By Dov Kornits
Asian-Australian actor Ross Kurt Le was born and raised in Sydney, but so far his CV boasts exactly zero Australian film or television credits. That’s because, like so many other young Australian performers, he decided to push all his chips in and take off for Los Angeles in 2009, putting a nascent career in chemical engineering behind him and enrolling in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After picking up a few bit parts in the likes of Castle and Transparent, he won his first recurring role in the short-lived comedy series, Unnecessary Force, before winning a supporting role in the science fiction series, Stitchers.
Of his trans-continental move, Le says, “I didn’t think opportunities [in Australia] were limited as much as I felt that if I wanted to do something, I may as well go big or go home. Hollywood seemed the epicenter for the career, and so I left. I think also in the back of my mind, I knew that going that far would mean that there would be no turning back. When there’s no going home, you’re forced to survive and make things work.”
Making things work for a jobbing actor in LA means an endless rotation of rehearsals and callbacks, not to mention pumping time, energy and money into constant training and classes. “Since moving here, I’ve studied at as many schools as I’ve been able to practically afford. Classes for film, theatre, comedy, improv, audition technique, you name it. Some people might have said it is overkill, but I’ve just had so many great mentors advise me to never stop training. You should always be sharpening your tools to get better. Somewhere out there is an actor who’s younger, more talented, more experienced and better looking than you. My acting coach told me that once, and I knew it was a challenge to keep improving at all times.”
Although he’s been operating in the US for seven years now – “the US has been super welcoming,” he makes a point of noting – Le still finds himself somewhat overwhelmed by the experience. “It’s felt like one giant rabbit hole that keeps revealing new surprises, good and bad. I’ve gotten some experience in the industry, and I’ve reached a level of stability I suppose, but that took at least four years. It’s definitely a marathon, not a sprint.”
In Stitchers, Kirsten Clarke (fellow Aussie Emma Ishta) is recruited by a secret organisation to be “stitched” into the memories of the recently deceased in order to investigate unsolved crimes. Le plays Alex, a member of the technical support crew who maintain and operate the “stitching” technology. “I actually auditioned for another role, and lost out to another actor. However, the casting director liked my audition and ultimately gave me a shot at a different role on the show. My agent and manager worked hard to get me in front of the right people for this job. Originally I’d expected it to be a simple two episode arc, but as the season went on they continued to write me in, and eventually I became a regular role. Sometimes it breaks for you like that!”
Stitchers is currently airing on Fox 8.
