Celebrity Travel: Go away with Mayling Ng
"My father was a sailor from Singapore who met my mum in the United Kingdom," said actress Mayling Ng. "(When I was a child), he took us to Singapore and it changed who I was and how I saw the world. I really connected to my culture and started to actively do martial arts and watched more Hong Kong cinema than Western growing up." In "The Suicide Squad," which will release in theaters and on HBO Max on August 6, she plays "Mongal, a malevolent, muscular alien. Such a joy to play!" Currently a resident of Venice, California, Ng stays in touch with her fans on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/maylingng/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/missnginaction), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ngmayling) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/MaylingNg).
Q: Where are some of the places that you’ve lived?
A: The U.K., Tenerife, Singapore, Bali, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand and many more adventures trying to find my home. I’ve never lived in one place as long as I have lived in Los Angeles and still love it. I think once I get my forever home in Malibu with coastal sunsets and a pitbull from the pound, I’ll be done and put my suitcases away!
Q: Have you been injured during filming?
A: I do my own fight scenes, weapons scenes, and wire work. But after a hip injury that affects me every day from being bucked off a horse and rushed to hospital from a film set in South Africa, that’s it now. I now have certain limits that I know I can do and others I happily let my stunt double do (since) I’m not as qualified or as skilled as they are. In “The Suicide Squad,” there was a 50-foot fall with no wires into water that I could never do, that my fabulous stunt double, Courtney Chen, did.
Q: How has being an Asian actress affected your career?
A: With my name, I was being asked to audition for typical Asian roles, but never booked (since) I’m naturally built like a rhino. A few years ago, there was an audition where they asked for a small Asian doll, but I was still asked to read. When I walked in, the casting director looked up and nearly fell off her chair. We both laughed. But thankfully, I’m making my own way now with my own look as the warrior, superhero, or strong woman. I’ve never felt I belonged anywhere, hence why I’ve lived everywhere, trying to find my place. The same applies to my work. I was never white or Asian enough. I think now, the world finally realizes there is just us. People.
Q: What was it like not traveling much during this pandemic?
A: Working on location has always been a perk for me. This is the longest I haven’t flown internationally in one given year since I was 13 years old. It’s been quite strange, but we all went through our own struggles. I’m not one to complain, but I am missing my brothers badly!
Q: What travel plans did you have to cancel?
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