Constance Wu hopes Asian representation becomes the norm

Actor Constance Wu hopes her series Fresh of the Boat, which is the first prime-time show featuring an Asian family, contributes in making the entertainment industry much more welcoming towards the stories and talent of people from across the globe. Created by Nahnatchka Khan, the show, fronted by Wu and Randall Park, depicts the life of a Taiwanese-American family in Florida in the 1990s. It is based on Eddie Huang’s autobiographical Fresh off the Boat: A Memoir.

Wu, who plays Jessica Huang in the comedy series, said she felt the team was creating something historical when she started working on the project.

“I hope the representation becomes the norm. When we first started, it felt like such a historical thing. We wanted to bring something new to the audience that they would appreciate,” she said in a statement. The 37-year-old who worked as a waiter before making her break, revealed that in the initial stage of her career, no lead roles were being written for artistes of Asian descent.

“Being an AsianAmerican, there was zero per cent of any leading roles. That was the moment where I had to decide whether getting a job was a measure of my self-worth or not,” Wu said, adding, “I hear people saying they are glad not being a waitress, but for me it is not a matter of shame. There’s nothing wrong being an actor and working as a waitress to pay the bills... All I have to say is the choices that we make for ourselves should suit our needs and comfort.”