Jean Yoon (; born May 4, 1962) is an American and Canadian actress and writer. An actress of Korean descent, Yoon is best known for originating the role of family matriarch Umma in the 2011 play Kim's Convenience and in the award-winning CBC Television series adapted from the play, for which she won an ACTRA Award and received two Canadian Screen Award nominations.
Early life Yoon was born in Champaign, Illinois to parents of Korean descent in 1962 and subsequently raised in Toronto, where she currently resides and works.
Career
1980s–1990s: Early career in theatre Yoon started her career in theatre as an actress in the early 1980s, but soon quit in frustration after she struggled to find work and went on to complete her degree at the University of Toronto (BA Innis 1989). A decade later, in 1995, she returned to acting and started her own group called Loud Mouth Asian Babes, through which she has written and produced plays that focus on the Korean diaspora, mostly in Canada.
2000s: Transition into television and film Yoon's acting career began to flourish in the early 2000s, with small roles in several television series, including La Femme Nikita (1996–2001), Witchblade (TNT, 2000–2002) and Street Time (Showtime, 2001–2003). In 2006, Yoon achieved wider recognition after playing flight attendant Betty Ong in the controversial mini-series The Path to 9/11. Also in 2006, Yoon had a recurring role as June Kim in the legal drama series This Is Wonderland.
In 2007, Yoon received a Gemini Award nomination for her work in the CBC mini-series Dragon Boys. In 2009, she portrayed Dr. Montague in the hit romantic comedy film The Time Traveller's Wife, based on the novel of the same name.
2010s–present: Further success in television Throughout the 2010s, Yoon has played a wide array of characters in several television programs, most notably Imena Khumalo in the medical drama series Remedy (2014–2015), Connie in the animated series Peg+Cat (2013–2016), Captain Theresa Yao in the science fiction series The Expanse (2015), and Janis Beckwith in the hit BBC-Space series Orphan Black.
Kim's Convenience
From 2016 to 2021, Yoon portrayed Kim Yong-mi ("Umma"), the matriarch of the Kim family, in the CBC sitcom Kim's Convenience. She also portrayed the same role in the 2011 play, which she originated and performed over 240 times in six cities.
For her role in the television series, she has received considerable attention and has publicly discussed the importance of diversity in mainstream media, specifically for Asian Canadians and immigrants. In an interview with the CBC, Yoon said: The generational conflict between first generation and second generation immigrants, it's rich territory, and if you've lived through it, I mean, it's laugh and cry, laugh and cry, laugh and cry. But we haven't seen those stories on television on a national level. We are starting to see those stories coming out in novels and in theatre ... We are starting to see an awareness that this is territory that hasn't been explored. There's comedy there, there's talent there, and there's a sudden pop of interest. But also it's a question of critical mass.
For her role on Kim's Convenience, Yoon won an ACTRA Award, and was a five-time Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, winning at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.Adina Bresge, "'Scarborough' top film winner at Canadian Screen Awards" . CP24, April 10, 2022. Yoon played the role for the show's entire five-season run.
Other work Yoon is also a writer and playwright. She has written several plays, poems, and essays, including The Yoko Ono Project, a multi-media performance art comedy about Ono, her art, and her impact, which earned a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination and a Jessie Richardson Award.
In December 2022, Yoon and retired South Korean competitive figure skater Yuna Kim were designated honorary ambassadors on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea in 2023.
At the 14th Canadian Screen Awards in 2026, Yoon won the award for Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series, for her role as Harriet in 18 to 35.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 2006 Cow Belles Corrinne 2009 The Time Traveler's Wife Dr. Montague2013 Empire of Dirt Tess2013 Wedding Palace Mi Sook 2016RuptureColette 2020 Nocturne Falls Whitney Short film 2021 The Voyeurs Dr. Sato 2024 Code 8: Part II Mina Darkest Miriam Irene Frenkle 2025 Tuner Dr. Madeline Richard 2026 California Scenario Nancy
Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 La Femme Nikita Ying KamEpisode: "Not Was" 1999 Animorphs Watch Customer (uncredited)Episode: "The Front"2001–2002 Witchblade Coroner's AssistantEpisode: "Emergence" (2002), "Sacrifice" (2001) 2002Street Time Dr. WhitsellEpisode: "The Truth Hurts... Bad"2002–2003 Odyssey 5 Dr. Lynn ChenEpisode: "Skin", "The Vanishing Point" 2005–2006 This Is Wonderland June KimRecurring role 2006 The Path to 9/11 Betty Ong 2007Dragon Boys Belinda Lok 2008Instant Star Elizabeth Episode: “She Walks on Me”2009Being Erica Mrs. Li Episode: “Cultural Revolution”2010Lost Girl Commanding Officer Episode: “Faetal Attraction” 2012Little Mosque on the Prairie Tenant Episode: "The Worst of Times" 2014Remedy Imena Khumalo Recurring role 2015 The Expanse Captain Theresa Yao Episode: "CQB", "Remember the Cant"2013–2016Orphan Black Janis Beckwith Recurring rolePeg + Cat Connie Main role 2017Dark Matter Dr. Hajek Episode: "It Doesn't Have To Be Like This"2018 In Contempt Judge Pinkner 2 episodes2019 Street Legal Mercedes Orr Episode: "Leap" 2016–2021 Kim's Convenience Young-Mi Kim (Umma) Main role 2021 Nurses Willow Chen Episode: "A Thousand Battles" 2023 The Horror of Dolores Roach Joy 4 episodes2024–presentMistletoe MurdersSue ShinMain role2025Wylde PakHalmoni (voice)Main role2025Your Friends and NeighborsSandraEpisode: "This Tourist Has Balls"202518 to 35Harriet
Personal life Yoon has a son; in a 2017 interview with NOW Magazine, she described herself as a "mom who acts."
References
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