In life, we are all more than one thing, but for some reason in movies, you're either this or that. It reduces the complexity of a human being in so many ways. Hong Chau More Quotes by Hong Chau More Quotes From Hong Chau I love public transportation! Who wants to sit in a car and be angry at other drivers for eight hours? I'd rather sit on a bus or train and read a book. Hong Chau angry car love book We are surrounded by people with accents because America is a nation of immigrants. Beyond that, the people who made your iPhone and the shirt on your back are probably Asians, and we're really not that disconnected from each other; we have very intimate relationships with the world, whether or not we realize it. Hong Chau iphone nation people world I grew up speaking Vietnamese - that was my first language because my parents didn't speak any English, and I didn't learn English until I started school. Hong Chau parents language speak school I like to be very simple in my lifestyle. My only extravagance is... I buy lots of toys and meats for my dog. Hong Chau lifestyle toys simple dog The first time I went to Chicago was on a family road trip. We had our dog with us, and when we hit Chicago, I couldn't believe how many people kept coming up to us, telling us how handsome our dog was! He's a Rottweiler-Australian Shepherd mix, and he is a good-looking dog, but obviously Chicago is very dog-friendly. Hong Chau family dog time people My parents are Vietnamese refugees; they left Vietnam after the war. They were part of the boat people, and they ended up in a refugee camp in Thailand after being on the water for three days, and I was born at that refugee camp in Thailand. Hong Chau parents water war people I fell into acting because I was really shy, and so at night after work, I took public speaking and improv classes, and I started going to auditions sort of as a dare. That was my version of 'Fear Factor.' Hong Chau shy fear work night My first job out of college was at PBS as an administrative assistant. I thought I would be on the production side of things. Hong Chau job thought things college Giving people the opportunity to sit in a dark theater together and have emotions in public, whether they're laughing or crying - that's what makes me happy. Hong Chau me together opportunity people I love films that aren't just speaking to certain moments in the culture but are something that people can revisit. Hong Chau moments love culture people Public libraries were a huge source of comfort and joy for me when I was growing up. I still spend time there. Hong Chau me growing-up time joy I'm really into ghost towns. I've driven cross-country the past few summers, and I would stop at some ghost towns along the way. They're like a microcosm of America as a whole. Hong Chau stop america way past If anyone has to leave their homeland by boat, they all have difficult stories. But my parents had a difficult journey, and their story always seems like a movie to me. Hong Chau parents me boat journey I don't want anyone to think I took this role in 'Downsizing' because it was the only role available to me. I'm not a passive participant in it. Hong Chau only think me want I did a regional car commercial and an internet potato chip commercial. I was seriously thinking I needed to quit and get a serious job where I can feed myself and it doesn't kill my soul. Hong Chau myself car soul thinking That's what I want to continue to do: really odd films, with interesting filmmakers. Hong Chau really continue want interesting For a good part of my childhood, we were super poor and lived in government housing. I don't characterize the American dream as being successful and having a lot of material wealth to show for it. I did fine without it for a really long time. Hong Chau good childhood time long I think that a lot of actors of color have said that it's a wonderful thing to play a role that doesn't have a race and that is kind of open to any sort of interpretation. I completely understand that, but at the same time, I just want Asian characters that are well-written. Hong Chau understand think color time I don't want to put on any gimmicky layers just to give the character more definition. I just want to play good characters. It doesn't matter to me if it's 'open ethnicity' or 'specifically Asian.' Hong Chau good me matter character I grew up around Vietnamese refugees, around people who don't speak English as a first language. Hong Chau english language speak people