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Photos courtesy of NBC /
Photo Above: Michelle Krusiec - NBC Photo: James Sorenson
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She calls it Michelle Confucianism which is to live life intensely, laugh immensely
and love fiercely. This perspective has given her a positive outlook on her life
and helped her land a major role on NBC’s "One World" as Sui Blake and
a recurring role on FOX's "Titus" as Nancy. She has also appeared on
other television shows such as "Popular", "Providence" and
a part in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as the daughter in the future
of O’Brien. She was also the host of Discovery Channel’s Travelers", a regular
guest on PBS "Mind on Science" and appeared in Oliver Stone‘s movie,
"Nixon", "Pursuit of Happiness", "For the Cause"
and "Pumpkin".
She has attracted the attention of many Asian Americans because her visibility
on television is helping break down the barriers that exist for Asians in the
entertainment industry.
Michelle is passionate about her culture. She speaks the Mandarin language and
frequently visits her family in Taiwan.
She was Born in Fallon, Nevada and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she
became interested in the arts and attended the Virginia Governors Magnet School
of Arts.
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview this talented actress.
DENNIS:
What kind of atmosphere did you grow up in? Was there a big Asian influence?
MICHELLE:
I was raised bicultural. I had an American father and
Chinese mother. My mother was adamant in making me aware of my cultural heritage.
I was pretty much raised Chinese with American ideals. DENNIS:
I heard that you visit Taiwan quite
frequently.
MICHELLE:
My mother's side of the family lives in Taiwan. so, I visit her side of the family.
DENNIS:
I hope your family made it safely through
the earthquake.
MICHELLE:Yeah,
everyone was fine during the earthquake. Thank you for asking.
DENNIS:
How did you get involved in acting?
MICHELLE:
It's kind of funny. I always wanted to be on stage,
whether it would be singing or dancing. There was a story that I would tell my
older brother and that was one day I would be discovered in a restaurant and that's
how I met my first agent. I worked in a restaurant selling dim sum and the first
agent I had was a customer at this restaurant. She scouted me and that's how it
started. I didn't really start studying theater and acting though, what I call
legitimate acting until high school. That's when I joined an art school. That
was what started my career in terms of acting. 
The "ONE WORLD" cast - Pictured (l-r): Bryan Kirkwood
as Ben, Alisa Reyes as Marci, Brandon Baker as Cray,
Michelle Krusiec as Sui,
Harvey Silver as Neal, Arroyn Lloyd as Jane -- NBC Photo: Chris Haston
DENNIS:
Let's talk about your show "One World". How does it feel to play the
character Sui and is her character similar or different from you?
MICHELLE:
I would say that Sui has a lot of characteristics that
we share. What she enjoys are similar things to what I enjoy but she is interested
in different things that I would be interested in. She's a true teenager.
DENNIS:
Let’s talk about your part in an episode
of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". Do you have many Trekkers coming up
to you?
MICHELLE:
YES! As a matter of fact, I get a lot of recognition by Trekkers. It just shows
you how many people watch Star Trek. DENNIS:
You were the host of the Discovery Channel show "Travelers". What was
your most memorable location and have any freaky situations ever happen to you
on the show?
MICHELLE:
I would say Ghana was one of the most memorable experiences
I had because it was so exotic and so new to me. Not only in my own experience
living here in the states but even after traveling abroad, Ghana is by far the
most unique experience. Its the first time I experienced voodoo and meeting people
who have a culture worshiping voodoo. I also experienced my very first sacrifice
and I was asked to drink from a sacrificial bowl that had goat's blood in it and
all kinds of specialties that the local witches had put into this concoction .
DENNIS:
Ugh! That’s gross!
MICHELLE:
I didn't even know what
was in there but I was ask to put aside my own personal beliefs and expectations
and really take a part in their culture and I really enjoyed that. I like new
things and that's what traveling is all about. Ghana was probably one of the most
memorable experiences. DENNIS:
Do you enjoy watching yourself on television?
MICHELLE:
No. I don't like seeing myself actually. It's a bit
jarring. I tend to be a little too critical plus I have a mother who is always
calling me and telling me that I shouldn't wear my hair like that and my makeup
like that. So, I tend to find that I may try to watch myself for my own observation
as an actress but it's very difficult to sort of separate myself from that. So,
I tend to avoid it when I can. DENNIS:
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
MICHELLE:
I love to dance. I love any sort of dance. I really
love African dance. That was one thing about Ghana. I got to take part in their
ritual dance. I like that whole primitive get down on the ground type of feel.
It’s very liberating. DENNIS:
What kind of music do you listen to?
MICHELLE:
I like 80's music. I used to be a Madonna freak. I'm
really eclectic because I come from a family that listened to different music.
My father likes the oldies. My older brother liked classic rock. Now like dance
music and house. Since I travel I like music from other countries because it's
so eclectic that I can't begin to tell you. DENNIS:
If you have to describe yourself in
one word, what would that word be?
MICHELLE:
I would say fierce because I believe that if you are
going to do something, you should do it intensely. If you're going to live life
you should live it fiercely. Whatever you are going for, you should go for it.
So, I sort of take that attitude with everything. Sometimes it can be a little
too much but I try to make the most of it. I sort of have this of...fierce drive.
Sometimes it gets me in trouble but it's a quality I enjoy about myself. So, I
sort of take that approach with everything. You should live fiercely, love fiercely
and laugh fiercely. So, it's my three "L's" in my life. That's my little
Confucianism. Michelle's Confucianism is that you should live intensely, laugh
immensely and love fiercely. DENNIS:
What is the most satisfying and the most frustrating aspect of being an Asian
American actress?
MICHELLE:
Probably the most frustrating are the typical roles.
I think I auditioned for more Asian masseuse girls than any other role ever and
they're all named Tai and they all know karate. That's a little nerve racking
when you encounter these roles that are so stereotypical. On the other hand, there
are the advantages that I am trying to make my own path as an actress. Being Asian
American, these days I feel that we are finding new roles at the same time even
when there are those stereotypical ones. There are new roles to be found and you
sort of have to be aggressive and of course have a lot of patience.
DENNIS:
What are your professional goals for the future in acting or otherwise?
MICHELLE:
I definitely would like to start my own production company
and would like to foster a lot of projects that really have more support with
an Asian theme because there is a great support for that right now. I don't think
there are many role models and when I was growing up I didn't have a lot of that
to look up to, so hopefully I can provide that in some sort of educational and
artistic way that I can be proud of. |  | | ONE
WORLD ladies - Pictured (l-r): Arroyn Lloyd as Jane, Michelle Krusiec as Marci,
Alisa Reyes as Marci -- NBC Photo: James Sorenson |
|
DENNIS:
What encouraging words of advice can
you give to Asian Americans who are pursuing a career in acting?
MICHELLE:
I find that growing up, individualism in the Asian culture
is often ignored. I would suggest Asian Americans look inward with themselves
versus the constant unit of the family. People tend to forget who they are because
our culture is such a headstrong culture. We tend to think right and try to pretend
to act right versus how we feel. If you can find what it is that is most expressive
about yourself beyond anything and then work from there. I think sometimes that
I was raised to work backwards. To go for the success instead of the personal
happiness, you know? You kind of want to find the mold before you
actually create it. So, I would say that If you can find that sort of inner happiness,
how you can express yourself the most happily. DENNIS:
What final words do you have for your fans?
MICHELLE:
Actually, Dennis I do have final words for the Asian fans and that is to be more
vocal. Be more supportive, be more expressive, create more, write more, and continue
to express yourself because there is a voice for us out there. You just need to
be heard and the more of us the merrier. ### | 
