★ M.A.R.A.★

Julia Ling

currently stars as Anna Wu on NBC’s Chuck, which premieres its 3rd season with 2 hours tonight at 9pmET.  Ling had recurring roles in two other NBC television shows: Mae Li Park in ER (2006-2007) and Kim Tao in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006-2007, also starring Matthew Perry). 

Ling was born February 13, 1983 in Southern Cali and is of Chinese descent.  Her accomplishments are a must read.  See below.

Joshua Gomez and Julia Ling as Morgan and Anna on NBC’s Chuck

Fun Facts:

• Speaks Mandarin, German and English fluently
• Artwork published at age 6
• Wrote and narrated a story that won her “Best Story Teller Award” by Chinese World Newspaper also at age 6
• Her dances were aired on national television and was performing award-winning solo dances by age 9

Check out what she did in high school and beyond…I’m burnt out just reading it [via]

In high school, Ling was student body president and president of German Club, Amnesty International, Literature Society and Junior Statesmen Debate Team. She competed in dance, varsity tennis and swimming. In 1997, Congressman David Dreier recognized Ling for her community service at the local hospital. At age 16, she was selected as a state finalist in the Miss America Pageant and after nine years of playing the piano, graduated from the Royal Board of Music. She graduated high school second in her class with a 4.0 GPA and perfect SAT scores.

Pursuing a career in medicine, Ling majored in biomedical chemical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was Treasurer of Chemical Engineering Society, Vice President of the Engineering Society of UCLA and honorary member of the Society of Women Engineers. She left it all to pursue her love of performing.

In 2003, Julia Ling made her network television debut on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar. Over the next two years, she starred in over 20 independent short films and returned to prime time television in roles on House (FOX) and ER (NBC) in 2006. She guest starred in the recurring role of Kim Tao on the critically acclaimed Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (NBC). Her next major guest starring role was on the television drama ER, playing the recurring character of Mae Lee Park, a surgical intern. She also guest starred in The O.C., and Grey’s Anatomy.

In the summer of 2007, Ling competed in the Jackie Chan Disciples, a martial arts competition. She was selected as one of the top four finalists representing the U.S. at the International Top 100 competition in Beijing, China. In addition, her Kung Fu performance, portraying her as an adventurer ambushed by bandits, won her the Best Acting Award. She was unable to compete in Beijing because of her role as Anna Wu on NBC’s Chuck.

So I’m just going to pause here and go deal with my feelings of inadequacy…


Keywords: famous asians, asian, famous asian actresses, famous asian actors, asian girl on chuck
Sources: TVGuide, JuliaLing.net, IMDB, Wiki
Photos

Maya Lin

is an Asian American artist and architect of Chinese descent most famous for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.  The stark, v-shaped, black granite structure was constructed below ground level and holds the inscription of more than 58,000 names of Americans who died in the Vietnam War.  Lin intended for the memorial to resemble “a wound in the earth that is slowly healing”. 

What an incredible parallel to recognize and subsequently integrate into structural design.  It’s even more impressive that Lin had such an awareness at 21 years old, which proved useful when she faced much controversy and had to defend herself and her design in front of the United States Congress.  

The minimalist and below ground level design and that the nation’s memorial to a war in Southeast Asia was to be designed by an Asian American left many upset, angered, and confused.  A compromise was reached by placing American flag and a bronze statue of “The Three Soldiers” (aka “The Three Servicemen”) to the side of the Memorial. 

With an estimated 4.4 million annual visitors, over 25 years, it is one of the most visited in the country.  See a list of Lin’s other major works below. 


Lin in the early 1980’s with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial plan

Other quick facts:

• Born October 5, 1959 in Athens, Ohio
• Lin was still an undergraduate at Yale when her design was selected
• She believes she would not have won if the contest was not “blind” - the judges knew the contestants by an assigned number instead of by name
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial corners face the Washington and Lincoln Memorials

Lin’s other major works include:

• “What is Missing?” conservation installations, various locations (2005-2011)
• MOCA (Museum of Chinese America) New York, NY (2009) Video
• Wave Field, University of Michigan (1995)
• Civil Rights Memorial, Montgomery, AL (1989)

Maya Lin unveils “Unchopping a Tree” at UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, Dec 16, 2009

Other Sources & More Info: Wiki, Lin’s website, interview, FAQ on “the Wall”, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4
Other Keywords: Famous asians, famous asian, famous asian architects, famous asian artists, memorialist,