Ali Wong Speaks About Her Struggles As Comedian Turned Actress

Comedian Ali Wong revealed in a recent interview with Variety that she paused her stand-up comedy career to focus on acting, particularly her role in the Netflix series "Beef."

Wong discussed the challenges of adjusting to fame and the discomfort of her private life being exposed to the spotlight. She also expressed her dedication to Acting and the difficulties she faced returning to stand-up after a hiatus. 

Keep on reading to learn more.

In a cover story for Variety's Emmy Edition published on Tuesday, Ali Wong candidly discussed her remarkable journey to fame following the success of her stand-up special "Beef."

According to Daily Mail, the 41-year-old comedian had temporarily paused her stand-up comedy career to focus on her role in the popular Netflix dark comedy series. She also opened up about the challenges of adjusting to her newfound celebrity status.

During the interview, Wong, who is in a relationship with actor Bill Hader, briefly addressed the controversy surrounding her co-star, David Choe.

She expressed her dismay over the disturbing content that surfaced from a nine-year-old podcast and acknowledged the importance of the joint statement issued by their team, saying, "We put out that statement, and for now, I just feel like it's time for me to listen and not rush to say anything more on the matter."

In her interview, Wong expressed unease about her private life being exposed in the spotlight. Despite primarily identifying as "first and foremost a stand-up comedian," the actress discussed her dedication to diving into her acting role.

"I don't have too much formal training, and in terms of preparing, the thing that worried me the most was memorizing all those lines," she revealed. "Sometimes, I'd have to memorize ten pages of dialogue in one day, and that part was the most scary for me."

The comedian spoke on the difficulties she faced upon returning to stand-up comedy after a hiatus. She shared that losing her creative outlet was a significant adjustment for her. "Not doing stand-up was huge; it's such a form of expression for me," she said.

Wong added, "To just take that away made me feel trapped. I didn't have time to journal. I usually do this specific thing where I do pages every morning."

When asked about her self-care routine during production, Wong shared, "I had a giant yellow yoga mat that was swag from 'Big Mouth' in my trailer, and whenever I had 15 minutes to spare, I would try to squeeze in a stretching session."

The "Don Wong" star revealed that she spends time with her friends from UCLA every weekend. "I have a group of friends from UCLA, it's seven girls, eight of us total, and they're graphic designers, doctors, public defenders, pharmacists, nonprofit event organizers, and they're very much not in the business," she said.

She continued, "We'd go to each other's houses and barbecue. I'm probably the third funniest in the group, and that group of women is equivalent to my sanity."

The star also spoke about her struggles during production: "I mostly tried to sleep when I could. For most of 'Beef,' I didn't sleep. When I look at that show, I see an unhealthy woman when I see myself."

Wong revealed that she decided to return to her stand-up comedy roots, pausing her acting career for now.

She shared her thoughts on this transition: "I decided a while ago that it was time for me to return to stand-up. That was the longest break I ever took, and I worry that muscle atrophies…."

She continued, "Acting is wonderful, but it takes a lot of time. It's time for me to be with my kids and do stand-up for now."

"Beef" premiered on Netflix on April 6 to critical acclaim. The series follows the character of Amy Lau (Wong), a successful entrepreneur, and Steven Yeun (Danny Cho), a struggling contractor.