Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1979-08-20
- Born Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Olivia Cheng
Olivia Cheng is a dynamic Canadian actress, producer, writer, and former journalist, best known for her prominent roles in high-profile television series. Born on August 20, 1979, in Edmonton, Alberta, to Cantonese-speaking Chinese immigrant parents, Cheng initially pursued a career in journalism after graduating from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's Radio and Television Arts program, working as a videographer and broadcast/print journalist, and even freelancing as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada. Her shift to acting came after being cast in the Emmy-winning miniseries Broken Trail (2006). Cheng's breakout role was the complex concubine and assassin Mei Lin in the Netflix historical epic Marco Polo (2014–2016). She is also highly acclaimed for her series regular role as the shrewd and deadly madam Ah Toy in the martial arts crime drama Warrior (2019–2023), based on a concept by Bruce Lee. Her other notable television appearances include Dr. Sylvia Wen in the Stephen King adaptation The Stand, Linda Park in Arrow and The Flash, and recurring roles in Deadly Class and See. Beyond acting, Cheng is also an activist for diversity and racial justice, and has ventured into directing and writing with projects like the short film Dinner with Dex.
