Helen J. Shen

Helen J. Shen stepped on stage making her Broadway debut in November 2024 bringing android Claire to robotic life in the Tony award winning musical Maybe Happy Ending. She is such a brilliant bright light both on and off stage as she tucked herself comfortably in front of the camera on our shoot with confidence, charisma and a chameleon like quality…one of the reasons she became an actor as she shares in our interview. so scroll on down for our Brooklyn evening snaps and more about her blossoming career, go-to Korean skincare products, writing music, style moods, a steamy bowl of ramen at 2am, and coming soon playing a human and hoping to get some cooking tips from Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada 2 …..stay tuned!

the bare magazine: you just took a little time off from Maybe Happy Ending...was it a great recharge?

HELEN J SHEN: I took a week off from Maybe Happy Ending to travel to Amsterdam with my partner. This past year with the show has been the wildest ride of my life, and it was really nice to have a moment to reflect on the whirlwind.

The show didn't have guarantees when we first opened. When we started last fall, I could not have imagined the year ahead. I have gotten to tell many people I look up to what their work has meant to me, and gotten to record a cast album. I got to perform at the Tony Awards. Our musical won best musical. Those sentences are actually wild to comprehend sometimes. Every time I try to reflect on the significance of this year and this show, I come up with something new. I think that will continue to happen for a really, really long time.

bare: what are you looking forward to most about being cast in this most anticipated film?

HJS: The Devil Wears Prada was a regular rewatch for me growing up. I mean that opening montage is etched in my brain. The fact that I get to add to the world is such an honor. The theater is my home, but I've really developed a hunger to do some on-camera work. The Devil Wears Prada 2 will be my first experience on a movie set, which is SO exciting. One of my favorite things in the world is making people laugh and the character I get to play is so vibrant and charming. I can't wait to soak every bit of this process up and learn from the titans around me. Hoping I can get some cooking tips from Stanley Tucci.

bare: Maybe Happy Ending was your Broadway debut - describe the journey so far and how you have evolved.

HJS: Maybe Happy Ending was my Broadway debut. I had been working on two Off-Broadway shows at the time that I received my tape for Maybe Happy Ending. I was definitely nervous for the audition, and wanted to do a good job, but I think the blessing in disguise was how busy I was. I couldn't second-guess myself, and I had to just trust that if this path was meant for me, it wasn't going to pass me by. I ended up having one callback/chemistry read with my now co-star Darren Criss, and the next day my manager told me that I had booked it. Broadway has been the proverbial Emerald City for me since I did my first show at 5 years old. Now the question becomes "Your dream came true. Now what?"

bare: thank you for darting from a performance to our shoot in Brooklyn was it fun jumping into different sides of yourself... from backyard nymph to punk rocker? do you enjoy being a chameleon and occasional model?

HJS: I LOVE being a chameleon. It's why I decided to become an actor. In my life I like presenting in a more edgy way normally, but I have a softer femme side that I love to tap into often. That part, in this chapter of my life, manifests in Claire in Maybe Happy Ending. I love exploring the depths of that facet of my being, and am so excited to continue to explore who I am as I evolve and change. I'm excited to keep surprising myself.

I never thought modeling could be in the cards because I'm short, I find that my face is quite wide, the body dysmorphia thoughts run rampant. But this year I've gotten to do a couple photo shoots and I have just fallen in love. I think I have found a kind of confidence in front of the camera that I'm really appreciative of. I love stepping into a character in front of the camera: I feel strong, beautiful, sexy. Of course, it helps to have supportive and warm people behind the camera. So yeah, I hope I get to do more of this. I just love it.

bare: what are some dream roles and genres/projects you'd love to explore as a creator and growing amazing talent?

HJS: I would love to dive into more plays and on-camera work. I also write my own music so I would love to work on releasing some of that after I've released my perfectionism a bit. I love the challenge that Maybe Happy Ending has given me in its practice of restraint. Playing Claire has taught me so much on not letting my ego add more because of my imposter syndrome.

There is a lot of self doubt that can fester in subjective industries, but I've found that when I let my authenticity be my North Star, I feel more grounded and more assured. She's such a rich character; I love playing a robot, but I am interested in playing more humans though.

outfit by rachel antonoff

bare: you have gorgeous skin! what's your routine from makeup application pre show to your cleansing routine after?

HJS: Then I Met You sent some trial products to a lot of us at the theater. I was super excited to try and now I'm HOOKED. The Bong2 Bounce Cream Moisturizer is so lightweight and hydrating. I use that to prep my skin and then try to only put product where I feel like I really need to. I have to wear heavier makeup than I would in my day to day life, so the trick is to take the makeup off gently. That's where the 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Oil from Round Lab comes in. It's an oil cleanser and I lather it up and take off my makeup (that I view as a kind of mask). It has become a wonderful therapeutic "stepping-out" of character ritual for me. That's been important to me: To give my all as Claire at the theater and on the stage, and then to give my all as Helen at home and in my life.

bare: please list your top 6 Bare Essentials (they can be anyone or anything)

HJS:

- my journal

- a steamy bowl of instant ramen at 2am

- a park walk

- olympus stylus film camera + some black and white film

- I love a trinket. right now I'm obsessed with Hirono blind box figures

- jazz club by maison margiela

photos/makeup: tina turnbow

hair: sky kim

helen wears her own clothing and rachel antonoff

Founder & Editor in Chief - The Bare Magazine