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Gemma Chan has discussed racial diversity in the film industry during a stunning shoot for September’s edition of Vogue.
The actress, 38, – who is taking on a lead role as Sersi in Eternals, this autumn’s Marvel blockbuster, – said that it’s only a ‘recent thing’ that Asian females have been able to be the protagonists of stories.
She looked stunning in the accompanying shoot as she posed in a floor-length gold sequined gown on a boat on the river Thames.
Beauty: Gemma Chan has discussed racial diversity in the film industry during a stunning shoot for September’s Vogue
In a second look she dressed equally as glamorously in a silver dress with statement leather straps while fixing the camera with a stare.
Speaking about the film industry she said progress was being made but only at a slow pace.
She told Vogue: ‘It’s only a fairly recent thing that Asian females have been able to be the protagonists of stories.
Stunning: In a second look she dressed equally as glamorously in a silver dress with statement leather straps while fixing the camera with a stare
‘Individual successes are one thing. But structurally, when you look at who can actually get projects green-lit in the UK, who are in those positions of power, those gatekeeping positions – there aren’t that many Asians. There aren’t many people of colour in those positions.’
On standing side by side with others on social causes she went on to explain: ‘If only black people care about Black Lives Matter then nothing’s gonna change.
‘And if only Asians are talking about Stop Asian Hate, nothing is going to change. And it’s only when we stick up for one another, and we stand side by side, that things will shift.’
Although she still feels like an ‘accidental activist’, speaking up was one of the few things she felt she had to do.
Star: The actress, 38, – who is taking on a lead role as Sersi in Eternals (pictured), this autumn’s Marvel blockbuster, – said that it’s only a ‘recent thing’ that Asian females have been able to be the protagonists of stories
She said: ‘Actually, we kind of have a duty to, in a way that our parents perhaps weren’t able to as first-generation immigrants.’
During the interview Gemma also spoke about her upcoming lead role as Sersi in Eternals which is directed by Oscar-winning Chloé Zhao.
‘First of all, I never expected to be back in the MCU,’ said Gemma, who played the Kree sniper Minn-Erva in 2019’s Captain Marvel.
‘So that was a surprise. And then to be working with an East Asian female director – I would never have dreamt of that, even just a few years ago.’
Having her say: On standing side by side with others on social causes she went on to explain: ‘If only black people care about Black Lives Matter then nothing’s gonna change’
‘Sersi is not your typical superhero: she’s not necessarily the best fighter, she doesn’t have the most obviously impressive powers. The main thing is she’s an empath,’ Chan says. ‘She has a connection with humans, and with the world and the earth. That is her strength, so I leant into that.’
Gemma’s long-time friend Richard Madden plays Ikaris, another superpowered immortal in Eternals.
She said: ‘Between us– ‘[Sersi] and Ikaris are kind of immortal soulmates. That was a fun thing to play. Over a span of a thousand years, how do you play a normal relationship? The good thing is, Richard and I have known each other for over 10 years.’
Big moment: During the interview Gemma also spoke about her upcoming lead role as Sersi in Eternals which is directed by Oscar-winning Chloé Zhao
She also spoke about how trying to bring her parents round to her choice of career was a process.
She said: ‘There’s a way that you can honour the spirit of your ancestors by actually trying to do something different, which I know is a privilege.
‘This is the argument I tried to put to my parents back then, when things were tough, hopefully, you work to make sure the next generation has even more of a chance to do something different and change things for the better for the rest of the community, or the next generation after that.’
The September issue of British Vogue is available via digital download as well as on newsstands from tomorrow, 6th August.
Journey: Gemma also spoke about how trying to bring her parents round to her choice of career was a process (pictured in 2020)
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