If you had asked Adeline Rudolph what she had wanted to do growing up, she never would have said acting. Born and raised in Hong Kong, the Korean-German actress had dipped her toes into commercial work as a teenager and modelled at school fashion shows for fun, but often envisioned professional life as a lawyer or journalist, and went on to study political science at university. Though in hindsight, clues pointing towards a more creative career had always been always there.
A self-proclaimed bookworm, Adeline spent her treasured lunchtimes at school perusing the library in search of adventure. “I am and always was an avid book reader. Even when I was younger that was always my primary source of entertainment. Bookstores were my playground and in primary school, the library is where I would spend my break time scanning the shelves for my next escape.” While her mind wandered to far-off lands, stretching the boundaries of her own imagination, Adeline also found joy in the more present act of singing. “I would spend hours in my room writing songs, fake performing in front of my mirror, making singing videos with my sister, looking up instrumental karaoke versions of my favourite songs during my breaks between homework,” she recalls fondly. This is not to say that I am a good singer at all haha, but it’s something I enjoyed a lot growing up.” (Talk about foreshadowing. Adeline is now filming for a K-Pop thriller movie, but more on that later.)
It wasn’t until Adeline graduated from university and took a gap year that a path in entertainment began to emerge. While modelling part-time in London, her modelling agency offered to sponsor her with a working visa for the United States. Finding herself in a new country with a newfound sense of freedom, Adeline endeavoured to venture beyond her comfort zone. “I had just moved to Los Angeles in September of 2017 and about two months in I decided to sign up for an acting class. I remember leaving that first day of class feeling like something had finally clicked. Not because it was easy or natural for me, but because it challenged me in a way I had never been challenged before. I got to tap into a creative side of myself I had not explored yet and that felt thrilling.”
Not long after, Adeline found herself an agent and began sending out self-tapes. She did her first-ever in-room audition for Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and lo’ and behold, booked it. Playing the cold-blooded Agatha, one of the three “Weird Sisters” of the show, launched her into a completely new world. Dark, fantastical, and teeming with paranormal activity, Adeline’s realm of acting comprises the Riverdale, Hellboy, Resident Evil and now Mortal Kombat universes. It’s a surprising contrast to her reality of sun-kissed escapades in nature and “coffee shop lounging sessions” with friends—but that’s precisely why she thrives in it.
“To be honest, these genres and worlds tend to find me, rather than me actively seeking them out,” she admits. “I think the reason I enjoy these genres is because I welcome the challenge of finding the human, the grounded elements of my characters in these hyper sensational worlds and situations they find themselves in. Whether I’m playing a villain, an innocent bystander sucked into a nightmarish adventure, or a warrior princess fighting to save her realm, having the privilege to escape and immerse myself in these fantastical worlds and humanise my characters to make their journeys and choices relatable to the audiences is truly rewarding.”
Coat, bralette, pants and shoes, all Dolce&Gabbana.
Her latest performance as Kitana in “Mortal Kombat 2” is a prime example of such an undertaking. The iconic Mortal Kombat character is a warrior princess trained to be ruthless, unforgiving, and of course, deathly skilled. Adeline described the physicality of the role to be unlike anything she had experienced before, and spent over a month training in Kitana’s distinctive martial arts-style of fighting for the film—a mix of Wushu, Kung Fu and Tai Chi. But stunt work aside, it was bringing a realistic complexity to the character that proved most difficult.
“I spent a lot of time navigating Kitana’s arcs and trying to understand her emotional journey in this movie, especially as it pertains to her relationship with Jade, played by my wonderful friend and castmate Tati Gabrielle, and Shao Kahn, played by the incredible Martyn Ford. In that sense, an unexpected challenge was to show just enough of Kitana’s emotional struggles, while simultaneously upholding her regal composure.”
While we must patiently wait for the release of Mortal Kombat 2 next year, our lives continuing as they always have, Adeline is already onto the next big thing: “Perfect Girl”, a K-pop thriller directed by renowned K-pop music video director Hong Won-ki that has just kicked off production in Thailand. “I cannot tell you how much it means to me to be a part of this project. The world of K-pop is so multifaceted and extraordinary and to work on a movie that in many ways dissects the inner psyche of these incredible talents pursuing this cut-throat career is an opportunity I do not take lightly,” she shares. “Being able to partake in a project where I get to speak Korean and dive into my own culture in a far more intimate way than I ever have, is fulfilling and healing on so many levels.”
Adeline’s career is on a rapid ascent, fuelled by a sense of gratitude for projects past and ambitions of one day landing on the planet of rom-coms and tearjerking dramas. And as the assured commander of her own starship, there’s little doubt she will arrive. “One of the most valuable lessons I learnt in my twenties is that if you want something, small or big, you have to take action to get it. No one is going to create the life you want for you, you have to take initiative and be bold and unapologetic in your pursuit.”
Photographer: Sam Spence @ Society MGMT
Stylist: Foxla Chiu
Casting and Creative Producer: Marina Fairfax
On-Set Stylist: Lisa Bae
Makeup Artist: Sang Jeon
Hair Stylist: Ricky Fraser @ The Wall Group
Retouching: Ksenia Kuzmenko
Fashion Assistants: Robi Alonso and Lalo
Editor
Alyanna Raissa J. Payos
