Hoon Lee hadn’t read East of Eden when he auditioned for Zoe Kazan’s much-anticipated adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel, but it would soon change his life. The standout character actor, known for his turns in Banshee and Your Friends & Neighbors, was told he’d be a good fit to play Lee, the Chinese American caretaker (and, soon enough, pseudo-mother and father) of the splintered Trask family. Part of me, as an Asian actor, just goes, ‘Here we go.’ You don't know what to expect.
But when I read through the rest of it and I saw how it transpired, I was immediately intrigued.” Lee immediately downloaded the book, cross-referenced the scene, and “was really stunned to see that it was so true to the novel.” He burned through the roughly 230,000-word epic, which follows two families across decades in California’s Salinas Valley, in one single weekend. By the time Lee finished East of Eden, whether or not Kazan would offer him the role was nearly an afterthought. Now, East of Eden is firmly one of 2026’s best shows.
And in a series that also features megawatt stars such as Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, and Mike Faist, it might just be Lee whom you’ll be thinking about long after the credits roll. Below, Lee tells us exactly how East of Eden left a life-altering mark on him—and how it might do the same for you, too. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
ESQUIRE: I know you just finished working on Your Friends & Neighbors season 3. What should we get excited about? I always feel that shows really find their footing in the second to third seasons.
We know what our strengths are. We know how to avoid certain kinds of traps. Also, you loosen up on a certain level.
You're able to have more fun. That's really what I feel about season 3. There's a relaxation into the fun of the show.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
