Meet Ann Hu | Actress, Singer, Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ann Hu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ann, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As an artist, risks are a way of life. We have to take risks in order to create and grow as people. But my favorite thing about risks, are the feelings and doubts conjured up just beforehand. Risks give me a chance to discover those fears and confront them. They provide me an opportunity to own and transmute that energy positively, so I am empowered instead. Risks are very informative and help us learn who we are as individuals and artists.

So right before taking that risk, I confront all of that; that confrontation takes me to the next level in my work, or everyday life. The risk then feels like the next natural step. It’s only ever a risk if you fear the consequences. And we only fear consequences if we feel we can’t handle them.

I make peace with the consequences beforehand; whether I’m performing stand-up comedy, singing live, acting opposite intimidating A-listers on camera, or performing a two person play on stage, I let go of the need to shrink from whatever the fear of the consequence may be and accept it. And then the risk becomes inspired action.

Risks are fun because they often lead to more discovery and inspiration. But, if you’re the kind of person that, ‘needs to know’ the end game per say, I suppose risks can be nerve wracking, but my best friend of fifteen years, would often say to me, “Ann, you want to make God laugh… make a plan.”

Leaving your comfort zone is always a risk worth taking. I was born and raised in a small town in Southern Maryland. So I didn’t see moving to New York City for college as a risk. It was more of a necessity. Staying in my hometown? Now that would’ve been a risk; staying small is a risk. Expansion is relief.

It was a huge risk, moving to Los Angeles, albeit years ago, after pounding the pavement in New York where I went to school and started off my career. After so many years, I felt like I hit a glass ceiling in New York and felt stuck in more ways than one. And then another friend said to me, “Ann, big risk, big reward; no risk, no reward.” So I took a huge risk and moved out to Los Angeles.

I risked everything because I knew, deep in my gut, Los Angeles would provide a grace and space that I wasn’t going to get in New York. In New York, as an adult, I lived in a 350 sq. ft studio apartment for years, off Gramercy Park; it was basically a large room.

Only when I’d go out of town for a job, and stay in actor housing, did I realize, “Oh! I can feel a slight emotional shift happen when I walk from the living room, to the bedroom…interesting,” and then I realized, ‘I can’t live my entire adult life in just one room, can I?

And it’s not just a matter of physical space, starting over is very confronting. In Los Angeles, I took risks that allowed me to expand. I started doing stand-up because I needed to be on stage. I joined the Road Theater company for a few years. And for three and a half years I wrote for backstage.com about my life and experiences as an Asian-American actress. I got used to acting on-camera in all genres; episodic, multi-cam, single-cam. I grew and felt what it was like to thrive, not just survive.

Although I come from the theater, where every night on stage is a risk, you’re in control of it. Whereas, in film and television, you’re giving up a lot of control to the camera and the tastes of others. But I handle that by being as prepared as possible, so if and when the ball drops, it’s inspiration, not panic, that follows.

Don’t get me wrong, I love New York and go back often for work. But that city has a momentum that churns you; you can’t help getting wrapped up in its throbbing circulatory system. You may feel busy, but not always be productive. And in Los Angeles, sometimes it’s so quiet here, (it is the desert after all) you can’t help but hear your inner voice, the most important one. I learned how to be in alignment and trust my intuition here, because I could finally hear it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started out as a singer and got into the musical theater program (CAP21) at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, helmed by Frank and Eliza Ventura. The instructors there pretty much broke you down, so they could build you back up, and proper. It was not easy. Come Friday afternoon, we students would line the hallways sobbing into our lunches from sense-memory work and cathartic acting exercises.

But it was solid training, and I devoured every second of it. NYU is where I realized my strength was in acting. I learned how to channel my emotional well into the characters I played.

There was a glass ceiling above most of my earlier career. After all, diversity only, finally, became the default in the entertainment industry, a few years ago. But ironically, during those early years, the thing I thought would hold me back, being a minority, was actually what made me stand out from the rest. My weakness became my strength.

I’ve learned that discipline, confidence and trust are a huge part of the path to success. Knowing the difference between what you want now, versus what you want more, and having the wisdom to choose for the better. You have to have confidence in yourself and trust your gifts. You have to want it enough, that nothing else (fears, doubts, or insecurities) matters. I recently worked with Wayne Knight (Seinfeld) and he said, “You have to have an unreasonable belief in yourself. Because your success is not based on your success.” He’s a comedic genius, Mr. Knight, and such a kind and generous soul.

If you know me as an actor, or if you’ve had me as a client, you know, I work really hard, on everything that comes my way. I come to rehearsals ready to play at a performance level. I’ve always had high standards for myself and my work, and I really like that about myself.

An agent in New York once told me, “Your audition has to be so good, they could splice it into the final cut.” I never forgot that.

I think what sets me apart from others is, I’m not afraid to say or portray the thing that everyone else is only brave enough to think. I’m usually the black sheep in the room pointing out that the Emperor has no clothes on. I mean, somebody’s got to do it!

One of my instructors at NYU, Evalyn Baron said, “Talent is the ability to be honest”. Growing up, I knew I never had the option to belong or to fit in, so I didn’t bother. I didn’t care to, which made me unafraid to be honest, with myself and with others. I think because of that, I’ve been told I portray a realness in my work that is very raw and confronting. I worked on an indie film (Notes) in Michigan pre-pandemic and after shooting an emotional scene for my character, the director said to me, “There’s real, and then there’s Ann Hu Real.” I took it as a huge compliment. But I really feel a duty to living the characters I play to the utmost degree. I want to do right by them, and their inner narrative, as well as their part in the overall story. Isn’t that the whole point of what we’re doing? Educate, enlighten and entertain.

I don’t know how I overcame this industry’s challenges. I’ve certainly had to do a lot of inner work to peel away the scar tissue that rejection inevitably builds up in anyone. I’ve had nights where I’d cry on the phone to my mother, wondering what the hell I had done with my life. What did I have to show for all my years of struggle?

And then I remember at dinner one night in New York, in between shows of another play, with a few cast members, sitting, and eating with them and seeing their lives and thinking, ‘if I end up like them; consistent, working actresses, who are artistically fulfilled and happy…will I be okay with that?’
And the answer was yes.

I also teach now, privately, acting for film and television. Some of my students are auditioning for arts universities. I’m so proud of them! I’ve got an episode of the new Matlock coming out and there’s a few writing projects that I hope to finish before the end of the year.

Ultimately, the only thing we really have to spend in our lives, is time, no matter the occupation. And I’m happy with how I’ve spent my time. There’s richness in lessons and freedom in peace.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many fun places to visit in Los Angeles. I love living here! I love dancing, so I’d probably take a friend to a Daybreaker event, or dancing somewhere to some great house music downtown. We’d definitely go to a museum; the Broad, LACMA, the Getty, and the Academy Museum are some of my favorites!

I think my favorite thing about Los Angeles is the amount of nature that surrounds the city. Griffith Park is so magical and my rescue ‘doghter’(as I like to call her) Chloe and I, frequent the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Center a lot. There are so many great view points and fun trails there. I became a dog mom over the pandemic. Talk about taking a risk and forcing yourself to grow! You don’t really know who you are until you’re responsible for another life! And I never thought I’d become that, ‘Asian woman with the white fluffy dog’ but let me tell you, the shoe fits.

I also love gardens, so we’d definitely go to Huntington or Descanso Gardens, and for some wonderful hikes up and down the Santa Monica coastline. Its so abundant here! I’m pretty active, so whoever is visiting me is in for a workout!

There’s also great theater in Los Angeles. The Geffen Playhouse takes a lot of smart artistic risks. Their productions are very inspiring. And as far as eats go, I have to have a gluten-free diet, so I lean towards restaurants that can accommodate that like 401K in Venice, Rice DTLA, Sweetfin, and Satdha for great vegan Thai and Au Lac, which is also vegan and gluten-free. My favorite dessert at my favorite bakery, Sinners and Saints, is their gluten free, dairy free, tres leches cake in Venice. Talk about a sugar rush!

And maybe we’d end the week with happy hour by the beach in Santa Monica, at the Whaler, or the Water Grill to watch the sunset, and feel the ocean breeze. Los Angeles is one of the few places on the planet where you can go from the mountains, to the city, to the ocean in one day. It’s a true paradise.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been very fortunate and had many people in my life support me and my dreams. I’ve worked with great directors, actors and coaches and had great mentors, and very supportive parents. But I have to admit, if it weren’t for my therapist, Mary, who I first met when I was a teenager, I’d be a very different person today.

I was severely bullied; physically and emotionally since I was five in my hometown because I was the only Asian girl in school, as in, since kindergarten. It felt like I was ‘wrong’ just by being me. I remember looking around the classroom in second grade and realizing, “Oh… I don’t look like anyone else in this entire school, well, guess I better have a helluva personality to make up for it!” True story.

My therapist Mary, was the one who taught me how to love and respect myself. She taught me how to set healthy boundaries, how to feel and know my self-worth. She made me feel that it was okay to be me. And in addition to being a minority, I also wasn’t a jock, or a cheerleader. I was the musical, artsy type. I found my tribe in theater and concert choir. That’s how the performing arts became my safe, happy place.

It took a long time for me to learn how to love and be proud of the parts of myself, that others shunned or judged; those ‘best parts’ of myself, the louder parts. My therapist Mary taught me that. I owe her so much. She retired a couple years ago. That was a risk! Having to process certain experiences or emotions without her. It was like losing the one constant I had, that made me feel like I wasn’t alone.

Mary deserves a huge shout out from me. Clarity and self-love are great gifts. I got those from her. And I’m a huge advocate for self-care and prioritizing one’s mental health. You’re only ever going to be able to start with yourself, in everything you do, so you have to take care of you.

And of course, I have to thank my parents. It’s not easy raising a family in a country you weren’t raised in yourself, but my parents have really supported me and my dreams. They’ve sacrificed so much for me. And they’ve pretty much seen everything I’ve done on stage and in film and television. I’m so grateful and hope to continue to make them proud of me.

Website: https://www.ANNHUACTOR.com

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Image Credits
Photos by Erik Fischer Photography, Michael Roud Photography, Albert L. Ortega and two selfies