Asian A.V. Club newsletter #42: Kelly Marie Tran

We are trying a new series here on #AAVC called Speed Date in which we talk to folks in front of the camera within a limited time period. The awesome Kelly Marie Tran is our first guest!

by Stevie Wong

Hey all you lovely #AAVC readers, we are trying something new this issue by posting a video interview with the talented Kelly Marie Tran. The reason why we’re calling this a SPEED DATE is the fact that we had a limited amount of time to get questions in, spanning from Kelly’s latest project Control Freak and also getting to know the dynamic actress as much as a person can, in the allocated 7 minutes.

Full disclosure, back in the day I used to do these quick chats all the time (my craziest was a 2 minute interview because the actor had to rush out for a red carpet… like now!) and it wasn’t until I started this site that I discovered the joy of having the space to have a proper conversation. In the process, I feel like it’s also taught me how to do shorter chats with the same amount of chill… just truncated.

Of course, it also helps that Kelly is a real joy to talk too! With a background in comedy and improv, Tran got her big acting break as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi - becoming the first Asian American woman to have a lead role in a Star Wars film. With a celebrated career since, this year Tran is taking big strides in her career as she joins the highly anticipated remake of The Wedding Banquet, is a part of the crime caper Forge, and goes through some itchy body horror in director Shal Ngo’s Control Freak.

The roles are diverse and we really wanted to talk to Tran about all of that. So press play below, ignore the fact that I talk a mile a minute and get to know Kelly Marie Tran!

Control Freak is available to stream now on Hulu and on Disney+ outside of the US

Hope you liked this series! We have a few more of these speed dates coming up soon, so keep coming back! Also, if you haven’t already had a chance to look around, we have loads of ‘non-video’ interviews of equally interesting creative folks that are a part of making your favorite movies and tv shows out right now. Oh, and remember to SUBSCRIBE (either for free or support #AAVC by donating a little monetary tip) so you can get new issues right in your inbox the second they publish!

See you very soon!!