Helen Madelyn Kim
Created によって writer-actress Jamie Denbo and executive produced によって "Orange is the New Black" team Jenji Kohan, Tara Herrmann and Mark A. Burley, this slightly raunchy comedy follows a Manhattan socialite (Georgia Flood) who runs off to 登録する the Renaissance Faire after her wedding crashes. Of course, her actions aren’t going over very well with family and friends, including her superficial and not-so-bright bestie Lexi, played によって actress Helen Madelyn Kim.
Think you’ve seen Helen before? Well, あなた probably have. She recently recurred as Megan in Season 2 of Marvel’s teen superhero series “Runaways” on Hulu. Plus, she has appeared on Netflix’s “Glow” and opposite Bella Thorne on Freeform’s “Famous In Love.”
I recently caught up with Helen Madelyn Kim to find out more:
Tell us about Lexi in “American Princess.”
HELEN: Lexi is one of Amanda’s best フレンズ back ホーム in NYC. She’s sweet, loyal, but not the brightest of bulb in the room (and that’s putting it nicely!) and very superficial. In the original pilot, she’s described as a “total airhead”, so there ya go, haha! Lexi definitely has Amanda’s best interest at ハート, 心 when Amanda decides to 登録する the Renaissance Faire but I think Lexi can get easily influenced によって those around her. I’ve sort of put together that Lexi has always found it difficult to “fit in” growing up considering her background - she’s adopted and raised Jewish, with two dads. Not in any way conventional for a girl who looks Asian, あなた know? So I feel like she’s always had to mold and take on majority opinion just to fit in. She’s gullible and not bright but she means well.
What would あなた consider your characters ‘best’ quality? And their ‘worst’?
HELEN: For 'best', I’d say she’s loyal and sweet, and truly means well at heart. 'Worst' - I’d say she’s very superficial.
Any interesting stories from the set あなた can share with us?
HELEN: I was just blown away によって the number of women on set and felt so grateful to be part of a production that so heavily employed women behind the camera. From our showrunner, Jamie Denbo, to our director for the pilot, Claire Scanlon, to our 1st & 2nd ADs, to members of the sound crew, our リスペクト master on set, women were all around and it was AMAZING. I guess that’s what あなた should expect when you’re working with Jenji Kohan and her team.
We have to ask – have あなた ever been to a Renaissance Faire?
HELEN: Yes! So ランダム but my first visit was to a Renaissance Faire out in Pennsylvania back when I was living in NYC. I went with my ex-boyfriend and his family (they were all very into it) and I had never been. He 発言しました we had to dress up so we dressed as pirates and went. Haha! Imagine me at a Renaissance Faire out in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania - I felt like 魚 out of water. And then I went again to the Faire out here in LA when I found out I booked the show, just before we started shooting the pilot. I didn’t dress up that 秒 time around but I did buy a 花 crown, haha!
You also played Megan in “Runaways”; how was that?
HELEN: It was great! I was shooting “Runaways” concurrently as “American Princess” so I’m just grateful the scheduling worked out between the two shows! The tone of each 表示する is very different from the other so it was interesting to go from one set to the other. Working on a Marvel is challenging in its own way because unless you’re a Series Regular, あなた don’t get the whole script to read in advance. The only way for あなた to know what’s going on in the episode is if あなた go to the 表, テーブル read with the production team. So, there was a lot of 'filling-in' and imagination work I had to exercise for my role as Megan in "Runaways." It was a great learning experience for sure. When I first booked "Runaways," we thought it was going to be a one-episode job so it was a nice surprise and a huge treat when Megan turned into a little recurring role for the 秒 season.
What’s the biggest lesson あなた learned from working on these projects?
HELEN: Geez… where do I even begin? Haha! Stay humble, be nice to everyone, but most importantly, do the work and 表示する up ready. Even if it’s just one line, または 4 pages of dialogue, you’re there to serve the story. When あなた don’t get notes または any direction on set, it means you’re doing something right so don’t beat yourself up too much. I know it sounds SO CLICHE but learning to your trust yourself is really hard. So many of my working フレンズ and mentors have 発言しました that - trust yourself and be kinder to yourself - but it’s a lot easier 発言しました than done. Imposter Syndrome is real and I certainly experienced it. At the end of the day, you’re there to tell a story, along with all of these other storytellers. So don’t stress and have fun!
And, now just for fun:
Who’s your お気に入り actor/actress?
HELEN: This is a hard one. Tom Hanks and Bryan Cranston. Emily Blunt. Is saying Meryl Streep too cliche?
What role from the past do あなた wish あなた could have played?
HELEN: Lady Macbeth is the first role that comes to mind but I don’t think it’s too late. I’d 愛 to play her. Maybe later in life, when I’m a little older, ha!
Favorite movie または TV 表示する from your childhood.
HELEN: I 愛 “Singing In the Rain.” “Home Improvement” and reruns of “The Brady Bunch.”
Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.
HELEN: My parents never pushed me to go into medicine または law and were fairly supportive about me pursuing acting. Because I’m Korean American, I feel like a stereotypical response I get is “were your parents disappointed あなた wanted to pursue acting?” but both of my parents were musicians so they just kind of understood and “got it”. They weren’t thrilled によって any means and told me I’d go hungry, haha! But my dad 発言しました “if you’re going to pursue it, just make sure あなた pursue it all the way”. I still hold that piece of アドバイス very dear to my heart.
How can ファン keep up with you?
HELEN: Instagram @helenmkim link
I’m trying to get better at Twitter @helenmkim link but I’m most active on Instagram.
"American Princess" / courtesy: Lifetime
"American Princess" / courtesy: Lifetime
Helen Madelyn Kim on set of "American Princess"
William Mark McCullough
