Katie Leung's journey to playing the role of Lady Araminta Gun in Netflix's Bridgerton series is one of self-discovery and growth. The British-Scottish actress, who rose to fame with her iconic portrayal of Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films, has spoken candidly about overcoming her insecurities and finding her place in a world dominated by white actresses.
"I look young for my age – as most people in the west think Asians do," Leung says, laughing. "But I felt really seen to finally get to play the role of a mother." This sentiment is reflective of Leung's experiences with playing various roles throughout her career, from Cho Chang to Yerin Ha's stepdaughter in Bridgerton.
Leung acknowledges that fame came suddenly and overwhelmed her at 16. She remembers being curious about what people were saying about her and Googling herself. "I didn't cope well," she admits. The harsh criticism on social media took a toll, making her more self-aware of what was coming out of her mouth.
However, with the support of her family and friends, Leung began to navigate these challenges and focus on developing her craft as an actress. She pursued higher education in drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, solidifying her passion for acting and her determination to succeed beyond the confines of one role or genre.
When reflecting on how far she's come, Leung points out that while progress has been slow, it is happening. There are more diverse roles available for actors like herself, particularly in period dramas. The inclusion of diverse casts behind and in front of the camera can be seen and felt, making her feel safe to play as an actor.
Leung's thoughts on this issue highlight the importance of representation and its impact on creators and audiences alike. "The more we have it, the less of a thing it becomes," she says. However, Bridgerton's "colour-conscious" casting has also been criticized, but Leung believes that shows like this one prove that diversity can be successful when done well.
As for her future projects, Leung is excited about an upcoming role in Scotland with a "kind of flexibility for me to play with it." She seems confident and at peace with her career, having learned from her past experiences. "I know who I am," she says. "I know what I can do."
The actress's candidness offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by actors from diverse backgrounds in an industry where representation is still evolving. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of self-awareness, hard work, and dedication to one's craft, ultimately leading to success and happiness.
"I look young for my age – as most people in the west think Asians do," Leung says, laughing. "But I felt really seen to finally get to play the role of a mother." This sentiment is reflective of Leung's experiences with playing various roles throughout her career, from Cho Chang to Yerin Ha's stepdaughter in Bridgerton.
Leung acknowledges that fame came suddenly and overwhelmed her at 16. She remembers being curious about what people were saying about her and Googling herself. "I didn't cope well," she admits. The harsh criticism on social media took a toll, making her more self-aware of what was coming out of her mouth.
However, with the support of her family and friends, Leung began to navigate these challenges and focus on developing her craft as an actress. She pursued higher education in drama at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, solidifying her passion for acting and her determination to succeed beyond the confines of one role or genre.
When reflecting on how far she's come, Leung points out that while progress has been slow, it is happening. There are more diverse roles available for actors like herself, particularly in period dramas. The inclusion of diverse casts behind and in front of the camera can be seen and felt, making her feel safe to play as an actor.
Leung's thoughts on this issue highlight the importance of representation and its impact on creators and audiences alike. "The more we have it, the less of a thing it becomes," she says. However, Bridgerton's "colour-conscious" casting has also been criticized, but Leung believes that shows like this one prove that diversity can be successful when done well.
As for her future projects, Leung is excited about an upcoming role in Scotland with a "kind of flexibility for me to play with it." She seems confident and at peace with her career, having learned from her past experiences. "I know who I am," she says. "I know what I can do."
The actress's candidness offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by actors from diverse backgrounds in an industry where representation is still evolving. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of self-awareness, hard work, and dedication to one's craft, ultimately leading to success and happiness.
? its actually increasing, but only at a slower pace than we'd like 
60% of Bridgerton's main cast is female, which is more than the average for period dramas 
. Katie Leung's role as Lady Araminta Gun shows us that diversity can be successful when done right 
. on the other hand, research says that Asian actors are still underrepresented in leading roles, especially in Hollywood 
85% of Asian-American actors have had to fight for more opportunities than their white counterparts 
. lets hope we see a shift soon! 
Katie Leung's journey is so inspiring! I mean, who wouldn't want to break free from societal expectations and find your own path in the industry? 
She's not afraid to speak her mind about the struggles she faced as a young Asian actress, and it's amazing how far she's come. It's like, we're finally starting to see more diverse roles being created, and I think that's super exciting for everyone! 
The fact that shows like Bridgerton are pushing boundaries and proving that diversity can be successful is just incredible. We need more of this kind of representation in the industry, and it's awesome to see Katie Leung paving the way for others like her. 
in her acting career 
. I love that she's being so open about her struggles & experiences, it helps us understand the importance of self-love & acceptance 
. Now, let's celebrate our diversity & support more shows like Bridgerton with inclusive casts 
!
. But it sounds like Katie's family and friends were super supportive, which is great 
.
. As a non-white person myself, I feel like its so refreshing to see more diverse casts behind and in front of the camera 
. It makes me feel seen and heard, you know? And I think Katie's right that progress might be slow, but its definitely happening 
.
. Its great to hear that she's excited about her next role and feels confident in her abilities 
.
. I mean, we're finally seeing more diverse roles on TV and film, but at the same time, there are still so many issues with representation that need to be addressed. Like, Katie Leung's experience is totally relatable - she was bombarded by criticism online when she first started out, and it took her a while to find her footing in the industry.
. But at the end of the day, it's all about giving people from different backgrounds a chance to shine and telling their stories. And if we can do that in a way that feels authentic and engaging to audiences, then I think we're onto something pretty cool 
But what I love about Katie Leung is that she didn't let all that negativity bring her down. Instead, she channeled those feelings into her acting career and pursued higher education to solidify her passion. And now, she's killing it in Bridgerton! 
. But it's awesome that she used those experiences as fuel to pursue her passion for acting and learn from her mistakes 
, but also how she's able to take those lessons and use them to grow as an artist 
. It's really refreshing to see someone so down-to-earth and honest about their journey 
.