Steven Yeun told Conan OBrien on Monday that the real-world threat of the COVID-19 pandemic had blindsided him, even after working on a show about virus-spreading zombies for seven years.
Im one of the lucky ones. We have a house, I have a family, and it was all beautiful and we have all of those nice things, said Yeun, who played fan-favorite character Glenn Rhee on The Walking Dead. But what was crazy about the pandemic is the battlefield is yourself. ... Youve got to find out about who you are during that time, and theres a lot of stuff to clean up in there.
Yeun called the early days of COVID-19 lockdown a moment where everybody was in panic fight or flight as they tried to figure out how to fight against an invisible virus a scenario reminiscent of some of the apocalyptic scenes hed been in on TV.
Ive kind of simulated that on The Walking Dead with what weapons you choose or people that you hang out with or vehicles, Yeun said, adding that none of this had translated into usable skills. I was like, what do I do? And all I said was, Were all going to die.
The onset of the pandemic in the U.S. coincided with Yeun and his wife, Joana Pak, moving into a new house with their two young children .
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Wow, were so lucky were going to get this new home, we paid for the home, we were there for two weeks and then all of a sudden we were locked in a cage, with the four of us, Yeun said.
The star jokingly added that without his wifes support and planning, wed all be dead.
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The actor said that he was still processing his Oscar nomination, and called the experience of being associated with such a prestigious award in the midst of a pandemic bizarre and strange.
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Watch the full interview below.
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