Wu Lei learn about friendship and love, understand meeting and parting
Before meeting “Wu Sanlang”, Wu Lei didn’t know that owning a dog was such a gentle and melancholy feeling. Although he was only a teenager, he already knew how to start a relationship seriously. The days together were like two friends growing up together. He knew that he could learn friendship and love, and would eventually understand meeting and parting.
Wu Lei’s golden retriever is the third in the family, and he calls it “Wu Sanlang”. It seems to have the “genes” of the Wu family, and it has a very gentle personality, is very friendly to everyone, and is easy to get along with. The day he was brought home, Sanlang was still a small one, and he has grown up to be a big and mighty one today. Even Wu Lei himself is very emotional: “Time flies, and I have grown up too.”
During the filming days, Sanlang was fostered at a relative’s house. When he sent him away for the first time, he felt a little unhappy. “He grew up with me and brought me a lot of joy. Although my mother always told me that I could visit him anytime when I missed him, I still felt reluctant.” After filming, Wu Lei had a “video call” with him when he returned to the hotel. “I played with him in front of the camera. Although he would bark from time to time, I don’t know if he really understood. But seeing him so lively and healthy, I was still very happy.”
After spending a long time together, he felt that Wu Sanlang could read his heart. When he was happy, it was happy with him; when he was upset because of doing something wrong, it stayed quietly by his side. It was a very subtle feeling. Whenever he talks about the trivia of his beloved dog, the boy becomes very detailed. “It has a lively personality and is very clingy. It’s afraid of strangers at first, but opens its heart to play with them once it gets familiar with them. It likes to eat canned food and has a small ball that it has played with since it was little. There are many ways to get close to it, and it especially likes me to hold it and put my hands on its shoulders…”
The most proud moment was when Wu Sanlang played a role called “Da Huang” in “Pal Inn”. “Everyone knows that small animals are not easy to control during filming. I’m proud of it. My Sanlang only listens to me and not others, haha…” On the set, he would not catch the frisbees thrown by others, but only those thrown by Wu Lei. He tied a piece of bread to the frisbee, “Sanlang’s eyes immediately turned green, and he bit the frisbee like an enemy, and that scene was filmed smoothly.”
The behind-the-scenes photo of him wearing Li Xiaoyao’s clothes and holding Sanlang went viral for a while. “It was easier to hold it when it was young, but now it’s getting bigger and bigger, and it feels a bit difficult…” He knows that the big golden retriever will be too old to walk sooner or later. Until then, he will still hold it like this and take a walk in the yard to bask in the sun. “I know that sooner or later I will face this day, just like everyone will face life and death. This is a lesson we all have to learn. But I still look at the bright side, keep my original intention, love it forever, and cherish the company I have now.”
The handsome young man has bright eyebrows and bright eyes, he stands like a Zhilan Yushu, his smile is like the bright moon in the arms*
*立如芝兰玉树 (stands like a Zhilan Yushu) is an idiom to call a promising young man with both moral integrity and talent. Originally a metaphor for the children of noble people, it is also used as a compliment to outstanding young people. 笑如朗月入怀 (bright moon in the arms) is an idiom to describes a man’s temperament and praises a person’s demeanor and smile.
Care and companionship, meeting and parting, after going through so many things, we still have love in our hearts
Golden Retrievers are often used as guide dogs. If you have the opportunity, would you participate in charity activities related to guide dogs?
As far as I know, golden retrievers are very smart. I once saw a dog IQ ranking list, and golden retrievers ranked fourth. They can be said to be one of the smartest dogs in the dog world. They are highly obedient and easy to train. Secondly, golden retrievers have a gentle personality and strong anti-interference ability. They can effectively reject temptation and are loyal to their owners. Golden retrievers are moderate sized and very convenient for their owners to lead. They are friendly and love to work, which makes people more willing to give them the work of guide dogs. If I have the opportunity, I would certainly be very willing to participate in such meaningful activities and do my part.
Have you ever seen stray animals at film and television bases or other filming locations? Have you ever tried to take care of them?
Occasionally I come across stray cats and dogs. I like small animals very much and I always want to touch and take care of them. Since I got Sanlang, I have deeply experienced the deep affection between animals and humans. If you treat it well, it will rely on you more. This kind of relationship is really warm.
Wu Lei is always seen with a sunny smile in the media, but what attracts everyone’s attention is the “Fei Liu” he played in “Nirvana in Fire” – a very stubborn child who hardly smiles. As an actor, a certain level of depth is needed to support the role and make it three-dimensional. “Fei Liu” makes everyone realize that Wu Lei is a big boy with a bright smile, but his eyes are brimming with content when he is serious.
When I saw Wu Lei, he was struggling to tear open the outer box of a courier package. He first used the key at hand to cut the seal, and then tore off a corner with his bare hands. His technique was very manly. Even though his finger was scratched, he still declined the help of the staff around him. In addition to the excitement of a big boy receiving something he loves, his face also showed concentration and persistence. As a big boy who is surrounded by people all day and does not need to do anything himself, his focused expression has revealed some masculine charm.
As a child star, the general pattern is that they are extremely cute when they are young, but they tend to grow crooked or become rebellious when they grow up. Wu Lei did not develop according to that pattern, but gave a very positive example. Fei Liu seen in “Nirvana in Fire” is still the same as the little Nezha back then, with clean and smart eyes. Transformation is a challenge that every actor, especially child stars, must face. How to combine the character setting with one’s own personality, let everyone witness a boy slowly grow into a man, and live each stage of life full of vivid details as the starting point of the future, this is a long and challenging proposition.
During the interview, Wu Lei was putting on makeup and had to keep a blank expression. When asked whether he is a slow-to-warm-up type, Wu Lei said that he is a very hot person inside and outside. To enhance his persuasiveness, he turned his head slightly and looked over. His smiling eyes flashed with confidence and playfulness, and his dark eyes were full of spirit. He was still expressionless but unquestionable. Perhaps this is what an actor is like. It is enough to just use his eyes.
Q&A
When did you realize that you like acting? Is it possible to change your career path in the future? If you change, what kind of work do you want to do?
When I first started acting, I just thought it was fun. Although I was young, I knew I liked acting. So I liked acting from the beginning, and it has never changed until now. Some people think that acting is hard, and one shot may have to be shot many times. When I finish a shot, especially when it meets my expectations, I will enjoy the satisfaction very much. It’s like making a three-pointer in basketball, which is a very refreshing feeling. So far, I will choose to be an actor as my career. If I have to have a second choice, I will choose to be a director.
As a spokesperson for the “post-95s” actors, your image has always been a sunny boy. Have you ever experienced a rebellious period?
I don’t seem to have an obvious rebellious period. Perhaps because I have played some roles in the rebellious period, I have experienced the contradictory psychology of the rebellious period during the acting process, and also realized my possible rebellious behaviors through the roles. This should be the advantage of an actor, and you can have different experiences through the roles.
You once said that you hope to be a man like “One Piece”. Can you describe what kind of man that is?
Luffy is a symbol of the kind of man I admire. He is responsible, capable, and cool. Responsible means having a sense of responsibility, and capable means being confident. Being cool is the least important of the three. In fact, when it comes to the most important thing, I think the first one is kindness. The first criterion for me to choose a friend is also kindness. First of all, he must be a good person.
How do you view a man’s appearance?
I think appearance is important for everyone. It’s not only actor who cares about their appearance. Of course, inner qualities such as kindness are always more important than outer qualities. I often take selfies and share them with my fans on Weibo. It is a trend for men to care about their appearance, and their inner qualities can be better reflected through their appearance.
What kind of books do you like to read? How do you enrich yourself when you are busy at work?
I like reading history books recently. I will read anything related to history. On the one hand, I like to read the specific historical facts, and on the other hand, I also like to read the authors’ analysis of these events. I have filmed a lot of period films and I feel that I should know more about this aspect. Of course, reading is not the only way to learn. There must be something I can learn from others. Even chatting with people around you can learn a lot. No matter how busy you are at work or how many things you have to do, you can always find opportunities for “input” as long as you pay attention.
If you use characters from Jin Yong’s novels to describe yourself, which one do you hope to be?
I would choose Ouyang Feng, haha, you didn’t expect it! Although Ouyang Feng is a villain, I think he is very cool and a martial arts fanatic with a bottom line. If I have the opportunity in the future, I would like to play some villains, such as Ouyang Feng. This is very challenging and exciting for an actor.
Nowadays, as an actor, you have to face a large number of fans every day. How do you view the crazy behaviors of fans? What do you think “Leimi*” value most about you?
I must first remind fans to pay attention to safety, this is the first priority. As for what “Leimi*” like about me, I’m not really sure, maybe they like different things, I just need to do my best. It is not good to care too much or not care at all about other people’s opinions, keep improving yourself.
*Leimi is the name of Wu Lei’s fandom. It literally means Lei fans.
Which work are you currently filming or about to start filming? What are your criteria for selecting scripts? Will you intentionally seek breakthroughs?
I’m currently filming the movie “Asura”. Everything about this movie is confidential, so I’m not in a position to say more. As for the criteria for selecting scripts, I will not deliberately choose different types of roles, as long as I like them. Even if it is the same role, you can interpret different feelings, which is the fun of acting. Of course, a bigger challenge will bring greater satisfaction, which is what I look forward to.
Although Wu Lei is only 16 years old, he is already a “senior veteran” in the entertainment industry, and he is also a very high-class one. He started filming commercials at the age of 3, played Nezha in “Investiture of the Gods” at the age of 6, and played Yang Guo in Yu Zheng’s version of “The Return of the Condor Heroes” at the age of 14. In 2015, his cute face was all over the TV industry. You will find him no matter which channel you change, from “Pal Inn” and “The Whirlwind Girl” to the popular drama “Nirvana in Fire”, and even the variety show “Smart 7”. It seems that Wu Lei, the adorable god must be popular! This time, under the instigation of COSMO, Wu Lei himself constantly reveals his multifaceted personality: cute, weird, innocent, mature, 16 and 35 years old! As he said, those born after 1995 are more individualistic, more creative and more daring to express themselves.
Attention! The adorable god is here Please be careful to avoid him!
Face to face Revealing Wu Lei’s cute and weird moments
How does Wu Lei, the adorable god, experience his role? Editor: “Wu Lei, do you think TV dramas are real?” Wu Lei: “TV dramas are all lies!” Editor: “Then how can you put real emotions into it?” Wu Lei: “If you want to put real emotions, just YY*.” Editor: …
*YY is yì yín (意淫). It’s a slang in Chinese, meaning “fantasizing”.
What is Wu Lei the adorable god best at? Editor: “Wu Lei, do you think you’re good at being cute? Wu Lei: “Am I good at being cute? Yes, I think… I’m good at it.” Editor: “So reluctant? Then what do you think you are best at?” Wu Lei: “Eating!” Editor: …
Your adorable god is so adorable that he fly
Who is the male idol of Wu Lei the adorable god? Editor: “Wu Lei, you like Pleasant Goat*, right?” Wu Lei: “Sister, I’m actually 35 years old. You can say I like Schwarzenegger, but don’t say I like Pleasant Goat.” Editor: …
*Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf is a Chinese animated series
Adorable god Wu Lei’s love “experience”? Editor: “Wu Lei, you have never been in love, how can you act in love?” Wu Lei: “Sister, you have never eaten pork, but you have seen pigs run away*?” Editor: … Wu Lei: “There are people who make fun of singles everywhere in life, let’s get over this question, I’m going to eat my dog food**!” Editor (inner OS): “Dog food** for singles??”
*沒吃過豬肉, 也看過 豬跑路 (I have never eaten pork, but I have seen pigs run away) is a proverb often used to describe people who have not personally experienced things, but have heard about them, seen them, and have some understanding.
** 狗粮 (dog food) means public display of affection. Eating dog food means when you see someone elso being lovey dovey with their partner.
How good-looking is Wu Lei? Editor: “Wu Lei, do you think you’re good-looking?” Wu Lei: “My appearance is not determined by me, but by others.” Editor: “Oh.” Wu Lei (in a threatening manner): “Tell me quickly, am I good-looking, am I good-looking?” Editor (a look of grievance): “Yes, really good-looking!” Wu Lei (in a comforting manner): “It’s okay, sometimes I don’t exercise at home, and I lie on the bed every day, and my appearance is so bad at that time!” Editor: …
Wu Lei Galaxy 