We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story

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Simu Liu ( / ˈ s iː m uː ˈ l iː juː/ SEE-moo LEE-yoo; [2] Chinese: 刘思慕; born 19 April 1989) is a Canadian actor and singer. He is known for portraying Shang-Chi in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He also played Jung Kim in the CBC Television sitcom Kim's Convenience [3] and a Ken in Barbie. He received nominations at the ACTRA Awards and Canadian Screen Awards for his work in Blood and Water. [4] Lenker, Maureen Lee (27 October 2021). "Here are the nominees for the 2021 People's Choice Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021 . Retrieved 7 December 2021. Shaftesbury | Slasher wraps production on Season 2". shaftesbury.ca. 8 May 2017 . Retrieved 2 October 2017. a b "KollabCast Episode 144 – Simu's Convenience w/ Simu Liu". Kollaboration . Retrieved 2 November 2017.

Simu Liu | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program | Canadian Screen Awards". Academy.ca. 8 January 2017 . Retrieved 6 July 2017. He also found that roles for actors with Asian heritage were limited, and some of those he was getting reinforced racist typecasting. People weren’t “having those political conversations” in the way they are now. “In the beginning, if I was a stunt guy who got beaten up by one of the white male characters, I was over the moon.” It was, he says, probably similar to what his parents felt arriving in Canada. “Survival mode. Figure out a way to get on sets, figure out a way to work, that was it.”

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The star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime. In 2015, Liu was cast in his first significant recurring role, appearing as a series regular in seven episodes of the Omni Television crime drama series Blood and Water (2015–2016). He would later receive his first award nominations for this role at the ACTRA Awards and Canadian Screen Awards in 2017. [17] Liu in 2016 On stage, Liu was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award in the Outstanding Ensemble category alongside his castmates in the 2016 Factory Theatre remount of the play Banana Boys. [60]

Vlessing, Etan (11 March 2018). "Canadian Screen Awards: 'Alias Grace,' 'Maudie,' 'Anne With an E' Dominate". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 16 March 2018. DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS NOMINEES" (PDF). Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts . Retrieved 8 October 2016. I realized, if I don’t step into the spotlight, and the person next to me doesn’t step in, and the people around me don’t step in, then who will?” he said. “Who’s going to speak for us when we need somebody out there? I want to be outspoken.”

You Might Recognize Shang-Chi's Simu Liu From This Cult-Favorite Sitcom". Bustle. 5 September 2021. In 2017, Liu appeared in the second season of Slasher as well as the CityTV miniseries Bad Blood, both as recurring characters. [20]

Clay, Chris (27 October 2016). "Mississauga-raised actor stars in Kim's Convenience, lands role in NBC's Taken". Mississauga News. Mississauga, ON . Retrieved 21 December 2016. A 'Shang-Chi' sequel is officially in the works". NBC News. 7 December 2021 . Retrieved 23 February 2022. Canada's Most Beautiful 2018: See who made the list!". Hello! Canada. 25 June 2018 . Retrieved 26 February 2019. Wasserman, Ben (19 May 2021). "Marvel Star Simu Liu Is the First East-Asian to Cover Men's Health in Over a Decade". CBR . Retrieved 21 May 2021.

Grobar, Matt (14 September 2021). " 'Bright: Samurai Soul' Trailer, Premiere Date: Simu Liu Cast In Netflix Anime Film Based On David Ayer's 'Bright' ". Tinoco, Armando (12 August 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: The Batman, Nightmare Alley, Spider-Man, Better Call Saul Top List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 16 August 2022. In December 2017, Liu wrote for Maclean's magazine about his experiences growing up in an immigrant family. The article appeared in the January 2018 issue. [45] His memoir, We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story, was published by HarperCollins on 17 May 2022. [46] In March 2021, Liu published a column in Variety detailing the effects of Asian hate crimes and how "rhetoric like 'the China virus' encourages hate toward all Asian people—not just Chinese." [47] Canada's 25 Hottest Bachelors of 2017". Hello! Canada. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021 . Retrieved 20 March 2018. Both Liu and NBA player Jeremy Lin had guest appearances as caricaturized versions of themselves in Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng's Netflix short Ronny Chieng Takes Chinatown (2022). [35] [36] In December 2022, Liu was a guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional. [37]