Joan Chen, the acclaimed actor known for her roles in The Last Emperor and Twin Peaks, is experiencing a career resurgence with her poignant performance in the coming-of-age film Dìdi. Chen’s portrayal of Chungsing, a Taiwanese immigrant mother grappling with cultural differences and her son’s adolescence, has garnered significant Oscar buzz.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Chen shared her experience returning to the American spotlight after years of working predominantly in China. “Parts dried up for me a long time ago, and that’s why I went back to China to work,” Chen revealed. However, with the rise of Asian-American representation in Hollywood, she noticed a shift. “It’s to a point that we don’t have to be exotic—you could just be human and tell a great story,” she observed.
Read more: Review: ‘Dìdi (弟弟)’ – Sean Wang’s Intimate Portrait of Second-Generation Identity
Dìdi, directed by Sean Wang, tells a deeply humanized story about a Taiwanese-American family navigating cultural identity and intergenerational conflicts. Chen’s performance as the stoic yet caring mother resonated with her own experiences as an immigrant mother. “That part of the script really resonated with me very deeply,” she shared. “Being an immigrant mother myself, raising two American kids and the drama we experienced, so I understood.”
Critics have lauded Chen’s nuanced performance, recognizing her ability to convey the complexities of motherhood and cultural displacement. Some even speculate that she could be a contender for a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards.
While Chen acknowledges the Oscar buzz, she remains humble and focused on the work itself. “I’m so happy that Sean could tell a story that is so deeply humanized and it’s nothing exotic,” she remarked. “It’s just a kid that happens to be a Taiwanese-American kid… Other than that, it’s just a coming of age story with a mother-daughter, a mother-son relationship. So I think any race could relate to that.”
Read more: Dìdi (弟弟)’ Trailer: Get Ready For a Nostalgic Coming-of-Age Tale From Sundance Darling Sean Wang
With Dìdi making waves in the film industry, Chen’s career is experiencing a renaissance. She has recently completed filming a remake of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet and a Christmas comedy with Michelle Pfeiffer. Additionally, she is set to star in a French-language film about a Chinese woman who moves to Canada and falls in love with another woman.
Reflecting on her journey, Chen expressed her gratitude for the opportunities that have come her way. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “And I’m so happy that I’m still here.” With her talent, resilience, and the changing landscape of Hollywood, Joan Chen is poised for continued success and recognition in the years to come.
