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
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActress
Years active2008–present

Early life

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Li 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

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Li 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

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Film

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Key
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

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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

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  1. ^ Bhagchandani, Umesh (December 24, 2022). "Who is Li Jun-li, the Chinese-American actress in Babylon?". SCMP. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Scaccia, Annamarya (October 28, 2016). "CityViews: City's Arts High Schools Must Focus on Talent Rather Than Tests". City Limits. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Stanhope, Kate (July 20, 2016). "'Chicago P.D.' Enlists 'Quantico' Grad for Season 4 (Exclusive)". Deadline. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (July 26, 2017). "'The Exorcist' Adds Li Jun Li For Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (January 15, 2019). "Wu Assassins: Li Jun Li Cast In Netflix Martial Arts Series". Deadline. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "First Look: Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie Promise to Light Up 'Babylon'". Vanity Fair. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  10. ^ Ford, Rebecca (December 16, 2022). "Babylon's Li Jun Li on Capturing Anna May Wong Onscreen". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Ethan Embry And Li Jun Li To Star In Republic Pictures Genre-Bender ‘Alma And The Wolf’
  12. ^ 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.
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