Kari Wong

Actor Kari Wong is emerging as an exciting talent to watch, with a growing screen career and a major festival moment ahead this fall. This September, she appeared in All That She Wants, that premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, in a principal role as Paige, sharing the screen with Annie Murphy and Cooper Raiff. The project marks an important next step for Kari as she continues to build her profile and take on increasingly prominent roles. With a natural screen presence and momentum building around her work, All That She Wants introduces Kari to a wider audience and positions her as a rising actor to keep on the radar.

For the people discovering you for the first time, can you walk us through your story?

I started in the industry almost 18 years ago. My cousin was with Sutherland Models, and I had always loved performing: singing, dancing, and just being on stage. I was young, and my parents said, “Well, you know what? Your cousin has an agent, let’s get you an agent as well!.” So, I went in and met with the agent for the very first time. I was so nervous and scared so I think they thought I wasn’t right for them. I honestly don’t remember exactly what happened because it was all such a blur, especially looking back now. But at some point, they agreed to meet with me again down the line.
I remember my parents showing me a little clip from Hairspray, which was my favourite musical at the time. They got me really excited by showing me that clip, and when I went back in, I was able to just be my bubbly self. From there, when you’re young, it’s just so much fun. One of the coolest parts was getting pulled out of school or showing up late, and then getting McDonald’s Happy Meals for lunch. You felt like the cool kid. It was such a fun and exciting way to grow up.

So when did you start to feel that change? When did it shift from this childlike wonder to realizing this is an actual career?

It was an interesting experience growing up, from being a kid with my dad as my manager to realizing, “Oh, this is actually a beautiful art form”, then realizing that it’s also work and a craft, and that you have to hone that craft. With that being said, I feel like there was a bit of a bittersweet moment during my teenage years. It got to a point where I didn’t know where the line was between what was my passion and what was my career or profession. It wasn’t only about drawing the line between overworking yourself with all these auditions and being a kid in school. It was also about not wanting to lose the joy in it. It took me a long time to remember why I was doing what I was doing. There was a chunk of time, especially when I was 16 and trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing, when I thought, “The last thing I want to do is put myself on camera and send it to another person for them to say no, or for me to never hear back from them again, after I’ve been doing this for over a decade.” But on the bright side, it got to a point where I found different outlets and different things that filled my cup and I’m so thankful to have built a community now of fellow artists. It was interesting navigating the difference between being a child actor/model when I was in the second grade and seeing what it has now turn into and all the possibilities ahead for me.

How did you learn to detach yourself from the outcome because this is a job that relies on so many variables?

It always feels good when you’re booking things. It’s like any other profession where you go to all these job interviews. It feels so great when you get the job, but it is quite disheartening when you don’t. You also have to learn that sometimes there’s nothing personal about it. Sometimes it’s just something like, “We went with someone who looks more like the mother that we’ve already casted.” There are so many factors that could have everything, but also nothing to do with you. It’s a mindset that I’m continuously working at in general to focus on the things I have control over and letting go of the variables that aren’t.

“I think it comes back to creating art and creating work that people connect with. Some of the most comforting moments in my life, and some of the hardest moments in my life, have involved watching a movie or TV show.”

Was there a specific point where you realized, “Okay, this is a career as well as a passion”?

Yeah, I think it was after I finished school. Any kid is going to think, “Let me get through the things on paper that I’m supposed to do as a young adult.” So I did that, and I feel like acting and my craft kind of slipped through the cracks and took a little bit of a backseat. But then, after school, I started working in the hospitality industry in restaurants in Toronto and found more time to hone my craft again. I reconnected with my vocal coach, Sandra Angers, and we started training, which was one of the things that really filled my cup. I was like, “Oh, I remember the joy. I remember why I did this. I remember why I created the art that I would create.” Then I started thinking, “Oh my gosh, how crazy and amazing would it be if I could just do that and be a working actor?”

Your new movie just came out at the Toronto International Film Festival, which is very exciting. What was it like to be part of this project? What was the casting process like for you, and how did you find out you got the role?

I remember the scene for the audition and it was so fun and goofy, where you could really play around with it. I don’t remember the last time I had that much fun doing a tape. I think that’s part of the reason why I was cast, because you could really see and feel the fun and the genuine joy in the scene. I don’t remember how many takes we did because we kept laughing during the audition. And then that same feeling carried over when I was on set with everyone. It was exactly how it felt when I was reading the script and laughing out loud, then doing the audition and laughing out loud, and then breaking character on set with Cooper. It all really made sense because it was so funny. It was hilarious. They hired me, and I got the rest of the script and loved it as well.

The movie was shot in Toronto, which is also your hometown. How did it feel to get to shoot where you grew up?

It was so fun to shoot in Toronto. One of the locations used to be at an old job I had, o it really was oddly close to home. I grew up just outside of Toronto and have lived here in Toronto for a while now. On top of that, the fact that it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival makes it such a full-circle moment and I’m so blessed to be a part of Toronto history.

“I was very lucky with Unicorn Academy because those were definitely some of the more intense, full-body recordings, if you will. A lot of the time, we had ensemble recording sessions, so we would feed off each other and get excited off each other.”

When you got the script and read about your character, Paige, what intrigued you about her? 

Paige, as vague as it sounds, really is just a girl in her 20s who is just enjoying life, and that is ok. I feel like sometimes we have these ideas of characters being like, “Oh, she’s a sorority girl,” or something. She’s not a sorority girl, but she is a young woman in her 20s who is allowed to have fun. She’s allowed to have a night out. She’s allowed to have a couple of drinks too many. She’s allowed to have a flirty moment with a friend, or maybe it turns into something; maybe it doesn’t. Maybe you skip class one day. Whatever. That’s literally who she is, because I know that’s a lot of us girls in our 20s. And it doesn’t mean that she’s basic. It doesn’t mean she has no personality. I think she’s such a funny person and she gets along with everyone. She’s hard not to like. At the end of the day, she’s young and enjoying life in her 20s, which is kind of where I’m at right now, or where I’m trying to be. It was so nice getting to play her. And specifically, her wardrobe was amazing. There were pieces that I would wear, and I absolutely fell in love with them. I remember being at the fitting and taking photos of everything I tried on. I was like, “Oh my gosh, this is so cute. I have to get this for myself!”

Did you get to keep anything?

I did not get to keep anything, no. And I didn’t want to be a bother by asking. I was like, “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.” If I find something at Urban Outfitters or at a thrift store, then that’s a sign that I was meant to have it ;)

Honestly, this feels like such a great project for you. I think in a few years, when you have all these great roles coming up, you’ll look back and this will be one of those moments you remember for a long time. Looking back on it now, what would you remember most from shooting the movie?

I think where I am in my career right now, it can get nerve-racking or overwhelming sometimes when you’re on set, especially when you’re working with well-respected names who are already established in the industry, both in front of and behind the camera. But stepping onto this set was not what I expected, in the best way possible. Everyone was saying hello, chatting with everybody, and making me feel so welcome. It felt like such a safe space where you could really explore your character. That really stuck with me. I remember the first ten minutes I was on set. I got to my trailer, put my bags down, and knocked on the door. Scarlett and Andrew, our directors, opened the door and were right there. They said, “We just wanted to introduce ourselves. Hi! It’s so great to have you. We’re so excited to work with you.” And I was like, “No, thank YOU! I’m so thrilled to be here!” It was just such a nice way to start your time on set and it created a safe space to work in. 

At one point, toward the very end, I was sitting in the car, chatting with Cooper and Annie. We were just talking, and Annie was telling me about her where she grew up, and the memories she made with her family. Then I started talking about my own memories with my family. I started telling her about the weird nicknames I’ve given my dad. It was just random stories and things, and we were sharing them back and forth. The set didn’t feel like a set at all or like work. It just felt like a bunch of people who are unbelievably talented, with the same interests, just having a good time. And it was beautiful weather in Toronto! So, yeah, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience for my first film that’s world premiering at TIFF.

And I know you’ve been acting for a long time and have gotten to do all these very different projects. When you work across different mediums, you get to learn what you love and what aspects of each experience you enjoy. Are there any genres you would really like to explore? 

My goal in life is to create something that someone can connect with: whether that makes them laugh, cry, inspires them, or maybe even shows them something that makes them think and reflect. But that being said… I’ve never dabbled in action. I’ve never done an action role, and I grew up playing lots of sports and doing martial arts. So, it would be quite interesting to have the opportunity to do my own stunts or anything like that. Fingers crossed I get to do that one day. I think that would be super fun. Obviously, I’d be more than happy to explore any genre, but that one specifically would be like, “Hmm, that would be kind of cool.” To be all wired up, training, doing some stunts, maybe using a sword, or, I don’t know, anything really!

Are there any movies or TV shows you grew up watching that really stuck with you? Something where you watched it and thought, “Oh, I really want to do this”?

Mulan. I couldn’t tell you how many times I watched Mulan from front to back and sang all the songs. Same with the second movie, which no one really remembers existed, but there was a second one! 

As I got older, I came to learn through others in my community, that it isn’t the most culturally accurate but I’m so happy to see new films and shows that are doing more research while creating it. 

I’m proud to now have voiced multiple strong, female, Asian characters who other young individuals can look up to and reminisce about when they grow up.

And since you mentioned cartoons and you’ve also done voice-over work, I’m really curious about how different those mediums are. You get to act as a person on screen, but then you also get to voice-act. I think people assume you just sit in a booth and read, but I’ve heard it can be really demanding when you’re creating these voices and characters.
I’d love to hear your insight into it.

We have days where our sessions are four hours long. You get a break in between and everything, but it’s a lot. It can be four hours of something like Unicorn Academy, where we’re riding horses, or we’re in battle. After you’ve done seven takes, you’re lightheaded because you’ve been breathing and panting and doing all these physical sounds. So it is very demanding, and you genuinely feel drained afterward. I was very lucky with Unicorn Academy because those were definitely some of the more intense, full-body recordings, if you will. A lot of the time, we had ensemble recording sessions, so we would feed off each other and get excited off each other. Then the cadence of the scene would grow. Our director, Charlie Adler, is incredibly amazing and the way he directs is some of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had at work.

What do you hope to achieve through your art?

I think it comes back to creating art and creating work that people connect with. Some of the most comforting moments in my life, and some of the hardest moments in my life, have involved watching a movie or TV show. When something really sits with me, it can happen during the best times in my life or during the hardest times. There’s so much work out there that you can find something to connect with no matter what headspace you’re in. I could be bawling my eyes out, feeling sad one day, and really want to watch a comedy. I might just want to laugh and connect with a scene. I want Will Ferrell to make me laugh on screen all evening so I can get through this really sad time in my life. Or maybe I’m really happy, and I want to watch Revolutionary Road and connect with something so real that it punches me in the gut. Something that has me on the edge of my seat. I really want to be able to create that for somebody else because I know how much that has helped me, how much it has stayed with me, and how much I love watching film and television. I want to make that for somebody else.

That’s the end goal. And depending on the work you’re doing, I also love the feeling of stepping into another character’s shoes because it kind of feels like being a kid again. When you’re a kid, you’re playing with your friends and saying, “Okay, you’ll be the mom, you’ll be the dad, and I’m going to be the kid. We’re all going to be late for school. The scene starts now. Start your improv!” That’s basically what it was when we were kids. Things like that. You really just feel like a kid again, and it’s very freeing.

Talent: Kari Wong

Photographer: Megan Vincent

 Photo of Unicorn Academy Courtesy of Netflix 

                                          Interviewer: Violeta Nicola