Quotes from Fala Chen

During my first summer in college, I travelled to California for the first time for a beauty pageant. It was solely for monetary reasons because winners were to get scholarships.

I didn't react well toward paparazzi. I just was really protective of myself and constantly hiding myself.

You're just constantly outputting, and giving all you know so you don't have time to look inside of yourself and to really reflect. The four years at drama school really gave me that time and space.

Can you imagine, just talking and chatting with Tony Leung? I got to ask all my fan girl questions.

We just need more complex, important roles that tell our experiences as an immigrant; as someone with an accent, but also American; but also someone who's second or third-generation American, born and raised here who actually don't speak any language other than English.

Like most kids born in China back in the 1980s, I didn't have any siblings. I spent my childhood in Chengdu and had the privilege of being both a boy and a girl.

If you are with people you truly love, then the simplest meal can feel so romantic.

I was about nine or 10 when my dad moved to the U.S. to get another degree. Me and my mother moved to Atlanta to join him when I was 14.

As actors, if the director doesn't cut, then you just keep going.

After college, I joined TVB in Hong Kong as an 'artist.'

In the future, I hope to do as many types of roles as possible.

I don 't know what the future holds, but what I know is that as long as I can enjoy life, anywhere is my stage.

It was a dream come true to work alongside an all-Asian cast, telling a beautiful and powerful story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I wasn't feeling challenged. I needed to walk away and unlearn and relearn everything.

I really believe in fate and that everything happens for a reason. There's always a plan. Even things that happen to you that feel like an obstacle or a disaster in the moment will pave the way for your next step.

America has taken small baby steps of progress towards having more inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. It's optimistic.

No family is perfect. We all have our differences, misunderstandings, and ups and downs.

When I was a teenager in Georgia I always felt like the odd one. I never felt like I fit in.

It actually takes me a few years before I can watch my own shows, and even then, it's still hard. I'll be like, 'Oh my god, that actor was so good with me in that scene, why didn't I see that and interact with him better?'

My dad and I would go to Blockbuster and look for Asian films and we could never find any. If we saw a Jackie Chan movie we would watch that because it was so comforting to see a face similar to ours.

Tai Chi is not super masculine. It's not super pushing and strong, but it's has so much power in its movements. It's so smooth and it's so subtle.

When I worked in Asia for a long time, I just felt like I needed a break.

Somehow, I feel even more lost when I work with experienced veteran stars. It makes me wonder what is the meaning of my job. Am I here to pursue my personal satisfaction, or to entertain people?

I'm incredibly close to my family and I think family is such an important thing, in Asian culture especially.