Joy Luck Club, Mulan, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
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"For the longest time, I hated being thought of as a role model, because it can restrict you from taking on a role that was maybe a stereotype — if there was a really great role written for a prostitute, or a dragon lady. But I love the fact that I'm able to have had such a long career. I think being a role model is about just pursuing what your passions are, what you believe in, what is your truth." Ming-Na Wen rose to fame for her star-making turn in the film adaptation of Amy Tan’s best-selling book, The Joy Luck Club. Since then, she’s enjoyed a diverse career in television and movies.
While many people know Ming-Na for roles in everything from Mulan to Marvel she’s also noteworthy for another reason: She became the first Asian actress to land a recurring role on an American soap when she was cast on As The World Turns in 1988. Here’s a closer look at Wen’s remarkable career spanning more than years.
A Hollywood Story
Chinese-American actress Ming-Na Wen was born on November 20, 1963 in Coloane, Macau. Her parents separated when she was a young child, and Wen moved with her mother and brother to Hong Kong. After her mother’s marriage to an American businessman, the family relocated to Harlem. The family later moved to suburban Pennsylvania, where Wen struggled socially. In an attempt to fit in, and opted to be called “Doris” and “Maggie” instead of her Chinese name.
Wen caught the acting bug when she appeared in an Easter parade in third grade. Her role was a “klutz bunny.” While Wen’s mother wanted her to study medicine, Wen went against her wishes and pursued a degree in theatre instead. She received a bachelor’s in fine arts in theater from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University. Wen excelled in school and graduated with high honors.
Wen’s first big break came in 1985 with a role on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Three years later she got another major opportunity: a groundbreaking recurring part on As the World Turns. Wen played Lien Hughes from 1988 to 1991.
Another career-making moment came for Wen when she was cast in a leading role in the critically and commercially acclaimed movie, The Joy Luck Club. Reflecting on the film’s ongoing relevance on its 25th anniversary, Wen told Deadline, “I think that’s why it was so relatable to so many people. It’s a generational gap between the mothers and the daughters, a cultural gap, and also just normal issues that you had with family in general, whether it was keeping secrets, raising families, or marrying someone. It was just a family and I think that’s why it has held up and now schools show the film, which I love. I mean, for me, that’s timeless. That becomes something that will be passed on from generation to generation and that’s pretty awesome to be part of a film that has that kind of educational impact and not just an entertainment piece.”
That’s not to say When didn't experience some frustration with the movie’s reception. “When Joy Luck Club came out, I felt like a lot of people saw it as a foreign film and not as an American film and it didn’t get the recognition or the accolades during the Oscars because, I think, so many people thought of it as a foreign film, even the Academy members,” she continued.
Still, Wen looks back at that time with pride and appreciation. “It’s been really gratifying to know that something that I did 20 and 25 years ago still has such an impact. These are the perks of being an actress. We’re not just here as entertainment value, it touches the heart, it touches the soul. That’s what it’s about. It’s about the community. It’s about sharing stories, it’s about sharing life experiences, and being represented,” she concluded.
A Groundbreaking Career
While The Joy Luck Club may have made Wen’s face a recognizable one, the actress has continued to build on her career with an impressive list of credits racked up over three decades. Other movies Wen has appeared in include Rain Without Thunder, Street Fighter, Prom Night and Push, while she’s had supporting, recurring and starring roles on the small screen on ER, The Single Guy, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Inconceivable, George Lopez, Two and a Half Men, Vanished, Boston Legal, Private Practice, Stargate Universe and Eureka.
Most recently, Wen has had a starring role on Marvel’s long-running television show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. For her portrayal of Agent Melinda May, she was nominated for a 2014 People’s Choice Award for "Favorite Actress in a New TV Series." A year later, she won TVLine’s Performer of the Week award.
In addition to acting on-screen, Wen is also a sought-after voiceover actress thanks to Mulan and Mulan II, for which she was recently honored as a Disney Legend for her outstanding contributions to the company. Of her work on Mulan, Wen has said, “I just loved the story so much and identified so much with the character of Mulan it was easy for me. I loved using my imagination. I felt like I was a little kid again, being silly with an imaginary sword and riding on an imaginary horse and talking to an imaginary dragon. So it was a lot of fun for me.”
Wen’s other animated movie credits include The Batman animated series, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Spawn, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors, and Ralph Breaks the Internet. She also did voiceover work for the video game, Kingdom Hearts II.
Wen hasn’t just enjoyed a successful career, but also an incredibly versatile one, including starring in a benefit production of Grease at the Class Act Theater and winning $10,000 for charity on the World Poker Tour in 2004.
With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D set to end after its seventh season in 2020, the sky's the limit for Ming-Na Wen. Next up? She’ll join the cast of the much-awaited Star Wars television series, The Mandalorian. For Wen, it’s been a long and fulfilling journey. "When I started, there were hardly any [Asian stars in Hollywood]. And today, it's opening up. Especially with Crazy Rich Asians, the awareness is there," she says.
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