Metro - Vancouver

Star Likes Limited Recognition

Jeff Hodson

11-6- 2008
 

Despite playing two leading roles in one of television’s hottest sci-fi shows, Vancouver actress Grace Park still basks in the (relative) anonymity of her hometown.

“Battlestar (Galactica) has had a lot of success, but is still underground,” said Park, in a Downtown hotel yesterday.

“It hasn’t broken into mainstream. Your average Joe in Wyoming won’t know who I am. If I went to Nebraska a lot of people would be like, ‘Who’s that Chinese girl?’”

Park, 34, who is of Korean descent, was born in California and moved as toddler to Vancouver. She grew up in Kerris-dale and graduated from the University of B.C. with a degree in psychology.

Her first real acting role was in the Vancouver-shot CBC teen-drama Edgemont and she currently stars in three television series, including Battlestar and A&E’s The Cleaner. Beginning Monday at 9 p.m., Park can also be seen as U.S. Homeland Security Agent Liz Carver in the final six episodes of CBC’s The Border.

But despite the busy schedule, Park said her fame is limited — something she relishes. “I thought it was better to be special, but after a while, I think it’s better to be normal … people complain that there’s no star system in Canada, but it’s kind of a relief.

Recently, Park sat with Daniel Dae Kim (from ABC’s Lost) on Robson Street. While passersby waved and pointed at Kim, most failed to recognize her.

Park said there’s something “slightly underground, suppressive” about Canadian culture that edges away from celebrity hype.

“It’s actually kind of nice. If you have to go out to a restaurant you’re not going to have people stand at your table, put their arm around you and expect you take a photo with them. “There’s a respect and a sense of space and equality.”