Alex Landi is keen on addressing 2 issues – LGBTQ and Asian stereotypes.
In speaking with Attitude magazine, the 26-year-old Hollywood newcomer talks about using his platform in “Grey’s Anatomy” to address topics that are usually shunned. For those that don’t know, Landi’s character is the Shondaland series’ first Asian male and first openly gay Asian doctor.
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In season 15 of “Grey’s Anatomy”, viewers were introduced to Landi’s Dr. Nico Kim, who soon develops a fling with intern Dr. Levi “Glasses” Schmitt (played by openly gay actor Jake Borelli). Landi expressed that he enjoys portraying his role because Kim combines a racial and sexual minority.
“(Producers) wanted a very masculine ‘bro’ type, and they wanted him to be openly gay. That was disclosed to me before the audition,” he told the publication. “Another undertone is that he is also the first male surgeon of Asian descent.”
“As an actor, I want to do the best job I can in any role, regardless of my own personal sexuality or the character’s,” Landi said. “I just want to do this role proud for the LGBT+ and the Asian communities. If I put in my two cents, the best actor wins.”
He continued, “It comes down to the role breakdown, it just falls into whoever can do it the best and what the producer likes. I don’t think it necessarily has to fall into sexual identity. It falls into who can get the job done.”
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“There are discussions about transgender actors playing transgender roles, gay actors playing gay roles, and Asian actors speaking up about whitewashing simply because not all actors have equal opportunities. There isn’t a level playing ground. When roles stop being pre-defined by ethnicity and sexual orientation, that is when these discussions will no longer be at the forefront of casting decisions.” the hunky star went on.
The rising star, whose father is Italian and mother is Korean, also wants to use his spotlight to highlight racial stereotypes. He explained, “I’m trying to break stereotypes. Asian men are not seen as masculine in the media and that is something that I am striving to change. Why can’t there be an Asian James Bond? Why can’t there be an Asian Marvel superhero? There are plenty of Asian men who can pull it off. A dream of mine is to become a Marvel superhero.”
“Grey’s Anatomy” has featured a number of queer characters over the years. They include bisexual orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Callie Torres (played by Sara Ramirez) and lesbian paediatric surgeon Dr. Arizona Robbins (played by Jessica Capshaw). Last season, the series also showed trans actor Alex Blue Davis appearing as trans intern Casey Parker.
This is not the first time Landi has opened up about these issues. Last November, he also opened up about the aforementioned topics while speaking to Travis Mills on “Beats 1 on Apple Music”. You can check out their interview below:
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Source: NewNowNext.
