Rong Fu is a Toronto-based actor and writer working in television, film, and theatre. Rong has been acting since the age of twelve when she joined her middle school’s drama club. What was initially a hobby has led her to pursue classical training as an actor and the development of an impressive early career. Her work has been seen at some of Canada’s premier theatre companies, such as the Shaw Festival and Soulpepper, as well on major networks like NBC, ABC, CBS, CW, and SyFy. We had the opportunity to catch up with her.
Rong Fu, thanks for taking the time to speak to us about your work. How and when did you decide to embrace a career in acting?
Hello, thanks for having me! I think the decision really solidified when I was in grade eleven. I went to Earl Haig Secondary School and was enrolled in the Claude Watson Arts Program as a drama major. Going to an arts high school really changed the course of my life. It’s where I found my identity and confidence. At the same time, I was participating in theatre programs such as The Paprika Festival, Tarragon’s Spring Training Program, and Factory Theatre’s Young Playwrights Lab. These programs provided me with additional training and access to mentorship. Meeting and working with theatre artists helped me in my decision because I saw what was possible through their experience.
Please tell us more about your experience studying theatre at York University. What impact did that have on your career?
My time in the acting conservatory at York gave me the opportunity to experiment and try lots of different techniques. I got to figure out what worked for me and how I liked to work. The best experience was in my final year when we got to work with guest directors for our mainstage productions. The experience that they brought in helped to prepare me for what to expect in a professional rehearsal hall.
You have performed on various stages across Canada since your theatrical debut in a Soulpepper production of the Crucible. What have been your most memorable productions, and why?
I was in my second season at the Shaw Festival, in the middle of rehearsal for Charley’s Aunt when the pandemic lockdown started. The last time I was in a theatre was the day we moved rehearsal to the stage. We ended up pivoting our rehearsals over to Zoom and did an online performance of the show in our own living rooms. Luckily, I was in great company with my cast and our director Tim Carrol, we just dived in and gave it our all to adapt our show. It was a fun experience, albeit a very different one. I also have a lot of fondness for my last stage performance which was Sherlock Holmes and The Raven’s Curse at Vertigo Theatre in Calgary. I played Fiona McKenzie; Sherlock Holmes’ globe-trotting Chinese-Scottish cousin who is perhaps the only person smarter than Sherlock. It was a fantastically fun role to play, and I got to work with my good friend Jenna Rodgers who is a phenomenal director. I have so much love for that cast – we even embarked on a D&D campaign between shows!
You’ve appeared on several TV projects, across various networks. This includes Pretty Hard Cases, Workin’ Moms, and American Gothic, to name a few. How do film and TV compare to the stage, and which do you prefer?
Working in film and tv can feel quite a bit more isolated than working on stage because it moves at such a fast pace. You show up to only shoot a few scenes, you move on, and the next day will be entirely different. Whereas in theatre, we get time to rehearse and really investigate the play, our characters, and story. Then we get to do the show night after night with a live audience and experience how a performance can shift and evolve each time. When it comes to the nature of the work and schedules, I definitely prefer theatre. I really like getting to know my cast and crew, forming new connections with the audience, and getting to dive deeper with every performance.
What has been the most challenging project to work on?
It’s funny what comes to mind isn’t even a particular project, but a single rehearsal! I was working on Stage Kiss at the Shaw Festival and I got to play a really fun supporting role, however, I was also assigned to understudy the lead. At a repertory theatre company such as The Shaw, almost every role is covered by another company member in case someone gets sick or runs into an emergency. Well, I didn’t think too much of it at the time when I was given my understudy assignment. But when rehearsals started, I soon realized that the show had a few songs in it and the lead had two or three solos. Now, I have the worst stage fright when it comes to singing. But the show must go on, so I gave it my best shot. I signed up for singing lessons and coaching sessions all to prepare for the dreaded understudy rehearsal where I had to do a full run of the show and sing all the songs. I don’t think I fully overcame my fear of singing, but I am proud to have tried as hard as I did. Luckily, I never had to go on as the understudy for real, so the audiences were spared!
Congratulations on your project May Flowers (Asians in the 6ix) which premiered on CBC: Canadian Reflections a few years ago. Please tell us more about the film and the ‘Asians in the 6ix initiative.
Asians In The 6ix is a community-based group led by and for Asian creatives in the film and tv industry living in Toronto. The origin story began when Marianna Phung called out to a bunch of Asian creatives for a meet and greet at Mill St Pub. About twenty of us arrived, and by the end of the night, we decided to enter the 48hr Film Challenge. This resulted in our short film, May Flowers, which I wrote, and Marianna directed. The film was selected to Best of Fest, won best director, and later toured over 10 film festivals before landing a spot-on CBC. Since then, our little community has grown to nearly 250 members on Facebook. It is a platform that we use to connect and elevate each other. In 2021, myself and five other members curated and hosted free online workshops for our members including mental health, producing, writing, and acting.
You star in the romantic comedy ‘Hello Again’ streaming on CBC Gem. Please tell us what audiences can expect and what lured you to the role?
Audiences can expect a really fun romantic comedy with a lot of heart, amazing food, and a few surprising turns. It’s the perfect show to binge-watch on the weekend when you are cuddled up on the couch and ready for a fun little escape. What lured me to the role is the character. Avery feels like someone I’ve known my entire life, in fact, she reminds me a lot of my best friend who is also a doctor!
Please tell us more about the filming schedule. To what extent was it affected by the pandemic and filming restrictions?
We shot the entire series in only five days at the end of October 2021! This meant that we had to work at a really fast pace, and it forced us to make important decisions on the fly. I am so thankful for our crew who had to work so quickly and efficiently. Shout out to our director, Melanie Chung who steered the ship with so much grace. The pandemic affected our filming schedule as we were pushed back by a few months due to the rise of the delta variant. We had to follow health and safety guidelines such as wearing masks between takes and getting tested. By then, I had already worked on several productions throughout the pandemic, so it didn’t feel like anything too out of the ordinary.
What other projects are you working on?
I’m currently working on a project that I can’t really talk about just yet. But I do have a couple of projects that are soon to be released, including SkyMed (CBS/CBC) a show about first responders in northern Canada, and My Fake Boyfriend (Buzzfeed/Lionsgate) starring Dylan Sprouse, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Sarah Hyland.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
You can find me on social media as @rongideas.
Images provide by Project Four
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