Ming Na Wen (born November 20, 1963) is an American actress. She is best known for voicing Mulan in the animated film Mulan and its sequel and for playing Melinda May in 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).
Wen was born in Coloane, Macau, and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of four. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in theater. She made her acting debut in the 1988 soap opera The Facts of Life.
Wen’s breakthrough role came in 1993 when she was cast in the film adaptation of Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club. She went on to star in a variety of other films and television shows, including ER, Stargate Universe, Eureka, and Fresh Off the Boat.
In 2013, Wen was cast as Melinda May in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The role was a breakout for Wen, and she quickly became a fan favorite. She played the character for seven seasons, making her one of the longest-running female characters in the MCU.
In 2019, Wen was cast as Fennec Shand in the Star Wars streaming series The Mandalorian. The role was another breakout for Wen, and she was praised for her performance. She reprised the role in the animated series The Bad Batch and the live-action series The Book of Boba Fett.
Wen has been nominated for numerous awards for her work, including a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In 2023, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Table of Contents
Ming Na Wen Net Worth
Ming Na Wen’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million as of 2023. She has earned her wealth through her successful career as an actress. She has starred in a variety of popular films and television shows, including Mulan, ER, Stargate Universe, Eureka, Fresh Off the Boat, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett.
Wen has also earned money from voice acting, endorsements, and other business ventures. She is a successful businesswoman and owns her own production company, Ming Productions.
Related: Chloe Bennet Net Worth
Parents
Ming-Na Wen’s parents are Lin Chan Wen and Soo Lim Yee. Her mother is from Suzhou, China, and her father is of Malaysian Chinese descent.
Her parents divorced when she was an infant, and she moved with her brother and mother to Hong Kong. When Wen was four years old, her mother remarried Yee and the family moved to New York City. Wen’s younger brother Leong was born there.
Related: Rachael Taylor Net Worth
Ethnicity
Ming-Na Wen is of Chinese ethnicity. Her mother is from Suzhou, China, and her father is of Malaysian Chinese descent. Wen was born in Coloane, Macau, and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of four.
In a 2019 interview with Goldsea, Wen talked about her Chinese heritage and how it has shaped her identity:
“My Chinese heritage is a very important part of who I am. It has shaped my values, my beliefs, and my way of life. I am grateful for the rich culture and history that I have inherited.
I am proud to be Chinese and I am proud to be an American.”
Related: Krysten Ritter Net Worth
Brother
Ming-Na Wen has one older brother, Michael Wen. He is a businessman and lives in Hong Kong. Wen also has a younger half-brother, Leong Yee, who is a musician and lives in New York City.
- Michael Wen: Older brother, businessman, lives in Hong Kong
- Leong Yee: Younger half-brother, musician, lives in New York City
Related: Adrianne Palicki Net Worth
Husband
Ming-Na Wen is married to Eric Michael Zee, a screenwriter and producer. They met in 1994 and were married a year later.
Zee is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied film and television. He has worked on a variety of projects, including the films The Crow: City of Angels and The Whole Nine Yards, and the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Related: Tilda Swinton Net Worth
Children
Ming-Na Wen has two children: a daughter named Michaela Zee and a son named Cooper Dominic Zee.
Michaela was born in 1998 and followed in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a voice actress. She voices Princess Jun in the Disney Channel animated series Sofia the First.
Cooper was born in 2000 and is more private than his sister. He is not known to be involved in the entertainment industry.
Related: Cobie Smulders Net Worth
FAQs
Why did Ming Na Wen change her name?
Ming-Na Wen did not change her name. Her name means “enlightenment” in Chinese. However, she did shorten her name for professional purposes. When she first started acting, her agent told her that her full name was too long and difficult to remember. So, she started using the name Ming-Na.
Who plays May in Marvel’s Agents of Shield?
How tall is ming-na wen?
Ming-Na Wen is 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters) tall.