Born in Birmingham, England in 1992 to a Hong Kong Chinese immigrant family, actress Mei Mac has garnered considerable attention for her impressive stage and screen career. Mac’s acclaimed portrayals in stage adaptations of two Studio Ghibli animated films have earned her an endearing nickname — ‘Mama Mei.’ She attributes this to her protective maternal instinct towards others of British East Asian and Southeast Asian heritage.
Mac is unwaveringly committed to championing representation, as evident from her recent role in Kimber Lee’s untitled f*** m*ss s**gon play. The provocative comedy, coming to London’s Young Vic in September, directly challenges Asian stereotypes. Mac’s character, Kim, traverses time, experiencing moments in history that highlight the normalized mistreatment of East Asian women. This character role ignited a fire within Mac, leading her to confront the often misrepresented stories of Asian women in theatre.
Cultural milestones like the musical South Pacific and Robert Altman’s Korean war comedy MAS*H are scrutinized, as well as theatrical narratives like Miss Saigon and Madama Butterfly. Mac critically examines these works for their portrayal of Asian women as meek, lacking agency, and resigned to tragic ends. This harrowing repeated storyline inspired Mac’s crusade for change in the representation of Asian women in the arts.
Mac’s career kickstarted when she was cast as San in a stage version of Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. Remarkably, she had the chance to meet the film’s acclaimed animator/director, Hayao Miyazaki. Despite the initial tension due to her Chinese heritage, Miyazaki acknowledged that if the character San existed in real life, it would indeed be Mac.
Subsequently, Mac was cast as the lead character, Mei, in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of another Ghibli classic, My Neighbour Totoro. The play was a massive success, and Mac’s phenomenal performance earned her a nomination for the prestigious Olivier Award. Despite the honor, Mac admits to having mixed feelings being the first East Asian actor nominated in the best actress category as late as 2023.
Although Mac’s journey into acting was not a straight path — she was close to studying medicine — her love for drama led her to take the leap. With inspiration from Kumiko Mendl, artistic director of the New Earth Theatre, and a dedicated work ethic, she has made significant strides in the industry.
While Mac cherishes her strong ties to Hong Kong and South China, she also has a desire to represent the British East Asian experience more authentically on stage and on screen. Her work extends beyond her personal career; during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, she co-founded Rising Waves, a mentorship scheme for British East and Southeast Asian artists.
While Mac acknowledges that she stands at the forefront of advocating for change, she’s quick to note that she is building on the efforts of those who came before her. Her goal, she says, is to broaden her shoulders for future generations to stand on, continuing the momentum for change in Asian representation in the arts.
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