Stephanie Hsu credits ‘feminist powerhouse’ Courtney Love for providing a ‘guiding light’

February 3, 2023

Stephanie Hsu credits rock icon Courtney Love for providing a “guiding light” and inspiring her to “have a good time” during this awards show season.

When asked during her “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” appearance on Jan. 19 whether award shows are “what they’re cracked up to be,” the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star referenced Love’s press interview at the 1998 MTV Awards.

After receiving pushback for her fashion taste, Love — who Hsu, 32, calls a “grunge queen” — boldly retorted, “If you have an opportunity to go to the Oscars in a fabulous gown and be absolutely fabulous, you’re gonna f*cking take it.”

Hsu told Colbert that she has been “really channeling my internal Courtney Love” as she attends award ceremonies to “have a good time.”

The rising star’s words of praise were not left unnoticed, with Love herself showing Hsu some love by reposting a clip of her interview on Instagram.

In the caption of her post, which was shared on Jan. 23, Love, 58, wrote that she was “flattered” that she inspired Hsu to “drive away the ‘am I a sell out?’ in your head.” She also described Hsu’s performance in the hit A24 film as “flawless.”

In response, Hsu commented, “F*ck yeah, Courtney Love, you are the queen and a feminist (& fabulous) powerhouse. That whole interview has been my guiding light; thanks to the Rodarte girls for sharing it with me. Cheers to you, and cheers to ‘thousands and thousands of years of fashion in our DNA! It’s what we DO!’”

Hsu’s portrayal as Joy Wang – whose alternate version Jobu Tupaki exhibits a ton of punk-rock spunk as an agent of chaos – has generated tons of awards show buzz and has even helped Hsu secure an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

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