CHRISTINE NGUYEN can currently be seen in The Bold Type on Amazon Prime and Freeform.
The Bold Type follows the outrageous lives and loves of those responsible for a global women’s magazine. Christine plays Addison, a young, up-and-coming Gen-Z writer who dropped out of college but has made a name for herself writing feminist think pieces on the Internet.
AC: What can audiences expect from The Bold Type?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – We made it! It’s the last season so be prepared to see some beautiful work both on and off-screen. This chapter is going to close off with a bang and know that we couldn’t have done it without you.
AC: How does your character fit into the story?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – Addison is one of Jane’s new hired writers. She challenges Jane in what it means to nourish younger talent and being a talent of colour, it brings an interesting twist to this dynamic. How does Jane go about cultivating Addison’s work meanwhile making space to ensure that her voice and identity aren’t stifled?
AC: What do you think is your character’s ultimate goal?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – Addison just wants to be seen and heard. Writing is what she excels in and when given the opportunity, she’s very excited to voice her thoughts. I think Addison wants to challenge what has traditionally been the norm through her writing and part of the struggle is finding platforms that will amplify that voice. Although she gained some steam prior to being employed at Scarlet, she’s still looking for opportunities to learn and having mindful mentorship is crucial to this.
AC: Can you recall any funny moments from on-set filming?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – There were too many. One of my favourite memories is less a funny experience and more of an uplifting one. Working with Katie Stevens has been a dream. Not only is she a talented and generous actor, she’s also constantly doing her part in making space for others. Addison wouldn’t be where she is today if it wasn’t for her.
AC: As an actor, what are you still trying to learn?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – To trust that my work is enough. It’s hard not to want to perfect the art, which is funny because the art of acting works in a way to reveal our imperfections. Wanting to perfect it, gets in the way of me being present and living in the moment. It’s something that I struggle within everyday life. I have to get used to the fact that it’s okay to be perfectly, imperfect.
AC: How can you tell when you’re reading a great script?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – If it provides a service. What is the story, what is it doing for the community it’s representing and what is it revealing about us? It’s important to do the research when I get the audition. Sometimes I’m limited to a few pages but being able to see who my potential team is, gives me a sense of what the work will be like.
AC: When did you begin to see acting as a potential career avenue?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – I knew at a young age how privileged I was to be pursuing an acting career. I owe a lot to my parents. They were refugees from the Vietnam war. They literally sacrificed their dreams in order for me to pursue mine. I’m pursuing this career as a love letter to them and honour what they have paved for me.
AC: What do you want the world to look like in 10 years?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – I just hope that the future will be kinder to the generations ahead.
AC: How important is social media to you right now?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – I’m definitely a person that’s more used to capturing mental pictures instead of digital ones. But, due to the nature of my career, it only made sense to delve into it. That being said, I learned quickly how stirring these platforms can be. It literally has the potential to reach millions with a simple click. Sure I can use it to gain some work presence, but, I mean, imagine what it can do to change the world. I had a discussion with an acting friend of mine recently about how scary it can be to speak out on issues we believe in, but the more we do it, the better we are at strengthening our voices. I feel like we have a responsibility to be mindful and own what we put forth in our content.
AC: What’s the biggest realisation you’ve had this past year?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – Boundaries. In retrospect, it’s obvious to say, but living through it is a different story. We tend to forget what healthy relationships are when we’re constantly being asked to push through them. One of the most liberating things, I learned, is the power of saying no. No opportunity is worth sacrificing your mental or physical health. Take care of yourself and when you start making space, the right doors will open for you.
AC: What makes you feel nostalgic?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – COVID-19 has been a trying time for a lot of people, myself included. When I’m in need of comfort I can always lean on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It brings me back to a time when things felt simpler.
AC: Aside from your upcoming projects, what are you excited about for the future?
CHRISTINE NGUYEN – I’m excited for some downtime. Although I am extremely grateful to work, I owe it to myself to pursue some of my personal projects. One of my missions is to revamp an Instagram sketch series that my friends and I started early on in our careers. It’s called I Dream In Color and it challenges the view of not seeing colour. In doing this, we hope to put forth and amplify marginalized voices. I’m also working on creating my own farm sanctuary. After losing my best friend, I was inspired to create a space where creatures are given the opportunity to live and grow old.
INTERVIEW: ADAM CROOKES
