Well-known British actress Gemma Chan is best known for her roles in Crazy Rich Asians, Captain Marvel, and the upcoming series The Eternals. But what many fans don’t know is the immense contribution Gemma’s parents have made to her career. From supporting her financially to emotionally, Gemma’s parents have been there every step of the way.

This article post will explore Gemma Chan’s parents’ incredible support throughout her career and how she has never forgotten to thank them for their loving guidance. Read on to learn more about why Gemma’s family is so important to her success!

Learning Chinese Journey

The stunning actress’s parents encouraged their children to learn Chinese from a young age. She began learning the language at three years old and continued to study it throughout her childhood. She has said that her parents’ support was instrumental in her decision to pursue an acting career.

Chan has starred in several Chinese-language films and television series, including the hit drama Descendants of the Sun. She has also been praised for promoting Chinese culture through her work on film and television.

In an interview with The Times, the model spoke about how important her parents have been in her career: “My parents have always been very supportive, especially when I told them I wanted to act… They didn’t try to dissuade me or tell me it was a phase I was going through.”

Chan said she is grateful to her parents for their support and for exposing her to Chinese culture: “I think it’s really shaped who I am and my identity… I’m very proud of my heritage.”

Gemma Chan of Crazy Rich Asians fame

The actress recently wrote an article on The Guardian protesting the treatment of Chinese seamen in the 40s.

Chan noted that she broke down in tears when she learned that the British deemed Chinese seamen who’d served in the merchant navy as ‘undesirable elements’ of British society.

The British deported these Chinese seamen in secret in response to demands by the seamen for an increase in basic pay. Chan’s father served in the merchant navy and was one of the first Chinese men to demand better treatment for Chinese crew aboard British ships.

Gemma Chan’s parents efforts to her success

Let’s take a closer look at the actress’s parents. Her parents were both born in China, but her father grew up in Hong Kong while her mother was raised in Scotland. Despite this, they encouraged their children to learn Chinese. Gemma Chan took Chinese classes every Sunday until she was three years old. However, most of what she learned eroded over the years.

The beauty queen’s father had a tough childhood. He was one of six children and his family often struggled financially. They lived in a shack on a hillside before moving to a single room that housed thirty other families. When the flats they were living in burned down, they became homeless.

Despite all these challenges, her father completed school and found employment in oil tankers. He sent the bulk of his earnings home to fund his siblings’ education. After they finished school, he paid for an engineering course at the University of Strathclyde, where he met Chan’s mother. The couple settled in London and had two daughters.

Chan grew up in London, but she identifies as Chinese. She told Allure magazine that her parents brought her up with Chinese elements such as speaking Cantonese and Mandarin at home until she was three years old. Though the family no longer spoke Chinese, they encouraged her to attend Chinese classes which she did reluctantly.

My parents spoke Cantonese and English to me until I was three when they decided to only speak English to me.” Even though the family no longer talked Chinese, they encouraged her to enroll in Chinese classes. “I didn’t want to go, but my parents made me go every Sunday to learn how to write”.

Much of Gemma’s knowledge has deteriorated over the years, but she still feels compelled to reconnect with her Asian roots. She feels obligated to embrace both cultures as a woman caught between two.

“I’m interested in exploring my cultural heritage,” Chan continued. And what’s going on in the world right now is exciting. I believe that we can truly embrace the fact that we in the Asian diaspora can embrace not only being American and British but also our Asian roots.”

In Closing

Chan, a model before becoming an actress, has kept her love of fashion alive by serving as an ambassador for the French cosmetics company L’Oreal. Since 2018, she has been dating “Preacher” actor Dominic Cooper.

Asian representation in Hollywood is progressing rapidly all because of her parent’s contribution. With this, expect the stunning and talented Gemma Chan to advance further in her acting career. The sky’s the limit for the British Asian actress, who is 40 years old.