17 Questions: Rosalie Chiang Discusses “Turning Red,” Breaking Into the Industry, and Her Hopes for the Future
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Rosalie Chiang was just 12 years old when she stepped up to the mic to lend her voice to Disney/Pixar’s latest film, Turning Red. As she was tapped for the scratch recording — the preliminary audio that’s used as reference for the final take of a film — the now 16-year-old never fully anticipated booking the permanent part. She proved to be the perfect fit, and on her final day in the recording booth (so she thought), Rosalie discovered that she officially landed the role of Meilin Lee in Pixar’s first Asian-led feature film.
Directed by Domee Shi, Turning Red tells the story of Meilin, or Mei, a supremely confident Toronto teen, prepared and willing to take on any and all challenges that threaten to break her stride. Her besties and fellow 4*Townies — the official fan name for the hottest boy band of the era — uplift her zany, larger-than-life spirit. Mei is unstoppable, and yet remains a dutiful daughter to her protective mother — that is, until she wakes up one morning as a giant red panda, an ancient ancestral trait that’s brought on by strong emotion.
The coming-of-age film, which has received critical acclaim, dives into the emotional maze that is puberty and champions Asian representation on-screen. Throughout the film’s production process, Rosalie grew and connected with her outspoken character. Mei’s antics and experiences provided a roadmap for Rosalie, who was going through the trials and tribulations of adolescence in her own life.
Here, Rosalie catches up with Seventeen to talk all things Turning Red, the best advice she received from Domee Shi and costar Sandra Oh, and the K-pop groups she listens to on repeat.
17: What was your favorite memory from working on Turning Red?
Rosalie Chiang: Two memories pop up in my mind. The first one was the moment I booked [the role of Meilin Lee], which happened at the end of my recording session. Domee Shi, the director, brought in this documentary camera and said, "Oh, we're shooting this behind-the-scenes thing." At the last second, she gave me a one-page script and I'm like, "Why didn't you give me time to prepare?!" But she said, "Oh, don't worry about it." The script comes to a long monologue, which basically says at the end, "We love your voice. Will you please be Mei?" It was a moment I was anticipating yet not anticipating, because I told myself that there's a chance I'm not going to book it, and that's OK. But when it did actually happen, that moment I was dreaming about, the stars aligned and I froze. I didn't know what to say because I was so in shock.
My second [favorite memory] was on my 16th birthday, which landed on the day of my last recording session. Cupcakes were brought out and everyone sang happy birthday. It was a nice ending to this long journey.
17: What was the hardest part about working on Turning Red?
RC: Mei is such an interesting and complex character. She's this competent, 13-year-old girl who doesn't care what anyone thinks. She sort of has no filter. I think the hardest thing for me to film was when she catcalls Devon in the convenience store ["Awooga!"]. It wasn't even the original line — I think the original line was, "I love you, Devon!" or something like that. Then Domee was like, "Hey, we have this alternate line just in case." I didn't even think that it was going to make it to the final cut but then I'm watching the movie, it gets to that scene, and I'm like, oh gosh, they kept it. Then a few months later I unboxed this Turning Red stuffed animal and when you press its belly, it says that line and I'm like, oh gosh, this too.
17: What scene from Turning Red resonated with you the most?
RC: When Mei finds young Ming in the bamboo forest, and Ming starts breaking down about how she's trying her best. It's something that I resonated a lot with, especially since I'm an actor. It's such a risky business and so unpredictable and everyone in my family is making so many sacrifices and I feel like if I don't succeed, I'm going to disappoint them and waste their time. I feel like so many people resonated with the fact that we love our parents and we don't want to disappoint them, but at the same time, it can be consuming.
17: How does it feel to be in Pixar's first Asian-led film?
RC: It's an honor and it's surreal. I feel like it hasn't really hit me that I'm the first Asian lead because I'm already grappling with the fact that I'm leading a Pixar movie in the first place. To break this barrier feels very validating because it's not just, oh, we took a random character and made her Asian. The fact that Mei is Asian plays a lot into the movie because there's so much Asian culture in it, specifically Chinese culture. I hope people watch this movie and see it as a door to another culture and family life.
17: Did you draw on any of your life experiences to portray Mei?
RC: Definitely, especially since I was around Mei's age for half the time I was recording. Mei was sort of my guide to puberty and coming of age, in that, her relationship with her mother was changing, and my relationship with my mother was changing. There were times that I felt like a freak, or felt awkward and weird. I never related to coming-of-age stories at all when I watched them — I felt like they had this airbrushed, filtered feel to them, where they weren't showing all of the imperfections. But this movie does a great job at doing so. It's the first coming-of-age film that I truly resonated with.
17: How are you and Mei alike and how are you different?
RC: We're both very stubborn. When we believe in something, we won't back down without a fight. We put a hundred percent into everything we do. I think I'm different from Mei in that she likes being perfect, and she likes pleasing her mom. I'm more of a rebel. In the movie, Mei lies to her mom about going to the party. But if I was in that situation, I wouldn't lie. I would tell her, "No Mom, I'm going to that party whether you like it or not."
17: Turning Red explores some of the very awkward moments that can happen during puberty. What advice would you give to young people going through that period of life right now?
RC: Don't worry and calm down. Puberty is such a taboo topic in society, so those going through it feel like there's something wrong and that it's weird. But I just want to tell everyone, don’t worry. It's OK. You're not weird. You're not different. You're not a freak because every single person has gone through it.
17: You filmed Turning Red between the ages of 12 and 16. What was it like to film over such a long period of time, and especially, in the middle of a pandemic?
RC: It was such an interesting experience. The fact that I got to go through Mei's development as a character is very rare. Usually, once all the lines are solid, they cast the people. But since I was able to be involved with the project so early on, I was able to understand Mei, and Domee was able to give me so much insight and direction because Turning Red is almost like Domee's autobiography — plus the giant red panda. I went on that journey with her, figuring out and trying to understand who Mei is.
17: Mei realizes that by thinking of her friends, she can calm her red panda. Who are some of the calming influences in your life?
RC: My friends can definitely calm me and hype me up at the same time. I have my squad back at home, who I've known nearly my entire life, and the fact that we've stayed close is so cool. There was a period of time when I had to leave for about five years but when I came back, we fell into the same pattern and it was as though I never left.
17: What's the best advice you've received about working in this industry?
RC: The best advice I received from Domee is to not worry and not be embarrassed. Domee is just a cool person. Mei does so many silly and embarrassing things, but knowing that Domee sort of went through that, I was like, you know what? It's OK. Rosalie, just do it. Don't be embarrassed. So, I was able to go all out and that's why Mei is such an expressive and cool character.
The best advice I got from Sandra Oh was to be kind to yourself. I think she knows that me, and other teenagers out there, can be super critical of ourselves and beat ourselves up over the tiniest thing. But Sandra said, just take a moment and be nice to yourself.
17: Would you be open to doing more voice acting in the future?
RC: Oh, absolutely. I was with my voiceover coach for around a year before I booked the scratch recording for this role. I was working with a random voiceover coach my mom found on the internet. But then as I truly got into [voice-acting] and learned more and more, it sparked such a passion in me. But I think now I'm more open to voiceover than anything.
17: Can you tell us about any exciting projects coming up?
RC: Ooh. I can't say now. But I do have a few things coming up.
17: Aside from acting, what are you most looking forward to in the future?
RC: I'm just looking forward to the unpredictability. I would like to go to college when I'm 18; I'd love to experience college life. But at the same time, who knows, maybe acting will take off even more and I'll do that. I'm just ready for the ride.
17: 4*Town is iconic in Turning Red. Who is your favorite music group?
RC: Anything K-pop, honestly. Seventeen, BTS, Exo, NCT, Blackpink, Twice, Red Velvet, Dreamcatcher, STAYC. There are so many, I can go on and on forever.
17: We have to know. What’s your favorite 4*Town song?
RC: It's got to be "Nobody Like U." I believe that was one of the first songs they gave me to listen to. My dad didn't intentionally listen to it a bunch of times, but as I started blasting it through the house he was like, “I can't stop thinking about that song.”
17: Favorite movie of all time?
RC: "Perfect Blue" by Satoshi Kon.
17: Any fun facts that fans might not know about you?
RC: I collect rocks. I don't know why, but I've been really obsessed with agates and other gemstones and just rocks in general. Like if there's a store that sells random rocks, I drag my family there.
Turning Red is now available on Digital and on Blu-ray May 3. Stream it here on Disney+.
Parts of this interview have been edited and condensed for clarity.
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