Best known for bringing Jordan Li to life in Prime Video’s Gen V, Derek Luh infuses the role with raw physicality, emotional depth and a disarming vulnerability — proof of the young actor’s magnetic screen presence.
With roots in music, Luh’s shift into acting feels less a reinvention than an evolution; his innate sense of rhythm, voice and timing shapes every performance.
Off screen, he’s thoughtful, grounded and driven — a creator in pursuit of meaning rather than mere visibility.
As Gen V expands the mythology of The Boys universe, Luh’s portrayal stands out for its rare humanity amid the chaos.
We caught up with Luh about his life and his style…
Life
Square Mile: What are you most excited about right now?
Derek Luh: Obviously, I’m very excited about this second season of Gen V. The entire cast and crew worked extremely hard on it. I’m really proud of the work we did and I can’t wait to share it with the fans.
I’m also really excited about these new scripts I’m working on. One of them is a rough draft of something very personal to me, and another one Asa Germann and I are developing together. It’s such a cool concept, and I’m really looking forward to staying creative in between jobs.
SM: What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
DL: My proudest professional moment would have to be making the switch from music to acting. It was terrifying to completely abandon something I had spent so much time learning about and getting comfortable with, to start over and learn a whole new craft. I spent many nights jolting awake with fear.
What if this is a mistake? What if I’m not meant to do this? What if it doesn’t work out?
Once I really started to learn the craft and understand the art of acting and storytelling, I didn’t even care if it ‘worked out’. I felt so alive and passionate for the first time in my life, I knew this was what I wanted to do forever.
If I hadn’t taken that leap of faith, I wouldn’t have found my true passion, met the amazing people on Gen V, or met my best friend, Asa [Germann]. I wouldn’t feel this creatively fulfilled.
SM: What’s been the funniest or most surreal moment of your career?
DL: I think the most surreal moment was early on, when I was first auditioning. I call myself a COVID actor. I started in August 2019 and less than a year later, everything moved to self-tapes. I was stuck in my little studio apartment 24 hours a day doing auditions.
Then I got this amazing opportunity to audition for a show as a series regular. I got a callback, then a director-producer callback, and a few days later, I found out I booked it. It was shooting in Hawaii for six months, and I thought I had made it. This was going to change my life.
A few days went by, and I was supposed to have a table read, but I got no info. I called my agent, and they said, “Hey buddy, I’ve been doing this for 20 years and this has never happened, but they said they want to give it to someone with more experience.” I was devastated. I gave myself 24 hours to feel sorry for myself. Then I told myself I needed to get better and work harder. So I did.
A year later, I booked Gen V. While that other show was filming its second season, we were filming our first. If I had booked that other show, one that shall remain nameless, I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to be on Gen V. I used to roll my eyes when people said “rejection is protection”, but this truly was the biggest blessing in disguise.
SM: What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
DL: Career-wise, I’d love to get these two scripts turned into features. I’d love to direct one day.
Personally, I’d love to start a family. All of this will be gone one day, and I want to come home to the people I love, and who love me. This second season taught me that life is fickle. Nothing really matters besides your loved ones.
SM: Who is your biggest inspiration?
DL: I’ve probably said this a million, but Ryan Gosling. The Gos. I just love him. He’s an amazing actor. I love how he carries himself and I hope I get to work with him one day.
I’d also say some of the camp counselors I had when I was younger were really influential. They introduced me to cool music and comedy. I remember listening to illegally downloaded Mitch Hedberg sets. They all had code names like Bass, Bomber, Cowboy, Stang, M&M, and Cinnamon. I remember M&M would sneak off and grab me and my friend Joey some Carl’s Jr. double bacon cheeseburgers for lunch. It was such a special time in life. Those people and those experiences really shaped who I am today.
SM: Tell us something nobody knows about you…
DL: I’m 2.9 percent Italian, so I need my agents to start pitching me for more Italian roles. If they ever remake The Godfather, which I hope they don’t, I can definitely see myself playing a young Michael Corleone.
Style
SM: What’s your favorite item of clothing?
DL: A pair of Red Wing boots that Asa got me for my birthday. During the second season, we got really into Austin Butler’s style. We noticed he had these amazing vintage black leather boots in a few photos, but we couldn’t find them anywhere. So we gave up. Then my birthday comes around, and what do I pull out of a poorly decorated gift bag? A pair of Red Wing boots that are the exact boots Austin Butler wore. Funny thing is, I’ve never seen Austin wear them again. I’m so grateful to Asa for doing whatever he had to do to get them for me; it was really thoughtful.
SM: Favourite accessory?
DL: A gold chain I have with my dad’s thumbprint on it.
SM: What’s been your most embarrassing style fail?
DL: The moto denim – the pants with the intense stitching on the front. It’s just so insane how your style can change, but that was a dark time in my life. Acid-wash moto denim with an oversized shirt and flannel.
Also drop-crotch sweats. Insane fashion trend. I blame Bieber for making those cool. I first saw him wear those and was like, you know what, I need drop-crotch sweats immediately.
SM: Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss, and why?
DL: There’s one item that got ruined and now I don’t know where it is, but it was this sick snowboarding jacket. It was this cream, quilted-leather snowboarding jacket that fit so good and looked so cool. I got it in like 2007 maybe, and it followed me around for a few years as I jumped from place to place. But then I let one of my friends borrow it and they ripped the inside of it. I don’t know what happened to it after that. I don’t think I threw it out, but I probably could have got it fixed.
SM: What’s next on your shopping list?
DL: Next on my shopping list would be new socks and underwear. I normally just buy all the same white socks and same white boxers, so I don’t have to make any decisions in that department when getting dressed. Also, it’s super easy to do laundry when every single sock is the same. There’s no searching or trying to pair up the right sock to each other. Every single sock is the same, so it’s just grab and go. Tuck and fold. Life hack to anyone reading this.
SM: What would you buy if money was no object?
DL: I have a list of cars I want to get.
First thing I’d get is a 1974 Chevy C10 and LS swap it. That’s pre-smog, so no smog checks. I also just love the square bodies. I really want a 1996 Chevy Impala SS. Not sure if I want to do the cherry or green. 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood. 1964 Chevy Malibu SS. And lastly a 1999 Cadillac Escalade as the family car. An honorable mention would be a 2001 BMW 7 Series.
Then I’d need a massive underground garage to store them all in… so nothing crazy.
Gen V season two is out now on Prime Video.
