Pisay Pao Explained

Pisay Pao
Birth Name:Pisay Pao
Birth Date:1 November 1984[1]
Birth Place:Thailand
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2005 to Present

Pisay Pao (born November 1, 1984) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Cassandra in the Syfy series Z Nation.

Early life

Pao was born on November 1, 1984, in Thailand, at a refugee camp where her Cambodian parents were placed to escape political persecution during the Cambodian Civil War.[1] Her parents were granted political asylum in the United States in 1986, and settled in Seattle, Washington, where she was raised.[2] [3] [4] [1] [5] Pao stated that she was attracted to the arts from an early age, and began painting, drawing, dancing, and performing as a child. She obliged her parents' wishes to focus on an academic career instead, earning a scholarship to attend the University of Washington.[2] However, she left her university course to instead pursue a career in fashion and the performing arts.[2]

Career

Pao has credited the movie The Motel for showing her there was space for Asian American stories in visual culture.[6] Pao was introduced to a talent agent through a friend that was a model.[2] Pao stated that she exercised several times per week to prepare for her role in the TV series Z Nation.[7] [8] Pao reportedly often attends comic book conventions to meet fans, and has expressed her wish to portray Marvel Comics super hero Storm.[5] [7] In addition to film and TV work, she also appeared in the play what you are now, from Sam Chanse, at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York.[9] [10]

Personal life

Pao has stated that her parents' struggle to escape the Cambodian civil war is an inspiration for her work.[8]

Pao is also a Christian.[11]

Pao has travelled to Cambodia to visit her family members who remained there. Her first trip was in 2001.[5]

Pao is a self-professed advocate for women's rights. She has stated that she "wants to find a way to bring justice for all women who are victims of sexual violence."[2] [5]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Simply FobulousChantavy
2009The Whole TruthInona Kim
2010Your Lucky DayWife
2012Door to DoorDee
2018Bitter MelonsSophia
2019Velvet BuzzsawAttorney
2019We Take the Low RoadHospice Worker

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014–2016Z NationCassandraMain role season 1&2 guest season 3
2016Jamie Patterson Episode: "Core Values"
2019–2020Doom PatrolOyewah 7 episodes

Video games

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pisay Pao . Pisay Pao Twitter. November 1, 2016 . Twitter. December 17, 2017.
  2. Web site: Naluda . Pisay Pao. January 1, 2016 . Naluda Interviews. December 17, 2017.
  3. Web site: CHAW . KENNETH . Meet Cambodian-American actress Pisay Pao . Star2.com . 4 April 2019 . 10 March 2016.
  4. Web site: Katie Sauro . Pisay's Power Play. March 31, 2015 . Media Inc.. December 17, 2017.
  5. Web site: Darcy Tharp. Z Nation star Pisay Pao talks acting and staying in shape. June 9, 2016 . Most Magazine. January 10, 2018.
  6. News: Yang . Pauline . August 28, 2015 . Getting to Know Z Nation’s Pisay Pao . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208065506/https://charactermedia.com/getting-to-know-z-nations-pisay-pao/ . February 8, 2023 . April 11, 2024 . CharacterMedia.
  7. Web site: Amrie. Previewing Z NATION Season 2 with Pisay Pao. September 11, 2015 . My Take On.... December 17, 2017.
  8. Web site: Bianca Teixeira. A Woman You Should Meet: Pisay Pao. September 18, 2015 . Sharp Magazine. December 17, 2017.
  9. News: Finkle . David . March 17, 2022 . What You Are Now: A Cambodian Family in Universally Identifiable Memory Denial . April 11, 2024 . New York Stage Review.
  10. News: Kumar . Naveen . March 18, 2022 . Review: In ‘What You Are Now,’ Memory Is a Dangerous Thing . April 11, 2024 . The New York Times.
  11. Web site: Pisay Pao . Pisay Pao Twitter. December 11, 2017 . Twitter. December 17, 2017.