(Photo credit: Peter Konerko)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
“Venom: The Last Dance” is out in theaters and actress Peggy Lu’s life has changed thanks to the popular Tom Hardy trilogy. The film jumped into theaters Oct. 25th and fans are saying it has been the best of the series. Lu plays the owner of a convenience store and is friends with Eddie/Venom. She started out with a different success with a Ph.D. and a pharmacy career. Lucky for us, she moved to New York after getting her first taste of acting in her sophomore year of college. Since then, she has steadily appeared in award-winning productions such as TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Animal Kingdom,” CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles,” NBC’s “Superstore” and HBO’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” just to name a few. Her character ‘Mrs. Chen’ can also be seen in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
The accomplished actress is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and when she’s not acting, she is a DIY enthusiast and amateur carpenter, which started as a hobby 15 years ago after rescuing her two dogs from a shelter. The ASPCA and cancer research are always on her radar. Get to know the actress behind the incomparable Mrs. Chen in the Venom movies!
Colleen Bement: Marvel fans are looking forward to “Venom: The Last Dance.” It looks dark and thrilling! What has your journey been like playing Mrs. Chen throughout these three films?
Peggy Lu: As you know, this is one of Sony’s most successful films from its Spider-Man Universe and I am still having many pinch me moments that I’m in all three films! Please somebody pinch me again…working with Tom Hardy since 2018 it’s like being in a master class for acting. He even asked me how I felt about the scenes and was open to discussion; I think my jaw dropped in those moments. He treated me like an equal, like a colleague! In between scenes he interacted with everyone including the background actors telling jokes and made sure everyone was cared for regardless of their position/title. This six-year journey is so surreal and I learned from the best, Tom Hardy; he often said to me “You do you”, and taught me I am perfect the way I am, and humbly shared the spotlight with me. This is making me teary so I’m going to stop here 🙂
CB: I love your Instagram post where your adorable doggies got “Venomized.” I’d like to know how playing Mrs. Chen has changed your life.
PL: LOL. Everyone’s pet(s) should get Venomized… unfortunately, the process does not enable them to grow tentacles like Venom so they can pick up their own poop. Meaning, I am still happily picking up their lovely smelly poops. I can still go to the grocery stores without having to wear sunglasses and/or a baseball hat. Financially it has changed my life; now I don’t feel guilty spending $6 on a medium-sized latte at my local coffee shop. As a matter of fact, I can treat my friends more often now too. Like tonight I am using my Marvel money to take my acting class and our coach Jackie Geary, to dinner then to see “Venom: The Last Dance.” Jackie has been instrumental to my success and has believed in me when I didn’t. Sigh…I’m learning a lot about myself.
CB: Would you happen to have a story from any of the “Venom” sets that you can share?
PL: Of course. My first “Venom”, day one on the set, Oct 2018, I got there super early, you know, to check out the set, run lines, warm up, etc. I was in a corner facing the wall running lines by myself and guess who tapped me on the back? It was Mr. Tom Hardy himself. I turned around and he gave me a huge hug and said “Hi, I’m Tom Hardy.” So cool and chillaxed. Needless to say, I was trying to be like him, cool and chillaxed so I said “who?” That was the only word, more like a sound that I was able to utter. Nice Tom repeated, “I am Tom Hardy and I’m in your scene.” Something like that, he did repeat his first and last name though. Again, I was being cool and replied “duh.” Another stupid sound that I uttered. He didn’t blink, had no judgment, and said “Do you want to run lines?” He sensed how nervous I was and wanted to help me peer-to-peer. From then on he set the tone for our working relationship and it’s been smooth sailing. Nowadays we talk about our meniscus because both of ours are torn.
CB: I’d guess that you’re this creative force that doesn’t sit still. Do you happen to have another project in the works?
PL: My next project is with Randall Park from Fresh off the Boat, who’s a hoot! He made me sign an NDA so you’ll have to ask him, lol. I am also in the process of designing/building a storage base with casters for my bed with a set of stairs and guardrails for my dog Oscar who has dementia; he is doing great, still has a huge healthy appetite, and boy, can he poop!
CB: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
PL: My very first acting teacher in NYC, Greg Zittel said, “Be like water.” Water can take on any shape and become whatever it is poured into. It can be a square, a triangle, or a circle. I am the water.
CB: Tell your fans about your adventures as an amateur carpenter. I tried to hook two pieces of wood together to make a planter box and ended up throwing it across my lawn. LOL.
PL: I get it. Making a square is still a challenge for me and everything starts with a square, well, most of the time it does. It all started when I rescued two dogs who were bonded, a mother and her son. I wanted my dogs to stay in the living room and block off the entrance to the kitchen from the living room, which is wider than a regular doorway. An extra wide doggy door was more than $100 and I didn’t want to spend that much money. I thought, how hard can it be to make a doggy door that can fold up like an accordion for storage? So, I spent over $200 buying power tools, then, spent more money buying wood, then, realized that I could make it with PVC pipes which is so much cheaper than wood. Yep, I ended up spending close to $300 to make this extra wide doggy gate that took about a month to make; I didn’t think it through carefully and made lots of mistakes. Also, as you can see, I suck at math. It would have been cheaper if I had just bought the doggy gate. Because of all the money I’ve invested in power tools, I decided to take up carpentry. My mom said I have too much time on my hands…it’s probably cheaper to buy…like I said, I suck at math.
CB: What cause has been close to your heart lately?
PL: Cancer research; cancer is characterized by the development of our own cells that have grown abnormally, dividing uncontrollably, and having the ability to destroy our normal body tissue. Which makes me wonder, is it something we are doing to ourselves, our foods, and environment? Is that why cancer is on the rise? I need to know.
CB: I’m wishing you huge success with “Venom: The Last Dance,” and look forward to chatting again sometime.
PL: Thank you! I’m also looking forward to chatting again sometime!
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