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Christine Ko

HULU Series

The Handmaid’s Tale

If Christine Ko’s personality were to express itself throughout a single room, it would be one teeming with white orchids in wooden vases as fried chicken sizzles on a cast iron skillet in a crisp white kitchen while Celine Dion’s voice floats on the light and airy breeze in front of a TV playing a romantic comedy. This room seems to match her nature well- one that seems serene, comforting, and joyful. While she hopes to one day lead a project that would exist in a room like this, she is currently pulling out pieces from the room to suit vastly different settings. As Nina Lin in Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building, Ko brings modernity and structure to the Arconia and as Lily in the newest season of The Handmaid’s Tale, she brings a woody strength and compassion to the borders of Gilead. Christine Ko seems to love immersion, whether it is in her characters or culture and food. With each project and hobby, she adds to that crisp room and forms more of herself. In our interview with Ko, she talks escapism in acting, working on the set of The Handmaid’s Tale, and what we can look forward to next from her!

Jacket, Skirt & Boots: Patou Paris, Sunglasses: Vintage

I wanted to start with your childhood a bit since you often talk about the idea of nature vs. nurture in the fact that your birth parents were both in the entertainment industry, but you weren’t raised by them. Other than your attraction to the industry, what are a few characteristics of yours that you think are just in your nature? And what is something about you that you think comes from external factors?

I think my creative mind comes from my birth parents and my structured business side comes from parents who raised me. They both add so much value to my life and I feel lucky that I had this balance because it’s really helped me understand how to navigate this industry that can sometimes feel chaotic and incredibly rewarding at the same time. You’re often on your own as an actor, it’s like being the CEO of your own company and you need to have all these different departments working in unison together.

Dress & Boots: IRO Paris

You’ve said in another interview that you loved acting for its escapist quality. I wanted to touch on the idea of escapism a bit since Only Murders in the Building is praised a lot for it having a really safe and warm quality to it that allows viewers to escape from daily life. Then, The Handmaid’s Tale is just as highly praised, but I’m not sure many would describe the series as “escapist” with its relevance to societal issues. As an actor, does that sense of escapism change for you depending on the material?

I think all the projects I work on have an escapist quality to them because I feel like most of the characters I’ve played have been so different from who I am as a person. When you look at Emma on Dave, Nina on Only Murders in the Building, and Lily on The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s hard to imagine they are all one person. I like being able to channel different sides of my personality and that’s really the fun of acting. To me, each character has their own creative arc and I’ve been really lucky to work with creators like John Hoffman and Bruce Miller that write characters with so much depth that I can feel like a whole new person. I look forward to being the lead of my own show and channeling more of my own personality into a character – someone who loves romcoms, can eat chicken tenders at all hours of the day, listens to Celine Dion and Lil Wayne on repeat, and can cook a 6-course dinner (although then it wouldn’t be that escapist!)

Dress: Ed Lee, Heels: Larroude, Sunglasses: VADA

Blouse & Skirt: Patou Paris

Before getting deeper into The Handmaid’s Tale, I want to ask a few fun questions relative to Only Murders in the Building! You play Nina Lin, Bunny’s successor as Board President of the Arconia. If you could be Board President of some organization, imagined or real, or run a podcast on any subject outside of the acting realm, what would you choose?

I would love to do a podcast about the best travel destinations. It’s my favorite thing to do when I’m not working, and I love trying new cuisines and seeing how the locals live. I like a mix of street food stands and fine-dining and learning about different cultures. There are so many places I still want to see but Mexico City and Tokyo are definitely at the top of my list of favorite destinations.

Blouse & Skirt: Patou Paris, Heels: Dubie Jacket & Dress: Sara Wong

One of my favorite things about the series are the apartment sets, with each apartment being reflective of each character’s past and personality. How do you feel that Nina’s apartment reflects her character? Then, if you could design your own Arconia-type apartment to reflect your personality, what would it look like?

I was in awe when I walked into Nina’s apartment. There were 3 different designs of navy and gold wallpaper with a stunning modern chandelier in the foyer. It fit her personality perfectly – structured, elegant, modern. The juxtaposition of her strength and boldness being captured so well in her apartment and then seeing her in there being so vulnerable with Charles, Mabel, and Oliver before she gives birth was very interesting visually. If I could design my own apartment there would be lots of wood, clean lines, cream furniture, white orchids, and overall Japanese decor.

Jacket & Dress: Sara Wong, Boots: IRO Paris

Now getting into your role as Lily, Mayday Activist, in The Handmaid’s Tale, I want to mention a popular Lily quote- when June says she was lucky, Lily says, “Women always say that when they’ve done something extraordinary.” As a woman, do you ever find yourself falling into that type of self-deprecation?

I do. I find that we try not to boast about our accomplishments too much because it may seem egotistical, and I find that women are very aware of their surroundings. We never want to make someone feel less than by talking about our own achievements. It’s hard to walk into a room and talk about yourself but I have learned that it’s okay to celebrate yourself. And if that feels strange or uncomfortable, then at least allow others who love and support you to celebrate you!

Dress: Ed Lee, Heels: Larroude

Jacket, Skirt & Boots: Patou Paris

When talking about June, Bruce Miller said that she is “realizing that every day you have to put your head down and fight. How is she going to do that and still be a whole human person? Or maybe she’s just gotta give up being a whole human person and put her head down and fight anyway.” How do you think this sentiment relates to Lily?

I think Lily thinks of June as a hero and really admires her will to get things done. It’s because of June that Lily wasn’t sent to the Colonies. Her life was spared because of June and when you’re in that situation, you can’t help but feel a debt to the person who helped free you from suffering. She may not know everything that’s going on with June but she’s absolutely willing to support her every move.

The camera placement and how it signals point of view in the series is very unique. Can you tell us a little bit about that from an actor’s point of view?

This was my first time working on a drama of this caliber and I really saw the level of respect the camera department gave the actors. They really allowed themselves to disappear in the scene and would move about quietly so sometimes you’d be in the scene and forget they were even there. They braved these cold snowy days to set up equipment and always allowed the actors to get as many takes as they possibly could to get the best performance and I found that to be extremely crucial to the end product. The close-ups, the high angles, all of it gave a different POV into these characters.

Blouse & Skirt: Patou Paris

Dress: Ed Lee, Heels: Larroude

I know you are currently working on Season 3 of Dave and have a few more upcoming projects. Can you tell us a little bit about what we should look forward to?

Season 3 of Dave is a really exciting one because we get to see the group in a whole new environment. This has required us to shoot in a lot of interesting locations and I think that will really add to the storytelling. Emma has something special that she’s working on this season, and it allows viewers to see her creative side come through since that was always masked by her fear of leaving the ad agency. As always, we have some insane guest stars, and you never know who you’ll see on our show. If you remember laughing out loud when you watched Season 1, you’re going to get a lot of that again in this season!