Joan Chen, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in The Last Emperor and Twin Peaks, is experiencing a well-deserved career resurgence. She recently received a standing ovation at the Critics Choice Association Celebration of AAPI Cinema and Television, where she was honored with the career achievement award.
This recognition comes on the heels of her powerful performance in Sean Wang’s Didi, a coming-of-age film that Chen says “has brought me more recognition than I ever received for ‘The Last Emperor.'”
Read more: ‘Dìdi’: Joan Chen on the Changing Landscape of Hollywood and Her Oscar Buzz
Chen, along with other AAPI actors and filmmakers, spoke about the growing representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Hollywood.
“It took Hollywood quite a long time to come to the realization that diversity is our great unique strength and beauty,” Chen remarked. “The progress that we have made is worth celebrating.”
Dolly de Leon, who gained widespread recognition for her role in “Triangle of Sadness,” echoed Chen’s sentiments. “We’re breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes and redefining what it means to be seen on screen,” she said.
Comedian and actor Jimmy O. Yang, known for his roles in Silicon Valley, Crazy Rich Asians, and Interior Chinatown emphasized the importance of AAPI representation for younger generations.
Read more: ‘Interior Chinatown’: Hulu’s New Series Blurs Reality with Kung Fu and Mystery
“Hopefully, what we do here and what we’ve been doing, gives the younger generation something to say to their parents,” Yang explained. “When their parents tell them, ‘Hey, you don’t see nobody on TV like you,’ now they can say, ‘Hey, we’ve seen Dolly, we’ve seen Ronnie, we see me.'”
Chen’s journey has been one of perseverance and self-discovery. She moved from China to California at the age of 20, and despite early success with The Last Emperor, she found herself searching for her true calling.
“For so long, I wanted to see if I could have a real profession other than acting,” Chen admitted. “But looking back, I know this was my destiny.”
Chen is optimistic about the future of AAPI representation in Hollywood. With projects like Didi, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Interior Chinatown, she believes the industry is finally starting to embrace diverse storytelling.
“There is more visibility in social media, and in films and television,” Chen observed. “There’s a little more representation, a little more exposure. Meaningful parts for Asians in Hollywood were basically nonexistent when I first moved here. It’s much, much better now.”
