We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ye Zhong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ye, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Since I was a little girl, I knew that a stable job was not for me. I couldn’t imagine living a life doing the same thing day after day. Although I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to be when I grew up, I already knew what I didn’t want to be. One day when I was 14, my English teacher decided to show us Pirates of the Caribbean to help us understand the text better. Little did she know, this decision would change a girl’s life. After that class, I became obsessed with the movie series, so much so that I felt a deep pain knowing I could never live the life the characters did. I kept thinking about the movie series day and night. Then, one rainy day, an idea struck me like lightning. I realized that the only way to live such a fascinating life was by becoming an actress. Everything suddenly made sense to me. If I became an actress, I could experience an infinite number of different lives, and that’s how I wanted to live for the rest of my life. Since that day, my desire to pursue acting as my career has never wavered.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born and grew up in Southern China, making me fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese. Growing up, the arts were part of my life. I began learning piano when I was 6 years old, and later added French horn and violin to my repertoire. Also, movies and books have always been my best friends. However, even though I had dreamed of becoming an actress since I was 14, my life had nothing to do with acting because my parents were completely against the idea of me pursuing acting as a career.

After graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in social work and social administration, I ended up working with special needs children, which I enjoyed. However, deep down I knew I would never be satisfied and would always wonder “what if” if I didn’t give my dream a shot. So, I made the big decision to leave everything behind and came to the United States to pursue my passion. I applied to study acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the oldest acting school in the country, and it has definitely prepared me well for the industry.

One of my proudest moments was being selected as a finalist by Warner Bros. TV Actors in Training program, from a pool of candidates from around the world, right after I graduated from my full-time program. In the same year, I was accepted for the exclusive Academy Company, where I gained valuable theater experience. I was part of four plays in just seven months. And now, I am living my dream as a working actress!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe we need to raise more awareness about the importance of respecting arts and and the hard-working artists who create them. Although our lives and art are inseparable, biases against people working in creative fields still exist. I mean, how many times have you heard someone say that working in the arts isn’t a “real job”? Like myself, many people who want to pursue careeer in the arts since a young age but have not received the encouragement from those around them. I’ve seen many of my fellow actors struggle to gain support and understanding from their loved ones. I’ve heard hurtful comments like “actors are shallow” or “people only become actors for the easy money.” And let’s not forget the classic “you can’t make a living by doing arts.” Even a lot of working actors can struggle with self-doubt and a lack of respect for their craft. It is important to recognize the value of artistic work and to give artists the recognition and support they deserve. We need to create a more inclusive environment for people who are passionate about the arts to pursue their dreams without fear of judgment or criticism.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

After dreaming of being an actress for over ten years, finally being able to act is already the most fulfilling aspect of my life. The simple joy of continuing to act is the greatest reward and the driving force that motivates me to keep going. I am determined to do what I love, and I refuse to go back to a time when I couldn’t. Doing what I am passionate about has helped me love and appreciate myself more, and it keeps me grounded and present in the moment. Regardless the outcome, I want to fully immerse myself in the experience and feel every moment, both good and bad.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.actressyezhong.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yezhong_/
• Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13525858/

Image Credits
Dominic Leano