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Ming-Na Wen

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The native form of this personal name is Wēn Míngnà. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Ming-Na Wen
Wen in 2018
Born (1963-11-20) November 20, 1963 (age 60)
Coloane, Portuguese Macau
Other namesMing-Na
Ming Na
Ming Na Wen
Ming Wen
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Spouses
Kirk Aanes
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 1993)​
Eric Michael Zee
​
(m. 1995)​
Children2
Websitewww.ming-na.com Edit this at Wikidata
Ming-Na Wen
Traditional Chinese溫明娜
Simplified Chinese温明娜
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWēn Míngnà
IPA[wə́n mǐŋ.nâ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWān Mìhng-nàah
JyutpingWan1 Ming4-naa4
IPA[wɐn˥ mɪŋ˩ na˩]

Ming-Na Wen (Chinese: 溫明娜; born November 20, 1963)[1] is an American actress.

Wen is best known for her starring role as Fa Mulan in the animated musical action films Mulan (1998) and Mulan II (2004), and as Melinda May in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020). She reprised the role of Mulan in the video game Kingdom Hearts II (2005), the animated children's series Sofia the First (2014), and the animated comedy film Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018).[2]

Wen is also known for her role as Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen in the medical drama series ER (1995–2004). She starred as Rachel Lu in the medical drama series Inconceivable (2005), one of the few American television series with an Asian American series lead. She also had starring roles as Detective Ellen Yin in the animated series The Batman (2004–2005), as Camile Wray in the science fiction series Stargate Universe (2009–2011), and as Fennec Shand in the space western drama series The Mandalorian (2019). Wen is notable for starring in such films as The Joy Luck Club (1993), Street Fighter (1994), Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001), Prom Night (2008), and Push (2009).

Early life

Wen was born on November 20, 1963 in Coloane, one of the two main islands of Macau.[1] Her parents moved to Macau in the mid-1960s, from mainland China.

Wen’s parents divorced when she was an infant and she moved with her mother, Lin Chan Wen, to Hong Kong. Her mother remarried, to Soo Lim Yee, and the family moved to New York City when Wen was four years old. After five years, Wen's mother and stepfather relocated again, to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area, where they opened The Chinatown Inn restaurant, which is still operating.[1] Raised in the suburb of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, she attended Mount Lebanon High School[3] and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1986.[4]

Career

Wen's first television role was in the children's television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1985.[5] From 1988 to 1991, she played Lien Hughes, the daughter of Tom Hughes, on the soap opera As the World Turns.

After starring in the acclaimed 1993 film The Joy Luck Club,[6] she landed the role of Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen on the NBC drama series ER.[1] She first starred in a recurring role during the 1994-1995 season before returning in 1999 as a series regular, remaining on the show until midway through Season 11 in 2004. Wen also played Chun-Li in Street Fighter[6] and co-starred on the sitcom The Single Guy from 1995 to 1997.[1]

Wen in October 2006

She provided the voice for the title character in the 1998 animated film Mulan, its direct-to-video sequel, Mulan II, and the video game Kingdom Hearts II, subsequently winning an Annie Award. She also voiced Aki Ross in the computer animated film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within,[7] and Detective Ellen Yin in the animated series The Batman.[7] She was also the voice actress for Jade, a minor character in the HBO animated series Spawn.[6]

In 2004, she took part in a Hollywood Home Game on the World Poker Tour, and won.[8] In fall 2005, she starred on the NBC drama series Inconceivable as the lead character, Rachel Lu. However, the series was canceled after only two episodes. Her next TV role was an FBI agent in the Fox kidnap drama series Vanished, which premiered in the fall of 2006 then was canceled roughly three months later. She also played a small role as a college professor in the comedy series George Lopez.

On October 8 through October 29, 2007, Wen (billed as Ming Wen) appeared in a four-episode arc of CBS's Two and a Half Men, playing Charlie Sheen's love interest, a judge closer to his own age.[9] In November 2008, she guest-starred on two ABC series: Private Practice and Boston Legal. From December 5–6, 2008, Wen starred in a benefit production of the musical Grease with "Stuttering" John Melendez at the Class Act Theatre.[10]

She was cast as a regular in the Stargate Universe television series as political attaché Camile Wray from October 2009 to May 2011.[1] Wen made an appearance in Disney Through the Decades, a short documentary about the history of The Walt Disney Company through to the present, as the hostess of the 1990s section.

Wen at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con

Wen appeared on the Syfy series Eureka as the inquisitive U.S. Senator Michaela Wen,[11] beginning in season four in 2011 and serving as a major villain in the fifth and final season in 2012.[12]

Wen starred as Agent Melinda May in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which premiered on September 24, 2013.[13]

In August 2014, Wen reprised her role as Mulan for the first time since Kingdom Hearts II in the Disney Channel series Sofia the First.[7] Her daughter Michaela Zee has a recurring role on the show as Princess Jun.[14]

On December 7, 2017, Marvel Entertainment launched a new animation film franchise Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors. Wen voiced Hala the Accuser, the main antagonist of the film, working with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. co-star Chloe Bennet.[15] That same year, she once again provided the voice of Mulan in Ralph Breaks the Internet.[7]

She was named a Disney Legend at the 2019 D23 Expo for her outstanding contributions to the Disney company.[16][17] She was also announced to be a cast-member of the Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian, making her the only actor who has appeared in all three of Disney's most lucrative properties.[18]

Personal life

Wen in 2016

In 1990, Wen married American film writer Kirk Aanes. They divorced in 1993. On June 16, 1995, Wen married her second husband, Eric Michael Zee.[1] Together they have two children, a daughter, Michaela Kitlin, born on November 21, 2000, and a son, Cooper Dominic Zee, born on October 12, 2005. Michaela has followed her mother's footsteps in voice-acting, and voices Princess Jun in the Disney Channel animated series Sofia the First.[14]

Wen is trilingual and fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.[8][19]

Filmography

Ming-Na at the January 2009 premiere for Push

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Rain Without Thunder "Uudie" Prisoner
The Joy Luck Club Jing-Mei "June" Woo
1994 Terminal Voyage Han
Hong Kong 97 Katie Chun
Street Fighter Chun-Li Zang
1997 One Night Stand Mimi Carlyle
1998 Mulan Fa Mulan (voice)
12 Bucks Gorgeous
2001 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Dr. Aki Ross (voice)
2002 A Ribbon of Dreams Mei-Ling (voice)
Teddy Bears' Picnic Katy Woo
2005 Mulan II Fa Mulan (voice) Direct-to-video
Perfection Woman Short film
2008 Prom Night Dr. Elisha Crowe
2009 Push Emily Wu
2010 BoyBand Judy Roberts
2012 Super Cyclone Dr. Jenna Sparks Direct-to-video
2013 April Rain Hillary
2016 The Darkness Wendy
2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet Fa Mulan (voice)
2019 Swimming Lilian Short film
2020 Pearl Headmistress

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Royal Trumpeter 2 episodes
1987 Another World Abby Episode: "#1.5950"
1988–1991 As the World Turns Lien Hughes 42 episodes
1993 Blind Spot Mitsuko Television film
1994 All-American Girl Amy Episode: "Redesigning Women"
Vanishing Son II Mai Television film
Vanishing Son IV Television film
1995, 2000–2004 ER Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen 118 episodes
1995–1997 The Single Guy Trudy 43 episodes
1997 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Lani (voice) Episode: "Puss in Boots"
1998 Tempting Fate Ellen Moretti Television film
1998–1999 Todd McFarlane's Spawn Jade / Lisa Wu (voice) 5 episodes
2002 I Got You Kaila Unsold ABC pilot
Disney's House of Mouse Fa Mulan (voice) Episode: "Salute to Sports"
2004 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Princess Guan Qi "Peggy" Tsu (voice) Episode: "The Great Egg Heist/The Feud"
2004–2005 The Batman Detective Ellen Yin (voice) 16 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Li Mei Episode: "Debt"
2005 Robot Chicken Mary-Kate Olsen (voice) Episode: "Kiddie Pool"
Inconceivable Rachel Lu 9 episodes
2006 George Lopez Professor Tracy Lim 2 episodes
Vanished Lin Mei 13 episodes
2007 American Masters Narrator (voice) Episode: "Novel Reflections: The American Dream"
2007, 2010 Two and a Half Men Judge Linda Harris 5 episodes
2008, 2013 Phineas and Ferb Dr. Hirano (voice) 2 episodes
2008 Private Practice Kara Wei Episode: "Let It Go"
Boston Legal Ming Wang Shu Episode: "Roe"
2009 Ni Hao Kai-Lan Gu Nai Nai (voice) Episode: "Kai-lan's Trip to China"
2009–2011 Stargate Universe Camile Wray 31 episodes
2011–2012 Eureka Senator Michaela Wen 7 episodes
2011 Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ming-Na, Chi McBride, Mia Tyler"
2012 Adventure Time Farmworld Finn's Mom (voice) 2 episodes
2013 Nashville Calista Reeves Episode: "You Win Again"
2013–2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Melinda May 136 episodes
2014 Sofia the First Fa Mulan (voice) Episode: "Princesses to the Rescue"
2017–2018 Milo Murphy's Law Savannah (voice) 7 episodes
2017 Fresh Off the Boat Stephanie Episode: "The Flush"
2017–2018 Sofia the First Vega (voice) 5 episodes
2017 We Bare Bears Ranger Zhao (voice) Episode: "Ranger Games"
2018 Guardians of the Galaxy Phyla the Accuser (voice) 4 episodes
Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors Hala the Accuser (voice) Television short film
2018–2019 Hot Streets Soo Park (voice) 6 episodes
Fresh Off the Boat Elaine 2 episodes
2019 Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron Hala the Accuser (voice) Television short film
Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart Tanya Keys (voice) Episode: "Meet Tanya Keys"
The Mandalorian Fennec Shand[20] Episode: "The Gunslinger"
2020 Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Sandra 2 episodes

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Parallel Man: Infinite Pursuit Major Mackenzie Cartwright (voice) Short film
2016 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot Agent Melinda May 2 episodes
2020 50 States of Fright Susan 3 episodes

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes
1995 Street Fighter: The Movie Chun-Li
1999 Disney's Story Studio: Mulan Fa Mulan
2005 Disney's Story Studio: Mulan II
2006 Kingdom Hearts II
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0
2016 Lego Marvel's Avengers Agent Melinda May
Disney Magic Kingdoms Fa Mulan

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1998 Annie Award Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting, Female Mulan Won
1999 Online Film & Television Association Award Best Family Actress Won
Best Voice-Over Performer Nominated
2001 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series ER Nominated
2014 People's Choice Award Favorite Actress in a New TV Series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nominated
2015 TVLine's Performer of the Week Performance in "Melinda" Won
2019 Disney Legend Film, Television, & Animation — Voice Herself Won

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Ming-Na: Actress (1963–)". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "'Wreck-It Ralph 2' Bringing Back Original Disney Princess Voice Actresses". WWG.
  3. ^ Polke, Clarece (April 3, 2014). "Admired theater teacher retiring after 33 years at Mt. Lebanon". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. ^ Elkin, Michael (September 23, 2016). "CMU grad Ming-Na Wen stands up for herself, on and off screen". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ming-Na". TV.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c Libuano, Patrick (October 21, 2016). "7 times Ming-Na Wen played a total badass". Kore Asian Media. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Ming-Na Wen". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Patrizio, Andy (October 27, 2004). "An Interview With Ming-Na". IGN. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  9. ^ Mchance (October 14, 2013). "'Agents of SHIELD' star Ming-Na Wen calls Charlie Sheen a good kisser". Screener TV. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  10. ^ "John Melendez and Ming Na to Star in Grease Benefit". Theater Mania. Theatermania.com. November 12, 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  11. ^ Darren (August 19, 2010). "Ming-Na to guest star on Eureka". Gate World. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  12. ^ Wilkins, Alasdair (April 24, 2012). "Eureka finally does something genuinely shocking". io9. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  13. ^ "Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits Ming-Na Wen". Asia Pacific Arts. October 29, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "First Look:Ming-Na Wen is Back at Mulan - This Time on Sofia the First". TV Guide. July 22, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  15. ^ Dinh, Christine (December 7, 2017). "Marvel to Launch New Animation Franchise 'Marvel Rising'". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  16. ^ Abell, Bailee (May 16, 2019). "Robert Downey Jr. and James Earl Jones highlight the list of Disney Legends to be honored at D23 Expo 2019". Inside the Magic. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  17. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (May 17, 2019). "RDJ, Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones & More to be Honored as Disney Legends". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  18. ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 24, 2019). "Ming-Na Wen Joins Cast Of 'The Mandalorian', Securing Disney Franchise Trifecta". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  19. ^ Channeling : With An Eye On. . . : Ming-Na Wen uses the power of persuasion to land on 'The Single Guy', Los Angeles Times, October 29, 1995.
  20. ^ Breznican, Anthony (November 4, 2019). "First Look: Ming-Na Wen's Star Wars Assassin From The Mandalorian". Vanity Fair.
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