Gemma Chan Reveals How She Handles New Social Situations

Gemma Chan is on the cover of Allure magazine’s April 2019 issue.

Here’s what the 36-year-old Captain Marvel star had to share with the mag…

On being shy: “In a new social situation, I’d much rather sit back and let other people talk first. I prefer to listen and, I suppose, get the measure of people before I necessarily give them all of me.”

On the Internet trolls who took issue with her playing Bess of Hardwick: “Why are actors of color, who have fewer opportunities anyway, only allowed to play their own race? And sometimes they’re not even allowed to play their own race. In the past, the role would be given to a white actor who would tape up their eyes and do the role in yellowface…. I feel like Hamilton opened minds a lot. We have a black man playing George Washington. They describe it as ‘America then, told by America now.’ And I think our art should reflect life now.”

On celebrating representation in fashion and media: “I love opening up a magazine and seeing a whole mixture of body types, gray hair, dark skin, wrinkles — we’re saying that we find these things beautiful.

For more from Gemma, visit Allure.com.