‘Making A Scene’ Reveals Constance Wu’s Make-or-Break Life Moments
Jan. 8, 2023
I’ve been a huge fan of Constance Wu ever since “Fresh Off the Boat” hit the airwaves. The series was the first TV show to feature an Asian-American family in 20 years, so it’s a no-brainer why it got so much media attention.
The show’s popularity gave its actors a big spotlight, and Wu was one of them. With her platform, she took the opportunity to speak out about what was important to her as a feminist and activist, and I admired her immediately for it. Not only was she the total opposite of the stereotypical Asian (read: soft-spoken and submissive), but I related to her so much as an Asian-American/Canadian.
When Wu was then cast in “Crazy Rich Asians” and I saw the film in theatres for the first time, I cried. I just couldn’t believe how much I connected with her portrayal of Rachel Chu – just a regular Asian-American woman dealing with typical relationship and family drama. Honestly, Chrissy Teigen said it best when she referenced the film and said, “You never know how much you miss being represented on screen until you actually see what it’s like to be represented.”
Throughout her career I have always found Wu to be incredibly relatable, and the stories in her memoir did not disappoint. Making a Scene reveals how Wu was always self-assured and outspoken, even as a young girl. The stories of her relationships – familial, romantic, or otherwise – are raw and vulnerable and manage to be both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
But her memoir isn’t just about growing up as an Asian-American. Wu also revealed that she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and how it took her some time to understand its impact on her. She also gave insight into the abuse she experienced while working on “Fresh Off the Boat” and the mental health struggles she faced after receiving backlash for tweeting her disappointment over the show’s sixth season renewal.
What Making a Scene does really well is that it unintentionally drives home the point that you never really know what’s going on in someone else’s life. Although I was saddened to hear about the reality of Wu’s experience on the set of “Fresh Off the Boat,” it certainly brought more awareness to the dark side of the TV/film industry that prevails even today.
💥𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑: Making a Scene is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming stories about Wu’s experience as an Asian-American trying to break into Hollywood. It’s a relatable read but be warned that it covers topics of rape, sexual harassment, and suicide. 5/5
Read more about Making a Scene by Constance Wu:
