Story | Rachel Ho Photography | Violet Rain, David Astorga, Metro Moon Photography, CBC Gem for the production photos from Fakes
A decision to buck the general consensus of friends and family has paid many dividends for Canadian actress Jennifer Tong.
During her high school days, everyone around her thought Tong should enter the world of public relations, given her outgoing and bubbly personality. Initially, she took this advice to heart and was accepted into the
School of Communications at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, BC. She paid her tuition deposit, but after attending an information session at the university, she broke down in tears in the car with her mom.
“I could not stop crying,” the 26-year-old Richmond, BC native recalls, with a laugh. “I was sitting there in the info session and I was just like, ‘I don’t think I can do this for four years.’ I was scared that I’d regret it if I didn’t at least try to do what I was actually passionate about.”
In that moment, Tong’s tears revealed a larger part of her story—to her mother and to herself. So, it was fortuitous that Tong had also auditioned for the Acting for Stage and Screen program at Capilano University in North Vancouver. She gained acceptance there as well, and while initially deciding to take the safer route through SFU, she knew her future was down a different road.
Since graduating from Capilano, Tong has had consistent work in TV shows like Sacred Lies, Grand Army and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow—the latter for which she was nominated for a Leo Award in 2021.
In addition to TV, Tong has also graced the stage several times, including a starring role in 2019’s China Doll, a play written and directed by Marjorie Chan, about a young Chinese girl who bristles against tradition and longs for independence after learning to read.
Tong’s latest project is a big one. After taking on supporting and guest roles, Tong is now co-star in the new CBC Gem series, Fakes, alongside fellow Canadians Emilija Baranac and Richard Harmon. The series chronicles
the story of two Vancouver high school students who inadvertently create the largest fake ID empire in North America.
Tong plays Rebecca “Becca” Li, a vivacious young woman determined to create her own legacy, dictated by no one other than herself. Sound familiar?
When Tong made the decision to attend theatre school, her mother was more than willing to help pay for her daughter’s schooling. But Tong understood the value of making it on her own.
“I was quite independent at that point in my life,” she says. “I had been working part-time for a while, so I was able to save up enough money and pay for my tuition. My mom would have helped me pay for school if I needed it, but I felt like it was something I wanted to do on my own. A part of me was like, ‘Well, I can do whatever I want if I just do it myself.’”
Fakes, while being a fun and entertaining show about fake IDs and the ensuing police raids, is also a refreshing depiction of a young Chinese-Canadian. Gone are the stereotypes long associated with Asian characters in film and television, especially Asian females. Tong’s Becca is brash and rebellious, and partakes in the vices of many teenagers, including drinking and drugs.
For Tong, it was refreshing not only to go against stereotypes, but also to play a role that didn’t necessarily require an Asian actress. Fakes creator and executive director David Turko, while intending for Becca to be Asian, didn’t intend for the show to be about being Asian.
“When I first read the script, that was something that I picked up on right away,” says Tong, whose family immigrated to Canada from Nanjing, China. “Rebecca is Asian, but the storyline is not about her being Asian. I
mean, it doesn’t need to be.
“I don’t need to know how to do kung-fu, okay?” she says jokingly. “I don’t need to be dealing with Asian issues or whatever for it to be interesting to watch. Rebecca is just like any other high-schooler.”
Turko and his writers were careful, though, not to make Fakes colour blind. Becca’s Chinese heritage is proudly shown in the series, with Cantonese being spoken, mahjong being played and, of course, through the food her family eats.
“I think it’s important that the show doesn’t ignore the fact that she’s Asian,” Tong explains when asked about finding that difficult balance. “You get to see the relationships and dynamics within Rebecca’s family in a way that isn’t shown on mainstream media very often.
“When I was growing up, that stuff was never shown. I hope that little girls will watch and can relate [to Becca], whereas people of my generation, we didn’t get that chance. It’s a great aspect of the show.”
One of the most interesting familial relationships is between Becca and her father, Wei Li, played by Ryan Mah. There is an unspoken divide between father and daughter, exasperated by Becca’s lack of understanding of who her father is as a man. In one episode, the two go to a Chinese community centre and Wei explains to his daughter how he and Becca’s mom helped contact descendants of Chinese immigrants who were victims of Canada’s Chinese head tax from 1885 to 1923 and due reparations from the Canadian government.
In a show that is as funny as it is thrilling, for Fakes to take the time to spotlight this dark period in Canadian history is special.
“Before shooting that scene, I had obviously heard about the head tax and the Exclusion Act, but it wasn’t really taught in school,” Tong says. “Even within the Chinese community, it’s not openly talked about.”
Like most East Asian cultures, the concepts of saving face and not showing weakness are unfortunate pillars within Chinese communities.
“We never talk about shameful things, or how we’ve been mistreated,” Tong says. “I think the older generation would rather focus on how we overcame things through hard work.
“I think [that scene] is important because there are going to be lots of people who watch and have no idea about it, especially audiences that aren’t from Canada. Hopefully, it’ll inspire other filmmakers and creators to
explore that topic more, or encourage audiences to look into it more and educate themselves.”
Asians are proof of the mainstream appeal of shows and films with Asian stars in Hollywood. Most recently, the massive critical and commercial success of Everything Everywhere All At Once placed Asian talent centre stage—in front of and behind the camera. Tong is proving to be a force in this new wave of artists from the Asian diaspora, and it all started with a teary-eyed confession outside Simon Fraser University.
“My mom turned to me in the car and was like, ‘I’m not happy about it, but I understand,’” Tong recalls with empathy. “I think the reason why a lot of our parents are wary about their children going into the arts is
because it’s a hard career. Only a certain percentage really succeed and make it their actual professional career.
“It’s not like they don’t want their kids to follow their dreams. It’s just difficult. Hard work doesn’t quantify opportunities and gigs in this industry, unfortunately.”
For Tong, her work ethic and determination have held her in good stead so far, and this is just the beginning for this young star, who truly has the world at her feet.
“Right now, I’m just excited for what comes next,” Tong says with confidence and optimism. “My dream next role would be something in action. Stage combat would be really fun—throw a knife or something.”
Fakes is now streaming in Canada for free on CBC Gem.
