Constance Wu on Historic Golden Globes Nomination: “We’ve Never Been Leading Our Culture’s Story”

“I’m kind of in shock,” Crazy Rich Asians leading lady Constance Wu said this morning of her Golden Globes nomination for best actress in a musical or comedy. “But enormously grateful and excited.”

While she joked that she’ll probably celebrate with pizza and beer (her favorites), the historic nomination for her lead performance in the jet-setting rom-com as well as the film’s recognition for best motion picture musical or comedy is not lost on her.

“Part of the significance of this is … for so long Asian-Americans have been in film and TV, but we’ve always been supporting another culture’s story. We’ve never been leading our culture’s story,” she said.

Wu, who before booking her star turn as Rachel Chu in Jon M. Chu’s box office hit had starred on sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, notes that even she is surprised not to have recognized sooner the desert of content for Asian-American-led stories. “Nobody has really talked about it that much, because we’ve always been around as a sort of ‘diversity check box,’ but it’s so rewarding to lead a story that is really a cultural touchstone, that is so hugely important for the self-worth and meaningfulness of a lot of Asian-American and Asian kids all over the world where their story is not the dominant culture’s story.”

She continued: “To have a place like America recognize, invest and then show up to go see it? That’s huge. I’m glad that even though people weren’t talking about this drought before, that they are talking about it now. Because that’s the first thing you’ve got to do: Talk about it and then take action.”

When Sandra Oh was announced as the host of this year’s Golden Globes ceremony with Andy Samberg, along with receiving a leading actress nomination for her work on Killing Eve this morning, Wu could not have been more “psyched.” 

“Talk about somebody for whom recognition is long overdue,” she said. “She has really been one of the pioneers because her talent is so extraordinary. To have her front and center onstage hosting and then to have my nomination be also a centering story is so cool. She’s one of my biggest heroes.”

Wu recalled briefly meeting Oh at an awards party: “I get a little shy at these things, and it was very, very quick. I don’t think she remembers me.” 

But when she sees her at this year’s ceremony, Wu “will just want to hug her and never stop hugging her.”

Wu not only hopes to meet Oh’s Killing Eve co-star Jodie Comer, but the show’s creator, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, at this year’s festivities. “She is so good. She also created Fleabag, which is one of my favorites.”