Kat Harlton
Christine Nguyen recently reprised her role as Addison on the latest season of the hit show The Bold Type which premiered this May on Freeform and Amazon Prime.
The Bold Type follows the outrageous lives and loves of those responsible for a global women’s magazine. Christine plays Addison, a young, up-and-coming Gen-Z writer who dropped out of college but has made a name for herself writing feminist think pieces on the Internet.
Christine will also be appearing in the new season of the hit medical original drama series Nurses, set to premiere later this year.
We had the opportunity to chat with Christine about her role on The Bold Type, what she hopes fans connect with, and what’s next.
Kat: How do you prepare for your role as Addison in The Bold Type? Has it become easier? Do you find any similarities between yourself and your character?
Christine: Finding the love in all my choices has helped me dive deeper into the role. It also raises the stakes without compromising authenticity. Starting out I had an idea of what I wanted Addison to be however, during my first day on set, I realized quickly that part of the process is being brave enough to let it all go. Acting is definitely a team sport and the best stories are the ones told collaboratively. Having really talented and generous castmates definitely made the process a lot easier, and fun too! I think we can all relate to Addison in some shape or form. Personally, I relate to the fact that she’s just someone who’s doing what she can to be seen and heard. Whether it be writing her think pieces or speaking out during a meeting, Addison does her best to stay true to her intentions while also trying to find where she fits in this world.
Kat: Is there anything about your role that is particularly challenging?
Christine: As a Pan-identifying Asian actor, it was difficult for me not to want to make things political. It’s a platform that I get to use, so why not incorporate it, especially on a show like The Bold Type? The challenging part is considering how to do this. After working diligently with my mentors, I realized that sometimes existing is enough. Representation is so important and normalizing people as people without having to explain anything, is oddly refreshing.
Kat: What do you hope fans take away from the show, and this season?
Christine: I just want to celebrate the fans for staying with us this far! It’s been 5+ years and you’ve been an integral part of our journey! So, I hope you all know that this one’s for you and we couldn’t be happier sharing our last moments with anyone else!
Kat: How have you been staying connected during Covid-19? How has it changed your job on a daily basis?
Christine: Covid has definitely challenged me in many ways. I gravitate towards meditation during these times in order to keep me connected and grounded. With the whole #stopasianhate movement happening, I find myself digging deeper into my roots in order to unapologetically celebrate my Asian heritage. So, when it comes to acting, I’ve made a commitment to be more mindful in my choices and, yes, sometimes it means saying no to potential work.
Kat: What’s next?
Christine: I’m looking forward to creating my own work. I love to write and have accumulated a fair number of scripts during the pandemic. My friends and I started an Instagram series when we finished theatre school called IDICSERIES. It stands for I Dream in Colour and YES, it was inspired by the classic television series In Living Colour. We wanted to use Instagram as a platform to showcase BIPOC talent in the framework of sketch. I’m hoping to revamp the series sometime in the near future. In the meantime, I will also be working to raise money in hopes of fulfilling my lifelong dream of opening an animal sanctuary.
Connect with Christine on Instagram