The proposal of participating in a series based around such a polemic character as Jeffrey Dahmer, could freeze any actor. But despite of his fears, Kieran Tamondong took it because he knew it could be a great acting opportunity. He was right. In its first few days, the series debuted at the top of the streaming service’s Top 10 list with 196.2 million hours viewed, and Kieran's role as 'Kokonerak Sinthasomphone' has been etched in Streaming history.

"I want this opportunity to open new doors not only for myself but also for other Filipinos wanting to do something great in the world and pursue a dream. With perseverance and motivation, you can accomplish anything", Kieran said in a recent interview.

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Kieran, has always been passionate about martial arts. Had confessed that he naturally loved martial arts movies growing up, such as ‘Power Rangers’ and ‘Ninja Turtles’ which eventually transitioned into classic films that showcased the martial arts of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet li, and Donny Yen. He extensively trained in the discipline receiving his black belt at the age of 12 and his discipline led him to become a 17-time world champion.

From martial arts, he learned to be determined and motivated for the goals he wants to achieve, It also carved out the importance of respect, patience, sportsmanship, focus, perfectionism, and responsibility early on, skills that are also needed in acting, something that would come to him in 2015 when he received a heads-up for a Skechers commercial and the auditions would be holding in the sports gym he trained at. Following the Skechers commercial, he was featured on ‘Little Big Shots’ with Steve Harvey, performing as the Karate Kid.

Keep reading and enjoy our time with Kieran.

Photographer: Ryan West
Stylist: Veronica Graye
Groomer: Colleen Dominique

Kieran, you play Kokonerak Sinthasomphone in one of the most successful and controversial series on the Netflix platform, “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”. How has the public reception been so far?

“Monster” has taken everybody by surprise with its storytelling and off-putting essence. The reception has been a blend of many heightened emotions on making this horrific piece of history come alive again.

What made you try out for this role? How was the casting process?

I go for nearly every audition I am sent and I can receive upwards of about 6 auditions per month. To add to this, I’m not one to shy away from a Netflix Original series audition and Dahmer was no exception. The role of Konerak was given to me with very little background information and context, so you can imagine the inaccuracies I might have made from just one scene. I had sent a tape of my interaction with Jeff and just three months later, I got the call that I was the choice for Sinthasomphone.

While it is true that many love the series, it is also true that it has gained some detractors. Is there any message you want to share with people who judge the intention of the show?

I can understand that the disturbing content of Monster can be upsetting and very concerning regarding the glorification of Jeffrey Dahmer and his victims. It makes sense that this stain on American history is something that we all wish could be undone. The problem is that shoving it under the rug only turns a blind eye to what should be learned. If history were to ever repeat itself then it must rely on the precedent awareness of our law enforcers. Of course, there are limitations to what we can show and who we show them to, but the nature of the show enables that understanding.

The series also explores the relationship between the justice system and race relations in America at the time, doesn't it?

It does. My part in the case of Konerak was a very pivotal moment in the series of authoritative injustices. Jeffrey Dahmer’s words against Glenda Cleaveland, Nicole Childress, and Sandra Smith only raised questions about the decisions made by the two officers involved in handling the situation. On top of that, the officers did not face any repercussions and continued in their line of work through retirement.

And as an actor, how was the preparation process to interpret this boy, having in mind that it was a such terrible real-life case?

So far, the only roles I have played are character roles that required me to start from a blank slate, with the exception of “Be your Best Snack-Down” on Disney. “Monster” was a new obstacle for me to overcome because I was faced with portraying a person who had their own life experiences. Very little information was readily available about him so I had to look into alternative means, such as documentaries and scholarly articles (sometimes even court cases had information that I found useful for my developmental process). Learning some aspects of Laotian culture were also put into my process toward building his depth and values.

Despite everything, surely this role is something that any actor would be thankful for…

Absolutely, it is something that I will never forget as my breakout project. Ryan Murphy is an inspiring figure to be able to work with, and observing the pros in the acting field who have been in the industry as long as I’ve been around is amazing. Simply being on set made it clear that this is something I will never get tired of.

Beyond this series and the success it has had, where are your aspirations focused at the moment?

My biggest goal is to play a lead role in some sort of action-genre film to put some of my physicality to work and work around that type of storytelling. I also aspire to one day work with Paul Dano. He’s been one of my favorite recent actors along with Austin Butler and Robert Downey Jr. since Dano’s part in “There Will Be Blood.” His style of acting and playing mean, psychologically out-of-the-ordinary personalities blew me away for the first time as Eli Sunday. He has just taken the spot as one of my primary inspirations as an actor.

We understand you are currently attending Cal State Northridge where you are studying to become a physical therapist. How about that?

I love it at my campus, it’s my third year in college but my first semester at this new school. At first, it was a mixed bag of emotions being nervous, excited, passionate, and intimidated like going into high school for the first time again. All in all, it was primarily the excitement to get the ball rolling because I truly do love anatomy and physical exercise. I have met a ton of really cool people here, including some fans of the Dahmer series.

And what about the gaming world, is that another passion for you? what are your favorite video games right now?

To me, gaming is more like a hobby that can genuinely get me engaged. The competitive side makes things more enjoyable and it is why I am really into strategy games. As long as it is fun, it motivates me to improve. At the moment my favorites are Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Battlefield 5.

How do you imagine yourself in the future in terms of acting?

Looking ahead about five years from now, I imagine myself doing additional types of roles that are older and typically face different life challenges. I’m twenty years old but despite the young appearance I have now, I won’t always be able to maintain this look forever. So while I still can, playing into the 15-20 year old range is where I can fully express the funny, embarrassing, confusing properties of teenage years. On top of that, I want to study more about the filmmaking process to paint a bigger picture for myself as an artist, and as an actor. I want to explore tools outside of acting that I can put towards my craft. The mantra that I have accepted for myself is to be balanced in every aspect of life but also fight relentlessly for what I want to achieve.

Interview with Kieran Tamondong of Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

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