Kelly Ann Hu (born February 13, 1968) is an American actress, former fashion model, and martial artist. She is known for her roles as Dr. Rae Chang in the CBS police drama Nash Bridges, Michelle Chan in the CBS action series Martial Law, Sorceress Cassandra in the film The Scorpion King (2002), Lady Deathstrike in X2 (2003), and China White in the CW series Arrow.
Early Life and Background: Hu was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Chinese-American and English-American parents. Her parents divorced when she was young. She attended Maʻemaʻe Elementary School and Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, graduating in 1986. Her interest in modeling began when her sister introduced her to a local newspaper, and she won the Miss Hawaii Teen USA title in 1985. She then became the first Asian American to win the Miss Teen USA pageant in 1985, earning a modeling contract with Elite Model Management.
Career:
- Modeling: Following her Miss Teen USA win, Hu worked as a model in Japan and Italy. She also appeared in numerous commercials for companies like Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion. In 1993, she won the Miss Hawaii USA title and competed in the Miss USA 1993 pageant, placing fourth.
- Acting Debut and Television: Hu moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue an acting career. Her first television role was in the York Entertainment production Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), though she went uncredited. She gained more prominence with recurring roles in various television series, including playing Dr. Rae Chang in Nash Bridges (1997–1998) and later starring as Michelle Chan alongside Sammo Hung in the martial arts-themed series Martial Law (1998–2000). She also appeared in episodes of Melrose Place, Sunset Beach, and CSI: NY.
- Film Career: Hu's film career began to gain traction in the early 2000s. Her notable film roles include playing the Sorceress Cassandra in The Scorpion King (2002), the mutant assassin Lady Deathstrike in X2 (2003), and Sona in Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) opposite Jet Li and DMX. She has also appeared in films such as Shanghai Kiss (2007), The Tournament (2009), and Almost Perfect (2011).
- Voice Acting: Hu is also a prolific voice actress, lending her voice to numerous animated television series, films, and video games. Her voice roles include Stacey Hirano in Phineas and Ferb, Karai in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cheshire and Artemis Crock in Young Justice, Ormila in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more recently, D'Vorah and Sindel in Mortal Kombat 11. She has also voiced characters in video games such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, and Batman: Arkham Origins.
- Later Television Roles: She returned to television with a significant recurring role as the villain China White in The CW's superhero series Arrow (2012–2019). Other television appearances include The Vampire Diaries, Castle, The 100, and L.A.'s Finest.
Personal Life and Interests: Hu is an avid poker player and has participated in various celebrity poker tournaments. She is also actively involved in environmental causes and advocates for sustainability. Due to her martial arts roles, she is often associated with the martial arts community, though her formal training largely began in preparation for her acting roles.