The difference between me and American-born actors is that I came here with the expectation of not being treated fairly.
Joan ChenI don't want to tell people what I make. It's a lot more than I ever dreamed of as a kid. I never think about it.
Joan ChenIt's a very obsessive profession that you need to stay obsessed to get anywhere, and it's very easy for us to get obsessed and then nothing else matters. I was reading Somerset Maugham's novella, Moon and Sixpense, about this artist based on Gauguin's life. It was so beautifully written. You must be first rate because second rate you might not survive. If you're an accountant, you'll survive second rate. If you chance it big, you may not get anywhere.
Joan ChenAs an actress I find the most enjoyable part of acting is really just to please the director. I just want to please my director.
Joan ChenHistorically and culturally the Mongol women were very strong, they contributed as much as the men to their society, their community. Other than upper body strength, I think they were equal to the men. To compensate for the lesser upper body strength they had to be smarter, they had to think more, they had to consider things more carefully.
Joan Chen