“As an actor of color, I was overlooked at every possible opportunity. I was given roles that were almost not roles. It was, like, Scared Asian Guy. Whether I was a scared Asian guy in front of a computer or a scared Asian guy getting robbed in the grocery store, I always played these pathetic, low-status characters.”

Canadian actor

Simu Liu is a Canadian actor who came to wide attention for playing Shang-Chi in Marvel’s 2021 film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is set to return to the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026). His best-known work is tied to that breakout role, which made him a familiar face to international audiences. He is associated with contemporary action filmmaking and with a character that brought him broad recognition on screen.