Profile | Yuyu Kitamura of Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives on growing up open-minded in Hong Kong, and having mental health support

Yuyu Kitamura of Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives was born and raised in Hong Kong, and she says she ‘wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t grown up there’

The Japanese actress talks to the Post about the superpower she would like to have, how she was allowed to chase her dreams, and creating a film during Covid-19

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Yuyu Kitamura as Niko Sasaki in a still from Dead Boy Detectives. The Netflix star talks about growing up in Hong Kong and being allowed to chase her dreams. Photo: Netflix

Published: 7:15am, 17 May 2024Updated: 8:40am, 17 May 2024

If you could be granted one superpower, what would it be? Invisibility or mind reading? Shape-shifting or flying? For most of us it would be a tough decision.

Not for actress Yuyu Kitamura.

“I would love to be able to teleport and visit family in Hong Kong without having to take a 15-hour flight,” says Kitamura via Zoom from Los Angeles.

Kitamura was born and raised in Hong Kong, but spends much of her time now in the United States, where she is soaking up the success of Dead Boy Detectives, the hit supernatural adventure series that dropped on Netflix last month.

Based on comics by British author Neil Gaiman, the eight-episode, genre-bending series features ghostly protagonists Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), and psychic medium Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson).

Kitamura plays Niko Sasaki, a Japanese student who is investigated by the supernatural sleuths after being plagued by paranormal parasites.