Meet Adele Lim, the genius co-writer behind Crazy Rich Asians and director of Joy Ride: 7 reasons we love the Malaysian-born Hollywood screenwriter, from pay equality campaigning to celebrity crushes
From the streets of Malaysia to the heart of Hollywood, screenwriter Adele Lim is fast becoming a household name on her mission to put Asian experiences at the forefront of an industry sorely overdue for a fresh perspective.
She’s best known for co-writing the screenplay for Crazy Rich Asians – though her name appeared in headlines again when she publicly shared that she walked away from the film’s sequel, refusing to work for a fraction of what her white, male co-writers were being paid.
Here are our top reasons for loving Adele Lim.
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1. Adele Lim’s authentic connection to her home and heritage
Lim was born in Petaling Jaya in Malaysia on the outskirts of cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur. She was raised in a traditional, multigenerational home that included her grandparents. Plenty of extended family were always around, too. The writer told local media that the experience made her fiercely proud of her Malaysian roots – something that shines through in her work and storytelling to this day.
2. She’s still Adele from the block
She went to a prestigious all-girls’ school, SMKP Sri Aman, an alma mater to renowned Malaysian figures including the country’s first female pilot. Even though Lim lives a million miles away in Hollywood now, her Instagram shows that she still makes time for her secondary school besties. Fame and fortune clearly haven’t gone to her head.
3. She’s fighting for her rights while recovering from an injury
As a long-time writer for films and TV shows (she got her start on Xena: Warrior Princess), Lim knows a thing or two about seeking credit where credit is due. Lim marched on the picket line during the 2007 writers’ strike, and she’s back at it again in 2023 – even though it’s more of a hobble these days.
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4. She added the most iconic scene in Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy Rich Asians director John Chu turned to Lim when he recognised that the film’s original screenplay needed a serious rewrite, Lim shared to local media. Lim understood the assignment, overhauling many of the film’s scenes by injecting more authentic, modern Asian experiences – and some beloved traditions, too.
5. She had a crush on Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat growing up
Growing up, Lim was enamoured with Hong Kong cinema – especially its dashing leading men. She revealed to W Magazine that she was especially affected by iconic Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, who she says taught her that “hot, star-quality Asian men” truly belonged on the big screen.
6. She was a backup dancer for a Malaysian superstar
It’s hard to imagine her doing anything other than making her mark on the film industry, but back in the day Lim was actually promising dancer. In an interview with local media, Lim said that she was a backup dancer for Ning Baizura, one of Malaysia’s most popular and respected recording artists, for “a hot minute”.
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7. She knows her worth
However, in 2019, the gender wage gap was still alive and well – just as it is in 2023. According to Lim, executives offered her an embarrassingly low fee for her writing services, with reports suggesting it was around 10 per cent of what her co-writer Peter Chiarelli was being paid. She walked away from the project in protest for pay parity.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said: “If I couldn’t get pay equity after CRA, I can’t imagine what it would be like for anyone else, given that the standard for how much you’re worth is having established quotes from previous films, which women of colour would never have been [hired for]. There’s no realistic way to achieve true equity that way.”
- Lim is best known for co-writing the screenplay for the wildly successful Crazy Rich Asians, especially the iconic scene where matriarch Michelle Yeoh and Constance Wu had a mahjong face-off
- She had a crush on Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat while growing up – and now she’s the director of hot upcoming flick Joy Ride, starring Ashley Park and Stephanie Hsu