Actor Simu Liu Opens Up About Feeling Marginalized in Hollywood

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Simu Liu, known for his role in Shang-Chi, is once again highlighting the issue of limited representation for Asian actors in Hollywood. He notes that while there’s often discussion about whether a Black actor could play a traditionally white role like James Bond, Asian actors rarely receive the same consideration or have that question even asked about them.

I was really struck by something Liu said about representation. He made a great point that while it’s vital to fight for all marginalized groups to be seen, it can feel incredibly lonely when your own community is consistently left out of the discussion. He put it perfectly: it’s like being a few steps down the ladder, cheering on everyone else while feeling unseen yourself. It’s a really honest and important perspective on how these conversations can sometimes unintentionally exclude people.

Liu explained that playing Alexander Hale was a special chance to portray a character whose cultural background was central to the story. He felt it was a unique opportunity, stating, “Because I knew I wouldn’t likely get to play a role like James Bond, getting to play Alexander Hale, where his culture is so deeply woven into who he is, feels like a real gift.”

He also explained that the character’s upbringing as a first-generation immigrant brings a new level of complexity, showing struggles that typical action heroes like James Bond and Ethan Hunt never have to deal with.

Liu shared his experience as an executive producer, explaining that he was involved from the very beginning and given the opportunity to contribute to the writing process. He said, “Being included so early on is a first for me… The creators were incredibly open and let me share my own ideas and really develop the characters.”

Liu stressed that he wanted to be a real contributor, not just someone with a fancy position. He explained, “I didn’t want my involvement to seem like just for show, but I also didn’t want to be invisible.”

Recently, Liu spoke out about the lack of Asian representation in Hollywood, expressing his frustration in a social media post. He stated that there’s been a significant decline in onscreen representation, and that studios seem hesitant to cast Asian actors, viewing them as a risk. He simply asked for more Asian faces in all kinds of roles.

He pointed to the success of films like Minari, The Farewell, Past Lives, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and Shang-Chi, all of which starred Asian actors. He argued that these films prove Asian actors can lead major projects, and that Hollywood’s past reluctance to cast them doesn’t make business sense.

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2025-12-24 10:14