Brenda Song Was Told She Was 'Not Asian Enough' To Audition For 'Crazy Rich Asians'
She Really Wanted A Role
While promoting her new Hulu show Dollface, actress Brenda Song opened up about missing out on a role that she really wanted. Song explained that when she heard that a book she loved -- Crazy Rich Asians -- was getting made into a feature film, she desperately wanted to audition. She told Teen Vogue,
"A lot of people don’t know this, but I never got to read for Crazy Rich Asians, ever. Their reasoning behind that, what they said was that my image was basically not Asian enough, in not so many words. It broke my heart. I said, ‘This character is in her late to mid-20s, an Asian American, and I can’t even audition for it? I’ve auditioned for Caucasian roles my entire career, but this specific role, you’re not going to let me do it? You’re going to fault me for having worked my whole life?’ I was like, ‘Where do I fit?’"
She's Grateful For Her Work
Song, who ishalf-Thai, half-Hmong, admitted that she was heartbroken to be shut out of even auditioning, but that she values the work that she's done in the industry.
"I got myself together and said, ‘Brenda, there is only one you, and you can’t change who you are. You can’t change your past.’ I am so grateful for every job that I’ve done. All I can do is continue to put good auditions out there, do the best that I can — that’s all I can ask for."
Disney Channel Was Ahead Of The Curve
Song, who became famous by starring in the Disney Channel show The Suite Life Of Zach And Cody, shared how Disney Channel was shockingly progressive in its casting process, something that we take for granted now.
"I don’t think people realize how ahead of the curve Disney Channel was. They were colorblind casting way before anybody else. They were giving me TV movies since I was 15 that people would never even think about. They were just telling stories and wanting kids to be able to see themselves on TV at a young age."
Her New Show 'Dollface'
Despite her Crazy Rich Asians setback, Song admits that she loves where she landed, starring in Dollface.
"To be just a part of that conversation, I was just happy with that. It’s way past the time that this should have been happening. I was like, even though London Tipton lived over 15 years ago, we’re fine with it.
It’s taken me almost 10 years from Disney to really feel like I found a niche for myself. At 31 I finally feel like I know what my strengths are, and I’m trying to steer into that. The thing is, people are like, ‘Well, we know you from comedy, so you have to do something to change everyone’s minds.’ I was like, ‘Why? This is what I love to do.’"
