Fresh Air Podcast Summary

Title: Actor Simu Liu On Diving In The Dark
Host: NPR's Anne Marie Boldonado
Release Date: March 6, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Fresh Air, host Anne Marie Boldonado engages in a thoughtful and in-depth conversation with actor Simu Liu. Known for his groundbreaking role as Shang Chi in Marvel's Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Liu also stars alongside Woody Harrelson in the intense action thriller Last Breath. Additionally, he gained widespread recognition for his role in the beloved sitcom Kim's Convenience and his appearance in the film Barbie. Liu shares insights into his diverse career, personal life, and the challenges he has navigated as an Asian Canadian in Hollywood.

Career Highlights and Roles

Simu Liu's Breakthrough and Diverse Roles

Simu Liu discusses his journey from his first major break in the CBC Netflix comedy Kim's Convenience to his breakout role as Shang Chi, Marvel's first Asian superhero. He emphasizes the physical demands of his roles, such as the gripping fight sequences in Shang Chi and the dance performances in Barbie. Liu's latest project, Last Breath, portrays the harrowing experiences of deep-sea divers, a role that pushed him into new physical and emotional territories.

Notable Quote:
“At a time where there's increasingly easy ways to use AI and VFX to create comfortable and less authentic performances, it was refreshing for us to immerse ourselves fully into such challenging roles.” [07:04]

Insights into Last Breath

Liu dives deep into his role in Last Breath, explaining the intricacies of portraying a saturation diver—a highly dangerous and physically demanding profession. He details the unique living conditions of divers, who reside in pressurized tubes aboard ships for extended periods, enduring extreme isolation and harsh environments.

Notable Quote:
“Saturation diving is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. It’s a very blue-collar job, extremely dark with minimal visibility, requiring divers to work in pressurized environments similar to astronauts in space.” [02:43]

He shares his preparation process, which included extensive scuba training and adapting to the specialized equipment used by divers. The intensity of filming in such environments mirrored the real-life challenges faced by saturation divers, adding authenticity to his performance.

Experiences in Barbie and Live Performances

Liu reflects on his participation in Barbie, particularly his experience performing the song "I'm Just Ken" at the Oscars. He recounts the rigorous rehearsals and last-minute changes to the choreography, highlighting the pressure of performing live on such a high-profile stage.

Notable Quote:
“I did a tape, met up with Greta, and discussed my dance background. Greta’s obsession with dance and spectacle was a perfect match for what she envisioned for the Kens in the movie.” [13:08]

His dedication to the performance paid off, culminating in what he praises as one of the greatest Oscar performances, crediting Ryan Gosling for his outstanding delivery.

Sample Scene:
The conversation includes a playful reenactment of a Barbie scene where Liu’s character challenges another Ken, showcasing his comedic timing and improvisational skills.
“I'll beat you off with you any day, Ken.” [12:32]

Personal Life and Memoir

Simu Liu opens up about his memoir, We Were An Immigrant Superhero: An Origin Story, detailing his family's immigration to Canada and the cultural challenges he faced growing up. He discusses the strained relationship with his parents, who had high expectations for him to succeed in traditional fields like engineering and medicine, contrasting with his own passions for sports and performing arts.

Notable Quote:
“When you have parents who weren’t necessarily present in your formative years, there’s bound to be a little bit of distance. Growing up, I was essentially adopted by my biological parents, which created a unique dynamic.” [21:56]

Liu recounts his early life in Harbin, China, living with his grandparents before moving to Canada at age five. He describes the hardships of adjusting to a new country, learning English, and navigating his parents' rigid expectations, which ultimately led to conflicts during his teenage years.

Breaking into Acting

Transitioning from a short-lived accounting career, Liu shares his unconventional path into acting. After being fired from his accounting job for skipping work to be an extra on a Guillermo del Toro film, Liu realized his true passion lay in performing. He describes the challenges of entering a small market like Toronto's acting scene, his initial roles, and the dedication required to hone his craft through acting classes and auditions.

Notable Quote:
“I was completely utterly miserable as an accountant. Skipping work to be an extra was the end of that career, but it was the beginning of discovering my true passion for acting.” [27:38]

His persistence paid off with his casting in Kim's Convenience, which not only provided him with steady work but also helped bridge the gap between him and his parents as they began to understand and support his career choice.

Stock Photo Modeling Experience

Liu reflects humorously on his stint as a stock photo model, a detour in his early career that he describes as exploitative but necessary to sustain his acting ambitions. He explains how his stock photos have endured beyond his tenure as an accountant, appearing in various corporate settings and textbooks.

Notable Quote:
“When you’re a stock photo model, you basically sign away your rights to the images in perpetuity. I probably made the company hundreds of thousands of dollars while I saw none of the returns.” [32:19]

Reflections on Shang Chi

Discussing Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Liu highlights the significance of portraying Marvel's first Asian superhero. He talks about the representation milestone and how the film resonates with his personal experiences of cultural identity and parental expectations. Liu praises director Destin Daniel Cretton for creating a universally relatable story that transcends cultural boundaries while maintaining authenticity.

Notable Quote:
“It was incredible that Destin was able to tell a story about a flawed but ultimately human character who is running away from who he is and his parents, eventually choosing to embrace his identity on his own terms.” [38:12]

He also recounts how Liu initially engaged with Marvel by advocating for Asian representation on social media, which eventually led to his casting as Shang Chi.

Impact of Kim's Convenience on Personal Life

Liu shares how Kim's Convenience mirrored his own familial struggles, providing a cathartic experience that facilitated reconciliation with his parents. By portraying the character Jung and his strained relationship with his father, Liu found a medium to understand and heal his own family dynamics.

Notable Quote:
“Playing Jiang and acting out his dynamic with his amma and Appa helped me make a lot of sense of what my parents are going through and brought us closer together.” [41:14]

Conclusion

Simu Liu's journey from a struggling accountant to a celebrated actor underscores themes of resilience, cultural identity, and the pursuit of passion against societal expectations. His roles in Kim's Convenience, Shang Chi, Barbie, and Last Breath showcase his versatility and commitment to authentic storytelling. Through his memoir and candid discussions, Liu not only entertains but also inspires, offering a nuanced perspective on the immigrant experience and the universal quest for self-acceptance.

Final Quote:
“Being able to immerse ourselves fully into such challenging roles was refreshing and allowed us to connect deeply with our characters and stories.” [07:04]

Notable Quotes Compilation

• “Saturation diving is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. It’s a very blue-collar job, extremely dark with minimal visibility, requiring divers to work in pressurized environments similar to astronauts in space.” [02:43]

• “I was completely utterly miserable as an accountant. Skipping work to be an extra was the end of that career, but it was the beginning of discovering my true passion for acting.” [27:38]

• “Playing Jiang and acting out his dynamic with his amma and Appa helped me make a lot of sense of what my parents are going through and brought us closer together.” [41:14]

• “When you’re a stock photo model, you basically sign away your rights to the images in perpetuity. I probably made the company hundreds of thousands of dollars while I saw none of the returns.” [32:19]

• “Being able to immerse ourselves fully into such challenging roles was refreshing and allowed us to connect deeply with our characters and stories.” [07:04]

Final Thoughts

Simu Liu's story is a testament to the power of following one's passion and the impact of representation in media. His experiences highlight the importance of authentic storytelling and the profound effects it can have both personally and culturally. Listeners are sure to find his insights both compelling and inspiring, offering a deeper understanding of the man behind some of today’s most influential characters.