DeepSummary
In this episode, actor Simu Liu discusses his journey from being an immigrant in Canada to becoming the first Asian-American Marvel superhero in 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.' He talks about keeping his acting aspirations a secret from his parents, who wanted him to pursue a more traditional career in math or science. Liu also shares how his audition process for 'Shang-Chi' involved performing scenes from 'Good Will Hunting,' a film he deeply connects with.
Liu reflects on the lack of Asian representation in Hollywood when he was growing up and the pressure he now feels as a visible figure in the industry. He expresses his desire to authentically portray the Asian-American experience and hold the door open for more diverse storytelling. The episode also touches on Liu's love for food and his involvement in a soup dumpling company.
Throughout the conversation, Liu and Ferguson discuss the challenges of navigating different cultural expectations and finding one's true passion. Liu's memoir, 'We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Origin Story,' serves as a backdrop for many of the topics explored, including his family's immigration story and his own journey to self-acceptance.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Simu Liu navigated the clash between his acting dreams and his immigrant parents' traditional expectations for a career in math or science.
- Liu's audition for 'Shang-Chi' involved performing scenes from 'Good Will Hunting,' a film he deeply connected with.
- As the first Asian-American Marvel superhero, Liu feels pressure to authentically represent the Asian-American experience but also a desire to hold the door open for more diverse storytelling.
- Liu's memoir, 'We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Origin Story,' explores his family's immigration journey and his own path to self-acceptance.
- Liu found emotional catharsis in acting roles that allowed him to explore the generational and cultural tensions within his family dynamic.
- Despite his Hollywood success, Liu's parents' immigrant background and working-class mentality remain deeply ingrained.
- Liu's love for food and his involvement in a soup dumpling company reflect his desire to share and celebrate his culture.
- The episode highlights the challenges of navigating different cultural expectations and finding one's true passion.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “When my parents found out that I was, like, really serious about the acting thing, they took out life insurance policies on themselves because they were like, yeah, we just, like, really need to make sure our son is okay.“ by Simu Liu
- “I remember this very. I was talking to Alison about this just the other day, was when my parents came down. My parents are eternally immigrants. Eternally. Like, they will. You will never be able to take the, like, working class, blue collar kind of chinese immigrant out of them.“ by Simu Liu
- “Yeah, I mean, it's. It's. It's the type of pain that you feel when you're, like, having a cry, and it feels, you know, it feels good. It feels good for you because I knew I was watching my dynamic, like, my parents and my dynamic play out in real time in front of me.“ by Simu Liu
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Episode Information
Dinner's on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Sony Music Entertainment
3/12/24