Five things to know about Go Back to China star Anna Akana, a YouTuber, singer, and comedian – from her sexuality to the break-up that inspired her music
- Anna Akana has more than 2.7 million subscribers on YouTube, where she posts videos about mental health, sexuality and identity
- In 2018, she accepted a prize at the Streamy Awards, and accidentally outed herself on stage as bisexual
Anna Akana is an actress, comedian, producer, and singer and has more than 2.7 million subscribers on YouTube. Her career began in stand-up comedy but she has since starred in various film and television series, released a debut album, “Casualty”, and been on sold-out stand-up tours.
Lately Akana, 31, has appeared as the lead in director Emily Ting’s film Go Back to China , lent her voice to animated series Magical Girl Friendship Squad, and published a memoir to which she has sold the TV rights and for which she has written a pilot script. Here are five more things you may not know about the Los Angeles-based artist.
1. She wanted to be a veterinary surgeon
Up until the age of 17, a career in entertainment was never part of Akana’s game plan. While she might have dreamed of being a performer, Akana was a diligent student and was working towards a more conservative goal of entering the US armed forces, like her father, and becoming a veterinary surgeon.
Akana dived headlong into comedy, writing jokes, signing up for open-mic lotteries and performing stand-up wherever she could in Los Angeles. Then, at 19, she made the move to YouTube.
2. She is an active mental health advocate
