Before finding success on screen, Constance Wu had her fair share of rejection, which she struggled to deal with until she made a realisation in her early 30s.
Constance Wu had an epiphany when she realised her love of acting outweighed her “discomfort with poverty”.
The screen star landed her career-making role in sitcom Fresh Off The Boat back in 2014, and has since starred in critically acclaimed movies such as Crazy Rich Asians and Hustlers.
But before finding success on screen, Constance had her fair share of rejection, which she struggled to deal with until she made a realisation in her early 30s.
In an interview on the Q podcast, Constance said: “When I was in the worst phase of my life, I asked myself: ‘Are you OK still doing this, and being this broke and being this rejected when you’re, like, 55? And still auditioning and still waiting tables?’
“And I realised, yes, I actually am. And that’s when I discovered my love of the craft actually outweighs my discomfort with struggle and poverty.”
She added that another thing she realised is that her love of acting can never be taken away from her.
Constance reflected: “Money, people can take away from you. Jobs, people could take away from you. But the meaning of your own work and what it means to you, nobody can take that away.”
When it comes to landing roles these days, Constance’s name, and her CV, is usually enough to get her a part.
However, when it came to Hustlers, the star was so determined to be cast in the film that she voluntarily submitted an audition tape to director Lorene Scafaria.
It worked, and she was cast as struggling single mum and stripper Destiny in the critically-acclaimed film, and now Constance uses the tale to show other actors why it can be advantageous to audition – even when it’s not a requirement.
She said: “Some actors, they think it’s beneath them to audition — I don’t think so.
“I think, not only is it not beneath me, but it’s actually an opportunity to explore a character and show what you want to do with it.”
Constance Wu’s love of acting outweighs her ‘discomfort with poverty’
