A Conversation with Ming-Na Wen: Reflections on ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ ‘The Mandalorian,’ and More

From her unforgettable role as the brave and skilled Mulan in Disney’s classic animation to her tough portrayal of Agent Melinda May in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ming-Na Wen has repeatedly shown she can tackle any role.

She also shines in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, bringing the iconic Fennec Shand to life with amazing strength and style. 

I had the honor of hosting a panel at the inaugural SpaceCon, a new pop culture convention in San Antonio, Texas, offering all things sci-fi.

During my conversation with Wen, she shared personal stories and insights that give us a closer look at the woman behind these unforgettable characters. You can read the full conversation below.

Sean Tajipour: Before you became an actress growing up, what are some of the films and television shows that maybe inspired you to pursue this, or just some of your favorite films and favorite actresses and actors growing up?

Ming-Na Wen: Oh, gosh. Well, being an absolute nerd growing up, I used to love Saturday morning cartoons and Bugs. You know, Bugs Bunny, the Super Friends.

Star Wars was pivotal for me. I used to love all the sci-fi books. But it was definitely Star Wars that sort of altered my world. Whenever I come to a con, I am one with the people because if I wasn’t here, I’d be sitting out there. So I just love the genre.

Tajipour: I love that you’re a big nerd, just like all of us here. What do you think makes sci-fi so special? Because there are so many great shows and movies, and you’ve been part of so many of them. But sci-fi really seems to be the most powerful genre across the medium.

Wen: I think it’s because it really speaks about the human fight to find your identity, to find your potential, to find your community. Most of those stories are wrapped around this fictional sci-fi world, right?

But at the heart of it, it’s about humanity, family, friendship, and discovering who you are—kind of like trying to discover the hero in yourself. I think we all identify with that. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always felt like I was such an outsider, especially being one of the few Asians growing up in white suburbia in Mount Lebanon.

This genre allowed me to find my community and allowed me to imagine and fantasize about what it would be like when I became Fennec Shand. So, yeah, that’s the connection.

Tajipour: Before we dive into other questions, I told you I was at New York Comic Con and got a sneak peek of Karate Kid Legends. Growing up as a Karate Kid fan and loving Cobra Kai, this movie is going to take it to the next level. I know it’s early, but can you share anything about working with Ralph Macchio, Jackie Chan, and Ben Wong?

Wen: For a long time, I haven’t been able to talk about it, but now that the trailer has been shown, I can say that I play Ben Wong’s mom. So, I’m Karate Kid’s mom, and I got to work with Jackie Chan.

Tajipour: A legend!

Wen: You know how sometimes you’re afraid to meet your heroes? Well, I met one of mine, and Jackie has raised my admiration a thousand-fold. I wish everyone could meet Jackie Chan—he is the best human being.

Ralph is also amazing and such a gentleman. He’s the O.G. Song, so having Jackie Chan and the O.G. Karate Kid was a dream come true. It’s another genre I can tick off my bucket list.

Tajipour: That’s awesome. I’m a big Jackie Chan fan, too. This movie comes out in May 2025, and it’s going to be crazy. Tons of action!

Moving on, I want to talk about Mulan. That role made you a legend to Disney fans. What’s it like knowing Mulan has become such a beloved classic and continues to reach new generations?

Wen: I cannot believe that after all these years, her impact has only grown. I so appreciate the wonderful stories people tell me about how she gives them strength and a sense of belonging.

When we made the movie, it was my first time doing voiceover work, and I thought Disney was crazy for taking a culturally specific film and making it relatable to everyone—but they succeeded. I love that she has such a positive impact, and people who were kids are now sharing the movie with their children, creating a whole new generation of fans.

Tajipour: You’ve done a lot of voice acting since then. What do you love most about it?

Wen: Voice acting is great because you just use your imagination in a booth. You don’t see the character’s image until much later. I don’t get to work with other actors often, so it’s fun creating the character just through voice.

For example, in Netflix’s Emmy-winning animation Blue Eye Samurai, I got to see the final product with animation, music, and everything—it’s magical.

Tajipour: Did you make any adjustments to your voice for Mulan?

Wen: Actually, yes. When I first went in after my audition, I thought I should make Mulan’s voice a bit higher and more youthful since she’s 16. The director stopped me and said, “We hired you because we love your voice.”

That was my first lesson in how meticulous they are about voice. With Agent May, for example, I lower my voice, and Fennec has a wryness to her tone. Those little touches help me become the characters.

Tajipour: Speaking of Agent May, what do you miss most about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Wen: I miss the cast. We’re like a family. When you work 12 to 17 hours a day with people, they become like family. We’re all busy, but we stay in touch occasionally. During the actors’ strike, a few of us got together, and it was so much fun. Even though the reunion wasn’t for a happy reason, it was great to see everyone again.

Tajipour: You played Agent May for so long. Are you ready to return if Marvel calls?

Wen: Come on, Marvel. Kevin Feige, let’s make it happen! I’ll be a sidekick to anyone. If fans keep tweeting and making noise, anything can happen.

Tajipour: Fans definitely want Agent May back in the MCU!

Tajipour: Switching gears, as a huge Street Fighter fan, I have to ask about your experience playing Chun-Li.

Wen: It’s nice to hear that so many fans appreciate it. Street Fighter was one of the first films inspired by a video game, and it was very campy. I think fans wanted something more serious at the time, but it’s now become an enjoyable, nostalgic film.

Tajipour: For many of us, you are the one and only Chun-Li!

Tajipour: Being a Star Wars fan, how did it feel to work in live-action with The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett?

Wen: A dream come true, thanks to Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Lucasfilm. It’s surreal having a childhood dream come true. My advice: dream big, work hard, and visualize. I’ve worked hard for 30 years and kept the dream alive, and it happened. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

Tajipour: What’s it like playing such a fierce character like Fennec Shand?

Wen: Fennec’s costume gave me so much information about who she was, and I love her name. I took inspiration from a Fennec fox, which is why she has braided hair that resembles a fox tail.

I’ve always loved Han Solo’s rogue, mercenary personality, and it was fun bringing that swagger into a female form with Fennec.

Tajipour: You’ve done an awesome job bringing her to life! Do you collect any memorabilia from your roles?

Wen: I used to collect P.E.Z. dispensers and still have original Star Wars figures. I wish I’d taken more from The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett sets—like Grogu! The only thing I managed to take were some credits.

Tajipour: How was it working with Temuera Morrison, the ultimate Boba Fett?

Wen: Tem is incredible—a dream of a human being with such a big heart and presence. I was intimidated at first because he has this “don’t mess with me” vibe. Fennec was supposed to die in her first episode, so being saved by Boba Fett was incredible.

Tajipour: You’ve worked on so many iconic franchises. What’s one dream project you’d like to tackle next?

Wen: I just did Gremlins, but I haven’t done Star Trek, which would be fun. I’d also love to do a romantic comedy—something like Breakfast at Tiffany’s—just something different.

Tajipour: Last question: What does it mean to you to be a role model?

Wen: I used to hate the label “role model” because it can feel limiting, but I’ve been fortunate to play strong female characters who set great examples for everyone. It’s all about respect and showing that anyone can kick ass, regardless of who they are.

Tajipour: And you definitely kick ass. Thank you for being here and nerding out with us!

Wen: Thank you!

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*Conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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