Kim's Convenience's Simu Liu on his sky-rocketing acting career
What it was like to find international success on TV and become Marvel's first Asian superhero.
Watch: Kim's Convenience's Simu Liu on his sky-rocketing acting career
Simu Liu, who plays Jung in Kim's Convenience, is starring as Marvel's first ever Chinese superhero in the new film Shang-Chi.
"I would never in a million years have expected my life to have unfolded the way it did," says Liu during an interview for Kim's Convenience season five.
Simu Liu used to be an accountant.
Before acting, Liu studied finance and accounting at Western University's Ivey Business School for two years, then spent a year working as an accountant at Deloitte.
He began his acting career as an extra in the film Pacific Rim, and it was uphill from there. Liu has also played roles in films, TV shows from Nikita to Orphan Black to Bad Blood.
"All I really knew how to do was put one foot in front of the other," says Liu.
When Liu jokingly tweeted at Marvel Entertainment on July 17, 2014, and again in 2018, he had no idea it would lead to him getting the lead role.
"Hey @Marvel, great job with Cpt America and Thor," wrote the Canadian actor, best known for his role in the hit comedy Kim's Convenience. "Now how about an Asian American hero?"
OK <a href="https://twitter.com/Marvel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Marvel</a>, are we gonna talk or what <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShangChi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShangChi</a>
—@SimuLiuThe 31-year-old actor is writing his first book, and was named Entertainment Weekly rising star of 2021.
The new season of Kim's Convenience which premiered this month can be streamed for free on CBC Gem.