A look at how the actress left behind her corporate finance career for a successful and fulfilling journey in acting. 

“I hope for anyone who is pursuing their passions, but perhaps has not hit their lucky break yet – I see you, and I know it is not an easy road. But I hope you are proud of yourself for at least trying.”

Yvonne Chapman is a second-generation Canadian of Chinese descent. Born and raised in Calgary, her appreciation for the craft began at a young age. Performing in school plays, taking on commercial roles, and modelling, the ambitious young woman developed a deep-rooted love for acting. Despite her passion, she did not consider acting to be a viable career path — partially due to her family’s perception.  

“My parents, rightly so, always encouraged me to pursue a stable profession. And I am grateful that they did,” she said. 

Growing up in an Asian household, Chapman knew the news of moving west to Vancouver would be a topic of concern. She relied on the advantages of her previous finance career, knowing she had experience and education to fall back on. The idea of having a fallback eased her parent’s worries, and she took on the challenge of moving to an unfamiliar city. 

The move was a combination of scary and exciting for the new Vancouverite. A limited network, a new city, and a desire to make connections were all challenges that Chapman overcame once the initial fear dissipated. She began to take life’s course day by day and opened herself up to every possible opportunity.

“My first paid gig was about 8 months after I landed in Vancouver. However, before that gig I landed a few roles in indie and student short films that I sought after myself. I highly recommend doing so to anyone starting out,” she said. “Not only did I meet some great people, whom I’m still good friends with today from those sets, it also gave me experience that allowed me to feel comfortable walking onto a bigger set for my first paid gig.” 

Chapman poured herself into the pursuit of becoming a full-time actress. With the pressure mounting, this meant every audition was precious and every rejection was taken personally. 

“Mentally and emotionally, this was not healthy. So, I had to recalibrate, and reframe my mindset and idea of what success was so I could enjoy the process. And a big part of that was finding something else to do, that had nothing to do with acting that I could escape into,” she said. 

She began teaching children at an after-school program, which she describes as fulfilling, during periods of not auditioning. Coincidently, the program made her a better actress as it brought perspective and life experience into her world. 

Landing a lead role in the CW’s Kung Fu reboot, she describes her character as the “big bad” of the show. Zhilan is thrilling, dangerous, alluring, heart-breaking and vile — all at the same time. Playing a character that is highly trained in martial arts, Chapman had the opportunity to partake in fight sequences. 

“Experiencing and living multiple lives through the characters I get to play is what I love most about acting! Having said that, there is always something I find relatable, or something I sympathize with in the characters I play, no matter how far removed I personally am from them,” said Chapman. 

The full-time actress says her career in acting has influenced her life in an incredibly meaningful way. 

“Acting has opened me up and taught me a different way of communication, connection and empathy for all things and people for the better,” she said. 

Growing up in Alberta, Chapman believes there is an immense pool of talent that needs more platforms to showcase capabilities beyond provincial borders. 

“Given the reach we have with technology today, this is made more possible than ever before. That is why I love supporting publications like this, that amplify and support the voices of local talent,” she said. 

For aspiring actors and actresses, the CW star wants everyone to remember to be kind, stay curious, and support fellow artists. 

“Don’t pit yourself against other people’s trajectory in this business – your journey is your own. And practice a growth mindset. Because there will be moments of self-doubt, rejection, and dejection in your career, but you can decide to take those moments as a springboard to learn and broaden your existing abilities to make you even better prepared for the next opportunity,” she said.