Daytime TV’s APA: Lynn Chen makes herself at home on All My Children
February 28, 2003
Lynn Chen must have been born under a lucky star. This talented actress has recently landed a recurring role on the Emmy-winning soap opera All My Children, where she plays Regina, making her one of two Asian Pacific Americans featured in the storyline. The other is Ivan Shaw, who portrays the character of Henry.
This New York native from Queens began her career at the age of five, when she performed ballet alongside Russian dancer Rudolf Nuruyev at the Metropolitan Opera House. Chen eventually became a member of this prestigious dance company. She also joined the New York City Children’s Chorus and made her acting debut playing the role of Ngana in Broadway’s revival of South Pacific.
At the age of 12, Chen put off acting to focus on her education, eventually attending Wesleyan University where she was a double major in music and women’s studies. She decided to continue her dream of becoming a professional actress four years ago and made her film debut playing the role of Jen in the movie Fortune, which appeared in film festivals around the country.
Chen’s career has also included several guest spots in television shows such as Law and Order: SVU as well as voiceover work for Coca-Cola commercials and other works in theater.
Here Chen talks about her career and about being an APA in the entertainment industry.
AsianWeek: Tell me about Regina, the character you play in All My Children. What role does she play in the storyline?
Lynn Chen: Regina is a pre-med student who usually interacts with Henry and Maggie — a new All My Children couple. She has a lot of problems with their pairing because she knows something about Henry’s past, having known him since childhood.
AW: What’s it like to be on the show?
Chen: Really fun. Everyone’s very nice. And getting my hair curled and my makeup done for half an hour is a stretch from how I usually go about my day.
AW: Being an APA and working in show business, do you think that APA actors are still being typecast?
Chen: Definitely, but a lot of actors in general, no matter what their ethnic background is, are typecast.
AW: Why do you think APAs find it difficult to break into mainstream?
Chen: There are still a lot of ridiculous stereotypes about what an APA man or woman has to be like and a lot don’t fit that mold.
AW: What lessons have you learned in your career?
Chen: For auditions, I have learned that I can’t do an Asian accent without feeling like a complete jerk. So I don’t do it anymore unless it’s for a really worthwhile part.
AW: What kind of response do you get from the APA community regarding your work?
Chen: Most people who write in to me tell me that I was good in a particular role, or that they think I’m cute.
AW: When you are cast in film or TV, do you think the characters you play follow the lines of APA stereotypes or do they break away from that mold?
Chen: About half and half. Almost everything I’ve been cast in has asked for an Asian woman, but not everything has been stereotypical.
AW: What do you think makes you unique as an actress?
Chen: I take rejection pretty well. I figure I always try my best, so if it doesn’t happen, what can you do?
AW: What have been your favorite roles so far?
Chen: Hands down, my role as Ngana in South Pacific when I was 10. I got to drink soup at the end of the second act, and they always let me choose what kind.
AW: What do you hope to accomplish five years from now?
Chen: I just want to be happy and healthy and doing what I love, even if it’s not acting.
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