Biography
Jamie Chung's career is the best-case scenario for many reality TV show participants. Since she was cast on "The Real World: San Diego" (MTV, 2004) and appeared in the requisite spin-off "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" (MTV, 2005), Chung has landed memorable supporting parts in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (2007), "Sucker Punch" (2011) and "The Hangover Part II" (2011); and has been featured in major roles on "Days of Our Lives" (NBC, 1968- ) and "Once Upon a Time" (ABC, 2011- ). In a nod to MTV's ability to create stars, it's clear that Chung's stint on the 14th season of the reality show mainstay was just the prelude to something bigger. Raised by traditional Korean parents in San Francisco, CA, Chung showed little interest in acting as a child, and eventually enrolled as an economics major at the University of California, Riverside. But after spontaneously deciding to audition for "The Real World" in 2004, she was chosen as one of the eight housemates and lived in a converted marine supply warehouse on the edge of the San Diego harbor. The following year she traveled to Acapulco, Mexico, where she was part of the winning team in the spin-off series "The Challenge." Upon her return to the States, Chung landed several minor TV roles before making her film debut as a Hooters waitress in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry." Shortly after she landed a recurring role on the long-running soap opera "Days of Our Lives," Chung guest-starred as a Tri-Pi sorority sister on "Greek" (ABC Family, 2007-2011) and was cast as the title warrior in the short-lived "Samurai Girl" (ABC Family, 2008). Her next two roles shared a name -- Amber -- but couldn't have been more different: in the critical disaster "Grown Ups" (2010), she portrayed Rob Schneider's daughter (it's a long story), a far cry from her rough-and-tumble prisoner in "Sucker Punch," a role originally meant for Emma Stone. As criticized as "Sucker Punch" was, it nonetheless paved the way for even bigger roles for Chung. She was cast as Ed Helms' fiancée in the high-profile "The Hangover Part II," which transplanted the bachelors' hijinx from Vegas to Thailand; and portrayed a shy Columbia student in the bike messenger thriller "Premium Rush." After being picked to portray Lady Silk in the kung-fu misfire "The Man with the Iron Fists" (2012), Chung joined the cast of the primetime fantasy "Once Upon a Time" as Mulan.
