Sam Song Li Talks The Brothers Sun, Asian American Identity

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”

When Sam Song Li got here throughout the function of Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he felt just like the character was written uniquely for him. In Netflix’s new action-packed drama collection, Bruce’s life is upended when his older brother, Charles (Justin Chien), who seems to be a Taiwanese gangster, involves LA to guard their mother, Eileen (Michelle Yeoh). When Li first learn the script, he rapidly discovered he shared plenty of “shockingly close” similarities along with his onscreen counterpart. Like Bruce, the 27-year-old actor and content material creator was raised by a single mother within the San Gabriel Valley, CA, a predominantly Asian American neighborhood the place the collection partially takes place. Similarly, he additionally dreamed of being an actor and improv comic, regardless of his mother’s hopes that he’d turn out to be a physician. “I feel like that especially is just really relatable for a lot of Asian Americans,” he tells POPSUGAR.

That’s why Bruce’s story was private to Li, who was born in Guangzhou, China. He drew from his personal experiences to authentically painting Bruce — and the character’s relationship with Mama Sun particularly. “I was raised by a single mom, and my mom in real life is my hero,” he says. “She raised me and my sister all by herself. To see a single parent have all the weight of the responsibilities of raising a kid, you take it for granted when it’s happening. I brought that energy and perspective into Bruce in his love for his mom.”

Against his mother’s greatest needs, Li in the end determined to pursue appearing. Amid creating comedic content material and racking up a following on TikTookay and Instagram, he booked smaller roles on reveals like “Never Have I Ever” and “Better Call Saul.” When he landed “The Brothers Sun,” it was a welcome shock; he did not think about a task like this one to come back about so early on in his profession.

As if securing his first main function – and one he associated to so deeply — wasn’t thrilling sufficient, “The Brothers Sun” was additionally the primary time Li labored alongside an all Asian writers’ room and a majority Asian American solid. “Our production was uniquely Asian American in so many facets, but I think one thing that really stood out to me was that we really practice what we preach on the show,” he says. “In the show, the family, and how you treat people as a family, is the focal point of the story. We as a team really had that connection. We felt really passionate about what we were doing, what was happening in front of us, regardless of if the show was a success or not. I think the one thing we were all holding onto was that this was a very special moment.”

The solid’s robust connection was additionally sustained by meals — a trademark of many Asian cultures. There have been Asian snacks and meals obtainable on set on a regular basis, together with boba a minimum of as soon as per week. According to Li, Yeoh would order meals from a distinct native Chinese spot each week. “She would always surprise us with something,” he says.

Growing up, it will’ve been troublesome for Li to think about an expertise just like the “Brothers Sun” set. Asian and Asian American illustration on display was few and much between. “I’ve always felt I was not Westernized enough for Hollywood, and not Asian enough to work in Asia,” Li says, describing a wrestle all too frequent for Asian Americans, each out and in of the leisure trade.

But with the inflow of APIA tasks in theaters and on streaming platforms up to now three years, Li’s perspective on his future in appearing has modified drastically. “I’ve realized the direction that Hollywood and the world is moving is connecting the globe in so many ways,” he explains. “Content is no longer just for a Western or American audience right now. Content is for a global audience.”

As a outcome, he is been capable of hunt down roles which are tied to his upbringing and id. “The one common thread between all of the roles I gravitate towards is that they are part of my identity, not just based on race, but literally who I am as a person or the experiences that I’ve had,” he says. Aside from taking part in Bruce on “The Brothers Sun,” he shot a pilot in 2023, “Marvin Is Sorry,” wherein he performs a mega influencer and content material creator who will get canceled. “A lot of the elements and nuances of that story I felt like I gravitated towards because it was just something I knew very intimately,” he says.

Looking ahead to the longer term, Li feels optimistic about extra cultural tasks like “The Brothers Sun.”

“That freshness, the authenticity of storytelling, is more important than ever,” he says. “Any time we can show new perspectives, have a fresh take on something, or show the world something they’ve never seen before, that is what I think Hollywood and global audiences are craving.”