Artist Spotlight: Joan Chen

It is rare to meet an empress, especially one who has been married to one of the most notorious rulers in Chinese history. But for actress Joan Chen, her on-screen marriages to Emperor Puyi and Kublai Khan are all in a day’s work. After rising to superstardom in China as a teen, Chen became famous in America for her portrayal of Empress Wan Jung in Bernardo Bertolucci’s 9-time Academy Award-winning film “The Last Emperor.” Chen currently stars in the Netflix series “Marco Polo” as Empress Chabi and will be speaking at the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations student conference on Feb. 16.

The Harvard Crimson: What was it like being a teen movie star during the Cultural Revolution in China?

Joan Chen: When I first started, it was the old studio system. I was plucked out of high school by Mao’s wife to star in her next film…. When [my second] film came out, I...became this overnight celebrity. The film was a propaganda film, and I was to be the role model for the proletariat youth. It was quite scary. I would get mobbed on crowded buses. We all had to shower in these public bath places, and to this day, I can remember nothing more terrifying than being mobbed when naked, going through puberty.... We were coming out of an era where few movies were made in China. There was no movie star culture. I was the beginning of it, so there was nothing I could reference.

THC: China’s box office has become a multi-billion dollar industry that invests not only in domestic films but also in Hollywood and American cinema. As an actor and filmmaker in both countries, how do you see this affecting the media landscape?

JC: The Chinese film market is taking off...which I think is enticing many U.S. film companies to try and make that one film that could be big in China. I even know of productions that include Chinese movie stars just for the Chinese version...but cut [them] out for the U.S. market. And this push for new content is coming from the Chinese companies as well. Just last year, I’ve been approached multiple times to direct films, which means they really need talent and people who can do cross-cultural projects. I know Asian-American directors who, for years, couldn’t get films made in the U.S. but are now fully financed in China.

THC: How has your experience starring in Netflix’s new series “Marco Polo” as Empress Chabi been?

JC: It was really great. When I first got the script, the character was not well-defined, but they included her because, historically, she was Kublai Khan’s wife. But as the writers and I communicated more, the character of Chabi got better and better.... Before “Marco Polo,” I hadn’t done a big U.S. project for a long time.... It just reminded me of what could be accomplished when you have that kind of budget and talent.

THC: You seem to play a lot of empresses. Do you find yourself typecast often?

JC: I say, “If you can be typecast, you’re lucky.” That means you’re still doing things and you’re still relevant. You have to be in the scene, on the screen, to make changes. So often I am given flat, boring characters in great, interesting movies. These roles are filled with stereotypes, and I have to work with the writers and directors and help them flesh out these characters. You can’t do that if you don’t have a role.

THC: Why did you choose to speak at the HPAIR conference?

JC: Harvard is an institution that I have great admiration and respect for, and working with students, the future leaders of this world, is one of my main passions at this stage in my life. So for me be at Harvard, speaking at a conference for international youth leaders, is such an honor for me.

THC: Are there any other ways you’re working to promote U.S.-China relations?

JC: I’m actually working on this very exciting project right now called “Youth Voices on China” organized by the 1990 Institute. We’re having students submit three-minute films about their views on what China means to them, China’s relevance to their generation, and how to improve U.S.-China relations.... It’s heartening to see so many kids interested in this growing field of influence. We want to promote positive connection between the two countries because this relationship is crucial and imperative to world peace and is going to be the narrative and the domain of the next generation.