Ashley Park, known for her role as Mindy Chen in the popular Netflix series "Emily in Paris," has recently shared her experiences with both health challenges and career triumphs. From a life-threatening illness to landing leading roles, Park's story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and a commitment to prioritizing her well-being.
Battling Health Challenges
Park's journey hasn't been without its hurdles. In early 2024, while on vacation, she faced a severe health scare when tonsillitis rapidly escalated into critical septic shock, affecting multiple organs. She posted photos and videos from her time in the ICU after being diagnosed with tonsillitis - which turned into "critical septic shock." She expressed gratitude for the improvement in her health "despite what we had initially been told" and thanked her support system, including her family, partner Paul, insurance team, and doctors. "Infinite thanks to my personal team of heroes at home who were on calls with insurance, Paul, my parents, and doctors at all hours (you know who you are)." "I hesitated to share what’s been happening as I’m still in the throes of recovery…but I now know I’m safely on the other side of the worst," she added.
This wasn't her first encounter with a serious health issue. At the age of 15, Park was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer. The actress had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 15. The aggressive cancer left her covered in bruises and led to the loss of her hair due to intense treatment. She underwent intense treatment, leading to hair loss and physical changes that made her self-conscious. "It’s so crazy to be the woman I am now, it’s very full circle. It was right before Christmas that I was diagnosed. I danced and I did a lot of extra-curriculars and was late to all my classes because I couldn’t climb the stairs in time. I had bruises everywhere and I had lost so much weight. But everyone is changing when you are 15. I was like, ‘Great, my growth spurt, I’m losing all my baby fat’.“I was doing High School Musical and I loved theatre so much. I was starting to get very sick and we put off going to the doctor for a while. I remember laughing about my bruises with friends. We finally went to the pediatrician after school and they took some blood and said, ‘You need to go to the ER right now’. I said, ‘I’m going to go to rehearsal first’. They said, ‘You should call your dad’. We went to the ER that night and I didn’t leave hospital for eight months."
Despite the challenges, Park found solace and inspiration in theatre. During her treatment, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Ashley a wish, and she chose to visit New York City to see her first Broadway show. That experience solidified her desire to pursue a career in theatre and film.
Prioritizing Self-Care and Holistic Well-being
Following her recent health scare, Park has emphasized the importance of self-care and prioritizing her physical and mental health. Now that she's back home in Los Angeles, she's taken up gardening as a way to recenter herself.
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She recognizes that taking care of oneself is not selfish but rather essential for being able to fully invest in the things one cares about. "I was recently thinking about the concept of self-care, and how there's a connotation of that being a quite selfish. I actually think the opposite of that," she says. "I realized that for me, the amount of projects and people and things that I care about, if I'm not at 100 [percent], there's no way I can give the full capacity of what I want to to the things I care about."
Fitness and Diet
Park has incorporated Pilates into her routine, training with Sarah Brooks in New York City and Brandon Perry in Los Angeles. Ashley trains with Sarah Brooks when she’s in New York City and Brandon Perry when she’s in Los Angeles. She appreciates the accountability of one-on-one sessions, which help her stay committed to her workouts. "I don’t do personal sessions because I’m fancy,” she says. “It’s literally because if I take a class, I will find a way to cheat. When someone is one-on-one with me, it’s such good accountability.”
Her approach to exercise has evolved, focusing on building strength and muscle rather than solely on weight loss or calorie burning. “Now, for me, working out is not about losing weight; it’s not about burning calories. Instead, I feel a difference when I am stronger and more muscled.” She also feels a shift from within on the days she exercises in the morning. “It changes the trajectory of my mental state because I’ve taken care of myself in some way,” she says.
While she enjoys running, a recent ankle sprain has led her to focus on preparing her muscles for the demands of her schedule. Ashley says she still loves to run but hasn’t been able to do it much after spraining her ankle earlier this year (on the way to the bathroom at a Beyoncé concert in Dubai). “With my injury, I’ve learned it’s not just about getting stronger and sweating, it’s about preparing my muscles as my instrument,” she says.
In terms of diet, Park doesn't adhere to a strict meal plan but focuses on eating foods that make her feel good. She enjoys salads with steak and cheese, and has developed an appreciation for cottage cheese, incorporating it into her eggs or eating it plain. “A big salad with steak and cheese makes me feel the best,” Ashley says. And there’s one type of dairy product she’s developed a strong appreciation for, thanks to Tik-Tok: cottage cheese. “I put it in eggs and eat it plain.”
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She also incorporates hanyak, a traditional Korean herbal mixture, into her diet for general health, digestion, and sleep. Her diet sometimes includes hanyak, a traditional Korean herbal mixture. “It tastes like the earth, and I used to hate the flavor of it, but now I love it and can taste the nutrients,” Ashley says. “I use it for general health-I take it for digestion and sleeping.”
Mental and Emotional Well-being
Park recognizes the importance of mental health breaks and has shifted her perspective on vacations, viewing them as opportunities for alone time and rejuvenation. “I’ve finally learned the power of a mental health break,” she says. “In my 20s, I thought of vacations as, you can travel and do exciting things.” But that idea changed. “It’s shifted to vacation being alone time.” She feels her healthiest when she’s on a beach, or just near water.
She finds solace in painting, particularly watercolor, and enjoys creating handwritten cards as a personal way to express gratitude. And she’s dedicated more time to an activity she finds particularly soothing: painting. “I always travel with a watercolor set.” Her favorite thing to create? Cards. “I love giving handwritten cards more than gifts,” she says, sharing that at the end of shoots, they’re often her token of thanks to others.
Career Highlights
Park's career has steadily progressed, with notable roles in theatre, television, and film. She made her Broadway debut in 2014 in "Mamma Mia!" and has since appeared in productions such as "The King and I," "Sunday in the Park With George," and "Mean Girls," earning a Tony Award nomination for her role as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls. Ashley made her Broadway debut in 2014 as an ensemble member in Mamma Mia! and was cast in musicals such as The King and I, Sunday in the Park With George, and Mean Girls (in which she had the role of Gretchen Wieners and earned a Tony Award nomination).
Her portrayal of Mindy Chen in "Emily in Paris" has brought her widespread recognition. “[Mindy] definitely has more of a space and voice and screen time this season, and Emily gets to know Mindy better," she told People about the show's second season. "They're really there for each other as friends, and the audience is getting to know Mindy better, too." She has also appeared in "Beef" and "Only Murders in the Building."
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Most recently, Park took on a lead role in the film "Joy Ride," a groundbreaking project that centers Asian characters and explores themes of self-discovery and female friendship. When Ashley Park first read the script for the new movie Joy Ride, she didn’t picture herself in the lead role. Which of the supporting characters will I be? she recalls thinking as she devoured the material that made her burst out laughing in some parts and cry in others. Up to that point, Ashley had never been number one on the call sheet. “I’ve always thought about how my character could propel the protagonist,” she says.But this project was different. The film follows her character, Audrey, as an ordinary work trip to China descends into a frenzied search for her birth mother. She is joined by Sherry Cola’s Lolo, Stephanie Hsu’s Kat, and Sabrina Wu’s Deadeye on this journey of self-discovery. Equal parts raunchy humor and dramatic heart, Joy Ride unapologetically centers Asian characters. And Audrey is the focal point.
Park appreciated the opportunity to play a multifaceted character and work with a creative team that prioritizes diverse storytelling. Playing the lead role was a game-changing experience for Ashley. “You don’t have to be, like, ‘Here’s my one scene…how do I make it about this other person’s story?’” the 32-year-old actor says between sips of tomato soup as we chat outside a café on New York’s Upper West Side. Indeed, Audrey is the kind of multifaceted character Ashley has waited her entire career to play.
She recognizes that the film challenges stereotypes and showcases Asian women in their full complexity. Joy Ride is groundbreaking because it shows Asian women in their complex glory-horny side included. “Asian women on-screen, especially in America and Hollywood, have been so sexualized and fetishized for the benefit of other people’s stories or jokes,” Ashley says. “And we’re like, ‘We’re gonna go balls to the wall, further than anyone’s gone with Asian women.’”
Vocal Training and Performance Preparation
As Mindy Chen, Park has become known for her musical performances in "Emily in Paris." Ashley's Mindy Chen has become legendary for her delicious covers, including everything from classics like "J’ai Deux Amours" to modern hits like "Shallow." But now that Mindy is training to be a EuroVision star in season four, maintaining Ashley's voice is even more important than ever. To prepare for these performances, she prioritizes sleep, hydration, and vocal care. Ashley Park returns to Emily in Paris as Mindy Chen, who's currently working towards becoming a EuroVision star. To train for performances, Ashley focuses on her sleep, hydration, and recovery.
Before big performances, she focuses on hydration and getting enough sleep, tracking her sleep with an Oura ring. Ashley, who was a 2023 Women's Health cover star, says that in the days before big performances, she'll focus on hydration and getting enough sleep. (She doesn't try to hit specific numbers, instead looking to always have her Stanley Cup full and tracking her sleep thanks to an Oura ring.) And on the day of shooting, she drinks warm water with a lemon or a cup of tea beforehand. Stanley Quencher, 30oz
She emphasizes the importance of recovery after demanding performances, especially given the multiple takes required for filming musical numbers. "When you're doing a show on Broadway, you do it once a day, or sometimes twice a day. But when I'm doing these numbers in Emily in Paris, sometimes I do it over 60 times in a day," she exclusively tells Women's Health. "By the end of it, it's the recovery that's important."
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Strength
Park's journey is a testament to her resilience and determination. She has overcome significant health challenges, navigated the complexities of the entertainment industry, and emerged as a leading actress who is committed to using her platform to promote diverse storytelling and self-care. Shooting Emily in Paris season four was a "great reminder of my personal strength and willpower."
Her story serves as an inspiration to others to prioritize their well-being, embrace their authentic selves, and pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance. "That is exactly what has made me the person, the performer, everything that I am today,” Ashley says. “You cannot put me in a box.… Do not put me in a box.”
Addressing Diversity in Darren Star's Productions
Darren Star, the creator of "Emily in Paris," has faced criticism regarding the lack of diversity in his shows. The only woman of color who has ever had a starring role in one of his shows is Ashley Park, who plays BFF and designated sidekick Mindy on Emily in Paris. The series also has another actor of color, Samuel Arnold, who plays Emily’s co-worker Julien. While Park's presence in "Emily in Paris" is a step towards greater representation, there is still room for improvement in terms of casting Black actors in leading roles and addressing stereotypical portrayals. The series also has another actor of color, Samuel Arnold, who plays Emily’s co-worker Julien.