Kelly Hu

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24 Feb 2024

Kelly Hu

Kelly Ann Hu, born on February 13, 1968, is a multifaceted American talent known for her work as an actress, former fashion model, and beauty queen. She achieved early success in the world of pageantry, winning the titles of Miss Teen USA 1985 and Miss Hawaii USA 1993, showcasing her beauty and poise on a national stage.

Hu's acting career spans across television and film, where she has portrayed a diverse range of characters. She starred as Dr. Rae Chang in the American television soap opera "Sunset Beach" and gained recognition for her role as Michelle Chan in the police drama series "Nash Bridges." Her film credits include notable roles such as Cassandra in "The Scorpion King" (2002), Sona in "Cradle 2 the Grave" (2003), and Yuriko Oyama/Lady Deathstrike in "X2" (2003).

Throughout her career, Hu has demonstrated her versatility by taking on various recurring roles in television series. She portrayed Pearl in The CW's "The Vampire Diaries," China White in "Arrow," Hamato Miwa/Karai in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," and Stacy Hirano in the Disney Channel animated series "Phineas and Ferb." Additionally, she voiced the character Adira in "Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure."

Hu's ability to embody different characters across different mediums has solidified her status as a respected actress in the entertainment industry. Her diverse portfolio of work showcases her talent and range, earning her recognition and praise from audiences and critics alike.

Kelly Hu, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, is the daughter of Juanita and Herbert Hu. Her parents divorced when she was a child, and her mother later married Roy Takara. She has a brother named Glenn, who serves as a lieutenant colonel and human resources officer in the United States Army. Hu's diverse ancestry includes Chinese, English, and Hawaiian heritage.

Growing up in Hawaii, Hu attended Maʻemaʻe Elementary School and later enrolled in Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. From a young age, she developed a passion for singing, dancing, and martial arts. Inspired by her cousin's success as a model in Japan, Hu decided to pursue a career in modeling herself.

In 1985, Hu won the title of Miss Hawaii Teen USA, which led her to compete in the prestigious Miss Teen USA 1985 pageant. She made history by becoming the pageant's third titleholder and its first Asian American winner. Despite her success, Hu faced challenges due to racial stereotypes, with her mother expressing concerns about America's readiness for an Asian role model in such a prominent position. Nevertheless, Hu's victory showcased her determination and talent.

During her reign as Miss Teen USA, Hu was restricted from participating in non-contest related activities, a rule that was later revised in subsequent years. Despite these limitations, her achievement as Miss Teen USA marked the beginning of her successful career in the entertainment industry.

Hu modeled in Japan and Italy, and gained prominence in Italy as the lead in a series of television commercials for Philadelphia brand cream cheese, portraying a young Japanese college student named Kaori.

Hu earned the title of Miss Hawaii USA in 1993, marking her as the first former Miss Teen USA to capture a Miss USA state title. During the 1993 Miss USA pageant in Wichita, Kansas, Hu secured a position in the top ten, achieving second place overall. She excelled in the preliminary interview competition, securing second and third positions, respectively, in swimsuit and evening gown segments. Advancing to the top six, she again ranked second, winning the top ten evening gown contest and securing the second position in the swimsuit category. Despite her strong performance, she was narrowly eliminated in fourth place after the judges' questions, falling short by just 2/100 of a point from reaching the final three.

Transitioning to Los Angeles, Hu embarked on her acting journey in 1987, debuting with a guest appearance as Mike Seaver's romantic interest from Hawaii on the sitcom Growing Pains. This marked the beginning of a diverse career spanning various television series, including Night Court, Tour of Duty, 21 Jump Street, and Melrose Place. Her silver screen debut came in Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. In 1995, she took on the role of an undercover police officer in the film No Way Back. Subsequently, she portrayed Dr. Rae Chang on Sunset Beach for six months in 1997, followed by roles as police officers Michelle Chan in Nash Bridges and Pei Pei "Grace" Chen in Martial Law. Her cinematic repertoire expanded with appearances in The Scorpion King (2002) and Cradle 2 the Grave (2003). Notably, she portrayed Yuriko Oyama/Deathstrike in X2 (2003), serving as William Stryker's manipulated partner.

Hu assumed the role of Agent Mia Chen in the final three episodes of the television series Threat Matrix in 2004. She also starred in Underclassman (2005) alongside Nick Cannon, and featured in Americanese, Undoing, and Devil's Den in 2006. Early 2007 saw her completing the filming of Stiletto, followed by Farmhouse.

In January 2007, Hu embarked on a full-time role in the television series In Case of Emergency, portraying Kelly Lee, a Korean American woman who inadvertently reunites with her high school peers, only to discover none of them followed their high school aspirations. Despite its potential, the show faced cancellation after airing 12 episodes, leaving its season finale unaired. Concurrently, she appeared in The Air I Breathe and Shanghai Kiss. Hu also provided the voice for Stacy Hirano in the animated series Phineas and Ferb until its conclusion in 2015, reprising the role in the 2020 animated film Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe.

In 2009, she appeared in The Tournament as Lai-Lai Zhen. Hu also developed the character JIA for Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology in April 2009. Notably, she became the first guest actor to crossover between the television series NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS, portraying Lee Wuan Kai in a two-episode arc within both series. Hu guest-starred as Pearl, a vampire, in The Vampire Diaries in 2010 and 2011.

Her recurring role on the CBS series Hawaii Five-0 commenced in 2010. Additionally, in 2012, Hu was cast as Karai in the animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Reflecting on her casting, she humorously remarked on her penchant for portraying ninja-related characters. Subsequently, in 2013, she joined the cast of Warehouse 13 as Abigail Cho, the new proprietor of the Warehouse-connected B&B.

Hu's talent extended to video games, lending her voice to characters such as Visas Marr in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords and Lady Shiva in Batman: Arkham Origins. Notably, she reprised her role as Lady Shiva in the 2021 animated film Batman: Soul of the Dragon. In a unique endeavor, she provided both her facial likeness and voice for the in-game character Khai Minh Dao in Battlefield Hardline, serving as a partner to the protagonist in numerous game levels.

Recognized for her beauty and talent, Hu graced the pages of Maxim magazine twice (May 2002 and May 2005). In 2015, she became the face of Viagra, appearing in their commercials.