Beyond Mrs. Chen: Peggy Lu on Venom, Tom Hardy, and Staying Grounded in Hollywood

In this exclusive episode of The Stream Panther, actress Peggy Lu—best known as the fan-favorite Mrs. Chen in Sony’s Venom trilogy—joins us for an open, heartfelt conversation about her remarkable journey through Hollywood.

From being the daughter of immigrants to landing her first call-back, Peggy takes us through the early struggles, breakthrough moments, and behind-the-scenes stories that shaped her career.

She shares what it was really like stepping onto a film set for the first time, working with Tom Hardy, and what made her Venom 3 dance sequence unforgettable.

We dive deep into her reflections on SAG-AFTRA strikes, staying grounded in an unpredictable industry, and how she transformed self-doubt into self-discovery.

💬 “Money and fame exaggerate who you really are.”

Whether you're an aspiring actor or a longtime fan of the Venom franchise, this episode is packed with wisdom, warmth, and an inside look at Hollywood from one of its most sincere voices.

Special Thanks Entertainment Lab LA

Time Stamps

00:00 Coming Up

02:55 Introduction 

04:42 Peggy’s 2025

06:25 Sag-Aftra Strikes 

09:09 Daughter of an Immigrant 

14:07 First Call Back Story

16:27 First Day on Film Set 

18:40 Life After First Big Break 

20:08 Venom Scene Discussion 

22:25 Mrs. Chen Casting Story

27:28 Shooting for Mrs. Chen 

28:27 How I Met Tom Hardy

30:55 Venom 3 Dance Sequence 

33:04 Memories with Tom Hardy 

35:58 Tom Hardy’s Work Process 

41:51 Lessons learned from Hollywood 

49:15 Advice for New Actors

54:55 Last Notes on Venom Trilogy 

58:29 Self Doubt to Self Discovery