Taiwanese-American actress, Constance Wu, is best known for her role as Jessica Huang in the television series by ABC, "Fresh Off the Boat." Given her success, many fans of the actress wonder just what it takes for people of Asian descent to succeed in the difficult entertainment industry of Hollywood. She has spoken regarding the topic on numerous occasions, but this time, she talks about accepting one's heritage in order to be successful in the U.S.
In a report by Student Life, Wu had attended the Student's Union's Trending Topics series at the Washington University, St. Louis, to talk about her own experiences as an Asian trying to make it in the entertainment business. Wu admitted that initially, she thought that because of her race, she would never get a lead role of any kind in any medium. However, this was not the case since she plays a major character in "Fresh Off the Boat."
Wu further stated that in Hollywood, most Asians would prefer stereotypical Asian roles, which is something they get asked to do most of the time. Wu said in her speech, "Before I could even sit down, the agent would look at me and say, 'I know what you are going to say. You don't want to play any Asian roles.' They heard that so many times from so many Asian actors." It is still possible that this kind of stigma is present in Hollywood today.
In the past, Wu would only be offered minor roles, and it was usually the white female protagonist's close friend, according to The Huffington Post. Despite the increased demand in diversity, Wu still encountered political correctness issues, and has attempted to raise awareness in differentiating Asians from Asian-Americans.
According to Allure, Wu has addressed similar inquiries regarding her race as well, talking about body image issues and stereotypes. Wu appeared to be completely comfortable in her own body, despite the fact that audiences associated beauty with bust size. Growing up, Wu was faced with the pressure of having to conform to the American standard of beauty, but it took her a while to accept what she has.
