Irene Keng

Irene Keng is an American actress best known for her recurring role as Chunhua Lao, the daughter of a laundromat owner and romantic interest of a young lawyer, in the NBC legal comedy-drama series Harry's Law (2011–2012).^[1] Born on March 9 in California, Keng earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and relocated to Los Angeles, where she honed her craft through independent films, short films, and television commercials.^[2] Her early screen credits include the short film Say That You Love Me... (2005), the feature Stompin' (2007), and Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009).^[3] Keng's breakthrough came with Harry's Law, marking her first major television role, after which she secured guest appearances on acclaimed series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2013), Grey's Anatomy (2014) as Audrey Shaw.^[1] She portrayed Dr. Elle McLean as a series regular in the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor (2017) and appeared in the horror film The Curse of La Llorona (2019).^[4] Additional television work includes roles in Liza on Demand (2018) and producing the short film Night Falls (2007).^[5]

Early life and education

Early years

Irene Keng was born on March 9 in California, United States.^[2] As an American actress of Asian heritage, Keng grew up in California, though details about her family background and childhood environment remain limited in public records.^[6] Her early life in the state provided the foundational setting for her development before she pursued further opportunities elsewhere.

Academic background

Irene Keng pursued formal training in acting at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, a renowned institution for performing arts education. She focused her studies on acting techniques and performance skills essential for stage and screen work, honing her craft through rigorous coursework and practical experiences during her undergraduate program.^[2] Keng's education at Tisch emphasized not only core acting methodologies but also related disciplines such as voice, movement, and character development, which provided a comprehensive foundation for her professional aspirations. While enrolled, she began participating in student film projects, applying her classroom learning to early on-camera opportunities that foreshadowed her transition to professional roles.^[7][2] Upon graduating from NYU Tisch, Keng relocated to Los Angeles, the epicenter of the film and television industry, to actively seek out acting opportunities and build her career in entertainment. This move marked a pivotal step in leveraging her academic preparation for real-world professional engagement.^[2]

Acting career

Early roles and commercials

Irene Keng relocated to Los Angeles after graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she continued her acting training amid the competitive landscape of independent projects.^[2] This move marked the beginning of her professional challenges, including securing limited-budget roles to gain visibility in the industry.^[2] Her acting debut occurred in the 2005 independent short film Say That You Love Me..., directed by Tadakuni Yasuda, in which she played the role of Maria opposite Roy Havrilack and Cary Woodworth. The film premiered at events like the 2006 Long Island International Film Expo, highlighting her entry into narrative shorts focused on interpersonal drama.^[8] Keng built on this with appearances in subsequent indie shorts, including Diary of a Teenage Vampire (2008), directed by Michael Curtis Johnson, where she portrayed a character in a story exploring adolescent struggles with supernatural elements.^[9] In 2009, she took on the role of Italian Vampire Victim in another Johnson-directed short, The Guitar, contributing to its blend of horror and character-driven vignettes.^[10] She also appeared as Tour Guide in the 2007 feature film Stompin'.^[11] Parallel to her film work, Keng secured principal roles in national and regional television commercials, providing early financial stability and exposure. These gigs underscored her versatility in commercial acting during her formative years.

Television work

Irene Keng gained prominence in television through her recurring role as Chunhua Lao, the daughter of a laundromat owner and romantic interest to lawyer Adam Branch, on the NBC legal drama Harry's Law from 2011 to 2012.^[1][5] Appearing in 18 episodes across both seasons, Keng's portrayal depicted Chunhua as a resilient young Chinese-American woman navigating family expectations and personal relationships amid legal cases at the firm's neighboring laundromat.^[12] This role marked her breakthrough in series television, showcasing her ability to blend vulnerability with strength in a diverse ensemble cast that highlighted immigrant experiences.^[3][13] Following Harry's Law, Keng appeared as Samantha in the Lifetime TV film Applebaum in 2012, playing a supporting role in the comedy-drama about a journalist's chaotic life.^[4] In 2013, she guest-starred as Nora Wong, a key witness in a arson investigation, on an episode of CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation titled "Torch Song." Her television presence expanded in medical dramas with a two-episode arc as Dr. Audrey Shaw, a diligent surgical intern, on ABC's Grey's Anatomy in 2015, where she navigated high-stakes hospital dynamics during her first days at Grey Sloan Memorial.^[4][14] Keng continued with a guest appearance as Dr. Elle McLean, a surgical resident, on the pilot episode "Burnt Food" of ABC's The Good Doctor in 2017, initially cast as a series regular before the role was reduced.^[15] In 2018, she portrayed Sharon Han in the TV short Broken Rings, a crime drama exploring family disputes settled through underground fights, and guest-starred as June, a friend offering life advice, on an episode of YouTube Premium's Liza on Demand. Throughout these roles, Keng has consistently portrayed Asian-American women in professional and personal contexts, contributing to greater visibility of diverse characters in mainstream network television. Her work in Harry's Law, in particular, added cultural depth to the series by integrating Chunhua's background into storylines involving community and justice, influencing the show's exploration of multicultural urban life.^[1][13]

Film roles

Irene Keng appeared in supporting roles in feature films, including as Dongmei, a student, in the 2009 comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year, a direct-to-video prequel depicting a young Van Wilder's rebellious exploits at a repressive military-style college.^[18] In this bit part, she contributed to the film's satirical exploration of campus restrictions and youthful antics, marking an early showcase of her comedic timing in ensemble casts.^[1] Keng later transitioned into horror with her portrayal of Donna in The Curse of La Llorona (2019), a supernatural thriller in The Conjuring universe centered on a social worker and her children haunted by the weeping ghost of Mexican folklore.^[19] As Donna, a supportive friend drawn into the escalating terror, she contributed to the film's tense ensemble dynamics, emphasizing themes of cultural dread and familial peril through her character's involvement in the ritualistic confrontations. Through these roles, Keng demonstrated versatility across comedy and horror genres, leveraging her television background to secure supporting positions in genre-driven narratives that highlight diverse cultural elements and high-stakes interpersonal conflicts.^[1] Her contributions in Van Wilder: Freshman Year added levity to the comedy's irreverent tone, while in The Curse of La Llorona, she bolstered the horror's atmospheric immersion without overshadowing the central mythos.^[18][19]

Filmography

Films

Keng's film appearances are primarily in short films and supporting roles in feature films.

• Say That You Love Me... (2005, short film) as Maria.^[20]
• Stompin' (2007) as Tour Guide.^[21]
• Diary of a Teenage Vampire (2008, short film) as the lead teenage girl.^[9]
• The Guitar (2009, short film) as Italian Vampire Victim.^[10]
• Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009) as Dongmei.^[18]
• The Curse of La Llorona (2019) as Donna.^[22]

No uncredited or additional minor film appearances are documented in available sources.

Television

Irene Keng has appeared in several television series and specials throughout her career. Her roles span legal dramas, medical procedurals, and comedies, often portraying supporting characters. Below is a chronological list of her television credits, including series years, character names, and episode details where applicable.^[4]