Wai Ching Ho

Hong Kong-born actor Wai Ching Ho has appeared in a wide variety of shows and films, including Law & Order, Flight of the Conchords, and New Amsterdam. However, she is currently best known for playing Madame Gao in three Marvel Comics-inspired series: Daredevil, Iron Fist, and The Defenders. Her role as Bernice in the 2003 indie sci-fi film Robot Stories won her the Best Actress Award at two international film festivals. Her most recent roles include a role in the box-office hit Hustlers (starring the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, and Constance Wu) and a guest appearance in the series Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.

Ho was born in Hong Kong in 1943. A relative latecomer to American television acting, she won her first role in 1987, playing Kim the long-running soap opera One Life to Live. A further role followed as Dr Kamber in the early 1990s teen drama Swans Crossing. She also made her Hollywood debut in the 1990 comedy film Cadillac Man (starring Robin Williams). She returned to television acting in the early 2000s, playing a variety of roles in several shows across the Law & Order franchise. In 2009, she appeared in the cult comedy series Flight of the Conchords.

In 2015, Ho finally won her first major role, playing Madame Gao in Daredevils, a Netflix series based on the Marvel universe that won many awards, including the Saturn Award for Best Streaming Superhero Television Series. Ho was called on to reprise the role in Iron Fist and The Defenders, a crossover series linking the other two.