Kristian Bruun
Actor
Kristian Bruun was born in Toronto, Canada and has been seen on stages and screens around the world. The classically trained actor was recently seen as a series regular in “The Recruit” (Netflix), as well as “Carter” (Hallmark Channel), “Departure” (Peacock), and “Avocado Toast” (Out TV) for which he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Canadian Screen Awards in 2021. He is also well known for his work on the award winning series “Orphan Black” (BBC America) and “Murdoch Mysteries” (CBC/Ovation). Other TV appearances include recurring roles on “Snowpiercer” (AMC), “Family Law” (The CW Network), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu), “11.22.63” (Hulu) and “Impulse” (YouTube Premium). Film credits include the bloody horror-action-comedy “Ready or Not” (Fox Searchlight), “Life” (eOne), “Tammy’s Always Dying” (J.A. Productions), “The Go-Getters” (Northern Banner), “Mary Goes Round” (Wildling Pictures), as well as the Nunavut-set sci-fi film “Slash/Back” (Scythia Films). He is a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy, Queen’s University, and the George Brown Theatre School. Kristian is a citizen of Canada and Finland, and now resides in Los Angeles.
You have lived in Toronto, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, Germany and England. Is there a favourite place, or quality of each that you miss?
I always miss Berlin. Easily the most fascinating city I've lived in (but certainly not the prettiest). It's the city I long to go back to the most. I don't claim to feel cool enough to be able to say I belonged there, but in terms of cities to be a fly on the wall in, you can get no better than Berlin. I really enjoy being able to get lost somewhere new and just people watch (and take a million photos). As for things I miss in some other cities? London: Borough Market, the tube and pour-over coffee from Monmouth Coffee. Toronto: the food; it's truly the most international food city in the world. Hey. I love food.
Why and how did attending Valley Forge Military Academy prepare you for being an actor?
Valley Forge was high school for me - and certainly not your average high school experience. The school had an amazing military music program at the time, and I was there on a music scholarship for trumpet. VF taught me how to roll with the punches (sometimes literally). It gave me the thick skin needed to survive as an actor. All the critiques, and rejection, and constant evaluation that my job requires, I got used to it there. It was also a great place to learn improv comedy. I was a short, round thirteen year old when I went there and I wasn't big enough to defend myself. I saw how the smaller funny kids survived by using their wits. If a large upper classman is about to beat you up, if you can make him laugh, he'll punch the guy next to you instead. It was like Lord of the Flies, but somehow I survived unscathed and even excelled there. So much so I almost joined the Canadian army as an infantry officer instead of becoming an actor, but that's another story...
One of your most famous roles was Donnie the quirky husband in Orphan Black. How did that role change your career?
I feel like that role put me on the world stage. At that point in my career I was hoping for something that expanded beyond Canada to give me the confidence to move to LA, and Orphan Black did just that. It's the role that I'm still the most well known for and I'll get recognized from it in the strangest places while travelling. I was recently in South Korea for work and the customs officer recognized me from it. She got all flustered and then I got flustered (I'm always flustered at customs to begin with), and then we both started blushing! I feel so lucky I was a part of OB. It holds a very special place in my Canadian heart.
Being based in Los Angeles, you must often travel for shoots. Do you love traveling, or would you rather get to film where you live?
I love it. LA is a beast of a city and it has taken me a really long time to learn to like it. That said, I appreciate breaks from it, and usually when I need to escape the most I luckily book a job elsewhere. Then when I'm away I start to miss LA and by the time I wrap I'm ready to come home. I definitely see LA as home now. I sometimes feel guilty saying that because I miss Toronto. My mum raised me to be a curious world traveler, so if someone wants to pay me to travel? Sign me up!
What projects are you working on, or have coming up that people should know about?
"The Recruit", Season 2 on Netflix! It should be out later this year or in early 2025. And Seasons 3 & 4 of "Snowpiercer" on AMC in 2025.
Being both Canadian and Finnish, are there foods you love the most from each country?
Canada: Get ready for the most stereotypical answer ever. Maple Syrup. I always have a bottle of it in my fridge. I use it instead of granulated sugar. There is no beating it. It is the ONLY sweetener I need. And I ALWAYS make sure my maple syrup is from Canada. I ain't buying that Vermont shit! They'd take my citizenship away.
Finland: Black licorice. I used to hate it as a kid, but as an adult I've fallen in love with all the weird salty black licorice from all the Scandinavian countries. Salmiakki? Yes please, Kiitos!! I'm also part Norwegian, so I'm adding that weird smooth brown cheese they have: Gjetost. Try it on some rye crackers with a spot of raspberry jam. Heavenly. It's strange but so good. I love bringing it to dinner parties for people to argue over. It's divisive.
When you aren’t working, what do you enjoy most about living in LA?
The sunsets! Golden hour in LA is so dreamy and consistent. No wonder people moved here to make movies! Must be the smog. My second passion is photography (don't get me started on my camera addiction), and this city is very photogenic. The sunlight, weather, architecture, geographical diversity, the people from all over the world? There's a reason why movies set in LA are so iconic. This city is quite the character.