Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Ming-Na Wen played the kickass Agent Melinda May on the show and sat down with Edward Gross of ComicBookMovie.com to talk about the challenges she faced in pulling off the role:
It’s very interesting for me to explore a character like this, because the last two years has been almost a constant struggle for me to really get into her skin and understand someone who is so detached from her feelings. I cry at the drop of a hat. I’m so emotional.
To have to bottle all that in and play a character that has all these emotions, but just can’t show them, or chooses not to engage with her feelings, because of her Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome, being a wounded soldier is challenging.
Agent Melinda May undergoes a significant character development arc throughout the show, transforming from a trauma-affected agent to a fully realised leader. In earlier seasons, Melinda May is often depicted as a stoic agent whose tactical discipline comes in the way of forming meaningful relationships with her teammates. The reason for her emotional detachment is evident in an episode from Season 2.
Melinda May Was Given the Moniker “The Cavalry” in an Iconic Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Episode
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2 Episode 17, titled “Melinda,” gives us the tragic backstory of Melinda May and how she earned the moniker “The Cavalry”. In flashbacks to 2008, May and Phil Coulson are sent to Bahrain to deal with Eva Belyakov, an enhanced individual with super-strength.
The Bahrain mission turns sour, forcing May to manually rescue hostages, where she learns that Eva’s daughter is an Inhuman who feeds off pain and manipulates other individuals. In a harrowing moment, May decides to kill her, causing a permanent scar in her psyche, resulting in PTSD.
Melinda May is honored for her bravery, but she withdraws from field work and works in administration for SHIELD. The trauma inflicted on her soul causes her personal life to deteriorate to the point of her marriage collapsing.
This insight into May’s past gave us all a poignant understanding of her actions, providing depth to her role by turning her into a more emotionally layered character. Melinda May is deeply loyal, fiercely protective, and respected for her decisiveness in battle, played to perfection by Ming-Na Wen.
Where Is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Star Ming-Na Wen Now?
After Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ming-Na Wen continued to be recognized for popular roles across major franchises, particularly in the Star Wars and Disney universes. Wen’s most prominent recent role is as Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian (2019-2020), later reprising the character in Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021, 2024 – voice work) and The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022).
Ming-Na Wen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023 and named a Disney Legend in 2019. Her voice work on the Disney animated classic Mulan earned her an Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer. Wen spoke to People about her eternal connection to the role of Mulan:
Mulan is so near and dear to my heart, and I am telling you that her legacy will continue on forever. She will find new fans every which way, inspire a whole new generation, and I am so thrilled to be a part of it. It’s such a gift.
More recently, Karate Kid: Legends marked Ming-Na Wen’s return to the big screen in a significant way. Released on May 30, 2025, she plays Dr. Fong, the mother of protagonist Li Fong (Ben Wang), alongside Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio.
Ming-Na Wen plays the lead in an upcoming dark comedy sci-fi film, Better Life, alongside Randall Park, Joel Kim Booster, and Margaret Cho, directed by Jessica Liu. According to Deadline:
Better Life is said to mix dark satire and grounded sci-fi elements in an AAPI-centered story about ambition, family, and identity. When a groundbreaking medical procedure promises to turn slackers into overachievers, an aging father sees it as his last chance to achieve the American Dream…through his unemployed adult daughter.
The film is currently in pre-production with no release date announced, as of yet. With her voice work as Dr. Hirano in 2025’s Phineas & Ferb and Dairon in 2025’s The Mighty Nein, she continues to showcase her versatility as an actress. Ming-Na Wen is now 61 and showing no signs of slowing down.
What’s your favourite Ming-Na Wen role? Let us know in the comments.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.
