Qi- Rising Actor (Interview 2024)

Edition Sixty-Six- Week Sixty-Six:

Written by: Mercedes Barreto

Who or what began your love for acting, and why is this significant?

“I got cast in a theatre show called ‘Things We Should Talk About’ in college. That experience changed me, and that’s where my love for acting begins. First of all, I never thought I would get cast in a show because I never had any experience, and my English was bad. (Well, it’s a physical theatre show, so I didn’t need to talk much.) I felt free when I was doing that show. I felt that the world doesn’t exist beyond the four walls of theatre. In the rehearsal room, I got to be silly, wild and sometimes bizarre. I love that and I was addicted to that feeling.”

When was the moment you realized this was your calling in life, and where do you envision your success?

“I guess I always liked to entertain people. I sort of had a quiet or you can say a ‘lonely childhood’. I spent a lot of time by myself. I had a lot of free time but there was not much going on, because I lived with my grandparents in a village in China pretty much my whole childhood. So, I had to entertain myself. It sounds kind of cliché for an actor to say, but I used to act out the characters I see on TV and tried imagining what their life would be like beyond the show.

I realized acting is my calling after I met my acting teacher, Geoffery Horne. He made me fall in love with acting. More than that, he made me realize that acting is good for me. I was always quite expressive, but I was also a very controlled person. I can be funny and charismatic but didn’t know how to express my feelings like grief and anger. Geoffrey encouraged me to explore the world inside of me, and to be myself. He gave me the permission to be vulnerable in front of people. I would call myself successful when my work influences masses of people to be themselves and explore the world inside of them.”

If you could work with three top industry executives or establishments, what are the very top three?

“In terms of actors, I really want to work with Anthony Hopkins, mark Rylance and James Hong.”

What are some highlights for your career in 2024 and beyond?

“I feel very grateful and blessed. I have met so many great creatives and heard so many great stories on set. I try to have a personal connection with everyone on set and everyone has an interesting story. Those memories are the highlights of my career. I love meeting new and interesting people and hearing their stories. I have two short films coming out, and I’m very proud of them.

 I will be playing one of the lead characters in a full-length play ‘president’s invitation’ in New York City in March!!”

If the acting world was left behind or in the dark for a whole year, how do you believe your life would be impacted? Why and how so?

“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it…”

Where can we find your works, and why should we? What makes Qi Zhang an iconic actor of our time?

“Qi Zhang is my name, but my stage name is just Qi. Like Cher and Adele, you know. What makes me an iconic actor of our time, I don’t really know. People seem to like being around me on set, since I like to make people laugh. I want to inspire people to give themselves the permission to be their own selves.

The easiest way to find my work and my updates is connecting me on my Instagram @just_qi_just_qi “