Jennie Kwan

Jennie Kwan (born Jennifer Trinidad Fernando; September 9, 1973) is an American television, film and voice actress. She played Samantha "Sam" Woo on California Dreams, Satoko Hojo in Higurashi When They Cry, and voiced the character Suki on Avatar: The Last Airbender.

For the Canadian politician, see Jenny Kwan.
Jennie Kwan
Born
Jennifer Trinidad Fernando

(1973-09-09) September 9, 1973
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names
  • Minx Lee
  • Trinity Lee
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present

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.[1]

Kwan played 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 1996.

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 2007, she voiced as Satoko Hojo for the English dub of Higurashi When They Cry's first season. 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 1991 from Alemany High school in Mission Hills, CA. Soon after she appeared 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.[2]

Filmography

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Beverly Hills, 90210Girl #1Ep. Song of Myself
1993-1996California DreamsSamantha 'Sam' WooMain role
1997Family MattersKimberlyEp. Revenge of the Nerd
1997The NannyMai LingEp. Mommy and Mai
2010Late Night with Jimmy FallonHerself/PerformerEp. 2.29
2013Anger ManagementWomanEp. Charlie and His New Friend with Benefits
2016New GirlBoat WomanEp. Es Good

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Country EstatesCheerleaderTV movie
1997Trojan WarTrish
2009Let's Do It!: A California Dreams ReunionHerselfDocumentary short
2011Play TimeThe WifeShort film
2012Invasion of the Money SnatchersVelmaShort film
2014PromotedLu Chang

Animation
YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Little ShopAudreyMain role
2005-2008Avatar: The Last AirbenderSukiRecurring role
2006Eureka SevenSakuyaEnglish dub
2007Fate/stay nightAyako MitsuzuriEnglish dub; as Minx Lee
2007When They CrySatoko HojoEnglish dub; as Minx Lee
2007Rozen MaidenNori SakuradaEnglish dub; as Minx Lee
2009Random CartoonsMyang Myang, Bitgirl, EduEp. Dr. Dee and Bit Boy
2011Durarara!!Miria HarventEnglish dub;

Ep. 11

2013Accel WorldAkira Himi/Aqua CurrentEnglish dub; as Trinity Lee
2018Goldie & BearTess the GiantessVoice role; Tess the Giantess
2018 Beyblade Burst Turbo Chiharu Aoi English dub; Ep. 51
2020 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Inosuke's mother, Kakushi English dub
2020 Scissor Seven Thirteen English dub

Video games
YearTitleRole
2008Avatar: The Last Airbender – Into the InfernoSuki, Fire Nation Soldier
2017.hack//G.U. Last RecodeAina
2018Red Dead Redemption 2The Local Pedestrian Population

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2011-08-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Herrmann, Brenda (1994-02-01). "Sure, Laugh Now...... But Jennie Kwan's Career Is". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
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