Check out our interview with Award-winning ballroom dancer and actress Reagan To who has been part as the English Dub voice of the Squid Game Doll in Netflix’s biggest series Squid Game. Reagan is no stranger to the small screen as she has multiple credits including skits on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a lead alongside big stars such as Channing Tatum, Rami Malek, Lena Waithe and Guillermo Rodriguez.
Regan has quickly built a dedicated fanbase on social media including a verified TikTok with over 1 million likes and over 101,000 followers as well as a verified Instagram.
Follow Reagan on IG @reagan_to & TikTok @reaganandjuli
Hi Reagan, please tell us a little about you?
Hi! I’m Reagan To! I am an actor and dancer. I love everything about performing. I love doing that in front of the cameras on set and at a recording or dance studio!
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Happy, Bubbly, Energetic
How did you get started into acting?
I love watching movies since I was very young! My parents immigrated from Hong Kong, and we watch Hong Kong and Disney movies weekly. But then, when I was five years old, I had to go to the hospital for a lung infection at the ICU. It was very scary, but my parents stayed with me the whole time. We watched movies on TV together, and that was very comforting! I told my mom that I hope I can be an actress if this is all over! I was inspired when I left! I saw that I could be just like the actresses who got me laughing in the hospital bed!
How has this changed your life?
I think making people happy is very important, and we need more in the world! I still remember my hospital stay clearly, which makes me very thankful for my career! As an actor, I get a lot of rejections from auditions. But I know I work really hard on them. I tell myself to be grateful!
What is the best and worst part of being an actress?
Many of my projects take weeks and months. That means I have planned my schedule very well with my Latin Dance competition date to avoid a conflict of time. I had to say no to some dance events last year. And I feel like I missed out on some of the competitions! But that’s okay. I think this will be my lucky year!
How do you prepare for a role?
I make sure I do my homework for my roles too! Every role is different! There are some roles that are similar to how I act, and I try to think of myself a little bit, like in my role in King’s Affection on Netflix. But there are characters very different from me, but that’s always very fun to act out in front of the cameras!
Tell us about your work as the English Dub voice of the Squid Game Doll in Netflix’s hit series Squid Game?
It was an unbelievable experience. Before my voice recording, I had not learned about the show. When I was in the studio, the director asked me to cover my eyes during the violent scenes. Now two years later, I am still too young to watch the show.
How was the casting for this project?
I was cast as the voice of the main character’s daughter at first. Later they wanted a special voice for the “red light green light doll.” So, I worked with the director to create this voice that was both childish and creepy and the same time. I‘m glad the world loved it!
How different is to work on a movie, series, cartoon or a video game? And if you have a different preparation for each.
Similar but different at the same time! With movies and tv series, I need to follow the way or emotion of the character’s talk. With animations, I use my voice and add my emotion to the characters.
What other projects you have been part of?
In year 2022, I voiced for over 30 movies, and I worked on commercial and short film as well. And I love making people happy. I think that’s why I love acting in skits like on Jimmy Kimmel Live! When I’m not acting, I’m competing at dance competitions! I am a Latin dancer since I was 5 years old. I love bringing that passion to my fans on TikTok and Instagram. Just the other day, I was filming a short dance video with singer Jax. Watching them will make anyone happy!
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
Oooh I was lucky to be the voice for young Seo Hae-Gang in Sisyphus on Netflix. There were many scenes that were very emotional. I was screaming, and I was crying too. At the end of the day, I was very tired. But it felt very good at the end when we wrapped up. I love playing roles like this!
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Seeing amazing actors perform! I was performing in a skit with Mr. Rami Malek. We both pretended to be stuck in the Museum of Ice Cream, and we were acting like we were nervous and lost. It was different from my other projects, so it was so cool to see Mr. Malek get into his role. I love watching and learning how other actors work on set.
What’s your advice for the newer actors?
Always practice every day! I practice dancing every day, and that is important to me! It’s my me-time, and I do that for acting too!
As a popular social media influencer and actress, you are followed by so many people. How do you feel about that pressure of doing always the right thing, and encourage people to follow their dreams?
I remember in my first few videos, there were haters in the comments. I’m just a kid, and I’m honestly glad that my parents help me on social media. I think it’s good that I can just focus on making videos on dancing and acting. It makes me happy that my passions make people laugh too! It’s more fun that I can connect with my fans that way!
When you started your Social Media accounts, did you expect such a success?
I started out because I wanted to act, dance and make people happy 2 years ago! I feel blessed that so many people want to watch me be silly and make them smile!
What do you think is the secret to have a successful IG account?
Be yourself! I don’t put way too much into editing. I think fans love watching me be myself with my friends and family. I like that it feels like I’m just a like a friend who is right with you. Personal and no filter!
What would say are the greatest lessons you learned so far in this business?
Don’t give up. I get no’s from my auditions. It’s sometimes sad because I get the bad news like multiple times a day. But I think back to my hospital stay. I tell myself I need to treasure this. And sometimes, I think back to my bad auditions to get it right the next time!
How would your best friend describe you?
I’m very friendly and bubbly, and they seriously can’t get enough of my cookies!
If you are a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
Why I Can’t Go A Day Without Performing! The reason for that title is that it describes my life perfectly!
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
Yes, your nut allergy is real. I accidentally ate a breakfast pastry with nuts… right before a performance! Worst day ever!
What book should every entrepreneur read?
Island of the Blue Dolphins!
What’s next for Reagan To in 2023?
I’m really excited for this year! I still cannot say anything, but I am part of 2 big animation projects, and it has been just very fun! You know how sometimes when you watch cartoons, you think what you would look like as a cartoon? I’m super excited to show everyone that! I’ll share more about it on my social media!
What is your favorite healthy food?
I love making sushi! They are refreshing, and its fun to make and roll up my own salmon roll! I ask my parents for a sushi night once a month.
And your favorite cheat food?
Hong Kong’s famous egg waffle!
What is your own definition of happiness?
Sunday night with my family, watching a movie together! I love movie time, and I treasure every weekend movie night with my parents!
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Michelle Yeoh! I grew up watching her and Mr. Jackie Chan in old Hong Kong movies. She was amazing in Shang-Chi! She l inspires me to practice dancing for my dance competitions. I need to watch Everything, Everywhere All At Once!
Best advice ever given?
Always be proud of your family! I learned that from Ms. Danielle Kang! We were on set for a Citibank project for the World Cup! I wanted to hear from her what it was like as an Asian American superstar golfer!
Do you support any charity?
We are in a drought in California, and I was very excited to be in a project to help! We tried to show how to save water in Los Angeles. On set, I saw and learned how much water we use. So, I started to take a shorter shower!
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
I know I’m very young and just starting out! I have a lot to learn, but I really hope I can be in a movie one day! I practice my dances daily, and I know I will bring home a world championship title for my family!
Favorite song? Why?
I cannot stop listening to Havana by Camila Cabello! It’s my favorite song for Latin dancing! I help teach other kids in Latin dancing, and I always pick this song to teach salsa!
What do you think of Social Media?
I’m honestly glad that I only spend just little time a day. It gives me time for everything else I love to do too: like acting and dancing! But I love just exploring and finding new music too. It’s how I found the perfect song for my 22-million-views dance video!
Where we can follow you?
You can follow me on Instagram at @reagan_to and at TikTok at @reaganandjuli!
Photo Credit: Lydia Canbakal @lydiacanbakal
