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Metro Exclusive: Yvonne Chapman in "The Season" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender"

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<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781708631173The Season - Yvonne Chapman as Madeline Wong 03.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Yvonne Chapman as Madeline Wong | Photo courtesy of PCCW</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Timing her screen return to the crown of June, <strong>Yvonne Chapman </strong>is pulling off a brilliant streaming double-header. </p><p>The two-fold takeover begins today with the global launch of <strong>Viu</strong>’s high-stakes revenge thriller series <strong><em>The Season</em></strong> and culminates next week with the arrival of <strong>Netflix</strong>’s massive live-action fantasy sequel, <strong><em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em></strong>, <em></em><strong></strong>on June 25. </p><p>First catching our attention as the brutal assassin Zhilan in<em><strong> Kung Fu</strong></em>, Yvonne possessed an innate ability to deliver knife-edge physicality without ever losing her signature, classy composure. Armed with a fierce collaborative spirit and a transnational identity that spans from Canada to Singapore and Hong Kong, she is using her platform to advocate for a total democratic overhaul of the industry.</p><p>Following her Hollywood ascent, Yvonne has tracked her way into the cultural lexicon as the new archetype of modern Asian cinematic power. She’s now single-handedly dominating our watchlists, with her talent not tied down to a singular genre. </p><p>In this exclusive, we went one-on-one with the international muse to talk about her emotional creative homecoming to Hong Kong and why she’s over the industry’s scarcity mindset.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781708711570The Season - Yvonne Chapman as Madeline Wong 02.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo courtesy of PCCW</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Becoming unfiltered, unbothered, and untethered</strong></div><p>As Madeline Wong in her latest turn for <em>The Season</em>, the actress embodies a wealthy, hyper-chic disruptor navigating the shadowy undercurrents of Hong Kong’s elite. Described as unapologetically blunt and unshakable by the opinions of others, Madeline oozes confidence that Yvonne admits feels far removed from her own disposition.</p><p>Ironically, the role fascinated her precisely because she saw so little of herself in it. “I think the fact that she was unfiltered and unbothered drew me to her because that’s so unlike me. And I always love characters who are not like me because it&#x27;s far more fun to play,” Yvonne told <strong>Metro.Style</strong>. </p><p>In tracing an authentic gateway into Madeline’s psyche, Yvonne dug into the “why“ behind her character’s fierce facade and looked closely at how her relationships play out within the narrative arc: “So stepping into the mindset, for me, it always starts with the story.” </p><p>Yvonne further reflected that Madeline’s unfiltered persona influenced her own evolution as an artist. In the creative industry, it is easy to hold onto things too tightly or let self-consciousness creep into a performance. Madeline taught her the exact opposite.</p><p>“To be unfiltered, you have to be willing to be very vulnerable. To be unbothered, you have to be in a place where you don’t hold anything too precious. And as an artist, I work at my best when I’m most vulnerable and when I can let things go. And I think with every character that I play, every time that I have more experience on set, I’m able to get to that place a little bit sooner,” explained Yvonne.</p><p>She confessed that she often arrives on new sets carrying nerves because she cares deeply about doing justice to her work, stating, “Because every single project I work on, when it&#x27;s a new thing, I&#x27;m always so nervous. And that&#x27;s normal because I care so much about my job and making sure I do a good job of it. That, you kind of walk onto the set with a bit of self-consciousness.”</p><p>“But the sooner I can let that go, the freer I am to play and the more discoveries I can make as an actor. I think that’s when I do my best work. So, in her lesson of being her, that’s what I hope to embody more of going forward,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781710291178The Season - Yvonne Chapman as Madeline Wong 04.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo courtesy of PCCW</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Coming home through Hong Kong</strong></div><p>Although <em>The Season</em> unfolds amid suspense and family intrigue, one of Yvonne’s fondest memories from the production had little to do with tension and everything to do with nostalgia. It was a core-memory-unlocked moment for the actress, whose paternal lineage is deeply rooted in the region’s artistic history. Her grandfather, filmmaker<strong> Chapman Ho</strong>, was part of the pioneering generation of Hong Kong cinema, and her grandmother, <strong>Lola Young</strong>,<strong> </strong>was a celebrated soprano. </p><p>Long before cameras rolled, the city occupied an important place in her life and family history, making the opportunity to work there feel like the realization of a long-held dream. “I loved it! I mean, it’s been a dream of mine to be here and work on a show. It brought back so many memories. One location that we got to shoot in was <strong>Ocean Park</strong>. And I went there as a kid,” shared Yvonne, her voice lighting up. </p><p>Production schedules required filming there at night after the venue had closed, effectively granting the cast and crew exclusive access to one of Hong Kong’s most beloved attractions. “Let me tell you, it was just us there. In between takes, we had the amusement park games all to ourselves. We got to play all these games on repeat as much as we wanted. And that&#x27;s any kid’s dream. I was living out my childhood dream of being in there, being able to do all of that, untethered,” she beamed.</p><p>Yvonne eagerly revisited carnival-style challenges, especially one she spent a lot of time unsuccessfully trying to knock blocks off a platform with a sandbag. “I don’t know how many times I tried. I was very bad at it. But it was a lot of fun. However, our first AD (assistant director) was fantastic. She killed that game. She got MVP for sure!” she recalled smilingly. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781710982568The Season - Yvonne Chapman as Madeline Wong 01.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo courtesy of PCCW</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Returning to <em>Avatar</em> and chasing the thrill of action</strong></div><p>Reprising her role as <strong>Kyoshi</strong> for the second season of <strong><em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em></strong> felt like a true blessing. As she put it, “It was great! I love being Kyoshi. I was so happy and thrilled that they invited me back to be Kyoshi. She&#x27;s one of the most iconic, if not the most iconic character I’ve gotten to play. So, to embody her again is a gift.”</p><p>Crossing the threshold back onto the Netflix set meant reuniting with a cast and crew that felt instantly welcoming, but it also meant witnessing the show&#x27;s massive production values scale up even further. Yvonne hinted that the sheer artistry on display has been heavily dialed up for the new season. </p><p>“The cast, the crew—they&#x27;re all very welcoming and warm. It&#x27;s a lovely set to be on. And the artistry that they have on that set, whether it’s the costumes or the sets, how they have recreated this world in a live-action, is thrilling to see. To step back on that set and to see it even more elevated than it was in Season 1 was incredible. Audiences are gonna be really happy, I&#x27;m sure,” she said.</p><p>While she is fiercely protective of the plot details, she promises that fans are going to get the same uncompromising, powerful Kyoshi they fell in love with, only executed on a grander scale. </p><p>“They&#x27;re still gonna have Kyoshi. She&#x27;s still gonna be fierce. I don&#x27;t think any fan is going to be disappointed in how she is brought back,” Yvonne teased.</p><p>Having dabbled in legal procedurals, sci-fi, and massive superhero epics, Yvonne has developed a deep appreciation for what different genres demand from her. Legal dramas require a heavy emotional throughput, while the superhero genre demands a radical leap of imagination to make otherworldly stakes feel real. But if you ask her what she truly misses? It is the pure adrenaline of stunt work.</p><p>“I love the physicality of action. I miss stunt work, truly. I would love to get back to doing some stunts because it is so fun to be a woman,” she admitted.</p><p>Yvonne pointed to a specific, standout sequence from Season 2 of <em>Kung Fu,</em> where her character, Zhilan, effortlessly tears through a room full of bodyguards without “giving it a second thought.” Embodying that kind of brutal, unapologetic power felt incredibly liberating for her: “It felt so powerful to do a sequence like that. So that is something that I really miss and enjoyed about the work in that genre.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781711781136Avatar__The_Last_Airbender_S1_Yvonne Chapman as Avatar Kyoshi.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Yvonne Chapman as Kyoshi in <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender </em>| Photo courtesy of Netflix</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Redefining Asian representation and tearing up the blueprint</strong></div><p>Yvonne attributes much of her success in these acting spaces to the nuance written into the scripts. Her creative choices are intrinsically driven, mapping on dismantling the superficial, flat portrayals of Asian women that have plagued media for far too long.</p><p>“What I have been very blessed with in the roles I&#x27;ve played was that the creators of those roles and stories have provided characters that were so nuanced in their perspectives that allowed for a beautiful challenge for me to portray. There was no superficial idea of what this Asian woman or Asian character was going to look like,” she spoke of her major roles. </p><p>The characters she has portrayed possess conflicting emotions, complicated motivations, and individual identities that resist stereotypes. Yvonne credits this authenticity to the inclusion of marginalized voices during development, saying, “There was a lot of care and intention in the writing and the portrayal of these characters to have the proper articulation and representation of those Asian [figures]. Meaning, the marginalized voices were heavily involved in the creation of those characters, and you could feel that and see that in those characters. That was really important to me, and that&#x27;s what I’ve been very grateful to be able to play.” </p><p>Before acting became her profession, Yvonne worked in finance, following a path many would consider stable and conventional. Walking away from that certainty taught her something she now shares freely with aspiring creatives: there is no universal roadmap.</p><p>As an Asian-Canadian actress navigating mainstream global platforms, Yvonne is highly aware of the shifts happening within the entertainment industry. With the rise of accessible technology, she sees this democratization as one of the most significant developments for Asian creators, whose stories can now emerge from countless perspectives rather than a narrow collection of gatekeepers.</p><p>“Well, I think we&#x27;re a lot more vocal in what we expect and what we want in this industry. I think of technology and also just the sheer reach that we have through [it], we’re able to create more freely. We can film on our phones, we can create very cheaply than we used to. That provided a whole other platform for people to use their voice and to be seen and to be heard.”</p><p>“I think that creates important bridges in communication and representation, because now we&#x27;re able to see so many more voices and different perspectives of the Asian diaspora. So I think that has really broadened the opportunity and what we’re able to be exposed to as Asian representation,” she pressed. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781739696805Yvonne Chapman 04 (Photo by Paul J Sunga).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Paul J. Sunga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Asked what advice she would offer young and global Asian creatives hoping to carve out careers in international entertainment, Yvonne urged with conviction: “Don&#x27;t compete, collaborate.”</p><p>She rejected the idea that success requires fighting over limited opportunities: “I think for too long we have been told that we’re only allowed to occupy and there’s only so much space for us to take at a table. And that is complete and utter part of my language bullsh*t.”</p><p>“There’s space for all of us, and the more that we uplift and champion each other in our creative works, the bigger tables and the creative space that we can create for each other. There’s room for all of us. So don’t fall privy to a scarcity mindset because it&#x27;s just not true. We&#x27;ve been told that, and it&#x27;s just not true,” Yvonne argued.</p><p>Likewise, she discourages aspiring performers from searching for someone else’s blueprint. No universal roadmap guarantees entry into Hollywood or international success, and trying to replicate someone else’s journey often becomes counterproductive. </p><p>“As for the blueprint, there is no blueprint. Everybody&#x27;s trajectory is going to be their own. You can take examples of and have inspiration from others, but just know that your journey is your own, and however you get there is okay. There is no right, and there is no wrong in this process of being in this creative field. So what I would actually suggest [is] don&#x27;t look to see a blueprint. Do your own thing and uplift each other—that is the biggest message I can give to people,” she remarked, dismissing the scarcity mindset. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781712780428Yvonne Chapman 02 (Photo by Paul J Sunga).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Paul J. Sunga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A future destination stop</strong></div><p>With <em>The Season </em>making massive waves across Southeast Asia, Yvonne already has her sights set on her next career milestone. She is cast alongside Homer Gere, Ellen Barkin, Willem Dafoe, and Michael Douglas in <strong>Oliver Stone‘</strong>s upcoming film, <strong><em>White Lies</em></strong>.</p><p>But before things get busy again, her plans also involve squeezing in a long-overdue vacation to the Philippines. Though she hasn&#x27;t visited yet, she is actively begging fans and friends for itineraries.</p><p>“Any recommendations anybody has for me for the Philippines, please send them to me because I&#x27;m going to plan my vacation,” she says enthusiastically. Informed that she absolutely must not leave the country without trying authentic <em>adobo</em>, <em>pansit</em>, and a glass of <em>halo-halo</em> to beat the humid tropical weather, Yvonne is entirely sold: “Oh, I&#x27;m excited! Okay, well, I&#x27;m going to make my way over there soon.”</p><p>The country also feels familiar through friendships she values with two of her closest Filipina friends. Yvonne proudly spoke about her Manila-born stunt performer, whom she considers among the most badass and finest in the business, and <span>about actress <strong>Donna Benedicto</strong>,<strong></strong> with whom she has discussed developing projects</span>.</p><p>“My friend, Donna Benedicto, an incredible, incredible Filipino actress—we’ve been talking too because part of our ambitions is to create projects and more opportunities for our community. And we were actually discussing how we can get to the Philippines to do that,” she divulged.</p><p>To Filipino audiences who have embraced her work from afar, Yvonne offered her heartfelt gratitude, expressing, “Thank you so much for watching our shows, for championing us. We won’t have any of this without the fans, period. It’s you guys that are uplifting us and allowing us to continue to tell these stories and to bring these characters to life. There are no words to show or say how much I appreciate that and to put enough praise of my gratitude towards you. So, thank you!”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781740302869Yvonne Chapman 03 (Photo by Paul J Sunga).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Paul J. Sunga</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><em>Watch all episodes of The Season </em></strong><a href="https://www.viu.com/ott/ph/en/vod/3142876/THE-SEASON" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>now on Viu</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><em> Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 premieres on June 25, 2026, only on Netflix.<br/></em></strong></div>

<p>Timing her screen return to the crown of June, Yvonne Chapman is pulling off a brilliant streaming double-header with Viu Original "The Season" and Netflix's "<i>Avatar: The Last Airbender" Season 2.</i></p>

Timing her screen return to the crown of June, Yvonne Chapman is pulling off a brilliant streaming double-header with Viu Original "The Season" and Netflix's " Avatar: The Last Airbender" Season 2.

Yvonne Chapman Takes on Hollywood and Champions Asian Representation in Entertainment

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Yvonne Chapman Takes on Hollywood and Champions Asian Representation in Entertainment

Leigh Sofia Lazo

Published June 18, 2026 11:20 AM PHT

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Updated June 18, 2026 11:23 AM PHT

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