Simu Liu, the actor renowned for his role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, shares his insights on overcoming parental expectations and cultural pressures. He opens up about the fear of seeking approval and how confronting this fear can lead to personal growth. Liu emphasizes the importance of storytelling in healing familial relationships and discusses his journey from a corporate job to embracing his creative passions. With a mix of humor and depth, he encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and embrace their identities.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
The Tweet
Simu Liu tweeted in 2018 expressing interest in playing Shang-Chi.
Marvel never saw the tweet, highlighting that manifestation is for oneself.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Separation
Simu Liu was raised by his grandparents in China until age five.
He then moved to Canada to live with his parents, feeling like a stranger in a new family.
insights INSIGHT
Sacrifice vs. Needs
Simu Liu's parents, like many immigrants, prioritized financial stability above all else.
This often led to them overlooking their children's emotional needs.
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We Were Dreamers is a memoir by Simu Liu that chronicles his journey from being a Chinese immigrant to becoming a Hollywood actor. The book explores his early life in China, his family's move to Canada, and his struggles with cultural identity and career choices. It is a story about perseverance, family reconciliation, and achieving success in the entertainment industry.
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Jay Shetty sits down with Simu Liu to talk about his parent’s immigrant story and how he was able to pursue his passion despite everyone’s expectations from him. One thing that has killed a lot of dreams is fear. The fear of people not supporting us throughout the journey, the fear of being not good enough, the fear of not being able to become the person that you want to be is something that hinders a lot of people from achieving their goals in life. But what do you think would happen if you actually stop being afraid and start trying?
Simu Liu made history as the star of the first Asian-fronted movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which garnered him The People’s Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie Star. Simu also starred in the Award winning CBC/Netflix comedy series Kim’s Convenience, which won the ACTRA Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in 2017 and Best Comedy Series at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards. It was the first Canadian television series with an all-Asian lead cast, the series chronicles the day-to-day micro-dramas encountered by a Korean immigrant family that runs a corner grocery store. He wrote his very first book, We Are Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story, which tackles his struggles with parental expectations and stereotypes.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty 