Roots & Inspiration
You’ve had a cross-cultural upbringing, from China to Michigan to Los Angeles. How has that journey shaped the way you approach storytelling as an actress?
This experience helped me truly understand that while environments and customs change, the core human emotions are universal. As an actress, I try to find that shared emotional truth within a character/story’s specific cultural context. In addition to that when I look at a role, not only is it about where the character is from, but also where they are trying to go. I feel uniquely equipped to tell that kind of journey of longing and discovery.
Do you remember a moment from your childhood, maybe those film-store visits with your father, that first sparked your love for cinema?
Certainly! Well to be exact, every time I went, there was a new spark. That’s why I kept going back. But I remember being mesmerized by two things, one being the deep conversations my dad would have with the store owner about different films. And also, the magic of the store itself. A screen showcasing new worlds, and this wonderful mix of people from all backgrounds, all connected by a shared search for a story that moved them. That was a great part of the foundation of my passion.
You’ve moved between public speaking, dance, theater, and acting on screen. How do those different disciplines feed into your performances today?
Well I think acting is such a well-rounded, all-consuming skill. Every part of you gets involved. So, all these skills gave me a little base training for the various parts of that whole.
For example, dance gave me an awareness of my own body. It’s not about looking graceful but about understanding how a slumped shoulder tells a different story than tense fists, or how the rhythm of a character’s walk can reveal their emotional state. Theater taught me to live the full performance in a responsive environment, screen acting taught me intimacy and trusting the stillness…Interesting thing is, public speaking weirdly helped with all of it. It made me comfortable with pressure, with being the focus of attention, and with knowing how to communicate an idea clearly and persuasively. But balancing these different aspects, to not get stuck in one mode of hyper awareness of one discipline is still something I’m working on.
Training & Craft
Your conservatory training in LA was heavy on stage work. How did that kind of theater immersion influence the way you carry yourself in front of the camera now?
It trained me to fully sustain a character and hold their emotional truth for a long time. In front of the camera, I just internalize that same full presence. The camera sees it all, so I don’t have to project out. Instead, I try to let it all simmer underneath.
Acting for you has been described as a “lifelong excavation of human identity.” What does that mean to you when you’re building a character?
I have always been interested in dissecting human nature as a person. I have been doing it in my daily life with people I encounter ever since I can remember. It is something that contributes to my real life relationships. In this context, it means diving as deep as possible. Not just thinking about what they need in a scene or their relationships with other characters but piecing a real human together, until it feels less like building a character and more like uncovering a person.
Feet Don’t Fail Me Now:
Let’s talk about your new project, Feet Don’t Fail Me Now. What drew you to the script, and what intrigued you about stepping into the role of Noe?
When I first read the script, I could visualize everything right in the moment, that was something that hadn’t been happening to me for a while at the time. Including the character Noe, I instantly had a very specific visualization of her. It was this immediate recognition of her stubbornness, her defiance, and that specific exhaustion and vulnerability that comes from fighting your own battles alone. I felt like I knew her.
Noe is a strong young woman who’s been banished for a serious crime. How did you prepare to embody her strength and her shadows?
To understand Noe, I had to really sit with what it means to be severed from your world and to have your identity stripped down to a single label. In her case a “traitor” or “criminal”. That feeling of being profoundly misunderstood, of carrying a weight that everyone can see but no one truly knows, was something I could relate to. I drew on moments in my own life where I felt isolated or judged and magnified those specific feelings.
The story is set in a world where sunlight burns away memories. Did that concept resonate with you in a deeper way as you worked on the film?
Yes, it did. It is a great metaphor, and it definitely turned the whole story from just a cool sci-fi concept to a deeply human experience. For Noe, forgetting about her identity equals death, or worse. In real life I think we often tie self-identity to self-worth. In my understanding the “sunlight” can be the big changes in life or time itself. Memories get washed away and your roles in life change when you get older. It is a great fear we probably all subconsciously have at different stages.
What was it like filming in the desert, both physically and emotionally — for such an otherworldly story?
I absolutely loved the fact that we were able to do that! It was so immersive, and I just thought it was beautiful. It triggered my physicality so much easier, and I didn’t have to imagine how dry my lips were haha! The openness of the space actually made every emotion feel more introspective to me. It was an experience I feel very lucky to have been part of.
You mentioned the final day of shooting when rain threatened a sunset scene. Can you describe what that golden moment felt like on set?
We were down to that last scene where Noe finally faces her fears and looks into the sun. Before that shot we were waiting or hoping that the rain would go away and it did right before the actual sunset. I remember standing on a small hill and just soaking it in. When we went back to shoot, I didn’t have to manufacture a thing, the awe and relief, it was just right there. It was also THE perfect view to wrap the day. I can still feel that exact feeling I had when I think back at it right now.
Process & Reflections:
Working on a film still in post-production, what excites you most about audiences eventually seeing it?
I hope people can see and feel a piece of their own resilience in her story. Or makes them think about what they’d hold onto if they might forget it all. But also really, just enjoy a fun and creative story!
Every project teaches an actor something new. What did Feet Don’t Fail Me Now teach you about yourself as an artist?
I developed more ways to make an imaginative story and character grounded and personal to me. Sometimes I get stuck on acting out the scale. But now whenever that happens, I know how to ask simpler questions to make a grand idea more intimate, therefore truthful.
Looking Ahead:
You’ve called yourself a devoted student of cinema and life’s quiet moments. How do you balance that curiosity with the discipline of craft?
For me, they fuel each other. Curiosity is what draws me to observe people, to wonder about their stories. But discipline is the technical work that allows me to shape those observations into something honest and intentional on screen. One without the other feels either unstructured or empty. Curiosity keeps the craft human, and the craft gives my curiosity a voice.
What kinds of roles or stories are you most excited to explore as you look ahead in your career?
I am drawn to roles who may seem ordinary on the surface but contain deep, complex inner worlds. But I would also love to explore roles that actively break expectations. Characters who don’t follow a prescribed path. Stories that challenge how we see humanity itself. If it makes people feel and rethink something we thought we knew, that’s a story I want to help tell.
Finally, if someone were to describe you not just as an actress, but as a storyteller, what would you hope they say?
I would hope they see me as a good listener. Someone who brings new perspectives while values honesty over being impressive in a performance. If my work can make even one person feel seen or understood, then I know I have done a decent job.
