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Top 10 Facts About Ming Na Wen

Ming-Na Wen is an American actress and model. She is best known for voicing Mulan in the animated film Mulan and its sequel and for playing Melinda May / The Cavalry in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020) and Fennec Shand in the Star Wars franchise in The Mandalorian (2019–2020), The Bad Batch (2021) and The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022). 

In this article, we outline the top 10 facts about Ming Na Wen.

1. Ming-Na was named TVLine’s Performer of the Week for her work in the episode, Melinda

TVLine is a website devoted to information, news, and spoilers of television programs. “Melinda” is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the American television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Clark Gregg reprises his role as Phil Coulson from the film series and is joined by Chloe Bennet as Skye and Ming-Na Wen as May.

2. Wen made her breakthrough in the film The Joy Luck Club 

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The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American drama film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese immigrant mothers. It was directed by Wayne Wang and stars Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, France Nuyen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita, and Ming-Na Wen. 

In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

3. Ming-Na played Dr. Jing-Mei in the medical drama series ER

Jing-Mei Chen, M.D. is a fictional character from the medical drama series ER, portrayed by Ming-Na Wen. The character first appears in the first season as a recurring guest character, going by the name Debra Deb Chen. She departs the series in the first season, before returning as a main cast member partway through the sixth season, remaining until the middle of the eleventh season.

ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist and physician Michael Crichton that aired on NBC. The show is the second longest-running primetime medical drama in American television history behind Grey’s Anatomy.

4. Ming-Na was honored as a Disney Legend

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In 2019, Ming-Na was honored as a Disney Legend. The Disney Legends Awards is a Hall of Fame program that recognizes individuals who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company. Established in 1987, the honor was traditionally awarded annually during a special private ceremony. Read more about 15 Most Famous Chinese Women. 

5. Wen reprised the role of Mulan in several animations including, Sofia the First 

Wen has also reprised the role of Mulan in the video game Kingdom Hearts II, Sofia the First, and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Additionally, Wen made a cameo appearance in the live-action remake of Mulan.

She has also had starring roles as Chun-Li in Street Fighter, Detective Ellen Yin in The Batman and Camile Wray in Stargate Universe. 

6. Wen’s first television role was as a royal trumpeter in a children’s show

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Wen’s first television role was as a royal trumpeter in the children’s television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1985. 

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is an American half-hour educational children’s television series that ran from 1968 to 2001 and was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. 

7. Ming-Na participated and won on the World Poker Tour

In 2004, she took part in a Hollywood Home Game on the World Poker Tour and won. The World Poker Tour is an internationally televised gaming and entertainment brand. 

Since 2002, the World Poker Tour has operated a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting playdowns and the final table of each tournament.

8. Wen was a cast member of the Star Wars  series

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2019, it was announced that Wen would be a cast member of the Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian, playing Fennec Shand. She reprised the role vocally in Star Wars: The Bad Batch. 

Star Wars is an American epic space opera that quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

9. Ming-Na is well known for her work with Disney

WDW Magazine writer Aaron Widmar called Wen an incredibly talented Chinese actress, who has had a remarkable career that seems to only gain steam as it progresses, a rarity in Hollywood. He went on to say that she has broken through barriers for Asian performers.

She was named a Disney Legend at the 2019 D23 Expo for her outstanding contributions to the Disney company.

10. Wen’s daughter followed in her mother’s footsteps as a voice actor

On June 16, 1995, Wen married Eric Michael Zee and together they have a daughter and a son. 

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.

Read more about 10 Most Famous People Born On November 20.