Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Hawaii Five-0’s Katrina Law

Katrina Law has built an illustrious career across film and television, with starring roles in Training Day, The Oath, Arrow, and most recently, Hawaii Five-0. But breaking into the industry hasn’t been easy. When she first made her way to LA, she spent a decade going on audition after audition without booking a single project. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with the talented actress about persevering through tough times, finding her strength, and joining the cast of Hawaii Five-0.

Career

PC: You’ve had a ton of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that sticks out to you?
Katrina: Yes, there were a couple of moments. My very first job was an extra on Lucky Numbers, a Nora Ephron film. They were shooting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I remember being so excited that a Hollywood production was coming to my side of town. I drove two and a half hours to get to Harrisburg to be an extra. It was in the middle of November. For those of you who don’t know, November in Harrisburg is cold, and they were like, “Well, we need people to jump into the river and get on these floats and act like it’s summertime.” The water was like thirty-five degrees, and the air was thirty-six degrees. We got paid like fifty dollars. [laugh] I remember I was so excited that I volunteered and I did it. It was one of the best days of my life because I was so happy. I love set life, and I was contemplating whether or not I wanted to do this as a career. This was also a test to see if I loved the environment.

It’s amazing. I look back on that, and I think how far I’ve come and how excited I was. There are times where I have to remind myself don’t ever lose that level of excitement. Don’t ever take this industry for granted. Don’t ever take this job for granted. It’s moments like that. I remember when I booked Spartacus. It had been such a struggle. I’d been in LA for ten years at that point and booked nothing. I was told I wasn’t Asian enough or I was too Asian. I was told I wasn’t good enough. I was told I was too fat. I was told this and that—just about everything. Then I booked Spartacus, and I remember I broke down sobbing when I got the call. My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, was like, “What’s wrong?” I was like, “Nothing. This is so good.” He’s like, “Why are you crying?” I’m like, “I don’t know.” It’s moments like that where I try to hold on to and remember how big this dream was when I was a little girl in Jersey and how impossible it seemed. Now, it’s my nine-to-five, and I have to not forget how hard I fought for it.

PC: In those moments when you weren’t booking roles, how were you able to push forward and persevere?
Katrina: In this industry, in order to make it, you have to be incredibly stupid and narcissistic at the same time. There was this overwhelming belief that I was going to make it. I was like, “No, this is it! I’m going to make it. You don’t think I’m good enough? I’m totally good enough.” I started to look at myself as a product. I wasn’t going to let the noes and rejection defeat me. I went, “Fine. My product isn’t good enough. I’ll make it better. How do I make it better? You don’t think I’m a good enough actor? Well, I’ll take more classes. You don’t think this and that, I’ll fix it.” As long as I don’t feel like I’m selling my soul, I’ll do it. When everybody is telling you “no,” you have to be your strongest advocate. There are times you have to be stupid and say, “I’m going to make it, and I’m not going to listen to common sense.” [laughs] When you’re not able to pay your rent, you have to be like, “No, it’s fine. It’s totally fine.” I think stupidity and narcissism got me through the majority of my career.

PC: Who or what would you say has had the biggest influence on your career?
Katrina: I think it’s between my husband, Keith Andreen, and then my manager, Joel Stevens, and their unwavering faith in my eventual success. Their ability to speak to me with the hard truth but yet do it in a kind, loving way that didn’t defeat me or destroy me.

My husband has been my acting coach since 2009. 2009 is when I started really booking everything. He’s been really great at being able to say, “You’re doing one of your tricks” or “I can see you’re phoning it in.” He’s been great because he knows me personally. He’s able to call me out pretty quickly.

The same with my manager. He’s eternally optimistic. Joel Stevens has been there when there were stretches where I wasn’t booking, and at no point did he threaten to drop me as a client. There was a time when I conveyed to him that I was afraid he was going to drop me because I hadn’t booked anything in two years. He goes, “No way. We’re in this for the long run. This is a marathon. This isn’t a sprint.” I think surrounding myself with people who are your biggest cheerleaders in this industry—in any form of life actually—is so important.

Hawaii Five-0

PC: You’ve joined the cast of Hawaii Five-0 this season. What can you tell us about your character and her arc?
Katrina: I play Quinn Liu. She’s a former military CID who got demoted but eventually gets promoted to a team member of Five-0. She was recruited by McGarrett himself, and that’s a big honor for her. Throughout the season, you’ll see her prove herself to the team more and more as to why she deserves to be there. In Quinn’s mind, she believes she belongs there, and that’s where she wants to be. But she has the feeling that she’s the new person and needs to prove herself.

On a personal level, you’re going to see that Quinn has a quirky sense of humor. She’s a little more nerdy and dorky than you might think or expect from a typical badass female character. I think if you were to see Quinn in her off-duty, she would be at home on a couch reading a book, sipping a glass of wine, and probably playing sudoku. I think she’s a little more of an introvert than probably the rest of the team.

PC: Was there any pressure heading into this project, given the established cast and dedicated fan base?
Katrina: It’s always scary to be the new kid at school, let alone an iconic show such as Hawaii Five-0, which has been very successful for the past ten years. It represents the original version of the show and the current incarnation of it. The fan base is rabid. They have their favorites and their ships. It’s always scary to wonder if you’re going to fit in with the crowd, if the fans will like you, or if they’ll reject you. Once you get the role, you have to live up to the standards that Hawaii Five-0 has already produced. I’m doing my best to try to keep up with this amazing cast. Alex [O’Loughlin] and Scott [Caan] are brilliant, and working with them has challenged me, just by what they do. I’ve had to step up my game to keep up with them. I’m so appreciative that I get to work with them every day. And the fans have been amazing. I want to thank them for welcoming me with open arms.

PC: Fans will recognize you from your role on Arrow. What’s been the transition like going from Arrow to Hawaii Five-0?
Katrina: Well, the costumes are a lot more modern-day. [laughs] This has been one of my favorite characters to play. I’ve absolutely loved my ride on Arrow and Nyssa has been a delight and a surprise every single time that she’s popped up in the Arrowverse. Nyssa sees the world through a very specific lens. As she’s gotten to know Oliver and has hung out with the Lance sisters, she started to soften over the years and become more well-rounded as a human, but she’s been pretty skewed in one direction. Quinn is more sympathetic as a human and more open to the possibilities of what humans are capable of and then also feel for them.

PC: I have to ask or the Arrow fans will kill me, is there any chance we’ll see you reprise your role in the final season?
Katrina: Spoiler alert! Can’t tell you. Nice try, though. [laughs]

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Katrina: I love Riverdale! My friend Madelaine Petsch is on it, and I love her to death. Even if she wasn’t on it, I would absolutely love Riverdale. But I do think she’s one of the best parts of the show. I also am back onto Downton Abbey. Just finished The Dark Crystal, The Boys, and Carnival Row. I also love The Office and Gossip Girl.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Katrina: I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy. Everybody makes fun of me for it. They’re always like, “I hope you’re not surprised by this ending.” Because it’s the twentieth time I’ve seen Love Actually, Knight and Day, This Means War, or The Holiday. I could watch those over and over again.

PC: Favorite book?
Katrina: Skinny Legs and All and Thumbelina.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Katrina: Les Mis is spectacular. I went and saw it on Broadway. I was sitting by myself and sobbing hysterically in the audience by myself. The Lion King was pretty great. I went to go see that one by myself, and I remember thinking, “Girl, close your mouth!” Because I was just like, “Ahh,” the entire time.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Katrina: I have everyone from Lana Del Rey to Nicki Minaj.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Katrina: Chloe Bennet

PC: Hidden talent?
Katrina: I’m really good at making clay figurines. It’s a pretty useless skill. [laughs]

To keep up with Katrina, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Catch new episodes of Hawaii Five-0 every Friday at 8/7c.

Photo Credit: Shanna Fisher