Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Private Eyes’ Samantha Wan

Samantha Wan has worked hard her entire life to have a seat at the table. She began her career as an actress, starring in series including Kristal Clear, Leslieville, and most recently, Private Eyes (airing now on ION television). But, roles for Asian actors were far and few, which led Samantha to create her own projects, ones that tell authentic and diverse stories for the underrepresented. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Samantha about being a new voice in the industry.

Career Questions

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting, writing, producing, and directing? Is there one that you naturally gravitate towards?
Samantha: I started as an actor, so that will always be my first love. I became frustrated with the roles available for Asian actresses, so the next step seemed to be making my own work. I have since really fallen in love with directing; I’ve directed in theatre and co-directed some shorts. Directing Second Jen, the show I co-created, really solidified that desire in me. I see myself probably working more as an actor while I’m young and building my craft as a director in the meantime, then have it as my main discipline when I’m older.

I admire Tina Fey’s career (though she writes more than directs) and also how Taika Waititi creates his own roles in his films. We are in the age of the multidisciplinary filmmaker, and I feel like I’m traveling along that new trajectory. I want to keep creating my own work, therefore acting and directing may be my main disciplines, but I see writing and producing coming into play.

PC: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Samantha: 1) Always follow-up. So many people miss opportunities because they are too worried that they might be bothering someone or they forgot and then figure it’s too late. When creating Second Jen, I really had to learn how to be resilient. I gave one producer updates on our project for almost five months, until I finally got a message back that just said, “Keep updating me.”

2) Be kind to everyone. I have met camera assistants and production assistants who have become my key creatives on projects now. Don’t just talk to the big producers and directors. It was the people coming up in the ranks like me that became my team.

3) Don’t apologize for your presence—I’m still working on this one. I am so grateful for my work, yet it’s not because I don’t deserve to be there. I’ve worked my butt off to have a seat at the table. I think it can be a tendency of mine (perhaps contributed by being female and a minority) to not take up too much space. I’m learning how to unapologetically hold my own now.

PC: There’s been a lot of conversation about diversity and representation in Hollywood. As an Asian actor, what has your experience been like? Have you felt or seen the slow progress that’s being made?
Samantha: It was really bad when I first started, and it’s improved somewhat, but there’s still a long way to go. When an Asian filmmaker can fail at a project and not have it demolish their career or reflect on the entire community, that’s when we’ve found equality. There’s no space for us to develop—we have to be perfect right out of the gate or we set everyone back another couple years. When a white cis male bombs a project, the studio doesn’t take another white cis male and say, “Sorry we can’t take a chance on you because this other white guy’s film wasn’t a success.”

I am seeing more diverse casting, which is great. What has been slower is seeing more diverse creators and key creatives. I think we are more open to talk about it, however the numbers of actual spots given hasn’t shifted as much. I’m excited to see more Asian pilots in development this year, but what is disheartening is that they are all fighting for one spot. Other shows get grouped by their content (cop show, family sit-com, legal drama), yet we are still grouped by race: Asian. I hope I can contribute to that change.

Private Eyes Questions

PC: Tell us about Private Eyes, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Samantha: Private Eyes is a dramedy about a former hockey player Matt Shade (Jason Priestley) who partners with private eye Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson) to solve crimes in Toronto. The series has performed really well in Canada, and is distributed in territories all over the world, including the U.K., Australia, Italy, Spain, and plays on ION Television in the U.S. I joined the cast in season two as Zoe Chow, the charming but neurotic office assistant who often gets caught as the buffer between Shade and Angie. What I love about the show is that although the plot is always about solving crimes, the heart really lies in the show’s relationships. It’s about family, personal struggles, romance, and how difficult that balance is to keep.

PC: What can you tease about Zoe’s story arc this season? What is the dynamic like between her and Shade?
Samantha: It’s hard to say, because different countries are at different parts in the series. I don’t want to get in trouble for giving any spoilers! I will say that as things progress, we start to see Zoe out of the office more, which has been super exciting for me. Sometimes we see more of her personal life, other times it’s just on cases. It’s really fun seeing her pushed out of her element. I think Zoe is the person that Shade can rope into his shenanigans, especially if he doesn’t want Angie to know. There’s a very fun dynamic between the two.

PC: How similar or different are you to Zoe?
Samantha: I think I have a similar sense of humor to Zoe: quirky and odd. She is unapologetic about her weirdness, and that’s a part of myself that I really infused into the character. As for her anxiety and social awkwardness, I’m like that internally, but think I hide it better in real life. I do hope I’m a little more laid back, though. Zoe is sometimes naïve and sheltered, so that is probably the largest difference between us. I’m an adventurer at heart. I’ll try almost anything, and I’ve been lucky to have traveled to and lived in many different places around the world. I’m also a business woman; I know how to run a meeting and lead a group, which I think Zoe would rather eat her own hand than do.

PC: If you could write a storyline for Zoe, what would it be and why?
Samantha: Anything where Zoe would get to be undercover—something where she has to play a different social status than she is. Zoe doesn’t have a lot of experience. I’d get a kick out of seeing what her idea of that person would be, which is usually based off of old movies or cartoons. I would love to see her try to be a drug dealer or a mob boss for a case! [laughs]

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Samantha: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Samantha: Pitch Perfect. I love musicals.

PC: Favorite book?
Samantha: Eat. Pray. Love.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Samantha: Too many off the top of my head. For plays: The Crucible, Noises Off, Zoo Story, and King Lear. For musicals: Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, and Miss Saigon.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Samantha: Country music. I more like certain songs like “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers.

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Samantha: The Umbrella Academy and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

PC: Hidden talent?
Samantha: I can lick my elbow.

To keep up with Samantha, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Private Eyes every Sunday at 9/8c on Ion.