Ming-Na Wen is an American actress widely recognized for her extensive work in voice acting for animation, in addition to her prominent roles in live-action film and television. Born in Macau on November 20, 1963, she immigrated to the United States with her family and later graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in theater. Her career in voice acting is distinguished by several high-profile and influential roles.

Wen's most iconic voice role came in 1998 when she was cast as the title character in the Disney animated feature film Mulan. Her performance as the brave and determined Fa Mulan was critically acclaimed, earning her an Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production. She would go on to reprise this beloved role in numerous other projects, including the direct-to-video sequel Mulan II, the video game Kingdom Hearts II, the Disney Channel series Sofia the First, and the feature film Ralph Breaks the Internet. Her enduring association with the character and her contributions to the company were formally recognized in 2019 when she was named a Disney Legend.

Beyond her work for Disney, Wen has contributed her voice to a variety of other animated projects. In 2001, she voiced the lead character, Dr. Aki Ross, in the groundbreaking computer-animated film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. She also took on the role of Detective Ellen Yin in the animated series The Batman and voiced the character Hala the Accuser in the Marvel Rising franchise.

A notable example of her work in anime is the 2021 Netflix original series Yasuke. Set in an alternate fantastical version of feudal Japan, the series tells the story of the first African samurai. In Yasuke, Wen provided the voice for Natsumaru, a skilled female samurai, or onna-bugeisha, who serves under the powerful lord Oda Nobunaga. Natsumaru is a complex character who forms a strong bond with the protagonist, Yasuke, but her storyline is central to his tragic past, as her true identity as a spy forces him to confront her in battle. The casting of Wen in this role was part of a broader production choice to feature Asian and Eurasian American actors in key Japanese roles.

Wen's extensive filmography also includes voice work in series such as Star Wars: The Bad Batch, where she reprises her live-action role as the bounty hunter Fennec Shand, and Phineas and Ferb. Her contributions to animation and her impactful career were further celebrated in 2023 when she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Through her pioneering work in films like Mulan and her continued presence in series like Yasuke, Ming-Na Wen has solidified her legacy as a significant and influential figure in the world of animation and voice acting.