Behind the Scenes with Joshua Hyunho Lee in ‘XO, Kitty’ Season 2

Korean American actor, dancer, and singer Joshua Hyunho Lee has Jin in the second season of the popular American romantic-comedy drama XO, Kitty. As the spring semester begins, setting the stage for new episodes of drama and chaos to unfold at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS), Jin enters the picture—a dynamic and intriguing character who, despite being “so different” from the actor himself, resonated with Lee in a very specific sense. While seemingly unlikeable, as Lee explains, Jin is “a kind, “albeit, confused at times, person who cares about the people around him.”

Jin embodies a range of emotions and inner turmoil, grappling with the pressures of life and searching for his true happiness. Lee’s portrayal of Jin’s journey, including his relationship with Q (Anthony Keyvan), his friendship with the Kitty gang, and his quest for his sense of self, surely adds depth to the show’s themes of love and growth while contributing to Lee’s own evolution as an actor.

Even with his impressive academic background—a Harvard University graduate—Lee’s passion has always been in the world of entertainment. He had his Broadway debut in KPop as Timmy X and played Supreme in two seasons of CBC/BBC’s Gangnam Project. Interestingly, Lee chose to follow his love of the arts over the conventional academic route, confirming his willingness to take chances to realize his dreams.

For XO, Kitty, Lee says that he was initially nervous about joining the series with such a dedicated fan base, but his subsequent experience on the set has been nothing short of rewarding. As he shares, the role of Jin has reconnected him to his cultural roots, grounding him in the process. “I’m very grateful that work was able to bring me back.” Excerpts.

What led you to the world of entertainment to begin with? How did you get started, your Broadway debut, your K-pop experience, and your role in the Gangnam Project to XO, Kitty?

I started dancing in high school as a hobby, but I got pretty serious about it very fast. Unfortunately, in college, I didn’t dance as much to focus on my academics, but I did join a capella group and direct a dance charity event as my creative outlet.

After I graduated, I moved to New York City for my corporate job, but in the back of my head, there was always an itch to go back into the arts. That itch only intensified as most of the friends I was making were full-time artists. Eventually, it came to a point where I was thinking about acting, dancing, and writing every waking second of the day, so I decided to quit and give myself a year to pursue all the things I wanted to and reevaluate after the year was over. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

I was so lucky to have made my Broadway debut within that year originating the role of Timmy X on KPop. I submitted to an open call and was surprised to have gotten a callback. The audition process was the most nervous I have ever been. It was my first in-person audition ever, but I remember the process being fun. It was an amazing experience where I got to sing, dance, and act every single day for a live audience. From there I filmed Gangnam Project, and while I was filming that, got the call to perform with Stray Kids at the VMAs, and XO, Kitty happened after that. It’s all been a roller coaster of a ride, but I’m so thankful I trusted my gut and made the leap to become an actor.

What initially drew you to the role in XO, Kitty, and what about the character resonates with you?

I am a huge fan of the To All the Boys franchise and then became a huge fan of XO, Kitty when it came out after, so when I got the audition for season 2, I was pumped. Jin specifically resonated with me because of how interesting and complex his character is. Jin is at a point in his life where he is trying to find what truly makes him happy regardless of familial/societal/self-placed pressures. And though he may have a “toxic alpha male” exterior, he is a kind, albeit, confused at times, person who cares about the people around him.

How does working alongside Anna Cathcart influence your performance in the series? Are there any memorable moments you had while filming together?

Anna just makes everyone around her better. I can’t say enough amazing things about how talented, kind, and professional she is. One specific moment that comes to mind is when Jin barges in through the window while Kitty and Q are talking in the Ski Cabin. That scene was so fun to film and I remember laughing a lot with them and having the best time.

How does your character contribute to the show’s themes of love and growth?

Jin’s journey with the track, his relationship with Q, and his newfound friendship with the rest of the Kitty gang all contribute to XO, Kitty’s themes of love and growth. High school is a confusing time for everyone… and Jin is no exception. He is on his way to finding out who he is, likes, and wants, and I love that for him.

How do you feel about being part of a series with such a passionate fan base, given that XO, Kitty is a spin-off from the popular To All the Boys franchise?

I’m so honored to be a part of this beautiful universe that Jenny Han created. Getting to work with our showrunner, Jessica O’Toole, the writers, the directors, and the cast and crew was a huge blessing.

In truth, I was quite nervous to be joining this second because of how big the fan base is, but after getting to work and meeting everyone involved with its production, all the worries disappeared. 

In your opinion, what sets XO, Kitty apart from other teen dramas? 

Do they have love triangles? We have love octagons with undercover students and musical bangers. In all seriousness, it’s amazing to have a series led by a queer female character with a diverse ensemble cast of characters that takes place in Korea.

Also, we have Peter Kavinsky this season. That’s pretty sick.

Please share your experience transitioning from auditions to booking this role. What was that process like?

Jin is so different from who I am as a person, so getting to play him was so fun. I submitted my audition, had a few callbacks, and then met with Anthony for our chem test. I then went to Portugal for a trip with a friend and forgot about the audition until I got a call from my manager telling me I had booked it! 

I was over the moon but also stressed because I had to fly back, pack, and move out of my apartment and into my new lease, all within one week. It was chaos, but I just remember feeling so excited.

What has been your favorite part of working on this series?

I have too many things I loved to choose a favorite: everyone I worked with was amazing, the work itself was fulfilling, and I got to eat so much amazing food!

One thing I didn’t expect to like as much as I did was filming in Seoul. I was anxious about getting homesick and missing friends and family after being away for so long, but being in Seoul reconnected me with my culture and grounded me. I got to see family that still lived in Seoul, on my off days I went to museums and cultural sites, and I was able to practice my Korean haha. I’ve only been to Korea twice prior, so I’m very grateful that work was able to bring me back.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your acting career thus far? Are there particular genres or roles you hope to explore in the future? 

The most rewarding aspect of my acting career has been the fact that I wake up excited to work every day. It’s a feeling I’ve been chasing for so long, and I’m so glad I have it now. 

In terms of future work, I would love to do an action movie! Maybe a spy movie… I would love to utilize my Mandarin, Korean, and dance background for the fighting scenes. It sounds like it would be a ton of fun.

Any message you’d like to share with our readers?

Thank you for following along! I hope you enjoy Jin and Season 2 of XO, Kitty!