From ‘Shang-Chi’ to ‘West Side Story’: Simu Liu and Ariana DeBose on ‘Cultural Authenticity’ in Their Breakout Films

variety.com:

Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) and Simu Liu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) sat down for a virtual chat for Variety’s Actors on Actors, presented by Amazon Studios.

For more, click here.Prior to 2021, Ariana DeBose and Simu Liu had certainly worked as actors. DeBose was a Tony nominee (“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”) who’d appeared in Netflix’s “The Prom” and Apple TV Plus’ “Schmigadoon!” Liu was a former stuntman who’d co-starred on the Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience.”But after their breakout roles last year — DeBose as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of “West Side Story” and Liu as Shang-Chi in Marvel Studios’ superhero blockbuster “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” — they’ve both suddenly become household names. SIMU LIU: We’ll get to the amazingness that is “West Side Story” and how incredible you are in it.

Before we do, I had a different question that maybe goes back a little bit further. You achieved a life dream of mine quite a few years ago.

You were on a little show called “So You Think You Can Dance.”ARIANA DEBOSE: Yes!LIU: It’s all I’ve ever wanted.DEBOSE: Really?!LIU: In my college, I was in a hip-hop competitive dance team.