I'm like Madonna: I'm Ming-Na. Just my first and middle name. That's it. Pure and simple.

Both my parents are chefs I grew up in a restaurant and was always surrounded by cooks. I love food.

I'm as proud to be Chinese as I am American.

I love doing TV. It's so great for my world as a mom, as someone who likes to have a steady job and go to work feeling secure because I'm with a family.

People who have had family members killed are able to forgive the murderer because that's the only way they can move on.

Mom takes all the credit for my success. Now Mom says, 'I read your face when you were a baby, and it said you were going to be a star. That's why I named you Ming - because it's all about the sun and the stars and enlightenment.'

The 'ER' role was not Asian-specific, and my agent knew that I loved the show.