Inclusion. Representation. Diversity. Agency. Equality. On-Screen And Off-Screen, Constance Wu, Ava Uvernay, And Jessica Chastain Are Shaping The Future Of Hollywood.
On set for the fifth season of her ABC sitcom, Fresh Off the Boat, Constance Wu is pondering Shakespeare. She’s trying to decide if she should do a play on her hiatus, and “Shakespeare in the Park has been my dream since I was, like, 16.”
The 37-year-old actress started in theater, building her career onstage in New York. “I never did comedies. It’s funny, people only know you by the first project that made you big, like Fresh Off the Boat or Crazy Rich Asians.” Wu calls the latter hit romantic comedy a huge highlight of her life, in no small part because it silenced generations of naysayers who’d insisted a film starring an Asian cast couldn’t succeed at that scale.
“Diversity isn’t just ‘Let’s have people of color supporting this white person’s story,’ ” Wu says, adding it’s a distinction she finds herself explaining repeatedly in Hollywood. During a meeting with a prominent studio executive a few years ago, “this guy started to school me, like, ‘I think it’s great that you’re speaking up about diversity, but it’s just the reality of the numbers, what movies people go see, blah, blah, blah.’ And I just looked at him and said, ‘I think you’re dumb.’”
This story is from the April 2019 edition of Marie Claire - US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2019 edition of Marie Claire - US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
“THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF BECOMING A MEDIOCRE CRAFTER"
In her new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, author Amanda Montell explores the state of the modern mind. This exclusive excerpt examines why we're obsessed with things that are handmade.
Field of Dreams
While agriculture has historically been a male-dominated industry, a new crop of farmers is working to make the community more diverse, inclusive, and cool.
On Pointe
As a dancer with the New York City Ballet, India Bradley knows a good performance-and that the outfit plays a role.
MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT
In today's murky fashion landscape of discourse and 'cores, to be a revolutionary is to tune out the chatter and focus on your skill. Here, a vanguard group of designers who prioritize their artistry above all else.
CAMERA, KIRSTEN
After a two-year hiatus, the actress is back where she wants to be: the big screen.
Whiskey Business
Fawn Weaver, the founder of Uncle Nearest spirits, is doing more than just raising a glass—she’s raising awareness.
The 700-Mile Journey to Get an Abortion
As states continue to enact harmful legislation that restricts access to reproductive healthcare, a network of pilots is flying people across the country to get services they need. Marie Claire reports from the air.
INSIDE THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF THE WIZ
The famed show is back on Broadway, and with it, a dazzling new group of creatives. Before the curtains go up, writer Amber Ruffin gathers the cast to discuss the magic of making the musical.
RAISING THE BAR
Despite endless body wash options, the art of luxury soap making hasn't slipped away. Many beauty brands are leaning into the centuries-old product, while elevating it with unique scents and ingredients.
What Really Happened to Jessica Savitch?
In the 40 years since her death, the pioneering newscaster has become an Icarus-like parable, a woman who was punished for her outsize ambition. She was one of the most powerful names in news, until one disastrous broadcast tarnished her golden image. In an exclusive report, her friends and family speak out about what everyone got wrong about her life.
