Exclusive interview with Diana Lu,  American Actress, Producer and Additional Crew

By Jean-Paul Eliard

The Match 06,  2023

Hi Diana I'm glad to do this interview

Can you introduce yourself to the visitors of cinema-movietheater.com?

Hi Jean-Paul. Thanks for having me. I’m Diana Lu, an actress based out of LA, and my mission is to connect with others through the stories I’m lucky enough to tell.

This strong desire to connect with others is because I am fascinated by human nature and have always been curious about why people do what they do/how they process their experiences. 

What did you like about your character Alana Hale and in the script of NCIS: Hawai'i (1 episode, Season 2, Episode 13)?

I enjoyed Alana Hale because I can relate to trusting and doing whatever you have to for your family. She’s a fighter for those she loves.

This ultimately lands her in a compromising situation when she learns her husband may have been lying to her. This betrayal/specific moment where her life shatters was fun to explore. 

How did you get this role?

I have an amazing team who got me the opportunity to audition for this role.

How did you prepare for your role?

I prepared for Alana by reading what the writers gave me: examining others' reactions to her, how others speak to her, what she says, her own reactions, etc.

I let this bake internally so when I show up to set, I know who I am and can simply listen and be present with the rest of the cast. 

How is the shooting with your co-stars....... and with the director?

The meat of Alana’s role in this episode was with Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) and Kai Holman (Aggy Tarrrant).

Vanessa was very inviting and warm; Aggy was generous and open. I really enjoyed flowing in the scene with them. Larry Teng directed the episode and was a delight to work with.

He gave us space to explore and I appreciated his specific and clear direction.

I also had the pleasure of being A.J. Hale’s wife (Jonah Hook) which was a treat. He's originally from Hawaii so I met his actual parents and got some “family” photos. 

Where is the TV series shot in Hawaii? And when?

The show is shot on Oahu, HI, and we worked on this episode in November 2022.

When and why did you choose to be an actress?

I made the commitment to dedicate my time and energy to acting when

I graduated college after losing a close friend unexpectedly.

This shook up my entire life; I had a whole path lined up, but this loss made me question my own existence, purpose, and how not to squander away this opportunity to live. I’ve always loved storytelling and wanted to act, but never thought it was a possibility – not for an Asian American in the inner city of San Francisco.

So partly as a form of therapy and curiosity, I enrolled in singing and acting classes and found great joy in both.

The accompanist in my singing class moved me to tears before I could even open my month; in acting class I connected to my character, scene partner and audience in a way I’d never felt before.

Since I am a much stronger actor, that’s what I continued to train in. =)

What is your next challenge / project:?

My current challenge is wheel throwing; I’m taking classes for fun and am really enjoying being a beginner, soaking in all the information.

My next project airs in March 2023; I recur on Ryan Murphy’s 9-1-1 on Fox alongside Peter Krause and Angela Basset. It was an honor to watch and learn from Peter and Angela and I am proud of our work together. 

Thank you very much for your interview Diana  and all the best

More information about Diana on  Instagram and on IMDb.

My Critic TV serie

I saw on 05 / 27 / 2023 on French TV M6.  Episode 13, Season 2 :

Misplaced Targets

The story of this episode offers a good dynamic since there are two investigations in parallel.
The actors and actresses are very good.
I would have liked to see Diana longer in this episode because I'm sure she can bring an added value.

May be in a new episode, movie or series.

My mark for this episode
09 / 10

To see on CBS www.cbs.com/shows/ncis-hawaii/