From Crazy Rich Asians to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – unforgettable LGBT characters played by Asian-American actors
From Leah Lewis’s lesbian student in Netflix’s The Half of It to Alex Landi’s groundbreaking gay surgeon in Grey’s Anatomy – and not forgetting Nico Santos iconic turn in Crazy Rich Asians – these 5 faces are challenging Hollywood gender roles, on screen and off
The LGBTQ+ movement is gaining increasing recognition from Hollywood. Numerous celebrities have supported the movement and diverse genders have become more prominent in TV shows and movies.
This change is thanks in part to the notable actors who play LGBTQ+ roles and those who openly embrace their LGBTQ+ identity. So who are the Asian-American actors we can thank for diversifying Hollywood? Here’s a few faces you need to know.
Leah Lewis
Chinese-American actress Leah Lewis was thrust into the spotlight when she played Ellie Chu,a lesbian in coming-of-age film The Half of It.
In the film, Ellie is approached by Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) who needs help writing a love letter for his crush. Soon after, Ellie unexpectedly forms a tight friendship with Paul and they end up falling for the same girl.
Upon reading the script, she immediately fell in love with the story. She told CAAM, “It was about really sort of trying to understand something about love, and particularly through the lens of the lesbian, straight guy friendship.”
Nico Santos
Nico Santos is a gay Filipino-American actor who gained fame for playing Oliver T'sien in the game-changing film Crazy Rich Asians.