Paving the way for other mixed actors in Australia
JC
National Nine News in Australia talks with Dichen Lachman, a new television star in Australia. She is the 23 year old daughter of a Tibetan mother and an Australian father. She talks about her hopes for her new role on the show, Neighbours.
The ambitious actor now hopes her new role on Neighbours will pave the way for other mixed race actors.
“It’s so wonderful for a mixed race person to have an opportunity to play an Australian character. At first I was a bit worried my race would make it hard to get a job in Australia. But I have a lot of faith now,” she said.
“I do hope my new role encourages people from other cultures but who are half Australian, to believe there is room of all of us (on television).”
Sean wrote:
Firstly, congrats on attaining your role in Neighbours. Now on to the real shit. What’s this about paving the way for mixed race actors? Right. So you’re saying that through you getting the role, now at the very least people of mixed race can have a shot at jobs like that? What happens to the PURE asians in Australia then. They rot and die eh. I wonder how your mom will get a job in Australia then. And not to mention how specific you were in wanting to help only “people from other cultures but who are half Australian”. So people from other cultures who are not mixed just have to wait for someone PURELY asian to help them “pave the way” too right? Please please. If you want to be racist. Be abit less obvious about things. Thanks. And I know you won’t be reading this. But its for the general publicto debate, and for me to vent some frustrations of course.
Posted 10 Dec 2005 at 2:45 pm ¶
Maxyne wrote:
It is hard finding acting work as a pure asian in Australia. I agree with you Sean. There aren’t that ‘many’ pure asians on tv, I mean there’s even an article called “Eurasian Invasion:Why are they the right mix?”. I mean unless we know how to do martial arts, we can’t really get a break in acting.
I do have to say that I went to high school with Dichen and knew her well. I don’t think she put a lot of thought into what she said in the interview so it’s really quite harmless.
Posted 15 Dec 2005 at 6:55 am ¶
Chris wrote:
Just a quick qn on how to pronounce her christian name? I’m thinking it should be a hard I followed by a K
Posted 15 Dec 2005 at 10:59 pm ¶
TMJ wrote:
First, Kim–”And Martial Arts movies are something to be proud of. No one does it as good.” Yes, martial art movies are good. But they are not the only facet of asian culture, and that is the only facet being shown to society at large. Also, the number of white people on asian tv is insignificant to me, because white people carry power, and if they wanted on asian tv, they would be. They do not because they do not value asian (minority) culture (not every white person, just speaking of the white power structure that exists the world over…) it is minorities trying to infiltrate white society and that’s where the problem is…
I understand Dichen wanting to pave the way, it is only natural. I also understand Sean’s anger as well, because it did seem as if she was ignoring everyone else but asian/australians. I think she attempted to include everyone, but made sure to specify her own racial group and that’s what ticked sean off. But i don’t blame her; I want pure or mixed asians (and let me say I hate those terms because it sounds like the AKC on a dog) to be on tv wherever they want…but being Black, I want to see me on there too!
Posted 21 Dec 2005 at 2:08 pm ¶
Wizeard wrote:
“What about movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of Flying Daggers?”
What about them? CTHD was an international co-production effort based largely in Asia, though. The other 2 films were full Asian productions completely outside the Hollywood system. So, these films hardly count as Western films that cast Asian actors in redeeming roles.
More typically, Western films all tend to portray Asian women as race-climbing whores (eg - Lucy Liu) obsessed with “noble” White men and Asian men as evil, chauvinistic pussies.
Posted 24 Dec 2005 at 2:12 pm ¶
Dichen ( Deechen ) wrote:
This is Dichen here, pronounced Deechen,
I would just like to say that the comments written in the article were taken a little out of context. And i was a little missquoted, perhaps i was missunderstood… Just so you all know I am certainly not racist.
I DO NOT think i am paving the way, but i do think i have become a small part of new way of thinking IN AUSTRALIA, and that new way of thinking is, that you can look ANYTHING but white and be an ‘australian’. Ten years ago it was rare to see other cultures represented on ‘australian’ shows as central characters, but recently things are changing and more and more australian shows are representing all the colours and flavours of australia. Im so glad to be working. And i think Morgan Freeman might be right.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Posted 26 Dec 2005 at 7:07 am ¶
John wrote:
Dichen’s presence in such a high profile show will def encourage alot of unrepresented Australians.
Sound bites can be tough- people should remember that and chill.
I think most people in the US are also unaware of Australia’s evolving commercial culture.
Damn, look at our own media-driven culture. It’s 2006! If young Americans like Kim think AA actors should be greatful for being relegated to stereotypes… it’s just sad.
(ps- I saw the Morgan Freeman interview and Freeman also said ‘forgive but never forget’.)
Posted 02 Jan 2006 at 4:52 pm ¶
YU WORLD wrote:
Dichen, I just saw you for the FIRST time on Neighbours tonight. I was like ‘Wow!” Your beauty and presence really blew me away. I will definately make sure to tune in nightly to see my new favourite cast member of Neighbours, grace us with her magic. I am of Japanese decent myself and it’s really great to be seeing actors of ethnic background be represented on mainstream Australian media. I had bit parts in a TAB commercial shot in South Australia and also in the film Sample People. They were both for your stereotypical Asian rolls. The TAB commercial I played a Japanese tourist whilst in Sample People, I played as one of those Asian gang members. But anyhow, all I want to say is, best of luck with your role and I hope it opens up more opportunities for bigger and better things ahead.
Your fan
YU WORLD
Posted 13 Jan 2006 at 9:27 am ¶
pema wrote:
i use to watch neighbours everyday after school, it was almost religous..although now im abit older..havent seen it for ages…but i was chattin to this guy from australia and he told me there is a tibetan girl acting in it. i was abit suprised, but i think its a great thing that not only an asian or mixed whiteasian has role in the soap but a Tibetan girl!! coz we never see tibetan people in the media at all. so, dichen…i think not only are mixed asians as well as pure asians are proud to see you up there..tibetans are mostly proud!!
its about time we saw tibetans representing and getting out there.
good luck, and long live tibet!
peace
(LONDON)
Posted 30 Jan 2006 at 3:34 am ¶
jaan wrote:
hey dichen,
thanks for writing that comment. things were getting a little out of hand and im glad you decided to explain the matter further. as sad as it is, we see it far too often in the media where people get misquoted or have things taken out of context. so much so that we should learn to take what we read with a grain of salt, and if need be, reasearch the matter further before getting carried away. anyway, just keep up the good work! we’re all proud of you.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 12:29 am ¶