Pop-Culturalist.com

In the enthralling world of The Brothers Sun, Alice Hewkin delivers a mesmerizing performance that breathes life into two captivating characters. Her thoughtful exploration of voice, tone, and movement brings a unique artistic transformation to each, showcasing a remarkable depth of skill and expertise.

Created by Byron Wu and Brad Falchuk, The Brothers Sun centers around Charles Sun (Justin Chien), a Taiwanese gangster who must travel to Los Angeles to protect his mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh), and younger brother, Bruce (Sam Song Li), after his father, the head of a Taipei triad, is shot by a mysterious assassin.

Alice captivates as May and June, twins who are entangled in the dark underworld of drugs, crime, and illegal tattooing, eventually becoming allies to the family.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Alice about The Brothers Sun and learned more about her process in crafting two distinct characters. Plus, we chatted about the show’s importance in this groundbreaking moment in cinema and what it means to her.

PC: You’re one of the stars of The Brothers Sun, and one of the central themes in the series is the power of the choices we make and finding one’s purpose. How did you discover your passion for storytelling and the arts?
Alice: Acting is the only thing that I feel like I’m really good at. Since I can remember, it’s something that has almost been in my blood. When I was really young, I remember watching this film called Chocolat. I saw it and became really obsessed with Juliette Binoche’s character and that story. For me, I felt like I inhabited this world, and I was only a kid at this point. I just loved creating worlds and telling stories. That was my way of communicating when I was younger.

Then, when I was thirteen, I did a film called Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars. That was a lightbulb moment for me. It was like, “I can really do this as a job.” It was so much fun. It felt like it came so naturally to me, and I got to work with such inspiring actors to tell this great story.

PC: This is such an interesting project where you’re getting to play two characters. While they’re sisters, they’re wildly different, and you deliver such a transformative performance. What was the process like in finding that balance between those familial ties while also making each their own unique person?
Alice: That’s a good question. What was really important to me is that I wanted to make them feel different even though they’re twins. It was crucial that when you watched them, you felt like they were two distinct individuals. For me, that came from the voice and movement. I really wanted the pitch and tone to sound different in the way they spoke, and also how they moved.

Both of the twins have grown up with trauma. They’re both orphans, but they deal with that trauma in different ways. May is a lot more open. From the outside, she can be a lot more fun, allowing me to use more gesticulation and movement in my arms. She has these amazing nails, a lot of jewelry, and carries many things around her. So I felt like that was really fun to play with. Also, she’s erratic, and things can change in an instant. So I could really play with all of that with May.

With June, she’s completely different. She’s a lot more grounded, composed, and vulnerable. For her, she has a softer side, but on the outside, she’s very, very strong. She’s like, “No one will mess with me.” May’s a little more manipulative, putting on a facade to lure people in, whereas June is a lot more guarded.

It really helped that I got to play May first, and then I could shed her skin and come into June and really focus on her. The clothes and makeup also helped a lot. It was really about finding the difference in voice, their movement, and the quirks about them that made them each a unique person.

PC: It’s such a great introduction to May, where she comes off so bubbly, and then within a snap of a moment, she becomes really scary.

Alice: Yeah! She becomes so intense so quickly. It’s funny because a lot of my friends and family who watched the show didn’t even recognize it was me when I was May because of the wardrobe, the accent, and how I moved. That was quite funny. Even my own dad did not recognize me!

PC: That’s a testament to your talent. Throughout the first season, we see the impact that May has had on June’s life and vice versa. Who were the people in your own life who’ve shaped the storyteller and artist that you are today?
Alice: My mom is a huge influence. This is a story about family, which is so universal. My own mom really inspires me, and I’m very close to her. She’s been so supportive of my career. I’m adopted, and I feel that could have gone one of two ways. She’s been so supportive in my close circle. In terms of the industry, it’s genuinely been Michelle Yeoh. Growing up, I always questioned whether this was possible, and my mom really inspired me to keep going.

PC: As you were saying earlier, your characters have experienced so much lost in their lives. There’s so much vulnerability that you get to explore, especially with June. While she’s fueled by her desire for revenge and whether or not you agree with her actions and decisions, it’s very human and grounded. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to tackle that emotional journey?
Alice: I’ve gone through a lot myself as a person. I was adopted like June. When I read the script and the role of June, I really felt for her, and I understood that pain she was feeling. I didn’t want to make it all about that, and I wanted to find those moments of lightness. She can, in certain moments, be really funny. She covers a lot of her pain by fighting. She’s guarded. She’s the type of person that if she lets someone in and they hurt her, that’s the end for her. She’ll either kill them [laughs] or seek revenge. To let someone in is a big deal for her. In the series, she goes on this journey to find out who killed her sister because that’s the end all for her. It just happens that she ties in with the family at that point. I took a moment to understand how I would feel in that situation and relate that to June.

PC: That’s so insightful. You really get to show the different layers of your artistry, whether you’re taking part in a big fight sequence in Episode 107 or those really subtle, beautiful moments where you’re acknowledging the cultural and generational nuances between siblings. How does the preparation differ when you’re exploring that physicality versus finding the emotional core of a scene?
Alice: I did a lot of training. I work with the best stunts team in the world. Justin Yu is incredible. We couldn’t have asked for a better team in that respect. On the days when I wasn’t filming, I would go and train. Jon (Xue Zhang), who plays Blood Boots, helped me a lot with the different movements. It was such a pleasure to fight against Justin and Madison (Hu) in the show because when you have great scene partners opposite of you, it becomes so easy. It flows, and then you can just play. I trained really hard before and during. Then I had a bit of rest after. [laughs] The biggest thing is I wanted to make sure I was on my A-game with that.

In terms of the emotional stuff, I actually made playlists. I made one for June and one for May. I tried to create a world for each of the characters. This sounds random, but I did a lot of people-watching because when you meet someone, everyone has a different way of how they are. I really relate to that. For May, I went to a lot of art galleries and looked at these artists that did lots of colorful paintings. I remember one that had a lot of different colors and shapes. I took a photo on my phone, and used that to access her as well. So I did a lot of different things, but for June, it was really observing people and I took from my own experiences.

PC: That feels very aligned with June, who can pick up on that family dynamic and the relationship between the brothers so quickly.

Alice: Exactly. I also think there’s a part of her that wants that. She hasn’t had that. May was the closest person to her. I can’t even begin to imagine if I lost my closest person (my mom) and how that would affect me. She looks at that family, and that’s what she wants. That’s very universal.

PC: As you were saying earlier, you also get to bring so much levity to this series. How much fun is that for you to get to play in all those different spaces? How much of that is scripted versus improvised?
Alice: That’s the writers. That’s Byron and Brad. They are geniuses. Also, if I ever read something and it didn’t feel right, Byron was so open to me changing it. I didn’t really have to do that because everything is so beautifully written. I did get to play with different options for each moment, and we would try different variations of a scene. Ultimately, I was so lucky with the incredible writing. I just had to relax and play with it. It’s really fun as an actor to be like, “I want to try saying this or try saying that.” I love improvisation.

PC: Representation is such a cornerstone of media. You shared this beautiful post on Instagram acknowledging the artists and projects that have paved the way like Everything Everywhere All At Once. Have you had time to reflect on your own contributions in this much-needed movement and the impact that you’re creating for our community with shows like The Brothers Sun being streamed on a platform like Netflix and all the success that it’s had? What has this moment meant to you?
Alice: This moment feels groundbreaking. When I was a kid growing up, it was so rare to see faces like us on screen. Fast forward to today, I get to be a part of an all-Asian cast. It’s incredible. What Michelle and so many other great actors have done to pave the way, this feels like a dream come true. It’s so important, and there’s still so much work to continue to be done. But I also have to acknowledge that I’m so fortunate to be in this place getting to live out my dreams. I really want to inspire and continue to inspire the younger generations that come after me to be like, “It is possible,” especially for people who look like me. Keep dreaming and working hard, you can get there.

PC: Continue blazing that trail. It’s so important for young boys and girls to see themselves reflected in the media that they consume.

Alice: It really means so much to me to be a part of this show because it is really big. It’s on Netflix. It has a big reach. I want everyone to see it. It’s so important for our community and for the world as well. It’s such an important show that has so much to say. It brings so much value as well.

Going to the 626 Market and seeing the fans, it was magical. It was so uplifting. The fact that we can touch people who are watching and they’re so excited about this show, it means so much. I just hope to do more.

PC: I think there were like 20,000 people in attendance. The show has been consistently in the Top 10 since its debut and if that doesn’t send a message, I’m not sure what will. As you said earlier, one of the people who have paved that way is Michelle. What was it like getting to work alongside her? What did you learn about your own craft starring opposite her?
Alice: Her talent is unbelievable. Not only is she one of the most talented actors that I’ve ever worked with, she’s also just so nice, kind, and grounded. She’s really fun. She can talk to you about anything.

On set, I just watched her. I was just hoping that talent would rub off on me. You learn a lot by watching. As babies, you learn a lot when you’re young, you pick up on accents, intonations, and movement. It’s really about relaxing and letting the process do its thing. By being in a scene with her and observing her, I felt like that was working. [laughs]

PC: That’s such a great point. You do learn a lot from watching and as a child. The entire first season is out on Netflix right now. Is there a scene that you were really excited for audiences to see?
Alice: There were a few scenes. I was really excited for the piano scene because it was so unexpected. June is a tattoo artist and creative. That’s really her soft side. She doesn’t show that to anyone, only the people that she really trusts. I think she really trusts the brothers, so she relaxes slightly there by delving into that artistic side. It’s great because I play the piano as well. That was really moving.

Actually, can I say all of it? [laughs] But also the fight scenes. Everyone’s action scenes are incredible. I was holding my breath watching those scenes because it feels so real. When I was watching Eileen (Michelle Yeoh) and Xing (Jenny Yang) fight at the end of Episode 8, I was on the edge of my seat. Because I was like, “Who’s going to win?” So I’m very excited for everyone to see that.

The show has everything. It’s so binge-able. I was laughing out loud. I cried. There are a lot of touching relationships. At the core, it’s about family and trust. When different characters have ulterior motives, that’s when you see the family come together. They will not mess around. That’s really special and touching.

PC: I’m a sucker for those subtle moments. That piano scene is so moving because June is really able to drive home to Charles (Justin Chien) that it’s about appreciating the time that you have with your family.

Alice: It’s exactly that, especially in this assassin world. You never know when your last moment is, so it really is about appreciating the ones that you truly love. Family comes first like it does in real life as well. Some people create that family with their close friends. Everybody wants to feel close to somebody, whether that’s one person or five. It’s so universal.

PC: That use of humor really keeps it refreshing. That’s a credit to you and Sam.

Alice: Sam was making me laugh so much. There are so many funny moments. Also, how good is that soundtrack? I think it’s important that it’s light because it makes it binge-able and makes it universal. Just like in life, there’s tragedy and sadness, but sometimes in those moments, we laugh. Sometimes in the craziest moments in life, I just laugh because I’m like, “What else is there to do?” You can only be silly and laugh.

PC: If we’re lucky enough to get a second season, is there an aspect of June that you’d like to delve deeper into or a relationship that you’d like to explore further?
Alice: I would love to see June get closer with the family. She’s very protective over them, and I want to see her open up more. We’ve seen droplets of that which has been great, but that would be a dream. It’d be great to see more of her. The fans of the show have been incredible to June and May as well, but obviously she dies. I was so sad about that. But I think it’s good because it gives June a reason to be there.

I remember during the audition and reading the two characters and being like, “This is a dream come true for an actor to get to play.” It really is about playing. I’m a very instinctive and intuitive actor. I can’t get too much in my head. I need to feel, observe, and work in that way. It’s so exciting when it all just flows. So in the audition, I was like, what are the differences between May and June? I was having to switch between the two, and that was so much fun.

PC: I give you so much credit because I didn’t realize you were playing two characters!

Alice: Really? That’s so touching to hear. It’s so funny because as an actress, I definitely feel like I’m a chameleon in ways. You have to bring truth to the characters. Ultimately, it’s you who’s playing the characters, and you need to bring that truth and yourself to it because that’s what grounds it. But you’re in this world where you get to put on different accents and find the character’s voice and movement that’s a lot of fun. When it all comes together, there’s nothing like it. I’m really touched by the fact that you didn’t realize that.

PC: Their demeanors are so different.

Alice: That’s really touching to hear. You never know because obviously I am the same person. But May looks very different. They did such a great job with the hair and the makeup. I also had so much playing with the props. That’s helpful as well. I wanted to ground May. I didn’t want her to feel too ridiculous. But she was so much fun to play. I loved being able to snap into that intensity and that playfulness.

PC: That was quite an introduction to May. I know she only got one episode.

Alice: I know! It was short-lived, but it was a very fun death scene.

PC: We live in the world of television where they could do flashbacks in Season 2.

Alice: Yes! You never know. May is crazy. You could see her doing anything. That’s the thing with May. You could see her wearing anything. She smokes, drinks, and dances. I would love to see May do a dance scene. That really would be a scene to watch. Actually, June as well.

PC: I feel like they’re setting up June to be Eileen’s right-hand person in Season 2.

Alice: Oh, I hope so! I just don’t want to die because I’m in that assassin world. [laughs]

To keep up with Alice, follow her on Instagram. The Brothers Sun is out on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Sandra Ebert