Read the full transcript of Maggie Q’s speech below:
Thank you so much. It’s so incredible to be in this room of amazing Asians. It’s so nice that a few of you white people are here as the minority for once.
You know, I’m here tonight not at all to celebrate myself, but to honor everyone in this room and be in support of a minority group of people who are massive and powerful and who are coming up in such a huge way. And to be a part of that movement and be someone in a position to try and exemplify and be an example for those of you in the room who are coming up, already there, on your way, I identify so much with what you said tonight about not knowing your place and what you were, being mixed-race.
I think that finding your place in the industry is difficult no matter what race you are. This is a vapid industry that really sucks the life out of you, and no matter who you are, no matter what race you are, it’s difficult as it is. And then to be on top of that a minority and a woman has been a challenge.
I remember years ago, I got this script and a letter. To be fair to my agent, he called me and he said, ‘I’m sending you some scripts. I haven’t read them yet. If you don’t want to read them, I can get back from London and then I’ll read them.’ I said, ‘No, no, no, it’s fine. I’ll read them.’ So one them, there was a cover page, “In anticipation of blah blah blah. Blah blah project, directed by blah blah, starring blah blah. Please take a look at the role of ‘The Chink.’” And I was like, I’m not Chinese! (laugh)
It was…it was that moment. You know that moment? I think everyone has that moment where you go, ‘OK, I got it. This is the way they see me.’ The fortunate thing is that it doesn’t matter how you see me, it matters what I know, what I’m worth and what I have to give.
The thing about being up here sort of last tonight is that I definitely feel like the least talented person in this room. In fact, I know I am. After seeing everyone come up here and speak, it’s an inspiring night because together, we make such a difference. Daniel, you are so articulate and wonderful. I love you and Grace for what you stood up for. The funny thing — Daniel and I have worked together. We’ve had some amazing, connective conversations about this and so many others. If anyone was going to stand up in that way, Daniel, it’s you. I love you for that. Thank you. Is that Grace standing in the back? As an Asian female, thank you for standing up for what it means to know your worth and to project your worth. It’s really beautiful. Thank you, babe.
I’m going to leave you with a little story about my mom, who is incredible and an immigrant. I think part of why we have this issue with knowing what our worth is in this industry and going out there and standing up and saying, ‘This is who I am, this is what I’m worth,’ is that I don’t think in the Asian community — unless your parents are artists — art isn’t fostered as it is with other people. I see a lot of nods. If you grow up like I did with an immigrant mother, art isn’t something that is going to sustain you, and art is not something that pays the bills. It’s not something that’s encouraged in the family. And if it isn’t and that’s where you come from, then you’re thrust out into an industry where you’re trying to find your way, but you’re also not sure where your worth is because your family didn’t say, ‘You can do this. You’re an artist. Get out there and be that artist.’
I went through that. I want to encourage you to, despite the circumstance you come from, and despite whatever your parents may or may not have thought about the art that lives in you, to find it, to explore it and to know that it doesn’t matter what anyone knows about your worth, it matters what you do. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this.
