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By Christina Radish
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Masi Oka at the NBC All-Star party held at the Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif. on January 17, 2007. | Masi Oka stars in NBC’s hit ensemble drama series Heroes, about ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary abilities, as Hiro Nakamura, a Tokyo non-conformist and computer/anime enthusiast who learns he can pierce the space-time continuum and move back in time through sheer will-power.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Oka moved to Los Angeles, where he currently resides, at the age of six. No stranger to television, the Industrial Light & Magic employee had recurring roles on Scrubs and Luis, and guest starring spots on Without a Trace, Joey, Reba, The Loop, All of Us, Still Standing, Will & Grace, Yes, Dear and Gilmore Girls, before landing the break-out role that would make him famous.
The 32-year-old Oka talks to MediaBlvd Magazine about the fun he has with his character, how much his life has changed with the success of the show, and why he just won’t let his ILM job go.
MediaBlvd Magazine> How did you end up in Los Angeles?
Masi Oka> I grew up in LA, went to college on the east coat, at Brown University, to study mathematics and computer science, and then went to Industrial Light and Magic for my first job. After four years there, I went to LA, and the rest is history.
MediaBlvd> When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
Masi> I studied it in college, and it was definitely something I really enjoyed. I love the idea of using both the left side and the right side of the brain. It also introduced me to a lot of different kinds of people with different points of view, and that was great. In high school, I was a big math and science geek, so just to be part of this artistic community with a completely different viewpoint on life, opened me up, not only as an artist, but as a person.
MediaBlvd> Were you shy before?
Masi> Oh, yeah. I’m still very shy. But, I was fortunate enough to have the experience in San Francisco with ILM. I tried acting while I was there, and got my Screen Actor’s Guild card, after doing two industrials. After The Perfect Storm, I kind of got burned out because I worked for a whole year and a half on that project. I didn’t have family or kids, and I was not in a relationship, at that time, so I was thinking, “You know what? I gotta give this a try.” So, I came down to LA and gave the whole acting thing a try. I even signed a contract telling ILM, if I didn’t get a recurring role on a pilot or a supporting role in a film my first year in LA, I’d go back up to San Francisco. Everybody knows who’s pursuing a career, in this industry, so it’s like the most naive-est thing in the world. It’s all about perseverance.
MediaBlvd> Who inspired you to pursue your dream?
Masi> My mom. She’s always been there. She’s told me, “Do what you want to do. Live a life that you don’t regret. No matter what happens, make sure that’s what you want to do. Just be happy with it and don’t have regrets.”
MediaBlvd>What is it about Hiro that you think people are responding so strongly to?
Masi> I love playing him, and I think that joy and passion for me wanting to play that character I translates. And, the fact that he’s so positive and optimistic, I think a lot of kids look up to him. He’s just exuberant and positive. He gets to believe in a dream, so to finally live his dream is a very big thing.
MediaBlvd> Did Hiro change when he couldn’t save the waitress, Charlie (played by Jayma Mays)?
Masi> Absolutely. It’s interesting because Hiro started at such a high level of positive enthusiasm, and he’s going to go through a lot of trials and errors, a lot of tests of his character and will. The loss of Charlie was definitely a big, devastating thing for him, and he’s going to face a lot more of that in the future. That’s how he’s going to grow as a hero. He’s going to make a lot of mistakes -- things you won’t agree with. I don’t agree with what he does, sometimes. But, it just makes him human. It can’t be all happiness and positivity because that’s not how life works, unfortunately.
MediaBlvd> And, there will be no return of Charlie, in any way, shape or form?
Masi> In any way, shape or form? I don’t know. I’ll leave it at that.
MediaBlvd> What are some past eras you’d like to have Hiro visit?
Masi> I’d love him to go to the pre-historic era, or the Mayan period. There’s so many cool historic moments that, personally, I would love to see. And, if Hiro can go there, that will be great.
MediaBlvd> Are you looking forward to more action stuff, as a ninja samurai?
Masi> Yeah. There’s going to be a lot of great stuff coming up. We just shot a bunch of action clips. There’s a really funny thing that’s going to happen that was a lot of fun. I get to do action, and I get to do comedy. It’s just a dream gig to be able to.
MediaBlvd> Are you a sword expert?
Masi> I do study kendo, so they’re trying to work it in. They’ve asked me to re-train, which I can only imagine is because they’re going to try to do a lot more sword fighting.
MediaBlvd> If you could change powers with one of the other characters, who would it be?
Masi> God, I love Hiro’s powers, but I might change with Peter (Milo Ventimiglia). If you could control that power, and I don’t think he can, but wow. You could switch whatever power you want, on and off. That’s great. “I feel like flying today. I feel like being indestructible today.” That would be cool.
MediaBlvd> Which cast members do you hope to work more with?
Masi> God, all of them. It’s fun. Everyone brings something different. I’s love to work with Greg Grunberg because he’s a comedic genius. I thought Adrian Pasdar was a very serious actor, but when we started doing our scenes in episode five, we found that we bring the best out of each other. I’m so excited to work with each and every one of them. I haven’t worked with Hayden Panettiere yet. I worked with Ali Larter. Milo Ventimiglia worked with my future self, but I want to work with him as my present self. There are so many people I would love to work with, just because everyone is so unique. Daily, I constantly learn. I’m constantly inspired by them, not only as artists, but as human beings. They’re like the brothers and sisters I never had, and to get to play with them is a great thing.
MediaBlvd> How important is the multi-cultural casting to the show’s success?
Masi> It’s definitely a more realistic portrayal of what’s going on in the world right now. There’s people from many nationalities, many religious backgrounds, many financial backgrounds. It’s just the spectrum of life. We only represent 2% of what’s out there. There are so many other types of people.
MediaBlvd> Are you looking forward to speaking English again on the show?
Masi> I get to speak a pretty good amount of English. I’m looking forward to playing future Hiro again in episode 20. I think that’s so much fun. Ali Larter gets to do it every day, playing Jessica and Nikki. Any time you can play a different character on the same show, it’s always a challenge, and I look forward to it.
 MediaBlvd> Who does the Japanese translation of your dialogue?Masi> Actually, I do. I make it a point to translate my own stuff because I think it’s important to stay true to the character. And, it allows me to get into a rhythm because if someone else translates for me, I tend to fall into their rhythm of speech. It’s very rigid when it’s just a literal translation, so I asked the producers and they let me translate it.
MediaBlvd> Doing your own translations, have you ever been tempted to slip something in?
Masi> Sometimes, I do make some translations that the Japanese audience would get, if they knew what I was talking about. There are some inside jokes, but it’s still relevant. I make sure I preserve the essence of what the writers are trying to say.
MediaBlvd> Was there ever any worry that the subtitles might alienate your audience?
Masi> It was a very bold choice, and the pay-off is amazing. It was a very simple creative decision, in terms of putting the subtitles close to the characters’ faces, like a comic book bubble. I think that was a brilliant stroke of genius, and it gave the show a comic book feel.
MediaBlvd> How has your life changed since this show?
Masi> It’s very cool. It’s been great. Going out and being recognized is absolutely strange. I could wear shades, I could wear a baseball cap, I could wear a beard, but I’d still get recognized, so that’s been a big change.
MediaBlvd> What’s been good about being one of the break-out stars on this show, and what’s been bad about it?
Masi> I’ve just been very blessed to have the opportunity to play this comedic character that people can relate to, and for whom the writers have written an amazing story. For me, the greatest thing is being recognizable to the public. It opens a lot more career opportunities, if I want to do more movies, and stuff. I love the show. That’s my first priority, without a doubt.
The downside is just having people to share it with. This is an ensemble show. We’re a family. These guys are the brothers and sisters that I’ve never had. And, I believe that, because this is going to be a long running show, everything is going to homogenize and everyone will get their time. But, it is sometimes hard when people start pushing me as a break-out because these guys are my family. I don’t think anybody is above anyone else. Everyone brings something so unique to the table, and something so different, and that’s what completes the puzzle. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and I certainly believe that. The one thing I am uncomfortable with is when I do get singled out. This is an ensemble show and we make each other look good. That’s why it turns out to be the way it is.
MediaBlvd> When did you know that your character was a fan favorite?
Masi> I knew I’d be a big fan with the geeks because the character I’m playing is a geek, but I didn’t think the mainstream would respond like they have, because he’s foreign, he’s comedic and he’s a geek. He’s not really a mainstream character. I was just fortunate enough to get the bulk of a good storyline.
MediaBlvd> Why have geeks responded so well to the show and your character?
Masi> Maybe it’s because Hiro is a geek himself, and he doesn’t deny the fact. I’m a geek too. I love being a geek. For me, being a geek is about being passionate about something. I think it’s more human, and that’s what makes us unique -- our beliefs and what we’re passionate about. If you’re not really passionate about something, you’re apathetic about everything, so I say be proud to be a geek. We’re all geeks.
MediaBlvd> What do people say to you?
Masi> It’s been great to have very passionate fans come up to me and say, “We love your show. We love your character. Thank you so much. Can I take a picture with you?” It’s a great thing to have, rather than have someone come up and say, “Oh God, your show sucks.” I remember one girl saying, “Oh, my God, I love you!” She hugged me, kissed me, and then ran away. I was like, “Wait, you don’t have to run away!”
MediaBlvd> Have you had any strange fan encounters?
Masi> I’ll have male fans look at me while they’re on the cell phone, realize it’s me and drop their phone, with their mouths open. It’s like, “Oh, cool, that’s what it means to be the hot chick.” Or, I’ll have girls come up and say, “Oh, my God, I love you,” and then they kiss me and run away. At the People’s Choice Awards, Robin Williams was sitting in front of me and he turned around and said, “Hey, you’re that guy from Heroes. You went to MIT, right?” I was like, “Oh, no, I went to Brown,” and he said, “But, you studied math and computer science, right?” I turned to all the producers and my cast, and said, “Oh, my God, Robin Williams knows who I am!” It’s just crazy to have people, like Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg, come up to you at the Golden Globes, and say, “I love your show. Our family watches it.” These people that we are star struck by, see our show. It’s absolutely surreal.
MediaBlvd> Do you still have your job at ILM?
Masi> I still consult for them, maybe one day a week. It’s getting progressively harder, of course, to help them out.
MediaBlvd> Will there be a time when you decide that you can’t do that anymore?
Masi> I’m hoping not to end it because I think having that other side keeps me grounded and humble, and also allows me to appreciate and respect what goes on behind the camera. I always joke, when we get to season three, if we’re fortunate enough to get to season three, I would love the opportunity to direct and use my employee discount. Buy two effects, get one free. So, that’s why I need to still be an employee.
MediaBlvd> Did you have a role model growing up?
Masi> My biggest role model is always my mom. She’s my hero. I can’t say enough about her. As a single mother, to be able to go to a foreign country and raise a kid on your own is no easy task. She’s given up a lot of her life for it, so I’m always in debt to her for that. As a single mother, coming from a poor country, raising a child on her own, was a very heroic thing to do.
 MediaBlvd> Were you poor?Masi> Fortunately, I came from a relatively well-to-do family that was upper middle class. My grandfather was very well-to-do and he took care of our family.
MediaBlvd> What does your mother think of the success?
Masi> I think she loves it, and is very proud. She won’t tell me directly, but I know she’s very proud of me and what I’ve done.
MediaBlvd> Do you collect comics?
Masi> I collect Manga. I didn’t grow up on American comics, unfortunately, but I read a lot of Japanese Manga and stuff.
MediaBlvd> Are you looking forward to seeing your action figure?
Masi> I guess so. It’d be cool to be on a lunch pail. I was hoping for a little bobble head, but NBC wouldn’t buy that.
MediaBlvd> Is there a TV show or film that’s a guilty pleasure for you?
Masi> I love The Princess Bride. That’s always been my favorite, but it’s not really a guilty pleasure. It’s just such great storytelling. It’s a story for the ages, it’s timeless. It just brings a sense of wonderment that we all had as kids. In terms of TV shows, I love The Office. They’re so brilliant. I’ve seen the British one as well.
MediaBlvd> Are you a comic book fan?
Masi> I love Japanese Manga. I haven’t grown up with American comics, but I definitely know the characters.
MediaBlvd> What motivates you to stay fit?
Masi> The threat that I might have to take off my shirt the next day. I’m trying to get a personal trainer, and hopefully they’re going to come to where I live and help me train.
MediaBlvd> Any film roles planned?
Masi> We’re in talks for a couple of things. Sony leaked that I was offered a part in 21, but it’s during the Heroes shoot, so that’s kind of tough. It’s the new Kevin Spacey film about six MIT guys trying to beat the system. |
