CW’s “Kung Fu” Actor Mike Bow Talks Harry Potter, The Maze Runner, And Best Advice

As far as actors, this one is definitely a screen favorite!

We have seen Mike Bow on some of the best projects in film and TV history. Some are his roles include ABC’s “Greys Anatomy”, ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder”, and The Maze Runner. He just recently starred in one of our personal favorite roles for him, Simon Lau on CW’s “Kung Fu”.

We had the absolute honor of talking with Mike on all thing including his acting journey so far, the advice he swears by, and his next goals!

Q: Tell us about your brand new role on CW’s “Kung Fu”.

M: “I play a couple things I can now take off my bucket list: a Kpop Star and a Chinese warrior Guardian of the mystical Meteor Hammer! All in one role: the Kpop Star Simon Lau! Our protagonists Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang) and Henry (Eddie Liu) are researching the legend of the 8 mystical Chinese weapons and think that this Kpop Star might be the descendent of the Guardian family for the Meteor Hammer. Problem is, the antagonist Zhilan (Yvonne Chapman) also has this theory and so they race to confront me at one of my tour concerts in Las Vegas. The role was really awesome because I got to play a charismatic Kpop star who plays coy about his relationship to the legend but then in a twist SPOILER WARNING I reveal I actually have been training with the weapon my whole life and I have a big superhero fight scene! My whole acting goal is to be one of the first Asian Superheroes so I was really in my element!”

Q: How did you get your start in acting?

M: “Harry Potter. When I was a little kid I didn’t know that actors were real people. Tom Cruise was TOM CRUISE. Brad Pitt was BRAD PITT you know? Then all of a sudden the Harry Potter movies came out (and I’m the biggest Harry Potter fan) and I loved the movie and I saw interviews of these kids my age talking about how they auditioned and got their roles and I was like, “Wait. This is a JOB?!” To literally spread this movie MAGIC around the world?! I then told my mom that I want to be an actor and she got REAL with me. She referenced our only actor friend we knew (a beautiful, blonde, blue eyed girl) and said, “Michael, SHE has a hard time pursuing acting and you see people that look like her all the time on TV. Do you see ANYONE that looks like you?” That was the first time in my life I was really confronted with my Asian-ness and being perceived as different. However, I don’t know if it was a mixture of stubbornness or determination but I replied, “YES I WANT TO DO IT ANYWAY.” Fast forward to today, there’s at least one person who looks like me on TV now! 

2. Who are your biggest acting inspirations?

M: “Wong Fu Productions. I wish I could say more Asian role models on TV and film but they just weren’t there. Like I said, Harry Potter was the thing that inspired me. However, when YouTube came out there were so many Asian actors and creators I saw and there clearly was an audience for it! I first saw the Wong Fu Productions films in high school and what struck me was they had Asian characters who were Asian for no reason! Just normal relatable characters and people like me. And audiences were watching! Wong Fu really showed me what was possible. And now I’m super ecstatic that I can call them my friends who I get to make films with today.” 

Q: You’ve played many different roles in many different mediums, from movies to tv shows, to short films. What has been your favorite role so far and why?

M: “My roles have been getting better and better and Simon Lau was no exception! Simon Lau is my favorite role on so many levels. I got to be the superhero action star, while also being charismatic and throwing comedic quips like an Asian Ryan Reynolds! That’s the type of character I want to keep playing!”

Q: What is your process when approaching a script/character?

M: “I HAVE to read it with my roommate. If I ever win an Oscar or an Emmy, the first person I’m going to thank is my roommate. He’s read every audition, every role I did or didn’t get with me. We’re both huge nerds so we try it different ways with different shows and characters we draw inspiration from and see what works. We play!”

Q: What was it like for you on the set of The Maze Runner?

M: “Maze Runner was one of my favorite acting memories. We shot for 3 months in Louisiana! My first time ever going the South! It was also my first time being on a major movie set and seeing that magic being done LIVE right in front of me. I remember watching Dylan O’brien work out the scenes in front of me and learning so much just by watching him work! It was a masterclass. Also running away from mutant beasts trying to kill you and your friends is a lot more fun than you’d think!”

Q: What do you enjoy about acting the most?

M: “My favorite thing is introducing friends into my favorite fandoms. “Check out this Marvel trailer! Let me show you this Harry Potter movie! Watch this new Star Wars movie,” are a few quotes I’ve been known to say. Being able to take audiences on a fun journey and get them so HYPED on it that they become a fan of a storyline is my passion.”

Q: Where do you see your career in 5 years? Where do you want to be?

M: “I would love to keep this superhero trend going and to be one of the first Asian Superheroes. There’s a few Asian heroes already in the comics! On the Marvel side there’s Amadeus Cho the Korean American protege of the Hulk and on the DC side there’s Kenan Kong, the Asian Superman! I loved to even race bend a character in the comics and by turning them into an Asian guy like me!”

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring young actors?

M: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Q: Aside from the incredible acting we see from you, what are some hobbies that fans might not expect?

M: “My favorite hobbies are watching anime, eating KBBQ, Dimsum, and Indian buffets. I also love to go to comic cons, Disneyland, Disneyworld and make pun videos. I’m the king of dad jokes and puns ‘

Q: Where can we follow your amazing journey?

“You can follow me at my Instagram @MikeBowShow

Instagram.com/MikeBowShow

YouTube.com/MikeBowShow

Twitter.com/MikeBowShow

Twitch.tv/MikeBowShow