The intention of the ritual, led by director duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schneinert (a.k.a.
But more on that powerhouse performance later.
“We’re a very witchy bunch, actually.
Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, and James Hong in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.'.Allyson Riggs/A24
They wouldn’t call it witchy in our culture, but we’re very spiritual.
I really do feel like our movie is blessed in this weird synchronistic, beautiful, magical way.
Because no one could have possibly imagined our story and our movie could do what it’s done.
Stephanie Hsu in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.Allyson Riggs/A24
It’s a testament to the Daniels.
It also helps whenMichelle Yeohis a costar.
“We all signed on because Michelle is Michelle,” Hsu says.
Michael Zegen and Stephanie Hsu on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Everett Collection
“She completely surrendered to the process without any ego.”
Most weekends were spent in Monterey Park, a dense Asian immigrant enclave about 30 miles northbound.
She laughs at the admission.
Tallie Medel and Stephanie Hsu in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’.Allyson Riggs/A24
“That was my favorite thing to do.”
Her mother had reservations about a career in the arts.
But don’t expect Hsu to spew cliche rhetoric about “tiger parenting” here.
Stephanie Hsu in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.Allyson Riggs/A24
“People give such a bad rap to immigrant parents.
Like, ‘They’re so strict, blah, blah, blah.’
And I’m like, no, they’re just afraid,” she offers, her tone soft.
Stephanie Hsu in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’.Marvel Studios
“They want their kids to be safe.
And our country, America, has not always been the safest place for people who are different.
Hsu’s love forthe arts never faltered, though she may have briefly considered a career as a lawyer.
Sabrina Wu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, and Stephanie Hsu in ‘Joy Ride’.Ed Araquel/Lionsgate
(Blame a certain 1997 legal drama starringDylan McDermottfor that.
“When I was a kid I really loved the showThe Practice.
“What is all this Joy stuff?
“I had a small role but I got to show up to work every day to learn.
It was an amazing place for me to really understand what it was like to be on set.”
“I’m doing eight shows a week.
We were about to enter previews.
Of course, she met with Sherman-Palladino and her collaborator husband Dan.
“There was no guarantee that Mei would be there throughout the season.
Suffice to say, it worked.
Her mother had a similar moment of resonation.
They were talking aboutMarvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Hsu recounts.
And my mom goes, ‘I think that’s my daughter.’
“The Daniels are amazing.
I honestly think we are cut from the same artistic cloth.
We’re very much best friends and soulmates in so many ways.
Whatever you want me to do, I’m yours.’
But then of course when I read the script, I couldn’t believe it.
I couldn’t believe it was a story about a mother and a daughter, an immigrant family.
I had never seen anything like that before.”
The film follows Evelyn, the disillusioned owner of a failing laundromat being audited by the IRS.
Also, an interdimensional rupture has unraveled reality.
And it’s sort of up to her to save the universe.
For Hsu, the role(s) is one she’s long dreamt of.
“I came from experimental theater.
I have a passion for the craft and what we do and storytelling and breaking that open.
I wanted Joy to be so almost forgettable that Jobu is like the wildest surprise ever.”
Jobu is indeed a wild surprise.
A cigarette sits squarely at the center of her mouth.
That was by Hsu’s design, by the way.
“Best entrance in the whole wide world.
“She’s funny; she’s so cool; she doesn’t care what you think about her.
I want her to smoke the cigarette from the center of her mouth.'
And for Halloween, so many people noticed it.
They took pictures as Jobu with a cigarette at the center of their mouth.
I felt really seen.”
“It’s a chemistry thing,” Hsu says of creating that dynamic with Yeoh.
“It’s also a Michelle Yeoh thing.
She makes everybody feel like family when you work with her.
Her love is so big.
My love is so big.
When we were talking about the script, we didn’t have a roundtable discussion about intergenerational trauma.
Everybody just knew it.
“I’ll never forget filming the parking lot scene with Michelle,” Hsu continues.
“That was a really special day because it was toward the end of the film.
We really had built this family in the process of making this.
I feel like I looked into the depths of her soul and she looked into mine.”
Everybody was at the monitors.
Everybody was a mess.”
Hsu’s mother was not exempt.
Like, ‘Ha ha ha, you’re that grumpy daughter.’
But she was crying and she said, ‘That’s me.’
And I realized that that was the first time my mom had ever seen herself on the screen.
And that to me is so powerful.
A little bit of healing happened to her as well.”
I had to pass.
I was so bummed because I knew Michelle was going to be part of it.
I met Simu in that episode ofNora From Queens.I was so proud of him.”
Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
A year after she passed on it, Hsu received yet another call from production.
They were doing reshoots in LA.
Did she still want to partake?
I feel really at peace with the universe.
Hsu revels in the opportunity to amplify a topic she admittedly once found very “booooring!”
during her Chinese school days.
Other upcoming credits includeAdele Lim’sJoy RideandRandall Park’sShortcomings.
“The thing that always matters to me is the why,” she says of future projects.
“I really care about passionate filmmakers who have a vision.
I don’t believe that’s true.
As the acoustics in the cafe rise from the chatter of the brunch crowd, Hsu’s voice lowers.
She lets it be known that she is fully cognizant of the magnitude of this moment.
We also need a moment to like, breathe, have a snack, enjoy, celebrate the goodness.
I wanna just tell stories.”
She also knows that there is still so much more work to be done.
What makes you think that if goodness happens there, then it’ll just pass along?
I’m not gonna sit back silent.
I’m not gonna let you push me aside.
I am going to bring this flood of other people who are waiting behind the gates through.”
She reaches for her coffee, the mug nearly running on empty.
“That’s why the nomination feels so beautiful,” Hsu offers.
