Camille Chen Explained

Camille Chen
Birth Date:1 September 1979[1]
Birth Place:Taipei, Taiwan
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1999–present
Known For:portraying Samantha Li in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Spouse:Christian Anderson (m. 2017)
Children:1

Camille Chen (Chinese: 卡蜜兒陳; born September 1, 1979) is a Taiwanese-born American actress.

Early life

Born in Taiwan but raised in the U.S.,[2] Chen attended the University of Texas at Austin and then began her career in show business, doing voiceover work for the English version of anime television series such as Lost Universe and Devil Lady.

Career

Chen's first feature film roles were uncredited appearances as Miss New Hampshire in the 2000 film, Miss Congeniality, and as a cheerleader in the 2002 film, The New Guy.

From 2006 to 2007, Chen had a regular recurring role as Samantha Li on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.[3] She guest-starred on the 2009 episode of Law & Order, "Just a Girl in the World" as Emma Kim, first thought to be the target of a serial killer, but later discovered to be the murderer herself.[4] On stage, Chen portrayed "Christmas Eve" in a 2012 Los Angeles production of Avenue Q.[5]

In 2016, Chen starred in Poor Todd, an independent pilot selected by the New York Television Festival for its Independent Pilot Competition.[6] In 2017, she had a prominent guest-starring role in an episode of the TV series Teachers, playing Mrs. Chan, "a priggish mother of two and president of the parent group Two Million Moms".[7]

In a 2017 interview by The Guardian, she addressed barriers facing Asian actors:

Chen's performance as a "tactless doctor"[8] in a bit part in the 2018 film Game Night was reviewed in The Village Voice as "a deadpan gift",[9] in a scene described by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of Game Night's funnier scenes",[8] and by The New Yorker as making "memorable impressions".[10] Also in 2018, she guest-starred in multiple episodes of as robbery-homicide department secretary Grace Kim.[11] She had a starring role in the independent pilot "I Was a Teenage Pillow Queen", premiered in September 2018 at the Tribeca TV Festival,[12] and in November 2018, she guest-starred in two episodes of Single Parents.[13] In January 2019, Chen guest-starred on an episode of God Friended Me.[14]

She has also appeared in about two dozen advertising campaigns, including some prominent commercial roles.[15]

In 2020, Chen appeared as a guest on the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip marathon fundraiser episode of The George Lucas Talk Show. In 2021, she guest starred on the series finale of Rebel.[16] In 2023, she appeared in the film, Renfield, as the FBI agent sister of Awkwafina's New Orleans police officer.[17]

Work

Feature films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002The New GuyCheerleader
2003Hallow's EndLily Moore
2003SexlessCarissaalso makeup artist
2003Spy Kids 3-D: Game OverProcessor
2018Game NightDr. Chin
2019YesterdayWendy[18]
2023RenfieldKate Quincy

Short films

YearTitleRole
2002Jason and the High Cost of ElectricityWeathergirl
2002Triple ThreatJenika
2004ElegyHua Lee
2005PassagesGina
2005Heavenly BeautiesAsian Beauty
2006SpilledLaura Lee

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Michelle2 episodes
2005Without a TraceWaitressEpisode: "Freefall"
2006-7Studio 60 on the Sunset StripSamantha LiSeries regular
2007Camille1 episode
2007Ghost WhispererJenna Chen1 episode
2009Numb3rsZi-Zi1 episode
2009MeteorLieutenant Quigley2 episodes
2009Law & OrderEmma KimEpisode: "Just a Girl in the World"
2010Private PracticeLucia1 episode
2010Eagles in the Chicken CoopPamela Holdsbar1 episode
2010Grey's AnatomyKerry Schultz1 episode
2011CalifornicationHeather Tracy1 episode
2011Alice Katsu1 episode
2011Dr. Maya Zhuang1 episode
2011Royal PainsAnna1 episode
2012TouchSerena1 episode
2013April Mayfield1 episode
2013GrimmJenna MarshallEpisode: "Nameless"
2014Garfunkel & OatesCaroline1 episode
2015BackstromCelia Gu1 episode
20162 Broke GirlsEvie1 episode
2017House Hunters RenovationHerselfSeason 10, Episode 3
2017LuciferSheila VestalEpisode: "The One With The Baby Carrot"
2017TeachersMrs. Chan1 episode
2018Grace Kim4 episodes
2018Single ParentsLex2 episodes
2019God Friended MeHeidi James1 episode
2019Carol's Second ActSharon1 episode
2020The George Lucas Talk ShowHerselfStu-D2 1138 on the Binary Sunset Sith (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip marathon)
2021RebelNaomi Lee1 episode

Voice

YearTitleRole
1997Lost UniverseNina Mercury/Little Girl
1998Devil LadyKazumi Takiura
1999Eden's BowyElisiss
2002Fino

Select television commercials

YearTitleRole
2013Wendy'sone of the girls at the pool with Wendy
2013Motorola - Moto XSophie, the phone-accessorizing girl
2013State Farmgirl buying a new purse who doesn't have State Farm
2015Experianlady negotiating for the best furniture deal
2016McDonald'sMom with daughter
2019Red BaronMom trying to prepare dinner
2022GEICOMotorcycle Rider/Rebel
2022VerizonMother in family of 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Camille Chen . Yahoo TV . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222033103/https://tv.yahoo.com/camille-chen/contributor/1118915 . 2012-02-22.
  2. Web site: The Wild East Magazine. thewildeast.net. 26 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724105204/http://www.thewildeast.net/news/2008/11/film-to-focus-on-taiwan-daughter-camille-chen/ . 2011-07-24 . dead .
  3. Web site: It's About to Shine Brighter on Studio 60. international.ucla.edu. Ada. Tseng. December 6, 2006.
  4. Just a Girl in the World . Law & Order. Law & Order . October 2, 2009. 20. 2.
  5. News: 'Avenue Q' in Fullerton lives in harsh reality. 17 July 2012. Orange County Register.
  6. New York Television Festival Announces Independent Pilot Competition Selections. Elizabeth. Wagmeister. 15 August 2016. Variety.
  7. Web site: How Caitlin, Cate, Kate, Katy, Kathryn (Who Goes by Katie) and Katie Got a Show on TV Land Called 'Teachers' — and Why You Should Be Watching It. Decider. Scott. Porch. March 14, 2017.
  8. 'Game Night': Film Review. The Hollywood Reporter. Jon. Frosch. February 20, 2018.
  9. Web site: "Game Night" Is the Comedy Knockout We've Been Waiting For. www.villagevoice.com. February 21, 2018 .
  10. "Game Night" and the Obsolete Exertions of Improv Comedy. The New Yorker. Richard. Brody. February 22, 2018.
  11. Web site: Guest Stars Announced For 'Unsolved: The Murders Of Tupac And The Notorious B.I.G.' - Blog - Unsolved. 24 October 2017. USA Network.
  12. News: Tribeca TV Festival 2018 Lineup: 'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown' Premiere, Meryl Streep with Tracey Ullman, and More. IndieWire. Ben. Travers. August 22, 2018.
  13. Web site: SNL Vet Vanessa Bayer Joins ABC's Single Parents as Taran Killam's Ex. Matt Webb. Mitovich. 26 November 2018.
  14. Web site: God Friended Me Preview: "Ready Player Two". craigbyrne. 6 January 2019.
  15. Web site: Camille Chen TV Commercials. www.ispot.tv.
  16. Web site: Scoop: Coming Up on the Series Finale of REBEL on ABC - Thursday, June 10, 2021. Broadway World. May 24, 2021.
  17. Web site: Reviews: Renfield. Christy. Lemire. April 14, 2023. rogerebert.com.
  18. Web site: Richard Curtis & Danny Boyle unite for new Beatles inspired rom-com Yesterday. Entertainment Focus. Jason. Palmer. February 14, 2019.