LOS FELIZ, Calif. - While the conversations around visibility, representation and equality in Hollywood continue to gain momentum, one wonders if things really are changing. If you ask actor Miya Cech, who is appearing in the new Netflix rom-com, Always Be My Maybe, she will tell you they are.
Excitement was high at the Westwood premiere of the film which stars and was written by Ali Wong and Randall Park, but perhaps no one was more excited than Miya who plays the 12-year-old version of Wong’s character. This isn't the first time Wong and Miya have worked together. The two worked together on the TV show, American Housewife.
“It was like reuniting with an old friend,” said Miya. “And she's honestly such an inspiration for me.”
Miya, who already has an impressive resume of TV and film projects, is often asked if her new film, which features a diverse cast of Asian Americans both in front of and behind the camera, is targeting only to the Asian market.
“Is it just going to be relatable for the Asian culture?” said Miya. “No, it's relatable for everyone. I like that we have such a strong Asian main cast. It makes me really happy and really proud.”
Although Miya said she feels like just a regular 12-year-old, her professionalism and commitment to her craft already shows.
She talked about seeing herself on screen, “And now I can sort of criticize myself and be like, ‘I should have done that. I should have done this differently. Oh, he said that, I should have reacted differently.’”
Although Miya’s family is very supportive and involved in her blossoming career, I asked her if being on movie sets so much made her feel like she was missing out on other things, like school life.
“When I'm on set,” she replied, “it feels like a family, especially when there's other kids on set and we can just really connect with each other and we can hang out.”
As part of a new generation of film and TV actors, Miya is already aware of what it means to be an Asian-American Actor working in Hollywood today.
“For me, it's really important to see representation,” she said. “When I'm auditioning for certain roles that aren’t necessarily for an Asian person or a certain look, I always say to myself, ‘I can change their mind.’”
Already a seasoned pro, Miya had some sage advice for others her age who might be wanting to get into the acting game.
“Be ready for no's,” she said. “Because you're going to get a lot more of those than you’re going to get Yes’s, trust me! But take it as a challenge. Take it as something to prove them wrong.”
Although Miya has been enjoying the positive reactions to Always Be My Maybe, she's already on to the next project in her promising career which is currently filming in Vancouver.