Jade Wu

Jade Wu (born January 5, 1953) is a Chinese-American actress, playwright, producer, director, and editor. She is the granddaughter of actor and director Yuanlong Wang, who worked in Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan.

Wu has appeared in multiple daytime drama series on ABC, including ''General Hospital'' and ''One Life to Live'', and has worked as a writer for Disney. She has directed and scripted documentaries that have been shown at events such as the IFP Market, the Asian American International Film Festival, the Sundance Producers Conference, and the Anthology Film Archives in New York City. Her plays have been presented at the Santa Clara Experimental Theatre Festival and La Jolla Studio Stage. Wu has served on review panels for organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Individual Artist Grant Program, and has acted as a juror for the International Emmy Award.

Early life

Jade Wu was born on January 5, 1953, in Tokyo, Japan, to a family of Chinese heritage. The daughter of a soldier, she spent part of her childhood traveling while her father served in the United States Army. Her family later settled in the United States where her father began working on Capitol Hill. Wu spent much of her childhood in Washington, D.C.

Education

After moving to the West Coast, Wu enrolled at the University of California, San Diego. She graduated with a BS in Biochemistry, a BA in Humanities, a BA in Drama, and an MFA in Acting and Directing. She later earned a certification in video and film editing from The Edit Center and an Associate of Arts (AA) in science and humanities from Mira Costa College.

Acting career

Wu began acting 20 years after moving from the West Coast. Her first role was a recurring part in '' Homicide: Life on the Street.'' Wu has stated that in the late 1990s, roles for Asian American actors were so limited that it was uncommon to find trained Asian performers who met the qualifications for available positions.

Wu has worked with individuals including Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, George C. Wolf, Austin Pendleton, Jeanine Tesori, Jenifer Lewis, Ato Essandoh, Fred Weller, Tony Kushner, Ridley Scott, Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Tony Gilroy, Warren Leight, Paul McGuigan, Vincenzo Natali, Peter Leto, Clark Johnson, Frank Prinzi, Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson.

Wu had recurring roles on ''One Life to Live'', '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent'', ''Bull'', and ''The Blacklist''. She has performed on stage in Off-Broadway theatre productions at venues including The Public, Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, Urban Stages, Bank St. Theatre, Minetta Lane, The Wilma Theatre, Arena Stage, Shakespeare Theatre Washington DC, and La Jolla Stage. Wu played the lead role of Ahma Chin in '' The Motel'', which won the Humanitas Prize and received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination. She has worked with stage directors including Alan Schneider, Liviu Ciulei, JoAnne Akalaitis, Gerald Gutierrez, Wendy Goldberg, Blanka Zizka and David Muse.

From 2016 to 2018, Wu played Connie Lin in the Marvel Original ''Luke Cage'' on Netflix. In 2016, Wu had a recurring role as Judge Cara Bergen in the CBS series Bull with Michael Weatherly and as Katie's Mom in the HBO series Divorce with Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Hayden Church. In 2018, Wu played a lead role in the film Snakehead along with Sung Kang and Shuya Chang.

Acting roles

Theatre

* ''Washer/Dryer'' (as Dr. Lee)
* ''Like Shadows'' (as Boss)
* U.S. Premiere of ''Chimerica'' (as Feng Meihui / Ming Xiaoli)
* ''Mother Courage'' (as Farmer's Wife)
* ''2752'' (solo performance)
* ''Memes in the Membrane'' (solo performance)
* ''Red'' (as Sonya Wong Pickford)
* ''Book of Days'' (as Sharon Bates)
* ''The Shanghai Gesture'' (as Mother God Damn)
* ''Barriers'' (as Naima)
* ''Trojan Women'' (as Pallas Athena / Hecuba)
* ''Primary English Class'' (as Mrs. Pong / Translator)

Teaching

Wu lectured at Bard College from February 2005 to February 2007, where she spoke on the relations of Michel Foucault's philosophies in “Fearless Speech” as well as dramatic conflict and conversation in plays for the school's theater and social human justice departments. She has also taught at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Cal State East Bay and Raul Julia Performing Arts Institute.

Awards

Source:

* Disney/ABC Fellowship
* BlueCat Semi-finalist
* PEN USA Rosenthal Emerging Writers finalist
* Edinburgh Festival Best Actress Nomination
* Jerome Media Fellowship

Sources

# "Jade Wu , LinkedIn." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
# "Creative-artist." Creative-artist. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
# Hyun. "Jade Wu in The Motel." Asiance July 2006: n. pag. Print.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wu, Jade
University of California, San Diego alumni
American actresses of Chinese descent
American dramatists and playwrights
Living people
1953 births
21st-century American women