Born in Honolulu, she began her career as a model before transitioning to acting. She gained fame in the late '80s and '90s with roles in TV series such as "Growing Pains" and "21 Jump Street." She later starred in movies like "The Scorpion King" and "X2: X-Men United." Her work extends to voice acting in video games and animated series. With a background in martial arts, she often portrays strong, action-oriented characters. She is also an advocate for Asian American representation in Hollywood.