Katie Leung finds humanity in the complex character of Lady Araminta Gun in Netflix's Bridgerton series.
In the show, Lady Araminta, a widowed aristocrat with two teenage daughters, is tasked with marrying off her girls to wealthy families. Leung says she was drawn to the role because it offered a chance to play a mother who had daughters - a family dynamic she feels is often lacking in period dramas.
Leung also hopes that Bridgerton can pave the way for more diverse casting in period dramas. She believes the show's diverse cast and inclusive approach have made her feel safe as an actor, but acknowledges that criticism of "colour-conscious" casting is still relevant.
Growing up moving between Scotland and other parts of the world due to her father's job, Leung found it difficult to experience a sense of community and inclusion. She says her mother played a crucial role in raising her, but she also struggled with feelings of insecurity stemming from her fame as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films.
Leung has learned to manage her distance from online hate and criticism after years in the public eye. Despite struggling initially with the pressures of fame, she is now able to separate her personal life from her job.
After graduating from drama school, Leung faced limited roles that did not require her ethnicity as a factor. Progress has been slow but noticeable, she notes. The more inclusive casting seen in shows like Bridgerton makes it easier for actors of color to be cast in leading roles.
In the show, Lady Araminta, a widowed aristocrat with two teenage daughters, is tasked with marrying off her girls to wealthy families. Leung says she was drawn to the role because it offered a chance to play a mother who had daughters - a family dynamic she feels is often lacking in period dramas.
Leung also hopes that Bridgerton can pave the way for more diverse casting in period dramas. She believes the show's diverse cast and inclusive approach have made her feel safe as an actor, but acknowledges that criticism of "colour-conscious" casting is still relevant.
Growing up moving between Scotland and other parts of the world due to her father's job, Leung found it difficult to experience a sense of community and inclusion. She says her mother played a crucial role in raising her, but she also struggled with feelings of insecurity stemming from her fame as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films.
Leung has learned to manage her distance from online hate and criticism after years in the public eye. Despite struggling initially with the pressures of fame, she is now able to separate her personal life from her job.
After graduating from drama school, Leung faced limited roles that did not require her ethnicity as a factor. Progress has been slow but noticeable, she notes. The more inclusive casting seen in shows like Bridgerton makes it easier for actors of color to be cast in leading roles.
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. Anyway, back to Katie Leung... I feel for her, playing Lady Araminta Gun must be such an emotional rollercoaster, but you know who else struggles with that kind of thing? My cat when she's stuck in the vet's waiting room 
. I swear, they have no idea what anxiety is.
, and I love how she's using her platform to advocate for more diverse casting in period dramas 
. Growing up, I can imagine it must've been tough for her to experience a sense of community, especially with all the moving around her family did 
. But its awesome that her mom was there to support her and help her feel safe 
.
! Katie Leung's story is proof that it can be done, and shows like Bridgerton are paving the way for more actors of color to lead roles 
. Fingers crossed we see even more progress in the future 
.
. On one hand, it's awesome that Bridgerton has brought more diverse casting to the table, and Leung's own story is really inspiring - she's come a long way from struggling with online hate and criticism. But at the same time, I feel like there's still so much work to be done 
. I mean, even with shows like Bridgerton, we're not yet seeing enough people of color in leading roles... it's progress, but we need to keep pushing for more 
.
. It's so refreshing to see someone using their platform to advocate for more diverse casting in period dramas, especially since she knows firsthand what it's like to struggle as a person of color in the industry. I think it's awesome that Leung is feeling seen and included with the show's diverse cast 
. Her openness about her own experiences with online hate and criticism shows how brave she is, and I'm excited to see more shows and roles coming our way! 
. But seeing shows like Bridgerton break down barriers and offer more diverse casting is a huge step in the right direction! It's all about creating a sense of community and acceptance for kids like mine who don't always see themselves reflected on screen 
.
. It's not just about representation, but also about creating a sense of safety and inclusion for actors of color 
. I can totally relate to her experiences growing up feeling like an outsider due to her family's nomadic lifestyle 
.
And Katie's right, it's not just about representation - it's also about creating a space where actors of color can shine in leading roles. Fingers crossed we see more of this in the future 
.
. I mean, who comes up with this stuff? She's just a prop to get those daughters married off, what a waste of talent.
And it's lovely that she's speaking out about her own experiences with online hate - as a parent, I can only imagine how scary it must be to deal with criticism and negativity when you're just trying to do your job. 
. She's not just playing a character, she's using her platform to promote change and representation in the industry. It's amazing that she's speaking out about how much it means to have diverse casting and an inclusive approach - I feel like we're finally getting there! 
. I just love watching Katie Leung act and I'm so grateful for Bridgerton! 
[Droppy Keanu] - "Whoa, Lady Araminta's got a lot of baggage, and Katie Leung is like 'I'm here for the emotional drama!' 
" [gif: Droopy Keanu with sunglasses and a fedora]
"
[Fame struggles] - "Katie Leung's got experience with online drama...just ask Cho Chang, am I right? 
" [gif: Cho Chang from Harry Potter looking frustrated]
[Progress is slow but noticeable] - "It took a few years, but now actors of color are getting the leading roles they deserve! Progress, baby! 
Leung's story is really inspiring too, especially with all she's been through growing up and facing online hate. She's a total role model for anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit in 
. It's not just about the romance, it's about exploring the humanity in these characters too. Fingers crossed that Bridgerton can be a turning point for more inclusive period dramas 
!
. It's so true that we've been lacking that representation on screen for far too long, and I'm glad shows like Bridgerton are paving the way for change 
. As someone who grew up feeling like they didn't quite fit into one place or community, it's amazing to see Leung using her platform to advocate for more inclusive casting and a sense of humanity in complex characters