I think I owe a lot to them because without that I don't know that I would've had the ability to not only pursue the things that I wanted to pursue but even have the wherewithal to even dream that I could. My first language was Vietnamese, everything my mom cooked was Vietnamese. My parents are both Vietnamese refugees and they're both boat people as well, so I very much grew up in a household that felt very Vietnamese despite living in America.

Kelly Marie Tran: I was born in San Diego. Can you tell me a little bit about how you grew up and how it shaped who you are today? : AANHPI is about celebrating our culture as Asian Americans, and family plays a huge part in Asian culture. As an Asian American woman myself, we were able to sit down and have a conversation speaking about her career, discussing how her experiences were shaped by her family history, the surprising pitfalls of fame, and what she hopes for the future of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry. Tran agreed to have an open discussion with for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month about her journey. Her breakthrough role came with its own successes and struggles, however, many of which she still grapples with today. And in 2017, Kelly Marie Tran became a part of the galaxy far, far away when she made her debut as Rose Tico - the first major Star Wars character played by an Asian American - in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. But with the hardworking ethics of her parents to guide her, she attained the dream she always wanted. Growing up as a child of immigrants, a career in entertainment seemed impossible for Kelly Marie Tran. In a powerful discussion, the Star Wars actor talks about the ups and downs of her journey in entertainment.

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