GLAMOUR Women of the Year Award 2024 in partnership with Dyson: Ashley Park ist die “Actress of the Year”
Take a Hollywood version of, a bit of culture clash, a pinch of cliche and a handful of characters including romantic tension. WithNetflix brought this formula to perfection. Secret star of the streaming hit: Ashley Park. As Mindy Chen, the American with Broadway experience provides both lightness and depth in a series that oscillates between kitsch and charm. Her vocals, comic timing, and raw vulnerability were exactly what we needed. Since then, Ashley has been jumping around the world in impossibly high shoes.
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Butis much more than the entertaining “girly girl” of the title heroine: since her Grammy nomination for the Broadway play “The King and I” (2016) and her Tony nomination for(2018) she made the leap to the leading role. With her breakout roles in “Emily in Paris,”, “Girls5eva”,and “Only Murders in the Building,” the actress stands for projects that you can be sure will be entertainingandare relevant.
Ashley Park in an interview about representation and empathy
She is an ultra-modern woman – smart, friendly, approachable and refreshingly honest. The themes of self-reflection and openness run like a common thread through our interview, which we conducted in New York as part of our cover shoot. Her strength, says Ashley Park, comes from the many challenges in her life: As a teenager she survived a bout with leukemia, and as a young actress she fought her way through nerve-wracking auditions, where she often experienced rejection because of her Asian origins.
And it was only in January that she spent a month in the hospital after a septic shock - the doctors saw little chance of recovery. But Park fought back, thanks in part to the help of her friend,-Co-star Paul Forman, back to life, filmed the fourth season of the Netflix series alongside Lily Collins a little later and shared her experiences with the public to raise awareness of the topics of sepsis and trauma.
GLAMOR: Congratulations on the fourth season! Is Mindy moving to Rome now?
Ashley Park: I hope so! Mindy definitely gets that typical “girly girl” moment where she says, “I’m coming.”
How much has your life changed since “Emily in Paris”?
Completely! But some of it would have happened without the series. It has been with me since my late twenties - a special time in which I learned a lot about myself. Like the characters, I found my voice. The series accelerated my development and opened up opportunities for me - including a cover shoot. I'm now part of conversations I never expected to have a say in.
You sing and perform – were the producers specifically looking for a multi-talented person for Mindy?
No, that was a coincidence. Mindy wasn't exactly defined yet, but the producers knew about my work on Broadway. The singing came after I asked if I would sing on the show. It shows Mindy's emotional side behind her confident facade.
How much Ashley is in Mindy and how much Mindy is in Ashley?
We are both vulnerable and open-hearted, non-judgmental and valued. But Mindy is less one– I could learn that from her!
Mindy is also a real power woman when it comes to fashion. Do you have similar fashion preferences?
We definitely both have our own style. And: Mindy sometimes wears Balmain, sometimes pajamas, I know that well. We also both have a completely different background than those around us. Growing up in Michigan, I didn't even know what a luxury item was back then. I can empathize with this difference.
Mindy is a role model for female empowerment and at the same time very fun-loving, humorous and wild. Are women allowed to have fun and still have to be taken seriously?
This is an important social issue. I like that there are only a few in the series
Characters react negatively to Mindy, whether they are their lovers or others. It's liberating to be confident and still be liked. Of course, there's her boyfriend's father, who isn't a fan, but Mindy confronts her partner: "You choose him or me" - and he chooses her.
Would Mindy have to fight more in real life? We know the common stereotype of women in short skirts or with platinum blonde hair who are seen as superficial or stupid...
Absolutely. Growing up often means dealing with stereotypes and realizing that it happens whether you want it or not. For a long time I was ashamed of my appearance and my origins because I lived in onewhiteI grew up in a community without many Asian friends.
At 30, I developed my self-esteem and found it easier to walk into a room with pride. This does not mean that I no longer have challenges or that social problems have disappeared. But it plays a big role whether you feel comfortable in your own skin. What's refreshing about the series is that...works without them wanting to change each other. Of course, misunderstandings and conflicts arise, but they grow from them.
What is the status of the Asian community in Hollywood?
A lot still has to change! Many creatives continue to fight for a seat at the table. I feel particularly responsible because there are so far only a few Asian actors in my privileged position. When I came into the industry, I actually felt like the path was already clearer for someone like me. But we have only just begun. The difference compared to ten years ago is that we can now talk openly about these issues. Representation is no longer a taboo topic.
You've experienced a lot of racism, being diagnosed with cancer as a teenager and going into septic shock this year. How do you survive such extreme situations?
Each trauma has given me a new perspective. People often only see the fancy gown on the red carpet or me on a magazine cover without knowing what I've been through. My struggles have taught me that every person has experienced something we cannot see.has become my foundation. And I have become more solution-oriented and motivate myself when I'm feeling bad. I hope to inspire others.
No one benefits from a mentality in which everyone thinks they have experienced the worst. I know what it means to overcome trauma and to move on. But it's also important to feel the pain. I promise, when you get to the other side, you will be much stronger than before.
What are you doing for your mental health?
An important lesson was not to be so hard on myself. I was in a lot of pain after my septic shock and didn't know if I would be able to get through my day at work. Not allowing frustration here was incredibly difficult. My biggest learning is not to see doing less as a failure. My friend Paul and Lily saved me in many ways.
The press tour was also surprisingly healing. Meeting people who told me I helped them get through a bad day was healing. And becoming Mindy again and slipping into her incredible outfits helped me too. Some people think distraction is the opposite of healing, but for me it isn't. I learned: Everyone heals differently.
Paul and you are such a great couple, on the show and in real life. How did it start?
Shortly before Paul started the series, I swore I would never date an actor again. Besides, he lived in London and I didn't want a long-distance relationship. When he first came on set and looked so incredibly good, I thought, “On this oneI won’t fall for it.” But then he blew me away. I've never had a straight onewhiteMet a man who was so thoughtful and so generous. He questioned the script when his character was mean to Mindy - that's rare in the industry.
After Paul was cast in the role, we spent a weekend together working on our roles. I thought this was the safest trip you could take. On our trip to Warsaw I realized: “I am so in love with this man.” I've never believed in fate, but the timing was right. He is the perfect person for me and I am more confident in our relationship than ever before.
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You can find the complete interview in GLAMOR 04/24 – in stores from December 4th!
Haare: DJ Quintero/The Wall Group;
Makeup: Carolina Gonzalez/A-Frame Agency with products from Armani Beauty
Make-up assistant: Vasilios Kombogiannis
Manicure: Maki Sakamoto/The Wall Group with Chanel products
Styling assistance: Tascha Berkowitz
Talent Manager: Franziska Sölch
Associate Talent Manager: Phoebe Feinberg
Producer: Jean Jarvis/Area1202
Production Coordinator: Nika Bregvadze
European Visuals Director: Amelia Trevette
European Design Director: Helen Williamson
European Fashion Editor: Londiwe Ncube
