Gran Torino family

Chee Thao

Chee Thao is a sprightly 61, with a beaming smile and a mountain of confidence. Her hair may be gray, but she has the supple spirit of the young and adventurous. Chee plays one of two elderly roles; the shaman character could not be located for interview.

Chee’s 19-year-old granddaughter Kao translates. Born in Laos, with no formal education of any kind, Chee immigrated via California to St. Paul. Having lost 3 sons in Laos, she had 3 sons and 3 daughters remaining when she came to the US. Tragically, one was murdered a few years ago.

With great fortitude, she talks about how she connected with the Gran Torino story, pouring her heart and soul into the acting. Like the grandmother in the script, she herself is a widow. She has a daughter with kids whose husband is absent, just like in the story. And then there is her son whose life was taken from him prematurely….All this pain in her real life makes her credible in her role, she explains.

Chee felt a special bond with Eastwood. One time she was working through interpreters and they kept telling her how to sit. “I just couldn’t get it right. Clint stopped them all and just showed me how. Then I knew right away.” When she got to chat with him at a backyard party, they talked about elderly health issues especially his vegetarianism.

At her age, with no background in school, work, or business, one might expect Chee to slow down and rely on her kids. But the Gran Torino experience has transformed her visions as it has so many of the actors. Her granddaughter Kao is trying to get her an agent so she can try out for more movies.

Would she consider acting in Hmong movies? “Yes, but my own story is more serious than a lot of the Hmong comedies. And now that I’m a star, they might not be able to afford me!”

Source:  http://ww2.hmongtoday.com/displaynews.asp?ID=2590

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