Li Jun Li (Chinese: 李麗君) is an American actress, known for her roles as Iris Chang in the ABC series Quantico, Rose Cooper in the Fox series The Exorcist, Jenny Wah in the Netflix series Wu Assassins and Lady Fay Zhu in the period drama Babylon (2022).
Li Jun Li | |
|---|---|
 Li in 2018 | |
| Born | Shanghai, China |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2008–present |
Early life
editLi was born in Shanghai, China. Her father was a painter, and he moved the family to Bogotá, Colombia,[1] for work when Li was six years old. Three years later, they immigrated to New York City in the United States.
She graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School's dance program.[2][3]
Career
editLi had her first break in the acting world starring opposite Matthew Morrison in the Tony Award winning Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific (2008) at New York's Lincoln Center.[4] Following on from this early success, she won roles on a variety of TV shows and films including Blue Bloods (2010), Damages (2011), The Following (2013), Cédric Klapisch's Chinese Puzzle (2013) and Mistress (2014). Li expanded her visibility and presence on a global level by landing major television roles in Neil LaBute's Billy and Billie (2015) and Minority Report (2015) on Fox.
In 2016, Li was cast in the recurring role of FBI recruit Iris Chang on the ABC thriller series Quantico.[5] In the same year, she joined the NBC procedural Chicago P.D. in the fourth season.[6]
On July 26, 2017, it was announced by Deadline that Li would join as a series regular in the second season of the Fox television series The Exorcist as Rose Cooper.[7]
On January 15, 2019, it was announced that Li had been cast in the series regular role of Jenny Wah on the Netflix supernatural crime drama series Wu Assassins.[8] In December 2020, she was cast in Damien Chazelle's film Babylon, playing a role inspired by silent film actress Anna May Wong.[9] The film received polarizing reviews, though her performance attracted some praise.[10]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Chinese Puzzle | Nancy | |
| 2014 | Song One | James Forester's journalist | |
| The Humbling | Tracy | ||
| 2015 | Front Cover | Miao | |
| Ricki and the Flash | Nail clerk | ||
| 2021 | Construction | Theresa | |
| 2022 | Babylon | Lady Fay Zhu | Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2025 | Sinners † | Post-production | |
| TBA | Alma and the Wolf †[11] | Post-production |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Live from Lincoln Center | Liat | Episode: "South Pacific" |
| 2010 | Blue Bloods | Nicka | Episode: "After Hours" |
| 2011 | Body of Proof | Mira Ling | Episode: "Talking Heads" |
| 2011 | One Life to Live | Gothic Vegas chapel assistant | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Yasmin | Episode: "Rispetto" |
| 2011–2012 | Damages | Maggie Huang | Recurring role (seasons 4, 5) |
| 2012 | Americana | Eloise Russell | TV film |
| 2012 | Freestyle Love Supreme | Danielle | TV film |
| 2012 | Smash | Store clerk | Episode: "Enter Mr. DiMaggio" |
| 2013 | The Following | Meghan Leeds | Recurring role (season 1) |
| 2013 | Hatfields & McCoys | Cara Quo | TV film |
| 2013 | Hostages | Attractive woman | Episode: "Truth and Consequences" |
| 2014 | Unforgettable | Natalie | Episode: "New Hundred" |
| 2015 | One Bad Choice | Lisette Lee | Episode: "Meili Cady" |
| 2015 | Minority Report | Akeela | Main role |
| 2015–2016 | Billy and Billie | Denise | |
| 2015 | Chicago P.D. | Anna Tse | Episode: "The Three Gs" |
| 2016 | Chicago P.D. | Julie Tay | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Chicago Fire | Julie Tay | Episode: "The Hose or the Animal" |
| 2016–2017 | Quantico | Iris Chang | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Blindspot | Karen Sun | Recurring role (season 2) |
| 2017–2018 | The Exorcist | Rose Cooper | Main role (season 2) |
| 2018 | Gone | Dana Parker | Episode: "Don't Go" |
| 2019 | Wu Assassins | Jenny Wah | Main role |
| 2019 | Why Women Kill | Amy Grove | 3 episodes |
| 2019–2024 | Evil | Grace Ling | Recurring role |
| 2021–2023 | Sex/Life | Francesca | Recurring role |
| 2023 | Based on a True Story | Michelle | Recurring role |
| TBA | Spider-Noir | TBA | Main role[12] |
References
edit- ^ Bhagchandani, Umesh (December 24, 2022). "Who is Li Jun-li, the Chinese-American actress in Babylon?". SCMP. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
- ^ Yu, Kaitlin (August 8, 2019). "Why Did 'Wu Assassins' Actress Li Jun Li Swear Off Acting As A Kid?". Character Media. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ Scaccia, Annamarya (October 28, 2016). "CityViews: City's Arts High Schools Must Focus on Talent Rather Than Tests". City Limits. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ Han, Yoonji (December 23, 2022). "How Li Jun Li channeled Anna May Wong, Hollywood's first Asian American actress, in Damien Chazelle's Babylon". Insider. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Li, Shirley (November 24, 2015). "Quantico: Jay Armstrong Johnson, Lenny Platt, Li Jun Li, joining as new recruits in mid-season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Stanhope, Kate (July 20, 2016). "'Chicago P.D.' Enlists 'Quantico' Grad for Season 4 (Exclusive)". Deadline. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 26, 2017). "'The Exorcist' Adds Li Jun Li For Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ Petski, Denise (January 15, 2019). "Wu Assassins: Li Jun Li Cast In Netflix Martial Arts Series". Deadline. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "First Look: Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie Promise to Light Up 'Babylon'". Vanity Fair. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ Ford, Rebecca (December 16, 2022). "Babylon's Li Jun Li on Capturing Anna May Wong Onscreen". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Ethan Embry And Li Jun Li To Star In Republic Pictures Genre-Bender ‘Alma And The Wolf’
- ^ Canfield, David (August 12, 2024). "Lamorne Morris Levels Up: 'I Want to Be Morgan Freeman'". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
