Ke Huy Quanis relishing the moment.
In an interview forPEOPLE’s annual Oscar portfolio, the 51-year-oldEverything Everywhere All at Onceactor raves about why his nomination at the upcoming 95th ceremony “means a lot” to him at this point in his career, almost four decades after he first appeared on the big screen as a child actor in 1984’sIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
“I love [Temple of Doomdirector andThe Gooniesexecutive producer/story writer]Steven Spielbergso much,” says Quan. “This man changed my life when I was a little kid — gave me not one but two great movies.”
“For me to be able to reunite with him after I think 10, 12 years now, in person at theGolden Globesand to be able to [look] him directly in his eyes and thank him for giving me my first opportunity was such an amazing and a memorable moment for me,” Quan adds.
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Ke Huy Quan inEverything Everywhere All at Once(2022) andThe Goonies(1985).A24, Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Quan has swept awards season thus far, making him a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor award later this month.
Reflecting on the success, Quan tells PEOPLE, “We have so many Asian actors beingnominated in major acting categories. I’m really thrilled about it, and it means that this past year, our stories are being told.”
“When something like this happens, it just reinforces my belief that impactful change can happen,” he adds. “I’m so grateful to the Academy for recognizing all of us. Getting nominated is a big, big deal. I cannot believeI’m an Oscar-nominated actor. This is unbelievable to me.”
Ke Huy Quan.Eric Ray Davidson
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While he stepped away from acting for many years, Quan says he has always “just wanted a stable job where I can do what I’ve always loved my entire life.”
“Andeverything that has happened sinceis such a huge, huge blessing to me,” he continues. “And things are very different for me than were when I was much younger. The landscape has changed. All the progress that has happened is proof of all the hard work that everyone put towards in creating all these opportunities. And I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Asked what his 12-year-old self would think of where he is now, Quan says, “If you told that little kid that things would get difficult, I don’t think he would’ve been able to grasp what that journey would be like.”
“For me,it’s been a real emotional journeyso far, especially this past year,” he explains. “I didn’t think the audience would embrace my return with so much positivity and kindness. And it has warmed my heart.”
Tune in to the Oscars live on ABC Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET.
source: people.com
