m happy, I’m happy!” Jiang Qinqin goes wild with her makeup, and Wu Lei cried and screams in tears. Even after the director called a stop, the “mother and son” couldn’t immediately get out of character, and Wu Lei cried for a long time in the car.

“After filming this story, I have gained a greater understanding of the persecution and impact pyramid schemes inflict on the person and the family.” Wu Lei told reporters, “We must raise awareness of anti-pyramid schemes. We should give more care and love to our elderly family members at home. If our family members encounter pyramid schemes, we should patiently dissuade them and seek police assistance.”

Always Have the Courage and Determination of a Child

“Crying scenes are intense emotional scenes, and I usually nervous and have anticipation for scenes with intence emotions, such as extreme pain, extreme crying, extreme happiness or anger.” Speaking of that heart-wrenching crying scene in the rain, Wu Lei said: “I think you shouldn’t have a comfort zone in acting. You should take every emotion as your own nervous zone. You shouldn’t underestimate any scene.”

In Wu Lei’s view, this nervousness is not only a respect for acting, but also a vigilance against empiricism. When he was a kid, acting meant “being taken to the scene to start acting”; after becoming famous, acting became a hobby and a daily routine; after being admitted to the Film Academy, he had to face the retraining of mentality and methods.

On his 18th birthday, Wu Lei received a letter from his mother at the birthday party. He cried while reading it: “In the past 13 years of filming, your mother has seen all the ups and downs in your life. You had a high fever but insisted on finishing the filming before going to the hospital. When you were getting an injection, you turned your head away and cried silently. You made your mother so proud and distressed.” When the clock struck 12, Wu Lei suddenly thought: It would be great if I could always be 18 years old. “I hope I can always have the courage and determination I had as a child.”

When he was 3 years old, Wu Lei was discovered by a scout and filmed his first advertisement. As a result, he became unstoppable and received more than 50 advertising invitations in just two years. When he was 5 years old, the TV series “The Legend and the Hero” came to the school for casting. He volunteered to act in a segment and made his debut successfully. Over the next decade, he was a popular little brother on the screen. The audience could see him in various works every year, including modern dramas, costume dramas, comedies, dramas, and fantasy dramas.

“Nirvana in Fire” in 2015 was Wu Lei’s first milestone. In this phenomenal drama, Wu Lei perfectly portrayed the coldness and warmth of a teenage guardian, and his performance was remarkable among the acting talents. In 2017, he joined the movie “Shadows” directed by Zhang Yimou and got a rare opportunity to hone his skills.

The seemingly smooth road to fame actually also involved inner struggles. In 2018, Wu Lei was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy as the first place in his major. His deepest feeling after entering the school was “inferiority” and “lacking”. Many of his classmates have been learning professional acting since high school, but he is more like a student who has been trained on the set, and there is still a gap between him and the academic method. “Maybe I have more serious film and television filming experience, but actually I still need a lot of practice.”

So, he slowed down the pace of his work and spent more time on self-improvement. When he was in school, he got up at 5:30 to practice morning exercises to make up for the missing knowledge; on the set, he was no longer just a “tool man” who does what he is told, but learned to explore and think on his own. To played a boy in a wheelchair in the e-sports drama “Cross Fire”, he studied a lot of e-sports player documentaries and the daily movements of people with disabilities. To played a blind student in the movie “Adoring”, he would stay in the dark for a while every day to get the feel for it and he didn’t even turn on the light when taking a shower.

This habit to do preparation has continued to this day, and has even developed to the point where he can master a skill every time he shoots a drama. When shooting “The Long Ballad”, Wu Lei did 4 months of high-intensity training, and put the original comics on the bathroom mirror every day to remind himself how to look like the original comics: In “Nothing But You”, he practiced tennis and badminton alternately, and even professional coaches praised him after 3 months of training; in “Amidst a Snowstorm of Love”, he practiced snooker to the point that Ding Junhui reposted his Weibo and made an appointment to play a game with him……

“Sometimes I see seniors receiving awards at some events, and listen to their speeches, I really admire their humility and passion, and I feel that I haven’t done enough.” Wu Lei said, “Although I have indeed worked for some years, I still feel that I’m just getting started.”

In his opinion, there is no shortcut to acting, only “sincerity can move mpuntains and open up new horizons.”

An Old Actor’s Soul

Host He Jiong once commented on Wu Lei: “He work like a man, live like a teenager.” This youthfulness can be seen from Wu Lei’s cycling documentary. In the past 2 years, his cycling vlog filmed by himself went viral on the Internet, allowing the public to see the down-to-earth side of the young actor. In those daily records, Wu Lei does not shy away from the “gray tone” in life: everyone has anxiety and times when they don’t want to talk. In the entertainment industry, high pressure and fast pace often make people lose the true nature of life.

One of the ways Wu Lei relieves his anxiety is by cycling. He rode 90 kilometers alone from Quanzhou to Xiamen, watching the sunset, taking pictures of the sunset, talking to strangers, and taking pictures with the geese that crossed the highway. On his 22nd birthday, he gave himself a gift of a trip to Ulan Butong, Inner Mongolia, where he galloped on the snowy plains at minus 30 degrees Celsius, setting up tents for camping, running to the top of the mountain with a flashlight in his hand, and taking pictures of the vast starry sky.

Last year, Wu Lei’s went to Xinjiang. He rode his bike through the mountains and grasslands of northern Xinjiang and experienced unknown scenery around Sailimu Lake. He has seen the clear skies with the lake and sky blending in the same color, and also encountered sudden heavy rain and hail. “I feel that Sailimu Lake is very good to me. I have encountered all kinds of weather. This trip is worthwhile! The tiny me has conquered a big lake, riding my small bicycle.”

He said: “Perhaps the meaning of the journey is found on the road. Sometimes you don’t need a reason to start and try.”

“If you give yourself a long vacation, how long do you want it to be? How would you arrange it?” the reporter asked. “One and a half months for travelling, one and a half months of doing nothing and idling time away, and the remaining three months at home reflecting about life and talking to myself.” This answer is unexpected, but also reasonable.

During the process of working with Wu Lei on “Dwelling by the West Lake”, actor Chen Jianbin was often confused: “He is only 23 years old, why does he have the soul of an old actor? Although he has been in the industry for a long time, he has not been tainted by Jianghu* spirit, and his heart is still pure.”

*Jianghu usually refers to the martial arts world of ancient China. But in modern sense, this word use to describe anarchic societies like gangster and organized crime where people were acting unlawful, wild, rude, etc.

For Wu Lei, who grew up under the spotlight, this sincerity is precious. He works hard and lives hard; he puts himself in front of the camera but keeps himself away from the hustle and bustle. As he often said: “Self is freedom and me.” Perhaps, it is this freedom and true self that allows Wu Lei to move from The Truman Show to the sunny world of “Dwelling by the West Lake”.

Scanned interview from Star Entertainment Idol Club. Original article on weibo.

231225 [Interview] Wu Lei: Breaking The Wind | GRAZIA Magazine December 2023

17 April 202417 April 2024 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

WULEI
Breaking Wind

*Breaking Wind is a term used in cycling to describe a rider who is able to break away from the main group and ride alone at a faster speed

Translation credit to @5051sm

In the past few years of falling in love with cycling, Wu Lei often finds himself in moments where he needs to “compete” with the wind.

In professional road cycling, this is called “breaking wind.” The whistling sound passing by the ears is not a clear proof of speed but also the greatest resistance to go forward. Therefore, all tactics at this moment revolve around the wind. The unseen wind becomes a perceived opponent. Wu Lei understands that he needs to surpass not only the wind but also his own self from the previous second.

The moment writing this, Beijing has just experienced its first heavy snowfall of the winter. In the photo of Wu Lei playing in the snow that he posted on Weibo, he is joyfully playing in the snow with his beloved dog Xiao Bei, diving headfirst into the thick snowdrift. A clean face without any makeup, slightly reddened by the cold wind. Covered with snow, combined with the untrimmed blue-green stubble on his chin, his big smile at this moment strikes directly at the heart.

These moments brimming with the freshness of life often appear on Wu Lei’s social media platforms. They are mostly candid shots that don’t overly focus on composition: such as the disheveled encounter with heavy rain after watching a movie late at night, or a stroll through a hutong one evening. Wu Lei doesn’t shy away from these less “refined” and even somewhat rough moments. While recording a cycling vlog in Xinjiang, despite having four pimples on his cheek due to staying up late, he boldly faces the camera and starts recording the video.

In the first half of this year, on the second day after the completion of the filming of the new drama “Amidst A Snowstorm of Love” Wu Lei embarked on a cycling journey in Northern Xinjiang. This also marks the second season of his personal cycling video series “Ride Now.” Despite more than half a year passing, Wu Lei still holds vivid memories of Northern Xinjiang. Mentioning the first day of the journey, the circumnavigation of Sailimu Lake, he felt it was an experience that he would “never forget in this lifetime.”

Sailimu Lake, situated at an altitude of over 2000 meters, has a cycling loop of 90 kilometers and Wu Lei took two days to complete it. On the first day of circumnavigating the lake, he coincidentally encountered rare May weather at Sailimu Lake, characterized by wind, rain and hail. Wu Lei described riding in the rain as an “exhausting but exciting” experience: his body felt the cold from the rain and the soreness after exhaustion, yet internally he had already scripted a passionate and dramatic narrative, urging him to persist and complete this solo lake circumnavigation.

Most of the time, cycling is a solitary activity, without interactive companions or competitors; the only challenge is the vast mountains and seas ahead. In Northern Xinjiang, Wu Lei found numerous moments that were exclusively his own. He talked about camping by Sailimu Lake, spending the night in an “isolated from the world” manner: “It feels like being in a corner of the Earth in the universe, a corner that belongs only to me and everything outside has nothing to do with me.”

Even six months later today, Wu Lei has not obtained an answer regarding the meaning of this journey. However at this moment, he no longer needs an answer: “I feel that many times we are trying to attribute meaning to something, as if always giving ourselves a psychological suggestion, as if to prove, ‘I’ve come, my journey must be fruitful.’ Upon careful consideration, it’s actually quite unnecessary. You can just enjoy the process without any purpose or summarization, without dividing your life into segments. In Wu Lei’s view, when it comes to cycling, it’s best to “not think about anything” clear the mind and focus solely on the act of “riding”. Just enjoy being in it.

What also engrosses him is acting. The new movie “All Ears” is scheduled to be released in September this year. Wu Lei plays a character named Xiaoyin, who is somewhat special: not only is he a character created by the male lead, Wenshan (played by Hu Ge) but he is also a reflection of Wenshan and even another personality of Wenshan, representing his inner self. Wu Lei believes that this character is more like “the other self that everyone talks to in their hearts.” He uses himself as a reference: when a person is in a certain state, when do they need to have a dialogue with themselves, and how to deal with the appearance of different voices in their hearts. Wu Lei often engages in this kind of “dialogue with himself.” He gradually realized that “self-reconciliation” might be a lifelong theme for humans especially for actors, pondering and understanding the “true self” is particularly important.

Only when interacting with a character does he strive to become “someone else.” In the upcoming drama “Amidst A Snowstorm of Love” Wu Lei plays Lin Yiyang, a professional snooker player. Before the start of filming, he watched documentaries about professional athletes, studying their playing habits: “Including the actions that occur after scoring or winning or losing, everything will be referenced when getting into the character. After all, I haven’t played in a competition myself.” He also played a professional tennis player in “Nothing But You”. The playing style of Song Sanchuan was largely modeled after Nadal.

At the age of 5, Wu Lei entered the entertainment industry and now approaching 24, he has nearly 19 years of acting experience. However on set, he still occasionally feels “nervous.” Last year, during the filming of “All Ears” he recalls it as a few months where he felt “like returning to being a student.” With director Cao Baoping who also served as the producer, present on set, there was always something new to learn every day. He had to summon the determination for a major exam, maintaining a high level of focus at all times.

The two upcoming films, along with director Xu Haofeng’s new-style martial arts film “Decent Things” and the already premiered “Dwelling By The West Lake” provide a diverse range of roles for Wu Lei. “Dwelling By The West Lake” draws inspiration from the legend of “Mulian saves his mother” portraying a modern version of the story where the son, Mulian, tries to rescue his mother, Taihua, from a fraudulent organization, only to find themselves both in more desperate circumstances. Wu Lei described the creative process of this film as a “quite painful” experience, not due to the lack of joy in the creation itself but because the demands of the characters and the story took a toll on both his mind and body.

Wu Lei has previously watched director Gu Xiaogang’s work, particularly “Dwelling In the Fuchun Mountains” which won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 13th FIRST Youth Film Festival. This movie tells the daily life of three generations living by the Fuchun River in Hangzhou and is predominantly performed by non-professional actors. Wu Lei expressed that after watching this film, he was “shocked.” The extreme authenticity from non-professional actors even led him to question his own performance: “Such performances are truly touching.”

Wu Lei took a considerable amount of time to contemplate before deciding to take on the script of “草木人间” (“Dwelling By The West Lake”). With the seriousness characteristic of a Capricorn, he operates in only two states: “not doing” or “doing it the best.” There is no middle ground of indecision. According to director Gu Xiaogang, before the movie started filming, Wu Lei had already immersed himself in the character’s state: he cultivated plants, started paying attention to time and nature. By the time the plants he nurtured blossomed, meeting Wu Lei on set at the beginning of filming was akin to encountering the character of Mulian in the story.

On the other hand, shooting “入型入格” (Decent Things) provided a different, exhilarating experience.

Director Xu Haofeng’s works always exhibit a distinctive “Xu style aesthetics.” The intense fight scenes, rich in rustic martial arts flavor, exude a straightforward and unadorned Jianghu atmosphere. The title “人型人格” (Decent Things) refers to the Cantonese phrase for “doing things beautifully.” Actor Chen Kun, reflecting on the numerous action scenes, expressed that they filmed fight scenes continuously for over twenty days. Wu Lei found the experience quite “extraordinary,” saying, “The first feeling is that it’s very cool, as if I’ve truly become that ‘Southern hermit’ seeking justice. Every day, I’m doing cool things, constantly ‘being formatted.'”

The presence of distinct differences between characters is not a deliberate pursuit or effort on Wu Lei’s part. He doesn’t resist the appearance of similar roles and acknowledges that delivering a different interpretation within the same type of character requires significant effort.

Wu Lei doesn’t believe there is an absolute “comfort zone” in acting. He views characters as living individuals and acknowledges that no role is entirely “comfortable” because he and the character are distinct entities. While he may feel the excitement of a fresh challenge, he doesn’t pursue it as the sole purpose of his endeavors.

Wu Lei continues to face challenges in determining the types of roles and projects he should pursue. However, he has shifted his perspective, realizing that blindly challenging himself might not be a cause for celebration. He now believes that actors should focus on getting closer to the characters rather than insisting on specific roles or scripts. He acknowledges that encountering roles is often a matter of fate, and he embraces the exploration and possibilities within his passionate profession. With a readiness to explore, this 24 year old actor is prepared to break through barriers and move forward.

Feel Wu Lei’s ‘down-to-earth flight.’

Grazia as ‘G’
WuLei as ‘W’

G: After returning from Xinjiang, have you gone cycling again? Where did you ride to?

W: Yes, I’ve cycled in Beijing occasionally after work. There’s no specific destination, most of the time, I just ride for as long as I feel like it. I might have an initial expectation in mind, but it often changes during the ride.

G: What’s the longest ride you’ve had, and how many kilometers did you cover?

W: Probably around 100 km. If I feel good and not tired, I might extend the ride, but if I’m tired, I’ll head back.

G: Among all your cycling experiences, which one is the most memorable, an experience you’ll never forget?

W: It should be the first time I hit the road with a mountain bike. It was the first experience of that speed and the feeling of flying close to the ground. I was amazed at how enjoyable and stress-relieving cycling could be.

G: Filming in Finland, what’s the most memorable experience for you?

W: After filming, I saw the beautiful Northern Lights. Also, there were some small moments during the shoot. The local co-production team was very professional and many scenes, like taking the tram and other public transportation, were filmed without disrupting the local public services. It made me feel like I easily blended into the local life. Even though I didn’t actually live there, during those several tens of days, it felt like I experienced the life of the locals.

G: “All Ears” discusses a lot about the theme of “reconciling with oneself.” Have you had such an experience yourself?

W: I think I often have internal dialogues with myself. Occasionally, I figure out many things, and then there’s a resolution. Actually, I think it’s quite important; many things are just a result of trapping oneself.

G: “Dwelling By The West Lake” went to the Tokyo International Film Festival. How did you feel receiving feedback from the audience?

W: I felt very good and beautiful, but in reality, a bit nervous because you never know if the audience will like it or not. However after the premiere, the audience’s feedback was quite positive and it felt satisfying. When dubbing, I actually watched the completed film once. This time, during the premiere, we watched it again on the big screen with the audience and it brought a different feeling.

G: Share a recent moment that you found particularly beautiful.

W: Just this morning, when I was on my way to work, there happened to be a traffic light and at that moment, the clouds in the sky looked beautiful. Some clouds were high, some were low and behind the low clouds, there were many high clouds. They stacked together, creating a beautiful scene.

240414 [Interview] Wu Lei: His eyes make decisions | Esquire Magazine April 2024

16 April 2024 WuLei GalaxyLeave a comment

One notices, if one will trust one’s eyes,
The shadow cast by language upon truth:

The bright and brutal surfaces of things
Awaited the decision of his eyes,

W. H. Auden, “Kairos and Logos”

Translation to the interview below credit to @eowuli.

“It’s so easy, that’s why so difficult to portray”

Before receiving the script for «Dwelling by the West Lake», Wu Lei had already seen Director Gu Xiaogang’s first movie «Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains». That movie first won the Best Picture Award at the 2019 FIRST International Film Festival, and later was selected as one of the top ten films of the 2020 French «Cahiers du Cinéma», obtaining recognition from numerous authoritative awards. The flowing Shanshui paintings, the rich urban atmosphere, the natural amateur actors… Wu Lei has a deep memory of this last point. He remembers watching «Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains» in an afternoon, thinking about acting for a long time.

In 2022, when he received the script with the director’s name printed on it, Wu Lei was «taken aback», he didn’t expect fate to come so soon.

“Everything is so perfect, so in line with your heart but instead, when this time comes, you chicken out.”

Wu Lei says. Taking this role means he had to challenge an artistic movie for the first time, he was worried of not being ready yet.

“I don’t know if I made myself clear?” Facing the mirror after shaving, another day of work starts and he adds: “I was afraid of not being as outstanding as the actors in the director’s previous movie.” It’s not just a single scene, but it’s the entire performance, he thinks he did not seize it well.

From the beginning, Gu Xiaogang was certain that Wu Lei is the He Mulian he was looking for. «Dwelling by the West Lake» is the second volume of his Shanshui paintings series. Human nature is like plants and trees, he wants to explore the initiatives that humans can take in their passive destiny. The He Mulian in his mind is a son of nature, mythical just as in the Buddhist story «Mulian rescues his mother» and he is also a young man from the city who has accepted the modern culture, following the life trajectory of a young person nowadays. Wu Lei is healthy, sunny, athletic and his appearance fits the image of a son of nature he had in mind. More importantly,

“Wu Lei has also a pair of limpid eyes, those eyes will make the person in front of the camera believe that he has a mysterious and subtle connection with nature.”

Jiang Qingin plays Wu Taihua, He Mulian’s mother, in « Dwelling by the West Lake ». She believes Wu Lei is an actor who has a clear understanding of himself and acting. Because he has a sense of responsibility, that’s why he thinks a lot.

The movie is divided into three acts, ‘tea’ signifies human in the grass and trees, corresponding to tea mountains, human world, the forest. Wu Lei is not so willing to recall the details of the second act’s filming. In this act, mother Wu Taihua accidentally joins a pyramid scheme organization after losing her job of picking tea leaves and son He Mulian tries hard to save her resulting in a series of conflicts between mother and son. Later, the highly discussed scene took place under the bridge, with the mother slapping and yelling at his son who reported her to the police, “Even if I don’t earn a single penny, I’m still willing to, I’m happy to.” The two actors’ crying were gut-wrenching, Wu Lei says, “It was a painful and somewhat an embarrassing memory.” But at that time, he just said to Jiang Qinqin who plays Wu Taihua, “Sis, just slap me. Just hit me, you are helping me.” After finishing that scene, he cried for an hour.

How to understand Mother’s outburst? Wu Lei tells, “People’s joys and sorrows are not intertwined, and intention and love don’t always adapt to each other.” Wu Taihua’s desire for love has always been overlooked by her son. She attempted to ask him, “What do you think of Uncle Qian?” The son couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction and replied, “Mom, I can take care of you.” The son has never stopped looking for his father who has never given news, seeking the truth that Wu Taihua refuses to reveal. “They don’t fully understand each other.”

One scene that Wu Lei likes is when Mulian and Taihua lean against each other at the Leifeng Pagoda, discussing about settling down in Hangzhou. The mountains fade away in the distance, and the opposite side brings the sound of the Nanping Evening Bell. Poetic visuals, warm emotions. When filming in the mountains during breaks, he would lie directly on the ground, watching the heart shape outlined by the trees in the air.

He thinks He Mulian is not complicated at all, he is very simple, that’s why he is so hard to portray. “He is like a lotus that emerges from the mud unstained, pure, without distracting thoughts. This kind of simplicity is not possessed by a lot of people, including me who needs to make a lot of efforts to find this feeling of simplicity.”

“Clean eyes”

Eyes. The directors who have collaborated with Wu Lei often mention those eyes. Director Li Xue of «Nirvana in Fire» said in an interview that during the casting of Fei Liu, the initial selected actors did not have this kind of clean things that can be found in this kid’s eyes. If Wu Lei won the Most Promising Actor Award at the China TV Drama Awards for his character Fei Liu as a fifteen or sixteen-year-old child actor, then this consistent temperament he had for Dwelling by the West Lake» is even more precious.

Chen Jianbin plays the second male lead in «Dwelling by the West Lake». During Dong Yuhui’s livestream, he talked about his impression of Wu Lei, “The first time I had a scene with Wu Lei was when I stood in front of the tea house and he was coming down the mountains by bike. I thought he was so full of energy, very healthy. When he is in front of me, I glance at him and I feel like I can catch his heart just by looking through his eyes. He really has a pure pair of eyes.” He debuted as a child star, with nearly 20 years of acting experience, Chen Jianbin says of Wu Lei that he is “a young actor with an old soul”. “After all, he’s been wandering in this complex world for so long, and he spent his childhood in various filming sets. Actually, rude behaviors are hard to avoid but he has really good mechanisms to eliminate these and maintain a good mindset. There’s this force in him that makes me really moved.”

Eliminating distracting thoughts requires full focus on acting itself. Director Chen Changfen of «Nothing but You» once shared, that Wu Lei doesn’t sit on the standard lounge chair, but prefers to sit on a small stool he brought himself. During a summer of over 40°C in Shenzhen, the character that Wu Lei portrays, Song Sanchuan needed to play tennis non-stop. After only playing for 10 minutes, Wu Lei’s makeup started melting off and he simply decided to stay barefaced. He can accept it. Not only does he hope to be as close as his character in terms of tennis skills, but also to demonstrate the sincerity and the health of an athlete.

Few people will doubt Wu Lei’s self-discipline and hard work. He may be the young man who knows how to ride horses the most. You look at him riding a horse across Ulan Butong snowfields under minus 28°C and you have to admire the power he has in pulling the reins in one hand, and his astonishing vision, he can see horses and roe deers when they are only a black dot in the distance. In «My Country, My Parents», «Chengfeng» part, Wu Jing who has collaborated with Wu Lei, described him as «an actor who complies with everything unconditionally», “can you start practicing horse riding one month in advance ? Yes. Can you be shirtless? Yes. Can you tan ? Yes. Can you shave your head ? Yes.” When filming a fight scene with guns, a bullet exploded and Wu Lei’s face got injured. He persisted until the end of shooting to seek medical attention.

Besides being dedicated to his work, Wu Lei is also very intelligent. He debuted at 6 years old, and he obtained Nezha’s role on his own. The assistant director of «The Legend of the Hero» went to his school to cast actors, Wu Lei did not think twice and chased after him. He shouted, “Brother, I’m also an actor. Take a few shots of me too.” When he was still a child, he said in a program,

“I want to be an actor, but I have this thought, I don’t want to be a stupid actor, I want to be a smart actor.”

What is a smart actor ? Having a clear knowledge of how to treat a project may be one of the expressions of intelligence. Although Wu Lei says his criterion of judgment for a script is “I like it so it’s good”, it’s a broad criterion. But a busybody still can find out some clues of “what they like”. When he accepted «Nothing but You», he said the script has a very advanced perception of love and he cannot miss it. It’s proven by facts, this drama is one of the few urban romance dramas that “does not contain industrial saccharin” at all. Looking at each other on the same level, exploring a relationship that they mutually work on, this drama got a Douban rating of 8.2.

He accepted «Love like the Galaxy» because of its complexity.

Later, when he talked about his understanding of the young general Ling Buyi, he would always mention this seemingly unimportant line, “I never eat after lunch”, after noon I don’t eat anymore, if I eat too much, I feel sleepy and I lose my fighting spirit.

This is the key to his character. When he can’t understand a character, he will study the character’s behavior, and will have strict demands for himself. During the filming of «Love like the Galaxy», he would work out no matter how late it was, forcing his body to remain in a tough state. He forced himself to understand the character’s spirit of restlessly seeking for revenge. In the script, Ling Buyi’s line would always start with ‘I, Ling…’, Wu Lei changed every ‘I, Ling’ to ‘I… ‘. His understanding is, considering his emotional journey, Ling Buyi would never call himself ‘I, Ling’.

Others would consider «Love like the Galaxy» as a shifting point. Not only because this is the character that went out of the circle after his character Fei Liu from «Nirvana in Fire», but it is also because in this drama, Wu Lei has once again transformed his image on screen. Ling Buyi’s character is so suspicious, ruthless and dark which is far from Wu Lei’s true nature. To some extent, Wu Lei completed his transformation from a little boy, a little brother to a man, a boyfriend through Ling Buyi.

Regarding acting, Wu Lei may not have ambition written on his face but he has enough patience. “An actor definitely has stages but the limitations of this stage should be determined by yourself, there is no standard answer to what I should film. A lot of things should come naturally, they cannot be forced. I used to think that I can only see such a great script like «Dwelling by the West Lake», such a great story, such a great director only after 35 years old. Who could have thought that I would meet it less than two years after liking «Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains» so much ?” He always thinks that the road is still long. In the early stage of his career, he was lucky enough to be appreciated and favored by the audience, he said it gave him reassurance and he felt tolerated. It made him feel like he has plenty of time to meet each of his character.

“Acting is the happiest profession in the world”

20 years after debuting, “veteran actor” Wu Lei no longer likes sharing his thoughts on acting with the outside world, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell or that there are some untold mysteries but it’s because acting has become more and more private, I feel like I should think about it alone. Many things taste different when told.”

In «Dwelling by the West Lake», He Mulian is a young man who struggles to find a job after graduating with an unclear future. This is a difficulty that many young people will inevitably face one day. Wu Lei started working very early, and it seems his future is not a problem for him. But he states, “My worries are probably similar to Mulian’s. I want to keep on acting, but sometimes actors become jobless after finishing filming. When I’m on break, I still want to film, so I’m similar to Mulian who needs to find a job.”

The outside world’s expectations are one thing, Wu Lei says, what he wants to do most is to prove himself to himself. At age 18, he played the role of young warrior Yang Ping in Zhang Yimou’s movie «Shadow» and shortly after, he was admitted in Beijing Film Academy with the highest score of the country. After reaching legal age, he took a step after another and broke through his image, creating well-loved characters such as Ashile Sun, Zheng Yuxing, Ling Buyi, Song Sanchuan, Lin Yiyang and He Mulian. Wu Lei is overall satisfied with his works in recent years, “Anyway, I have satisfied my expectations.” Doubts appear more often during the daily breaks between filming, worrying and thinking of the characters and details. There are times when he wanted to stop working so hard, but after calming down, after finding reason, he still felt, or rather he increasingly felt, being an actor is the happiest profession in the world.

“After all, aren’t we working hard for ourselves most of the time ? I will treasure it.”

In the past two years, the happiest moment in Wu Lei’s life was probably filming «Ride Now». He likes riding bikes, from Quanzhou to Xiamen, cycling around Qingdao Lake with his friends or stepping alone on the long road around Sailimu Lake. Over the past three years, behind the more and more qualitative production of his videos, is Wu Lei’s wholehearted dedication. He is not only a cyclist, he is also a director, a planner. Executing it is really not an easy task. He always shoots videos when the filming team is changing location or after the wrapping of his work. For him, “being on the road” is also like resting. “I like riding bicycles, I am doing something that makes me happy and during that process, I also received some love, I feel so lucky.”

Lucky, Wu Lei repeatedly emphasized. He didn’t feel tired filming one project after another. In reality, actor Wu Lei has never wanted to take a break,

“In this world, which young person doesn’t work hard ? I don’t work that hard anymore. I’m so lucky to have all of this, so I have no right to complain.”

Wu Lei is good at learning through his roles. He learned from Song Sanchuan what an outstanding boy can look like : respecting women, the sense of responsibility, the courage of a man. He maintains a friendly teacher student relationship with seniors of the industry. In the filming team of «Dwelling by the West Lake», he and «Sister Qin» both got baptized by the script like battle companions and from Chen Jianbin, he learned a more open way to regard performance.

At the same time, Wu Lei is also good at finding fun in life. Gaming, eating takeout all can make him happy. What if we use three words to describe ourselves?

He says he would answer : My gaming skills are extremely high, I know how to order takeout, I can easily remember how long each food needs to be boiled in a lamb hotpot.

After the interview, he started playing with a children’s skateboard, bent over and walked back and forth in the hallway with excitement. He just subtly switched from serious to relaxed, from stable and mature to lively like a young a man. It reminds people of Chen Jianbin’s description, Wu Lei is “a young actor with an old soul.”

Original article: Esquire WeChat