Michelle Ang

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Michelle Ang
Michelle Ang.jpg
Michelle Ang at Galaxy Con St Louis, 2025
Born (1983-10-17) 17 October 1983 (age 42)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Alma mater Victoria University of Wellington
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • director
Years active1997–present
Children1

Michelle Ang (born 17 October 1983) is an actor, director and producer from New Zealand Aotearoa. Working mainly in film and television, she has won various professional accolades, including Best Actress at the New Zealand Film & Television Awards and Best Director at Show Me Shorts. Ang's acting work has also been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the USA and a Logie in Australia.

Contents

On television, her notable roles include Omega in Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Lori Lee in Australian soap opera Neighbours , and Alex in Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 .

On film, Ang has had leading and supporting roles in a range of dramas and comedies. As a supporting cast member in Hollywood movies, she has performed alongside actors such as Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Martin Lawrence, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gal Gadot, Mark Wahlberg and Aaron Paul. She has also worked for directors such as Steven Soderbergh, Jodie Foster, Shane Black and Jane Campion.

In recent years, Ang's work has widened into directing and producing. She is a member of the Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ). [1] She nurtures young talent in her industry, as a guest mentor for the charitable filmmaking project Day One, based in Auckland. Ang also runs her own media production company called A Grain Of Rice. [2]

Early life and education

Ang was born in Christchurch and is of Malaysian Chinese descent. [3] [4] She grew up in Wellington with her parents and younger sister. [5]

As a child, she was a dancer and performed with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in productions of The Nutcracker , A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet . [6]

As a university student, she completed studies at Victoria University of Wellington for a double degree: a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (B.C.A.) in Accounting with Commercial Law and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. [7] [8]

Career

Television

Ang got her start in television at a young age through the family series Young Entertainers . Here, she got to show her skills at singing and dancing, much like The Mickey Mouse Club show on US television. She played Tai-San in the New Zealand post-apocalyptic drama The Tribe as part of the core cast from 1999 to 2001, and featured in the final episodes of the 2002 series. Ang also guest starred in the final 2 episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess as Akemi.

Ang played Lori Lee in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours , in which she was a major character from 2002 to 2003. Ang left Neighbours to finish her university studies but returned briefly in 2004. She appeared in 80 episodes in total. Ang was nominated for a Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent for this role. [9]

She played the role of Tracy Hong in the first two seasons of the New Zealand TV series Outrageous Fortune in 2005 and 2006.

In 2007, Ang appeared in the American television drama South of Nowhere .

In 2012, Ang starred in the MTV series Underemployed as an aspiring writer who has to settle for working at a donut shop. [10]

In 2015, Ang starred in the web series Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 as Alex, a passenger caught on a flight at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, and went on to appear in the main series Fear the Walking Dead . [11] Ang received an Emmy nomination for her work on Flight 462. [12]

In 2020, she had a recurring role in The New Legends of Monkey . She also guest starred in the rebooted series of The Twilight Zone screened on CBS All Access.

In 2021 to 2024, Ang voiced a lead role in the Disney+ original animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch as Omega, a mysterious female clone of Jango Fett. She was invited to keep her native New Zealand accent for the role in homage to fellow New Zealander Temuera Morrison, who portrayed Jango Fett in the franchise. [4]

In 2023, Ang starred as Melissa Wu in the comedy series Homebound 3.0. [13] It was initially screened in New Zealand on the Warner Bros. Discovery channel Three, which commissioned it. It has also been made available internationally via the BBC. In 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, which was broadcast in 2025.

Also in 2025, Ang started work as a Series Producer for Be With Zee, an animated pre-school series to be broadcast in 2026. The series is a co-production between companies and broadcasters in New Zealand and Canada. [14]

Film

Ang made her feature film debut in 2004's Futile Attraction . Ang had also appeared in a series of low-budget New Zealand short films including Forbidden Fury and Take 3. In 2006 she appeared in No.2 , directed by Toa Fraser.

In 2011 Ang portrayed a nerdy Chinese New Zealander in the romantic comedy My Wedding and Other Secrets , her first lead role in a feature. It won her the Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film Award at the 2011 New Zealand Aotearoa Film & Television Awards. [7]

Her other film credits include Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son and Triple 9 .

Prior to her role in The Bad Batch, Ang had auditioned for Star Wars: The Last Jedi . [4] As a child, she had also auditioned for the Cho Chang role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire . [15]

Personal life

Ang has a son. [16]

Ang has named The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle as a book that influenced her. [17]

Filmography

Film (as actor)

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004Forbidden FuryTerry SpearsShort film
Futile Attraction Violet McKenzie
2006 Naming Number Two Grace
2008Take 3Melanie ShumShort film
2010The BeaverJapanese translator
2011 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son MiaFeature film
My Wedding and Other Secrets Emily
The Potential Wives of Norman MaoSuzy FongShort film
2013EchoesSingerShort film
2014 The Taking of Deborah Logan Mia Medina
2015Fallen StarsDaisy [18]
2016 Triple 9 Detective Trina LingFeature film
2017SimularityDaisyShort film
2018For IzzyDedeFeature film
2019High Flying BirdRachelFeature film
2019I Want To Marry A Creative Jewish GirlRosyShort film
2023The ParagonBethFeature film
2024Nai/MilkKimShort film
2025POP!Short film
2025InsulaFeature, in production
2025 Play Dirty BettFeature film

Television (as actor)

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997–1998 Young Entertainers Super TrooperRegular cast
1999 William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale MeeshaSeason 1, Episode 14
1999–2002 The Tribe Tai-SanMain role (seasons 1–3), 143 episodes
2001 Xena: Warrior Princess Akemi2 episodes
2002 Being Eve MasakoSeason 2, Episode 7
2002–2004 Neighbours Lori Lee 88 episodes
2005 The Market Victoria ChenRecurring role
2005–2006 Outrageous Fortune Tracy Hong 16 episodes
2007–2008 South of Nowhere Lily Zee4 episodes
2012–2013 Underemployed Sophia Swanson12 episodes
2013 Top of the Lake Kimmie2 episodes; Mini-series
Grey's Anatomy CheriseSeason 9, Episode 22
Drop Dead Diva LanfenSeason 5, Episode 7
Perception Former National GuardwomanSeason 2, Episode 10
2014 Rizzoli & Isles Lucy ChenSeason 5, Episode 11
2015 NCIS: Los Angeles Taman BudianoSeason 6, Episode 19 "Blazing Glory"
2015–2016 Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 AlexMain role, web series, 16 episodes
2016 Fear the Walking Dead AlexSeason 2, 2 episodes [19]
2017Best Thing You'll Ever DoSena
2020 The New Legends of Monkey General KhanSeason 2, 7 Episodes
The Twilight Zone LingSeason 2, Episode 6
2021 Vegas Miranda Lau6 episodes
My Life is Murder Kathleen BoyceSeason 2, Episode 3
Destination LoveLisaTV movie
2021–2023Good GriefMichelleSeasons 1 & 2
2021–2024 Star Wars: The Bad Batch OmegaMain role, Seasons 1-3, 47 episodes [20]
2023–2025Homebound 3.0Melissa WuLead role, Seasons 1 & 2, 16 episodes

Video Games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023 Starfield Sati ChandraVoice

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2003 Logie Award Most Popular New Female Talent [9] Neighbours Nominated
2011 New Zealand Film & Television Award Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film My Wedding and Other Secrets Won
2016 Emmy Award Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series [21] Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 Nominated
2024Show Me Shorts Film FestivalBest ActorNai/MilkNominated
2024Show Me Shorts Film FestivalBest DirectorNai/MilkNominated
2025Barbados International Film FestivalBest ActorPOP!Won

References

  1. ↑ "Members • Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand".
  2. ↑ "A GRAIN OF RICE". www.agrainofricefilms.com.
  3. ↑ Roulston, Julie (6 November 2013). "In my beauty bag: Michelle Ang". Stuff . Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "MEET OMEGA: MICHELLE ANG ON BECOMING THE HEART OF STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH". StarWars.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Q&A Michelle Ang". Inside Soap . No. 238. 16–29 August 2003. p. 29.
  6. ↑ "A Grey's day on set for Michelle", James Croot
  7. 1 2 Cardy, Tom (17 March 2011). "The secret is out". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Chan, Charles (26 April 2010). "Close to her heart". The Star.
  9. 1 2 "Don't bet on it". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Michelle Ang stars in MTV's Underemployed". Asia Pacific Arts. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "Fear the Walking Dead: Will the Flight 462 survivors return?". tv.bt.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Michelle Ang just scored an Emmy nomination for Fear The Walking Dead". The New Zealand Herald. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  13. ↑ Simich, Ricardo (11 June 2023). "Michelle Ang half of new TV odd couple" . Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  14. ↑ https://www.awn.com/news/be-zee-preschool-series-gets-greenlight
  15. ↑ "Harry Potter gets first girlfriend". China Daily. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  16. ↑ @themichelleang; (12 May 2019). "Mums make the world go round. Thanks to mine, to yours, to those about to become one, those who've left us, those who aspire to be. I'm blessed to be one. X" . Retrieved 22 April 2024– via Instagram.
  17. ↑ "Book lover: Michelle Ang". The New Zealand Herald . 28 March 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "Ray Donovan's' Ryan O'Nan, 'Top of the Lake's' Michelle Ang to Lead Indie Movie 'Fallen Stars'". www.thewrap.com. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  19. ↑ "Fear The Walking Dead adds Michelle Ang to season 2". undeadwalking.com. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Star Wars: The Bad Batch crew talks season length, Omega and Imperial oppression". www.cnet.com. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "68th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". www.emmys.com. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
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