Hulu's 'PEN15' is Back for Season 2 and Dallas Liu is Here to Tell Us All About It

Los Angeles born and raised actor Dallas Liu got his acting break in the acclaimed “Tekken” film franchise as young Jin Kazama. At the time, he was also dabbling in the world of martial arts. Fast forward to today, Liu can be seen on screen in the  second season of the critically acclaimed and award-nominated, HULU comedy series “PEN15.” With a bright career ahead of him, there is no telling to what Liu will achieve in the acting world.

RIVAL: What is your background and how did you get involved in the entertainment industry? 

 I’m 19, I live in LA, and I’m currently in college right now. I actually competed internationally for martial arts before I got into the entertainment industry. Lots of martial artists end up doing stunts if they decide to go into the industry, but Leo Howard made it into the industry doing acting. At that time, he was my main inspiration and why I decided to take that route. My manager found me through some YouTube videos of my martial arts and asked if I wanted to try it out, and that’s how I got started. 

RIVAL:  Was acting something you wanted to pursue from a young age?

 It wasn’t until I was about 13-14 years old when I realized it. I always enjoyed TV and film, but never knew if it was really for me because I had never tried. I grew up in a small city where going into the arts isn’t very common or prioritized, so it made me question if it was something that I was capable of.

RIVAL:  Fans will be able to see you star on the second season of HULU’s comedy series “PEN15” this September. What can you tell us about your character and his involvement in the story? 

 This season you will see a little bit more of Shuji’s background and dynamic in the family. 

RIVAL:  What first drew you to the story when you read the script?

  I really really loved how relatable and funny all of the scenes that took place in middle school were. I thought they were pretty spot on with the interactions that took place during all of those scenes. 

RIVAL: What was the audition process like and how did you react when you got the role?

 The audition process was something I was very familiar with. I went in for my first audition and ended up getting a callback which is when I met Maya and Anna for the first time. I got to do a chemistry read with them and two weeks later I received a call from my manager telling me that I booked the role. I was actually supposed to leave for France the day before I got the call, and I was extremely excited to be a part of this project.  

RIVAL:  What was your best memory from the set of “PEN15”?

 I think my best memory from being on set was becoming closer with Maya and Anna a little more personally whether it was during breaks or getting ready in hair & makeup. Whether I had questions about the industry and how I can better myself or just life in general. They’re definitely two people that I really look up to in the industry. 

 RIVAL:  You have been training in martial arts for quite some time. Do you hope to be able to incorporate what you learned in future acting projects?

 100% absolutely. Whether it’s a superhero comic or anime that I could bring to life, I would love to be a part of them and hopefully get to do my own stunts!

RIVAL: You also played young Jin Kazama in the acclaimed “Tekken” film franchise at only seven years old. What was that experience like looking back on it after all these years?

  I mean at the time I didn’t think too much of it, but now that I look back at it, that was when my interest in film and TV had really started. It was a great opportunity and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. 

RIVAL: What are some movies that made you fall in love with acting growing up?

 “The Godfather” was the first movie that made me fall in love with acting. I don’t really know what it was specifically, but I just remember watching that movie over and over absolutely mesmerized with the actors.

 RIVAL:  Who are some artists you would love to collaborate with in the future? 

 That’s a really tough question, but I have to go with Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, or Ryan Gosling. Those guys are the top of the top, and who I aspire to be for sure, so getting to work with them would definitely be a dream come true. 

 
RIVAL: What has been your biggest achievement so far? 

 I think my biggest achievement so far is signing with CAA. The fact that they wanted to even meet with me absolutely blew my mind. I was so excited to see that all those years of work were starting to slowly pay off more and more. 

 RIVAL:  What are some things you hope to cross off your bucket list once everything goes back to normal? 

Go to a concert or music festival for sure. I miss being in a crowd of random people vibing to some amazing music. 

RIVAL: What are some causes that are dear to your heart and hope to bring awareness to in the future through your platforms? 

 Homeless youth and human trafficking. I’m extremely blessed to have an amazing life at home, so I hope that one day if my platform reaches that major level, I will be able to help out as much as possible. 

 RIVAL:  What is the best advice you have gotten and from whom?

I got to speak with Awkwafina and she told me that I have the ability to make it in this industry if I keep staying humble and keep working as hard as I can. 

 RIVAL:  What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

 Be patient. I can’t stress this enough. It’s probably one of the most important things about this industry. Not everything is going to go your way.

 RIVAL:  What do you hope to achieve through your art?

 Happiness. I really hope to make people laugh or smile, or just show them a good performance. 

RIVAL:  What are your plans for the future?

 Stay in school while maintaining my acting career. I definitely would take a break to go travel the world for a little bit as well.

 Keep an eye on your screen for Liu’s next projects in the future as he is a star on the rise. Meanwhile you can find more about him and his work over on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dallas_liu/?hl=en