Star Wars star Kelly Marie Tran comes out as queer

In a recent interview, Kelly Marie Tran has publicly identified as queer. The 35-year-old actress, known for her roles in Star Wars and Raya and the Last Dragon, discussed her identity with Vanity Fair while talking about her upcoming romantic comedy, The Wedding Banquet.

According to ‘People’, Tran revealed, “I haven’t said this publicly yet, but I’m a queer person.”

Reflecting on her new film, a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 queer comedy, she expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating, “The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew. I don’t feel like I’m acting at all in this movie. I’m here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. I’ve never been in a queer space before. I’ve never truly felt this accepted before.” The film, directed by Andrew Ahn, features Tran as Angela, a woman who plans to have a child via IVF with her girlfriend Lee, portrayed by Lily Gladstone.

The plot centres on Angela orchestrating a fake traditional Korean wedding with a male friend to fund her IVF treatment while he gains a green card, as noted by Vanity Fair. The film also includes performances by Bowen Yang and Han Gi-chan, with Joan Chen playing Tran's character’s mother.

Tran shared with Vanity Fair, “I came out to my mom in a very specific experience. The scenes that I have with Joan Chen in this movie are very similar to the experience that I had.”

Director Andrew Ahn mentioned his intention for the remake, highlighting his desire to portray “a story that felt reflective of the community as I’ve experienced it growing up.” He remarked on the project, “The spirit is the same, and I think it’s even more queer.”

Tran has spoken about the online harassment she endured following her involvement in the Star Wars franchise, including her roles in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, where she became the first woman of color to lead a Star Wars film. She also made history as the first Southeast Asian Disney princess in Raya and the Last Dragon.

In a 2021 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Tran stated, “if someone doesn't understand me or my experience, it shouldn't be my place to have to internalize their misogyny or racism or all of the above.”

“Maybe they just don't have the imagination to understand that there are different types of people living in the world,” she commented at the time.

Tran’s participation in The Wedding Banquet follows her role in The Young Wife, released in 2023, and her performance in Netflix’s Sweet Tooth. According to Vanity Fair, The Wedding Banquet is expected to premiere in theatres in the spring.