VANESSA KAI is best known for her work as a series regular in CW's hit series "Kung Fu", produced by Warner Bros. as Pei-Ling Zhang. Vanessa portrayed the mysterious and wise mentor to the show's protagonist, Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang). Vanessa has also appeared in a recurring role as fashion editor-in-chief, Gisela Mott, on "Elsbeth" starring Carrie Preston on CBS. 

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In theater, Vanessa Kai was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as "Ruby" in the world premiere of "KPOP," an Off-Broadway, immersive musical event. Vanessa has also performed in prominent theaters such as Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage and at New York's City Center.

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Additional film and television credits include "New Amsterdam", "Orange Is the New Black", "The Mysteries of Laura", "The Blacklist", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", and "Madam Secretary".

 

A champion of new works Kai is much sought after for her collaborative spirit and her love of world building, and has helped to develop new plays at New York Stage & Film, Public Theater, SoHo Rep., Roundabout Theater Company, Manhattan Theatre Club, Steppenwolf Theatre, Eugene O’Neill Theatre, Playwrights Realm, New Dramatists, and many others.

 

Vanessa is a native New Yorker and a first generation Chinese American.