Xa Na - Do! - My Good Luck Charm

The fresh egg star shares her journey from Mangere to Mulan

- Sebastian Van Der Zwan

She’s the breakout star of local black comedy Fresh Eggs and is on the cusp of global fame with her role in Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan. Already, she’s been presented with a rising-star award at a film festival in Macau.

But Xana Tang, a ChineseVietnamese beauty from South Auckland, insists it’s a “happy accident” she tried her hand at acting – and she only recently realised it could be a career option.

The 26-year-old’s lucky break came at high school, when her teacher suggested the two Asian students in her class should audition for the part of a Chinese-Kiwi girl in the movie Matariki.

Xana (pronounced “Zanna”) didn’t feel confident enough to apply, but when a friend insisted she come along as his audition partner, she nabbed the role. “I didn’t think I’d get that far,” she tells.

A lead in the TV series Hounds followed, but afterwards, Xana decided to focus on her education, graduating with a Bachelor of Communication Studies from the Auckland University of Technology.

She recalls, “My parents wanted me to put my study first, like, ‘You can act, but make sure you don’t fail your course and bring shame to your family.’