Dawn Yuen Builds a Path from Singlish to Hollywood
- Unique Wisdom
- May 26
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Living in Los Angeles, Dawn Yuen initially struggled with the overwhelming differences in culture and pace. Through open-heartedness and community connections, she found strength and belonging. Her story is a reminder that, across any distance, human connection remains our greatest source of resilience.
Building a Life Between Cultures and Cameras
In 2001, after the dot-com bubble burst and our investments dissolved, my American husband decided it was time to return to his hometown, Los Angeles. Feeling defeated and broke, we packed our bags and left for the U.S.
Now, 24 years later, we have two sons aged 20 and 18, and a home in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles. In 2015, I started a small housewares e-commerce business, which I still run from home. I also have a side career as an actress, which I have pursued since 2006.
While living in Singapore, I enjoyed performing arts and worked as a part-time actress, guest-starring and co-starring in local TV dramas and commercials. After moving to Los Angeles, I naturally began taking acting lessons at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, a famous acting school where George Clooney studied.
Over the past 15 years, I have built a credible resume, including acting in a short film that went to Cannes, a feature film that premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and another feature film that will have its world premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
The first few years of living in a foreign land were not easy. I felt lonely, missed home, and struggled to adjust to spoken American English and the American way of life. I moved here at 30, and my Singlish was a big part of my identity, so it was challenging to let go of the "lahs" and "lors".
In Singapore, past or present, I feel like the daughter of Singapore—free to do what I want, say how I feel, and easily fit into any environment. However, living abroad, I felt like a guest, constantly cautious about what I said and did, and not always feeling like I fit in.
This was a significant adjustment, and it made me realize how good I had it in Singapore. The feeling of belonging gives one so much more freedom to be themselves and express their feelings. It took me five years of living in the U.S. to overcome this. After my sons were born, I started to feel more at home.
During my first year in Los Angeles, I joined the SoCal Singaporean Club and met older Singaporeans who had been in the U.S. for over 20 years. During my time as a member and later as president for two years, we recruited newer and younger Singaporean members.
Over time, I built a small community of Singaporean friends, and we organized events for Chinese New Year, National Day, and year-end holidays to bring Singaporeans together.
These days, I feel comfortable living in Los Angeles. I have learned to switch between Singlish and American English as needed. I still have a Singaporean accent, but I have adopted American pronunciation, which helps Americans understand me better.
Living abroad has given me many opportunities to work with locals, opening my mind to different ethnicities and cultures. It has also allowed me to compare and appreciate the differences between the two countries.
Photo Credit: Dawn Yuen
Singapore has achieved so much since I left—the MRT, public buses, beautiful landscapes, healthcare, and the world-class airport have all advanced significantly in the last 25 years.
It’s bittersweet for me because I wish I had been in Singapore to witness these developments, but I am also thankful for the life I have built and the friendships I have made in the U.S.
I am grateful for the opportunities and obstacles I have faced, as they have molded me into a wiser and stronger person. As the saying goes, "Adversity breeds toughness, and the tough succeed."
Pursuing Passion Through Practice, Play, and Perseverance
The pivotal moment in my journey was when I wanted to show my kids that when we have a passion, we should work at it and not give up on what we love.
I didn’t want to just be a stay-at-home mom, especially since my husband’s job required him to travel for two weeks at a time, making it difficult for me to take on a full-time job. While raising my kids, I decided to pursue my love for performing arts and started taking acting classes.
Acting, singing, and dancing have always been a part of my life. They allow me to forget everything else and focus on the moment, which is incredibly enjoyable for me. It never felt like work, it was always play. I would work for free just to be part of a gig. That’s when I knew I truly loved the entertainment business.
The major part of becoming a working actress is auditioning. Auditioning comprises of 80% of the job when you’re just starting out. Out of all the auditions an actor goes to, the rejection rate is 90%.
So, you must really love the job and never give up. Keep practicing, keep participating, and keep playing, even if it’s for free. When you keep at it, you are likely to succeed.
Only one in approximately 100 actors gets picked to audition for a role out of about 2,000+ submissions. For me, whenever I got an audition, I treated it as a small win, and we would buy desserts to celebrate. When I booked a role, it was a huge win, and we would celebrate with a good steak.
Fueling Courage, Resilience, and the Dream to Keep Going
I became an actress because I love acting. I didn’t spend much time visualizing my future as an actress, but I do dream of walking the red carpet one day. It would be so cool to dress up and walk down that beautiful red carpet.
Courage:
When I first started, I went to a talent agency for an interview. The talent assistant who interviewed me told me I didn’t fit their idea of an Asian American actress. She insulted me by saying I spoke funny with an accent that wasn’t American.
I was angry, and I don’t remember where I found the courage, but I retorted, "Are there no immigrants in the U.S.? Do all immigrants speak with a perfect American accent?" That courage to speak out impressed her boss, and he signed me as a talent agent. I worked a lot after that.
I feel my courage to pursue acting comes from my love for it. It’s an enjoyable process from rehearsal to the day of the actual performance. Whenever I feel defeated and unsure if I should continue on this path, I read books written by renowned acting coaches and actors, which helps me persevere.
Resilience:
The challenge of facing rejection from 90% of auditions, driving an hour to an audition and an hour back after just 10 minutes of audition time, or losing a role even after a great audition has built my resilience. I hope to tell the younger generation that when you work at it and don’t give up, your dreams can be fulfilled.
I am amazed at how much courage and resilience (thick skin) I have developed to keep going and never give up.
Every role I book is a "brighter sky" moment. It reinforces my confidence as an authentic actress and keeps my hopes high. It’s my optimistic pill.
Having many followers and supporters who genuinely believe in my journey helps me keep going and follow my dream. I am truly thankful to all my followers and supporters, as they are a huge encouragement in my pursuit.
I think if anyone knows someone pursuing an artistic career, they should always give them their full support. It will help them and give them so much more courage to overcome challenges.
Staying the Course with Community, Gratitude, and Perspective
On the rainbow ride, surround yourself with people who believe in you and your craft. Find people of the same kind, stay connected, and keep participating. It will keep you alive and strong in pursuing your rainbow.
Keep learning from the greats, stay optimistic, and always celebrate little wins. To stay true to yourself, don’t let negativity stay with you.
Always be grateful for every opportunity, every piece of support, and thank the people who stick by you.
For every audition I submit, I have a motto: "Do your best and forget the rest." In my field of work, rejection is a big part of the job, and if we let rejections get to us, we will lose faith and our vision.
It’s not about us, and we shouldn’t take it too personally. After all, it’s about the bigger picture. As an actor, we are a small part of that big picture. If we don’t fit, then we are better off finding one where we do.
Stay Connected
You can visit my acting website at www.dawnyingyuen.com.or find me on Instagram at @dawnyingyuen.