Lio Tipton’s Quiet Rebellion

By J.L. Sirisuk

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“The stories I want to share - and I really appreciate how you worded that, because it's tricky for me as an actor since so much of that is based on what others write or the opportunities out there. As a filmmaker or an actor or a combination of both too, I am so passionate about science and math and its history, and I would love to see more stories celebrating the experience of awe.”

- Lip Tipton

Lio Tipton has always charted their own course, avoiding the conventional in favor of complexity. From their breakout on America's Next Top Model to their roles in films like Crazy, Stupid, Love and Lucy, Tipton has consistently sought stories that aren’t neat or easily digestible. Their fascination with films like Pan's Labyrinth, where the line between fantasy and reality blurs, has shaped their approach to narrative—one that resists simple answers and embraces the messiness of being human. In Love Hurts, Tipton joins Ke Huy Quan in a film that blends action, humor, and poignant moments of vulnerability, capturing characters caught in the web of their pasts and the intricate dance of personal relationships. For Tipton, it's never been about playing it safe; it’s about taking on roles that reflect the complexity of life and human connection, even when they push boundaries.

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J.L. Sirisuk: You’re in Love Hurts, with Ke Huy Quan. Growing up, did you watch The Goonies - what kinds of movies or shows helped shape your creative world?

Lio Tipton: I definitely watched The Goonies. I watched most of the movies Ke [Huy Quan] was in when I was younger. My family wasn't into indie movies or really movies in general. I grew up with a very limited catalog of films, mostly comprising of Disney movies or box office giants. It was in 2006 or around then, that Pan's Labyrinth came out and Children of Men. I started really being interested in this - I hadn't seen storytelling like that – the experience of realizing that there’s a much deeper art form to film than I was raised with, an awareness of a greater art form than I realized was initially there.

JS: I know you've modeled before, figure skated, so many different forms of your own expression. What lured you to the acting world?

LT: I think most of my life, it's been my maybe not so subconscious goal. I am so desperate to communicate with other people, and I feel like I struggle with that. I can't imagine where I would be without Top Model because it's not the universe I live in. I moved down to LA for filmmaking, to be behind the camera, to direct, to write. I kind of got sidetracked with Top Model. I was a terrible model, so it did not last long.

JS: No, you're a great model. I watched you on that show.

LT: Thank you. But that did open me up to getting an agent, and there was an audition for a television show on the CW about models. My agent at the time was like, “Well, you're a model. We'll send you out for it.” I ended up testing, which I think surprised everyone, including myself. Testing is basically like the last step of an audition, and you have to perform in front of a bunch of suits. It's very nerve wracking, and so they started representing me theatrically. Very soon after, I booked Green Hornet, and then Crazy, Stupid, Love. It took me a few years to accept or to understand that I'm an actor, because I still felt like my goal of filmmaking was my main purpose in LA, which has not changed much. I now feel like I'm officially also an actor.

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JS: Looking back on your experiences making the film and seeing the finished product, how do you feel?

LT: I feel happy. It was such a fun movie to film. I had such a positive experience on set. I really hope that the joy of what we were doing comes out in the final film because things are really heavy in the world right now, and it’s not a heavy film, it’s a lighthearted romp. It's fun. It's supposed to let us escape from the everyday seriousness of what's happening around the world and I think it does that. I'm proud that it does.

JS: What keeps that fire going for you as an actress to keep going down this trajectory?

LT: As an actor, I think it's really tricky to keep going in this business, because you just never know when your next job is. I feel like the instability can be emotionally tolling, but as an artist, just getting the opportunity to work with other artists and watch someone's vision come to life and get to meet all these people from different walks of life, that is the main thing that keeps me coming back and staying so passionate. I love to make believe, and I love to get to share imagination.

JS: Whether it's playing a role or making your own film in the future, what stories do you want to share with the world right now?

LT: The stories I want to share - and I really appreciate how you worded that, because it's tricky for me as an actor since so much of that is based on what others write or the opportunities out there. As a filmmaker or an actor or a combination of both too, I am so passionate about science and math and its history, and I would love to see more stories celebrating the experience of awe. I would love to bring stories, especially of those genders and non-genders who have not been highlighted - I would love to bring those to the screen.

JS: Yes. And there are different parts of the puzzle that come together within our creative ecosystem. Now we have Love Hurts. What drew you to the project?

LT: I knew Ke [Huy Quan]was attached, and that made me really excited. And the role is comedy. I saw a lot of opportunity for physical comedy in it. That excited me because that was kind of how I started. With Crazy, Stupid, Love, there was a lot of physical comedy and I haven't had many opportunities to go back to that. It makes me so happy when I'm doing comedy. I love the experience, and I love the discovery. It's always a mystery. In drama, there's kind of one emotion you have to nail sometimes. That’s putting it shortly, but in comedy, there are so many paths that you can try out and have fun with on set.

JS: How was it to work with Ke? You know, I heard he's such a lovely person.

LT: He's an incredibly lovely person. I'm really proud of him, and he's someone that deserves all the success that he's finding. I feel like in this business, kindness is so important and this can quickly be overlooked. He’s someone that is genuinely kind. He's a kind participant in the filmmaking process, and that goes a long way, especially when shooting days can be long. He had this way of maintaining a positive attitude and energy that resonated throughout the shooting process.

JS: Did you learn anything new about yourself with this project?

LT: Yeah, because I hadn't done comedy for a while, I was definitely nervous about that, and I was also nervous to see how far I could go with it. Thankfully, the filmmakers were incredibly receptive. They allowed me to do my thing, and they took it in. Another major thing I feel I've been learning about myself in acting, is gender representation. I used to be much more impacted by the roles that I took on, especially depending on which gender I'd be representing. It's a relief to me that I feel like I can go to work - I can put on the character's gender and then I can step away from that. I don't have to bring it home. The older I get, I think the more important that has become and that was definitely a positive in this experience.