Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jae Woo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jae , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always loved performing, even as a kid. But when I was 15, I had an experience that completely reshaped how I viewed acting. I was cast in a lead role in a community theater production, playing a boy with cerebral palsy who dreamed of running a marathon. Until then, performing had been purely about entertainment for me—but this role demanded something deeper.

I realized I couldn’t approach this character with the same surface-level technique I’d used before. I needed to understand him—his thoughts, emotions, and physicality—with sincerity and care. I took it upon myself to visit a medical care center, where I asked to observe children living with the condition. For the first time, I found myself paying close attention to every detail: how they moved, how they expressed emotion, how their bodies told a story.

In every spare moment, I was either learning my lines or studying the character’s mannerisms. This process taught me what it truly meant to inhabit someone else’s world. It was more than just acting—it felt like stepping into another person’s life while simultaneously discovering new parts of myself. I began to understand how powerful it was to view the world through someone else’s eyes. The experience was both exhilarating and deeply fulfilling.

On the night of the performance, I’ll never forget the audience’s reaction—people were in tears, and I received a standing ovation. Afterward, several audience members approached me to share how moved they were. That was the moment I realized acting wasn’t just a personal passion. It was a way to give something meaningful to others—a bridge between self-expression and shared human connection.

That night, I told myself: “This is what I’m meant to do. I have to keep doing this for the rest of my life.”

Jae , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an actor/dancer/mime based in New York City.

I graduated from Boston University with a BFA in Acting and Columbia University with an MFA in Acting.

Currently I am company member of Broken Box Mime Theater, and an artistic collaborator of Apocalyptic Artists Ensemble. I am a member of AEA (Actor’s Equity Association) and signed with Frameworks Entertainment.

In Boston I was the artistic director of Fusion Dance Company.

Some of my favorite theater credits include: My Man Kono (Tachibana) with Pan Asian Repertory Theater, The King and I (King Mongkut) at Beef and Boards Theater, The Chinese Lady (Atung) at Central Square Theater/Chuang Stages, Diaspora! (John) at New Repertory Theatre, Take Shape at A.R.T. New York with Broken Box Mime Theater Company, Twelfth Night (Antonio) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck) with Shakespeare On the Sound, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander) with Apocalyptic Artists Ensemble, AIDA at the Metropolitan Opera.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

“Hard work leads to success.”

That’s a phrase we hear all the time—and while there’s truth to it, it doesn’t tell the whole story, especially in the arts. Hard work is absolutely essential; it should be the foundation for anyone serious about pursuing a creative career. But I’ve learned that effort alone doesn’t guarantee financial or commercial success. In fact, the sole pursuit of commercial success can be misleading in the arts.

When I first started acting professionally, I was confident in my ability to commit. I threw myself fully into the work, believing that sheer dedication would eventually pay off. But over time, I began to notice a disconnect: the hours I poured in didn’t always reflect in the outcomes I received. Looking back, I think I became too fixated on the idea of “making it.”

In an industry shaped by subjectivity, timing, and the unpredictable nature of entertainment politics, so much is simply out of your control. That reality hit hard. It was easy to feel discouraged when I didn’t book a role—which happens often—and being a perfectionist only made it worse. I was rarely satisfied with my work and often too self-critical.

Things began to shift when I stopped obsessing over success and started focusing on growth. I began to view each audition and performance as a chance to improve—to deepen my craft and evolve as an actor. That mindset brought me a sense of calm and clarity I hadn’t felt before.

These days, commercial success isn’t my main measure of achievement. What matters more is becoming a better storyteller. I’m committed to the process, and I’m open to wherever that journey takes me.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’m drawn to telling stories that spark meaningful conversations and offer fresh perspectives on the human experience. Now more than ever, I believe we need greater empathy to build a healthier, more connected society. To me, theater has always served as a mirror to humanity—revealing who we are and who we could be. It holds the power to raise awareness, challenge assumptions, and cultivate understanding. In a world that often feels divided, I see theater as a vital space where we can explore different viewpoints and grow in compassion toward one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaebwoo.com
• Instagram: @jaejelly

Image Credits

I wasn’t able to upload more than one photo in the previous page. Please let me know if there are any photos on my website that you would like to use, and I can send them over to you with specific credits.