Pop Culturalist Chats with Jona Xiao

There’s no denying that Jona Xiao is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. This year, she’ll star in some of the biggest films and television programs including Being Mary Jane, Gifted, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. And with each new role, she proves she has the prowess to bring any character to life. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Jona about her career, upcoming projects, and her formula for success.

PC: When did you know that you wanted to be an actress?
Jona: In 6th grade, I took a drama class and ended up playing the female lead in Rappinstiltskin. It was the female interpretation of Rumpelstiltskin. I loved making people laugh, think, and feel. It became the class I would look forward to every single day. That’s when I decided I wanted to be an actress.

A few years later, I was cast in my first union production, called Alice Upside Down, where I played the girlfriend of Lucas Grabeel. After long days on set, I would go directly to dress rehearsal for a comedy play I was in. Each night, I would get home around midnight and start the process all over the next day. I LOVED it and was blown away that I was being paid to have this much fun and collaborate with awesome filmmakers and actors.

PC: What appealed to you about Gifted when you auditioned?
Jona: The story is beautifully written and I believe will provoke a lot of conversation. Also, it was directed by Marc Webb—one of my favorite directors. He directed 500 Days of Summer, which actually helped me get over a cheating boyfriend when the film first came out. I was so excited about this opportunity to get to work with him.

PC: You were also on Halt and Catch Fire. How did it feel to play the first female coder on the team?
Jona: Oh man it was so much fun to play Julie Yang, who is incredibly ballsy and holds her own with the boys. I got to use a lot of physical comedy for the role, as well as, my “awkward confidence” since I would retort my male co-workers saying things like, “F-you, semen.”

PC: You also have had a bunch of comedic roles and dramatic roles. Do you find preparation for one of those genres easier than the other? Do you have a preference between the two?
Jona: I love the analogy that drama is art and comedy is science. They both present their unique challenges. I tend to play the comedic relief in drama (for instance in Halt and Catch Fire) and so I would say I tend to lean towards comedy.

PC: You’ve worked across film, television, and stage. What are the biggest challenges of working within each medium?
Jona: Theater is exciting since the performance is happening in real time and there are no re-dos, which can be a challenge as well. I love being in front of a live audience since you get that immediate feedback that you don’t get with most film and TV shows. With film and TV, shooting out of chronological order adds the challenge of being very clear on where my character is in that specific moment of time with my life and relationships with other characters. Also, most times with film & TV, I’m not allowed to share about my involvement or details about a project (ex. Spider-Man: Homecoming) and I really have to make sure I stay tight lipped since I’m normally a pretty open person.

Photo Credit: Ricky Middlesworth

PC: If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing?
Jona: I’ve been called “female Tony Robbins” by people who hear me speak so I would probably be a motivational speaker of some sorts.

PC: What advice would you give young actors?
Jona: I see the guaranteed formula for success in this business as ABC:

• A stands for “A-Game Mentality”. It means you approach this entertainment business as a marathon and not a sprint. You need to stay persistent, focus on your wins (as opposed to comparing and despairing), and enjoy the journey.
• B stands for “Business Know-How”. You need to know how to partner with the right reps, how to build relationships with industry professionals (CDs, producers, directors, etc.), how to market & brand yourself to stand out, and how to handle the business side of show biz.
• C stands for “Craft”. It’s what most actors focus on.

If you aren’t where you want to be in your career, I would recommend spending time building up the area that is the weakest out of the ABC formula.

PC: Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to tease?
Jona: For now, I’d love to encourage everyone to see Gifted in theaters now and Spider-Man: Homecoming on July 7th!

PC: If there was a remake of a classic film, what would you want it to be and what part would you want?
Jona: Ooh, I’ll pick two, if that’s okay:

1. If I Love Lucy got re-made as a modern film, I would love to play the Asian version of Lucy. I enjoy physical comedy and my face is naturally very expressive. I loved how hard Lucy would work and then the comedy that happened as a result of things not going the way she anticipated.

2. I’m excited that they are making two live action Mulan films. I see a lot of parallels between my life and Mulan’s. I would love to play the heroine that inspired me so much growing up as a young girl.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Jona: Jane the Virgin

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Jona: The Notebook

PC: Favorite book?
Jona: The 4-Hour Work Week

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Jona: Wicked

PC: Go-to karaoke song?
Jona: “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi.

PC: Hidden talent?
Jona: I can piggy back anyone up to 330 pounds!

Keep up with Jona on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Photo Credit: Ricky Middlesworth