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ML40 65-80 - ALT_Layout 1 9/26/13 8:53 PM Page 76 PEOPLE OH MY GAO International actor-model Godfrey Gao makes his American debut Words by Josh Rotter Photos Courtesy of Jet Star Entertainment Godfrey Gao may not be a household name in the U.S. -- just yet-- but in Taiwan, he's already bringing down the house. "Girls chase me for a picture or autograph, so I don't usually walk around in Hong Kong," Gao said in a recent interview from Los Angeles. "I guess I'm pretty unique in China -- or Asia, in general -- because I'm tall and have facial hair, so a lot of people know me in China. Maybe you could say I'm the Brad Pitt of Asia [laughs]." Joking aside, the immensely-charming Taiwanese actor-model --who has already starred in a number of successful Chineselanguage films and TV series and is one of the foremost Asian supermodels (the face of Louis Vuitton International in 20112012, for example)-- is chomping at the bit to take a bite out of the Hollywood dream. Gao made his English-speaking debut in this summer's muchanticipated film, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, starring Lily Collins. A film adaptation of the bestselling YA series by author Cassandra Clare, Gao plays fan-favorite character, Magnus Bane. Just days after appearing at Comic-Con, as part of the Mortal Instruments panel, the actor took some time to chat with Miami Living from his suite at L.A.'s famed hotel, Chateau Marmont. "It was my first time at Comic-Con. It was crazy. The people there were all dressed up. Just the amount of detail they put into their costumes," Gao gushed. "The whole time I was doing interviews, and live TV and radio, so it was pretty crazy, but I enjoyed it." At the Mortal Instruments panel, which drew 6.000 attendees, the cast presented a film clip and then took part in an autograph session for 200 lucky fans. "It was pretty nerve-racking for me, but they loved it," he said. "Mortal Instruments has a huge fan base from the books alone, and I think it's one of the most anticipated movies of the summer; and I'm just happy that there are so many supportive people who can't wait to see the movie when it comes out. There are lots of fans of my character, as well." Gao admitted that playing Bane, the 800-year-old bisexual warlock, was a stretch for him. "Honestly, it's a really fun character to play and I've never encountered other roles like this before," the actor said. "He has all these powers and can cast spells. He's half-human and half-demon, and he never ages, never dies, and just throws the craziest parties. Also, I've never gotten to put on a lot of makeup, glitter, and nail polish in my life, so it was an experience for me." Bane has become so popular that author Cassandra Clare is releasing a separate series called, The Bane Chronicles, and there's talk of turning them into films. But will there be a same-sex kiss onscreen anytime soon? "There will be in the 76 MIAMI LIVING