Jamie Chung

Jamie Jilynn Chung, born on April 10, 1983, in San Francisco, California, is an American actress and former reality television personality. Raised by Korean immigrant parents, she initially pursued academics, earning a B.A. in economics from the University of California, Riverside in 2005. Her unexpected entry into the entertainment industry came in 2004 when she was cast in MTV’s “The Real World: San Diego.” This appearance, along with its spin-off “Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II,” where her team emerged victorious, provided her initial exposure in media. Chung is often cited as one of the most successful alumnae of “The Real World” to transition into a prominent media career.

Following her reality TV beginnings, Chung embarked on an acting career, securing minor roles in television series such as “Veronica Mars” (2006) and “Days of Our Lives” (2007). Her breakthrough came in 2008 with the lead role in the ABC Family miniseries “Samurai Girl.” She then expanded into feature films, appearing in projects like “Sorority Row” (2009), “Dragonball Evolution” (2009), “Grown Ups” (2010), “Sucker Punch” (2011), and “The Hangover Part II” (2011). A significant turn in her career arrived with the 2012 independent drama film “Eden,” where her lead performance garnered critical acclaim and a Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actress at the Seattle International Film Festival. This period marked her transition from supporting roles to more central and challenging characters.

Chung continued to build a diverse filmography across various genres and platforms. She became known for her recurring role as Mulan in the ABC fantasy series “Once Upon a Time” (2012–2016) and provided the voice for Go Go Tomago in Disney’s Academy Award-winning animated film “Big Hero 6” (2014), a role she reprised in “Big Hero 6: The Series” (2017–2021). Her work on television includes a series regular role in the superhero drama “The Gifted” (2017–2019) and a critically praised recurring role as Ji-Ah in the HBO series “Lovecraft Country” (2020), which she described as her most challenging to date. She has also taken on production roles, serving as an executive producer for “Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong” (2015). Beyond acting, Chung maintains a fashion blog, “What the Chung?”, and has engaged in various brand partnerships, demonstrating her multifaceted engagement within and outside the entertainment industry.