Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Van Helsing’s Jennifer Cheon

Jennifer Cheon has always been an advocate for the dark horses in the world. From an early age, she witnessed the struggles and biases society placed on her parents and how they not only overcame, but also conquered them. It taught her to fight for her dreams and never take no for an answer.

She’s taken these lessons and applied them to her career, starring in film and television shows like Minority Report, Arrow, Supernatural, The 100, and Lucifer. Currently, she’s sinking her teeth into her role as Ivory, the badass leader of the sisterhood, on the fan favorite Van Helsing. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer about the series.

PC: What attracted you to this project?
Jennifer: As an actor, you’re drawn to any opportunity where you can really stretch your acting muscles. I also wanted to be a part of the show because of the people who were involved. You have Christopher Heyerdahl, Rowland Pidlubny, Kelly Overton, Trezzo Mahoro, Rukiya Bernard, Aleks Paunovic, Jonathan Scarfe…the list goes on and on. Gosh, now I’ve named everybody. [laughs] Plus, Neil LaBute is an amazing writer. They’re all really, really talented people, so, of course I was game for the opportunity to audition, put something on tape, and get seen by them. Landing the part of Ivory was epic. I’ve always been a fan of vampires, sci-fi, and all that stuff, so this was right up my alley. Also, it was a chance to play a type of vampire that I don’t think anyone has really seen before, which is tough to do. Stories of vampires have been around since the beginning of time.

It’s a great show. It has elements of fantasy, but it also has relevant issues intertwined within. You’ll see a little bit more of what I’m talking about later this season. There are social issues that we mask as other things; it’ll get you thinking. It’s still relatable even though we’re talking about humans versus vampires—it’s that metaphor. It’s also just awesome, vampire fun. If you like good old fashioned action and ass-kicking, this is your show.

PC: When you’re joining a project that’s been adapted from a popular comic book series and a cast who has a season under its belt, what is the preparation like and did you feel any pressure heading in?
Jennifer: I felt some pressure, for sure. I wanted to do a good job and I knew it had a large following, but I also saw that the writers were bringing something a little different. They were (and are) bringing their own interpretation and take, all while paying respect to the original story and characters. I felt the pressure because I didn’t want to suck. [laughs]


PC: Initially, you thought this would be a two-day project, but it continued to evolve. What is that like?
Jennifer: Ivory was only supposed to be in two episodes and then leave towards the end of the season, but then the writers wrote an alternate ending. From an actor’s perspective entering a new show, you never know what can happen and anything goes. It’s important to remember to have fun and enjoy each moment. Everyone is amazing on this set and they give 120%. We’re all here to give everything to the fans.


PC: At the end of the season, you didn’t know the fate of your character. As an actress, do you have to put everything on hold?
Jennifer: Oh, man! [laughs] I guess you get used to it. Evidently, as much as you want to do acting as your career, it’s really a career that chooses you. I always tell people who are thinking about getting into acting that it sometimes feels like you never fully achieve it because it’s always on to the next thing, and the next thing, and the next thing. It’s a constant climb. You have to learn to get excited for what you can do on that day and time because characters die, things happen, and shows have to come to an end. Everything is always up in the air. On the reverse side of that, you may join a series and think you’ll only be there for two episodes and then you have this amazing group of people who are trying to keep your character alive and write an alternate ending. You just never really know which way it’ll go.


The whole team, Neil LaBute, and Jonathan Walker, talked to me and told me that they were sad they had to do this. I totally got it, but, of course, behind my trailer door I was sobbing. [laughs] I was like, “I’m going to miss this character so much”, but, luckily, it ended up being a happy ending.


PC: How much of yourself is in Ivory?
Jennifer: I would say quite a bit of my old self. I relate to a certain amount of the fed-upness that she has. She and the sisterhood have been away doing their own thing and they’ve come to a certain peace with how things work. They’ve been alive on this planet for years among the little wars, the turf wars, and petty things. They felt separated and at peace. Then, all of this stuff happens, and it forces her to say, “I’ve had it. You humans and vampires—I don’t know what the heck you’ve been doing out there, but I’m over it.” I feel like a lot of women are going through that right now, being fed up and over it. We’ve always let other people take the lead. I relate to that: letting other people dictate the way my life is supposed to be, how it’s supposed to look. Then you get to a time when you’re like, “No, it’s my life. It’s my decision. I’m going to take control of this.” I definitely relate to that.


She’s a vampire, though, and I definitely don’t eat humans. I don’t need that in my diet. [laughs] I relate to her ferociousness and the lioness that comes out. Like I said earlier, there was a period of time when I let others make decisions for me, and I didn’t really hone my space, which I feel like Ivory is doing now.

PC: Great answer. What can you tease about her arc this season? Will we learn more about her backstory?
Jennifer: We definitely get more into it. I don’t want to give too much away, but we get more into what she and the sisterhood represent.

PC: Ivory is this badass leader. Did you base your character after any of the powerful women in your life and what’s the biggest lesson she’s taught you?
Jennifer: I based her on the many women that I’ve come in contact with. Like I touched upon a little earlier, she’s coming into her own; she’s really becoming a woman. I feel like, as girls, a lot of the time, we shy away from stepping into our shoes and into our own skin and how we feel. Society often tries to tell us how we’re supposed to behave, and whether we think it’s happening or not, it’s happening. Society is always trying to control everyone. They tell us who we should love and what we should be like. But, says who? With Ivory, I wanted to represent a freedom and an awakening.


PC: Great answer! Do you remember the moment when you realized you wanted to pursue a career in acting?
Jennifer: Oh, jeez. I was really young. I was probably like five years old. I watched Terminator 2 and there was a featurette at the end of the film that showed the making of it. I was seeing Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I was like, “Jeez, this is so badass. I want to be a part of this world.” First, I told my brother that I wanted to be Sarah Connor and a soldier. [laughs] He was like, “Jen, I’m pretty sure you just want to be an actor.” I was like, “What do you mean?” and he was like, “They’re actors. She’s not actually a soldier.” [laughs] So, I was like, “Yeah, that’s what I want to do.” My mind was blown and I knew instantly that I wanted to be an actress, but it was such a fantasy because I grew up on a horse farm in Langley, and then moved to Coverdale. I was outside of Vancouver, running around the country. The idea of being in a movie or a television show was such a far, far, far stretch. It took me a long time to understand that it could be something I could actually do. I’m glad it worked out!

PC: What would you say is the biggest lesson you learned being a part of this industry?
Jennifer: You can’t put your self value into it. You’re constantly getting rejected. You’re constantly hearing, “No”, “Not now”, “You just missed it”, “You’re Mexican, but not Mexican enough”, “You’re Asian, but not Asian enough”, “You’re not the right type of Asian”…there’s so much. It can become pretty negative if you’re valuing yourself based on what this industry is telling you. You just have to be you. You have to enjoy it. You have to be respectful. If you love it, love it, and do it because you love it. Don’t do it because you think red carpets are going to be thrown out in front of you and that you’re going to make millions of dollars. It’s a grind. It’s a climb. You have to love it. If you don’t love it, I suggest getting into a different field.


PC: Have you always known you wanted to use your platform to represent the under-represented and use your platform to spread awareness for social issues?
Jennifer: Yes, I’ve always known that if I ever got the chance for people to care or listen to what I have to say that I wanted to shed light on the dark horses of the world. The farm that I grew up was actually called Dark Horse Farm. My dad was an immigrant coming from Korea. He wasn’t from the States. He was trying to learn English. Then, he fell in love with a Mexican woman and together, they tried to make it in America. It was really, really hard, though, so they came to Canada. They just wanted to ride horses and it wasn’t a sport that had a lot of ethnic people involved; it had a certain tier of socialites. He encountered a lot of racism and a lot of hardships—he had nothing, but he came here and he did it. Now, he’s retired. That’s why his farm was always called Dark Horse Farm: because it was the unexpected winner. I’ve always had a deep connection to that. I was always aware of the fact that we had to work ten times harder. So, if anyone cares to listen, I just want to shine a light on those who are trying to make it by doing what they love and loving who they want to love. When you hear “no” a lot, you want to be the one telling everyone, “yes”!


Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Jennifer: I know what I want to say, but it’s so not cool. I’ve always loved the Kardashians—those girls are so crazy! It’s been on TV forever, so I know I’m not the only person watching it. I love it. I love when people are like, “I don’t know who is who.” I’m like, “Yes you do. We all do. We all know exactly who they are.” I’m going to be honest with everyone and myself, I watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians. My husband is going to be so disappointed. [laughs]


PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Jennifer: I have a couple that I watch. I love my art films. I love those films with a strong political message. The ones that are a visual hug to me are Clueless, The Craft, Queen of the Damned, Almost Famous, and Forrest Gump.

PC: Favorite book?
Jennifer: I read it probably once a year: The Alchemist.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Jennifer: Chicago

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jennifer: Peggy Gou. She’s a DJ from Korea and she’s freaking awesome. If you need a little shake-up in your day and want to get your booty moving a little bit, find yourself some Peggy Gou.

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Jennifer: Girlboss

PC: Hidden talent?
Jennifer: I love karaoke and I can wiggle my ears.

PC: What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Jennifer: Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy”


Make sure to follow Jennifer on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Van Helsing every Friday at 10/9c on SYFY.

Photo Credit: Jeffery Fountain // Makeup: Caitlin Krenz with Opus Beauty // Hair: Felicia Rials // Stylist: Lauren Taylor