Michelle Krusiec

Michelle Jacqueline Krusiec (Chinese: 楊雅慧, Pinyin: Yáng Yǎhuì [Yang Ya-Huei]) is the Taiwanese-American actress who played Molly O'Brien as an eighteen-year-old in the sixth season episode . In actuality, Krusiec was 24 years old when she filmed this part.
Krusiec was a Star Trek fan from an early age – her parents, "especially [her] father, are Star Trek buffs" – and was particularly excited to work on the series. One of the questions asked at her audition was whether Krusiec could perform cartwheels, as the casting directors were looking for an actress who could play a very physical role. (Michelle's Moment, )
== Early life and career ==
Krusiec was born in Fallon, Nevada, the daughter of Taiwanese parents, and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, by her Taiwanese aunt and American uncle. Her acting career began at the age of twelve when she was approached by a talent scout at her uncle's restaurant, who told her she should pursue it. She was subsequently awarded a place at the Virginia Governors' Magnet School of the Arts. She later graduated from Virginia Tech University with a degree in Theatre and English and completed additional studies at Oxford University in England.
She made her television acting debut at the age of eighteen when she cast in the CBS Schoolbreak Special, Sexual Considerations, alongside fellow Deep Space Nine guest star Bernie Casey. In 1995, director (whom she reportedly "accosted" on stage at Virginia Tech) cast Krusiec in her first film, (1995, with star Robert Beltran, Bill Bolender, Richard Fancy, David Paymer, Tony Plana, Saul Rubinek, Paul Sorvino and Wilson Cruz).
== Television ==
Upon graduation, Krusiec visited over fifty destinations around the world as a host on The Discovery Channel series Travelers. Shortly after her role on Deep Space Nine, she landed the starring role of Sui Blake on NBC's , which ran on from 1998 through 2001. During this time, she made a guest appearance on NBC's (with Richard Riehle, Tony Papenfuss, and series regular Concetta Tomei) and recurred on .
Between 2000 and 2002, Krusiec had a recurring role on , which included one episode with Voyager guest star Kim Rhodes, another with Jacqueline Schultz and Tucker Smallwood, and a third with John Schuck. In between, Krusiec appeared on UPN's and recurred on . She then guest-starred on (with Michelle C. Bonilla, Kay E. Kuter, Robert Mandan, and Tzi Ma), (starring Enrique Murciano), and (starring Ted Levine, with Adam Clark, Stanley Kamel and Matt Winston).
In a 2004 episode of Whoopi Goldberg’s , starring Jenifer Lewis, Krusiec played the daughter of a couple portrayed by Star Trek alumni Irene Tsu and Keone Young. Trek veteran Larry Cedar also appeared in this episode. She then made a return visit to Without a Trace, in a 2005 episode with Rosemary Forsyth. That same year, she made guest appearances on (working with Andy Milder and Jeffrey Dean Morgan), , and (with Matthew Kaminsky, Eric Steinberg, and Sonny Surowiec).
In 2006, Enterprise director David Straiton cast Krusiec in an episode of , along with Gregory Barnett, Tim Kelleher, and Tom Wright. Krusiec also played the recurring role of Mei Ling Hwa Darling on , working with Zoe McLellan and, for one episode, director Michael Grossman.
She has also guest-starred on , (starring Gillian Jacobs), and had a recurring role on , with Daniel Dae Kim.
== Film ==
 guest star and actor John Putch cast and directed Krusiec in his (2001, with David Cowgill, Kieran Mulroney, Liz Vassey, Cress Williams, Tom Wright, and Jeff Yagher). In 2000, Krusiec filmed a supporting role in , starring guest actor Hank Harris. This film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002.
Krusiec had a supporting role in (2002, featuring Andrew Prine). In 2003, she appeared in (starring Eddie Murphy and co-starring Jimmy Bennett and Wallace Langham), (2003, starring Rachel Nichols), and (2003, with Jenette Goldstein, Wallace Shawn, Robert Wisdom, and Tracey Walter).
Krusiec landed her first starring role in (2004). Krusiec's performance in this film gave her recognition and acclaim and garnered her a nomination as Best Actress from the Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards, the Chinese equivalent of the Academy Awards.
Her subsequent film credits have included (2005, with Derek Mears), Live! (2007, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Tom Wright), and Henry Poole Is Here (2008, with Molly Hagan). She also had a supporting role in (2008, featuring cinematography by Matthew F. Leonetti).
== Other projects ==
In 2002, Krusiec premiered her one-woman stage show, Made in Taiwan, at the Aspen Comedy Festival. In 2007, the show made its off-Broadway debut at the first annual Asian American Theater festival.
Krusiec lent her voice to the 2003 video game, Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven. Daniel Dae Kim, Brian Tochi, and Keone Young also provided voices for this game.
Nearly a decade after they worked together on Deep Space Nine, Krusiec reunited with her on-screen mother, Rosalind Chao, when they performed in . This film screened at various film festivals around the world before opening in limited release in the United States in December 2007.
== External links ==
* – official website
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es:Michelle Krusiec
Category:Performers
Category:DS9 performers