KARA WANG'S HOLLYWOOD REVOLUTION: ON BREAKING NORMS AND FINDING JOY
BY IRVIN RIVERA
PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA, FASHION STYLIST: MERSI KASEMI, MAKE-UP ARTIST: ANNY KIM, HAIRSTYLIST: JUNIE
In this interview, actress KARA WANG revealed that during the actors' strike, she delved into her passion for winemaking, earning a sommelier certification and exploring California's wine regions. Discussing her latest project, "From Embers," Wang shared the honor of portraying Lily, a widowed mother, and emphasized the importance of portraying parenting a child with autism authentically.
Wang's career, including her groundbreaking role in "Good Trouble," reflects her commitment to authentic storytelling and representation. Joyfully representing the Asian American communitY, she encourages emerging talents to persevere in the evolving industry. Reflecting on her journey, Wang acknowledges the defining moment of moving to China at 19 and how it shaped her fearless approach to her career. As she discussed her role in "The Calm Beyond," where she was number one on the call sheet for the first time, Wang emphasized the responsibility of setting a positive tone on set. In "From Embers," she navigated the challenges of portraying a character dealing with revelations and the impact of secrets on her character's journey, showcasing the emotional depth she brings to her performances. Finally, Wang shared her deep connection to performance arts from her early experiences in show choir, dance, and theater, highlighting the influence of live applause and reactions from a live audience on her fulfilling approach to acting.
Hi Kara, how are you? Aside from your projects, what’s been keeping you busy nowadays?
Hi!! I’m doing well!! As you know, the actors just came off an almost four-month strike! Have been using the down time to focus on one of my other passions- wine! Been traveling around California to places like Napa and Paso Robles to further my wine education. I got my sommelier certification a couple of years ago when I realized I had started developing a deep passion for winemaking. Plus, it’s a pretty cool thing to add on to the resume under hobbies.
In your latest project, "From Embers," explores themes of grief, loss, and resilience. How did you approach portraying Lily's journey as a recently widowed mother, and what aspects of her character resonated with you personally?
It was such an honor and privilege to tell this story, and I am so grateful that Kate trusted me to bring this character to life. I think that these particular themes have unfortunately been at the forefront of many people’s lives in the past couple of years, and I hope that the message of resilience and hope is something that the audience takes away from the film. While I have not personally experienced the loss of a partner, I have experienced loss and death in my life in other ways. I really tried to approach Lily’s journey with as much humanity as possible. One can be both empathetic and selfish at the same time, and it was a challenge to convey complex and sometimes competing emotions given Lily’s circumstances.
In "From Embers," your character’s relationship with her autistic son takes a central focus. How did you prepare for this role, and what challenges did you face in capturing the complexities of a mother-son dynamic amid grief and secrets?
The experience of being a parent to a child with autism was something I really wanted to make sure was handled with care. Before shooting started, I watched countless hours of interviews with parents who have autistic children. It was important to me to hear about their day to day lives, their struggles, but also their joys. I watched many videos with therapists and teachers who specialize in children with special needs, and their insight was invaluable when it came to understanding how these children think. Something to note is that the autism spectrum is very wide, and so not everyone who is diagnosed with autism is going to be the same. In the case of Lily’s son Kevin, who falls into the category of ASD level 1 (sometimes known as high functioning autism), is a child who has mild symptoms.
Talk about the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming? How did you manage to rise above the challenges?
I was so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible cast and crew! As with all indie filmmaking, things can be a bit hectic since there are usually strict boundaries with time and budget. One of the locations we shot at for a majority of the film was this small bungalow that had no AC. Because we were shooting during the heat wave and there was no air circulation whatsoever, it was definitely a challenge to focus while sweat was just pouring down my back and my face. But the team really came together and was so supportive. All in all, it was a great experience.
You've mentioned the influence of working in Asia during the boom of the film market. How did those years shape you as an actress, and what aspects of that experience do you carry into your current projects?
I think back so fondly to my years in Asia, and I am so grateful that I got to have the experience and opportunity of working abroad. Those years were tough in many ways, establishing myself in a new market and working very long hours, but it really honed me into the actor I am today. It helped me build grit and strengthened my ability to adapt quickly. It also made me appreciate the structure and process of filmmaking in the States, which I will never take for granted.
Let’s talk about "Good Trouble." The show has been groundbreaking in its portrayal of love between two Asian women. How has your experience playing Sumi Liu on the show influenced your perspective on representation in the entertainment industry?
Playing Sumi on Good Trouble has truly been one of the greatest joys of my life!! Being able to represent the Asian American community has been a true privilege. I think that we have seen a major shift of Asian representation in media in the past couple of years, but we still have so much more work to do. Authentic storytelling and multi-faceted characters such as Sumi show that no longer are we confined to the model minority myth, but that we are complex, messy, and human!
Sumi Liu is a free-wheeling medical student. How did you approach bringing her character to life, and what do you enjoy most about playing her?
Sumi is a full-time dental hygienist! It always makes me laugh because although we mention it several times throughout the seasons and you always see Sumi heading to work from the Coterie in her scrubs, her job does seem to pale in comparison to her other characteristics and personality traits! She has amazing style and an incredible shoe collection, which our amazing costume designer Deena Appel always hooks Sumi up with. Sumi is joyful, sometimes aloof, but always has Alice’s back. I have really enjoyed what our incredible writers and showrunner Joanna Johnson have done with Sumi’s character arc. From season 1 to season 5, they’ve given me the opportunity to dig into some deep issues such as Stop Asian Hate while still keeping Sumi’s effervescent spirit alive and well.
You've described your relationship with Sherry Cola as being like sisters in real life. How has this real-life bond impacted your on-screen chemistry, and how do you think it contributes to the authenticity of the show?
It is truly the biggest blessing that I get to go to set, doing what I love, with one of my favorite people in the world. I met Sherry back in 2018 during the table read of Season 1 Episode 2. We clicked immediately and have been close friends ever since. I think that our real-life bond is what makes our on-screen dynamic and chemistry undeniable. There is a true feeling of safety there, and I know she has my back no matter what. In scenes with lots of dialogue or when we are tackling serious subject matter, there is nothing more important than having a scene partner you trust.
Your advocacy for authentic storytelling is commendable. How do you ensure that the characters you portray break away from two-dimensional stereotypes, and why is this important to you?
When I was growing up, I never got to see anyone who looked like me on tv or the big screen. “Representation matters” has become this hot button phrase that is used over and over again, but it’s importance cannot be stressed enough. It is pivotal for the younger generations in our community to be able to see themselves as the hero of our stories. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunities that I have had to portray these multi-dimensional characters, where being Asian is only one part of the character’s identity, not the only part. I hope I continue to have the opportunity to tackle even more complex characters and exploring their humanity.
Your journey as an actress has seen various successes. Looking back, is there a specific moment that stands out as particularly impactful or defining for your career?
I think a defining moment for me was when I decided to accept a global talent deal and move to China at age 19. I often think back on that time to remind myself how fearless I was. As we get older, sometimes it’s harder to make the bold choices or the scary jumps. But I always think back on that time in my life where I jumped off the cliff with no idea if the parachute was going to open or if there was even a parachute to begin with. And I am so grateful that I did.
You've used your platform to discuss the evolving landscape for Asian creatives in the industry. When did you start noticing a shift, and what advice would you give to emerging Asian creatives looking to make their mark?
When I went to Asia in 2010, it seemed that there were barely any speaking roles for Asian Americans let alone series regulars or leads in films. When I returned to LA in 2015, there was already a major difference. However, I would say the most notable shift that I noticed was after ‘Crazy Rich Asians” came out. The success of that film catapulted so many other films and television shows, and for the first time, it really felt like we were being given true opportunities to tell our stories. Now, we have movies like “Joy Ride” and shows like “Beef” that are breaking so many boundaries, and we are HERE FOR IT. For emerging Asian creatives, I would just say- keep going. As a community, we are stronger than ever. Keep pushing and we will all rise together!
Being number one on the call sheet for the first time in "The Calm Beyond," what did you learn about yourself as an actress, and how do you plan to carry that newfound confidence into future roles?
Playing Asha in “The Calm Beyond” was a true honor that the director Joshua Wong entrusted me with. My first time being number one, that experience taught me how to set the tone for a set. I loved having the responsibility of having people feel seen and heard, and most importantly, appreciated for their work. Enough cannot be said about how the mood of a set trickles down from the top. I would like to think that I did my best with handling tough situations with grace and that everyone felt respected for their craft and their time. This is something I hope to carry with me on every set I am on, no matter how high on the call sheet I am.
In "From Embers," How did you navigate portraying a character dealing with such revelations, and what impact do these secrets have on your character’s journey?
Lily goes through several revelations throughout the film, all the while raising her special needs child. The most important thing for me when portraying this character was the authentic relationship and dynamic she had with her son, played by Alexander Lee. He was such a great kid, which made navigating this character quite easy. The maternal instincts to protect and shield came naturally when it came to the scenes and dialogue. The secrets that are revealed throughout the plot made Lily’s journey quite the rollercoaster, but that isn’t too far from real life as well! We adapt with the changes.
As an actress with a background in show choir, dance, and theater, how do these early experiences continue to influence your approach to your craft, and what aspects of performance do you find most fulfilling?
Show choir and theater basically encompassed my entire childhood all the way through college. Performing was always something I loved to do, and I think that being able to do it from such a young age really cemented my dedication and drive to succeed in this industry. I went to college for theater, and that’s an aspect that I really miss since I’ve been doing mostly film and television in the past couple years. There is something insanely fulfilling and addicting about live applause and reactions from a live audience.
What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?
One of the most important things my high school drama teacher said: “If you’re 10 minutes early you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.” I still hold to this rule to this day.
If you were a book, what book would you be and why?
It would be a book in the vein of Court of Thorns and Roses, Fourth Wing, and Throne of Glass. Basically, a sexy fantasy filled with dragons and magic and faeries. Why? Mostly because these are my favorite books to read. These are some of my favorite series because of the incredible world-building and imagination that takes place. They’re also filled with adventure, deep emotional journeys, and finding your place in the world. I’d like to think my life would be similarly thrilling, with nothing being impossible.
