This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Gordon Jackson, io9: How did you get involved withVenom?
Peggy Lu: [In 2018] I got an audition notice from my manager.
Mrs. Chen and Eddie in Vegas. © Sony
It didnt look any different than the othersit didnt specifically say Venom.
Oh, I think it did, actually, because I had to researchVenom.
io9: Do you have much of a history with comic books or sci-fi?
© Celeste Canino
Lu: No, no.
I just know of some, you know?
So, like, Venom was not one of thewell, how should I say this?
© Sony
Venom, its not like Spider-Man or Batman,where everyone growing up knows Spider-Man and Batman.
So, I had to research Venom.
io9: In this new movie, you have this incredible dance sequenceyoure lifted by tentacle at one point.
© Dave Allocca / StarPix.
Were there wires involved in filming?
Lu: What, you missed it?
I could actually do that myself.
© Sony
[laughs] Thats what Marvel has done for me.
I can now fly.
This movie was a lot of first-times for me.
© PBS
So, I got to fly on a harness, and that was really cool.
Lu: That dress was specifically tailored and made for me.
So I had every inch of my body measured for that dress.
© Sony
[But]two is enough.
I could barely get the second one on.
I mean, like, the whole thing was, I need someone to help me get dressed.
io9: Is this character the one youre closest to?
Lu: I think Mrs. Chen is probably closest to me, my family, my mom.
And she is so dear to me because she reminds me of my mom.
So I think it would have to be her.
And then she just comes out naturally.
I dont even need to act.
And plus, having Tom [Hardy], Tom is so natural and hes so into improvising.
Hes just so relaxed.
But we will definitely do one take with everything on paper.
And then well just go play and go to town.
I just follow him, so if he skips, then I skip.
If he wants to run, then I run.
It just makes it so easy when you have a partner like that.
Dont they say acting is reacting?
So Im reacting to what hes giving me because hes so present.
There was one lineI was trying to be funny when we were in the casino.
And when I said, Oh, you lookwhat happened to you, you look hot.
So that was the line.
I thought, You didnt think that was funny?
Were able to talk to each other like that.
And then he cracked me up more than Im cracking him up.
He thought I thought he was disgusting.
Hes okay with me being a dork, and he understood my humor, I guess.
I dont really show my stupid humor because sometimes people dont get your humor.
And you might offend someone.
He was okay with it.
He was just so cool about it.
io9: And it must make you feel very seen, right?
Hes so good with sharing and Im so appreciative of that.
Hes bringing me up with him.
Even when we were at the premiere, at the red carpet?
He said, Come on, lets take a picture!
He was so ahead of me, you know?
He stopped for me and we faced the camera [together].
And I dont think of [myself] that way.
Lu: You know how I got through that?
I was just following him to sound like Venom.
These little nice things that he does for me that it just blows my mind.
I mean, imagine you have to repeat somebodylike, a paragraph every time.
Lu: Usually, like, industrials.
When youre explaining a product.
Sometimes in the scientific world, I have to explain the mechanism of action of a certain drug.
So I am strict and not talk too much.
Because the way we deliver a mechanism of action is very specific on how a drug works.
Sometimes, youll put ear pieces in, and theyll be rattling off so fast.
Ive not got one.
And they dont want to hire me.
Like, Psych Ward Nurse on an episode ofThe OA, which is a great show.
Im just very appreciative of that.
As you’re able to see from my resume, this is the biggest thing Ive ever done.
Did you get to meet Wishbone?
Lu: Oh, yeah, the doggy?
Yes, there were a couple dogs on the set.
I know a lot of this is luck.
First, its preparation, and its so hard to get a job.
io9: What would you like to do next, ideally?
When it comes to being really good at being an actor.
Then you get to know if your jokes workthat would be an ultimate challenge for an actor.
io9: How did your cameo inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Versecome about?
Lu: Well, that wasit was one of the clips that was not used byVenom 2. io9: Oh, and they and they just put the Spot in there?
Thatsthats kind of disappointing, actually.
Lu: I dont really knowI dont really know whats public knowledge and whats not.
io9: Do you have any other upcoming roles you’re able to discuss?
So its really funny.
And hes really chill.
Because Im not chill.
io9: And hes in the MCU, the Marvel Universe.
Maybe he can get you over there too.
Lu: He is?!
io9: He plays a secret agent.
Hes a secret agent in theAnt-Manmovies and he was also inWandaVision.
Im going to ask him.
Venom: The Last Danceis in theaters now.
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