5 young Asian actresses bringing diversity to Netflix: from Bridgerton’s new cast member Simone Ashley to Shadow and Bone’s breakout star Jessie Mei Li
- From Indian-American teen Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to Vietnamese-born American Lana Condor, these actresses are bringing much-needed diversity to your screens
- Thai pop star Kitty Chicha Amatayakul stars in The Serpent and models Saint Laurent and Prada on Instagram – where she’s followed by Harry Styles
With the recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the US and other parts of the world, it is more crucial than ever for media to showcase empowering portrayals of Asians. Netflix has been doing its part and pushing for diversity in its content, and increasing the racial and ethnic representation in its films and shows.
Here we take a look at some of the most promising actresses of Asian descent who are currently stealing the spotlight on the streaming giant.
Jessie Mei Li
There is a new heroine in town and she is played by Jessie Mei Li. The half-Chinese, half-English actress bagged the lead role of Alina Starkov in Netflix’s latest fantasy series, Shadow and Bone. Li, who goes by the pronouns she and they, found similarities with their character, including the challenge they face as a biracial woman. Having been diagnosed with ADHD, the 25-year-old rising star is using their new-found fame to be a role model for neurodivergent as well as mixed-race people.
Lana Condor
