We chat to London-based Australian actor, musician, voiceover guy and rising star, DEREK SIOW about his growing career…
Congrats on the new film, Derek. What can you tell us about All The Old Knives and the filming experience?
It’s hard for me to say too much at the moment. I had a great time on the film, it has a great cast – Chris Pine, Laurence Fishburne…. I was a huge fan of [Laurence] growing up and shooting the breeze with him was mind blowing. I was so grateful for the opportunity to work with them.
You appear in a recurring TV role in the Stan series The Fear Index with Josh Hartnett. Tell us about your character.
I play a really cool character named Lin Ju-Long who’s a CFO of a hedge fund. It’s a really great, very character-driven show.
Where do you think your passion for acting start?
I’ve been into film since I was a kid. We used to go to the cinema and we’d see almost every movie released. It was the ’90s so nobody cared about ratings, you’d just buy a ticket and go straight in. One of the first movies I ever saw was Police Academy 5 and the second was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Years later one of the very first films I did was Zero Dark Thirty in Petra, among the sandstone temples and tombs where The Last Crusade was shot — so it went full circle for me.
Along with your film and TV work, you’ve also done voiceover and podcast stuff. How does that differ from working on a set?
There’s a lot of similarities. It’s all in the voice – you can afford to go really big and do things you wouldn’t necessarily do on screen. Voice work is loads of fun, man. I love being in the recording booth and there’s nothing better than screaming something into a microphone… it’s almost therapeutic.
In addition to acting and doing voiceover work you’re also a musician. How do you balance all these?
The reason I got into music was as a creative outlet – I wrote loads and loads of songs. I don’t do music so much these days but I still play guitar every day. Now I write screenplays between acting jobs and that’s where my creative outlet is right now.
After COVID so many movies are going direct to streaming, and then some films still get a cinema release and do really well. Where do you see the future of film?
It’s amazing how it’s moved that way. Streaming services have allowed more channels for content and things that might not have got made in the past now are being done. I love superhero movies and I’ve seen almost all of them. I also love the things I grew up with — like Casino and Goodfellas – and hopefully they can merge the two and create a meeting. People still go to the cinema for the big budget special effects but what happens next? Maybe it could be an AI thing where people act live for people.
So many Aussies actors make the leap from Sydney or Melbourne to Los Angeles. Why did you choose London as your base?
For me, Melbourne and London are really similar cities – they’re both really into their culture and arts. I love L.A. but that’s just how it went. I came over here originally to work with music producers and before you knew it I was auditioning for films and a few commercials. It’s really interesting how the world is coming together and Hollywood films are shot everywhere — the U.K., Europe, Australia…
So, when you do make it back to Melbourne, where do you hang out?
I grew up in the eastern suburbs and there’s a 24-hour Pancake Parlour – back in the day it was the only 24-hour place around. You’ll usually find my friends and I there between midnight and 4a.m.. The pancakes are good but it’s just a chill atmosphere to hang. Melbourne has changed loads over the past 10 years – the restaurants and places I used to go to just aren’t there anymore.
How about your hangouts in London?
You’ll usually find me in the gym, but I love going into town and seeing a play.
Speaking of which, is the West End something you’d be interested in exploring?
I’m definitely more of a film and TV actor but I started in theatre. I did Chinese theatre group for two years. I love theatre. If there was a really good character I’d love to get involved in that. For me it’s all about the character.
In terms of a dream role, would you be more interested in taking on a Superhero franchise or an iconic character in a series?
Man, it’s a tough choice. In an ideal world, if there’s a way to merge those two that would be the dream. Superhero movies are evolving, the writing is really great and maybe they don’t deserve the stigma they had in the past. Like Joker – would you call that a Superhero movie? If there was a role like that I’d jump at it. Give me a Joker! When you act you want to feel something.
It’s awards season – what have you been watching lately?
I’ve been working my way through The Book of Boba Fett. I also watch a lot of ’80s and ’90s stuff. I was watching Shall We Dance – you know the movie with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez? Yeah, I was watching the original Japanese version of that.
Finally, how would you spend your last day on Earth?
I watched Don’t Look Up and I think that kind of encapsulated what we’re feeling. I would do exactly what they did – just have your closest loved ones around you. ■
Catch Derek in All The Old Knives (out in cinemas and on Amazon Prime Video from April 8) as well as the mini-series The Fear Index (available to stream now on Stan)
Interview by REILLY SULLIVAN
For the full article grab the April 2022 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
