IN CONVERSATION WITH LONDON THOR

interview by JANA LETONJA

With her magnetic screen presence and hauntingly beautiful voice, London Thor is a true multi-hyphenate talent redefining what it means to be an artist in 2025. The Korean-Icelandic actress and musician stars as Jordan Li in Amazon Prime’s hit series ‘GEN V’, a bold and subversive expansion of ‘The Boys’ universe that has captivated millions. After breaking records as one of the platform’s most-watched freshman shows, ‘GEN V’ recently wrapped filming on its highly anticipated second season. Off-screen, her ethereal sound and storytelling shine through her music, from her emotive EPs ‘She Was Quiet’ and ‘Cinematic Love’ to writing collaborations with EDM heavyweights Gareth Emery and Markus Schulz. Both grounded and visionary, London is carving out a space that’s entirely her own, one that blurs the line between performance, identity, and art.

‘GEN V’ became an instant hit worldwide. What was it like stepping into the role of Jordan Li, and how is that journey evolving in Season 2?

Getting to play Jordan has been so life changing for me. It’s been such an honor to play such a unique and interesting character. Jordans’ evolution through season 2 was so exciting for Derek and I. We really got to explore sides of Jordan we hadn’t seen before. 

The show pushes boundaries in terms of identity, gender, and power, themes that feel both daring and necessary. What about Jordan Li resonated most with you personally?

I think what’s so interesting about Jordan is how human they are. The writers took such good care with creating this interesting and provocative character while also keeping them grounded in reality. The way Jordan expresses vulnerability and insecurity is probably what resonates most with me. 

How has the fan response impacted you, especially given how Jordan Li has become such a groundbreaking character in terms of representation?

The fan response to Jordan has been so special. I really wanted to honor Jordan and be respectful when representing this community, and I’m so grateful that the fans have responded so openly towards us. 

What can fans expect emotionally or thematically from the upcoming season of ‘GEN V’?

The new season is such an exciting step up from season 1. We really elevated every aspect of the show. There’s so much more to do with the character’s relationships to one another as well as their own internal struggles. There’s also so much more action and crazy plot twists. 

You have a fascinating heritage — Korean and Icelandic — and you’ve spoken about embracing both sides of your identity. How has that shaped your perspective as an actor and artist?

I love my heritage. I’ve always been really connected to both sides of myself. My household was definitely more Korean based when I was growing up and I’m so grateful that being mixed I was still able to experience my culture. It’s really informed me as an artist because I’ve been able to see the effects of type casting and also experience how the type of opportunities available to POCs has evolved and changed over the years, since my mom was working as an actress. 

You’ve appeared in such varied projects, from ‘Never Have I Ever’ and ‘YOU’ to ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘Shameless’. How do you decide which stories to be part of?

Honestly, those were so early in my career I was just happy to have the opportunity to work on such amazing shows surrounded by such talented artists. I got really lucky with what I was exposed to when I first started out. 

You’ve also built a strong reputation in the EDM world, writing with huge artists like Gareth Emery and Markus Schulz. How does songwriting compare to acting for you emotionally?

Songwriting feels a little more like you’re working for someone else. I feel like, especially when writing for a specific DJ, you aren’t really telling your story. It’s more of an exercise of storytelling because there are more parameters. With acting, I put every part of myself in any character I play and it creates this interesting mix of your story and someone else’s, which is why I feel like a good acting performance can connect to so many people on such different levels. 

Your EPs ‘She Was Quiet’ and ‘Cinematic Love’ are incredibly introspective. How do you navigate switching between the intensity of shooting and the vulnerability of writing music?

I feel like for me, songwriting and acting live in such different worlds. I used to think it would be easy to do both at the same time, but especially while filming ‘Gen V’, I felt like I evolved so much during my time filming that I needed to focus solely on that. And then by the time I’m done with a project, my perspective has shifted and it impacts my music which is always fun to rediscover. 

How do you stay balanced and creative when working in such demanding, often unpredictable fields?

The only way I’ve been able to stay balanced and creative in this crazy industry is surrounding myself with good people that can hold me accountable. I’m in acting class twice a week still and when I’m not working, I go off and teach music or do something that reminds me that the real world is very different from the world you experience being on set. It’s so easy to get caught up in the industry of it all, and having daily reminders of how lucky I am and the core reason why I do this keeps me grounded. 

Is there a story or role you’re longing to tell that people might not expect from you?

I’m excited for any opportunity that comes up. I’m really drawn to stories that embrace human flaws and insecurities. I would love to do a project that lets me explore my heritage and the experiences that mixed asian people go through. I’ve said it so many times before at this point, but I love the story that Michelle Zauner tells in her book ‘Crying in H Mart’, so I would say a role like that would be my dream right now. 

And finally, besides Season 2 of ‘GEN V’, what is coming up next for you?

Right now, I’m excited to be working on my own projects. I’m currently finishing up post production on a short film about a mother and daughter. I’m also so excited that last year I got to be part of a really cool movie called ‘The Remedy’, produced by Breakwall Pictures, starring one of my favorite people Timothy Granaderos.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography KENDRA FRANKLE
styling BRANDEN RUIZ 
makeup RUBY VO
hair MASEY CASTRO
photography assistant PIET BROMS