Written by Krista Kleiner
Photographs by Fabia Lopez
IN an industry known to knock people down, this woman comes out swinging – both figuratively and literally.
Recipient of the Rising Star Award at the 2021 Asian World Film Festival, Mayling Ng burst onto the silver screen in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad as the character Mongal. That role helped catapult her into other big-budget projects playing Orana in Wonder Woman, and Khensa in The Scorpion King: Book of Souls.
A black belt Martial Artist certified in 9 Kung Fu weapons, Mayling might at first appeal as a multi-talented Bond Girl. However, she has no such interest. Rather, she prefers to be a Bond villain.
While her father may have wanted her to marry a businessman, raise a family, and lead a quiet life, Mayling had her own plans; and she wasn’t afraid to pursue them. Familial expectations as well as gender bias helped fuel her drive to be a warrior. She learned to step up and fight for what she wanted despite those closest to her not agreeing or understanding.
Committed to try anything and have no regrets, this badass is making her mark in an overdue, evolving Hollywood.
When did you first develop an interest in acting?
My first school was a stage school down the street from where I lived as a toddler. The school had an emphasis on ballet, tap and singing. I remember being on stage after I first joined with no training. When my class finished the performance and walked off, I stayed up and wouldn’t leave, dancing around to everyone's confusion and dismay. I screamed when they pulled me off.
You seemed to have found your happy place on that stage! (both laugh)
Was there any influence from your family?
None at all. My father was a restauranteur, as are my brothers, with a pretty impressive portfolio at venturerestaurantstenerife.com. I’m the black sheep that had my head in the clouds dreaming of being an actor.
Good for you. It takes courage to take a different path than what our families envision for us. Did you study any other forms of art growing up?
Many actually. I tried them all as I couldn’t and still can't sit still. I drew and painted as a child and actually have some of my school art in a folder in storage. I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday at 13 and started to make my own clothes. I still alter most of my clothes in some way to this day. In secondary school, I joined the choir which is quite puzzling as I can’t sing. All the while I studied Martial Arts.
What a great way to channel your energy. When did you begin to study martial arts?
I was eight when my mother dropped me off at my first class. It was Hung Gar Kung Fu in Liverpool Chinatown on Seal Street.
I heard you know more than one form of martial arts. Can you tell us more about that?
I studied many forms and styles depending on what was available as I have moved consistently since 14. This included Lau Gar, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, and Raw close quarter combat with knife and gun defense. When I moved to LA I finally returned to Kung Fu and now have a black belt in Shaolin with nine weapons certified under Wushu Shaolin Entertainment.
Were there any actors that you looked up to or inspired you?
Growing up in a house full of brothers, there was a lot of fights and action, so Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan were obvious favorites, as were Sly and Arnie movies. My father watched all the Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson movies, so I know them all.
Ah yes, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee are personal favorites of mine as well. Hard to not be inspired by those two. What were the steps you took to pursue acting? Was there a particular method that you studied?
While living in Singapore, I did a small role in a movie with Aidan Gillen as a Mamasam (Lady Boss) and then a year later a role came up for a Russian killer in the Kumite of the female version of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Bloodsport. I auditioned for the role on Skype and was in Hong Kong filming soon after. That role got me a lot of attention and media as my character stood out.
This led me to Hollywood. The first film I did was Wonder Woman where I played Orana. I did many classes when I first arrived and realized many facets of the business are a bit shady. I now have a great coach, studying with Joe Ochman.
Congratulations on such an epic first film. That scene of you that was used in the trailer was SICK. What challenges did you face entering the business?
While I wanted to be an actor at a young age, I grew up on the small Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of Africa, where there were no acting opportunities. Later, I moved to Asia and had a fitness company personal trainer in Asia and even competed for Singapore in the Arnold Classic for figure in the USA, but still my desire to act was getting stronger. Over the years, I would try again many times to break into the industry, but no one looked like me, as female roles were usually for the pretty blonde girls.
It’s definitely not an easy industry to break into. How did you overcome those challenges?
I got really lucky when I did my first film credit in Singapore with the film Mister John and then a second with the Hong Kong Martial arts movie Lady Bloodfight. Suddenly, I was getting some significant media attention. Then I moved to LA in 2016 and within six months I was working on Wonder Woman.
Way to stay persistent. Are there any key people who stepped up to help you get your acting career going?
My friend Dave Bautista helped in many ways and became a mentor. He even recommended Joe, my acting coach. Also, Patty Jenkins, the director of Wonder Woman, for seeing me as the character Orana. That scene was featured in every trailer as the Amazon who jumped the cliff in battle.
You were born in the UK, spent your early years in the Canary Islands, moved to Singapore and now call California home. How has growing up in different places helped you?
Growing up in different places has led me to hone my understanding of various cultures, which couples with my passion and pursuit to advance my acting career.
What has been your favorite role to date and why?
Probably Mongal. Just getting the opportunity to work with the genius of James Gunn and the talented ensemble of The Suicide Squad cast and crew was a great experience and a blast.
Is that also your favorite overall project or is there another that comes to mind? If yes, what is it and why?
It’s hard to distinguish which project I favor between Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman or Scorpion King. Each role in those films have been an incredible experience for me.
How do you approach acting as an artform? What is your process to break down and approach a new character?
Each role has different demands, but it starts with my discipline and focus needed to embody the character. It’s about keeping my head down and getting prepared. Typically, I’ll write a backstory and a timeline to better understand the motivation of where we are in this time of her path in the story.
How much does your personal experience color your acting and how much do you draw upon your imagination?
I feel comfortable playing really strong characters, especially warriors or villains. However, acting is about becoming someone else outside of yourself so I try to be creative showing glimpses of different sides while keeping it real working under the direction.
How do you approach martial arts as an art form?
It's meditative to remember and perform all the moves and techniques. Having my martial arts background allows me to creatively transpose it into my acting work.
How do you find acting and martial arts complement each other in your work?
My martial arts craft allows me to perform various roles with action, fight and wire scenes. Oftentimes, my acting skill set and my martial arts background, along with my physique, compliment the character I’m asked to play.
What is your feeling regarding the film industry and where it’s at in its opportunity for women, Asians, and people of mixed backgrounds?
I remember times where I felt defeated as an actor of mixed Asian descent. But I feel things have changed in the last few years. I turn the television on and I see inclusivity everywhere and it’s about time. It's beautiful and exciting to see more diverse stories with different cultures and ethnicities.
I, too, am very happy to see the progress and hope it continues to blossom. What role do you feel the AWFF has in the overall film industry?
I think the AWFF is doing a great service to the community by focusing on and promoting Asian talent. There has been a lack of Asian representation in the film industry and AWFF is an organization that is addressing this need for more diversity.
You were recently given the Rising Star Award at the Asian World Film Festival. What did it mean for you to be given this recognition?
The award is very empowering for me. It reminds me that with hard work, comes success and recognition. It is inspiring to be considered in a peer group with so many other talented Asian artists.
What is your hope for the direction the film industry will go in moving forward?
I hope we continue to see the emphasis on the need for diversity and inclusion in the film business. This is finally being recognized as a serious issue in the industry and it's important that we don’t lose focus.
What other roles do you hope to have the chance to play in the near future?
The real coup would be to play a Bond villain. And if the universe is listening, I’d love to take a crack at a series. A dream would be Star Wars, Peaky Blinders, Cobra Kai, and shows like that as I’ve never done TV and would like to venture into that challenge.
Do you have a message for others aspiring to become an actor or enter the film industry?
Life isn’t fair and the movie business is very hard to break into. If a career in film is what you want, you have to be driven, you have to be relentless, and you have to keep fighting no matter how many times you get knocked down. Turn negatives into positives, learn from your mistakes, come back stronger. And do it every day.
That’s great advice.
I like to end my chats with learning how people give back. Is there any community work you do or any nonprofit organizations you're involved with?
Absolutely. While I am still looking for my charitable passion project here in Los Angeles, I have spent my last few years participating from time to time in various charitable events with friends and colleagues. My time in Asia provided some very rewarding and humbling experiences. I spent time in an orphanage in Cambodia training young kids to learn self-defense providing kung fu lessons. I also especially recall a touching experience visiting a prison nursery in Phuket bringing supplies and playing with underprivileged children.
At a time in which people are standing up in pursuit of expansion, Mayling Ng is a powerful warrior both on and off screen. Reminding us that we can all push beyond the boundaries of expectation, she has two projects currently in development and a bright, edgy future ahead. -
To keep up with Mayling, check her out on IG: @maylingng.