Ming-Na Wen promises hugs or punches to fans at Ottawa Comiccon - Action News
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Ming-Na Wen promises hugs or punches to fans at Ottawa Comiccon

Ming-Na Wen's first television role was as a trumpeter on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood now more than 30 years later the famous actress is a guest of honour at this weekend's Comiccon in Ottawa.

'I feel like sometimes we've taken 100 steps back,' she says of whitewashing of Asian roles

Ming-Na Wen, who plays Agent Melinda May, is shown in a scene from "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (Kelsey McNeal/Canadian Press)

Ming-Na Wen's first television role was as a trumpeter on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood now more than 30 years later thefamous actress is a guest of honour at this weekend's Comiccon in Ottawa.

"I'll give everybody a hug. How does that sound? Or a punch. One or the other. Whatever they feel like having,"she told Alan Neal on CBC Radio's All In A Dayon Tuesday.

Wen plays MelindaMay on Marvel's TV action/sci-fiseriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.She tweeted yesterdaythat the series' season finale next Tuesday is "going to hurt. A lot. Sorry," but refused to elaborate further on Thursday.

"I can't tell you any anything, at all. I can't even hint. I can't even make an innuendo," she said. "All I can't tell you is at the table read it was a very, emotional painful moment for all of us. We love our writers and we love being tortured, apparently."

Wen has been a prominent voicein speakingout against the"whitewashing" ofAsian characters, including the casting ofScarlett Johanssoninroleof Maj.MotokoKusanagi in the Japanese manga seriesGhost in the Shell.

"I'm glad the conversation is being brought up sorampantly. It's needed," the 52-year-old actress said. "I feel like sometimes we've taken 100 steps back since I started in this business."

Listen to the full interview here.

Her previous roles includeCamileRay on thesci-fiseriesSGUStargateUniverse,Dr.Jing-MeiChen on the medical drama seriesER, the title voice in Disney's animated filmMulan(1998) andChun-LiinStreetfighter(1994).

Still on her bucket list is a role in aStar Wars movie, she said.

"Anytime, anywhere, just a walk on, I don't care. It would really, really complete my life," she said.

She will be atComiccon in Ottawaon Saturday. The event runs from May 13 to 15 at the EY Centre.