Check out our interview with actress Christine Nguyen who can be seen as Addison on Freeform and Amazon Prime “The Bold Type.”
Christine’s first big break came when she was cast in the CBC series FOUR IN THE MORNING. The show follows four friends in their twenties as they navigate life at the unpredictable, emotional, but illuminative hour of 4 a.m.
To date, Christine has amassed a significant body of work in several film and television productions including THE BOLD TYPE (FREEFORM), STAR TREK: DISCOVERY (CBS),
NURSES (GLOBAL/NBC) and IN PRODUCTION.
Follow Christine @x.tin3.n
Hi Christine, please tell us a little about you?
I am a Pan-identifying, Vietnamese and Chinese actor. I look to meditation and gardening to stay grounded. It is my power. It helps me create space in my mind and heart. I also practice martial arts and have competed in competitions in the past. Martial arts is a great way to move my body to its maximum potential. Lastly, I have the biggest heart for animals and my mission is to, one day, operate and own a farm sanctuary.
Describe yourself in 3 words
Loves to laugh
How did you get started into acting?
My parents were refugees from the Vietnam war and in order to take a chance on life they had to rebuild theirs from scratch. My career is actually a love letter to them. My mother is a beautiful spirit that loves fashion and my father had dreams to travel to see the world. I wonder where they’d be now, had they gotten the opportunity to do so. They chose to sacrifice their dreams so that I can pursue mine. It is my mission to pursue my passion to its fullest because it would be a waste if I didn’t.
How has this changed your life?
Appreciation for my roots. I have had to reacquaint myself with my culture and I have a new found love for it. It’s hard to do the work without reflecting on this. My identity and culture is an integral part of who I am and the work that I chose to do needs to amplify this.
What is the best and most challenging part of being an actress?
Being mindful of the work and being kinder to myself in the process. It’s difficult to not spiral when the stakes feel high. I think having a good work/life balance is the key to keeping my peace of mind. Having things in life that fulfill you outside of your craft, makes not booking an audition less life or death. It reminds me that there are things to look forward to after the fact.
Tell us about your work in “The Bold Type” and about your role as Addison
I’m really happy to be rejoining the team in our last and final season! It’s always a blessing to be learning from my castmates. Addison is one of Jane’s new hires. She is a self made writer that is trying to find her voice in this world. Working for Jane, she hopes to elevate her work and learn from her mentor. One thing I loved about working on set is that the stories are constantly transforming. The cast is involved in the writing process. Initially Addison had a different purpose but after some discussions, the team ended up giving Addison the opportunity to develop into a three dimensional character. It’s been a rare experience and I’ve learned a lot about the kind of work I want to be involved in in the future.
How do you prepare for a role?
I prepare by doing a lot of research and I try to find things that pique my curiosity. What I realized, early on, is that you can only prepare so much. I had a specific idea of what I wanted Addision to be but, going on set, I felt like it was difficult to stick to this idea when the story we were telling collaboratively called for something else. Putting the work in but being brave enough to let it go is part of the journey.
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play and why?
My dream is to be part of a Fantasy epic. I’ve always been fascinated with the fantasy genre, being able to freely and imaginatively delve into the work and use my movement background to inform my choices has been something I’ve been longing to do since I’ve started.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Seeing my family name in the credits. We did y’all! When I was younger, my dad used to advise me against taking this career path because he wanted to save me from the heartbreak of being asian in a white dominated field. I’m so happy to be able to show him how things have progressed and that there is potential for a brighter future. I hope to lay a similar foundation for the generations ahead. There’s always work to be done but if I can make it so they don’t have to face what I did, it’ll be worth it.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
That sh*t happens and there’s never a convenient time for shit to happen. All you can do is go with the flow.
What’s your advice for the newer actresses?
Be unapologetic in your work and take up space. What would you say are the greatest lessons you learned so far in this business? Boundaries. It’s difficult to navigate where they are when you’re so used to having them pushed. But finding the strength to say no is empowering. You gotta be a better friend to yourself and if that means closing a few doors to do it, you’ll be better for it.
What’s next for Christine Nguyen in 2021?
I’m hoping to pursue some of my personal projects. 2020 has inspired me to write and I’m hoping to put some of my work up in the near future. My mission is to revamp an instagram series my friends and I created early on in our careers. www.instagram.com/idicseries It has a special place in my heart because it captures a glimpse of who we are in essence.
What is your favorite healthy food?
Shakes. It’s the quickest way to down all your nutrients! And your favorite cheat food? Asian baked goods. It’s generally light, fluffy and not too sweet.
How would you explain your fashion style?
The 90’s influenced me for sure. I love the colours, the style and the attitude. What is your own definition of happiness? Leaning into gratitude. It keeps me present and helps me find joy in the little things.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
My dog. I lost him 2 years ago and not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. He’s the inspiration for the farm sanctuary I want to create. I want to give other creatures a chance to live and grow old.
Best advice ever given?
Find your people. Community is so important overall. Surrounding yourself with like minded individuals that make you feel safe, heard and supported is the key to succeeding in anything.
Do you support any charity?
I’m working on creating my own. But in the meantime I’m drawing from inspirations like Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary and The Gentle Barn.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
Balanced and working on the things that I create. Collaborating with friends and having an awesome time doing it.
Favorite song? Why?
Something About Us by Daft Punk. It’s funky and the vibrations just hit me in a way that livens up my soul.
What do you think of Social Media?
Be mindful of how you use your platform. It holds a lot of power and has the potential to change the world.
Where can we follow you?
Book: Hidden Life of Trees. This book is mind-blowing. Did you know that if a tree falls or gets cut, the neighbouring trees will nourish the stump in order to keep it alive?
Quote: Life Happens. Wherever you are, whether you make it or not
Movie: Okja, This movie converted me to a plant based lifestyle.
TV Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender, This show will literally raise your kids for you.
Favorite Food: Soup. Feels like a warm hug in my tummy and there’s so many kinds!
Travel Destination: Japan. The country is rich in history and I’m itching to explore it. I also heard there’s a Naruto theme park that was built within the last 3 years… so, yes… I want to explore the leaf village and see if they’d take me on as a leaf ninja.
Sports Team: Wushu Team Canada (gotta support my people)
