Diversity in film and TV has been a hot topic in recent years, and while the big wigs of Hollywood have made an effort to ditch racial stereotypes and ensure equal representation on-screen, discrimination is still commonplace – and it’s something actress Brenda Song is familiar with.
In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Song revealed that she was denied an audition for the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians because of her image.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but I never got to read for Crazy Rich Asians, ever,” she said. “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?”
Sadly, Crazy Rich Asians isn’t the first time Brenda Song has felt trapped in her acting career. In an interview with W Magazine, Song revealed that she was almost barred from appearing in the 2010 drama The Social Network because of a love scene with co-star Andrew Garfield.
“Disney originally didn’t let me do it because of the bathroom scene,” she said, referring to a scene in wish she hooks up with Garfield (playing Eduardo Saverin) in a bathroom stall. “At the time – and no shade or anything – there was a lot of controversy with other young Disney stars.”
Song explained to Disney, “this is an opportunity that I don’t think will ever come around again,” and ultimately, they allowed her to take the part. “The Social Network was not only career-changing, but life changing,” she said.
While Disney had reservations about Brenda Song’s role in The Social Network, she acknowledges the network’s support during the early days of her career. “I’m so grateful that they truly were colourblind casting at that time and giving this little Asian American girl a chance in Hollywood,” she said.
“I didn’t get a lot of auditions. It wasn’t until I got into the Disney family that they were so very open. So I feel really proud of that because for me, growing up I didn’t see a lot of girls who looked like me on TV and it was a little disheartening because I was like, ‘I’m not Jackie Chan. I’m not Jet Li. How am I going to do this?”
Well, Brenda Song did it – she went on to appear in countless TV shows and movies, and now with over 25 years of experience under her belt is currently starring in the Hulu series Dollface. Crazy Rich Asians doesn’t know what it’s missing out on.