(via Actress Lucy Liu Opens Up About Success, Paving The Way For Women And Inequality As A Minority

(via Actress Lucy Liu Opens Up About Success, Paving The Way For Women And Inequality As A Minority Woman) Lucy Liu, actress, director and humanitarian who has broken glass ceilings and changed the status quo for minorities in Hollywood, is standing up for equal rights and female empowerment through the Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker “First Women” campaign. Designed to highlight women who have accomplished firsts in their fields, the initiative underscores gender equality and celebrates barrier-breaking women. Liu, a trailblazer in her own right, joined nine other women including Halle Berry, Katie Couric, Elizabeth Banks and Rita Moreno in signing an open letter in support of the campaign. Liu—who was the first Asian-American woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a SAG Award, and was the first Asian-American woman to host Saturday Night Live—is a testament to female success and the transformational power one woman can carry.   “I’m honored to be a part of this campaign because not only does it give you perspective on where you’ve come from, and it gives you that moment to pause and look and really reflect back on your career and see what you’ve achieved, but it also recognizes and sort of opens up the door to say, that Johnnie Walker—which is a huge and very historic brand—is also branching out and understanding the change within their own community, which I think, that’s where it really starts,” Liu said. Despite progress in the film industry over the years, women and minorities are still underrepresented. As film leads, their representation stands at a low 32.9% and 19.8%, respectively. Liu is a key figure in challenging these disproportionate numbers in Hollywood and paving a historic path for women. She is a paradigm for women striving for an equal place at the table, and her dedication and success have helped open doors for other actors. As one of a few Asian-American women who has held roles in film and television, pushing past discrimination and scant opportunities to attain success was no overnight miracle for Liu. She held on to a few core principles that kept her motivated over the years—philosophies that she recommends for women looking to rise and flourish in any field. Refusing to give up“In the beginning it was difficult to even get representation because there were so few people out there that were interested in even having a request for an audition for someone who is Asian,” Liu said. “And since it was so limited, most agencies would just sort of say, well, I guess we’ll just freelance with you because we don’t know how often we can send you out.” But the roadblocks didn’t stop her. “For me, I knew there was a bigger picture, and I don’t know if I would accept no for an answer,” Liu said. “I’m very persistent and a very curious person. So, every chance I got, I would go in there and prove—yes, maybe this is not what you were looking for originally but there’s a different way to look at it,” she recalled. “No means yes as far as I’m concerned,” she said. “I think it also came from the fact that my parents were immigrants as well, and they had to sort of work through the language barrier as well as a lot of other racial injustice to really achieve the American dream. I think there’s an opportunity for everyone, but when I started, you had to fight for it.” Breaking stereotypesLiu considers her role as a main character in Charlie’s Angels in 2000 alongside Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz a turning point. Charlie’s Angels was always about three women and America she said. “That was the idea of Charlie’s Angels, and to put somebody in that role who is not Caucasian sort of imploded that stereotype, so that it was not something that was discussed—it was more something that was accepted,” Liu said. “And once something is recognized as normal, [the audience is] more willing to accept that there is more of that, and can be more of that.” Liu, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019, is changing the mold, helping tear down outdated ways and welcoming inclusivity. A teen romantic-comedy film decades ago may not have starred an Asian-American, but casting of Vietnamese-born actress Lana Condor in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before more accurately represents the diversity among female actors and Americans in general. Accepting other perspectives“You have to look at what you’re doing and how you’re doing it from every angle,” Liu said, before emphasizing the importance of understanding the views of others. “You might not agree with them but it’s there, and you know, if you’re trying to push through to the next level or you’re trying to accelerate your career or your life or your family in some way, sometimes you have to step out of it in order to look at what needs to be done to really shift it.” “When I was younger I was so myopic about how I looked at the world and I think that was a very specific way to be, and I think that in retrospect I would try to look at it from more than one angle, if I could go back in time,” she said. Taking part in community activism On opening more doors for women, Liu suggests the “first step is to recognize that women need to be more part of the conversation,” and that participation should extend into community activism of government. “There has to be more of a voice and participation in that sense, in order for things to really change,” she said. “We really have to protect our rights as women.” On the First Women campaign, Liu said, “It really sort of reminds you of these amazing women that you’re being included with and what they’ve achieved and what they’ve accomplished, and being included in that makes you realize, oh, I guess I’ve done something really special and that’s a great feeling.” -- source link
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