What is your background and how did you become involved in the entertainment industry?
I am a first-generation Canadian-born Chinese in my family, and I have a background in figure skating, dance, and music. The car was literally my second home from one place to another. My first involvement in the entertainment industry was when I played my grandmother Zhou Xuan as a kid, at the age of 3, for a film tribute. But little did I know, the journey really began when I wore my mother’s high heels and different shades of lipstick. On top of childhood shenanigans, I think my love for telling a story with my body in skating/dance, opportunities to sing on stage for various events and awards in Asia (due to grandma’s name) led me to theatre school, and here I am today with the same process most actors and actresses go through.
You portray Jenn on Spinning Out. What can you tell us about your character?
Jenn Yu on Spinning Out is a survivor and a lover. She has a severe hip injury that she hides from her family because she doesn’t want to fail her parents due to all their sacrifices. I internalize that as a combination of love, pain, and pressure because she wants to be the hero for her family. In addition, she would do anything for Kat, where she would make her own sacrifices so that her best friend can succeed.There is so much heart that when their friendship is put to a huge test, the pain is tenfold.
Since Netflix canceled Spinning Out and you had some time to reflect on it, what parting words would you like to say to your character?
The parting words I would say to Jenn are: “Thank you for showing a side of me that I need to let out more often, as well as how much I can be proud of. Stay foolish, stay fierce, stay f*cking fabulous, and thank you for some new wardrobe ideas.”
How did you prepare for your role as Jenn?
I had to go back to training because I haven’t skated in over 10 years, but it was super cool that I got to do my own stunts other than the jumps. In terms of her character, I do not think I had to dig very far because it is close to me. I am too familiar with the injuries, the pressure, and the heart/pain that surround Jenn’s storyline. I would say it was harder to not overthink it because it is so close. Jenn’s wild side was just a lot of fun to try out different things.
Thank you for showing a side of me that I need to let out more often, as well as how much I can be proud of. Stay foolish, stay fierce, stay f*cking fabulous, and thank you for some new wardrobe ideas.”
What did you learn about the industry that you can share with aspiring actors?
So far, and I believe this applies to any industry, which is, listen, be yourself, and be genuine in your actions. Learn from your mistakes, forgive yourself and others when you can.Actions speak louder than words, and some require more patience. Hard work won’t fail you, and lastly, forget everything I said because we can’t take ourselves too seriously.
What is your best memory from any set?
I can’t just choose one! Well, there were many fun and great memories on Spinning Out, but I will choose one from the first movie set I got to work on, It Chapter Two. I had a small role in it but was called in for a few days. It was my first big movie set, so I was glad to go in and not have to film the first two days because I was nervous just doing that! I ate way too many chips as I watched the stars, the director, and crew work their magic. I felt like a little kid again. On top of that was my first conversation with Isaiah Mustafa. I don’t know what ridiculous thing I said and probably asked way too many questions despite my efforts of being respectful and reading the room. But all I remember is him saying, “Nah, you are one of us.” It was just very cool. He is very cool.
What are some of your favorite movies or series?
I will name a few from the ones I grew up with because my current list is very long: The Professional, The Legend of 1900, Gia, Quills, La Grande Bellezza, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, How I Met Your Mother, and Friends.Who can forget the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings train? Also, anything that includes the martial arts, such as Memoirs of a Geisha, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kung Fu Hustle, Ip Man, all the Jackie Chan movies I have seen, and Kill Bill.
Learn from your mistakes, forgive yourself and others when you can. Actions speak louder than words, and some require more patience. Hard work won’t fail you, and lastly, forget everything I said because we can’t take ourselves too seriously.
Who are some artists that have influenced your craft and in what ways?
Firstly, the longest influential artist would be my grandmother because she was a triple threat, and I feel it is a passing of the spirit where I hope to continue her path. Angelina Jolie because she has this fierceness about her, yet an ability to portray such vulnerability within that strength that I gravitate towards. Meryl Streep because she adapts to any genre she works in. Johnny Depp because of his talent, and my heart beats very fast for his smoldering looks. More recently is Awkwafina for being a funny and great relatable inspiration for me, as a young Asian female artist. She works so damn hard and stays so humble.
What are some causes that are dear to your heart?
I am huge on anti-bullying. Being in limbo with my identity as a kid between Canadian or Chinese, I have been bullied as a kid for both identities. I am a huge believer that this behavior starts from ignorant judgment. What I mean by that is having a thought about someone, whether it is one thing they said or something they wore, or a custom they have due to culture, and not being open enough to try and understand. It’s one thing to have empathy and neutral feelings towards something and it’s another to hate on something just because. Having said this, I don’t want to change anyone. Everyone has different personalities and habits. The world can be hard and you gotta be tough. But I hope to give back to the community by continuing to help raise awareness about anti-bullying through my own experiences and add value to this conversation.
What do you hope to achieve through your art?
In addition to bringing honor to my grandmother’s name, I hope to continue to have the opportunity to tell different stories. The longest influential artist would be my grandmother because she was a triple threat, and I feel it is a passing of the spirit where I hope to continue her path. Firstly, it’s a lot of fun and one gets to experience different careers like a lawyer, doctor, cop, fictional characters, and etc. Secondly, this connects to my anti-bullying belief; we watch film and TV for entertainment but also, to relate and reflect. What other way to show empathy than to tell one’s story? Last but not least, I hope I can affect other young Asian artists. I know it sounds cliché, but it is the truth.