Olivia Poon

Olivia is an actor and voice-over artist in Vancouver. She began her career in the arts as a Cantonese DJ for Fairchild Radio (AM1470), and has since voiced the Cantonese flight announcements at the Vancouver International Airport as well as provided English dubbing for Japan’s NHK television series. Olivia has performed in theatres across Vancouver, including shows at the Fringe Festival, the STAND Festival, HIVE at Presentation House Theatre, United Players of Vancouver, Theatre In the Raw and the North Shore Theatre for Children. She has also appeared in television shows such as A Million Little Things, Project Blue Book, BH90210, Siren, Arrow, and TV movies for Hallmark. Olivia has recently been involved in the short film 100 Days, which has been selected by Telefilm Canada to be showcased at the Short Film Corner of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

I have luckily not experienced any direct incidents of racism in my artistic career, though I am aware of the thin veil of racism, or rather, partiality that occurs in this industry everyday. It is still hard for me to envision myself being cast in certain roles that are traditionally non-diverse (an English period piece, for example) as an Asian-Canadian actor, and these limiting beliefs that I hold prevent me from even attempting to submit myself for an audition.

I am so proud of being able to share Chinese stories and to bring as much authenticity as I can to a Chinese role, with the culture and history that has been instilled in me through my upbringing in Hong Kong and Singapore. I am ecstatic whenever I can wear traditional Chinese clothes in a role, and to look like someone that I might have seen on television or on stage as a young child. One of my most memorable performances was the stage performance of Chimerica, where we were able to commemorate Tank Man and re-enact the events of June 4th, 1989 at Tiananmen Square. It was an event that I watched on TV as a child, and to be a part of that event in my own way, 30 years later, was both profound and humbling.

To me, being an Asian-Canadian working in the performing arts sector means being a part of the cultural fabric that is Vancouver and Canada, and representing the demographics of this city and country accurately and proudly. It means expressing our culture, our heritage, our opinions, and our sides of the story; and ultimately, sharing our hopes and our dreams for our futures.