‘The universe rewards you when you stand your ground and declare your worth’

Metropolis, DC Comics' City of Tomorrow, thrives on diversity and dreams. It's no surprise then, that Max’s My Adventures with Superman embodies that spirit. This electrifying anime-inspired series from Studio Mir (think Legend of Korra's visuals!) reimagines Superman (Jack Quaid) alongside a young Lois Lane (Alice Lee) and Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid) navigating careers at the Daily Planet and saving the day.

Wholesome and action-packed, the show beautifully captures Superman's hope while breaking ground with Lee's first-ever Asian Lois Lane, a character infused with her Korean American heritage. I caught up with Lee during season two to chat about bringing Lois to life, her music career, and her own vision for a brighter future.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Daniel Anderson: Did you have a specific show or movie that you watched that inspired you to become an actor?

Alice Lee: I grew up watching a lot of Korean dramas and movies. Subconsciously, I thought, "Oh, that looks so cool; I would love to do that." It didn't become a reality until my freshman year of college when I auditioned for a Broadway musical, Spring Awakening. It was an open call, and I did it just for fun. Then I got the part and thought, "Oh shit, this could actually be a job." I got my reps and started actually doing it. I feel super grateful, like the universe was saying, "Okay, this is gonna be our path."

DA: Do you still watch any K-dramas?

AL: It's so cool to see Korean culture becoming so popular. When I was growing up, it wasn't considered cool, but now it is. Recently, I don't watch as many K-dramas as I used to, but I still catch a few. For example, Crash Landing on You felt reminiscent of the old days of K-dramas. I loved The Glory. I'm not as up-to-date, but I definitely watch the ones that are trending, like Squid Game, obviously.

DA: What animated shows did you watch growing up?

AL: I watched a lot of Sailor Moon and loved it. At sleepovers, we'd watch Sailor Moon, and I even know the theme song. I also watched Pokémon every morning before school, and of course, I enjoyed a lot of Disney and Pixar movies.

DA: Tell me about your audition for My Adventures with Superman. I read somewhere that the creators envisioned Lois to be Asian from the start?

AL: When I auditioned for it, it was one of my first voiceover auditions. I hadn't done voiceover work before. The breakdown didn't specify that Lois Lane was Asian; it just listed her as Lois Lane. I wasn't very good about submitting myself for voiceover auditions, but this one stood out because it's Superman and Lois Lane. Months later, I found out I got the part and I then learned they were planning to make Lois Lane Asian. They were auditioning actors of various Asian ethnicities and nationalities, but the Korean aspect came in because I'm Korean. I think it's super cool that they adapted the character. The animators are from Studio Mir and it's a Korean company, which is awesome. I love that they had her wear a hanbok in one episode and really paid homage to our heritage. I feel a lot of pride in that.

 

DA: We keep getting these nuggets of Lois’ heritage. The hanbok as you mentioned and Lois’ Korean name written in hangul in season two. Do you want to see more of those aspects come in a future episode? Maybe a conversation between Lois and Clark about times where they felt they didn’t fit in? Or Clark learning more about Korean culture?

AL: Yeah, I think just hearing you talk about it, I’d love a future episode 1000%. I love the nods to her heritage. But if we really want to address Lois being Asian, it's important to highlight that she's Asian American, which is a completely different experience. Plus, she's in an interracial relationship, which adds another layer. We're about to start recording season three, so I'm not sure what's in the storyline, but that's definitely something I'll bring up if it doesn't come up this season. And feeling different is something both Lois and Superman experience, so there's a great parallel there. I feel like there's going to be something that goes more in-depth with her being Asian, exploring her experience and why she is the way she is.

DA: Since this was your first voice acting role, was it difficult for you to lock in Lois’ character?

AL: At first, I wasn't as sure because when I auditioned for it, I went off instinct. I didn't really know what she was supposed to sound like, so I just read the lines based on my intuition. Luckily, they liked it. In the booth, it was about trusting my instincts and working with the amazing creators and writers. They created a really safe environment, let me play around, and gave great direction. I love direction, so I appreciated that. Now, having watched this season, I feel like I know her more, but I'm still nervous because we start recording season three on Monday. I'm like, "Wait, what did I do? What did I sound like?" I'm sure it'll come back, but it's been a learning process. Each time, I learn a little more. Not being able to act with Jack and Ishmel in person, but now seeing it all come together, I'm amazed. It's truly magical how they put everything together as if we were all in the same room. Now, I feel like I'm in a good groove.

DA: It's great to see how you’re growing in the role. It mirrors Lois’s own journey in the show and the series’ take on these young adult characters figuring out their careers and lives. Lois is so tenacious and driven as a journalist, and I’m glad we have that kind visibility on screen.

AL: I also love Lois for that. Seeing her as an Asian character who’s feisty shows a different side. In media, Asian characters are often portrayed as a monolith, but we're finally breaking out of that. I love how passionate she is and how she's a little kooky and intense. She feels very real and relatable.

DA: Have you had a moment in your own career where you were stubborn or outspoken about something and realized the power of your voice?

AL: I've found empowerment in saying no to things. When you start out, you tend to say yes to everything, but now I realize I can say no if it doesn't align with my authenticity or acknowledge my worth. It can be scary, fearing it might harm opportunities, but it never does. The right things come when you're aligned with what you truly want and value. It's about honoring my worth and knowing that if someone doesn't acknowledge it, others will. It's shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. Standing up for myself and saying no feels good, and I'm okay with that decision. The universe rewards you when you stand your ground and declare your worth. It's about saying, "This is what I deserve," and the universe responds positively.

DA: All That We Love, the film you starred in with Margaret Cho, felt very aligned to that authenticity. I want to congratulate you for that film and its Tribeca debut. Whether it’s live-action films or animated projects like My Adventures with Superman, do you have a preference creatively?

AL: It really depends on the project for me. Now, my goal is to work on projects that I'm passionate about, ones that I believe in and would recommend to others. Projects like Superman bring me immense joy, whether it's live action or any form. They're all extensions of the art I want to create and be a part of. The people involved make it incredible, so I can't say I have a preference—I love it all and want to do it all.

DA: All That We Love beautifully used music and gave songs to characters. As a singer/songwriter yourself, if you had to choose a song to represent Lois and Clark, what might that be?

AL: Oh my god, what a question. Something romantic for sure. That’s hard. One thing that pops up is “I Like You” by Post Malone. It's kind of bright and it's sweet.

DA: And would you ever want to sing on Superman if they asked you to?

AL: I’ll never say no to singing!

DA: In this new season, Lois confronts feeling inadequate in her relationship with Clark/Superman. What advice would you give her to overcome that imposter syndrome?

AL: Oh, man. I'd say she's lovable just as she is—worthy and loved by Superman for who she is. Her boyfriend is a superhero, but we've all had those moments in relationships where we question our worth. But she's amazing. You're amazing. Don't forget it. If you can't see it, someone else will. Superman does. Love yourself, be gentle, and know you're the shit.

DA: I mean there really is no Superman without Lois and Jimmy in the series. Their friendship as a trio really is so tender and heartwarming.

AL: What I love about our show is how it centers the story on love, friendship, and kindness. Even with all the action and fighting evil, Superman at its core is about humanity and relationships—that's what life is about. They do such a good job spreading positive messages through the show.

DA: Your own music spreads positivity too. Your latest singles “Boring” and “Wasted On You” are so sanguine. Do you have lyrics or a central message you’re proud of in your discography?

AL: You're so sweet for asking about that. Like you mentioned, I'm very optimistic in life and believe in hope and all that good stuff. With music, it's different from acting where I'm interpreting someone else's work—it's my chance to say something. For a long time, I struggled with knowing what I wanted to express. Recently, with my new music, I want people to rediscover their love for life and themselves, even if they're not feeling it right now. Through my journey, I aim to show that while there have been tough times, the good always outweighs the bad. In my most recent song, "Boring," the initial idea was about how life might seem uneventful, but we turned it around. It's about celebrating the little things that make life meaningful. The real boredom is the negativity and chaos around us, not the beauty of everyday moments—relationships, love, and joy. We're here for a short amount of time or a long amount of time, however you want to see it. I think the universe wants us to be happy, however we do that.