TV & Movies
InThe Greatest Hits, he plays a classic romantic lead for the first time.
He has some thoughts about that.
Sometimes a role comes along at exactly the right time in an actors life.
Justin H. Min can tell us about both.
Its the job that came along exactly when he needed it.
Min is disarming and boyishly handsome in a vintage yellow-and-gold racing jacket.
A pile of dark curls (which hes never sported on screen) falls loosely over his forehead.
Youre always looking for a way in, he says, grinning.
The way in with Min is relatively easy.
But hes not complaining, because these are the signs that his career has finally taken off.
And then theres what he calls his crazy Hollywood story.
Sonny was enjoying some success as a TV writer, but he was still struggling.
Were gonna work together someday, this is gonna happen!
Then we went our separate ways.
That pilot wasBeef, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong and created by Lee Sung Jin aka Sonny.
I was so humbled and moved and excited, says Min, still in awe of the serendipity.
Min played him with a frozen smile and thinly veiled rage.
I want people to laugh because it feels so familiar.
In high school, he was elected president of the student council for four years straight.
Win With Min how could you not vote for me with that amazing slogan, right?
he says, facetiously, before admitting that he ran unopposed in his junior and senior years.
I think they thought it was satanic.
The extras were real Korean church members, he says.
Usually, Im surrounded by non-Asians.
The topic of Asian representation prompts a contemplative, ongoing dialogue within Min.
And inShortcomings,Min played against stereotypes as a failure and a f*ckboi.
The Greatest Hits, meanwhile,excites Min because Davids race is not essential to the film.
Ive loved those stories.
Within minutes, he says, he and Benson were discussing our mothers and childhood trauma.
This is also Mins first time as a classic romantic lead.
In the larger Hollywood landscape, it means hes a worthy rival to Superman.
(Corenswet isset to play the Man of Steel.)
Min studies his pudding a little more carefully when I use the wordheartthrob.
It was nice to finally lean into the slightly more empathetic parts of myself.
Her go-to song was Tom Pettys American Girl, and his was Green Days Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
She appreciated the sensitivity he brought to both the gatherings and the character.
Emotional intelligence is such a step up and a step forward.
Justin is a kind and generous person and that translated so much into David.
These are attributes that were hopefully seeing more of in leading men.
His colleagues agree that Mins emotional intelligence is one of his most compelling qualities.
Likewise, Benson said that whoever played David needed to radiate acceptance.
I was really looking for someone who had a beautiful heart, he says.
Staying grounded has been a priority to Min, too, in terms of his approach to his work.
I just gotta continue to do my thing and keep my head down, he says.
I feel like where Im at right now is kind of this, like, really OK place.
Maybe more than this, it would start to feel kind of overwhelming.
It also helps that hes still close with his Cerritos crew.
Were all kind of experiencing the novelty together, he says.
