Women With GRITT: Arden Cho On Handling Rejection, Getting Into Character And Her Brand New Show

Hi Arden! Thank you for speaking to us today. Before we jump into your incredible career and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, we want to know a little more about what makes you, you. So, what are some of your fondest childhood memories and how did they shape you?

When I was a kid, I was a really big dreamer. I love magic. I love performing. I love singing and dancing. I think my parents always joked and said they knew I’d end up in a creative field or end up being a performer. The assumption was fair, I suppose, considering I spent most of my day singing. But I also think the adventure of childhood made me dream big. I grew up playing outside. I grew up building forts and really being a kid, which I now realise is an incredible privilege.

Sounds like a wonderful childhood! Would you say your parents are where you inherited your drive and passion from? Because making it as an actor is not to be underestimated and certainly requires perseverance.

Definitely! My dad is so resilient. He is a fighter. My parents immigrated to America in the ‘80s and, for them, failing or giving up wasn’t an option. That was super inspiring. Although, in saying that, I’ve given up many times in my career and I’ve been discouraged. But I’ve realised this is normal and healthy and it’s the community and friends around you that lift you up and help you get back out there. My journey hasn’t been smooth and it hasn’t been one direction. It’s been a lot of ups and downs and a rollercoaster of emotions but there has definitely been growth. 

It certainly seems like you’ve been able to harness rejection and turn it into a learning curve. How do you reframe disappointment and persevere?

This industry is definitely one of the toughest. You have to be resilient. You have to be strong. And you have to be able to handle rejection. It’s such a big part of the business. And it doesn’t necessarily get easier but as you grow up you learn that you’re not alone and it happens to everyone at one point or another. I think I’m now at a season in my life where, when things don’t work out, you almost feel like it just wasn’t meant to be and you can surrender to that. This has helped me massively.

Such great advice! But, on a more positive note, when you do book a role, what does your creative process look like? How do you connect to your character?

First, it’s always trying to learn as much about the character or person I’m playing. For Partner Track, it was really diving into a young lawyer’s brain and talking to all my friends who are lawyers and reading as much as I could to absorb the information. But at the same time, sometimes you don’t have the luxury of time and you have to dive right into filming. This was the case for Partner Track, so there was a lot of learning on the go and building the character as I’m going. Of course, she is still a 29-year-old Asian-American woman who is trying to figure out life and I was once that woman. So, there are bits and pieces you can pull from personal experience as well. I also thrive off direction as well, so when it is collaborative I really love it. 

And what is an aspect of acting that our readers would be most surprised to learn about?

It is definitely not as glamorous as people think. Sorry, that’s probably disappointing to hear! I would also say that I think so much of our career is really a highlight reel. You see a lot of the success. You see a lot of the wins. But people don’t often see the rejections and the failures. And failure isn’t necessarily bad. I think it is crucial to character building and growth and a lot of what makes you a success.

Now, Arden, we couldn’t let you go without grilling you about your beauty routine! So, what products are you loving and using at the moment?

My skin definitely runs on the drier side and I think, as I get older, my skin is much more dehydrated. I love skin cycling. So, if I do a skin acid one day, I’ll do a more hydrating product the next and then a retinol. I love Sunday Riley Good Genes and I also use a lot of Peter Thomas Roth. My favourite cream at the moment is the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream.

We’re jotting all of this down! Thank you for sitting down with us, Arden.