Jennie Kwan

Jennie Kwan
Born Jennifer Trinidad Fernando
(1973-09-09) September 9, 1973
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names Minx Lee
Occupation Actress and singer
Years active 1984present

Jennie Kwan (born Jennifer Trinidad Fernando; September 9, 1973) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Samantha "Sam" Woo on California Dreams and as the voice of Suki on Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Career

Kwan began acting at age 11, when she started performing with the touring company, "Kids of the Century." Her first television role was in 1991 as the voice of Audrey in Little Shop, a series based on the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors.

Kwan is most notable for portraying the character Samantha Woo on NBC's hit show, California Dreams. In 1992, she auditioned for the lead role as Tiffani, but lost out to Kelly Packard. However, the incident led to them being best friends until this day. In that same year, she also appeared in an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. In January 1993, she began performing the role as Kim in Chicago's production of Miss Saigon. Later that year, the producers of California Dreams called her back to join the main cast, playing the role of Sam, a foreign exchange student. Kwan replaced Heidi Noelle Lenhart (who, coincidentally, played the role of "Jenny") in the main cast and remained with the show until its cancellation in 1997.

During that year, Kwan appeared as a guest star on Family Matters, playing a snooty sorority girl, and on The Nanny, playing Mai Ling, Fran's UNICEF foster daughter. She also starred in the role of "Trish" in the film Trojan War.

In addition, Kwan played the role of student Diane in the Los Angeles production of musical Bare, a Pop Opera as well as a starring role in the one-woman play, Faces of America. Other stage credits include a brief appearance in Jewtopia as well as time playing the role of Jasmine in Aladdin. Kwan is also considered a pioneer in the web series genre for her work in the online series Fear of a Punk Planet.

In 2001, Kwan left acting for a while to join the girl group Nobody's Angel. In 2002, the members of the group received a Gold Record for their work on two songs featured on the soundtrack of The Princess Diaries. She is credited as being one of the creators of the Nobody's Angel television show for the ABC Family Network, but the series was never picked up. With the group's popularity quickly declining, highlighted by the show's failure, Nobody's Angel split up for good later that year.

Kwan returned to acting in 2005, when she played the role of female warrior Suki on the Asian-influenced animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. She starred in the Las Vegas original cast of the musical "Avenue Q", and spent time starring in the national tour as an understudy for the role of Christmas Eve. In late 2008, Kwan was let go from the cast and released from her contract. Her bio was quickly taken off the show's site. No press release was issued announcing whether or not it was her decision to leave.

In 2009, she provided the voice for Bitgirl, Myang Myang and Edu in Random! Cartoons.

On the March 4, 2010 episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Kwan participated in the California Dreams reunion with most of her former castmates. While introducing herself, Kwan blushed after she suddenly became tongue-tied as she tried to discuss her recent television and stage work. She is presently back in theater, playing the role of Teruko in the 25th anniversary production of "Tea, With Music" at East West Players.

Kwan played the role of Lu Chang in the 2015 comedy, Promoted.

Personal life

Kwan, a Filipino American, was born in Los Angeles, California. She graduated high school in 1994 while she was still appearing on California Dreams and other shows including ITV's Funhouse. Kwan says she was often embarrassed in high school because despite being famous, she never had a boyfriend.[1]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Beverly Hills, 90210 Girl #1 Ep. Song of Myself
1993-1997 California Dreams Samantha 'Sam' Woo Main role
1997 Family Matters Kimberly Ep. Revenge of the Nerd
1997 The Nanny Mai Ling Ep. Mommy and Mai
2010 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Herself/Performer Ep. 2.29
2013 Anger Management Woman Ep. Charlie and His New Friend with Benefits
2016 New Girl Boat Woman Ep. Es Good

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Country Estates Cheerleader TV movie
1997 Trojan War Trish
2009 Let's Do It!: A California Dreams Reunion Herself Documentary short
2011 Play Time The Wife Short film
2012 Invasion of the Money Snatchers Velma Short film
2014 Promoted Lu Chang

Animation

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Little Shop Audrey Main role
2005-2008 Avatar: The Last Airbender Suki Recurring role
2006 Eureka Seven Sakuya English dub
2007 Fate/stay night Ayako Mitsuzuri English dub; as Minx Lee
2007 When They Cry Satoko Hojo English dub; as Minx Lee
2007 Rozen Maiden Nori Sakurada English dub; as Minx Lee
2009 Random Cartoons Myang Myang, Bitgirl, Edu Ep. Dr. Dee and Bit Boy
2011 Durarara!! Miria Harvent English dub; as Minx Lee

Video games

References

  1. Herrmann, Brenda (1994-02-01). "Sure, Laugh Now...... But Jennie Kwan's Career Is". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
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