Hey there, Grey's Anatomy fans! You've probably noticed a fresh face this season: Dr. Nico Kim, portrayed by the talented Alex Landi. At just 26 years old, Alex stepped into the show as its second doctor of Asian descent and its first openly gay male doctor—a huge win for diversity on the series.
During an exclusive chat with Closer Weekly ahead of the season 15 finale, airing on Thursday, May 16, Alex opened up about the responsibility he felt stepping into such a significant role. After Dr. Nico Kim's debut, Alex was met with a wave of support from the LGBTQ and Asian communities, something showrunner Krista Vernoff had prepared him for when casting the part.
Walking in Big Shoes
Let's rewind a bit. This was the first Asian doctor since Sandra Oh's iconic Cristina Yang left the show five years ago. Not only that, but the show had only featured women in LGBTQ roles before, like Callie Torres, played by Sara Ramirez, and Arizona Robbins, portrayed by Jessica Capshaw.
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Alex admits that joining the show was challenging, especially given the expectations tied to the role. "There are a lot of eyes on me—lots of viewers, lots of fans," Alex shares. "The hardest part was probably the expectation and the magnitude of the role, the shoes I needed to fill. But I didn’t feel pressure because I just brought myself to the character. Being part of such a massive production after 15 years was the most challenging aspect."
A Warm Welcome
Despite the challenges, Alex says he enjoyed being thrown into the mix right away. "It's such a well-oiled machine," he continues. "Everyone on set is like family." If there was a leader of this family, it would definitely be Ellen Pompeo, who plays the titular Dr. Meredith Grey.
Alex describes the 49-year-old actress as "down to earth, funny, and chill," saying she welcomed him "with open arms" and even made a cute video with his dog, Ninja, posting it to her Instagram.
View this post on InstagramFinally I’ve found Meredith’s new love interest!! He a dog tho 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 @greysabc #tgit #shondalandproblems @alexlandi7
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Exploring Nico's Character
This welcoming atmosphere allowed Alex to really settle into his role. "They gave me the freedom to take the character where I wanted," the New York City native explains. This meant embracing Nico as a confident, masculine bro who we eventually see develop a more "sentimental" side—thanks in large part to love interest Dr. Levi Schmitt, played by Jake Borelli.
The 28-year-old made quite the splash when he came out alongside his onscreen persona. "That was a big decision for him to be vulnerable," Alex reveals, calling scenes with Jake "fantastic." "He did a good job handling everything, and I think it added to the whole feeling of Grey’s Anatomy. Fans appreciated the courage and bravery he had when coming out."
