(Photo courtesy of Getty Images & Shelter PR)
Constance Wu is new to the whole Hollywood thing.
But, if you've ever seen her in her role as Jessica Huang, on ABC's new critically acclaimed comedy Fresh Off the Boat, you might be surprised that the professional before your eyes is actually starring in only her first network television series.
Yet, most of the press that I've read on her always focuses not on her extraordinary talent, but instead on more click-bait related topics, such as her comments or opinions on controversial topics. (She's not shy about sharing them)
And if I'm honest, that annoys me.
In the span of two short seasons, Constance has put on a breakout performance that has been nothing short of outstanding, and has brought to life one of the most unique and hilarious character's anywhere on television. Shattering a potential stereotype, Wu has humanized her character Jessica in a way that presents one of the few, truly powerful women on screen, a strong-minded and even more strongly opinionated matriarch and immigrant.
There's little argument to be that Constance Wu does not deserve to be nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy at this year's upcoming Emmy's. It's self-evident really, and were talent evaluated objectively by critics and voter's, Constance would easily stand among the leaders in the field. But this is reality, and as we know, what should be often isn't. So to the community who has brought #starringjoncho and #starringconstancewu the viral attention it deserves, how about we add #CrownConstance to the list.
But, regardless.
Last Monday I was lucky enough to sit with her for an hour during her visit to New York. However, given the wonderfully efficient and modern subway system of the city, I happened to run quite a few minutes late. So, sprinting to the hotel, I tried to compose myself, wipe my sweat, and prepare the best apology I could for making her wait. And as I entered the restaurant, filled the shirt and tie, perfume and heels, I couldn't help but feel that maybe today might have not been the best day for jeans and a Mets hat. But, as I found Constance sitting at the table waiting, I couldn't help but feel utterly grateful for how nice she was about my lateness, and secondly, for dressing casually alongside me (a relief she shared).
We ordered coffees (hence the title!) and what followed was a wide-ranging discussion, but which focused on we whether there is anyone to blame for the lack of diversity in Hollywood (she says blame isn't the word we should use), to the effect of linguistics on the perception of race, to her dream role (hint, she's a theater geek), to taking on thousands of debt and pursuing a career with no guarantees of success and an almost statistical guarantee of failure. Yet she succeeded.
So now, instead of hearing me write about her, here is Constance in her own words:
Who's to blame for Hollywood's diversity problem?
"It's interesting, because of the way you phrased the question. Who's to blame? Is it the writers, directors, producers, or the executives. I think that race and especially when it comes to unconscious bias is such a sticky and difficult to talk about topic that when it comes to the element of blame, I think that's where our problem is. When you start blaming individuals and immediately people's defensiveness comes up and they start using very lazy and unsophisticated reasons for why they do that because they feel they are being attacked, like they are being blamed."
I think in my strange idea of the world, what would help would be if we took the conversation away from blame and we opened it up to a conversation about awareness of the structure's that have caused us to think this way today."
Importance of Awareness:
"Awareness doesn't change racism per se. But it does change unconscious bias by making the unconscious, conscious. Right? Awareness might not help conscious awareness but it does help to address unconscious bias which I believe is a significant issue."
Audition Pressure on Minorities
"A lot of the arguments I get in private are that we didn't find any who were good. Now, I have a very specific argument for that, which is that, let's say I said to you, hey you have a job interview tomorrow that'll change your life, you're going to be a little nervous, right?
What if I said to you you have a job that'll change your life interview tomorrow but you'll have one every day for the next five years. You'll have opportunity to do that, you're going to be a little less nervous.And to be a good actor, pretty much requires you to be relaxed, and not nervous so that you can see the character instead of a jittery actor. So Asian actors get so few opportunities to practice their craft in a charged setting as an audition or a screen test that the white actor who gets to do these million-dollar job interview every day of his life is going t be more relaxed and do better.
You can stick the most talented and amazing Asian actor into an audition room and if he knows this is the only chance he's going to get for 3 years, it's going to be pretty hard to not be nervous. Practicing in these circumstances are important.I honestly don't think I would have gotten Fresh Off the Boat if I had thought when I auditioned I had any chance. And that freed me, so that when I tested, I was like there's no way to get this, and I was so relaxed, and I was able to give a really good performance. So, to those executives who say they can't find talent, that is again the systemic issues that keep Asians and minorities down."
Speaking out and speaking your mind
"I think it'll take a long time but I don't think you help matters by being silent and obedient. Especially when you're privileged enough, as I have been, to be in a situation where you know, I've a bit of job security, and I don't really mind saying the things that are meaningful for me, because I don't care about the money or fame. So if I have this platform, I'm going to try and use it for good and talk about issues that are important to me, not because I want to become some kind of advocate or beacon, I'm not really all that political, but it's important and if someone is going to ask me about it, I'm not going to politely deflect.
I'll be honest."
Committing to Meaning without Guarantees
"There was graduation then there was theater then there was linguistics then there was going back to acting and then it was moving to Los Angeles. And then it was really being down in the dumps because LA is hard on a woman. I had this moment where I was like, gosh, I'm smart enough and capable to get a job and get a good income and not be struggling so much, and I was like, do I really want to do this?
There's a possibility I could still be waiting tables when I'm 45. And I really thought hard about it and for me it was actually okay. If I'm still waiting tables at 45 and still generating meaning from within by doing great work, regardless of whether I book the job, I actually I need less stuff, when I'm creating my own meaning and I need less money.
And that was a turning point. Because then when I was in auditions and doing my performances they weren't so results driven. It wasn't like I need to get this job or these accolades to have some sense of self-worth, because I had decided I was going to decide my own worth because these people are judging me for being an actress or even being a waitress.
And nothing's guaranteed right?So I had to ask myself, what brings you meaning, and what's worthwhile."
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
Constance has been a wonder to view, making the most of her platform, and providing week in and week out some of the best comedy on television. I'm hopeful that this year's award voters will finally take into account that unbiased judgment I mentioned earlier, because even in the face of obstacles, Constance has never been too worried.So to the Emmy voters, and Golden Globe voters, with no qualifications, Constance is without competition the strongest break out actress on any show this past year. Be it ratings, performance, network, or even importance to a show, it's all a bit obvious.
Yet she doesn't seem to pay it much mind.
As she said, she's simply happy having the opportunity to create meaningful work and to be lucky enough to make a living from it.
And as we say our goodbyes, I can't help but think how refreshing it is to meet someone so genuinely sincere in the industry, and how I can't help but respect her attitude towards the accolades.
But then I thought, more importantly, now how do I get #CrownConstance viral?