Amanda Wong Is Thankful 'When Calls The Heart' Brought An Asian Narrative With Mei Suo

Amanda Wong is opening up more about the honor she has of portraying Mei Suo on When Calls The Heart.

The British Columbia born actress got candid what it personally means to here to see an Asian character on the Hallmark series, which highlights a new narrative not normally seen in period shows.

“Growing up, I didn’t really see myself represented in the media much, especially in period dramas,” Amanda recalled in a new interview. “I think even for myself, when I was thinking about When Calls The Heart,…I mean every actor and actress in Vancouver knows about the show and would love to be on it but I guess I never really thought it was an opportunity that I could pursue.”

Mei is actually the first Asian character on the series, just as The Canfield family, the first black family in Hope Valley, were welcomed in season eight.

“You look at these type films and it seems Asian people don’t have a place in the narrative, even though that’s not true, there were Asian people at that time but they are never really highlighted in any type of way,” Amanda adds. “To play this character that’s just so well written and to get to share a little about my culture with the fans, is such an honor and I’m so grateful for it.”

Amanda added that Mei is “very educated and she is very capable” when she arrives to Hope Valley.

“I would say she’s very courageous and she stands up for herself. She’s got tenacity, courage and conviction but it’s also within that time,” she said. There were certain things that limited women, especially Asian women, but mostly, women in general that she has to overcome. She’s not without flaws. She’s a warm individual who loves animals and children but she’s not without flaws.”

Click inside NOW to check out more pics of Amanda as Mei Suo, and to learn five fast facts about her, too!

• Amanda is really smart! She graduated top of her class from the University of Hong Kong with a master’s in journalism and she speaks multiple languages.
• Before going into acting as a career, Amanda was working as a journalist for such outlets as Bloomberg and AL Jazeera.
• She’s not a stranger to hallmark. She previously starred in Bottled With Love, Raise a Glass to Love, and many know her from Mystery 101 as Holly Chen!
• She didn’t just backpack across mongolia a few years ago – she did it on horseback! “I was actually in Mongolia on vacation and I traveled by horse, horseback, rode the steppes for like nine hours a day … and I learned very quickly doing that.”
• She’s a writer and avidly participates in Nanowrimo, a yearly event where writers attempt to write a first draft of a novel in just 30 days.