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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 2023)
A.C.E. January 2, 2023 THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 9 Breakthrough Entertainer: Stephanie Hsu, now everywhere EVERYWHERE ACTOR. Stephanie Hsu poses for a portrait in New York. Hsu began her acting career on Broadway. She was born in Califor- nia and moved to New York to study at New York University, graduating in 2012. (Photo by Christopher Smith/Invision/AP) By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press EW YORK — Dressed as Elvis and nonchalantly walking a pig on a leash, Stephanie Hsu made a memorable big screen impression in 2022. Hsu actually had two roles in Everything Everywhere All at Once, playing both a sullen teen and an intergalactic supervillain for a film that can best be called a fantastical science fiction comedy-drama. With Michelle Yeoh joining Hsu as her onscreen mother, the indie film has garnered critical acclaim, hit over $100 million in global ticket sales, and has sparked Oscar buzz. “The movie is so special because we could not have possibly expected this to have happened and so we were really able to just throw paint at the wall,” Hsu said. “It came from a very raw place with zero expectations, only trying to tell the story as deeply and honestly as we can.” Hsu’s performance — combining deep hurt with a real skill with nunchucks while rocking sequin-lined eyes — has made her one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of the Year alongside Joaquina Kalukango, Sadie Sink, Iman Vellani, and others. “I have been working for a really long time and I guess that’s what a breakout is: You chip away and then all of a sudden, there’s one thing that everyone is like, ‘That’s the thing that put you on the map.’” Hsu was a Broadway veteran with a few TV credits when she worked with the writing and directing duo of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for an episode of “Nora From Queens.” Working with Kwan and Scheinert — know as The N Daniels — was a revelation for Hsu and when they contacted her about Everything Everywhere All at Once she never hesitated. “We’re like artistic soulmates in so many ways,” she said. “When I read the script, in so many ways, it actually made a lot of sense to me weirdly enough. I don’t know what that says about me.” The film begins with Yeoh as a struggling laundromat owner who is being audited by the IRS and has a strained relationship with her daughter. The story gets surreal when she discovers she has to connect with parallel universes to prevent cataclysmic destruction, also involving her daughter. It’s also a family drama, with Iman Vellani — in marvellous form richness in the complex love between relations. “This movie, in so many ways, embodies what I love to do as an artist. So it feels like the most honest handshake I could make with Hollywood,” she said. “I think art at its very best offers some help in processing or helping us move through a very confusing world and offer some healing. And that is ultimately the type of work that I want to make.” Hsu began her acting career on Broadway, where she played Karen the Computer in SpongeBob the Musical, and Christine Canigula in Be More Chill. She was born in California and moved to New York to study at New York University, graduating in 2012. She showed off her work ethic by combining a punishing eight-show-a-week Broadway schedule with filming “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on Mondays, her only day off. “The discipline that forced me into, I think, really prepared me for everything that has happened since. And I feel really grateful that I was given the opportunity to work that hard,” she said. Hsu will next be seen in Rian Johnson’s Peacock anthology series “Poker Face,” alongside Natasha Lyonne and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. She’ll also star opposite Ashley Park in JFC, a raunchy, R-rated comedy directed by Adele Lim. “What I’m excited to do next, honestly, is to develop more of my own work,” she said. “In order to make this career sustainable and joyful is to be able to dig in and not always just fill shoes for someone else.” Simone Ashley finds her voice By Alicia Rancilio By Alicia Rancilio The Associated Press The Associated Press ETROIT — With countless auditions, constant rejection, and a calendar that’s often in flux, acting professionally can be anxiety- inducing. Once success comes, there can then be added pressure to keep the momentum going, book more jobs, be seen in the right places, and strike while the iron is hot. Iman Vellani, who had her big break earlier in 2022 as the star of “Ms. Marvel” on Disney+, and will next appear in The Marvels movie alongside Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris, is pacing herself and not concerned with the Hollywood rat race. “I am taking a bit of a break right now,” said the actor over Zoom. “The Marvels’ was extremely stressful on my body, physically and mentally, and it was a lot. I was away from home for like two years and I was only 17 when I left. I am spending time with my family right now and living the nice, calm Ontario life.” Vellani’s maturity, enthusiasm, and acting skills have led to her becoming one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2022, alongside stars including Sadie Sink, Simone Ashley, Daryl McCormack, and fellow Marvel standout Tenoch Huerta. Now 20, Vellani could attribute some of her Zen perspective to wise words from Samuel L. Jackson while filming The Marvels. “I remember when Sam Jackson was on set, I had this whole laundry list of questions for him. And I was asking him like, ‘What are the best characteristics of an actor?’ And he was like, ‘Patience.’ I was like, ‘Yes, Sam, you’re right, patience.’ After that, I never complained, ever. If anything took longer than 5 minutes or 10 minutes or coming to set and not even working, you know, it’s all part of the job. You have to understand, there’s so many moving parts.” While she wants to continue with showbiz beyond Marvel, Vellani remains open to possibilities and has two criteria: “I just want to meet cool people and do cool things.” “I have so much to learn ... I feel Marvel Studios compared to the rest of Hollywood is such a different world. I want to ETROIT — Simone Ashley was busy working and travelling when “Bridgerton” debuted on Netflix in December 2020 and was an immediate smash with viewers. The Shonda Rhimes- produced series about the romantic pursuits of a large family in Regency-era London wasn’t on Ashley’s radar. So, when the audition for season two came about, she didn’t quite grasp what a big opportunity lay before her. “It kind of came at a time of my life where I was living between Los Angeles and London and all of my stuff was in the states,” recalled Ashley. “I was just on the road the whole time.” In hindsight, it worked to Ashley’s benefit that she wasn’t fully aware of what a high-profile project “Bridgerton” would be, so it didn’t overwhelm or distract her during the audition process. “A lot of the time when you audition for something, there is a bit of pressure and you can’t help but feel emotionally invested and get your hopes up and all of those things that every actor goes through. This one all happened in like 10 days, and I just didn’t really understand what was happening,” she said. Ashley got the role of Kate Sharma, a fiercely independent, sharp, protective older sister who wins the heart of Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey. It’s Ashley’s charisma, charm, and grace that make her one of The Associated Press’ breakthrough entertainers of 2022 alongside Iman Vellani, Stephanie Hsu, and others. Although she was already a working actor when she got the job and best-known for the Netflix series “Sex Education,” Ashley realizes filming season two of “Bridgerton” was a “once in a lifetime” experience she can never duplicate. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to approach a project with that kind of obliviousness, because there will always be a slight expectation and pressure now.” A big part of the magic of that experience was her chemistry with Bailey, whom she calls Johnny. “Among all the chaos and the craziness, as soon as we were in front of the cameras and they were rolling, it was just better. We didn’t have to warm up to anything,” D D BIG BREAK. Iman Vellani poses for a portrait in Dana Point, California. Vellani, who had her big break earlier in 2022 as the star of “Ms. Marvel” on Dis- ney+, and will next appear in The Marvels movie alongside Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris, is pacing herself and not concerned with the Hollywood rat race. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) experience what’s out there. I’m in a very lucky position where I’m able to do that, and I’ve built so many incredible connections at this point. So yeah, I don’t know where life is going to take me, but I’m excited and obviously I will work for Marvel until the day I die. I’m loyal.” She’s not kidding about being a Marvel fan. Vellani read the comics and watched the films before the opportunity to act in “Ms. Marvel” was even on her radar. Because of her own fandom, she’s especially encouraging and open to those who recognize her and want to chat. “I’ve lost my anonymity now. I don’t really mind,” said Vellani. “Yes, it’s annoying to kind of lose the ability to have a first impression, but it means so much when people tell me how much the show meant to them. I’ve had so many great conversations with people. I just like to picture them watching the show.” Vellani says she had “a two-year countdown” to prepare her for fame. “I got cast during the pandemic. How rare is that, that someone actually gets to mentally prepare for two years to know how their life is going to change? Because I’ve seen it happen to like the Tom Hollands and the Chris Hemsworths of the world, I kind of knew what to expect.” AMBITIOUS ACTOR. Simone Ashley poses for a portrait in New York. Success has incentivized Ashley to keep working to meet the variety of opportu- nities that are now possible. (Photo by Drew Gurian/ Invision/AP) she said, adding they had a kind of “tunnel vision” while working together. The reach of “Bridgerton” is worldwide and Ashley has been recognized in some surprising places at times when she did not expect it. “I was in the middle of nowhere in Switzerland, literally in the middle of nowhere, and I was going swimming and some girls recognized me there,” she said. “Everyone that does approach me, the majority are women of color and they are just so lovely. People are just always so supportive to see someone like me representing in the industry, which I think is really important.” She’s also intent to enjoy the ride and “just have fun with it. It’s a very fun industry that we’re in. It’s a lot of hard work, but, you know, it’s the entertain- ment industry.” Some memorable experiences from this past year include attending her first Met Gala, where she was dressed by Jeremy Scott and met Maggie Rogers, one of her favorite musicians. She went to the Grand Prix in Monaco. Then there was the time at the BAFTAs when she was approached by education and human rights activist Malala Yousafzai. “I met Malala during the BAFTAs. She came up to me and she was like, ‘Oh my god, ‘Sex Education.’ My name is Malala.’ And I was like, ‘Babe, I know who you are.’ So that was really exciting because she’s Malala, you know? It was very humbling to introduce herself to me.” Success has only incentivized Ashley to keep working to meet the variety of oppor- Continued on page 17