Ming-Na Wen on how 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' prepared her for 'dream' role in 'The Book of Boba Fett'

As audiences continue to appreciate Ming-Na Wen’s more expanded presence as Fennec Shand, the lethal bounty hunter and right-hand woman to Boba Fett in the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett, the actress says the role is actually the culmination of her lifetime love of Star Wars.

At the Television Critics Association virtual panel for the series today, actress Ming-Na Wen admitted when she did The Mandalorian post-credit scene with Temuera Morrison she thought it was for that series, not for a brand-new show. “I’m always the last to know,” she laughed. 

She now co-stars with Morrison in The Book of Boba Fett playing his extra tough enforcer. At age 58, she said she loves being able to represent older, strong females on-screen. “It used to be when women hit 40, they were put out to pasture,” she observed. “I am far beyond that and privileged to be living my dream in a Star Wars project. 

She said all the skills she’s acquired in her career, especially her seven seasons as Agent May on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., prepared her for Shand. “I have skills with martial arts, kick boxing or learning stunt fighting, and this aspect is vital in representing.”

Admitting she’s been an avid fan of Star Wars since she first saw Star Wars: A New Hope as a teenager, Wen said she connected instantly with Luke Skywalker and his ambition to do something more with his life.

“I’ve always loved sci-fi and fantasy. I was president of the science-fiction club in high school, so the Force was with me. I was so moved and responded so vividly to Luke Skywalker.” With aspirations to act at a young age, his journey felt like hers as well. “For a little Chinese girl wanting to be an actor, that was not a thing my parents wanted for me or an easy profession to go into. The culmination of being in this show is truly the American dream.”