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Junko Cheng
"Your favorite auntie whose gentle smile belies the samurai warrior spirit inside."
Born in New York, raised in Osaka, and later settling in Southern California, this bilingual Japanese-American mom was enjoying her life as a professional musician-recording and touring, singing for NHK TV in Tokyo, and playing keys and singing at the megachurch Saddleback Church...until fate called her name.
Acting was the last thing on Junko's mind, but when a Los Angeles talent agency discovered her musician's profile online in 2018 and invited her to sign with them, this adventure-seeking empty-nester said, "Yes!" On the first official day with the agency, she got her first-ever audition which she ultimately booked: Taylor Swift's "Delicate" music video, which so far has garnered over 575 million views. Thus began Junko's new career in acting-commercial at first, then, eventually and inevitably, theatrical.
Junko had a supporting role in the independent feature film "Eddie." which was directed by award-winning director Dylan Grey Martin (Best Director at World Film Festival in Cannes). She has also landed roles in numerous indie films and student films at many of the top film schools in the nation: USC, Chapman University, NYFA, Loyola Marymount, Emerson College, and Biola.
On the commercial side, she can be seen in the current national and worldwide campaign for Panda Express in which she has a speaking role as an auntie. Other major campaigns she has booked include GoodRx and Mail Chimp, also running worldwide.
Parlaying her skills as a musician and performer, acting came rather naturally to Junko. Nonetheless, she continues to study the craft with fierce determination and focus. Junko recently completed Advanced training at Actors' Studio of Orange County while also taking classes at Margie Haber Studio, Scott Sedita's Acting School, The Groundlings, and Killian's Workshop, to name a few. She also started learning martial arts (Shaolin Kenpo) a few years ago and is now at green/brown belt, just one rank below brown belt.
With two talent agencies working for Junko-Pacific Talent & Models, Inc. in Los Angeles and Landrum Arts in Southeast-she regularly auditions for major roles in large productions such as Marvel films, Cobra Kai, The Boys, The Pitt, FBI International, etc. With so many casting offices calling her in, it is only a matter of time until she has a major breakthrough.
Junko is most in demand for roles that match who she is already-a warm and kind mom, auntie, or grandma. However, she might surprise you with the other side of the acting coin, that of a stern Tiger Mom or a fierce District Attorney. Though she may have had a late start in this industry, she brings a lifetime of knowledge and experience to catch up to other great Asian actresses such as Michelle Yeoh, Ming-Na Wen, and Constance Wu.
After all, she is a real descendent of an actual samurai!
