Mei Ashley
Adopted as a baby from Guangzhou in China by British/American parents, Mei has had a stable and contented upbringing in the UK.
She’s grown up knowing little about her beginnings, but is, and always has been, the love of her parent’s life. Studious and scientific, Mei is a post-graduate student of astrophysics. She lives a very ordered and neat, yet normal student life. However, when she gets the message that her birth mother wants to meet her, suddenly all the unanswered questions of abandonment and identity overwhelm her.
What begins as a journey to discover the truth of her past turns into an epic fight for justice for a family she is only just coming to know, in a country she’s is only just beginning to understand. Uncovering a steely strength and resourcefulness she didn’t know she had, Mei realises she’s prepared to sacrifice everything to put this injustice right, no matter what the personal cost.
Katie Leung
Katie Leung began her career when she was cast as Cho Chang in the Warner Brothers feature film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a role she subsequently reprised for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Parts I & II).
She subsequently starred as one of the series leads in Run, Channel 4’s acclaimed drama which followed the lives of four seemingly unconnected people in South London. Her further television credits include ITV1’s Poirot and 麻豆社’s Father Brown.
Alongside her acting career, Katie trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Katie made her theatre debut in the role of Er-Hong in Sacha Wares’ production of Wild Swans which premiered in Boston before transferring to the Young Vic Theatre London in April 2012. She subsequently made her debut at the National Theatre as the lead role of Sunny in Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s play The World of Extreme Happiness. Katie has most recently performed at the Royal Court Theatre in Mia Chung’s play You For Me For You.
In October 2014, Katie was announced as one of BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits, a scheme established in 2013 to recognise and support young emerging British talent.
Katie stars as the central role Mei in One Child, written by Guy Hibbert and directed by John Alexander, which follows Mei’s story as a Chinese born woman adopted by Anglo-American parents, who struggles with her identity and the question of where her true loyalties lie.
