Role Of A Lifetime

It took 10 years and a lot of patience for actress GEMMA CHAN to gain proper recognition. Now she plans to pay it forward.

- Sarah Cristobal

Growing up in the U.K., Gemma Chan didn’t see many faces that looked like hers on television, so even though she was drawn to acting, she didn’t think it was a viable career. She went on to immerse herself in academia, excelled as a swimmer and a violinist, and eventually attended Oxford University to study law. Chan was considering a job offer from a major firm when she decided to apply to the esteemed Drama Centre London at Central Saint Martins (in secret so as not to upset her parents). “I knew I’d probably be a miserable lawyer,” she says. “It is a privilege to be able to take a chance, but if you can, it is better to try and fail. Disappointment is temporary, but regret lasts forever.”