They may be sisters on-screen, but Lana Condor just proved that she and Janel Parrish are
equally close off-screen with a heartfelt thank you letter to her To All The Boys big
sis.
What’s up?
I’m Emile Ennis Jr. here with Clevver News and in a new heartfelt letter to her on screen
sister, Lana Condor got real about being an Asian American actress in Hollywood and explained
how Janel Parrish helped pave the way for her career in the entertainment industry.
The letter was a part of The Today’s show’s Thank You Notes series with Katie Couric where
Katie asked Lana to write a thank you note to a woman who she looks at as a role model.
The person Lana chose was Janel and we all got the chance to watch as Lana reads Janel
that letter.
In the note, Lana explained that she didn’t see a lot of girls who looked like her on-screen
growing up until she saw Janel in Pretty Little Liars.
So she wrote a Thank You Note to Janel and it’s truly the sweetest, most heartwarming
thing you’ll see
all day.
And in her letter, Lana went on to say quote, “When people ask me if it is hard to be
an Asian American in Hollywood, I always answer that it was way, way harder for those who
came before me.”
Lana also explained that Janel was “a part of the OG young Hollywood,” that has changed
how different cultures are represented in movies and on TV.
And while the casting and audition processes have changed and have gotten a little more
inclusive over time, both Lana and Janel have felt like they’re “not what Hollywood
is looking for.”
Janel chimed in and related back to Lana’s sentiments regarding auditions.
Lana also talked about how To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was the first role that
she came across that specifically called for an Asian American actress as the lead, so
she felt a lot of pressure when it came to landing it.
Are you surprised by Janel and Lana’s confessions of being Asian American Actresses?!?
Feel free to chat it out in the comments below…
BUT that’s not all that Lana said!
Lana and Janel didn’t only talk about the industry, they also talked about each other.
Lana got into the personal relationship she has formed with Janel since being cast as
sisters in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.
Lana said quote, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” not only launched my career,
but also introduced me to you.
The franchise has transformed me from your fan to your sister.
You have helped create a space for girls like me in this industry and I hope that I can
do for young girls what you have done for me.”
This whole thing is making me emotional!
We love the Covey sisters!
Both Lana and Janel acknowledged that we are in an important time with change happening
around us but there’s always more work to be done when it comes to representation.
Lana said quote, “We’re in a really special time in the industry.
Studios just can’t ignore the fact that if their movies or TV shows don’t look like
real life, people just don’t buy it.
There’s still a lot more work that needs to be done in terms of representation and
just the way that we’re seen.”
And Janel turned it back over to Lana, saying that while Janel may have inspired her when
she was in high school watching Pretty Little Liars, Lana’s now an inspiration to her
and so many others.
Janel said quote, “You should also know how inspiring you are to me and to others.
And you know, you say that I’m someone who came before you, but now you are someone who’s
coming before so many other beautiful little girls who are saying I can do it cause Lana
Condor did it.”
Again, don’t mind me, I’ll just be over here all up in my feels!!!
And fans loved everything about this.
They are showing their love for Lana and Janel on social media.
One fan tweeted saying quote, “she’s so right!!
You were such/still are an inspo to us asians being able to see you on screen and singing
and everything.
Love you!!”
Another wrote quote, “this is so beautiful, you and lana are both inspirations and it's
so special to see how much you love each other on and off screen.
THIS is the kind of news I want to be seeing more of.
Take notes journalists.”
And another said quote, “Love this.
It opens our hearts to even think about who we would be writing a thank-you note to.
Thank you” Asset: screenshot
And this is so true!
I think I have some thank you notes to get to!
Who would you guys write a note like this to?
Please let me know down in the comments below.
But all this talk about Lana and Janel has us thinking about To All The Boys 3, which
will hopefully be dropping later this year.
Since the third book opens in the fall of Lara Jean’s senior year, some fans think
we may get the final movie in the trilogy in August or September of this year.
And one part of the third movie that we’re definitely looking forward to involves both
Janel and Lana.
In the book, the Covey sisters travel to Korea to see their grandmother, and they did film
there for the movie as well.
Lana told Entertainment Tonight about this experience and said quote, “We spent a lot
of time in Korea shooting….
We were there for so long, I hope that they just show a lot of Korea.
And ultimately, I want to celebrate the culture, so I think it’s really important that we
keep as much of Korea in the movie as possible.”
And we can’t wait to see how it turns out and what ends up happening between Lara Jean
and Peter Kavinsky.
But I want to know what you guys think.
Do you think we will be getting To All The Boys 3 later this year?
And are you as excited as we are to see the girls go to Korea in this one?
Also, let me know who you’d write a thank you letter to, I’m curious!
Share your thoughts down in the comments below.
And while we’re talking about Lana Condor and the third To All The Boys movie, click
right over here for Lana’s emotional goodbye to her character Lara Jean.
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Thanks so much for watching I’m Emile Ennis Jr. and I’ll see ya next time!