The Nail That Sticks Out

Who knew that a boy from Harbin, China would end up as the lead of an Asian-led Marvel movie? While Simu Liu’s journey to success isn’t a straight line, it is a route that’s replete with hard work and determination. But can Liu continue on this ascension to success while staying grounded?

- Wayne Cheong

Coat and corduroy trousers, both by Armani; jumper, by Brioni.

When it comes to interviewing Asians in a Hollywood film out of the gate, the first few questions invariably would be about Asian representation. Like a shopping cart with one janky wheel, the conversation will veer towards an off-road of cliché talking points: Are there more visibility on-screen for Asian-Americans? When did you first feel like an ‘other’? Tell us about a time you were slighted for your race on set.

Not to say that these are unimportant topics to talk about (we’ll get to those later). But let’s ease our way into it. An amuse-bouche before that main course of discourse.

Instead, we begin with Simu Liu side-lounging on a couch. (Or was it a sofa? The details of it are diminished by the Google Meet screen.) The image of the Cosmo centrefold of Burt Reynolds comes to mind.

For someone who is about to be in the hot seat, Liu looks relaxed. Too relaxed. He grins, briefly runs his fingers through his hair, and it looks as if he’s slowly being absorbed into the black felt of the couch.

“We have this house for the week,” Liu says. “The place is very nice and it has the most comfortable couch of all time.” He strokes it like he would a pet, holds his pose and lets that silence hang before he comes in for the kill. “But I’ll sit up a bit.”

Liu’s early dalliance with the movies was as an extra or a stunt double. After answering a Craig’s List ad that led him to be an extra in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim, Liu will do bit parts in TV shows and shorts before becoming a series regular on the crime drama,