VANESSA KAI

Pei-Ling in “Kung Fu”

Vanessa Kai stars as Pei-Ling, Nicky’s (Olivia Liang) spiritual guide and Shaolin mentor, on The CW’s series “Kung Fu.”

Whether on stage or on screen, Kai has an undeniable presence and passion for her craft. She was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as “Ruby” in the sold-out, extended world premiere of “KPOP,” an Off-Broadway, immersive musical event produced by Ars Nova. Additional off-Broadway productions include the world premieres of “The Pain of My Belligerence” at Playwrights Horizons, “Somebody’s Daughter” at Second Stage and “The Architecture of Becoming” at New York’s City Center. Other Off-Broadway credits include “Henry VI: Shakespeare’s Trilogy in Two Parts” produced by the National Asian American Theater Company, which was nominated two 2019 Drama Desk awards. She has also helped develop new works at such prominent institutions as New York Stage and Film, Roundabout Theater Company, The New Group, The Lark Play Development Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, New Dramatists and others.

Kai has also appeared in a recurring role on the hit show “New Amsterdam.” Other television credits include “Orange Is the New Black,” “Gotham” and “The Mysteries of Laura.”

When she’s not filming, the native New Yorker lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

February 2022