Fresh Air Lucy Liu
42 snips
Dec 18, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Lucy Liu, renowned actor and director, shares insights from her new film, Rosemead, which touches on the struggles of immigrant families. She reveals her journey of relearning Mandarin to authentically portray a mother facing her son's mental health challenges. Liu reflects on cultural stigma surrounding mental health and the complex choices parents must navigate. Additionally, she opens up about her own childhood experiences, early audition adventures, and the thrill of hearing her name in pop culture, highlighting the importance of representation.
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Representation Gap In Family Illness Stories
- Lucy Liu says immigrant families' struggles with cancer and mental health are rarely represented in our cultural lexicon.
- She wanted Rosemead to humanize a mother and spark conversation across communities.
Language As Isolation And Vulnerability
- Liu highlights language shifts as a form of marginalization that creates vulnerability outside the home.
- She shows how fragmented language limits access to advocacy and medical care.
Cultural Stigma Blocks Mental-Health Care
- Liu explains cultural stigma leads communities to favor superstition and herbal remedies over mental-health care.
- That suspicion blocks diagnosis and treatment and deepens family isolation.