Michelle Ang

{{Infobox person

| name = Michelle Ang

| image = File:0O3A7107-Edit.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Ang at the Star Wars Celebration in London, 2023

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|10|17}}

| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand

| alma_mater = Victoria University of Wellington

| death_date =

| death_place =

| othername =

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|producer|director}}

| years_active = 1997–present

| partner =

| children = 1

| homepage =

}}

Michelle Ang (born 17 October 1983) is a New Zealand actress, director and producer, working primarily in film and television. She has won various professional awards, including Best Actress at the New Zealand Film & Television Awards, while also having been nominated for an Emmy in the USA and a Logie in Australia.

On television, her notable roles have included Omega in Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Lori Lee in long-running 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 productions, she has performed alongside actors such as Woody Harrelson, Kate Winslet, Martin Lawrence, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gal Gadot and Aaron Paul. She has also worked for directors such as Steven Soderbergh, Jodie Foster 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).https://www.deganz.co.nz/members/#!biz/id/5e55c92b016bdc7970595e04 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.https://www.agrainofricefilms.com

Early life and education

Ang was born in Christchurch and is of Malaysian Chinese descent.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/beauty-news/9369800/In-my-beauty-bag-Michelle-Ang|title=In my beauty bag: Michelle Ang|last=Roulston|first=Julie|date=6 November 2013|publisher=Stuff|access-date=24 May 2025}} She grew up in Wellington with her parents and younger sister.{{cite magazine|date=16–29 August 2003|title=Q&A Michelle Ang|magazine=Inside Soap|issue=238|page=29}}

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.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/mums-life/tv-movies/9316606/A-Greys-day-on-set-for-Michelle "A Grey's day on set for Michelle"], James Croot

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.{{cite web|url=http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/26/movies/6028848&sec=movies|title=Close to her heart|first=Charles|last=Chan|work=The Star|date=26 April 2010}}

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.

She played Lori Lee in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, in which she was a major character from 2002 to 2003. She left Neighbours to finish her university studies but returned briefly in 2004. Ang was nominated for a Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent for her role in Neighbours. 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 featured in the MTV series Underemployed as an aspiring writer who has to settle for working at a donut shop.{{cite news | url = http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/article@apa?michelle_ang_stars_in_mtvs_underemployed_18401.aspx | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121126034228/http://asiapacificarts.usc.edu/(A(QHow3hkCzgEkAAAAM2U4MTUyYjYtNzYyZS00NDE4LTljM2EtZWU2YzdlZWRkNjEzI4rFfgM2UJXuDiYJt0tRJ9e9IJY1))/w_apa/showarticle.aspx?articleID=18401 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2012-11-26 | title = Michelle Ang stars in MTV's Underemployed | date = 2012-10-18 | publisher = Asia Pacific Arts }}

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.{{cite web|title=Fear the Walking Dead: Will the Flight 462 survivors return?|url=http://tv.bt.com/tv/tv-from-bt/fear-the-walking-dead-will-the-flight-462-survivors-return-11364056179395|website=tv.bt.com|accessdate=15 September 2016}} Ang received an Emmy nomination for her work on Flight 462.{{cite web|title=Michelle Ang just scored an Emmy nomination for Fear The Walking Dead|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11675114|website=The New Zealand Herald| date=14 July 2016 |accessdate=15 September 2016}} In 2020, she had a recurring role on The New Legends of Monkey.

In 2021, Ang starred 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.{{cite web|title=MEET OMEGA: MICHELLE ANG ON BECOMING THE HEART OF STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-the-bad-batch-omega-michelle-ang-interview|website=StarWars.com|accessdate=30 May 2022}}

In 2023, Ang starred as Melissa Wu in comedy series Homebound 3.0.{{Cite news |last=Simich |first=Ricardo |date=11 June 2023 |title=Michelle Ang half of new TV odd couple |language=en-NZ |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/spy-michelle-ang-enjoys-the-laughs-in-threes-homebound-30/CTXYMPSDXVEYFM336YNS46NURU/ |access-date=1 July 2023}} Screened in New Zealand on Warner Bros. Discovery channel Three, the series is also available internationally via the BBC. In 2024, it was renewed for a second season, to be broadcast in 2025.

=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.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/arts-life/4777820/Reel-character|title=The secret is out|last=Cardy|first=Tom|date=17 March 2011|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=30 May 2022}}

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. As a child, she had also auditioned for the Cho Chang role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.{{cite web|title=Harry Potter gets first girlfriend|url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/12/content_330082.htm|website=China Daily|accessdate=30 May 2022}}

Personal life

Ang has a son.{{cite instagram|postid=BxWFhy4lpgQ|title=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|user=themichelleang|date=2019-05-12|access-date=2024-04-22}}

Ang has named The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle as a book that influenced her.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10715451 |title=Book lover: Michelle Ang |date=28 March 2011 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=25 October 2011}}

Filmography

=Film (as actor)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| 2004 \| Forbidden Fury \| Terry Spears \| Short film
Futile Attraction \| Violet McKenzie \|
scope="row" \| 2006 \| Naming Number Two \| Grace \|
scope="row" \| 2008 \| Take 3 \| Melanie Shum \| Short film
scope="row" \|2010 \| The Beaver \| Japanese translator \|
scope="row" rowspan="3"\|2011 \| Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son \| Mia \| Feature film
My Wedding and Other Secrets \| Emily \|
data-sort-value="Potential Wives of Norman Mao, The" \| The Potential Wives of Norman Mao \| Suzy Fong \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2013 \| Echoes \| Singer \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2014 \| data-sort-value="Taking of Deborah Logan, The" \| The Taking of Deborah Logan \| Mia Medina \|
scope="row" \| 2015 \| Fallen Stars \| Daisy{{cite web\|title=Ray Donovan's' Ryan O'Nan, 'Top of the Lake's' Michelle Ang to Lead Indie Movie 'Fallen Stars'\|url=http://www.thewrap.com/ray-donovans-ryan-onan-top-of-the-lakes-michelle-ang-to-lead-indie-movie-fallen-stars/\|website=www.thewrap.com\|date=25 September 2014\|accessdate=15 September 2016}} \|
scope="row" \| 2016 \| Triple 9 \| Detective Trina Ling \|Feature film
scope="row" \| 2017 \| Simularity \| Daisy \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2018 \| For Izzy \| Dede \| Feature film
scope="row" \| 2019 \| High Flying Bird \| Rachel \| Feature film
scope="row" \| 2019 \| I Want To Marry A Creative Jewish Girl \| Rosy \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2023 \| The Paragon \| Beth \| Feature film
scope="row" \| 2024 \| Nai/Milk \| Kim \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2025 \| POP! \| \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2025 \| Insula \| \| Feature, in production

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2004

| Forbidden Fury

| Terry Spears

| Short film

Futile Attraction

| Violet McKenzie

scope="row" | 2006

| Naming Number Two

| Grace

scope="row" | 2008

| Take 3

| Melanie Shum

| Short film

scope="row" |2010

| The Beaver

| Japanese translator

scope="row" rowspan="3"|2011

| Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

| Mia

| Feature film

My Wedding and Other Secrets

| Emily

data-sort-value="Potential Wives of Norman Mao, The" | The Potential Wives of Norman Mao

| Suzy Fong

| Short film

scope="row" | 2013

| Echoes

| Singer

| Short film

scope="row" | 2014

| data-sort-value="Taking of Deborah Logan, The" | The Taking of Deborah Logan

| Mia Medina

scope="row" | 2015

| Fallen Stars

| Daisy{{cite web|title=Ray Donovan's' Ryan O'Nan, 'Top of the Lake's' Michelle Ang to Lead Indie Movie 'Fallen Stars'|url=http://www.thewrap.com/ray-donovans-ryan-onan-top-of-the-lakes-michelle-ang-to-lead-indie-movie-fallen-stars/|website=www.thewrap.com|date=25 September 2014|accessdate=15 September 2016}}

scope="row" | 2016

| Triple 9

| Detective Trina Ling

|Feature film

scope="row" | 2017

| Simularity

| Daisy

| Short film

scope="row" | 2018

| For Izzy

| Dede

| Feature film

scope="row" | 2019

| High Flying Bird

| Rachel

| Feature film

scope="row" | 2019

| I Want To Marry A Creative Jewish Girl

| Rosy

| Short film

scope="row" | 2023

| The Paragon

| Beth

| Feature film

scope="row" | 2024

| Nai/Milk

| Kim

| Short film

scope="row" | 2025

| POP!

| Short film

scope="row" | 2025

| Insula

| Feature, in production

=Television (as actor)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row" \| 1997–1998 \| Young Entertainers \| Super Trooper \| Regular cast
scope="row" \| 1999 \| data-sort-value="Twist in the Tale, A" \| William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale \| Meesha \| Season 1, Episode 14
scope="row" \| 1999–2002 \| data-sort-value="Tribe, The" \| The Tribe \| Tai-San \| Main role (seasons 1–3), 143 episodes
scope="row" \| 2001 \| Xena: Warrior Princess \| Akemi \| 2 episodes
scope="row" \| 2002 \| Being Eve \| Masako \| Season 2, Episode 7
scope="row" \| 2002–2004 \| Neighbours \| Lori Lee \| 88 episodes
scope="row" \| 2005 \|The Market \|Victoria Chen \|Recurring role
scope="row" \| 2005–2006 \| Outrageous Fortune \| Tracy Hong \| 16 episodes
scope="row" \| 2007–2008 \| South of Nowhere \| Lily Zee \| 4 episodes
scope="row" \| 2012–2013 \| Underemployed \| Sophia Swanson \| 12 episodes
scope="row" rowspan="4" \| 2013 \| Top of the Lake \| Kimmie \| 2 episodes; Mini-series
Grey's Anatomy \| Cherise \| Season 9, Episode 22
Drop Dead Diva \| Lanfen \| Season 5, Episode 7
Perception \| Former National Guardwoman \| Season 2, Episode 10
scope="row" \| 2014 \| Rizzoli & Isles \| Lucy Chen \| Season 5, Episode 11
scope="row" \| 2015 \|NCIS: Los Angeles \|Taman Budiano \|Season 6, Episode 19 "Blazing Glory"
scope="row" \| 2015–2016 \| Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 \| Alex \| Main role, web series, 16 episodes
scope="row" \| 2016 \| Fear the Walking Dead \| Alex \| Season 2, 2 episodes{{cite web\|title=Fear The Walking Dead adds Michelle Ang to season 2\|url=http://undeadwalking.com/2016/03/29/fear-the-walking-dead-adds-michelle-ang-to-season-2/\|website=undeadwalking.com\|date=29 March 2016\|accessdate=15 September 2016}}
scope="row" \| 2017 \| Best Thing You'll Ever Do \| Sena
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| 2020 \| data-sort-value="New Legends of Monkey, The" \| The New Legends of Monkey \| General Khan \| Season 2, 7 Episodes
data-sort-value="Twilight Zone, The" \| The Twilight Zone \| Ling \| Season 2, Episode 6
scope="row" rowspan="3" \| 2021 \| data-sort-value="Vegas" \| Vegas \| Miranda Lau \| 6 episodes
data-sort-value="My Life is Murder" \| My Life is Murder \| Kathleen Boyce \| Season 2, Episode 3
Destination Love \| Lisa \| TV movie
scope="row" \| 2021–2023 \| Good Grief \| Michelle \| Seasons 1 & 2
scope="row" \| 2021–2024 \| data-sort-value="Star Wars: Bad Batch, The" \| Star Wars: The Bad Batch \| Omega \| Main role, Seasons 1-3, 47 episodes{{cite web\|title=Star Wars: The Bad Batch crew talks season length, Omega and Imperial oppression\|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/star-wars-the-bad-batch-crew-talks-season-length-omega-and-jedi-cameos\|website=www.cnet.com\|accessdate=3 May 2021}}
scope="row" \| 2023–present \| Homebound 3.0 \| Melissa Wu \| Lead role, Seasons 1 & 2, 16 episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" | 1997–1998

| Young Entertainers

| Super Trooper

| Regular cast

scope="row" | 1999

| data-sort-value="Twist in the Tale, A" | William Shatner's A Twist in the Tale

| Meesha

| Season 1, Episode 14

scope="row" | 1999–2002

| data-sort-value="Tribe, The" | The Tribe

| Tai-San

| Main role (seasons 1–3), 143 episodes

scope="row" | 2001

| Xena: Warrior Princess

| Akemi

| 2 episodes

scope="row" | 2002

| Being Eve

| Masako

| Season 2, Episode 7

scope="row" | 2002–2004

| Neighbours

| Lori Lee

| 88 episodes

scope="row" | 2005

|The Market

|Victoria Chen

|Recurring role

scope="row" | 2005–2006

| Outrageous Fortune

| Tracy Hong

| 16 episodes

scope="row" | 2007–2008

| South of Nowhere

| Lily Zee

| 4 episodes

scope="row" | 2012–2013

| Underemployed

| Sophia Swanson

| 12 episodes

scope="row" rowspan="4" | 2013

| Top of the Lake

| Kimmie

| 2 episodes; Mini-series

Grey's Anatomy

| Cherise

| Season 9, Episode 22

Drop Dead Diva

| Lanfen

| Season 5, Episode 7

Perception

| Former National Guardwoman

| Season 2, Episode 10

scope="row" | 2014

| Rizzoli & Isles

| Lucy Chen

| Season 5, Episode 11

scope="row" | 2015

|NCIS: Los Angeles

|Taman Budiano

|Season 6, Episode 19 "Blazing Glory"

scope="row" | 2015–2016

| Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462

| Alex

| Main role, web series, 16 episodes

scope="row" | 2016

| Fear the Walking Dead

| Alex

| Season 2, 2 episodes{{cite web|title=Fear The Walking Dead adds Michelle Ang to season 2|url=http://undeadwalking.com/2016/03/29/fear-the-walking-dead-adds-michelle-ang-to-season-2/|website=undeadwalking.com|date=29 March 2016|accessdate=15 September 2016}}

scope="row" | 2017

| Best Thing You'll Ever Do

| Sena

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2020

| data-sort-value="New Legends of Monkey, The" | The New Legends of Monkey

| General Khan

| Season 2, 7 Episodes

data-sort-value="Twilight Zone, The" | The Twilight Zone

| Ling

| Season 2, Episode 6

scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2021

| data-sort-value="Vegas" | Vegas

| Miranda Lau

| 6 episodes

data-sort-value="My Life is Murder" | My Life is Murder

| Kathleen Boyce

| Season 2, Episode 3

Destination Love

| Lisa

| TV movie

scope="row" | 2021–2023

| Good Grief

| Michelle

| Seasons 1 & 2

scope="row" | 2021–2024

| data-sort-value="Star Wars: Bad Batch, The" | Star Wars: The Bad Batch

| Omega

| Main role, Seasons 1-3, 47 episodes{{cite web|title=Star Wars: The Bad Batch crew talks season length, Omega and Imperial oppression|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/star-wars-the-bad-batch-crew-talks-season-length-omega-and-jedi-cameos|website=www.cnet.com|accessdate=3 May 2021}}

scope="row" | 2023–present

| Homebound 3.0

| Melissa Wu

| Lead role, Seasons 1 & 2, 16 episodes

=Video Games=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row" \| 2023 \| Starfield \| Sati Chandra \| Voice

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" | 2023

| Starfield

| Sati Chandra

| Voice

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result
2003 \| Logie Award \| Most Popular New Female Talent{{cite news\|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/05/1051987638589.html\|title=Don't bet on it\|date=5 May 2003\|work=The Sydney Morning Herald\|publisher=Fairfax Media\|access-date=30 May 2022}} \| 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{{cite web\|title=68th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners\|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2016/outstanding-actress-in-a-short-form-comedy-or-drama-series\|website=www.emmys.com\|accessdate=15 September 2016}} \| Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462 \| {{nominated}}
2024 \| Show Me Shorts Film Festival \| Best Actor \| Nai/Milk \| {{nominated}}
2024 \| Show Me Shorts Film Festival \| Best Director \| Nai/Milk \| {{nominated}}
2025 \| Barbados International Film Festival \| Best Actor \| POP! \| {{won}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

2003

| Logie Award

| Most Popular New Female Talent{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/05/1051987638589.html|title=Don't bet on it|date=5 May 2003|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=30 May 2022}}

| 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{{cite web|title=68th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2016/outstanding-actress-in-a-short-form-comedy-or-drama-series|website=www.emmys.com|accessdate=15 September 2016}}

| Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462

| {{nominated}}

2024

| Show Me Shorts Film Festival

| Best Actor

| Nai/Milk

| {{nominated}}

2024

| Show Me Shorts Film Festival

| Best Director

| Nai/Milk

| {{nominated}}