57 Asian Actors and Actresses in Hollywood You Should Know

We can't get enough of these talented stars.

By Isis Briones, Tommy Tsao, Kristi Kellogg, and Sara Li

May 11, 2022

Lana Condor Hoyeon Jung Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, but the state of Hollywood roles for Asian actors and actresses rarely reflects that. But thanks to the hard work of advocates, consumers, and producers (like Anita Guo!), we are slowly but surely getting better Asian representation on screen. It’s not enough to just cast an Asian actor for tokenizing reasons; it’s also pivotal that Asian characters are given the depth and nuance of their white counterparts.

From the success of Netflix’s Squid Game to the majority-Asian cast in Crazy Rich Asians, the importance of appealing to all audiences is finally starting to become a priority for Hollywood. And it's about time. Representation matters! (Hollywood, are you listening?) Ahead, discover the best young Asian actors and actresses you should be watching.

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Simone Ashley
Though her credits include British favorite Broadchurch and Netflix’s acclaimed Sex Education, actress Simone Ashley captured all our hearts starring opposite Jonathan Bailey in the second season of Netflix’s Bridgerton, and we cannot wait to see what she does next.
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Hoyeon Jung
Best known for her modeling portfolio, South Korean actress Hoyeon Jung’s big break as Kang Sae-byeok in Squid Game has left us all wondering what she will do next. She's already been cast in her next project, AppleTV+ series Disclaimer, starring Cate Blanchett.

Vivien Killilea
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Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Teen Vogue cover star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan earned her breakout role in Never Have I Ever, where she plays chaotic, grieving high schooler Devi Vishwakumar. Her comedic prowess is off the charts, and we're excited to see more of her: she'll next star in Netflix's The Netherfield Girls, a comedy adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
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Darren Barnet
Best known for his breakout role as Paxton Hall-Yoshida in Never Have I Ever, Japanese-American actor Darren Barnet’s character did not originally reflect his Asian identity – it wasn’t until Mindy Kaling heard him speak Japanese that this piece of information made it into the script. Season 2 has Paxton delve further into his ancestry when he brings his grandfather to school to talk about Japanese American incarceration during WWII.

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Gemma Chan
You may know her from Crazy Rich Asians or, more recently, her role as Sersi in Marvel’s Eternals, but it was her part in British sci-fi drama Humans that truly put actress Gemma Chan on the map.
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Lana Condor
The Vietnamese-American actress made her big-screen debut as Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse and also played the girlfriend of Officer Sean Collier in the Boston Marathon bombing–inspired movie Patriots Day. But her major breakthrough role was in Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before as Lara Jean Covey. She reprised the role in the movie's two sequel To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and also played Saya on Syfy's Deadly Class. You can catch her in the HBO Max movie Moonshot (alongside Cole Sprouse) and in the forthcoming Netflix show Boo, Bitch.

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Sydney Park
Philadelphia native Sydney Park, who is Korean American and Black, is a rising star already known for roles in Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, Moxie, The Walking Dead, Santa Clarita Diet, and more. You can next see her in the film First Love, starring alongside Diane Kruger and Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
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Natasha Liu Bordizzo
Natasha Liu Bordizzo first made a splash when she was cast in teen dystopian series The Society. Most recently, Natasha starred alongside Sydney Sweeney and Justice Smith in the thrilling Voyeurs, and has scored a role in the upcoming Ahsoka.

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Courtney Eaton
Australia-born actress Courtney Eaton’s first onscreen appearance was in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Since then, she has had a few smaller roles in films such as Gods of Egypt and Newness, but it is her part as Lottie in Showtime’s Yellowjackets that has left us all abuzz.
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Leah Lewis
Not only has Leah Lewis been charming us all with her take on one of Nancy Drew’s best friends George Fan in The CW, her portrayal of Ellie Chu in Netflix’s The Half Of It was both endearing and full of heart.

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Stephanie Hsu
Chinese-American actress Stephanie Hsu has been around for a while. If you’ve watched Marvelous Mrs. Maisel you may have seen her as the sarcastic Mei, but it’s her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once that is the true statement of her talents.
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Harry Shum Jr.
Though his parents come from Hong Kong and China, Harry was born in Costa Rica. His blend of cultures is similar to the range of skills he's acquired. It's safe to ask: What can't Harry do? He's an actor, singer, and dancer, after all. Harry's proven he's got moves with his roles on Stomp the Yard, You Got Served, Step Up 2: The Streets, and Step Up 3D. He's also taking over the world of television, first with his role on Glee and then on Shadowhunters. Next, he's starring in a Crazy Rich Asians spinoff about the romance between his character Charlie and Gemma Chan's Astrid.

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Anna Cathcart
Best known for her role as Kitty in To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Anna Cathcart has also acted in Descendants, Zoe Valentine, and more. She'll next reprise her role as Kitty in a spinoff series for Netflix titled XO, Kitty.
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Awkwafina
The half-Chinese, half-Korean American entertainer does it all — she’s a rapper, comedian, actress, and television host. Her earlier credits include Girl Code or Future Man, but 2018 was a major year for Awkwafina after she starred in the female-led reboot of Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians. She then went on to star in the critically acclaimed drama The Farewell.

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Shay Mitchell
Like a few of the Canadian greats, Shay got her start on Degrassi: The Next Generation. The half-Filipina Canadian actress went on to be one of your favorite liars on Pretty Little Liars and developed her name by becoming a spokesperson for major brands that include Pantene, Nike, and American Eagle. We also can't get enough of her as Peach Salinger in the Netflix hit You.
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Aubrey Anderson-Emmons
Aubrey joined the cast of Modern Family in season three and played Lily through the final season. Currently, Aubrey hosts a YouTube channel called FoodMania with her mom where the pair review food from all over the world.

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Ian Alexander
If you've seen The OA on Netflix, you know how talented Ian Alexander (who plays Buck Vu) is. They auditioned for the part on a whim, and though they had no professional acting experience, landed the role. In addition to being an actor, he's also an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
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Ross Butler
Ross (aka “the Original Reggie” on Riverdale) was born in Singapore to a Chinese-Malaysian mother. He left Riverdale High to continue his role in 13 Reasons Why for its second season, and then moved on to To All the Boys I Loved Before. He'll next be seen as a superhero in Shazam! and in the romance Loveboat, Taipei.

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Lyrica Okano
The Japanese-American actress has a lead role in the Hulu superhero teen show Marvel’s Runaways as Nico Minoru, a teenager who found out she has magical powers (and also the most killer goth aesthetic).
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Dev Patel
The British-Indian actor made a smash on the big screen with his award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Dev strongly followed up with his starring roles in The Last Airbender, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Lion, which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

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Naomi Scott
Indian actress Naomi Scott had a standout year in 2019, starring as Aladdin, as well as an angel in Charlie's Angels. She's picked up several roles since, including in Netflix's Anatomy of a Scandal. She'll next star in Aladdin 2 and the TV series Modern Love Tokyo.
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Kelsey Chow
You may remember the half-Chinese actress from her roles in Pair of Kings, One Tree Hill, or Teen Wolf. She is now starring in the ABC comedy Splitting Up Together and Yellowstone on The Paramount Network.

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Janel Parrish
Most of you may know half-Chinese American actress Janel as Mona Vanderwaal on Pretty Little Liars, but the star also made her debut in Bratz: The Movie. She also competed and took home third place on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. Janel reprised her role as Mona in the PLL spin-off series The Perfectionists and returned as Margot Covey in the sequels for Netflix's To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
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Charles Melton
When the half-Korean actor took over the role of Reggie Mantle from Ross Butler, it seemed like he immediately clicked with the cast. You can read about how he felt about being an Asian actor portraying a traditionally white character in his interview with Teen Vogue.

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Claudia Kim
The South Korean actress has already been seen in the blockbuster Marvel film Avengers: Age of Ultron. She also played Nagini in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
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Vincent Rodriguez III
The Filipino-American actor is best known for playing the lead love interest, Josh Chan, in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, where he shows off that he’s a triple threat who can act, dance, and sing (it also looks like he can hold his own in a fight).

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Kunal Nayyar
Any Big Bang Theory fan knows Kunal Nayyar as the lovably awkward astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali. The London-born Indian actor grew up in New Dehli, where his parents still live. Most recently, he voiced the roll of Guy Diamond in Trolls World Tour. Nayyar holds a master's degree in fine arts.
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Ki Hong Lee
Aside from his starring role in the Maze Runner series alongside Dylan O'Brien, you may recognize the Korean-American actor from the hit Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Whether he's freaking you out or making you laugh, there's nothing better than an actor who can take on a range of different roles.

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Hailee Steinfeld
The part-Filipina actress/singer first made headlines for her role in the 2010 film True Grit — which earned her an Oscar nomination. NBD. She later went on to star in Romeo & Juliet, the Pitch Perfect film series, and The Edge of Seventeen. With all of her film roles, she even had time to release her debut EP Haiz, featuring the summer banger "Love Myself." Most recently, she starred in the AppleTV+ series Dickinson.
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Suraj Sharma
Though his best known work is still likely his breakout role starring in Academy Award winning film Life of Pi, Suraj Sharma has kept up with a steady stream of projects, including recurring roles in Homeland, God Friended Me and, most recently, How I Met Your Father.

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Auli'i Cravalho
She might still be best known as the voice of Moana (and just in case you forgot, please revisit her life-changing Oscars performance), but the Hawaiian actress and singer further showed off her chops in the musical drama Rise. She also starred in the queer Hulu rom-com Crush.
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Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka is arguably one of the most popular and successful Bollywood actresses out there. She starred in the ABC series Quantico — which made her the first South Asian woman to headline her own American network series. Priyanka's recent credits include Baywatch, Isn't It Romantic, and the music video for the Jonas Brothers' "Sucker."

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Manny Jacinto
Another one of the best Asian actors is Manny Jacinto! The Philippines-born actor started off with small roles in shows such as Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, and iZombie. His breakout role was the lovable airhead Jason Mendoza in the NBC comedy The Good Place.
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Constance Wu
Constance Wu is a veteran actor who has led projects like Crazy Rich Asians, Fresh Off the Boat, Hustlers, and more. She'll next be seen in the films East Bay and Lyle Lyle Crocodile.

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Arden Cho
The Korean-American star started out as a model and landed her role in Teen Wolf. She's an advocate for Asian-American representation in Hollywood, which she made clear with her comments on the 2016 Academy Awards on Twitter. Aside from her notable character as Kira Yukimura, she's also made appearances on Pretty Little Liars, Castle, and CSI: NY.
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Jenna Ushkowitz
The Korean-American actress's very first role was on Broadway in The King and I; she then went on to be a part of Spring Awakening and most recently to star as Dawn in Waitress. The theater gave Jenna major practice for arguably her most notable role: playing Tina Cohen-Chang on Glee. Her success on the show led her to get the starring role in a special production of The Wedding Singer, which was actually one of the first times one of the lead characters was played by an Asian woman.

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Chloe Bennet
The part-Chinese actress actually pursued a career in singing at a young age in China. Today, Chloe is best known for her starring role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She also had a recurring role on Nashville.
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Forrest Wheeler
Like his TV brother Hudson, Fresh Off the Boat is Forrest's first major acting role. He plays the Huang family's middle child, and the Chinese-American actor has appeared in Zooey Deschanel's New Girl.

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Nikki SooHoo
The Chinese-American actress had a starring role in the Heathers TV show as Betty Finn (who has been reimagined as an Asian "mean girl" from the original 1988 film). Nikki is definitely a familiar face at the House of Mouse. Nikki has starred on Disney Channel shows Phil of the Future and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and has also appeared on Drake & Josh and Pretty Little Liars. In terms of the big screen, she's landed roles in Stick It, Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, and The Lovely Bones.
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Amrit Kaur
Amrit Kaur has landed a series of TV roles since the start of her acting career. Her role as Bela Malhotra in The Sex Lives of College Girls however, which seems to be at least in part inspired by creator Mindy Kaling’s own struggles to make it in comedy, is where she truly shines.

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Freida Pinto
The Indian actress, born and raised in Mumbai, killed it with her groundbreaking performance alongside Dev Patel in Slumdog Millionaire. Since then, she's starred in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and The Mindy Project. She's also become quite the style icon and is often seen frequenting designer shows.
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Karan Brar
Karan is best known for his role in the Wimpy Kid franchise, and the Indian actor is also a Disney Channel alum with his role in Jessie and spin-off Bunk'd. He's certainly got a bright future ahead of him.

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Brenda Song
Brenda Song, whose father is Hmong and mother is Thai-American, has an extensive Disney Channel career. She made appearances in That's So Raven, Phil of the Future, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Phineas and Ferb, and Wizards of Waverly Place. She went on to play more intense roles in The Social Network, Scandal, and New Girl — and most recently starred in the comedy Dollface. No one will ever forget Brenda's ultimate starring role in her very own movie, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, early on in her career.
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Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley released her debut album Expectations in 2018 and has continued to thrive in music ever since. She's also the star behind your childhood favorites, including voicing Velma Dinkley in Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins and Curse of the Lake Monster. The half-Japanese actress has also been in Disney productions, starring in Lemonade Mouth and Wizards of Waverly Place. Hayley also played a main character on CSI: Cyber.

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Vanessa Hudgens
The half-Filipina High School Musical star has built an extensive acting career. On top of releasing two albums, Vanessa has starred in Rent: Live, Grease: Live, Spring Breakers, and Bandslam. She's also hit the stage on Broadway in the musical Gigi.
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Nik Dodani
Teen Vogue New Hollywood honoree Nik Dodani has acted in a slew of TV and movie roles — he's best known for his character on Netflix's Atypical — as well as on Broadway in Waitress. Meanwhile, he's co-founded his own production company and created a TV and film mentorship program for South Asians. His next role will be in season 2 of David E. Kelley’s Big Sky.

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Hudson Yang
Hudson is the Huangs' eldest child in Fresh Off the Boat. This was Chinese-American's first major acting role. The success of the show is rightfully becoming a platform for Hudson to land more roles, including a guest appearance on Disney's Liv and Maddie.
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Ian Chen
The young Taiwanese-American actor has been in the business since he was 5. From Modern Family to Grey's Anatomy to Dr. Ken to Fresh Off the Boat, he's been making his way around the ABC lineup. Most recently, he appeared in Shazam! as Eugene.

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Mindy Kaling
Who doesn't love Mindy Kaling? Her breakout role was Kelly Kapoor on The Office. She went on to develop and star in her own show, The Mindy Project. In addition to her television work, she has an impressive filmography including Late Night, Ocean's 8, A Wriinkle in Time, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Despicable Me. Most recently, she's created two more hit shows, Never Have I Ever and Sex Lives of College Girls.
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Henry Golding
This Malaysian stud rose to fame as the leading man Crazy Rich Asians in 2018. That same year, he also starred as Blake Lively's husband in A Simple Favor. His most recent credits include The Gentlemen and Last Christmas.

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Jamie Chung
This Asian actress got her start as a reality star on MTV's The Real World: San Diego. When the show wrapped, Jamie used her newfound fame to land dozens of television and film roles, including parts in The Hangover Part III, Days of Our Lives, ER, CSI, and more.
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Olivia Rodrigo
Chances are, you've heard actress, singer-songwriter, and Teen Vogue cover star Olivia Rodrigo’s debut single “drivers license." But if you haven’t seen her as Nini in High School Musical: The Musical - The Series, you’re definitely missing out!

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Midori Francis
Whether you have seen her playing one of the titled roles in Christmas themed show Dash & Lily or more recently as Alicia in The Sex Lives of College Girls, there is no denying that Midori Francis is a star in the making.
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Jessie Mei Li
Jessie Mei Li became known after they were cast in the role of Alina Starkov in Shadow and Bone, the TV adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s popular book series. Alongside her acting work, she has spoken out about their gender identity, and is a vocal environmentalist against climate change.

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Amita Suman
Nepali-British actress Amita Suman’s acting career includes credits such as Doctor Who and a recurring role in The CW’s lesser known The Outpost, but it is her role as fan favorite Inej Ghafa in Shadow and Bone that has made her popular.
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John Harlan Kim
Best known for his role as Ezekiel in The Librarians, Australian-Korean actor John Harlan Kim is slowly but surely becoming more popular, including for his most recent performances as Agent Park in Nancy Drew and Albert Han in 9-1-1.

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Justin H. Min
Korean-American actor Justin H. Min’s career began after his decision to quit journalism, and we are certainly not complaining. His first big film, After Yang, released in 2021. He is best known for his work as Ben Hargreeves in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy.