Ming-Na Wen

“I'm as proud to be Chinese as I am American.”

“What I want is the same opportunities as anyone to get a part.”

“I think on 'ER,' my other long-running show, I had some ideas about what's going on. 'Stargate Universe,' they were kind of secretive too a little bit about what they wanted to do, but I kind of liked working this way. I like the surprises, and I like knowing just enough to work on the character.”

“I appreciate both... for me, I think 'Star Wars' is more science fantasy and is based on a lot of great legendary heroes and morality plays and stuff. And 'Star Trek' is just pure fun. Pure science fun. And I've always appreciated both.”

“I'm sort of a gypsy at heart and don't like to stay in one place too long.”

“Mulan is so important in Chinese folklore - a fearless girl who cared about her family and country so much that she was willing to join the fight and sacrifice herself.”

“Mom takes all the credit for my success. Now Mom says, 'I read your face when you were a baby, and it said you were going to be a star. That's why I named you Ming - because it's all about the sun and the stars and enlightenment.'”

“I love that synergy between being entertainers and having people respond. There's no greater reward.”

“'Mulan' holds a very special place in my heart. It's been 16 years since the film, but hordes of fans still come up and tell me how much she means to them.”

“When I grew up in Pittsburgh in my parents' restaurant, I was almost like a country bumpkin.”

“I've always dreamed that George Lucas would call me one day and ask me to be in one of the 'Star Wars' films.”

“Growing up as an Asian American in this society, there were a lot of times where you feel isolated or out of place as an Asian. And growing up in White America, that's absolutely my experience. And I think that's why I got into acting because I wanted to be anybody else but Asian.”

“The 'ER' role was not Asian-specific, and my agent knew that I loved the show.”

“'Star Wars' is on my bucket list. Even if it's just a small walk on, I don't care.”

“I'm like Madonna: I'm Ming-Na. Just my first and middle name. That's it. Pure and simple.”

“There's just so much love that goes into home cooking, and I think it will really help the American family overall. I'm hoping to maybe get a cookbook out one day because I've got some great family recipes.”

“Both my parents are chefs... I grew up in a restaurant and was always surrounded by cooks. I love food.”

“Being a sci-fi geek, it was just lovely to be on a show where I pretend I'm in outer space. That's always been my dream: to pretend to be out in space or actually be out in space.”

“That's what was so amazing about 'Mulan.' Here is this story with all Chinese characters, and yet so many people related to her character and loved the story. So I really think as long as you have a good story that relates to a lot of people, it doesn't matter what ethnicity it is.”

“I'm trying to show I'm a trained actress - I can transform myself into different characters. I'm not just an ingenue.”