Ming-Na Wen
Ming-Na Wen (Chinese: 溫明娜; born November 20, 1963)[1] is an American[2] actress. She is best known for playing Melinda May / The Cavalry in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020). Wen made her breakthrough in The Joy Luck Club (1993) as June Woo. She also voiced the eponymous character in the animated film Mulan, its sequel, and reprised the role as Mulan in the video game. Additionally, Wen made a cameo appearance in the live-action remake of Mulan (2020).
The native form of this personal name is Wēn Míngnà. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Ming-Na Wen
November 20, 1963
Ming-Na
United States
- Actress
1985–present
2
溫明娜
温明娜
Wēn Míngnà
Wēn Míngnà
Uen Mingnah
Wen1 Ming2 na4
Wān Mìhng-nàah
Wan1 Ming4-naa4
She is also known for playing Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian (2019–2020), Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021), and The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022) and for playing Dr. Jing-Mei "Deb" Chen in the medical drama series ER (1995–2004). Her other works include Kingdom Hearts II (2005), Sofia the First (2014), and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018); the roles of Chun-Li in Street Fighter (1994), Detective Ellen Yin in The Batman (2004–2005); and Camile Wray in Stargate Universe (2009–2011). She was honored as a Disney Legend in 2019.
Career[edit]
1985–1997: Breakthrough with The Joy Luck Club[edit]
Wen's first television role was as a royal trumpeter in the children's television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1985.[9] 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 film The Joy Luck Club (1993),[10] Wen 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 (1994)[10] and co-starred on the sitcom The Single Guy from 1995 to 1997.[1]
Personal life[edit]
In 1990, Wen married American film writer Kirk Aanes. They divorced three years later. On June 16, 1995, Wen married Eric Michael Zee[1] and together they have a daughter and a son.[35] Wen's first pregnancy was written into the ER script, with her character placing the child for adoption. Wen's daughter followed her mother's footsteps in voice acting, and voices Princess Jun in the Disney Channel-animated series Sofia the First, credited as Michaela Zee.[18]
Wen is trilingual, fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.[6] She is a Buddhist.[36]