Jasmine Suraya Chin of West Hollywood on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Jasmine Suraya Chin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Jasmine Suraya, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Many times. I’ve acted on impulse before and regretted it massively -I think most of us have. But on the flip side, there were also moments when I overthought things, hesitated too long, procrastinated on it and ended up missing opportunities completely. I’ve learned that timing really matters. Sometimes not acting fast saves you, and sometimes it costs you – the hard part is learning which is which.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jasmine Suraya, a Malaysian actress. I’ve been acting across Asia, mainly in Southeast Asia, for close to a decade now.

My latest film, Pavane for an Infant, is Malaysia’s official submission to the Academy Awards next year, where I play a hermaphrodite struggling with identity and belonging. That — and the time I had to work out four hours a day on a strict diet to play a deranged yoga mistress, only to gain 33 pounds a month later to portray world champion bowler Shalin Zulkifli — was probably my most challenging period. Who knew acting could be so tough! Mostly because I missed being myself instead of living in someone else’s head when they called “cut.”

I come from Sarawak, in the south of Borneo – part of East Malaysia – and there aren’t many people from where I’m from trying to make it in the US. When I came here, everyone thought I was crazy for leaving behind a steady career in Malaysia. I sold everything, packed two suitcases and moved here without knowing anyone. But I wanted to see how far someone like me – short, Asian, from Borneo — could go in America, the land where dreams come true!

My goal now is to bridge two worlds – to bring more American projects to Southeast Asia and introduce the region’s rich mythical folklores and stories to global audiences. Representation often focuses on East Asia but Southeast Asia has just as many powerful, unseen narratives waiting to be told.

When I’m not working, I’m usually doing absolutely nothing – though I love bingeing on films, cooking, and napping whenever I feel like it. If there’s one thing I’ve come to appreciate this year, it’s that I’ve started to enjoy getting older. I no longer chase validation the way I used to when I was younger. It’s nice to just be – to feel more comfortable in my own skin and to focus on what actually matters.

My favorite directors are Park Chan-wook, Aki Kaurismäki, and the Coen Brothers – I love stories that are a little offbeat with deeply flawed protagonists. On the other hand, my favorite TV character is Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote – she solved murders while looking like she was on her way to church. And when I’m not acting, I’m busy defending my title as the self-proclaimed Queen of Monopoly Deal.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Lol, lots of people. Some of them are idols and some of them are friends.

The funniest thing is that the biggest lessons I’ve learned about work didn’t come from the people I idolized – they came from friends and real experiences. Apart from the usual things like punctuality and professionalism, what really shaped the way I approach work now are two things: identifying people’s needs and aligning with the right people.

Aligning with the right people is everything – whether it’s finding good teachers and mentors, hiring the right team, choosing the right manager, or even just being in the right environment to grow. And identifying people’s needs goes a long way in any field – whether you’re pitching a project, selling a product, or even selling yourself at an audition or interview. When you understand what your audience or collaborators truly need, you gain so much clarity in how to present your work and yourself.

Those two lessons – alignment and understanding – have been the most valuable things I’ve learned about work so far.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of not being good enough – or spending too much time trying to craft something “better than good.” I used to chase perfection, now I just chase deadlines. Done is better than tortured!

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
“Keep grinding, follow your passion, don’t give up.” – those are probably the biggest lies we tell ourselves and other people. The creative industry, like any other, is still a business. Hard work without strategy is just blind effort. It’s not just about talent – it’s about branding, packaging, having the right people around you… and let’s be honest, a bit of luck too.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Probably everything I’m doing right now. Acting, producing, writing, networking – it all feels like planting trees I might not even get to sit under.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jasmine_suraya
• Twitter: jasmine_suraya
• Facebook: Jasmine Suraya Chin
• Youtube: Jasmine Suraya Chin

Image Credits
Wolf Marloh
Prestine Davekhaw
Amirul Hakim