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KE Huy Quan, a frontrunner to win the Oscar for best supporting actor thanks to his performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (EEAO), revealed that even after production on the film wrapped, no acting offers were being made to him.
The A24 multiverse drama which will be re-released in Malaysia later this month, was originally intended for a January 2020 release, but was held for two years until March 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the film's current critical acclaim, Quan struggled to find work in the aftermath of its filming. The actor revealed in a recent interview on ‘The Late Late Show’, that he spent the pandemic "at home trying to stay safe like everybody."
However, he was also "so nervous" because no other acting offers were coming in since his comeback role in ‘Everything Everywhere’ was being held for release for so long.
"I was about to lose my health insurance," Quan said.
"So, I called my agent and I said, ‘Can you please get me anything? It doesn’t matter, I just need one job to make the minimum requirement so I can qualify for health insurance the following year.' And I could not get one single job. Sure enough, 2021 came and went [and I] lost my health insurance."
Quan, best known for his iconic roles in films such as ‘The Goonies’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ described the situation as ‘dire’.
After losing his health insurance, Quan realised the rest of his career and livelihood rested on the strength of EEAO.
He reached out to a producer on the film and asked, "Can you please tell me one thing? Am I good in the movie?" When the producer questioned why Quan would ask that, the actor told him the truth: "Well, nobody wants to hire me."
To his relief, the producer was encouraging. "Ke, just be patient. You just wait," he said. It was a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation, and Quan clung to it tightly.
Eventually, EEAO was released in March 2022, and Quan's life changed overnight. Not only did he receive critical acclaim for his performance, but he also became a frontrunner for the Oscar for best supporting actor.
It was a remarkable turnaround, and Quan couldn't believe his luck.
"It's been a long journey, but it's all worth it," he said. "I'm so grateful for this opportunity, and I'm excited to see where my career takes me next."
Besides his Oscar nomination, he has also landed a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe courtesy of ‘Loki’ Season 2.
The actor previously told Variety that it was ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ that motivated him to return to acting.
“When ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ came out and I saw my fellow Asian actors up on the screen, I wanted to be up there with them,” Quan said. “I called up an agent friend of mine, and I asked him if he wanted to represent me, and he said yes.
"Two weeks later, I got a call about this movie that stars Michelle Yeoh, written and directed by the Daniels [Kwan and Scheinert] and Waymond was one of the leads.” – The Vibes, March 4, 2023