On the Difference between Being a Role and Playing a Role

Keeping Japanese Performance Arts Alive in the Camps Passing Time in the Camps with Baton Twirling Takayo Fischer’s Love of Acting Started with Shibai Facing Prejudice as a Japanese American Teenager in Chicago after the War Takayo Fischer on Her First Time Expressing Outward Affection to Her Parents Being Confused about Racial Identity in Postwar United States Shock of Her Granddaughter Not Knowing Her Japanese Heritage On the Difference between Being a Role and Playing a Role Working on the Set of Pirates of the Caribbean and Meeting Keith Richards The Emotional Toll of Being Incarcerated in Camp during World War II Representing her Family and the Japanese American Community in Acting Sister’s Trauma from being Incarcerated during World War II Her Approach to Preparing for Roles Getting the Role of Gwennie in The World of Suzie Wong

Transcripts available in the following languages:

Well, it’s interesting that I was offered those Chinese roles, and I think there was a lot of people who were Chinese who were very upset about the fact that I was playing a Chinese role, when there are so many good Chinese actors, you know? Just like now, I’m sure there are a lot of Japanese, Japanese-American roles, and there are Chinese or Koreans playing it. So, there’s always jealousy, but if you’re an actor, you don’t have to be that part, you’re playing that part.

Date: November 8, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: June Berk
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

acting actor roles