Flip the Script

The tides are shifting in Hollywood-and at the centre of this wave of change is Adele Lim. The Malaysian producer, director and screenwriter opens up about her focus on inclusive storytelling and what lies ahead for Asian representation in Hollywood 

- Nafeesa Saini

For years, Asians on screen were exoticised or reduced to clichés. With monumental achievements, including the seven‑Oscar sweep by the Michelle Yeoh vehicle Everything Everywhere All at Once, it is clear that the entertainment industry is at a turning point. The spotlight on Asian representation in Hollywood is brighter now than ever, yet these victories in visibility are undeniably hard‑won milestones in a long struggle for cultural recognition. They also come at a time of rising anti‑Asian sentiment during the Covid‑19 pandemic.

But it is progress, much of which is being driven by changemakers such as Adele Lim. The Malaysian producer, director and screenwriter amplifies Asian soft power—a term used to describe influence through economic and cultural prowess rather than coercion or military might—through authentic storytelling. Lim was in Singapore to speak at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2023 and attend the inaugural Gold Bridge dinner in September—held in celebration of the expansion of Gold House, an organisation that promotes the interests of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, to Singapore. Tatler caught up with her at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, where she was checked into for the duration of her stay.

Lim’s visit to Singapore followed the release of her directorial debut Joy Ride—as a summer sensation this year. The R‑rated comedy gained favourable comparisons to other female‑centric films such as Bridesmaids and Girls Trip, and chronicles the journey of four Asian American women—Audrey (Ashley Park), Lolo (Sherry Cola), Kat (Stephanie Hsu) and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu)—as they travel across China in search of Audrey’s birth mother.