Shuang Hu

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Interview by Cat Tanchanco

Photography by Jennelle Fong

Styling by Jess Mori

Makeup & Hair by Kris Jung

There’s a lot to digest and discover as a human. Our lives are often filled with seriousness and milestone tasks we feel pressure to get done such as finding meaning, finding our passion, and finding love.

These thoughts float around in my head and every so often I come across another artist’s content that helps me not only make sense of things, but also helps me feel represented and perhaps, most importantly–makes me laugh. 

I had the pleasure of getting to chat with Shuang Hu, an actor, producer, and the hilarious YouTuber behind The One Shu. She is the co-writer and star of the new Amazon Prime Video movie, Five Blind Dates. Shu plays Lia, a woman who sees a fortune teller who tells her she will meet her soulmate in the next 5 dates.

Shu gave us an insider on what motivated her to create YouTube skits like If Barbie Was Asian and a peek into why she is obsessed with other movies like Love at First Sight and Fingernails. 

Getting to hear Shu’s story and mapping out the turning points in her career illuminated what fuels the fire of the stories she tells, why romance and comedy are such a powerful duo, and why showing the world the awesomeness and power of women is so important. 

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I’d love to turn back the clocks of time for a bit to hear what shaped you into the woman you are today. Can you tell me your story? 

Great question! If we go right to the beginning when I lived in China, I was five years old. I was always chosen to do performances ‘cause I was really outgoing and really energetic– I liked performing. My auntie said I was so full of energy and, ‘We should enroll Shu into acting school because she loves performing so much.’

But when we moved to Australia something switched. I was in a new environment and didn't speak the language. I was really shy all of a sudden, hated public speaking and never talked to anyone. I became a completely different person. 

Years later, I auditioned in school because my best friend asked me to…and I got cast as a lead. I was shook! I was like, ‘What? Me? Are you sure?’ But the teacher said she saw the role in my eyes. I thought, oh, that's interesting. That really stayed with me because the eyes are the window to the soul. It's where you believe the character.

I did not expect to like acting so much and also I did not expect it to be so hard! I kept doing classes every night for years and years trying to understand how to be a good actor. Cause at first, you absolutely suck. And you feel like there's a code you have to crack. You watch the other students thinking, how are you so good? How are you so believable? That challenge really drew me in. 

I was working in my finance job and going to acting class every night for years. I did a lot of acting gigs as an extra, and I had a commercial agent that didn’t really take me seriously. And there were no roles back then for Asians. No lead roles at all. 

The first lead audition I got was for The Family Law and I don't know how, but I was lucky enough to book that and it was a big tipping point. 

I quit my finance job–actually, my boss at the time gave me an ultimatum. He was like, ‘If you want to go film for two months, you're not going to have a job when you come back.’ I knew this is what I wanted to do. It’s a one in a million chance, so yeah, not even a thought. I was like, ‘Yep! I'm done, I'm outtie!’ 

And now you’re here! Definitely the right choice.

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You really have a skill for writing romance paired with comedy. You recently dropped Part 3 of your If Barbie Was Asian skit series on YouTube. How did this idea come to you?

Yes! I thought, what if Barbie was Asian? Like what are some of the cute stereotypes that she would do? It was interesting to explore that world and even though my audience is quite international, I thought many would be able to relate. I liked the idea that instead of having an existential crisis about dying, Asian Barbie would be freaking out about having no money to treat people! I know I'm really digging into stereotypes, but I just love making people laugh and I try to make content that people can relate to or want to comment on. I also wanted Asians to feel represented because in the Barbie movie there was mainly only one Asian character played by Simu Liu.

And while we love him, he was ‘just a Ken’!

Yeah, exactly! I appreciated the Barbie movie so much that I wanted to add to it and hype it up. At the time, we were on strike and weren’t allowed to talk about the movie. So I wanted to do something else to express my excitement. 

That is awesome. You always find a way to bring your creative ideas to life.

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Love, destiny and the power of women are three themes you express often in your work. Can you expand more on what they mean to you?

Yes…I think about love a lot because it's like a code I haven’t been able to crack. Similar to how I wanted to tap into being a good actor. Another code to crack. I thought falling in love would be easy but later realized I had a lot of conflicting influences growing up especially when it came to what my family or friends wanted for me.

On top of that, when I was in high school I started watching mainstream media like '90s rom-coms, K-Dramas and Chinese dramas. I was trying to find love based on things I'd seen in movies and it skewed my expectations on what a romantic relationship looked like. In K-Dramas they come in to sweep you off your feet. And in these stories, the female was usually submissive and just so…sweet. I thought, ‘I just have to be a cuter version of myself and then I'll be able to get the guy and we will live happily ever after.’ 

I think I failed at dating earlier on because I had this Eastern expectation of what love should look like and I was trying to transpose that into my current environment, which was a Western society. It was really hard because the East and the West are very different, especially when it comes to love and the expectations of each person in the relationship. Even when I dated a Caucasian man, I expected them to act in an Asian way. And I would try to mold them to be that way. It’s so silly when I think about it now!

I also thought that I was going to marry my first boyfriend! Ha! But honestly, we have many soul mates out there, it just depends on who you meet first, and if you decide to stay with them! That’s why I think destiny also has a lot to do with your path in life.

I grew up in a culture where men are valued over women, and I had a father who wanted a son more than a daughter. So I have this innate chip on my shoulder to prove that women are just as powerful, successful and capable as men. If not better, since we can also carry babies! That’s why I aim to showcase women in a different light, emphasizing their strength, resilience, and empowerment while celebrating their diverse stories and journeys. 

But I still believe in love. So when crafting narratives such as 'Five Blind Dates,' I endeavor to delve into the intricacies of modern-day relationships for career-driven women seeking both love and a fulfilling partnership. This theme remains a constant source of fascination for me, fueling my creative exploration within my craft.

On the topic of relationships and finding love, can we talk about your newest obsession with the movies Love at First Sight and Fingernails? What captivated you and how does it link back to your life?

These two movies really got me thinking because they both speak about love and destiny as this thing we can't control. Like a soulmate situation. Love at First Sight asks us, can you fall in love at first sight? And the couple in the movie does. It’s a traditional rom-com and it’s super cute. I love pulling from both romantic comedies and romantic dramas in my work. I think that’s why  Five Blind Dates is both funny and emotional. I want my audiences to have a good laugh and cry when they watch my work. 

In the movie Fingernails you have to lose a fingernail to find out if your partner is compatible with you. And having that definitive knowledge allows you to make an educated decision on whether to stay together or break up. In the movie, the lead female is compatible with her partner but she still cheats on him. I think it's so interesting because it shows what's happening in society. People want that assurance before they commit to one person since there are so many options and ways of meeting new people, we’re always in state of indecision in relationships wondering if there is someone else more suited for us. It takes the fate and wonderment element out of love and gives it a quantitative result. It’s a commentary on whether we should have that power or not, and what we do with that knowledge.

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To me, it’s a choice. You choose who you want to be with. You wake up and decide every day that you want to work on being with that person. Because there are going to be so many people out there that are right for you. I don't believe that there is only one soulmate for every single person because I have met a lot of people in my life who I have felt a deep connection with. But once you're in the right place in your life, and you meet someone you love, you have to choose to be with that person every day.

Who you want to be with is entirely up to you. Many people like your family will try to pick someone that they think is right for you, but at the end of the day, you have to choose and stick to your guns.

Oh my gosh I think you cracked the code: you get to choose. Love is not something that is lost that you need to find. It’s about choosing a person who hopefully chooses you back, because it takes two to nurture that relationship every day.

Absolutely! Love is a tango not a 100 meter sprint. It’s also about staying in love. I know singles may want to watch this movie to feel warm and inspired, but couples can also watch this and get something out of it too.

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What do you wish more people knew about you, your heritage and the communities you represent?

I want my work to shed light on the power, value and necessity of women regardless of culture. As I mentioned, I was born into a culture where women were not as valued as men, especially in the countryside. I have a sister but no brother. My grandpa said to my dad on his deathbed that his one regret was not holding a grandson in his arms and my dad really took that to heart. It pushed me harder to want to fight for women and show the world how awesome we are. 

I was lucky enough that I grew up in a society where women are valued just as much as men, but I know there are other cultures where that’s not the case. So where we can, we need to show up, take up space, be the best versions of ourselves and leverage the opportunities we are given.

I consider myself fortunate to work in an industry that allows me to engage in storytelling professionally. Through mediums such as YouTube videos, short skits, and film production, I have the privilege of crafting narratives. Recognizing the unique opportunity I have, I embrace a profound sense of duty to portray Asian women and women in general in a positive light, highlighting our strengths and contributions to society.

I also have a background in business and finance, and I love having little business side projects. Right now I am working on a pimple patch line that’s just about to launch! I’m giving away 1000 pimple patches to the first 1000 people who subscribe on my website blemishbling.com! They are also available to pre-purchase!

Heck yes. And you’re doing it! Okay, are you ready for some rapid-fire questions to close out? 

Yes, let’s do it! 

Describe your YouTube channel in a few words…go!

Family-friendly, female-centered, funny…empowering!!

Describe your new movie Five Blind Dates in 3 words…go!

Fun, family, uhh… love!

Wait, are these rapid-fire questions stressing you out? Because if they are, that is totally not the goal!

No, I love it! I like to live on a certain level of stress. [laughs]

Okay, yes! A bit of pressure creates diamonds, right? Next question: What kind of person will especially enjoy watching Five Blind Dates?

Women who feel let down by love and are looking for a renewed sense of motivation and hope.

Yes… believing in hope is so important. 

My final question is a goofy one. Your character, Lia in Five Blind Dates, loves tea. Can you describe yourself using 3 teas?

Oh my gosh yes, I genuinely love tea! Right now, I'm drinking green tea. I'm also going through an oat milk matcha era. And chamomile lavender tea in the evenings.

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