Ming-Na Wen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ming-Na Wen
Wen in 2023
Born	(1963-11-20) November 20, 1963 (age 61) Coloane, Portuguese Macau
Other names	Ming-Na
Citizenship	United States
Education	Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress model
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Kirk Aanes ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1993)​ Eric Michael Zee ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	溫明娜
Simplified Chinese	温明娜
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wēn Míngnà Gwoyeu Romatzyh Uen Mingnah Wade–Giles Wen1 Ming2 na4 IPA [u̯ə́n mǐŋ.nâ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Wān Mìhng-nàah IPA [wɐ́n mȅŋ nȁː] Jyutping Wan1 Ming4-naa4
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Ming-Na Wen (Chinese: 溫明娜; born November 20, 1963) is an American actress and model. She has won many awards during her career. These include an Annie Award and a Saturn Award. She was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2019, she was honored as a Disney Legend. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Wen became famous for her role as June Woo in the movie The Joy Luck Club (1993). She also had early success as Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen in the TV show ER (1995–2004). Many people know her voice as Fa Mulan in the Disney animated movie Mulan (1998). She also voiced Mulan in its sequel Mulan II and in video games. Wen even made a small appearance in the live-action Mulan movie (2020).

Wen is also well-known for playing Agent Melinda May in the Marvel series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020). She joined the Star Wars universe as the bounty hunter Fennec Shand. You can see her as Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian (2019–2020), Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021, 2024), and The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022). Other important roles include Chun-Li in Street Fighter (1994) and Camile Wray in Stargate Universe (2009–2011).

Early Life and Education

Ming-Na Wen's 1981 Mt. Lebanon High School yearbook photo

Ming-Na Wen was born on November 20, 1963. Her birthplace was Coloane, an island in Macau. Her mother moved to Macau from Suzhou, China, in the 1950s. This was to escape communism. Her father is from Malaysian Chinese background. She has an older brother named Jonathan and a younger brother named Leong.

Wen's parents divorced when she was a baby. She then moved to Hong Kong with her mother and brother. Her mother worked three jobs to support the family. Later, her mother married Soo Lim Yee, a Chinese American. When Wen was four, her family moved to New York City. Her younger brother Leong was born there.

After five years, Wen's family moved again. They went to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. There, her mother and stepfather bought a restaurant called Chinatown Inn. This restaurant is still open today. The family lived in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Wen went to Mount Lebanon High School. She studied theater at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. She graduated in 1986.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles and Breakthrough

Wen's first TV role was in 1985. She played a royal trumpeter in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. From 1988 to 1991, she acted in the soap opera As the World Turns. She played Lien Hughes, the daughter of Tom Hughes.

Her big break came with the movie The Joy Luck Club (1993). After that, she got the role of Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen on the TV show ER. She was a recurring character in 1994–1995. She returned as a main cast member in 1999 and stayed until 2004. Wen also played Chun-Li in the movie Street Fighter (1994). She also co-starred in the sitcom The Single Guy from 1995 to 1997.

Voice Acting and Other Ventures

Wen in October 2006

In 1998, Wen voiced the main character in the animated film Mulan. She also voiced Mulan in Mulan II and the video game Kingdom Hearts II. For her work as Mulan, she won an Annie Award. She also voiced Aki Ross in the animated film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. She was Detective Ellen Yin in the animated series The Batman.

Wen also appeared in other TV shows. She played a college professor in George Lopez. From 2007 to 2010, she played Judge Linda Harris in Two and a Half Men. She also appeared in Private Practice and Boston Legal. From 2009 to 2011, Wen was a regular cast member in Stargate Universe. She played Camile Wray. In 2011 and 2012, she appeared in the Syfy series Eureka. She played U.S. Senator Michaela Wen.

Marvel and Star Wars Roles

Wen at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019

In 2013, Wen began starring as Agent Melinda May in the ABC superhero show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. This show ran until 2020.

In 2014, Wen voiced Mulan again for the Disney Channel series Sofia the First. Her daughter also had a role on the show as Princess Jun. In 2017, she voiced Hala the Accuser in the animated film Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors. She also voiced Mulan again in Ralph Breaks the Internet.

In 2019, Wen joined the Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian. She played the character Fennec Shand. She continued to voice Fennec Shand in Star Wars: The Bad Batch and played her in the live-action series The Book of Boba Fett. In 2022, Wen appeared in Young Sheldon as Dr. Lee. She also had a role in the second season of HBO Max's Hacks.

Achievements and Recognition

Wen honored as a Disney Legend at the Disney D23 Expo 2019

Ming-Na Wen's roles as Melinda May in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fennec Shand in The Book of Boba Fett have been highly praised. In December 2021, she was named one of the BBC's 100 Women of 2021. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

She is also very well known for her work with Disney. A writer for WDW Magazine called Wen an "incredibly talented Chinese actress." The writer noted that her career keeps getting stronger, which is rare in Hollywood. He also said she has "broken through barriers for Asian performers." In 2019, she was named a Disney Legend at the D23 Expo. This honor recognized her great contributions to the Disney company.

Personal Life

In 1990, Wen married Kirk Aanes. They divorced three years later. On June 16, 1995, Wen married Eric Michael Zee. They have a daughter and a son. Wen's first pregnancy was included in the ER storyline. Her character in the show placed her child for adoption. Wen's daughter, Michaela Zee, also became a voice actress. She voices Princess Jun in the Disney Channel animated series Sofia the First.

Wen can speak three languages. She is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. She practices Buddhist faith.

Filmography

Wen at the January 2009 premiere for Push

Film Roles

Television Roles

Web Series Roles

Video Game Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Ming-Na Wen para niños