The Many Acts of Hannah
ELLE Singapore|December 2019
A Hollywood breakthrough, a clothing label, and two kids later, Hannah Quinlivan is on her way
Andrea Sim
The Many Acts of Hannah

When Hannah Quinlivan converses in Mandarin, there is an unbridled spontaneity to her disposition. Giggles cleave her sentences, a wrinkle of the nose punctuates, and a cheeky pout tells you to take her quip in jest. Her lively Aussie lilt by comparison, seems to keep these idiosyncrasies under wraps.

It’s a natural fragmentation that psychologists have observed amongst multi-lingual individuals, and such code-switching is in the blood for Quinlivan. The 26-year-old actress grew up in Taiwan, is Chinese-Korean on her maternal side, while her paternal lineage is Australian. “I was quite different from the other kids around me at that time, but it was actually a special experience,” she says. “There’s the good and the bad; it’s good to be different, yet I do feel like you don’t know where you belong because you’re half Asian and half white. But everyone treated me nicely.”

Her multi-cultural heritage has also christened her with three names — the Chinese audience refers to Quinlivan as Kun Ling; she also goes by Jen Wu — and a leg up when it came to her Hollywood crossover last year, after easing into the spotlight with variety shows and supporting roles in local TV dramas back home. She’s the trigger-happy assassin Xia in action flick Skyscraper, an antagonist to its lead Dwayne Johnson who plays the U.S. Marine-turned security-consultant Will Sawyer and speaks of the comfort of being able to embody the role without any language barriers.

Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2019-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ELLE SINGAPORESe alt
Awakening After Adversity
ELLE Singapore

Awakening After Adversity

Author and wellness advocate JILL ALPHONSO says the one thing that breast cancer taught her was to prioritise herself-a lesson every young woman must learn.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
Miami Vibes
ELLE Singapore

Miami Vibes

Urban art, dreamy beaches, Latin flavour...find out why these have made MIAMI a sought-after destination.

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
The Language Of Flowers
ELLE Singapore

The Language Of Flowers

Young designers are falling for the subversive power of a classic motif.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
The Joy Luck Club
ELLE Singapore

The Joy Luck Club

The duo behind YanYan takes play very seriously. Phyllis Chan and Suzzie Chung share how they are shaking up the world of knitwear while having absolute fun.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
Wild West
ELLE Singapore

Wild West

For its latest collection, WEEKEND MAX MARA teams up with American actress Lucy Hale to embrace the season's rustic charm.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
Men Of The Hour
ELLE Singapore

Men Of The Hour

Fresh off the success of their drama, 4MINUTES, Thai actors Bible Wichapas Sumettikul and Jespipat Tilapornputt are on the cusp of international stardom.

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Conquer The Day
ELLE Singapore

Conquer The Day

As a versatile everyday watch with panache, LONGINES' new Conquest collection gets the job done very nicely.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Woman On A Mission
ELLE Singapore

Woman On A Mission

Rebecca Lim may have taken a step back from showbiz to settle into her new role as first-time mum, but the actress wants everyone to know that they haven't seen the last of Becks. She talks to ELLE about reconciling motherhood and career.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
The Making Of An Icon
ELLE Singapore

The Making Of An Icon

"SHOUT, SHOUT, LET IT ALL OUT," sings Fann Wong as glittering creations from Buccellati are carefully put on her.

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Million Dollar Woman
ELLE Singapore

Million Dollar Woman

With her dazzling confidence and supermodel aura, GIGI HADID is the embodiment of Rabanne's new Million Gold For Her fragrance.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024