Freda Foh Shen Freda Foh Shen is an Asian - American actress who played the helmsman of the USS " Kelvin " in J . J . Abrams ' . Her role includes at least one action scene in which she was doubled by stuntwoman Peipei Yuan . Shen previously voiced Admiral Alice Liu in the video game " " . She is perhaps best known for her voice performance of the Chinese Food Lady in the 2000 comedy " Dude , Where ' s My Car ? " , which featured Christopher Darga , Keone Young , Andy Dick , and Brent Spiner . More recently she had recurring roles as Mrs . Lee in the drama series " Gideon ' s Crossing " ( 2000 - 2001 ) , as Dr . Chao in " Everwood " ( 2005 , starring Stephanie Niznik ) , and as Dr . Yolanda Perrin in " Close to Home " ( 2006 - 2007 , with Cress Williams ) . Shen made her acting debut in the stage play " Pacific Overtures " in 1976 , followed by plays such as " The King and I " ( 1977 - 1978 ) , " Shogun , the Musical " ( 1990 - 1991 ) , and " Top Girls " , for which she received an Obie Award . Shen was also honored with two Dramalogue Awards and received several nominations , including L . A . Drama Critics Award and Ovation Award nominations . Since 1981 she also has supporting and leading roles in television productions and feature films . She played a Ticket Agent in the television comedy " Senior Trip " ( 1981 , with Jason Alexander and Ron Fassler ) , a patient in an episode of " The Cosby Show " ( 1987 ) , and a self - defense teacher in the comedy " Crossing Delancey " ( 1988 , with Reg E . Cathey ) . Further feature films include ' s 1992 thriller " Basic Instinct " , the comedy " Born Yesterday " ( 1993 , with Michael Ensign , William Frankfather , Matthew Faison , and Mary Kay Adams ) , the television movie " Alien Nation : Millennium " ( 1996 , starring Gary Graham , Eric Pierpoint , Michele Scarabelli , and with Brian Markinson , Herta Ware , Susan Diol , Kerrie Keane , and Joyce McNeal ) , the action film " The Glimmer Man " ( 1996 ) , and LeVar Burton ' s 1998 biographic drama " The Tiger Woods Story " , where she played the mother of Woods and alongside John Cho , Albert Hall , and Carey Scott . Shen provided the voice of Fa - Li , the mother of the main character , for ' s " Mulan " ( 1998 ) and its sequel " Mulan II " ( 2004 ) , alongside Miguel Ferrer , George Takei , Frank Welker , and David Cowgill in the previous one and Brian Tochi , Keone Young , Frank Welker , and George Takei in the latter one . Other films include the comedy " American Virgin " ( 2000 , with Sally Kellerman and Vincent Schiavelli ) , ' s remake " Planet of the Apes " ( 2001 , with David Warner , Erick Avari , Cary - Hiroyuki Tagawa , Michael Jace , Maria Frasca , and Kevin Grevioux ) , the remake " The Ladykillers " ( 2004 , with Tzi Ma and Stephen Root ) , and the drama " Red Doors " ( 2005 , with Tzi Ma and Jacqueline Kim ) . Shen has also appeared in several television series such as " Renegade " ( 1992 , with Branscombe Richmond and Scott Jaeck ) , " Silk Stalkings " ( 1993 ) , " Nowhere Man " ( 1996 , starring Bruce Greenwood and with Zoe McLellan , Melanie Smith , and Leon Russom ) , " Party of Five " ( 1994 and 1996 ) , " ER " ( 1998 - 1999 , with Penny Johnson , Sam Anderson , Tommy Hinkley , Franc Ross , Lily Mariye , and Teri Garr ) , " Chicago Hope " ( 1997 and 1999 ) , " 7th Heaven " ( 1998 - 2000 , starring Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks ) , " Family Law " ( 2000 , with Julie Warner and Christopher McDonald ) , " Roswell " ( 2002 , starring William Sadler and with Jack Donner and Karl Wiedergott ) , " Without a Trace " ( 2002 ) , " 24 " ( 2002 , with Timothy Carhart , Michelle Forbes , Tracy Middendorf , Harris Yulin , and Penny Johnson ) , and " Desperate Housewives " ( 2004 , with Teri Hatcher , Steven Culp , Mark Moses , Brenda Strong , and Dayna Devon ) . More recently , Shen played Dr . Ann Kumi in the " Boston Legal " episode " Smile " ( 2006 , with Rene Auberjonois , William Shatner , Don McManus , Ron Canada , Shannon O ' Hurley , and Joanna Cassidy ) and Detective Maggie Conrad in the television thriller " Primal Doubt " ( 2007 ) .