![]() “I go through these waves of extraversion and introversion, which I think everybody should embrace. “I have times when I'm very introverted,” he admits. ”īutler further describes his character, Kayden, as having “a very dark past and is very much a lone wolf-a strong, silent type,” which he somewhat relates to. I saw it as an opportunity for my acting as well as representation. He's not like a kung fu master.” He further explains, “When you think of UFC, you imagine these huge boxing matches, you don't think of Asian people. “What I love most about the character is that he’s just an Asian American ,” he says. Based on Claudia Tan's widely-read romance web novel, Butler takes the lead as Kayden Williams, an underground MMA fighter entangled in a revenge plot complicated by love. In his latest film, Perfect Addiction, Butler continues to defy stereotypes. I'm glad that we've taken that journey together.” He says, “I think my mom fell into that for sure, but now I think she's a little bit more comfortable about not having to live up to any expectations or stereotypes. Butler reflects on the pressures many Asian Americans face in terms of academic expectations and conformity. It certainly didn’t hurt when Butler’s career took off, as it meant financial stability for her son (though the car purchase for mom probably helped his case a bit). When asked about how she felt at the time, he frankly replied, “Oh, she hated it.” It wasn't until years later that she recognized the genuine happiness acting had brought into her son's life. Having had high academic expectations for him, Butler’s mother had reservations about his new career path. You have to be more strategic and approach things in new ways because honestly, it hasn't really been done that much before-so the academic background helps.” He emphasizes, “You can't just go into this having the same expectations and approach in the industry as someone who's white. Butler explains the importance of thinking business-wise sometimes, especially as an Asian American in the industry. It had taken Hollywood nearly 25 years from Joy Luck Club (1993) to Crazy Rich Asians (2018), a major film with an all-Asian cast that also reflected modern-day Asian Americans. Growing up Asian, Butler understood the complexities it came with in his line of profession with the ongoing lack of representation. And I'm glad that I still have that academic background because I think it mixes well with the creative business, just to think about things more logically.” Butler explains, “I'm still learning to balance between the creative, the business, and the logic side of things. And when he turned 21, his friend bought him an acting class for $25, which started it all.ĭespite dropping out, his appreciation for academia is still palpable and has left an indelible mark on him as an actor today. No plans, just with the money he'd saved up when he was 20. ![]() Butler took the leap and moved to LA without knowing anyone. You know…we all know Asian tiger moms,” he says with a half-smile. I grew up very academic, so dropping out was kind of hard for me, especially for my mom. “I dropped out because I was studying something that interested me, but it wasn't something that I wanted as a career. However, at some point, Butler’s path looked very different-he originally majored in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering for a year before dropping out. I Still Love You (2020), To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021), and as Eugene Choi in Shazam! (2019). You might recognize him in roles such as Zach Demsey, the highschool jock in 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020), Reggie Mantle in Riverdale (2017, 2021), Trevor Pike in the beloved fan series, To All the Boys: P.S. With 11 years of acting experience under his belt, Butler has built quite an impressive resume starring in several hit TV shows and films. It feels quite reminiscent of catching up with an old buddy who has moved abroad, and this immediately sets the tone of our conversation. As he tries to sneak in a few bites before our interview begins, I catch glimpses of intricate charcoal drawings behind him, sketched by Butler himself-an elephant and a lotus-pinned on the fridge as if by a proud parent. He seems unassuming in his t-shirt and Terry Black's BBQ Austin cap, sitting in his kitchen from what feels like a long day. There’s a glimmer of childlike charm that flickers across the screen as Ross Butler hops on the video call.
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