Actors
Alicia Hannah-Kim Connecting with Korean Roots and Ethnicity
“In America, Asian actors are often strangled by ethnic restrictions placed on us,” Alicia Hannah-Kim wrote.
Alicia Hannah-Kim is an Australian actress. She made her US television debut in the Starz series Crash.
She is also known for her roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Two and a Half Men, Hot in Cleveland, Supah Ninjas, Chasing Life, and Hawaii Five-O.
Kim reprised her role as legendary feminist novelist Wendy Mah in HBO Max’s Minx, and she joined the cast of Netflix’s international sensation, Cobra Kai, in season five as the strict sensei Kim Da-Eun.
The actress was born in Australia and moved to America to build a career, but her roots go back to the East. Here’s what she says about her ethnicity and roots.
Alicia Hannah-Kim’s parents are from Korea
Although both Kim and her brother were born and brought up in Australia, both of her parents are Korean, as per her IMBD bio.
They moved to Australia during the late 70s before the actress and her brother was born. So despite being Australian by nationality, Kim’s ethnicity is Korean.
Writing an article for the Salon, she shared, “My parents migrated to Sydney in the late ’70s, had me and my brother in the ’80s, and raised us in a one-sided multilingual household.”
There is no information about her parents and brother as she likes to keep their personal data out of media and the internet.
She learned Korean during the Pandemic
In the article for Salon, she further opened up about how she learned to speak the family language fluently only during the Pandemic.
During the Pandemic, while everybody was confined to the walls of their home and finding new hobbies, the actress learned to speak the language fluently, which she easily understood.
“My parents are both fluent in English and Korean and whilst my brother and I understood Korean, we both always spoke English.”
She also shared that she never really found it necessary to learn the language as she only needed the English language to communicate and find work.
“I was born in Australia and moved to America. English was the only language I needed to work and live,” the actress mentioned.
Alicia Hannah-Kim talks about racism
Kim said that racism was something that did not impact her early childhood. She expressed that although she had a few incidents, she was a typical Australian kid and liked to express herself that way.
“Apart from a handful of Korean families with whom we socialized, my life was dominated by Australian culture – white Australian culture. Racism, I felt, was something that didn’t touch my life,” she wrote in the article.
The actress shared her few incidents, like, a kid pulling his eyes back and singing the ching chong china song, and a white woman asked her to stay away from her kid. But she continued to mention that it wasn’t her daily experience.
But then, Cobra Kai’s actress felt the presence of racism when she started working in the movie industry. She also talked about her article in a YouTube video.
She wrote, “It was only once I became an actor that my identity really became problematic for casting. I was employed in Australia more than once to play the victim who spoke broken English and barely contributed to a scene beyond nodding or crying.”
Kim openly talked about how her fluent English accent didn’t match her looks and was not even allowed to audition for Asian roles.
She opened up about internalized racism in Hollywood and how it makes one believe that the structure cannot change and that it has stereotyped Asian as minority characters.
“In America, Asian actors are often strangled by ethnic restrictions placed on us. So many casting notices indicate that one must match the role, ethnically speaking, in order to audition.”
“In drama school I was Lady Macbeth but in the industry I was Lotus the Massage Therapist,” the actress shared.
And she mentioned that representations matter to those from different ethnicities in Hollywood. She realized it by watching K-dramas in 2020.
She wrote, “Representation matters. You hear it all the time from all the underrepresented groups pushing our culture toward inclusivity.”
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Gordon Cormier Net Worth
Gordon Cormier is a young Canadian actor. He rose to fame by playing Joe in The Stand in 2020. Now, he is set to portray the iconic character of Aang in the upcoming Netflix live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.
This highly anticipated role has generated much interest in his career and net worth. In this article, we will discuss his net worth, his acting journey so far, and his highly anticipated role in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Gordon Cormier net worth and career
Cormier is a rising Canadian teen actor who has amassed a net worth estimated to be between $1-2 million. His budding career and recent high-profile roles have helped him accumulate this impressive net worth at such a young age.
Cormier, of Filipino descent, grew up in Vancouver and developed an interest in acting from an early age. He made his television debut in 2017 with a small role in the series Get Shorty.
He followed this up with appearances in shows like Lost in Space in 2018. His breakout role came in 2020 when he was cast as Joe in the television adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Stand.
Playing a young boy who becomes the ward of Nadine Cross, his performance brought him mainstream attention and critical acclaim.
Building on this success, Cormier landed the highly coveted role of portraying the iconic character Aang in the upcoming Netflix live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
With his talent, versatility, and ability to take on challenging roles at such a young age, his net worth is poised to grow substantially in the coming years as he continues to impress audiences with his performances.
Gordon Cormier debuted with a minor role in ‘Get Shorty’
Cormier made his television debut with a minor role in the comedy-drama series Get Shorty in 2019.
The series, based on Elmore Leonard’s 1990 novel of the same name, follows Miles Daly, a former Nevada-based criminal who attempts to leave his life of crime behind and become a movie producer in Hollywood.
Cormier had a small role in one episode of the show’s third season, portraying a character named Guatemalan Urchin.
While not a main cast member, his appearance in the series marked his first foray into the world of acting and provided him with valuable experience early in his career.
Get Shorty itself was a critically acclaimed show, praised for its slick production values and the chemistry between the main cast members, which included Chris O’Dowd, Ray Romano, and Sean Bridgers.
The series, which ran for three seasons and 27 episodes, was described as an homage to the original novel rather than a direct adaptation, borrowing the basic premise but creating its own unique characters and storylines.
Gordon Cormier leads the live adaptation of ‘Avatar: The Last Air Bender’
Cormier, the young Canadian actor, has landed the highly coveted lead role of Aang in the live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
This high-profile casting choice marks a significant milestone in his career and showcases his immense talent and potential.
At just 12 years old, he will take on the iconic character of Aang, the last remaining Airbender who must master the four elements and end the Fire Nation’s ambition of conquering the world.
Portraying the Avatar, a position that serves as the bridge between the mortal and spirit worlds, places a considerable burden on Cormier’s shoulders.
However, his previous performances, including his breakout role in The Stand, have demonstrated his ability to tackle complex characters with depth and nuance.
The live-action series, set to premiere on Netflix on February 22, 2024 will bring the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender to life in a way that has never been seen before.
It consists of visually stunning bending sequences and a diverse ensemble cast that reflects the cultural inspirations of the original animated series.
As the lead actor, Cormier will be at the forefront of this ambitious adaptation, guiding the narrative and serving as the anchor for the show’s central themes of balance, harmony, and the interconnectedness of all elements.
His performance as Aang will undoubtedly shape the series’ success and solidify his status as a rising star in the entertainment industry.
Gordon Cormier was a huge fan of the animated show even before landing the lead role
Cormier’s portrayal of Aang in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is a professional commitment and a labor of love.
Long before landing the coveted role, Cormier was a devoted fan of the original animated series, immersing himself in the world of Avatar to an extent that surpasses even the most ardent enthusiasts.
In an interview, Cormier’s co-stars, including Ian Ousley (Sokka) and Dallas Liu (Prince Zuko), playfully debated who among them could claim the title of the show’s biggest fan.
While Ousley acknowledged Kiawentiio’s (Katara) lifelong connection to the series, Liu revealed a surprising fact about Cormier’s dedication: the young actor had watched the original Nickelodeon cartoon a staggering 26 times in preparation for his role as Aang.
Gordon Cormier as Avatar Aang (Source: Empire)
Cormier’s commitment to studying the source material is a testament to his passion for the project and his desire to capture the essence of Aang with authenticity and depth.
By immersing himself in the original series to such an extent, Cormier has not only gained a profound understanding of Aang’s character but has also absorbed the nuances, themes, and cultural influences that make Avatar: The Last Airbender so beloved.
It is not uncommon for actors to revisit source material when portraying iconic characters, but Cormier’s dedication to watching the show 26 times demonstrates an exceptional level of devotion.
This level of preparation suggests that Cormier’s performance as Aang will be infused with a deep appreciation for the character’s journey, personality, and place within the rich tapestry of the Avatar universe.
With Cormier’s extensive knowledge of Aang and the world of Avatar, coupled with the collective passion of the cast, audiences can expect a faithful and immersive interpretation of the beloved story.