Daniel Henney is Feeling Lucky
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Bryan Kong
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Melvin Chan
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Raul Romo
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Juliet Vo / c143 studio
Daniel Henney is truly a man of two worlds.
He was born and raised in a small town in Michigan by his white American father and South Korean adoptee mother. Having been raised in a predominantly white neighborhood, Henney leaned into his white background, never really learning about his Korean heritage. It wasn’t until he became an adult, leaving his small town to explore the world as an international model that he dove headfirst into his Korean side. He still thinks about that from time to time.
“It’s a weird thing,” Henney tells The Laterals over Zoom. “I leaned heavily to my white side when I was young [in an all-white community]. But, for whatever reason. It seems like life just worked out. Having worked in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Japan, and throughout Asia, my Asian side has become increasingly prominent as an adult. My wife is Japanese. We just had hot pot last night. We’re very Asian.”
The actor soon found fame in Korea after his first acting role in the 2005 Korean drama, My Lovely Sam Soon, became a hit. At the age of 25, Henney became an overnight success. Known for his good looks and charming personality, he found himself starring in more leading man roles.
Then, in 2009, Hollywood came knocking on his door. He was cast as Agent Zero in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which he called “nerve-wrecking.” He later began working on regular American productions like Hawaii Five-O, NCIS Los Angeles, Criminal Minds, Big Hero 6, and most recently, Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time.
When I connected with the 45-year-old actor over Zoom, he struggled to adjust his webcam, as it was one of those motion cameras that followed his every facial movement, keeping his handsome face in frame at all times. It was as if the camera knew the assignment.
“I don’t know what’s happening with my video,” he says, trying to keep his camera steady. “Is it Zoom itself? Is it me? It zooms in if I move. It’s so bizarre.”
I assured him that the video portion didn’t matter, as this article would be entirely written. He shrugs it off and presents himself with his million-dollar smile, ready for the conversation. Calling from his home office in Los Angeles on a Tuesday afternoon, he’s dressed casually in a grey hoodie and prepares for the third season finale of his hit fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, to air that week. I told him I’ve seen it already, so he could discuss any spoilers, which relaxed him.
Daniel Henney on the April 2025 Digital Cover of The Laterals. Photographed by Raul Romo.
“Oh good,” he says. “I’m ready [to talk about it].
In the series, based on the award-winning high fantasy books by Robert Jordan, Henney plays al’Lan “Lan” Mandragoran, a Malkieri warder – and of royal blood, who promises to protect the powerful Aes Sedai, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), in her quest to find the Dragon Reborn, Rand (Josha Stradowski). Lan faces numerous obstacles to protect Moiraine, while also finding love with Nynaeve (Zoë Robins). But this season, he is tasked with training Rand to become a mighty warrior and skilled fighter. The characters develop into a mentor-mentee relationship, one that Henney says reflects his friendship with the young actor.
After the fourth episode of the season, which featured Rand dealing with the ramifications of his powers, Henney texted Stradowski, expressing his pride in that scene.
“It’s funny because Josha and I have a very similar relationship in real life,” Henney explains. “We started out in 2019 when he was very, very young, and I’ve seen him blossom into a man over the last six years. Not only physically, but mentally and spiritually, understanding his role in the show and how much the weight of it is on his shoulders, much like Rand being the Dragon Reborn. He had a lot of challenges, and it’s always been a point of pride for me to be there for him.”
Though the series renewal has not been announced yet, Henney is excited about the prospects for a fourth season. He’s proud to have been able to play a fantasy character, especially as someone of Asian descent, and wants to see Lan’s story through to the end.
“[Lan’s] road is incredible,” he says. “As he goes down this road, we see him shifting his focus back to his homeland of Malkieir, and it’s one of the greatest parts of the books, in my personal opinion. We’ve planted the seeds in Season 3 for Lan with Melindhra (Synnøve Macody Lund) to shift his focus a bit. He gave Nynaeve his mother’s ring, so we’re creating the foundation for these two. I hope we get to go there.”
Until then, Henney isn’t waiting around to be given the greenlight for Season 4. He has work to do. Working with Humane World for Animals, he has been an advocate for dog rescue in South Korea. In two weeks, he will be traveling to Korea to shut down a dog meat farm, bringing 70 dogs back to the U.S. to be placed for adoption. Henney himself is a proud owner of rescue dogs from Korea.
“I’ve grown up such a dog lover,” he says. “They’ve been a huge part of my life. Having grown up as an only child in the middle of nowhere, dogs were my best friends.”
Below, I chat with Henney about The Wheel of Time, living and working in Hollywood and South Korea, his advocacy work, and the roles he would like to do in the future.
LAURA SIRIKUL — The Wheel of Time is based on multiple books, condensed into eight episodes per season. How do you keep up with all these stories and characters, especially for Lan, who has a rich history?
DANIEL HENNEY — The first season was a really good introduction for all of us involved actors because [showrunner] Rafe [Judkins] and our team behind the show are very educated as far as the books go. For us, moving to Prague [to film] and having so much time away from our regular lives, it gave us a chance to soak up the books. [We] spent so many hours reading the books and reading about the characters. It helps to create a foundation for the show. For me, once I had the foundation for Lan and his world, including his relationships and how he navigates the world, that helped me a lot. We’re reading the books as we go, but it can be a little tricky because we’ve had to make some changes [to] the scripts, [which leads them to be] very different from the books. So, the books have become more of a side hobby for us now. It was invaluable in the beginning. We all have a clear understanding of where the characters are headed. So when it happens in the script and you see things happen to [Rand, Mat, and others], I [think], ‘Oh, I know where they’re at with [this story]. It’s much easier for us because of the books.
LAURA — Because there are so many characters, do you ever get confused with so many characters and types of characters?
DANIEL — Oh, absolutely. In the first episode of Season 3, we had the huge fight in the White Tower. It was really cool to see all the different Ajahs, including the Black Ajah. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, so I had to do some research myself. The Forsaken can get a little confusing. In Episode 4 in particular, when we went back in Rand’s timeline, we saw all these different lives he lived. That was a cool look into the world of The Wheel of Time and [see] how it doesn’t work in a linear fashion. I think what’s interesting is that most people will think Season 1’s The Wheel of Time is a fantasy period piece, but it’s not. It actually takes place in the future, after the Breaking of the World. It’s really interesting. There are a lot of different things and ways to look at it, but [still] keep you on your toes.
LAURA — A lot goes on in this finale; Lan almost loses Moiraine. What is Lan’s state of mind at the time?
DANIEL — He knows that the circumstances are dire after speaking to Moiraine about what she saw in the rings. I think that living in the world of The Wheel of Time, with its concept of reincarnation and the cyclical nature of life, and understanding how your choices in this world can impact your next life, brings a certain comfort because these characters are grappling with death. Hundreds of years ago, when people would fight these incredible battles, they would just have to deal with the fact that not a lot of people lived that long. Death was a common thing. With Lan and Moiraine having been on [this mission] to find the Dragon Reborn for the past twenty years, he’s always known that death was a possibility. They’ve encountered very dangerous Trollocs. They’ve had many close encounters with it, whether it was Shadar Logoth or Moiraine having the Trolloc wound. They’ve had all these different moments. Although he’s not surprised at what she saw in the rings, he’s been prepping himself for what he thinks could happen. It doesn’t make it easier, but after having that conversation, when they had the wine, that was a real release for these two. They’re not welcoming what will happen, but they’re preparing for it.
LAURA — With Season 4 possibly in the works, what do you wish to see for Lan?
DANIEL — I’’m very excited, but I don’t like to get too excited because we don’t know what’s happening with the show. I spoke about this in the past, but playing a character like this as an Asian American actor was very special.
LAURA — Your character has many names – and I quote: Lord of the Seven Towers, Lord of the Lakes, True Blade of Malkier, Defender of the Wall of First Fires, Bearer of the Sword of the Thousand Lakes, Dai Shan, May He Sever the Shadow, King of Malkier, and Aan’allein aka One Man Alone. Which is your favorite name?
DANIEL — I like Dai Shan. The people who are closest to him will refer to him as that. I like the Uncrowned King of Malkier. It’s very powerful. I’ve done such a deep dive into the lore and Malkier, having done the animated series as well. It’s amazing. I like to keep the nicknames simple. The longer they get, the more difficult they are. I like the Uncrowned King of Malkier the best.
LAURA — What would your name be if you were to give yourself one?
DANIEL — I played basketball for years, so they called me about my last name. So, just Henney.
LAURA — Or “Just HENNEY.” Like the Nike slogan! Just Henney!
DANIEL — [Laughs] Yeah. I was Danny when I was a kid, and then I became Daniel. When I started working as a professional, it stuck. But nothing exciting.
LAURA — In a series like The Wheel of Time, there are a lot of secrets. How difficult is it to avoid spoilers for a show like this?
DANIEL — It was tricky in the first season because we were keeping this whole thing under wraps. Everything from the books, costumes, themes, and weapons, [we had to keep it a secret]. There was controversy about Lan’s cloak and whether it was going to be on the show or not. Is his sword on his back or on his hip? Are they going to be true to the horses? Are the horses going to be the same as they’re in the books? It was this whole thing we had to keep under wraps. Once it came out, it was easier because everyone knew what the characters were going to look like from then on out. It was easier to talk about. At this point, the fans are like a team for us. We like to provide them as much information as we can because they help get the ball rolling outside of our world for the show. They’re very helpful – the podcasts and YouTube channels – they’re helping the show really exist.
LAURA — Okay, but who on the set is most likely to spill secrets?
DANIEL — [Laughs] I’d probably say Maddie [Madeleine Madden]. I don’t know why. She’s such a talker. I love her to death. I could see her getting stuck and revealing something by mistake. Not that she will. I’m sure she won’t, but I could see her talking herself into a corner at some point and getting in trouble.
LAURA — Because the world is so cool to be in. Is there anything that you kept from the set?
DANIEL — I’m gonna get in trouble, but I may or may not have a sword at my house in Michigan. I’m not admitting to anything, but I may have a weapon. That’s about it. I [recently] went to an event in Los Angeles, and I took some cool Wheel of Time posters they made – these big poster board things, which were cool. I haven’t stolen much. I might steal something because Season 4 could be our last if we go. I’m keeping my eye on the boots and belts and all that stuff.
LAURA — There have been a lot of thirst tweets and reactions regarding you as Lan. You even did a mild version of reading them on your page. We KNOW there are worse ones, What has been the funniest or most outrageous reaction you’ve seen?
DANIEL — The funniest is always from the people I know in real life who don’t say it, but it [slips] out. We spend our summers in Michigan, near Lake Michigan, with the family and our dogs. I have a friend with whom I sometimes play golf. I hadn’t met his wife yet, but [my friend said she was coming that day.] So we’re playing a round of golf, which takes about four hours. She’s super quiet the whole time. Then, she has a couple of beers, and then it all comes out. The bathtub scene was a big part of it. She was a very big fan of the bathtub scene. It’s always funny when it all comes out like that.
LAURA — You said in an article that if the series goes for a third or fourth season, you’d buy a car. The series could be entering its fourth season. Does that still ring true?
DANIEL — It would ring true if we were definitely going to be in Prague. I was very interested in buying a car over there. I wanted to get an old vintage Porsche. But the rumor is that we’ll be shooting somewhere very exotic – maybe Asia. If we are over there, I won’t buy a car, but if we end up in Prague for a significant amount of time, I will.
LAURA — Let’s shift a bit to your work in Korea. I’ve been a fan of yours during your K-drama era. I noticed many Asian diasporic actors go to their home/descent countries to act and model when they first started their career, because representation was not the greatest back in the day. Do you feel that it was beneficial for you to start in Korea and establish yourself before transitioning to Hollywood?
DANIEL — I wasn’t thinking about it actively at the time. In retrospect, it was a huge benefit for me. I 100% consider myself a Korean actor who works in Hollywood. [Korea] gave me my first chance. It was 2002, and booking roles as an Asian actor in America was difficult. I was able to get cast in a Korean soap opera, a.k.a. K-drama, My Lovely Sam Soon.” That was my first experience acting on camera. I was able to because everyone fell in love with that show. It gave us a lot of room to play, make mistakes, and learn, which I would never have had in the States. I was very lucky, and Korea gave me everything. I was very fortunate, also from a familial standpoint, my mom was able to come over and reconnect with the culture. I speak Korean now, which I never would have learned if it hadn’t been for that. I’m very proud to be bilingual. I love the culture in the country. I’m very fortunate that it happened now, and I hope it happens for many people. It was a great experience.
LAURA — You began working in Korea in 2005, on My Lovely Sam Soon, and continued working on Korean projects before coming to the States. What was the experience like transitioning from a Korean set to an American Hollywood set?
DANIEL — Going to Hollywood, I wasn’t ready, but you never are. It’s like what they say when you’re going to have your first kid, you just got to do it. You’re never quite ready for it. I was overwhelmed because it wasn’t just a standard Hollywood set. It was X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It was starring Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds – some of the biggest names in Hollywood. I was thrown into the deep end right away. But, again, I’m very thankful for that. Korean sets are very small. They feel like independent movies. It’s very much like a family. I didn’t understand the States and the idea of a union or overtime. Actors would say, ‘Oh, we’re making overtime tonight.’ I was like, ‘You get paid extra if you stay longer?! I’ll stay here all night. I don’t care. I’m just happy to be on set.” I didn’t understand the business side of it, but I’ve learned since then.
LAURA — Don’t forget the Korean lighting! I’ve been on an American set and a Korean set, and Korea’s lighting is impressive.
DANIEL — Yeah! American lighting is very different. Very harsh. I have a drama coming out in a couple of months in Korea, and they light you to make you look like you’re 25 years old forever. It’s like back in the days of Casablanca and those movies where they had that key light that would make actresses look more beautiful, and their skin look so perfect. The Korean people have beautiful skin, which helps. They make you look good, and they know how to do it. I still go to Korea a lot. I’m shooting a drama probably later this year. I try to do a [project] at least once a year over there. So it’s nice.
LAURA — I’ve heard that you travel to and from Korea several times a year. I love that you’ve maintained this connection with Korea, despite living and working in American productions. How do you balance working on your stuff in Korea and your Hollywood life?
DANIEL — I have my business partner in Korea, who was my first manager when I did My Lovely Sam Soon. We’ve fallen in love as brothers. We both got married around the same time. We have a huge love for each other. He’s been my lighthouse. He’s Korean Canadian, but speaks fluent Korean. He’s a savvy businessman. We started a management company together called Echo Global Group. We manage about 30 actors and actresses. Having that footprint there helps me when I return, because it feels like there’s something already there. It’s always happening and turning. I don’t have to start from scratch. When I go back to Korea, my company will always be there. I have to go back for business reasons as well, not just projects, which is good. It’s a lot of flying, but at this point, I have two million miles on Korea Air and over a million on Asiana, so I fly comfortably.
LAURA — What can you tell me about this K-drama that you’re going to be shooting? I always get excited when I see Korean diaspora actors filming in Korea for K-dramas, such as Teo Yoo and Steven Yeun. Also, what do you look for when you do productions in Korea?
DANIEL — I can’t tell you much about the project, as it’s still under wraps. But, I can tell you it’s a romantic theme. I am unabashedly a fan of romance and romantic comedies. I love that stuff. There’s not enough of it. People always ask me if it was a negative thing for me to be pigeon-holed as the romantic guy in Korea. I was like, ‘What are you talking about?! Those movies and dramas are so much fun to shoot.’ You spend all day long with a beautiful co-star, joking around and having fun, eating food at restaurants, and going on “dates”. It’s generally very light-hearted. I’ve absolutely loved the stuff I’ve done over there. I look to do things that are the opposite of what I do in the States. The Wheel of Time can be very heavy sometimes, so it’s nice to go over [to Korea], throw on a suit, and be the romantic guy sometimes. I shave my face, put on the nice hair, and the nice lighting!
LAURA — Korean lighting is the best. Because you’re popular in Korea, you’ve played detective – in both the US and Korea – and the romantic stuff. Is there anything else you’d like to work on in Korea? Maybe more variety shows, quiz games, or reality shows?
DANIEL — I’ve done quite a few variety and reality shows. It’s always tricky for me with the language. I am good at Korean now, but they can speak very fast, and I can get lost sometimes. I did SNL Korea, and I love doing comedy. I would love to find something comedic that I can do as I’m getting older. I can be a little more funny and have more fun on set. That could be fun.
LAURA — Would you ever consider being a daddy role?
DANIEL — Oh yeah, for sure. I would consider anything that was well-written. I was in talks for a project late last year that couldn’t happen due to my schedule, but I was planning to shave my head completely and get “tattoos” on my neck for a gang-lord role. I thought that could be fun to try.
“I 100% consider myself a Korean actor who works in Hollywood. Korea gave me my first chance.”
LAURA — It’s so interesting to hear about your career because you started as an international model before becoming an actor. Most people who have talked about you define you by your handsome and pretty face. But, we know you’re more than that. We’ve seen your acting work. We know you love to sing and play guitar. You love poetry. And, of course, your advocacy work. What is it that most people don’t know about you behind that handsome smile?
DANIEL — I look back being at my time being a model fondly. Modeling was an amazing experience. There’s a stigma about the modeling world – whether it’s partying or drugs or the business itself or the eating disorders or what have you. With modeling, I didn’t experience any of that. I had a wonderful experience. It was a very formative time for me as a young man. What people didn’t know is that my aspirations were to be an actor. It always was to act. Prior to going to Korea, I was involved in many productions in New York, working towards becoming a better actor. I used to have stacks of VHS tapes of my favorite performances and interviews with actors. This was before YouTube. You couldn’t just access the interviews. I had to record them off the TV. I just watched them repeatedly, taking notes. It was a passion of mine. Another thing people wouldn’t have known about me was that in order for me to be cast in My Lovely Sam Soon, I had to lobby with the studio. Because, at the time, the Korean Censorship Bureau wouldn’t allow a principal actor to speak English onscreen. Usually, in Korean dramas, there are four main leads. I was the fourth lead. I was the first person to ever be accepted to speak English on TV in Korea. I had to do a lot of work. I had to write a lot of letters to prove to them I was serious about the challenge and everything. It was a real process.
LAURA — That’s amazing. You’ve done so well in romantic comedies, SNL Korea, serious detective films and shows, a Pixar animated character, a mutant, a fantasy king, and more. What role is on your wishlist? Please note, things aren’t defined by race or gender anymore – for example, in Hamilton, we see People of Color in these roles. Dev Patel played David Copperfield. So, what would be on your wishlist?
DANIEL — I’m open to everything, but genre-wise, I’ve never done thriller or horror, which could be fun to try. I grew up watching 80s horror movies as a young kid. I love them. Companies like Blumhouse are making wonderful movies in that space now. That’d be fun. As far as the type of character I’d like to play, for some strange reason, I’ve always had an affinity to play a teacher. I’ve always wanted to play a professor or teacher. I don’t know why. Of course, comedy is something I want to do. I was raised on comedy. My dad is big into comedy. So, having the chance to do something in that space would be fun.
LAURA — I’m so glad you got to do one of your dreams, which is SNL Korea. How was that experience?
DANIEL — It was incredible. It was incredibly challenging for me, because I’m not sure how much you know how SNL works in the States. It’s exactly the same in Korea. Because of the lack of my language capability, I had to have scripts early so I could begin to study these characters. But, SNL doesn’t really do that. The day you arrive, they give you a completely changed script, and the actors go through and ad-lib. They make up jokes that will work for each scene, and I’m just trying to figure out what they’re going to say. Then you have one rehearsal, and pretty much go live. The biggest challenge for me was performing four or five characters and delivering the monologue in Korean for the most part. I was very proud. I felt like I stepped into a black hole that day and blanked out, then woke up in my hotel room that night. It was crazy.
LAURA — It was impressive since Korean is your second language.
DANIEL — I was proud of that.
LAURA — I want to chat a bit about your home life, growing up in Michigan. You’re a Midwest guy. Is it true: You can take the guy out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of the guy?
DANIEL — Absolutely. We spend about half a year in Michigan because it’s like charging [my internal battery]. If I go back with the trees, lakes, and the demeanor of the people, I just feel so comfortable. It’s very much a part of me still. I’ve spent the majority of my adult life in major cities, and for someone who wasn’t brought up that way, it can be a bit draining after awhile, especially in my business. It’s very important for me to reconnect with nature and go back to Michigan.
LAURA — You grew up in a mixed household with your mother, a Korean adoptee who discovered her roots when you were 14. When you became embedded in Korean culture and entertainment work, especially in the 2007 film My Father, did you and she find this connection to the culture together?
DANIEL — I think going over there and being so incredibly lucky for having my K-drama do well, and then using that as a vehicle to help my mom come over. They shot a documentary about her in 2005. It was called Good Morning, Korea. She came over and documented her journey for about two weeks. We ended up going to Busan, where her orphanage was. We were able to reconnect with some of the nurses who remembered having her. We retraced her journey that she didn’t remember, but it was so meaningful to her. It provided some sense of closure. I’m sure it’s different now, but back then, we were able to do some DNA tests to search for relatives. We had over 1200 people come forward because, after the Korean War, there were so many orphans. Unfortunately, we were not able to find a match. But, just having done that, it helped my mom a lot. It’s a very strange thing because I’ve been a public figure in Korea for the last 20 years. Basically, for anyone between the ages of 20 and 70, there’s a strong chance they know who I am. I thought about this sometimes. I probably have aunts, uncles, and cousins in Korea who know me, but they don’t know we’re related. It’s so bizarre. It’s almost a guarantee that there’s someone out there related to my mom. I’m not sure if that answers your question. She did get some closure, and we’ve become closer, but there are still a lot of open-ended questions.
LAURA — Oh wow, that’s so beautiful. It’s interesting because yeah, your face is everywhere in Korea. When I went to Korea, I saw your Hamilton watch ads, which is perfect because you’re in The Wheel of TIME. You are a public figure in Korea. It’s great that you chose to use that platform to advocate for dog rescue against dog meat farms, working with numerous organizations. Can you tell me how you became an advocate and what brought this passion? How did you get involved? What do you have planned for it?
“I am unabashedly a fan of romance and romantic comedies. I love that stuff. There’s not enough of it. People always ask me if it was a negative thing for me to be pigeon-holed as the romantic guy in Korea. I was like, ‘What are you talking about?! Those movies and dramas are so much fun to shoot.’ You spend all day long with a beautiful co-star, joking around and having fun, eating food at restaurants, and going on “dates”. It’s generally very light-hearted.”
Groomer
Grace Phillips / Tomlinson Management Group
Fashion Assistant
Akira Lawrence
DANIEL — When anyone becomes a public figure, they want to search for a cause they can use their platform for. Nowadays, with the internet, you have to be careful about what you choose and how that can reflect on you. It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to do with the platform. Then one day, it dawned on me that I should help dogs out. It was actually during the shooting of [the film], My Father, at night, when I was in my van sleeping. I heard some dogs barking. We were an hour outside of Seoul. I got out of my van, and we were parked in front of a row of restaurants, which had dog cages out in front. They were pulling the dogs out and butchering them, using them as food. That was very impactful to me. I knew I needed to find a partner with some power that could help me save them. In 2016, I was introduced to the Humane Society International. Since then, they changed their name to the Humane World for Animals. We built a partnership that involved social awareness campaigns, lobbying for legislation from the Korean government, raiding and shutting down farms, negotiating with farmers, rescuing animals, shipping dogs to the United States, facilitating adoptions and foster care, [and more]. All these different components have been part of what we’ve done. It’s been a learning experience for me as well. I’m on my fourth rescue Golden retriever from Korea.
LAURA — Is that the reason you participated in the K-drama, Dog Days?
DANIEL — Absolutely. 100%. I hate the fact that people don’t understand that [eating dog] isn’t something that is common in Korea. It’s very much a generational thing. When people from the West demonize the idea of dog meat consumption in Korea, they judge, saying, ‘How could you do that, Korea?’ But you have to look at the country’s history. You have to look at what they went through. Korea is a country that has been occupied and has gone through times of war, starvation, and famine. They had to do what they had to do to feed their people. Sometimes, you have to make tough choices. That’s directly derived from those times. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to eradicate this yet, but we passed legislation last year that outlawed the consumption and sale of it. Now, they’re phasing out the farms for the next couple of years. It’s happening, and it’s very exciting.
LAURA — Because you’ve been in the industry – both Korean and American – for over 20 years, is there something you learned that kept you going to prevent you from feeling jaded or burnt out?
DANIEL — I was lucky. I became a public figure later in life. I was 24-25 years old. I look at some of the K-pop idols and stars now. They’re like 16 or 17. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if [that were me]. It would have been a different story. Fortunately, I had a good family and values coming from the Midwest. I always operate under the mindset that if I ever had the magic carpet pulled out from under me, I could just work at Home Depot. It doesn’t really bother me. I can go back to build furniture in Michigan. I could do something else. I’m very grateful that it’s all turned out this way.
LAURA — Okay, final question. We are going back towards the beginning to the nickname or name for yourself, like Lan: The Uncrowned King. Now that we’ve gone over your body of work, your advocacy, and your life. What would be your nickname now? You are a man of both worlds. I feel like it deserves a longer nickname.
DANIEL — I’m not sure. I do like that ‘One of Both Worlds’ or ‘One Who Has Seen More Than He Ever Thought He Would.’ A person can rarely have a career in two different markets. I’m very lucky that if things were slowing down in the States, I could jump to Korea and do projects. I guess the nickname would be “Just a Lucky Guy”.
Catch Daniel Henney on The Wheel of Time — Season 3 now streaming on Prime Video. Watch the trailer below:
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