Asian Chinese BIPOC LGBTQ actresses
I hope to use my platforms to promote positivity, encouragement, helpful information, diversity, inclusion, the latter 2 specifically from the viewpoint and experience of a Canadian Chinese Asian.
Not enough of us out there who do this, including in the acting / entertainment industry. #actor #actress #actorslife #BIPOC #lgbtq
Acting Interview
Listen: https://shows.acast.com/second-act-actors/episodes/6527fd0c2b692b001271611e
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmdf9vtqAQg&ab_channel=SecondActActors
Had the MOST fun on this podcast conversation w/ @secondactactors about acting, why we love it, how to know when you do, 2SLGTBQIA+ & immigrant Chinese Canadian representation, Kate Winslet, Spice Girls, mental health, art creating empathy, what we hate being asked as actors, & more! I came away so inspired by this conversation, & even by myself.❤️
Swipe to see some of the acting truths we share. The last is a heartfelt “final words about acting” video from me.
So much is covered, including:
How life experiences (which also come w/age) and even your “day job” make you a better actor if you know how to let them.
How watching @ammonite_movie then binging Kate Winslet videos about the acting process, led me to discover my passion.
How to re-shape the self tape process to make it the most wonderful joyful experience. It doesn’t have to be dreadful even if it’s guaranteed you’ll be rejected a lot.
How my self tape auditions have led to the most wonderful conversations w/ 2 of my best friends & readers, @lizelya & @nataliesterbenc ❤️Acting is for you if you love the art & process of it, even if you don’t book the role. Acting is not for you if you do it for “fame”, think it’s “a cool thing to do”, etc.
How my passion for the Spice Girls fueled an amazing community of worldwide friends, who helped me love who I am (gay queer female Asian). And the more I love myself, the more I can freely explore any characters I play.?
How art creates empathy. How actors who succeed need to elevate those around them.
Some hilariously funny quotes including:
“I need to represent the queer community better by watching @schittscreek . Thx Janet (a Caucasian woman w/ a husband) for inspiring me to be more inclusive”. ?I’ve since finished it & LOVED IT).
“I hate telling people I’m an actor, especially telling other actors, because they like to ask “oh, so what have you done? What you have been in?”?
I Am Ruth
F*ck me, says Ruth (single mother played by Kate Winslet), as she sits on a toilet after a pivotal realization in “I Am Ruth”. And “f*ck me” is exactly what I muttered throughout this entire captivating drama. I had very high expectations going in, to the point where I was ready to be a little let down. Wasn’t at all. Completely blown away. Mesmerized by every single moment, word, mutter, glare, agonizing silence. Every dialog exchange was unscripted. Worked here because I felt I was watching a hidden camera following these real characters around. Raw, painful to watch at times, & even humorous when very real & relatable moments were presented. I’m not a mum (don’t want to be), but I am a daughter, and I remember similar conversations with my mom even before social media. We know how to push each other’s buttons.
Thank you Kate Winslet, Mia Threapleton, and the entire cast for making such a relevant, authentic, and frankly, perfectly cast film. I’d praise the acting, but it was so real, it was like it wasn’t even acting, which is the best type of “acting” there is. This will win awards if the selection committees are wise.
If there was anything else I wanted, I would have wanted a bit more at the ending, it ended abruptly for me. But perhaps the purpose was to have the viewer reflect on the possibilities going forward.
Finally, a “frick you” to anyone that claimed “nepotism” before you even watched. It was perfectly cast. You can watch this anthology episode on Channel 4 online.
Asian Actors and Older Articles
May 26, 2023:
Proof that Kate Winslet is the best most amazing actress. Because as Evan Peters says, she’s “f*cking incredible” & talks to *everyone* on set no matter the hierarchy. Many actors who have just 1 line stop being so gracious/humble. thx Kate Winslet<3
Link to article: https://t.co/vWDpJysfJ2
Screenshot from article:
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April 25, 2023: I guess Kate Winslet is helping “bridge the gap” between my mom not understanding what a podcast is. She didn’t understand my “What Would Kate Do?” podcast, but bless her, she listens to every episode I put out. Today, she texted me this (about my latest episode about Kate in the trailer for HBO’s The Regime): “Just saw the trailer & heard your podcast, how many times have you seen the trailer to be so detailed & specific about Kate’s performance. I was just amazed that you could talk / describe so much about Kate just from that trailer…. You can be a good film critic!”
LOL thanks mom. Yes, I’m making my mom, who’s first language isn’t English, to listen to a podcast that is all about Kate Winslet and acting. 😀
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UPDATE MARCH 12, 2023: It was the Oscars tonight. As much as this site is devoted to Acting and Kate Winslet …. I have to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Everything Everywhere All At Once, and every single person behind it (cast, crew, writers, everyone). Because of you, I finally feel noticed as an Asian (female, she/her, lgbtq) person and actress. Congratulations to Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Michelle Yeoh for your well deserved acting Oscars, and also for all the work you’ve done over the course of your lives.
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small note: The word “nuanced” to praise someone’s acting performance is overused! Just a pet peeve of mine. Also, let’s stop always using the word “organic” to describe a filming process. 😀
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February 27, 2023: I’m still crying and over the moon, listening to all the down to earth, gracious, genuine speeches made by all the actors and actresses who won last night at the SAG awards, especially those who won for Everything Everywhere All At Once. Because of you, lots of people like me believe more. That we will be seen. Thank you Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and James Hong, and everyone.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpMsOsguY0n/?hl=en
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February 1, 2023: I just saw this actors roundtable (with Brendan Fraser, Austin Butler, Jeremy Pope, Colin Farrell, Ke Huy Quan, Adam Sandler) and teared up many times. Ke Huy Quan talks in the beginning about thinking that nobody ever wanted to see him (an Asian) act again, and really all these actors have valuable things & lessons to share about acting, life, and the process. And Jeremy Pope (black gay actor) is so eloquent, I love listening to what he is saying and I relate to him a lot. The lessons that all the actors share at the end are priceless:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJH2EyvvEBA&ab_channel=TheHollywoodReporter
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It’s later (January 15, 2023): I’m conflicted. I’m a gay LGBTQ actress (pronouns she/her) AND BIPOC, yet my fave actress is Kate Winslet. Only because of her work, and the things she’s said about the acting process and why she loves it (it’s not annoying and indulgent as she has indicated it is). She is the reason I found my passion. One’s race should never come before one’s performance but yet I understand how important it is to be SEEN. I cheer when anyone of my skin color is recognized and celebrated, even when they aren’t even my ethnicity (I am Chinese, but am happy to see Koreans win, for example). I wish acting and awards wouldn’t fuel this weird “competition” between different races / ethnicities / skin colors. I support Andrea Riseborough and her performance in “To Leslie” all the while being aware that there’s been some backlash (some from folks who aren’t fully informed about the whole situation) about the Oscar / Academy backing a white actress. I wish I lived in a world where none of this matters and it can just be about the acting because in this dream world, there’s already equal opportunities. I should also mention that the actress I relate most to based on beauty and not being seen and being told you don’t fit in, is the beautiful and TALENTED Viola Davis. <3
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January 10, 2023: Will write more later but THANK GOD that Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan won tonight at the Golden Globes. Finally Asian actors / actresses with my skin color are being seen and recognized, and awarded.