It’s one thing to read a book that resonated so much with you at a young age and another to get to play a part in the screen adaptation of that book. Brianne Tju did just that. The book in question? Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, which came out almost two decades ago. The young adult dystopian novel finally got its live-action treatment courtesy of Netflix. Brianne Tju gets to make her younger self proud by stepping into Shay’s shoes. In an interview with Lifestyle Asia, the actress reveals what it was like taking on the character she read as a child. She also expands on the relevance of the novel’s themes to today’s society as well as the importance of telling diverse stories.
Brianne Tju is no stranger to the limelight. The American actress has been acting since she was young, appearing in the Disney Channel series, Cory in the House. She went on to star in other TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and 9-1-1. Her big break came with the recurring role of Riley Marra on the show Scream. Eventually, she starred in several horror/thriller projects. These include Hulu’s Light as a Feather and I Know What You Did Last Summer, earning her the title of “Scream Queen”. Departing from these genres, Tju moves into post-apocalyptic territory with the character of Shay in Uglies on Netflix. The movie is set in a futuristic world that imposes cosmetic surgery for teenagers to become “pretty”.
Shay is a character that Tju resonated with, especially Shay’s internal struggles. Perhaps this is due to her own upbringing in America as the eldest daughter of ethnically Chinese parents from Indonesia. “I know what it’s like to want to fit in and be ‘normal’ but also to want to embrace who you are,” she tells us. In more ways than one, the themes of the book remain even more relevant today, in the age of the internet and social media. But there are also messages of autonomy, freedom, and identity. Brianne Tju chats with us to give more details on getting into character and the story’s hard-hitting themes.
Brianne Tju on being part of Uglies on Netflix and her transformation for the role
What about the story appealed to you when you were young and what appealed to you now after working on the movie adaptation?
What appealed to me when I was young were the strong female characters and the urge to grow up and feel a part of the world and be accepted. As a child, I remembered relating to Tally in her impatience to grow up and “start her life”. For her, the surgery is the catalyst for adulthood. When I was young I remember wanting to just grow up as fast as possible so I could be the hero of my own story. But I’ve learned that there’s no procedure that will make you more worthy than you already are right now.
What appealed to me about the book as an adult is the message of choice and deciding for myself what I want or don’t want to do with my body. It has inspired me to embrace my uniqueness and flaws and see them as what makes me special. Now, I try to be more critical as to why I do something. Is it for me? Or is it to please other people?
What about Shay’s character resonated with you? Do you see yourself as similar or different from her?
I really resonated with Shay’s internal struggle with the surgery. I know what it’s like to want to fit in and be “normal” but also to want to embrace who you are. Tally and Shay’s friendship inspires Shay to forgo the surgery in order to continue living and growing as herself in The Smoke. I think certain relationships have inspired me to make similar choices. I don’t think I’m nearly as brave or cool as Shay but I’d like to think we’re somewhat similar.
What was your approach to portraying her character especially one from a popular book? How were you able to create your own interpretation while remaining faithful to the character?
I reread the book, which provided a great foundation. At the end of the day, we wanted Shay to feel inspiring and free-spirited yet attainable. I used a lot of my own experiences to get into character and relate to her. This movie is a coming-of-age story above all else so honoring the universal relatability of the character’s emotional journey was key. McG and I decided to really create a lovable and admirable character in Shay that Tally is trying to save for much of the movie. Slowly Tally realises Shay doesn’t need to be saved, but by then it’s too late. We wanted Shay’s transformation in the last act to really gut-punch the audience and I think it does just that.
What aspects of the book make it relevant today?
This story is more relevant now than ever which is crazy because Scott Westerfeld released the book 20 years ago. The rise in social media and cosmetic procedures nowadays makes this film feel uncanny, even though beauty standards are nothing new. With this being an election year, it makes it even more pressing because we have people trying to take away women’s autonomy over their bodies. I think this story stresses the importance of choice, transparency from our government, critical thinking, and embracing oneself in a world that is chronically online.
You got to do a lot of cool things in the movie like ride a hoverboard. I know that’s probably partly CG but can you tell us more about the experience?
Thank goodness it was mostly CGI because I am not very skillful at boarding in general. It was really fun and exciting to be in harnesses and up in the air as it felt surreal. It took a lot of acting to convince people that I knew what I was doing on a hoverboard, but doing stunts with Joey (who plays Tally) was so cool. She’s such a badass and a good sport.
Uglies star Brianne Tju details her acting journey from taking on horror projects to diverse stories
The movie talks a lot about choice, freedom, and being yourself. Upon working on the movie, what personal takeaways did you have?
Doing the movie and undergoing Shay’s transformation at the end really gave me perspective on how much time and energy we spend on how we look. It took upwards of two hours to make me “pretty” with a CGI component. These beauty standards we see on social media are not realistic or as fulfilling as they seem. I’m much more concerned nowadays with what’s going on inside of my head and using my voice for issues that matter like mental health, climate change, making abortion available throughout the country, and cultivating a personal life that brings me joy and support.
I know the title of the movie is Uglies but there’s so much preaching about being pretty. What does being “Pretty” mean to you, personally?
Being “pretty” to me, means feeling comfortable, safe, and surrounded by the people I love. I feel “pretty” when I’m creating, learning, and being challenged. I believe being “pretty” comes from the inside out not outside in.
How did you navigate the shift after a stint of horror projects to something like Uglies?
To be honest, it really wasn’t something that crossed my mind. I try to approach every character the same way, with empathy. Even with the dystopian aspect, Shay is just a teenage girl trying to find her place. I wanted to stay true to that throughout the story regardless of genre.
You previously said that one of the things you’re looking forward to is telling more diverse stories. How do you feel about being part of telling those diverse stories?
I love telling stories that have genuine representation, not just ticking the diversity box. It’s genuinely my passion to share marginalised stories with the masses. I believe the best cure for ignorance is exposure. The more we bring these stories to the forefront, the more empathy and understanding we create which hopefully leads to a kinder and more unified world.
We definitely need more representation in positions of power and behind the scenes in general. We should have marginalized people spearheading how their stories are told.
You’ve played plenty of teenage characters and been part of stories that highlight female friendship. What’s the most rewarding part about playing them?
I think that exploring the teenage experience is so vast and universal which feels satisfying when you help create a story or character that someone can relate to. I highly value my relationships with other women and I feel like the complexities of those relationships usually take the backseat in a lot of movies. But women are so powerful when they stand together and I enjoy showing that onscreen when I can.
Watch Brianne Tju as Shay in Uglies in the trailer below.
Uglies is currently available on Netflix.
(Featured and Hero Image credit: Richie Ramirez Jr.)
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Written by
Jianne Soriano
Senior Digital Writer (Growth) - Dining, Culture & Travel
An introvert at heart, Jianne has an immense passion for storytelling. After working in Tokyo, this Filipino, Hong Kong-born native is back to tell stories about her home(s). When she’s not writing, you can find her looking for the best hojicha spots, binge-watching her comfort movies, or travelling solo.
