Jacky Lai on What Makes the Netflix Series ‘V Wars’ Unique [Exclusive Interview]

Vampires will probably always keep our attention, especially as the kind of vampire story we see in film and television continues to evolve. One of the most recent vampire stories is V Wars, a new Netflix original starring The Vampire Diaries‘ Ian Somerhalder.

On the series, carriers of a disease transform people into vampires and a research scientist and his best friend find themselves on opposite sides of a burgeoning conflict between humanity and those who turned.

The series also stars Jacky Lai as Kaylee Vo, a struggling young online journalist who breaks the biggest story imaginable. She soon finds herself a key part of that story with a growing list of very deadly enemies.

I had a few questions for Lai about her work on V Wars and what makes the series unique.

Tell-Tale TV: Why were you excited to be a part of V Wars, initially?

Jacky Lai: I was excited to be part of V Wars initially because the role was so amazing! I got to be this fearless quirky badass.

And Kaylee isn’t tied down to anyone; she isn’t here to be a love interest for another character. The writers used her as the voice for the people and so she stood alone in the show and that was so empowering.

Tell-Tale TV: What makes this story different than other vampire stories?

Lai: Other vampire stories are fixated on what makes them different from humans, but in V Wars, we’re saying that vampirism is a disease that happens to us — all of us. This makes it more real and therefore scarier. It’s not an us vs. them thing when the very thing you are afraid of can be sleeping right next to you.

Tell-Tale TV: Ian Somerhalder stated recently that V Wars is more than just a vampire series, and that it’s also about science and society as well as relationships and love. How will those themes be dealt with on the series?

Lai: The world of V Wars is entirely structured by current events in our real world. The series tackled climate change and polar ice caps within the first few minutes of the pilot.

We’re exposing the fallacy in discrimination by making people on opposing sides turn vampire, forcing us to question dogmatism and social norms — showing that prejudice is just a blame game and that empathy and understanding is the cure.

Tell-Tale TV: I’ve heard it said that every generation creates the vampire it needs. Do you think that’s true with V Wars?

Most definitely. I think the vampires in V Wars have a lot of heart, a lot of struggle to just live. Our vampires are merely asking for equality, similar to the voices that are protesting our streets today.

Tell-Tale TV: For those who haven’t watched yet, what’s something you’re excited for viewers to see on the show?

Lai: I’m excited for viewers to hear Kaylee speak Vietnamese. It’s my mother tongue and I’m very proud of it, so it was such an honor to be able to speak it on screen with no filters. They gave me full reign and only asked for the translations after.

Tell-Tale TV: Describe your character, Kaylee Vo.

Lai: She’s witty, highly independent, and very resourceful. She has a lot of confidence and drive that is motivated by a fear of failure.

In this world of humans vs. vampires, one false move could be the last but to Kaylee, death is not nearly as scary as failing. She’s her own hero; never plays victim to her
circumstances and that’s totally badass.

Tell-Tale TV: What’s the best part about playing this role?

Lai: The best part of playing this role is getting to work with this stellar cast and crew. We had such an amazing connection. The people were all so lovely and professional, and it was a beautiful environment to be apart of.

Do you have a favorite vampire from popular culture? If so, who is it and why?

Lai: My favorite vampire would have to be Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. [He’s] such a cunning and dynamic character, not to mention his eyes!

Tell-Tale TV: And finally, what’s something you think fans might be surprised to learn about you?

Lai: I think fans might be surprised to know that I’m quite introverted. I’m more quiet in social settings but love to converse when it’s one on one.

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Be sure to catch Jacky Lai on V Wars, now streaming on Netflix.

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