Hulu’s Interior Chinatown isn’t just another crime drama—it’s a groundbreaking series that challenges Hollywood’s long-standing stereotypes about Asian-American actors. At its core is Willis Wu (played by Jimmy O Yang), a struggling actor who has spent his career stuck in the background, playing roles like “Generic Asian Man” or “Silent Waiter” on a police procedural. […] The post EXCLUSIVE | How ‘Interior Chinatown’ Mirrors Jimmy O. Yang’s Real-Life Acting Struggles appeared first on Coastal House Media.
Hulu’s Interior Chinatown isn’t just another crime drama—it’s a groundbreaking series that challenges Hollywood’s long-standing stereotypes about Asian-American actors. At its core is Willis Wu (played by Jimmy O Yang), a struggling actor who has spent his career stuck in the background, playing roles like “Generic Asian Man” or “Silent Waiter” on a police procedural. While the lead detectives handle intense investigations, Willis remains in the periphery, barely noticed. But everything changes when he accidentally witnesses a real crime, forcing him into an investigation that will reshape his life in ways he never imagined.
As Willis steps out of the shadows, he teams up with Detective Lana Lee, played by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Chloe Bennet. Unlike her peers, Lana wasn’t hired for her skills as a detective—she was brought in because she knows Chinatown inside and out. Together with Willis’ best friend, the charismatic Fatty Choi (played by comedian Ronny Chieng), they uncover a criminal conspiracy and hidden truths about Willis’ past and identity. As they dig deeper, Willis and his friends find themselves at the center of a real-life mystery, forcing them to navigate a world where, for once, they are no longer just supporting characters. What makes Interior Chinatown so powerful is how it dismantles Hollywood’s rigid stereotypes about Asian representation. The series takes a sharp, self-aware look at the industry’s tendency to relegate Asian actors to background roles, refusing to let them be the heroes of their own stories. But here, Willis Wu becomes more than just a sidekick—he’s the main character. Jimmy O. Yang brings Willis Wu to life with precision, depth, and an undeniable sense of authenticity.
Jimmy O Yang and Ronny Chieng in ‘Interior Chinatown’ (Image Courtesy: Hulu)
Yang didn’t just play Willis Wu—he became him. He put in immense effort to ensure that every emotional beat landed with sincerity, from Willis’ quiet moments of self-doubt to his bursts of determination as he unraveled the mystery surrounding him. However, for him, this show was much more than just a role—it was a reflection of his own journey, a testament to every battle fought against typecasting, every audition where he was seen but not truly seen, and every moment he dared to believe he could be more than just a stereotype. While speaking to Coastal House Media journalist Aayush Sharma, actor Jimmy O Yang opened up about how playing smaller roles in the initial part of his career has helped him gather the courage to move ahead in acting, despite being cast in stereotypical roles. He said, “I think I’ve actually played a lot of the same types of characters that Willis ends up being assigned to or has encountered throughout his journey. I was a Generic Asian Man. I was a Chinese Teenager Number One. I even popped up as a Marvel agent on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the show Chloe starred in, funnily enough. Then, I slipped in as the tech guy on Silicon Valley. It was kind of cool, but it also made me realize—wow, I had no idea I was being put in a box.”
Moreover, the actor didn’t shy away from saying that he felt very connected to Willis because of how he approached his life and felt that there was something to look forward to even though his work didn’t make any immediate waves at first. He understood the quiet struggle of pushing forward, of taking one step at a time, even when the path ahead seemed uncertain—because, like Willis, he believed that perseverance would eventually carve out a place where he truly belonged.
“Looking back, I think I had this blind optimism in my younger self. Even though I didn’t see a lot of people like me on TV, or at least not as the star, I told myself, You know what? One step at a time. First, I’d land Chinese Teenager Number One, get my SAG card, and then work my way toward making a living—maybe even as a series regular playing the tech guy. So with my acting journey, just like Willis’s, it was about taking it one step at a time. As long as there was growth, I felt good. I think the worst thing in life—and maybe for Willis in the beginning—was feeling stuck in a loop. But even when the roles were small at first, there was progress, and he saw a way forward. That’s what kept both of us going,” Jimmy O Yang noted during the interview.
‘Interior Chinatown’ is available for streaming on Hulu and garnered positive reviews from critics as well as the audience. Currently, the show has a rating of 87% on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.
The post EXCLUSIVE | How ‘Interior Chinatown’ Mirrors Jimmy O. Yang’s Real-Life Acting Struggles appeared first on Coastal House Media.
