And in 2009, he was cast in his breakout role, playing Mike Chang onGlee.
Yet despite his star power, Shum is as casual and down-to-earth as anyone can be.
In conversation, it quickly becomes apparent that Shum is someone who likes to experience both sides of extremes.
He works to find comfort in boredom and work in equal measure.
Everything, Everywhere, All At Oncehas won so many awards.
It’s always exciting to be recognized, and this film is special.
Harry Shum Jr.
Tell me about some of your other projects.
Right now, I’m filmingGrey’s Anatomy.
So it’s cool to be back on people’s screens, and we’ve been steadily filming.
Harry Shum Jr.
I’m also trying to do a lot of writing and producing.
I also understand you’ve been doing voiceover work as well.
Yeah, I didLegion of Superheroes, which is a DC animation.
Harry Shum Jr.
I got to play Brainiac 5, which was neat.
I grew up watching DC Animation, so I loved being a part of it.
It was rough, and I was surprised they made it sound as good as it did.
So seeing it finally come out two and a half years later was fun.
What draws you to characters?
You know, we get so in our actor brains sometimes when we ask about a character’s backstory.
But for me, the character still has to be entertaining.
I got to do this cool podcast,Echo Park, where I played five or six characters.
I only found that out once I got into the booth to record.
You’ve played characters that come across as confident heartthrobs, like inGrey’s AnatomyorShadowhunters.
Did you always feel confident when you looked in the mirror growing up?
You always question what you wear, your hair, and what people think about you.
When you come to this country, you learn to assimilate.
You just lay low and get by, almost with a survivalist mentality.
People feel that energy, and you’ll give a poor performance.
That thinking bled into other parts of my life.
It’s not about being overconfident but being confident in who you are.
Let’s pivot and talk about your skincare routine.
Give the people what they want!
It’s pretty simple.
For me, it’s become about how I treat my skin and what I’m eating.
I’ve also been doing a lot ofred light therapy.
After that, I focus on moisturizing.
What moisturizer do you use now?
It’s fromLa Mer.
My frugal side only wants to use a tiny amount, so I use the smallest drop.
Someone said that if you’re going to treat yourself, treat yourself to some luxury.
But I sometimes travel without it and use whatever my wife has.
I’m that dude who will just use my wife’s face wash and moisturizer.
What other wellness practices have you implemented for your mental health?
People often say running helps clear their minds.
I love weightlifting for the same reason.
On top of that, I’ve been lying on these acupressure mats.
It feels horrible, honestly, for the first five minutes.
But sooner or later, I start to fall asleep.
My wife could hear me screaming from the bathroom the first time I did it.
But over time, I’ve found it invigorating.
How do you feel your mental health and creativity are linked?
I think most people who have mental health issues are also very creative.
When you’re constantly creating and thinking a mile a minute, it does something to your brain.
Balance is important, so I love spending time with my friends and family.
An enjoyable conversation like this can even help inform our next move.
Okay, so imagine this: You’ve booked out one day to yourself.
What does your perfect mental health day consist of?
Then, I would go to a movie theater.
It’s been so long since I’ve done that by myself.
After that, I would hang out with my daughter and wife.
I’m a very simple guy.
There’s nothing extraordinary about me.
But because I’m privileged to do these cool things, doing the most uninteresting things helps balance me.
