#56. Elly He, My Gift to America
The American film industry has had a long-standing grudge against Asians. Whether it’s due to outdated stereotypes or personal bias, it’s clear that Asian actors are not warmly welcomed. However, this unfriendliness is exactly what makes Lucy Liu stand out. Lucy Liu’s breakthrough into Hollywood completely changed the game for Asian actors. Before, Asians actors were given two options: play into your stereotype or erase your true ethnic identity. But with Lucy Liu’s role as a strong Asian woman, a role never seen before, she revolutionized the role of Asians in the film industry. She changed people’s perspectives and shifted the film industry’s focus onto more diverse, less stereotypical Asian roles and cliches. Lucy Liu’s influence goes beyond just Hollywood, reshaping society’s biased expectations of Asians and opening the door for more varied Asian representation.