Jen Van Epps
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Jen Van Epps

Jen Van Epps is an American-born actress of African American and Chinese-Taiwanese descent, now based in Auckland, New Zealand. Born on March 12, 1990, in Los Angeles, she pursued her passion for acting from a young age, participating in theater productions such as A Raisin in the Sun during her youth. She trained at institutions like the University of Southern California and the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles and New York, refining her craft in various acting techniques. In 2018, seeking a fresh start, Van Epps relocated with her family to New Zealand. There, she quickly established herself in the local entertainment industry, leveraging her American accent and unique background. Her notable roles include Tess in M3GAN (2022), Nicole in Don't Make Me Go (2022), and appearances in Cowboy Bebop, Mr. Corman, The Wilds, Power Rangers, and The Royal Treatment. Beyond acting, Van Epps has contributed to the industry as a casting and dialogue assistant on U.S. productions filmed in New Zealand. She is also a voice actress, notably voicing the character of Super Panda in the animated series Tales of Nai Nai. Fluent in Mandarin, she resides in Auckland with her husband, actor and filmmaker Ben Fransham, and their daughter, Rosalyn.

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