Was hired to play a TV version of herself, but then forced to both lose
weight and act "more Asian". Several episodes later was instructed to
act "less Asian."
Her mother was unable to provide for Margaret on her own, so she sent
Margaret to Korea to live with her father and grandparents.
Lost 30 pounds in two weeks before the filming of the debut episode of
All-American Girl (1994). The night after completing filming, her kidneys collapsed
causing her to be hospitalized.
Kicked out of Lowell High School because she had a 0.60 GPA, but was
later accepted to McAteer High School for the Performing Arts.
Just 3 days after she was born, her father was deported because he
failed to obtain a work permit -- her mother was allowed to remain in
San Francisco.
Her parents moved to San Francisco from Seoul, Korea in 1964.
Was the star of the first sitcom to feature an all Asian-American cast
(which was based on her own life and stand-up comedy act.)
At age 16 started doing stand up comedy. Traveled widely with Janeane Garofalo
on the comedy club circuit. They blamed each other for their bad
smoking habits.
Favorite band is Canadian group Broken Social Scene.
Chosen by Goldsea Asian American Daily as one of the "100 Most Inspiring Asian Americans of All Time".
Is a fan of adult film actor Jeff Stryker. She has spoken admiringly of him
in some of her stand up monologues.