Jade Ma: Rising Mixed, Feminist Actor

Mixed Asian Media - JUNE 9, 2021

By Alex Chester

Look out world, there’s a new star on the rise. Jade Ma plays Sky on Netflix’s Zero Chill, and she’s in the much anticipated film Black Widow, starring our favorite Japanese android Scarlett Johansson

Jade is a powerhouse and I know she’s going to have an amazing career as an activist and actor. 

As a Mixed Asian woman, how has it been navigating the rising hate directed at the API community?

In short, it has been difficult. The amount of media attention — while validating, in that it has been overlooked for so long — is a little overwhelming. It’s hard to watch these seemingly endless videos of violence and read the plethora of articles detailing the hate crimes. It’s almost impossible to not see yourself or a family member reflected in the videos. It has really emphasized the importance of allowing myself to step away from things and take care of myself at times. While activism is incredibly important, it cannot come at the expense of your own mental health.

Can you explain to our readers what the “not all men” expression is and why it’s important to acknowledge it?

The “not all men” argument that is so frequently thrown in the faces of those who are female-identifying is intrinsically flawed. We have never said “all men” are bad, or “all men” are out to hurt us — the sentiment is rather that there are ENOUGH men out there that it causes us to be cautious of all. The juice box rebuttal comes to mind. If you were given a pack of 6 apple juice cartons, but told that one of them was in fact filled with urine, would you not be cautious of all the juice boxes? The discussion has always been so focused on women changing their behaviour to keep themselves safe — we are told to dress more modestly, taught to hold our keys between our fingers, to always have at least one person who knows where you are at all times. Jackson Katz did a TED Talk titled “Violence Against Women: It’s A Men’s Issue,” in which he spoke about how the onus is always placed on women.

“We talk about how many women were raped last year, not how many men raped women[...] It shifts the focus off men and boys to girls and women. Even the term ‘violence against women’ is problematic[...] when you look at that term ‘violence against women,’ nobody is doing it to them. It just happens. Men aren’t even a part of it!”

So while the statement “not all men” is not incorrect, it misses the point entirely.

What was it like for you growing up mixed? Has your relationship with your identity changed throughout the years?

I grew up in Hong Kong, so I was lucky enough to have a fairly large community of other mixed kids to grow up with. However, there were still times where I felt stuck between two cultures, unsure which I fit into, or if I fit in with either at all. I was never Chinese enough for the local Chinese community, but also wasn’t white enough for the expat community. When I moved to the U.K. I realized that people would assume I was Chinese, which I hadn’t experienced before. I found myself faced with questions like, “How is your English so good? Why don’t you have an accent? Where are you really from?”

It took me a while to understand these questions, that I used to laugh off and not think much of, were microaggressions, stemming from ignorance. My parents raised me to have an appreciation for both sides of my heritage — they made sure my siblings and I were able to explore both through our childhoods — so I always felt connected to both parts of me. My journey was more about understanding that I didn’t need to disconnect from either side to fit in.

In a previous interview with Metro.co.uk, you mention losing your father to cancer. I also lost my father to cancer last year. I wanted to ask, since the loss of your dad, have you found connecting to that side of your heritage to be easier, the same, or more difficult? I, myself, find that I’m struggling to connect to my dad’s side.

I am very lucky to have incredible grandparents on my dad’s side that I’m very close with, so I’ve had an easier time maintaining that connection.

Were you able to relate strongly to your character (Sky) in Zero Chill?

Sky was a fun character to discover. She’s quirky and a little sassy, but I related most to her strong will and her care for those around her. Even though she’s gone through a lot, being raised by just her mother and battling leukemia, she continues to put her friends and family first.

How was your experience filming Black Widow?

It was surreal. To be a part of something so big is incredibly special, and I’m forever thankful to have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing humans. I’m excited for the world to see it.

Both of these recent projects must have involved a lot of training and physicality. Was it challenging to take on such action-packed roles, or are you naturally very athletic?

I have absolutely loved the physical challenge of both roles. I grew up training in martial arts and figure skating, so being able to revisit both so early in my career is unbelievable. I’ve always enjoyed having both a physical and mental challenge, and both of these projects gave me that.

Is there any specific type of character you would love to take on? Someone whose heritage matches yours, whose life is very different from your own, or whose story arc sends a unique message?

I’ve only been in the industry for a few years, so I’m very open to whatever comes my way at this point. I’m excited to see where my career takes me!

Any advice for fans and members of our community who may struggle with finding their biracial or mixed-race identities?

You are enough, you are whole. Just because you are “half” of an ethnicity doesn’t change that. You can appreciate both sides of your heritage, both of your cultures, without sacrificing one to fit the mold.

Be sure to check out Jade in Marvel’s Black Widow, released in theaters July 9, 2021, and you can find her on IG @jade.y.ma.