Biography
Born in Southern California, Julia Ling showed her artistic talent at age 3 by drawing her parents drinking tea. By age 6, her artwork appeared in local magazines, festivals, and newspapers, including a front-page feature in the Pasadena Star News. That same year, she won the "Best Storyteller Award" from the Chinese World Newspaper for a story she wrote and narrated. By age 9, Ling was performing award-winning solo dances across California, with her umbrella dances broadcast on national television.
In high school, Ling served as student body president and led the German Club, Amnesty International, Literature Society, and Junior Statesmen Debate Team. She competed in dance, varsity tennis, and swimming. In 1997, Congressman David Dreier honored her for community service at a local hospital. At 16, she was a state finalist in the Miss America Pageant and completed nine years of piano studies, graduating from the Royal Board of Music. She finished high school ranked second in her class with a 4.0 GPA and perfect SAT scores.
Ling pursued a medical career by majoring in biomedical chemical engineering at UCLA. She was Treasurer of the Chemical Engineering Society, Vice President of the Engineering Society of UCLA, and an honorary member of the Society of Women Engineers. Eventually, she left this path to follow her passion for performing.
Julia Ling debuted on network television in 2003 on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, acting alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar. Over the next two years, she appeared in more than 20 independent short films and returned to prime-time TV in 2006 with roles on House (FOX) and ER (NBC). She guest-starred in the recurring role of Kim Tao on Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (NBC). Her next prominent guest role was on ER as Mae Lee Park, a surgical intern. She also appeared in The O.C. and Grey's Anatomy.
Best known for her prime-time television work, Ling starred as Anna Wu on NBC’s CHUCK. After voicing and portraying the live-action character "Izumi" in the video game Command and Conquer (EA), she toured internationally for autograph signings and charity events.
In the 2007 Jackie Chan Disciples martial arts competition, Ling was among the top four finalists competing in the International Top 100 and earned the "Best Acting Award." In 2011, she joined the cast of the FOX sitcom I Hate My Teenage Daughter and performed a voice sketch for Conan O'Brien.
Most recently, she acted opposite Academy Award winner Adrien Brody in a film scheduled for theatrical release in June 2012.
