In partnership with WAAPA
It’s hardly been a decade since Grace Chow graduated from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. In the five years since, she’s left behind the sun-scorched streets of Western Australia to accomplish what feels like all of her dreams.
At 24, Chow scored a spot in Stan and The CW’s collaboration, “Good Cop/Bad Cop” alongside TV darling Leighton Meester. Before that, she had already won the prestigious Griffin Award for her work examining the fraught relationship between colonisation and religion in her play “The Promise Land”, led an opera (“Our Little Inventor”), and joined the cast of acclaimed, breakout Aussie hits “Mystery Road: Origin” and “The Twelve,” alongside Sam Neill.
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Born in Singapore, Chow and her parents made the move to rural Western Australia’s wheatbelt early in her life. How did she make the leap from Bruce Rock, Western Australia to a role in a show from the network that birthed “Gossip Girl”, “Vampire Diaries” and “Gilmore Girls”? We spoke to her to find out.
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For Chow, that ‘big break’ came long ago. “I’ve had an ‘I made it’ moment every day since I first booked my first professional stage play when I was 19”.
“Every time my LA manager or Australian agent texts or calls me I still get that ‘this is really cool’ feeling.”
To get here, she thanks her “stressy” younger self, “the anxiety, the overthinking, the monologues in the mirror probably got me here.”
That, and a work ethic honed by her Bachelor in Performing Arts. “I think it’s the work ethic it’s gifted me. The rigour of preparation, the persistence. I’m really grateful for that,” Chow shared. “But I think I’m most grateful for the grit and the collaborative skills it instilled in me.”
“You gain a lot of skills in that course as a writer, performer, director, producer–essentially [making you] a self-producing independent artist.”
Even now, albeit with a post code closer to 90210 than 6000, the lessons hold true. “I still value the same things I learnt in a theatre rehearsal room as I do on set. Being good to work with, taking creative risks, pursuit of excellence, warmth.”
“I love the journey I’ve been on and I have a lot of teachers to thank for it.”
As for what fledgling actors can steal from her playbook to success? It’s about authenticity. “My advice is always to be honest with yourself no matter what.”
When opportunity comes knocking, though, it’s about being ready. “[T]here’s a degree of luck in this industry, but you have to prepare for it so that when lady luck visits you, you are ready.
“Be a really great steward of the opportunities that you do get… big or small. I remember working so hard for the tiniest monologue in the tiniest play, because the practice of it mattered to me.”
Now, far from a tiny play, a typical evening includes snapping black and white pictures of her celebrity co-stars after a day holding court with Netflix in LA. Chow works alongside the “kind and grounded” Meester on the John Quaintance creation, “Good Cop/Bad Cop.” Quaintance’s resumé lists writing stints for “Will & Grace,” “Aquamarine” and “Workaholics.”
Chow admitted that landing the gig is something she’d keep top secret from her younger self, “[She] would be absolutely screaming, but I wouldn’t tell her anything.”
“It would make the surprise of working with the people I grew up admiring that much more rewarding.”
“Leighton has a lightness and ease about her. She’s so kind and grounded. The cast chemistry is really great on that show. Having fun when you’re working is crucial to my creativity, even when the role is really dark.”
Reflecting on her success, Chow loves being an Aussie actor in the U.S. screen landscape, even more so as someone of Asian diasporic heritage. When it comes to representation and storytelling, Chow has a clear vision for the future, “I want technicolour. I want despair, love, laughter and all kinds of subcultures to take the fore.”
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“I think we are seeing a lot of fear creep into the commercial side of storytelling in our geopolitical landscape. Now, more than ever, we need to be allies to minority intersectional groups — queer, disabled, people of colour, women — because censorship of their and our experiences is a really dangerous thing.”
“I want to see joy for these groups in our media. They are capable of giving all audiences joy and they deserve joy themselves. Try to scorch us. Fires burn bright!”
“Particularly with the presence of Trumpian politics. Who wants to live in a world with only one perspective? Boring.”
One of Chow’s secret weapons is her layered perspective care of her Australian aura on American sets. “I love Western Australia. I guess I try to bring that open but focused energy into every creative space.”
“It’s really grounding to come home to Perth, go cuddle my best friend’s new baby, go for a beach walk and be humbled by the landscape.”
As for what’s next for Chow? “This year I’ve travelled the globe just working as an actor and writer. It’s still so surreal to me. I’m really thankful to be embraced in Australia as someone of Asian diasporic heritage.”
Her final, parting words of wisdom? “It’s easy to get lost in the glamour of smoke and mirrors, but always have some creative pursuits that are wholly, directly from you as an expression of your own artistic voice.”
Find out more about the courses on offer at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at the website.