Lee Chen, a talented bilingual Mandarin actress, hails from mainland China. She has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry, impressing audiences with her versatility and range.
Notably, she recurred as Chairman Lu's Translator in the popular HBO series "VEEP," starring alongside the esteemed Tzi Ma. Her guest star appearances are equally impressive, having appeared in shows such as Freeform's "GOOD TROUBLE" for five seasons, CBS's "BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA," Universal's "TRUE CRIME WITH APHRODITE JONES," and Disney's "GIRL MEETS WORLD."
In addition to her television credits, Lee has co-starred in several notable projects, including Apple's "THE MORNING SHOW," Netflix's "GENTEFIED" and "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT," CBS's "NCIS: LOS ANGELES," and TNT's "SOUTHLAND."
Her impressive filmography includes appearances in numerous independent features and short films, such as "We Broke Up," "DOE," "Midlife," and "Love Arcadia." The short film "Justice for Vincent" earned her several Best Actress awards at various film festivals, while "Dancing for You" won her a Best Supporting Actress award.
Lee's early life was marked by a unique experience, touring with Chairman Mao Zedong's Communist Propaganda Performance Troupe in Inner Mongolia during her elementary school years. After moving to America, she pursued her MA in Education, only to be accidentally cast in her first American theatre role in Chicago. She went on to perform in Chicago theatres for five years before earning her MFA in Theatre and Dance.
She studied acting with renowned instructors Byrne and Joyce Piven at the Piven Workshop Theatre, and has since appeared in numerous theatre and dance productions in Chicago, Honolulu, and Los Angeles. Lee even wrote and performed her original one-woman show "Life Flies," which she toured in Honolulu and the Los Angeles area.
After taking a nine-year hiatus from acting to raise her two sons and teach English to new immigrants, Lee returned to the industry in 2011. Her bilingual ability in Mandarin Chinese has allowed her to take on a wide range of characters, earning her a reputation as a talented and versatile actress, particularly in her portrayal of Chinese mothers in both drama and comedy.
