Elodie Yung

About Elodie Yung

Élodie Yung is a critically acclaimed French-Cambodian actress and director born on February 22, 1981, in Paris, France. Raised in the commune of Le Bourget in Seine-Saint-Denis, she grew up in a rough neighborhood where her Cambodian father enrolled her in karate classes at age nine to build resilience. She excelled at the sport, earning a black belt by her late teens and actively participating in competitions. Academically inclined, Yung graduated from the University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne with a law degree, initially planning to become a judge. However, her passion shifted toward the arts, prompting her to relocate to England to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. 

Her television biography began in France when she landed her first major recurring role as Jade Perrin in the teen drama series "La vie devant nous" from 2002 to 2003. She gained further recognition on French television playing Laura Maurier in the police procedural "Les Bleus" from 2007 to 2010. Yung made a major breakthrough with American audiences when she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the lethal, emotionally complex assassin Elektra Natchios, starring in the second season of "Daredevil" in 2016 and reprising the role in the miniseries crossover "The Defenders" in 2017. She later secured a career-defining leading role on American network television as Thony De La Rosa in the Fox crime drama "The Cleaning Lady" from 2022 to 2025. On this project, she expanded her creative portfolio by stepping behind the camera to make her directorial debut with a seasoned episode of the series. 

Her film biography kicked off in France with the action movie "Les fils du vent" in 2004, followed by her breakout French cinema role as the martial-arts-wielding gang leader Tao in the sci-fi action sequel "District 13: Ultimatum" in 2009. Her physical capabilities quickly caught the attention of Hollywood casting directors, leading to her English-language film debut as Miriam Wu in David Fincher's mystery thriller "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" in 2011. She went on to secure prominent roles in major American studio features, starring as the ninja Jinx in the action blockbuster "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" in 2013, playing the goddess Hathor in the fantasy epic "Gods of Egypt" in 2016, and appearing as Amelia Roussel in the action-comedy "The Hitman's Bodyguard" in 2017. 

Throughout her international career, Yung has spoken openly about identity, motherhood, and representation. Discussing her multicultural background and the challenges of the industry, she noted, "My dad came from another country and had to make his own place in France, so I could very much relate to that." When reflecting on the importance of visibility in Hollywood, she once shared, "The Asian culture has to be a part of what we see on TV and in movies." Regarding her transition into intense action roles, she famously observed, "I'm a black belt in karate. I grew up on the outskirts of Paris, and it was rough." In her personal life, Yung has been in a long-term relationship with British actor Jonathan Howard for over a decade. The couple married during the pandemic lockdown and share a daughter named Minavann Yung Howard, who was born in August 2018.