Lynn Chen – Actor

Los Angeles, CA

Who are you?

I’m an actress, best known for my role as “Vivian Shing” in the movie “Saving Face,” recognized as the 2005 Golden Horse Viewer’s Choice.

I started performing at a very young age, when I was five years old, and it’s all I’ve ever known. It feels like home to me. As a child, I sang with the Children’s Choirs at the Metropolitan and NYC Opera Houses, and made my acting debut in the NY State Theatre production of “South Pacific” at Lincoln Center.

I’m in the independent film, “The People I’ve Slept With,” which is currently playing film festivals all around the world, and I’m now shooting “Surrogate Valentine.”

I can also be seen in “Mentor,” “I’m Through With White Girls,” and Neil LaBute’s “Lakeview Terrace,” alongside Samuel L. Jackson, all available on DVD. Also, “X’s and O’s” and “Why Am I Doing This” will both be available on DVD soon. “White on Rice” will be available on Video on Demand nationwide starting June 1st. My television credits include “Numbers,” guest roles on almost all of the “Law and Order” shows, and recurring roles in “All My Children” and “The Singles Table,” opposite John Cho and Alicia Silverstone.

What do you do?

I enjoy being creative and interacting with an audience. There’s really no words to describe exactly why I love acting, but I do know that when I’m doing it I’m incredibly happy and fulfilled. I also have a love / hate relationship with the nomadic / unscheduled lifestyle of an actor; making my own schedule is cool and working for only a few months a year is great… but talk about nerve-wracking, unpredictable, and stressful!

In addition to acting in films and on television, I blog daily at “The Actors Diet” – www.theactorsdiet.com. I started the blog for a few reasons –to give me something to do creatively on a daily basis (an actor’s life can be very boring), to be out in the open about my eating disorder history, and to explore this myth that actors need to go on crazy diets to look camera-ready. The blog is a daily look into the challenges and struggles we all have with food, but actors in particular have added pressure because our jobs rely on the way we look. I wanted to show a positive, healthy spin on that.

Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage?

I’m 2nd generation. My father was born in Taiwan and my mother grew up there. I have such fond memories of visiting Taiwan throughout my youth. I’m sure it’s so different now from when I was there as a kid. We always went in the summer, so I remember it being very hot, with sudden downpours. I loved visiting with family, riding around on scooters, and watching Asian MTV. I remember sleeping on hard beds and being told to drink hot soup to cool off. But I’m sure the things I would experience there now would be different, as an adult. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to go since I was 18.

Any additional information you would like to share?

My favorite Taiwanese food is Sao Bing You Tiao dipped in warm soy milk!

My website: http://lynnchen.com

The Actors Diet Blog: www.theactorsdiet.com