Julia Ling
Earlier this year, she made guest appearances on the FOX show “HOUSE”, playing the teenager translating in Mandarin, on NBC’s “ER” and Disney’s “8 Simple Rules”; she produced and starred in her own short film "Cinder"; and has a martial arts motion picture in development with her own company, Silver Rose Entertainment, Inc.
Ms. Ling, at 23, became one of the youngest members of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
CHILD PRODIGY
Her parents named her Shel Wei. Ling was a child artist from the age of three when she picked up a pencil and drew pictures of her parents enjoying tea. She won many art contests for her sketches and paintings. Her art work has been recognized in the headlines of the Pasadena Star News, several Chinese newspapers and Temple City magazines. At the age of six, she won a "Best Storyteller Award" and learned to play the piano. She became a little star in the Chinese community of the San Gabriel Valley.
By age nine, Ling was performing award-winning solo dances for events throughout California, including an exquisite umbrella dance that showed on national television.
HIGH ACHIEVER
Surprisingly, Ling did not want to pursue a career in the arts. She went into sciences with dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. "I wanted to make a difference in the world before my time is over. I've always felt it was my duty to give and help others."
She was an avid dancer, tennis player and swimmer in high school, where she maintained a 4.0 GPA. She was president of her school's German Club, National Honor Society, Amnesty Club, Literature Club and the Chinese Club. Ling also won a competition for Chinese brush stroke and calligraphy; and volunteered over 14 hours of community service to her local hospital every week.
Finally, this beautiful, high achieving young woman was selected as a state finalist in the Miss American Pageants Contest at age sixteen.
At UCLA, Ms. Ling majored in Chemical Engineering and was Vice President of the Engineering Society. During college, she realized her true love for performing and astonished herself by leaving college and pursuing Hollywood as an actress. As much as she loved chemistry and dreamt of being a neurosurgeon; there was only one dream - Acting.
HOLLYWOOD STARLET
"It's like leaping into the dark pit without knowing what was down there, but I just had to do it," says Ms Ling. She studied acting passionately, and trained in Shao-Lin Kung Fu, Animal Styles, and Weapons. Her extreme flexibility from years of dance gave her a very graceful martial arts style.
Within two years, Ms. Ling had worked on over sixty films, picking up starring roles in half of them, including Jake Kennedy’s Award-Winning short "We All Fall Down", and a number of feature films. She had her television debut on UPN's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing the slayer with the power. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with this extraordinary young woman and speak with her about her career.
WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME?
Shel Wei. It means "The little rose flower that rises early in the morning." When I was in 7th grade, I decided that I'd like an American name; so I researched names and fell in love with Elizabeth and Julia. I couldn't decide which name to pick, so I actually flipped a coin. It landed on the Julia side. But I did read back then, the "Life's Little Destruction Booklet" which I thought was so funny, and it said, "Make major life decisions by flipping a coin" I was 12 years old then and I haven't used that technique ever since.
YOU'VE BEEN IN 4 TELEVISION HITS THIS YEAR ON TWO NETWORKS; NBC's Studio 60 and ER, FOX's House and The OC. OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE WATCHED YOU ON TV. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A STAR?
I don't think about being a star. What I think about is being the best actress I can be and working with extremely talented people. Fame and fortune is the icing on the cake, and I'm sure that I'll be a very happy, focused, and centered star if and when it happens.
IN STUDIO 60, THEY HAD YOU SPEAK MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE. YOU SPEAK SIX LANGUAGES RIGHT?
Actually, I only speak four fluently, and I am working on two more. The character breakdown described a young woman who spoke five languages, and I just thought that was a perfect role for me because I love learning languages and thinking in different languages. I just thought, I have to get this part!
WAS IT STEVEN WEBER YOU DID THE TRILINGUAL ACROBATICS WITH?
I did one take in German. And Steven Weber speaks some German too! After the take, the cast and crew cracked up in laughter. It was really fun.
WHY DID THEY NEED A TRANSLATOR ON THAT EPISODE?
Because Studio 60 wanted to make a deal with my father, and he doesn't speak English.
TELL ME ABOUT THE CHARACTER YOU PLAYED?
I played Kim Tao. She's a brilliant viola player. She decided to pursue a career in playing the viola, because her father read an article that predicted the orchestra market would be lacking in viola players. Kim Tao is really smart. I know, how did they ever cast me, right? (laughs) She is almost a nerd. Well, let me take that back...she is a nerd.
HOW DID YOU LIKE THE STUDIO 60 ENSEMBLE?
I loved everyone on Studio 60! Aaron Sorkin was most awesome. I've never met anybody of such great caliber (a writer and producer) be more enthusiastic and dedicated to a project. His passion to the show was just awe-inspiring. He was even in the casting room reading with the actors! The first day on set was intimidating for me because I didn't know anybody and there was so much going on. But in the middle of all that's going on, Aaron still took the time to personally welcome me with a hearty handshake and a great sense of humor and helped me feel more at home.
Lesli Glatter, our director, was amazing to work with. I worked with her before on ER, and I always knew that I wanted to work with her again. I never thought the opportunity would come so quickly. Lesli is amazing. There were two major units going on, and one of the sets must have had hundreds of extras and Sting was there. I'm sure there were a hundred things going on, but Lesli not only handled all responsibilities great and got everything done, but she still had great energy and humor. She was fun to work with. And, she's so inspirational. The cast was amazing. I love Steven Weber. He's so funny. I really felt an awesome chemistry between all the cast members. And the crew guys were so professional and sweet.
ANY CHANCE TO USE ANY OF YOUR MARTIAL ARTS?
(laughing) On Studio 60? I'm sure they would have fired me if I suddenly bust out my weapons and wushu sword on set.
WOULD YOU PREFER YOUR SHAO LIN KUNG FU, OR SAMURAI TRAINING?
I feel more at home with Shao Lin because it's more about dexterity, stealth and attacking vulnerable points quickly. I grew up training in flexibility and quickness. I role play Dungeons and Dragons sometimes, and one of my favorite characters to play was an elfin princess. Elves have a higher bonus in dexterity and they move very gracefully. I love graceful.
HOW WAS IT WORKING ON HOUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR? I SAW THE SHOW AND YOU WERE GREAT.
(laughs) I had the funniest scene. I played Anne Ling, a teenage girl who tries to get birth control pills by mistranslating for her Chinese mother. Well, lo and behold, Dr. House speaks Mandarin. So he catches my silly little lies.
DID YOU HAVE TO COACH HIM?
No he had the line down. It was fun listening to him rehearse it.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR HICKEY ON ER?
Yeah I had a lot of people email me right after episode, asking if it was real. Thanks to makeup for that; but I did have to explain to my parents that it was not a real hickey.
YOU HAVE SUCH PASSION AND JOY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS.
I just feel so liberated in front of the camera. I can be happy or sad or angry as I want and I know it's safe to do so, because as soon as the director yells cut, it's all over.
YOU HAVE A REMARKABLE VOICE. DID YOU STUDY?
I started voice training with the infamous Bob Corff and later with my singing coach who won multiple awards in China (placing first all the time), and really learned to create different vocal characters entirely different from my real voice, and that's been a lot of fun.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE STRENGTH TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE IN THE UNPREDICTABLE HOLLYWOOD WORLD?
If there's a problem, then I ask myself what I'm doing wrong. When I was five, my mother said to review the day every night before I go to bed. If something didn't go as planned, I'd ask myself if there was a way to improve myself. I kept a journal of my good and bad habits and my personality. I always strived to become a better person than I was the day before. I knew I could never stop growing, never stop learning for as long as I lived. I love life. I love learning.
Resource (JULIA LING: A Star in the Making. By Montgomery Fisher Jr.)
julia ling - Google News
Ho tops Ling in three sets in an all Homestead final - San Jose Mercury News
Ho tops Ling in three sets in an all Homestead final
San Jose Mercury News, USA - May 1, 2008
Fremont also won the 200 free with senior Julia Sterling, freshmen Sara Tulane and Rachel Nakagawa and junior Gloria Yee. In the boys meet, ...
The battle for first continues - Newsdurhamregion.com
The battle for first continues
Newsdurhamregion.com, Canada - 17 hours ago
Breanna Ling found the back of the net five times for Hermack. Mike Trevett continued their winning ways in the third game of the day as they defeated ...
Educational achievements - Wakefield Observer
Educational achievements
Wakefield Observer, MA - May 7, 2008
... Julia Cushing, Amber Darcey, Sarah Dickey, Abigail DiCredico, Joseph DiStaula, Christopher Furrier, Alexander Gorton, Natalie Green, Mary-Ling Gregory, ...
Lady Blue Knights house league - Newsdurhamregion.com
Lady Blue Knights house league
Newsdurhamregion.com, Canada - May 8, 2008
Braelynn Head, Breanna Ling and Holly Ottewell scored two goals apiece for Hermack while Amanda Barry notched three goals in the losing effort. ...
Brooke graves relocated to make way for Sarawak assembly complex - Malaysia Star
Brooke graves relocated to make way for Sarawak assembly complex
Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Apr 16, 2008
By SHARON LING KUCHING: Three graves belonging to the Brooke family, who ruled Sarawak before Independence, were exhumed from a burial plot near the Astana ...
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Interview with Julia Ling
She owns Morgan?s heart, she prefers Linux and Star Wars, and she just might be Chuck?s future ally in the secret agent wars - Julia Ling talks to ChuckTV.net about playing Anna Hu and holding her own on Chuck. ChuckTV.net: Ms. ...
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?She can definitely be a great ally of Chuck?s when it comes to hacking into systems,? Julia Ling, who plays the tech-savvy character in NBC?s Chuck, told chucktv.net. ?She?s also keen and quick to respond. And she?ll stay calm and keep ...
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Anna Wu is highly proficient and knowledgeable when it comes to technology, which is why she can easily become one of Chuck?s (Zachary Levi) best allies in the secret agent wars. ?She can definitely be a great ally of Chuck?s...
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In a recent interview with ChuckTV.net, the actress who plays Anna, 24-year-old Julia Ling (ER, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), discussed the similarities and differences between her and her character. Given Ling?s consistently engaging ...
