Although we’d all like to forget the 2024 Golden Globes monologue, we must remember this year for the monumental strides for Asian representation in film and television.
Actors Ali Wong and Steven Yeun made history at the 81st annual award show by becoming the first and second persons of Asian descent to win in each of their respective categories.
Wong took home the award for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her role in the Netflix and A24 vengeful drama, Beef. Playing opposite Wong, Yeun accepted the award for Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture for TV.
In his acceptance speech, Yeun acknowledged, “I’m just the recipient of a long line of compassion and love, and protection, and goodwill.”
Yeun joins actor Darren Criss, who is half-Filipino and the first to win in that category in 2019 for his role as Andrew Cunanan in American Crime Story: Assassination of Gianni Versace.
Wong and Yeun’s win follows Everything Everywhere All At Once, another A24 film with Asian representation, that took home seven Oscars in 2023.
According to a study by the University of Southern California, Wong and Yuen are only 16% of Asian characters with speaking roles. This is a huge jump from a mere 3% in 2007.
Featured Photo Credit: CBS